Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-04

meadows and. unless there is q draw,
or some unexpected disaster happens.
two words will be flashed around the
| world:
''------ wins.
Tomorrow afternoon James J. JET
| fries and John A. Johnson will meet in
| Their long talked-of fight for the I'M
| disputed heavyweight championship of
| tho world. Gloved fists will thud
against flesh and blood will rush
through leaping muscles in the open
a'ena built near Reno. And the son
| of Il slave mammie of the old South
Heavyweight Champion Johnson. or
the son of a preacher, tie undef
Jeffries. win be declared the superla-
| tive fighting machine in the history
Of the prize ring.
| Driven out of California warned out
| IF other states. by reform sentiment
| married. by q Thousand difficulties. the
promoters of this great putiiistic
| event arc about to realize the results
| of their iabors The fighters are ready
| to spring 10 the center of the ring at
| the tap of the gong. The tcrraced
| arena is waiting for its multitude and
| the multitude is waiting to get into the
enclosure.
| 1t IS estimated that 10000 visitors
| arc crowded into this desert CITY to-
| daY. From East and West the specials
dissorSed their loads of sporting men.
many of whom have Travelled from The
| four corners Ct the earth. All day
| big automobiles. powdered with the
! white dust of the desert have chug-
| scd in from the coast cities. from tho
| Tallfoi mia valleys, from ranch and
| mining camp. even from Seattle, 4
| thousand miles away
| The last touch to the drama that will
| be staged tomorrow was added by the
arrival at the Johnson camp Of Brllcy
| Delaney, veteran trainer of fighters,
| who announced positively that he
would be in the black mans corner as
chief second. Delaney took JeftricS in
| hand when he was a raw hoy and
made him the champion of the world
Several years ago the trainer and his
protege quarreed and they have been
bitter enemies ever since. The gray
haired Delaney. who knows Jeffries
| perhaps AS no other man knows him.
| has picked Johnson to win. and will
| direct every detail of the efforts the
Negro Will make against Jeffries.
The rumor that the promoter and
| referee Tex Richard, will not act as
| third man in the ring will not down.
| 1t bobbed up again with renewed life
| today when it was whispered that
| Charley White of New York, the alter
nate referee had confidcd to friend
| that he fully expected to he called on
| to act at the last minute. This could
| not be confirmed however. and Rick
ard reiterated his intention Of official
| ing
| The effort to fill the blank in the
| two word message which the wires
| will carry out of Reno tomorrow and
| to answer it in a way that will bring
financial profit is turning heads gray
| today The real answer is getting 50
close that it hurts The Wise ones" in
the netting contingent never We're 50
puzzled. They are still talking about
the 'Ycllow streak" and Cant come
back" but tn" betting sheets show a
| remarkable indeciSion
| Between the partisans. the great
mass Of fight followers is wav"ring. In
the pool rooms it is 100 to 81 with JEFF
fries the favorite and even money that
Jeffries wins in 20 rounds. In the pari-
mutuels. the heavy play is that JEFF
fries will win. in % rounds or more.
This last day before the fight will be
remembered in Reno for many A long
| year At the break of day. the sky
was gray and all during the morning
black storm clouds were adrift in the
hills. hut as the day wore on. the wind
cleared the sky and the foothills We're
| notified with the gold of the sunlight
and the blue and black of the cloud
shadows.
will it rain: will il he cold tomor-
row." asked the strangers. And. the
| ~ntivoe answered that in all proba bill :
tiles the arena would be SO hot that
n.eiting pltcn would glue the specta-
| tors to their seats. Despite the threat
| ening weather the roads to the fight
| ers' camps were dotted with vehicles
| of every description.
| Hacks carried scores of the humble
out to the Johnson headquarters.
struggling for right of way with au
tomobiles filled with gay groups Of
sports and others bearing the stamp
Of wealth.
| The road to the Jeffries cottage was
one long procession. Outgoing parties
met automobiles which had just come
the gap in the mountains. bearing men
+! from the Pacific coast cities. All
ctopped at Moana Strings until the