The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-26
Born a Fighting sInn.

Born Fighting Mnn.
When James j. Jeffries was born
thirty-tive years ago April 10 last, a
first class fighting man was created.
He was endowed with everything that
goes to make up fighter right from
the start. He did not need to train
and school himself to amy great extent.
He had both the brain and the Drawn.
and all he lacked was the ambition to
win fame as g. fighter When that am
bition did come to him it required but
two years for him to yanquish every
fighter worthy OF consideration and
make the championship title one of his
personal assets. Once he secured 1t the
only way he could find of Kidding him
self of the burdens 1t imposed was to
give 1t away. That is what Jeff did
with 1t. He looked over the field Of
worthy heavyweights with view to
adopting one OF them as his heir.
Eight years after his first fight he
decided that Marvin Hart was the
.heir-apparent, and abdicated in Harris
favor.
one of the striking things about
Jeffries Is the fact that 1t took a
great deal of argument to convince
him that he was fighting man at all.
Despite Natures generosity to him In,
the matter OF size and strength, he
had q, strong suspicion all the time
that he was intended to be farmer.
Through his early life he displayed
great fondness for getting close to
nature via fishing rod or a gun. and
spent quite a bit of time among the
mountains. He developed a decided
fondness for country life, and when
he resigned his high state as cfam-
pion, having annexed enough money
through purses, moving pictures and
stage appearances to do what he
pleased. he FASTENED to farm in
Southern California with the intention
of ending his days as a sort of coun-
try squire. Had John Arthur Johnson
and the color question not interfered
with his plans. he would. in all prob
ability, have carried out that deter
mtnation.
Never mn Amateur.
Jcffries was born In Carroll o.. in
1875, but his parents came to Califor-
MIA so soon after his arrival that he
is looked upon almost as a native OF
that State, Little is recorded of his
doings prior to 1897 beyond the fact
that he was mighty hunter. a good
boiler maker, and a, rough and tumble
| lighter with whom few cared to mix.
He never was IN amateur fighter. The
first time he entered the ring he did
so on the spur of the moment, accept
ing the challenge of colored fighter
named Hank" Griffin, because of the
| money he would get by defeating the
|challenger, The fight occurred in Los
Angeles. Cal. in 1898. and Jeff. accom-
plished the defeat ofNtse colored man
In fourteen rounds winding up with
an artistic Knockout
While this victory did not seem To
arouse jeff to any ambition as a
tighter, 1t attracted the attention OF
| lighters to him as aivaluable training
partner, He seconded middleweight
named Billy Gallagher in San Fran
fcisco two years later, and Gallagher
| got him match in 1896 with Dan
Hong. of Denver There was a $1,000
purse up, and Long went to sleep In
| the second round when Ieff's left en-
countered his nose.
/ 1t was shortly after this that Jim
| Corbett began to prepare for his fight
with Bob Fitzsimmons, which gave
the latter the championship. Harry
ICorbett. Jlm's brother. who was on
the lookout for sparring partners, SEM
Jeff up TO Carson City. Nevada, to Join
| inns training STAFF. Corbett ham
lmered the his fellow, unmercifully.s but
Jeff was absorbing knowledge of the
| lighting game through every pore.
| These were his first real boxing les
| sons. and he took them from a master
| OF the craft Within three weeks after
Corbett's defeat, Jefft in the rims
i again on his own hook, doing away
with the aspirations OF two promising
heavyweights In quick succession In
lSlspT, 5l Z. 8
;s Match With Rubin.
So much had Jsff benefited by Cor
\ hett's, training that he was marked
A as a. coming fighter at once. and a
4 match was arranged for him with Gus
4 Rubin, of Akron. O.. which was foush hit
4 In San Francisco In 1897. The fight
4 went twenty rounds 10 q draw.
4 In the same year Jstfries faught Jos
4 C'hoynski a twenry5Eound, draw Ja2
recalls this hght particularly. he aaxss