The San Francisco call., 1910-04-09
COMPLAINS ABOUT
STIFF SHOULDERS
TTcessaHf HaHdbaH Practice Has
Had Effect on Big Fell
lows Hinges
By WILLIAM ]. SLATTERY
rspeeial Dispaich 10 The Call


fish than box any day in the week, so
it was no surprise when he announced
this morning that he would pass up
the Jack johnson ring for the allur-
ing troutstream. Some of the mem
bers of his training party modestly
suggested to the big fellow that il
might be good policy for him TO live up
to his official program and put on the
r1ftts. The result can well be imag-
ined. and the answer was. Fishing all
morning and no boxing at all"
1t is tradition in every camp where
Jefries ever worked that he never
lived up to any program. He has not
changed a single bit since he worked
out for Jack Monroe. and that is nearly
six years ago. Some Of them look
upon this as a good sign, for it shows
that in this respect, at least, he is the
Jenries Of old and that all the training
En- the world VIII not alter him one
particle.
Before going in search of the elusive
spcckled beauties of the Santa Cruz
stream. the big fellow again teok a
whirl on the highway. He fOrsook
the blankets at bells. Three-quarters
Of an hour later he was on his way to
Boulder creek. with Farmer Burns at
his side and Sam Berger and Bob Arm
strong following in the rear.
The sun came out early and it was a
few degrees warmer than the natives
are used 10 At this particular stage of
the season. The result was that big
JEFF began to Juice up" without loss OF
time. Before he had Travelled two
miles the sweat began TO pour out OF
him i'm gushes. Soon the pace became
too strenuous for Berger and he
dropped out as the party entered upon
its third mile. Armstrong clung on.
though he was a bit footweary and his
wind began TO falter. But the old
Farmer still tailed JEFF, though the
latter tried everything he knew in an
effort To shake the veteran.
The trip back from Boulder creek
was made on the run by Jeffries. He
took the bit in his teeth and the Farm
er took hold of him. Down the pike
they few like couple of college
sprinters and when they pulled up at
the hotel door. they were dust covered.
moist from head to foot, but lively.
brisk and eager TO assail the breakfast
table again.
jeff was keeping his eye peeled up and
down the Santa Cruz road and before
s o'clock he was rewarded by the sight
of the fishing expert, Harry Green, COM
ing down the line. Without loss of time
the big fellow grabbed hold of his fish
ing tackle and his basket and his boots
and away he went with the man who is
supposed TO have the low down on al
the favorite trout pools in the county.
After a five hour tour of the streams
far and near jeff and Green returned
with about so trout The fish would not
have taken any prizes for size, but they
were fair specimens for this time of the
year. They suited Jeffries all right, so
nobody had any objections TO offer.
Those strenuous handball games which
Jeffries has been tearing of during the
last few days have served to stiffen up
hiS shoulders to marked degree. He
showed the effects Of this violent form
Of exercise today and he did not try to
deny that the old hinges were a bit
rusty. In fact, he brought the subject
up and it served TO furnish the gossips
. on the veranda with a little food for
discussion during the peaceful after
noon hours. This is the first sign OF
weakness Jeff has yet displayed
The camp gOssipers had a whole lot
10 say about that Jack Johnson ring
and many Of them will be willing to Law
you TO ! right now that jeff will never
work within its confines. The mystery
OF how the apparatus happened TO be
slipped to Rowardennan has not as yet
been solved. But anyhow, it's here and
one Of the regulars grabs him by the
arm and says: Come on over and take
peek at the ring that Johnson used to
wallop all his sparring partners in be-
fore he got ready to wallop Al kaufman
down at Coffroth's arena"
They rugged UP a punching bag fol-
the big fellow this afternoon. but the
pedigree Of this bird has not yet been
discovered. One of the boys says that
Young Peter Jackson used to bump il
around, but he has no affidavit to up
hold his claim. Anyhow, it looks like 2
fair to middIing punching bag and ii
should serve the big fellows purpose
10 nicely just as soon as he gets ready
10 use it. Strangely, he never talks
about gymnasiums or their equipment
but when somebody mentions a bear OF
a trout he's all attention.
Jeffries may box tomorrow or the uext
day or the next week or the next month
but until such time as he puts on the
mitts and one of his sparring mates
squares off in front Of him, nobody viii
know. He is running true to his old
time form in this respect. Possibly. he
need be in no hurry about going through
with his boxing stunts, and it's q cinct
that he does not intend to till he gets
good and ready.
Despite his stiff shoulders Jenfrie,
made up his mind to take another chance
at the handball court when the after.
Moons sun began to sink behind Tbs
mountains. He started off SLOWLY. nlav.
ing Bob Armstrong and Russell Kister
but within Is minutes the sweat begar
TO work its way out of his pores and bt
gained more speed In half an hour +h,
big fellow was sweating a great dea
more than his trainers would have ike
TO see him sweat and when he had An.
ished the game, which lasted about AZ
hour, the stiffness was fairly wei u,or,
off. but the wringing wet garments pav.
mute evidence of more stiffness tomor
row.
There is no question that the big fell
low is just as speedy as he ever was
He shows this in every action and I,
every game, and he seems to take errea,
delight in tearing around. This make,
his footwork all the more noticeable an,
causes all Of them to look and wonder
The big fellows feet and legs certainI,
hold out better than his shoulders
1t is barely possible that Jeffries Will
lay off on all save his roadwork for III,
next few days. Judging by the way h
has been sweating over those handbal
games and stiffening up on the follow
ing day he will be doing the right thfni
by casing up. If he keeps on perspir
ing the way he has been there is ever
danger of his going too fine within tn
next month.
nAKrANn HIGH VVTNG