The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-21
BIG FIGHT WILL GO
TO RENO OR TO
GOLDF|ELD
RiCkard in Sage Brush State
Comforting with Promoters
SAN FRANCISCO ABANDONED
All Hope Given UP Of Holding john
son-Jeffries Meeting in Cali
fornia

San Francisco, June 21-Tex Rick
ard, promoter of the Jeffries-Johnson
fight for the championship of the
world, turned his back on San Fran
cisco yesterday and left at lO:40 o.
clock for Reno, Ney.
Two places in the Sagebrush State
are anxious for the big mill. They
are Reno and Goldheld. Representa-
tives Of each urged their respective
claims and inducements at confer
ence last night and Richard will an
nounce his decision some time today
Richard drove to the ferry from the
St Francis in an auto, accompanied
by several friends and Tom Flanni-
gan, one of Jack Johnson's trainers.
He met group of newspaper men
and chatted pleasantly until time for
the boat to leave.
Il have received word from the
Goldfleld delegation and will meet
them at Reno tonight" said Richard.
Il have not reached any decision as
between Reno and Goldfeld and will
not do so until after have heard all
of the arrangements of both contin-
gents | realize better than any one
that the delay is costly, and will
make positive statement tomorrow
rearding the scene of the big fight"
With Richard on the Overland
Limited were number of local and
Eastern sporting writers and J. II.
Brown, traffic manager OF the Las
Vegas & Tonopah Railroad who has
been urging the claims of Goldfield.
Seated in the lobby of the st. Fran
els Hotel, the center of a group Of
newspaper men and friends, Tex Rick
ard discussed the tremendous efforts
which had been brought to bear on
Governor Gillett to make him recede
from his stand on prizefighting. Rick
ard was beaten and he was preparing
to move to Reno for conference on
the Nevada situation.
1t was about an nour previous that
Richard had walked into the hotel af-
ter an absence OF two hours. He
broke the air of suspense by the
statement:
James J. Jeffries and Jack John
son will fight for the championship
OF the world in the State Of Nevada
on July A."
This statement followed a day and
night which had been filled with con-
ferences, whispered consultations,
conjecture, hope and little
of everything else. Hundreds OF
times throughout the day Richard
was asked If he had given up hope OF
holding the fight In California and
each time he replied that he was
waiting for a phone message, after
which he would make a definite an.
nouncement From whom the tele-
phone message was to come or what
Influences were at work, Richard re.
fused to say. but II was the common
impression that he was holding fire.
quent conferences with District At
torney Fickert, and Mayor p. II. Nc
Carthy.
San Francisco, June 20.-The fight
situation last night was still undecid
ed pending Tex Richards final an
nouncement which he had promised
to make before noon today. Richard
II transpires. yet hopes to hold the
Jeffries-Johnson fight in San Fran
cisco. There is a possibility thai
Gov. Gillett will recede from his firm
position In opposing the match and
will consent to have the issue de
cided by the courts II is understood
heavy pressure was brought to beaI
upon the governor yesterday in a last
desperate endeayoy to secure the
fight for San Francisco and that
Richard is awaiting news from Sac
ramento Of the outcome of this at
tempt before giving out a definite
statement regarding the battle
ground.
In the event that the governor re
fuses to relent II Is said to be abso
mtely certain that Richard will de
clare for Nevada. Reno is looked NJ
on by all as "the one best yet
Training quarters for both fighter
have been reserved near Reno ant
their managers are holding themsel
YES In readiness TO move as soon n
they receive the word. Richard wal
In conference yesterday with his at
torneys and several local city officials
among them, Il Is said, Mayor p. II
Mccarthy. Louis Blot, promoter o
the Northumberland contest whicl
was stopped Saturday by the polio,
as a result OF the governors strln
gent orders, said yesterday he woull
not attempt to stage a test contest
but would try to obtain from tn
chief executive a definition OF a box
ing contest. The governor has asseI
ted that he will not interfere wit
any boxing contests" that Blot ma
hold, but that he viii not permit
prize fight.
kilograms from all over the cour
try have come to Gov. Gillett cor
graduating him on stopping the Je
fries.Johnson fight. Among ther
was one from Andrew Carnegie a
Clasmere (Sutherland) Scotland. ga,
ing. Cordial congratulations upo
saving your lovely state from dil
grace. Our whole country is you
debtor"
WEATHER FORECAST