Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
CORBETT ANSWERS
CRITICS CHARGES
Declares Statements by Rob-
ert Edgren Are All False
and Offers Proof.
GAME is NOT DEAD
IN PHILADELPHIA
Quaker City Gets Kaufman
Lang Bout Through Fail
ure at New York.
By James J. Corbett.

By James ]. Corbett.
NEW YORK, September 3.-Robert Ed
gren, the former hammer thrower. who is
now sporting editor OF New York even
ing paper. has not yet fully recovered
from the effects OF the defeat Of JerYries
some months ago. and through the me-
dium OF his column has seen Mt 10 crifi-
else my conduct in connection with that
contest While ] do not wish TO dignity
Edgren's charges by replying TO them, I
believe the sport-loving public Is entitled
to few OF the facts.
Edgren brands as nonsense my saying
that Jeffries' extreme nervousness kept
him awake nearly all the night before the
fight. My authority for that statement
Is Mrs. Jeffries. who told the same thing
to William Muldoon. / think Mrs. JEFF
fries should be better informed on this
point than Edgren. Another indication
OF Jeffs nervous condition OF the few
days preceding the hight is TO be found
In the fact that he vomited and purged
himself while doing road work. Jack
Jenries. the brother OF Jim, can vouca
for this.
Burns Not Boxing Man.
Ny critic also says that Farmer Burns
was the man IN Jefrrfes' camp. I FULLY
agree that Burns worked hard and faith
fully in Jeff's interests and had Jim hack
in good physical condition But II was
not the eI-champion's physical condition
that beat HINT was his nervous conoi-
ton. Burns was one OF the greatest
wreStlers in the world, but his knowledxe
OF boxing was limited.
The files or the paper on which Edgren
Is employed will show that i repeatedly
deplored the fact that Jeffries did not do
more boxing and less road work Burns
did all he could for .Jeffries, but road
work alone Is not all a pugilist requires
In his training. particularly when he has
been out OF the ring for a long time. Box
Ing was what JEFF wanted: without prac-
tice with the gloves he was bound TO lose
his cleverneSs and judgment OF distance.
was there to box with Jeffries, not TO
climb mountains. and did everything In
my power to make him do more boxing.
Even had Jim listened to the advice OF
others besides Burns the result would
have been the same. as the nervous col
apse killed all his chances OF winning.
No Cause for Ridicule.
Edgren also ridicules my statement that
Farmer Burns. In Jeff's dressing room be-
fore tho fight. sobbed as he realized that
Jim had broken down. Dewitt Van Court.
phyical director OF the Los Angeles A C,
and one OF Jeffries' best friends, will
verify what I have said.
took the trip to Jeffries' training camp
at Jtm's own request. made In London
last winter. I was not looking for adver-
Using, as Edgren says, for l may say
with all modesty that / was fairly well
known in sporting circles long before JET
fries and Johnson. and even Edgren him
self, ever were heard of. / was not after
money. either, and all was paid was my
expenses. L wanted to see the white
man win and to help accomplish that end
When this eminent" sporting authority
accuses me Of deliberately walking away
from Jeff's corner and deserving him
when | saw that he was beaten he does
not know what he IS talking about. My
conduct at the rinsside was what had
been planned between Jeffries and me.
was to talk TO Johnson and try 10 attract
his attention II possible: IN other words.
TO try to get his goat" If Edgren Is not
with my conduct during the
bout, let him make complaint 10 Jeffries.
There were too many men in Jim's corner
as IL was. and while IL had been agreed
that none OF his seconds was to give Jefr
advice during the fight they were oil
talking to him before the bout had fairly
started.
Up to Edgren to Show Hand
/ want to urge Edgren TO make pubic
the inside information on Jeffrfes defeat
that he claims to be in possession OF. he
says that some of these days "a few
hitherto unpublished details concerning
he defeat OF Jeffries. and the twenty-four
hours that preceded Il. will be in every
paper I'm America" Why the delay II
8 his duty to give the news TO the public
now What is to be gained by holding n
back?
The great trouble with Edgren IL that
ne poses as an authority on q number OF
sports with which he is not familiar. Box
ng Is one Of them.
New York's loss Is Philadefphia's gain.
rhe bout which pl ,mises 10 help so much
n our search for a heavyweight worthy
II a chance to try for the championship
Bill Lang. is TO be pulled of IN Philadel-
,hia Monday. Harry Edwards. the
quaker city promoter. has re-matched the
men.
While the engagement must OF necessity
De limited to six rounds. ] VIII not be sur
,rised IL IL ends before the limit. as both
men are of the smuggling type. From what
have seen Of Lang In training he has
impressed me greatly. He Is not particu-
arly cleyer. but. like Kaufman: Is
punch In each hand. The school OF box
ng In which the Australian has been edu-
,ated is that OF experience
Lang Has Confidence.
Champion Jack johnson has decision
,ver Lang. but that fight took place
hree years ago. and was durne the
first year Of ring experience
That Lang has improved wonderfully
ince that time Is proved by the manner
n which he has cleaned up all the heavy
Weights in his own country and by his
asst fight with Tommy Burns. which
asted twenty rounds. Lang left the
ing without a mark. while Burns showed
violence OF severe punishment. The
good showings with Burns
nd Johnson have imbued him with
at deal OF confidence In himself.
Al Kaufman is too well known to
eaders of this column for me TO say
much about him. You all know his rep
tation. In the three years OF his pro-
essional career he has met with but
ne defeat That was his frst profes-
ional engagement, and was With that
lever boxer. Philadelphia Jack O'Br1sn-
nncs that time Kaufmam has turned
Continued on Third Pagsl