Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-04
SCENES IN THE ARENA
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE
Hungry Crowd Fills Vast Space in Short
Time-Women Occupy Boxes-Promi-
nent Sporting Men at Ringside.

ARENA. July 4-In less than fifteen
minutes after the gates were opened the
gallery seats and the wide PLATFORM
skirting the topmost outer rim OF tne
arena were half filed
Coming in from the cool wind-swept
spaces of the fiat country surrounding
tine battle-ground, a startling chanee VI
temperature was noted in the arena. Inc
bare pine boards generated terrinc
heat from the scorching sun and the
early corners Immediately proceeded 10
shed their coats and collars
Thirty feet from the ringside and due
west. so that the sun would not inter-
fere. a battery of nine motion picture
machines superimposed in rows OF three
was being manned and made ready Ior
the work of the afternoon
An American flag dropped on its stan
above each of the four entrances Boxes
built for women at the top OF the outer
west walls of the Enclosures were soon
filled, with gaudy hats Of the occupants
adding a vivid touch of color to the
scene Half an hour after the gates
were opened the vast arena was more
than two-thirds filled with swelterlng
mass of humanity
Crowd Makes Demonstration.
At 12:37 there was a demonstration on
the part of more than 1000 holders of
$40 and cheaper seats, which are located
directly behind the motion picture shed.
Richard is now trying to pacify the angry
seat holders. and. it is reported. he VIII
order the obnoxious shed removed.
At l o'clock the arena was nearly
filled The heat was intense.
AS the band played The Red, White
and Blue" an enthusiastic rinsside ian
Jumped into the ring waving SILK Amer
lean flag The vast crowd cheered Itself
hoarse and minute later. when the
band struck up Dixie, there was an
other tremendous outburst of cheers
At 1850 pm. the motion picture men
began leaving their shed.
The sporting celebrities arrived early
and the ringside soon swarmed WIN tne
notables without whom no Dig nght Is
regarded as complete.
Entering the fierce glare of the meri-
dian sun hundreds had taken the pre-
caution to bring along smoked glasses
and green shades. Others equipped
themselves with picturesque wide Drlm-
med. high crowned straw hats.
The Reno Military Band entered the
arena shortly before / O'Clock. and STA
tioning itself directly in front OF the mo-
ton pcture cameras, awaited signaI 70
commence playing. A few moments later
the bandmen piled pell-mell into the CEN
ter of the roped twenty-four-foot ring
and RECALLED the spectators with STIRRING
American airs
Harting Brings Gloves.
George Harting. official timekeeper
came in with the gloves in a big green
box, two pairs for each fighter. In case
Of bursted leather or accident. When
the band played America" the perspir-
ing crowd made feeble attempt to sing.
hut il quickly collapsed and the specta-
tors went back to fans and haudkerchiefs
Yielding to the protests OF the spec
tators whose view was hidden Dy the
moving picture booth, Richard ordered
one booth to the left removed Word was
passed on from the outside that all seats
were sold and several thousand persons
were still at the booths.
Old fight attendants vowed that never
before had prize fight in this country
had as many woman spectators as this
In addition to the 30 or leo in the long
booth on the right of the crater every
section was dotted with them, from the
cheapest seats in the upper tiers to the
ffty-dollar places in the ringside section
At 30 neither principal had arrived at
the arena.
At 30 the ringside betting was 10 to g.
with plenty of Jeffries money in sight
Johnson arrived at his dressing room
at 1:35.
Tex Richard announced that the purse
of S12l OtN is all up and will be split 40
and ca per cent. Each man gets a bonus
of 5000. Richard said he made that ar
rangement when articles were signed, but
had not heretofore given il out for pub
ncation.
II had been rumored that the men were
to get bonus for signing articles. but
no official announcement was ever made
before The original purse was S101 900.
To this is now added $4,000. making the
total sum $121,O0o.
Johnson's Wife at Ring.
Jack Johnson's wife came into the
arena and was seated near the ring.
Although the big men were scheduled
TO enter the ring at 1:30. the prelim-
mary introduction of pugilists GUS
tomary at these functions had not be-
gun until As. The crowd was patient
and good -natured.
Announcer Billy Jordan. the veteran
announcer of San Francisco. climbed
through the ropes at AZ and got much
applause.
Tie ring was cluttered with cameras
swapping every prominent person seated
nearby.
entire arena and there was an effort to
induce the spectators to take their seats
Heat beat down on the crowd from per-
fectly clear skies, and it was almost un-
bearable.
At pm. it seemed that every seat in
the arena was occupied. and the six-foot
platform that extends around the upper
rim was black with a human fringe of
ISLANDERS
Jeffries and his attendants left Moana
Springs for the arena at 10 o'clock in an
automobile.
At Id, Announcer Jordan cleared the
ring Of photographers and hangerson.
Billy Muidoon got into the ring and
made a speech and said he would sug-
gest that token respect and
esteem for the citizens and for the one
man who would stand up before the
whole world and say that all men were
free. Three cheers for the people and the
Governor of Nevada.
Every man rose and responded with a
will.
Jefries arrived at the arena at =
O'Clock.
II il reported that the new purse given
was brought about by Johnson's refusa !
to enter the ring unless it was agreed
TO.
At six minutes after . O'Clock Jordan
met Richard at one corner of the ring and
pulled him upon the platform. He in
PRODUCED him in little speech. telling OF
Richards achievements promoter.
Three cheers were given for Tex. but he
modestly declined to respond to the calls
fer speech.
Stakeholder Tim Sullivan followed Rick
ard in the ring, and was introduced.
At 2:1O pm. John l.. Sullivan was in
troduced by Jordan.
AT 2:f2. in response TO repeated calls
Bob Fitzsimmons left his seat in the
crowd and came UP to be introduced
Bob got great hand