The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-04
Ten Thousand Visitors Are
Already In Reno Wait
ingtoI Great Contest
BETTING ODDS STAND
JUST ABOUT THE SAME
Police Arc WatchfuI of the Crowd for
Many Crooks Have Gathered Who
Are Well Known Ready to
Clean Up Greenhorns

Reno, New, July 3.-The day OF reckon-
ing is at hand. Jeffries or Johnson, the
bear or the tiger, which will win? A few
hours more now, before the night shadows
again enfold the bare hills circling the
truck meadows. and two words VIII Dc
flashed around the word: "----- wins.
Tomorrow afternoon James ]. Jeffries
and Jack Johnson will meet in their long
talked-of fight for the undisputed heavy
weight championship of the world. Fists
will thud against flesh and blood will
stream over leaping muscles in the open
arena built on the roof of the world. And
the son of a slave nanny Of the old
south or the son of minister-the unoe-
feated Jeffries-wll be declared the most
perfect fighting machine in the history of
the prize ring.
Driven. out of California, warned out
of other states by reform sentiment, har>
ried and pressed by thousand difficul-
ties, the promoters of this great hight
are about to release the results of their
| labors The fighters are ready to spring
to the center of the ring at the tap OF the
gong The terraced arena is waiting for
It's multitude and the multitude Is strain
ing to get into the inclosure.
1t is estimated that 10000 visitors are
crowded into this desert city tonight
From east and west the specials give forth
their loads of sporting men, many OF
whom have travelled from the far corners
of the earth. ALI day big automobiles
covered with white dust from the desert
have chugged in from coast cities. from
the California valleys. from ranch and
mining camp, even from Seattle, 1000
miles away.
Last Touch of Drama
The last touch of the drama that Will
be staged tomorrow was added by the
arrival at the Johnson camp of Billy De-
laney, veteran trainer of fighters, VINO an
nounced he would be In the black mans
corner as chief second. Delaney took
Jim Jeffrfes in hand when he was raw
how and developed him into the cham
pion of the world.
Several years ago the trainer and his
protege quarreled and have been enemies
since. The gray-haired Delaney, who
knows Jeffries like no other man. perhaps'
has picked Johnson to win, and will direct
every detail of the battle the black man
will make against Jeffries.
The rumor that Promoter-Referee Tex
Rickard will not act as third man In the
ring will not down. 1t bobbed up again
with renewed life today when 1t was
whispered that Charley White of New
York had confded to friend that he ex-
pected to be called upon to act at the last
minute. This was not possible of con-
hrmation, however, and Rickard reiter-
ated his intention of officiating.
The effort to fill the blank in the two
words message that the wires will carry
out of here tomorrow, answering 1t in a
way that will bring fnancial'profit Is al
most turning heads gray today. The real
answer is getting so close that 1t hurts.
The wise ones" of the betting brigade
never were further up in the air. They
are still talking about the yellow streak
and cant come back but the betting
sheets show remarkable indecision.
Betting ON the Result
Between the partisans the great mass
of fight followers is wavering. In the
pool rooms it is 10 to 61s with JEFF
fries the favorite and even money that
Jeffries wins in twenty rounds
In the pari mutuels table as given
out this morning the favorite play IL
that Jeffries will win within 25 rounds
or less. The last day before the fight
will be remembered in Reno for many
years to come. At the break of dawn
the sky was gray and all during the
morning black storm clouds were adrift
In the hills but as the day wore on the
wind cleared the sky and the foothills
were mottled with the gold of the sun
/ light and the blue black OF the cloud
shadows.
"wil it rain? Will ii be cold tomor-
row? Will the governor call 1t off at
the last minute?" the strangers asked.
The natives answered that in all prob
ability the ring side would be so hot
the spectators would become glued
to their seats. Despite the threaten
ing weather the roads to the camps of
the fighters were dotted with vehicles
of every description. Buses carried
scores of the humble out to the quart
ers, all struggling for right of way
with automobile filled with sporting
men and other persons bearing the evil
dences of prosperity.
|, The road to tho Jeffries cottage was
one long procession. Outgoing parties
met automobiles that had Just come
through the gaps in the Sierras bearing
men from the coast cities. All stopped
at Moana Springs until the place look-A
ed like q camp meeting.
Jeffries Takes 1t Easy
Jeffries received his friends on the
lawn under the willow trees He sat
there most of the day. playing cards
and chatting no word of the coming
fight from his lips and his face as IT,
scrutable as ever Men were on guarl
at the gates to l.eep - mix krnwn ~.
rious out. but every inch of room around
the cottage was illleu H. a e..A....
neck.
Jeffries did not work during the day.
He did not give a sign that the i'm.
ninence of the fight was perturbins
him in spirit. He was thoroughly glad
that his training was over and he wac
ready to meet the test with all OF HE
old time spirit
An uneasy restless movement was
noticeable among the trainers and camp
followers. Brok en- sentences ove- =.
phasis Of conviction and various othee