The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-07-31
YELLOW STREAK IN PUGILISM
A FAILING nor OFTEN SNOW v
n BIG FIGHTERS.
Johnsoa Has Rsfuted me ChaFse 10 Par.
hot some Persons say Je6ries and
Corbett Lacked Gameness-Peter
Maher . Gutter, AIso sailor Burke.

How many pugilists are cowards'
How many have a so-called yellow streak
These questions prompted an animated
discussion the other day among several
well known sporting men. some Of whom
insisted that few 10 any pugillsts were
lacking in courage. while others cited
instances where the white feather seemed
In have been shown. Countless ring fol-
lowers have accused Jack johnson Of
possessing a oowardly vein. hut the big
black champion has never shown the
slightest sign Of such an undesirable
quality. Before he fought Tommy
Burns in Australia IL was predicted by
numerous wiseacres that johnson would
quit cold the moment he received a hard
blow in the body. hut johnson showed
cool self possession In that one sided fight
and laughed at Burns's futile attempts
Ia reach him. A. johnson punched
Burns steadily with his ponderous left
hand he reminded the French Canadian
of the latters charge Of cowardice and
slowly but surely convinced him that he
had made serious error.
Ketchel was sure that johnson had
yellow disposition until he received q
knockout blow. Jenries held similar
opinion when he invited the big negro
70 go down into q cellar and fight with
bare knuokles. That proposition was
made by Jetries In California when the
boilermaker was champion 81 the world
and johnson wanted tn fight him for the
title. Johnson's prompt refusal tn settle
the question 81 supremacy In a dungeon
under rough and tumble rules In said 20
have been the basis for the charge that he
did NOT nonae..a the ooura ne of an ordinary
man. When Jenries signed articles last
December in Hoboken he was sure that
johnson was coward and would never
get into the ring. Corbett was conndent
that the negro would quiz u he ever en-
gagged IN a scrap with Jedries' ana oven
when the fight at Reno had gone hall
dozen rounds Corbctt openly accused
johnson Of being afraid; but johnson
never displayed the xhite feather and
made Jehrics. corbett and other traducers
look foolish.
Sam Lansferd. however. insists that
johnson n yellow at heart and viii not
fight him berauss Of his fear Of defeat
LAngford. one Of the pluckiest pugllists
that ever stepped through the ropes
has nothing but contempt for johnson
and accuses him Of deliberately nunkinS
| WV W - ss"' $500 -
ago last May. by pcr-isting In the charg"
~ cowardice Langford believes he can
force johnson to meet him in the long
run, In which event the present heavy
Seight champion Of the world will have
another chance Ia show that he DOESN'T
know the meaning Of the word fear
Some ~ the sharps who saw Jenries
60 down To ignominious defeat nc Reno
sknN Ia Vna y hEa an n
Justice TO Jeirie@. who always showed
remarkable gameness in other mills. but
those who make the assertion say that
the boilermaker a. he came INTO the ring
was suffering from an attack Of cold feet;
that he was afraid OF defeat and was
Worried to the point 81 a nervous break
down so that he could not do himself
justice. These perrons declare that when
johnson smashed Jenriss in the eye in
one Of the early rounds the boilermaker's
once boosted courage left him. Billy
Delaney who was in Johnson's corner.
told the negro at that stage Of the pro-
ceedings that Jenries wanted 20 quit and
that he would soon drop To escape fur
Their punishment According TO Thomas
O'Rourke. the veteran fight manager.
Delaney told him several years ago that
round OF his first battle With Fitzsimmons
and alao In the aixteenth round Of the
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Island b7iore the memo An@ir Denney
publicly stated that johnson would win
and insinuated that Jefries could not
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ments therefore the impression gained
strength after the fight that Jehries had
shown the white feather, although more
rt,.r,,.I,Ia critic. b..l;eya tina, the ~hits
N''1' -h.,,,, -. -,
man n"ieN was ~noHy Que 70 Ph'sc1i
unhtness due 70 MS long lay on
/ Bob FIJI zsimmona will always insist
that Corhett quit in the Carson City fight
u-I.,, re-, LANDED nj. far,ous sola, rlo,,,.
WV" 80 s.. -, :. -
blow IN tho fourteenth rouhu u VIII ne
remembered that Corbett, Knocked TO
/ the foor was in possession Of his faculties
iii. Re.arec SIler counted him out
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NneH wv '"'"' WIN" S''N ne' O'rh