Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-08
Gets Rousing Welcome
From His Own People.
"The Bacon Greets Him on
Return 10 Chicago.
johnson Is In Doubt Regarding
Plans ior the Future.

Chicago. July Jack Johnson,
champion of Americas prize fighters
tonight is once more at home with his
nanny and his automobile. In ancient
Rome returning victor was let into
his native city with his spols through
a breach in the wall and adulating
campatriots rent the air with acclaim.
Today Johnson. best of modern gladia-
tors with the modern cestuS. came into
the city with his following through a
solid wall of people. Chicagoans lined
the sidewalks In solid ranks to catch a
glimpse of this modern, but dusky
Pollux.
The champion announced that all
tentative plans for the future were off.
sam Langford?" he asked. THAT
makes me laugh. | am not running
around now looking for fights. Let
Langford put up his 100000 first. then
he can talk. Just now / am going to
rest. I'm going to New York Sunday
afternoon to begin a three weeks
vaudeville. at least / have that many
Weeks at my disposal.
Quit? Well | never told anyone
would quit. but it looks as though I'd
have to-"
Five thousand members of his race
and large number of white persons
made the living wall at the Chicago
and Northwestern Railway station
where Johnson landed on his return
from Reno. Policemen were swept
aside when the fighter. looming above
the crowd. fought his way smilingly
through hand clasps and pats on the
ack to waiting automobile. line
+ lavishly decorated automobiles. con-
tanning newspaper workers, Amply
cared Cor at Johnson's personal re-
quest" followed his machine.
With rush and d roar, that left all
behind. Jack In his new racing car.
dashed madly home. where his moth
er. Mrs. Tiny Johnson and the MEM
bers of his family waited in the midst
of another crowd of thousands.
Flags waved. an ornately attired
drum major of a Negro regiment of
State Militia swayed to the rythm of
America" and "Mistah Johnsing, Turn
Me Loose" and other similar patriotic
airs In the midst of mighty roar.
"Oh, You, Jack Johnson" the cham
pion alighted at his house.
He pushed his way into the house
amid deafening roars. and with tears
streaming down his face. embraced his
mother. Behind him compatriot
struggled through the crowd. bearing
aloft Il smoked bacon side. symbolic of
Johnson's own message home:
I'm coming home with the bacon"
You don't need no bacon. chile"
cried the aged Mrs. Johnson. 'ah want
10 An11 scA o M
chickin cookin out heah in de kitchin
and you knows how you likes watah
melon? We have got some dandies
JAck."
The champion appeared on the bal
cony of his home and paused sudden
~ as he caught a camera pointed his
way. lest the picture be spoiled. He
seemed about to speak but instead
turned about and soon appeared at
the street door struggling through the
crowds to his automobile. II Went II
miles an hour for a while today till
I was slowed down by a park police
man. 4tr
Here goes the profits" laughed
Jack, but the policeman clasped the
champions hand and clouted him on
the back Leaning over he whispered
Don't tell anyone, you old war horse
but l wen $40 on you
Good" answered johnson. and an
other wliz landed Jack at buffet
garden.
Now. Jack" said a reporter. What
are you going to do? What labout
Sam Langford and your mothers say
ing you were to quit fighting for ever.
and your trip to Europe?"
GLAD to be asked all at once" he
replied. cause l can say I don't know
to all. / have enough money to last
me till next week. and am going to
find out what's doing before I do
anything. Sam Laneford, or anyone
else better get his money I'm first and
then proceed to whip me afterward.
II have some good chances to go to
Europe but think the 30 weeks of
vaudeville will suit me better. Guess
I will have to quit" though. whether
I want to or not
Did YOU hear about the picture
mems troubles" he was asked
"Yes." he answered. but it doesn't
bother me. They all told me l was
n foo, to sell for $4,000. but they
thought | Couli not whip Mr. Jeffries.
wv, .AitSt ihuSNId tluS NiIt HidullSi III
which he turned the trick" with
reporter representing Jeftries much to
the discontinue of the reporter) he
said:
THE fights over. let's forget it a
while. l haven't had a chance to drive
a car in two weeks and. golly. I want
I" get at that there machine again"
Friday night johnson will appear for
few minutes at a Chicago theatre de-
voted to Negroes. Then he will attend
banquet. He said he was too busy
having q good time to be bothered by
replevin suit filed today by George
w. Little. the former manager. fer a
$1,000 ring.
His future plans. he said. would be
outlined only generally and this is how
he general;zed them:
"Sleep some. eat q pile of good eat
abIes. and drive my racer"