Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19

Darrell. lie was not Durdened with many
garments. His shirt was ragged, his
overalls were much the worse for wear
and his toes were sticking through the
hole in his old shoes. He was just an or
binary specimen of the southern darby.
bigger and more muscular, it Is true, but
laughing and carefree and never bOthering
much as long as the sun shone and he
got his meals. He was content to do odd
jobs along the levee for his two bits. In
winter he suffered some discomfort, but
then the winters were short.
1t was Jack Johnson. now the heavy
weight champion Of the world. but then
only big. good-natured southern darby
looking for his pickings.
How de do. Mr.. Posner." said john
son. Brooks says you will give me some
money If 1 fight him. Will you?"
Yes" replied Posner. ''I'n put you on
against Brooks at the next show. If you
win you get the big end. and if you lose,
the small end"
"All right. sab. I'll fight" was john
sons agreement.
The sports at the next show OF the Gal
weston A. c. expected to see Brooks beat
up the new Niger opposing him. Brooks
Johnson. however. through his natural
fighting ability. speed and strength. sur
prised the fight fans. Brooks with all
his ring tricks could not scare Johnson.
The men did some light sparring and
feeling out in the first round. In the
second Brooks decided it was about time
to wade in and finish the novice He
rushed and was met by a pile-driving
purch on the jaw that dropped him like
log. Brooks was out for fully ten
minutes.
After that Johnson did not want for
fights. He cleaned w the best Of the
darkies in the black belt, among his early
victories being a knockout Of Horace
Miles in three rounds Then George Law
Tor. an Irish giant. who fought under the
ring name of Jim Mccormick was called
I'll A>4- A>I
rounds and twice again beat him both
times in seven rounds. In between his
fights with Mccormick Johnson defeated
Jack Lee.
When Choynski Appeared.
Johnsons name had spread all over the
black belt, and there was no darby in the
south who dared meet him. Posner then
sent round-trip ticket to Philadelphia.
where there was burly negro known as
klondike cutting a wide swath in pugilis-
tic circles. Klondike went to Galveston
and fought Johnson. The battle was a
grueling one. and lasted twenty rounds
but Johnson got the decision.
Posner was forced to look for white
men as opponents for Johnson. He
thought so much of JohnsOn's ability that
he decided to see IL he could match him
with Joe Choynski. The white man
money and quickly agreed to match
When johnson was asked how he would
like to fight Choynski he simply said
Fine"
In the Choynski battle johnson met his
first defeat and the only knockout of his
long career. Choynski's ring generalship
and cleverness were too much for the
comparative novice, and the white man
dropped the black in the third round for
the full count of the dOleful decimal. In
more ways than one. however. Johnson S
defeat was fortunate. The men were ar
rested. and while In jail spent the time
boxing. Choynski was a great teacher
doubt that Johnson learned lot from
Choynski. which helped him greatly in
his future ring appearances.
The second fighting year OF his career,
| 1902. was a big one for Johnson. as far
as fights engaged I'm was concerned. He
| was the principal In sixteen contests. not
| losing one and having four draws. This
| was the year In which he met Jack jeff
| ries, a brother Of the man whom he is
| to lace on July 4. playing with him for
four rounds before he dropped him for
| ...e full count.
| One of Johnsons hardest fights was
| with George Gardner. the middleweight
| champion of New England, fresh from
| several decisive victories and a big favor.
| lite over the Galveston black. Those who
| went to see the clever Bay State boy add
another scalp to his belt were surprised
| for Johnson won on the bit. CONSIDERING
| the name Gardiner had at the time. the
| battle brought Johnson more before the
public than all the rest of his former
\ contests.
Some Good Bouts.
| After that battle johnson defeated Fred
Russell and Denver Ed Martin. Then h<