The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1910-04-15

best known boxing experts III the |
country, and is looked upon as an
authority with regard to the amount
of training one should undergo.
WHEN JOHNSON MADE HIS
START.
And now comes the story of the
discovery of Jack Johnson, champion
heavyweight pugilist, daredevil chauf-
feur, and pet mark for the police OF
many cities in their war against
speeding autoist. We all know there
have been enough stories of the dis
covery of Johnson to make the
history of perpetual motion seem
devoid of discoveries but Leo
Posner is the man who really got
him his first fight.
This all happened about ten years
ago in sunny Galveston, Tex. Mr..
Posner was seated in his Office one
day when a Negro named Charley
Brooks entered and announced that
he had a large consignment of hui
man tar outside which he would like
to have Mr. Posner inspect.
Brooks was a masseur and trial
horse in the boxing academy of Her
man Bernau To his income as sucn
he added few dollars now and then
by fighting some other Negro in a
preliminary before the Galveston
Athletic club.
"Ive got an easy mark, Mr.. Pos
men," said Brooks. His name is Jack
Johnson"
Posner stepped outside and beheld
seated upon a potato barrel the hero
of the championship battle with
Tommy Burns. But how different
his appearance from the Jack john
son of the present day. The john
son that Posner beheId was a tall,
ragged Negro, the toes of his big
feet prodding through his worn out
shoes "a rickety derby perched on his
head
Johnson informed Posner that he
understood that if he would fight
Brooks a purse would be offered for
the contest. He was informed in
turn that his understanding was COZ
rect, and there and then the pail
were matched
Johnson appeared at the club early
on the night set for the fight. He
had never been in the ring before, bu
he showed no sign of nervousness
nor fear. Brooks, full of confidence
looked for an easy victory. He trlet
, to play with Johnson at first, but III
was unable to fool the future cham
t pion. When the men finally came
} together hard Johnson landed OF
: Brooks jaw and the latter slipped
: into Sunderland, a look of paine'
i. surprise upon his face. He did no
: come to for ten minutes, and whel
, he did his first act was to forswea
3 boxing for the future.
] Johnson at once stepped INT
9 Brooks shoes as the champion tr1a
Y horse of the club. He fought ma
/ after man and beat them all; mos
/, of them were easy for him, too.
d Meanwhile Johnson's fame wa
/. spreading through the Texas blac
e belt. 1t was no longer easy to fin
d local men who would go against hin
l. and it was necessary for the club t
r import SOME talent. Posner there
e upon secured Klondike, a Negr
e fighter known in Philadelphia an
Chicago, to come to Galveston for
5. bout with Johnson.
Klondike arrived and was greete
as a hero He was ready to earn
out the program mapped out for hin
Is In fact, he did his best to carry
e out. His only difficulty was that b
81 couldn't Otherwise he was all righ
7, The fight went twenty rounds an
i. was declared a draw.
s. Next Johnson was matched again
IS George Lawler, the Irish giant, WI
]. fought under the name of Jack M
D. Cormick 1t was thought the latt
g, would win. But he did not.
II. fact. he took such a beating that
r. was laid up a week Johnson WI
lg also hurt in the fight, but not badl
n Johnson now became extreme
nd chesty. Dangerously so, In fact VIII
Sc one recalls what the good book sa
he about pride. He had met only du
It's up to this time, but he did not kno'
IN, he thought he could whip anybo
es in the world and eagerly snapped
,ly the chance of match with Joe CT
ynski
he What Choynsh did to him was
in plenty. He simply toyed with Jol
son, finally knocking him out in {