New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-03
Desert City Full to Overlooking
for the Big Battle
Tomorrow.
HOW THE TWO FIGHTERS CON-
PARE IN MEASUREMENTS.

Reno. New July Reno is Just wait
ing now for the moment when Billy Jor-
dan. the announcer. viii climb out of the
ring with al the speed that his fat legs
can carry him, crying, Let 'er go," An
other languid sunset in these brown hills
and he great Jeffries-Johnson battle VIII
be on.
In the mean time, the desert city is tax
ing on the appearance Of q national con-
vention. The delegates from the worlds
sporting centres are arriving on every train.
The streets and hotels are filled with 4
Shifting mob of men from all the walks IF
life The hum Of conversation on the
street is punctuated with the click Of the
roulette wheels and with the cry of sou
venir hawlQers- And all are awaiting the
fight that nothing but an earthquake, fire
or death can now prevent
The camps IF the fighters are quiet, with
TIE quiet Of suspense The arena, fully
completed, is waiting out in the white dust,
an ugly skeleton that in a few hours will
be palpita1ing with life and thrills that run
down mems spines in moments of physical
strife Probably not another stick will
have TO he touched.
The purse money is up-au Of 1.-THE
pay Jim Jeffries and Jack Johnson TO
measure their sinews, their brains AMI
their fighting hearts The only movement
from the rival camps to-day was in the
way Of pleasure andl thought killing. Both
Jeffrfes and johnson made automobile trips
into town johnson Just for fun and 10 have
the crowd TO stare at him. and Jeffries be
cause he had 70, in order TO get to the fish
ing grounds that he decided 10 visit late in
the afternoon
The critical time Of waiting is being
watched closely by fight experts Jefries
has surprised them all by his apparent I'M
concern on the eve of the greatest battle
Of his l.fe Nothing else was expected
from the negro, who thinks only Of the mo-
Trent-
To the sporting men who made the trip
to Moana Springs N the early afternoon,
restful scene was presented On the lawn
al the side of the white cottage sat JET
fries and his cronies around a small tahle.
The fighter had on q soft shirt, and sott
cap rested caTelessly on the back Of his
head. He was leaning over a hand OF cards
figuring how to win a few cents from his
opponents. When he succeeded he was
happy. and his laugh rang out so that the
crowds hanging over the fence marked
private Stil---l III SN4--k8dlA4S
Over the group a great willow tree spread
n restfLl branches. From branch hung
2 cege with two pigeons On the green
AVN tiny white dog played. running oc-
casioaally to lick the hand Of Jefries.
Around all swung the great bare hills and
the green meadows
OF the thoughts that passed through
Jeffries's rnind-between hands-as he
glanced past the group out into the
brilliant sunshine and the blue sky no one
Of his intimate friends pretended TO say.
Sometimes his eyes would take on d deep,
son7bTe look and he would scowl. Again
his eyes would fash in fun. q dimple
would show and all would be as merry as
q wedding morning.
To those who braved the sunshine and
the dust and the bumps in the road and
made their way to Kicks roadhouse, on
the other side Of town, another scene Of
rest was shown, but it was rest Of a
different kind. There was much hilarity
ard loud nerriment, and The sound of
singing and instrumental music breaking
out at odd times proved that the negro
champion and his crew were amusing
themselves as though the fight were al
ready over
On the outside there was absolute GER
N6aIIg o. the outcome SaCtf NOJIl-
ing has arisen 20 add or detract from the
arguments pro and con that have been
agitating the fight fans Of the country
foE a year.
In the Jehries camp the hangers-on and
trainers are willing to bet their last dollar
that the man whom no man ever has
brought TO his knees by a blow viii make
johnson look like the outside Of a storm
cellar after q hurricane. They can see
nothing but the huge 7aying arms Of
Jeffries moving down his opponent They
predict less than seven rounds after the
first blow IS struck On the other hand,
there is plain JOY in the hearts of the
Tnes who follow johnson They see the
negro astride the world They depend on
youth and science-especially that right
uppercut The dead level of opinion
among the fight experts is that the fight
Will be long one and a hard one-in
other words. the greatest ring battle Of
the decade.
We will get our moneys WORTH said
an Eastern sporting man, who had looked
the situation over carefully. This fight
will be talked of for twenty years The
men who stayed at home will be kicking
themselves all over when they read the
rounds"
from me vantage OF the hotel doorway,
however, IL looks as though few had sta we'd
at home. Among the crowds that throng
the barTooms and gambling houses are
the faces of men known around the world.
The state police are doing what they can
10 keep the grafters and the thieves away
even 10 the extent Of searching trains al
the border-but there is many q loophole,
and the light fingered gentry are here in
force
High noon and four deep around the
roulette and faro tables-that IS the stu
alton in Reno to-day. II is impossible for
the visitor from cities where gambling is
kept under q discreet cover to venture
half a block from his room without stun
bling across a green table and a pretty
checkerboard and man IN shirtsleeVes
raking in all the money in the crowd
Drifting in and out Of the temples of
chance are quietly dressed sporting men.
business men on a vacation, faces from
the under world and the men that belong
10 the hills and the desert-quiet and keen,
something of the mystery of the sage
brush distances in their eyes, skin of
leather and broad hats covered with white
dust These are the contrasts of the new
METROPOLIS, the mecca of sportdom and
the place of play interest" 10 the aver
age man in every town from coast to
coast to-day
PRISONERS TO HEAR RETURNS.