The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-26
Tom Ryan Made
JeffrieS Champion

the articles were drawn in February.
Both fighters then went with burlesque
shows, and l kept the match before
the public by frequent stories.
Finally when the spring came JEFF
fries went to Allenhurst, n. j., next
door to Asbury park, to train.
The weak end of the fight was JEFF
fries, so I, for The Morning and Even
ing Journal, went to Ashbury Park to
live.
l was within a short walk of the
training quarters, on very friendly
terms with Delaney, Ryan and JET
fries, so went there every day.
1 was the only man, save Delaney
and Jack Jeffries, who ever saw JEFF
fries get his from Ryan.
At that time Jeffries seemed to I'M
derstand that 1 was a pretty good
friend, and when he went to the barn
to box with Ryan he used to ask me
along.
And now as to what Ryan did to and
for Jeffries:
First, Jeffries was without style, a
knowledge of hitting or blocking. All
he had was the chance of the big game
man who can take beating and keep
swinging Ryan knew that as Jeff
fought the night he met Armstrong he
was built to order for Fitzsimmons,
hence he started in to beat Jeffres into
smothering up instead of coming as if
to embrace.
Delaney, Jack Jeffries and /, and we
alone, saw the transformation. Ryan
did not box or explain. He jabbed and
he jolted and he hooked and he swung
and Jeff, with a sheepish smile took it.
And that was the best he had. f he
reached back to get one of his left
hooks Ryan shot his right to the side
of his head with a thud. If he tried to
swing the right, Ryan crossed inside
with a left hook, then back with a
straight right, and the big fellow stag
gered back.
Ryan would feint Jeff's hands up TO
his head, then bling, bang would go
left and right to the body. He hit him
wherever he liked, whenever he liked
and Jeff's attempts to lead or counter
hot
Delaney and brother Jack would leave
the barn in disgust.
And be not deceived with the idea
that there was any agreement that
Jeff was not to do his best. He was
always trying, and Ryan saying,
Come on, come on"
They swore and fought and scarcely
spoke at times, but Ryan was not a
hired sparring partner and he did not
care one tinker's d whether he
trained with Jeffries or not. He want
ed Fitzsimmons beaten, and before
him was a big, strong youth matched
with his enemy He knew Fitz, his ev-
cry trick, his weakness and his great
strength. He could initiate him per-
fectly and he made Jeff fight Fitz in
the barn as near as Ryan could fight
like Fitz He would hit Jeffries a jolt
and stop and explain and then do it
again even harder. At times Jeff was
discouraged A hundred times he asked
me if l thought he had a chance with
Fitzsimmons. l would tell Ryan and
he would say, eff he's going to quit I'll
make him do it in this barn, not in
the ring" and the next session would
be one of binding speed, blood and
taunts
But there was no quit in Jeff. There
is none. He was, and is, game, and his
courage is as rock-ribbed as the ever
! lasting hills (And lay your bet on that
in the coming fight, for that is the
ace)
tor days than anyone. l guess that's
true. Delaney didn't like to see it and
quit coming. Jack used to try to advise
Jeff and Jeff didn't want him around.
used to stand b. and "sic" Ryan on,
and some way the big bear liked me
| for that
Jeff was not taken in hand like a
young millionaire and gently taught
He was turned into a barn with the
cleverest fighter alive, who was trying
him up and put him out if he could.
And he learned first to protect him