The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-07-29
BY KNOCKOUT.


Do you remember reading in this pa
per along about the time the Jeffries-
Johnson match was made that there
was plan to have Frank Gotch, the
worlds champion wrestler, turn pu-
gilist and fight Jack Johnson, if the
big boilermaker failed to win?
Well, it was printed whether you
read it or not, and now the scheme
has been sprung. Let me say right
at the start off that Frank Gotch never
will be seen in the ring with Jack
Johnson Gotch is too smart. In fact
he's about the smartest athlete in the
country, if not the world Gotch is
strong, Gotch is game and as wres-
tier has no peer. But there's all the
difference in the world between wres-
thing and fighting, and different set
of muscles entirely is developed in
the two games.
Jim Corbett, according to report, was
going to give several months of his
valuable time to teaching Gotch the
fine POINTS of the fighting game to
make of the wrestler "the white mans
hope" position Jeffries held until
July 4. Corbett is in the show bust
ness. Gotch has been on the stage
and probably will be again next win
ter. That's the answer, dear reader.
Both know the value of getting their
names in print in connection with such
story. No, Frank Gotch never will
fight Johnson and if he does he's too
smart to have any old has beens
teaching him the business. 1t would
be Gotch for Tommy Ryan or Billy
Delaney. Corbett wouldn't do.
AS 1 predicted last week, Tommy
Ryan has come out with the declara-
ton that he intends to prime his pro-
tege. Con O'Kelly, to fight Johnson.
Foxy Tommy says he can make
O'Kelly into scrapper in a year,
and will then challenge Johnson for
the championship. About all the Harp
has now is size, but he'll know how to
fight when Ryan gets through with
him. They all do. But will he be able
to whip Johnson? It's a safe guess
the odds would be five to one on John
son should the pair be matched at the
end of year. Fighters are not made
| that quickly. They must have plenty
Of hard knocks and they don't get
them in gymnasium. 1t is probable
that at the end of a year therell be
no place in the United States where
championship fight can be pulled off
anyway.
It's remarkable how this agitation
against the showing of the moving
pictures Of the Reno battle has grown.
Maj.Dick Sylvester, superintendent of
police In Washington, started it the
day after the battle, when, because of
a riot between blacks and whites in
the national capital, he said he would
not permit the pictures to be shown
because Of the anti-negro feeling en-
gendered there.
Other cities picked it up and the
movement grew into such proportions
that the men who bought the right to
show the pictures and exhibit then,
grew alarmed and decided not to show
them just yet. 1t is understood that
Jeffries received $4,000, Johnson $50.
600 and Richard $4,000 or 100000 for
their share in the pictures, which, in
addition to the expense of taking and
staging them, probably meant an out.
lay Of 100000. No wonder the pro.
moters were alarmed by the move.
ment started In Washington. They ex.
pected to clean up million dollars
With many big cities closed against
them, they'll do well to get their
money back. Which means the prize
fight game In this country is on it's
last legs. The Johnson-Little quarrel
and counter charges of taking Se-
tween them has added another blow
and it's safe to bet that Johnson will
have to go to England or Australia ii
he wants to fight again.
Are bonuses to pitchers for winning
"a certain number of games a good
thing for baseball? This question is
as much in mind this summer as
ever. Several big league club own
| sts have offered their star twirlars
81