The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-03
PREDICT LONG. HARD FIGHT.
Erperts Expect Grentest Ring Battle
OF Modern Tlneh.

OF Modern Times.
Reno, New, July Reno is Just
waiting now Tomorrow and Monday
morning, and then the moment when
Announcer Billy Jordan will climb out
Of the ring with all the speed that his
fat legs can carry him. crying. Let
'er go!"
Another languid sunset In these
brown hills. and the great Jeffries-
johnson battle will be on.
In the meantime, the desert city
rapidly is taking on the appearance of
a national convention. The delegates
from the worlds sporting centres are
arriving on every train. The streets
and hotels are filled with shifting
mob of gentlemen. thieves, gamblers
and pugili5ts. The hum of converse
ton on the street is punctuated with
the click OF the roulette wheels. ano
with the cry OF souvenir hawkers. And
all are awaiting the event that moth
ing but earthquake. fire or death can
now prevent. The camps of the fgnt-
ers are quiet with the peace OF sus-AI
pense.
The arena is waiting out in the
white dust, an ugly skeleton that in
few hours will be palpitating with life
and thrills that the red gods send
down mems. spines in moments of pny-
steal strife. Probably not another
stick will have to be touched Tho
purse money is up--all Of 1.-THE sum
of 100000, which the fight-lovers will
pay Jim JefrIes and Jack johnson to
measure their sinews, their brains and
their fighting hearts. The only move
ment from the rival camps to-day was
In the way of pleasure and thought
killing Both Jenries and johnson
made automobile trips into the town.
johnson just for fun and to have the
crowd stare at him. and Jeffries be-
cause he had to. in order to get to the
fishing grounds that he decided to Wis
II late In the afternoon. The critical
time of waiting is being watched
closely by fight experts. Jehries has
surprised them all by his apparent un
concern on the eve OF the greatest mo-
ment In his life. Nothing else was ex-
pected from the black man.
Nothing has arisen TO add or de-
tract from the arguments pro and con
that have been agitating the sports OF
the country for a year
Camp Followers Loyal.
In the Jeffries camp the hangers-on
and trainers are willing to bet their
last dollar that the man whom no man
ever has brought to his knees by
blow will make johnson look like the
outside of storm cellar after hur-
ricane.
They can see nothing but tho huge,
naying arms OF Jeffries moving down
his opponent. They predict less thar
seven rounds after the first blow is
struck.
On the other hand. there is plain JOY
In the hearts Of the men who follow
Johnson They see the negro astride
science. especially that right upper
cut. The dead level of opinion among
the fight experts is that the fight will
be a long one and a hard one---in other
words, the greatest ring battle of these
times.
Among the crowds that thronged the
barroons and gambling houses are the
faces of men known around the world
the world of the pink sheet, at least
and there are also faces of men
known we'll to the police OF all great
cities. The State police are doing
what they can to keep the grafters and
the thieves away, even to the extent
of searching trains at the border, but
there is many a. loophole. and the
light-fingered gentry are here in force.
Though hampered by lack of ex-
perienced detectives familiar with the
faces and operating. methods of the
crooks and criminals always drawn
to the scene OF big fight, the officials
in charge OF the policing OF Reno say
tonight they have the situation we'll
In hand.
Detectives Guard Cars.
To guard the Pullman sleeping cars
In the railroad yards, In which largo
number OF fight fans and tourists who
failed to find accommodations in the
city are sleeping, the Southern Pacific
Railway has brought large force of
special men. Each train entering the
city, either from East or West. car
ries one or more railroad detectives,
whose business 1t is to guard pdssen-
gers against pickpockets and keep the
roofs and trucks OF the cars clear Of
tramps and boys stealing rides TO the
big fight
According to their announced after
the dust of Nevada off their feet on
the day following the battle. 1t makes
no difference. they declare. what the
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