The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-10-28
WHY JEFFRIES COLLAPSED.
johnson Agreed to Lay Down" and
Then IRAN il Out"-AtteII.

Kansas City Star: James j. JEFF
fries wasn't "doped" when he met his
Reno, nor was his sudden collapse due
to the killing pace he set in training
over the hills of California and under
Nevada's broiling sun. 1t was the
yellow of his skin that seeped into
his inner workings that brought gloom
to the white race and JOY to Black
Vile 1t was an ecru streak that grad
ually turned into a bright yellow that
sent the alfalfa farmer Keeling into
defeat. We have this straight from
the feedboX-from the Hon. Abraham
Attell, featherweight champion and
one of Jeffries' chief seconds. Accord
ing to Abe, the fight was a prear-
ranged affair, fixed" for Jeffries to
win, but two days before the time
scheduled for the big coup Johnson
changed his mind and sent word to
Jeff" that the deal was off and that
he, "Lil Athuh," had turned square
and that the best man would win.
This startling information caused the
collapse of the man who a few days
before had caused his admirers to
Shrek with joy and the blacks to
moan with anguish.
Abe Attell told the writer all of
this last night and Abe still insists
that he is an enemy Of the black race
and still fond of Jeffries. He isn't deal
ing ii because he is sore on anyone.
He actually believes it.
when ! was called to Reno to sec
ond Jeffries | had already made up my
mind to bet on Johnson said the
featherweight champion last night 81
thought the negro would win and l
saved $4,000 from the wreck to bet on
him. When / arrived in Reno |
changed my mind-that's all | did
change, because | didn't make a bet
because l found out that Jeffries
was the caucus nominee. At that
time Jeff looked lively and cheer
full enough to whip regiment of John
sons. He had all the stuff a champion
needed. This run of cheerfulness and
remarkable strength continued until
| Saturday morning before the fight and
then something happened. Saturday
afternoon Jeff wouldn't talk to me or
any of his other helpers. He hid him.
self in the house that night and Sun
day in camp was like a funeral. Then
| began to get busy trying to find out
what was the matter. The 'hunch' hit
me that there was something on the
inside that was going wrong. Some
one NEEDED 1900 trumps. hiked out
to the Johnson camp and there was
more cheer around that layout Sun
day, the day before the fight, than
Lew Dockstader ever pulled in his
entire career. You could even get a
smile from Sig Hart
81 knew that something had hap,
pened after looking at that happy
bunch and then, remembering the
dose of gloom at our own training
quarters, ! put two and two together
and that actually made four. | asked
few questions from everyone l met
and then | finally located the inside
before the fight Johnson had agreed
to lay down to .Teffries. George
Little, Johnson's deposed manager
told me this Then, when Johnson
found out that Little was around bet
ting on Jeffries he shifted the cut
He sent word to Jeffries that the
'frame.up' was off and that the fight
was going to be on the square. There
were number of busy meetings in
side the next ten hours, but Johnson
wouldn't listen to reason. He wasn't
going to see George Little win any
money and it was all off Then JEFF
fries collapsed. No wonder. A cham
pionship in his pocket and have il
picked.
"a was sure I was right before We
went to the arena on the day of the
fight, and was positive when we went
in the dressing room just before en-
tering the ring, Jeff tried to warm
up and couldn't. He wrestled with
Brother Jack and Joe Choynski and
both showed him around like he was
q baby IL was all off Tough too