New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-05
Fighters Meet in Ring.

Little enthusiasm was shown for any
thing before the fight until Jack John
son and his crew were seen strinsing
down the aisle Then the crowd stood
up and checreG. as much from pent up
excitement as anything else Men
breathed deep and lifted their eyes in
thankfulness to the amphitheatre of
brown hills that surrounded this pit in
the desert and the blue bowl of the sky
shutting out the rest of the world.
This was 2.2s O'Clock, an hour after
the scheduled time for the fight. -Four
minutes later Jeffries doomed out Of the
crowd on the other side of the arena and
then the cheering broke loose again.
The ring was quickly crowded with
trainers and seconds. Jeffries laughed
es he passed through the ropes and
Jumped UP and down on the platform
for moment. satisfying himself that it
vas strong enough. He wore his old
soft cap and an old suit of clothes and
cheHed gum. Johnson wore a bathrobe
with violet lining.
Berger walked up to Johnson and
asked him 20 toss for corners
Take sny corner YOU want said
Johnson. It's all the same to me
Berger took the southwest corner and
eave Johnson the northeast. This placed
the sun in Johnson's eyes.
Behind the fighters as tks bandages
v-ere being fastened stood pupil and
master. Corbett and Billy Delaney The
veteran Delaney made he match of
keener interest ia the sporting men. He
Was in Johns0n's corner as an open enc
ray Of JenFies.
Delaney picked up Jeffries at Carson
CITY when Ccrbett and Fitzsimmons
fought and made him a great fighter. At
that time Delaney was Corbett's trainer
and manager. and later acted for years
in the same capacity for Jeffries. A
quarrel made this situation possible.
Men Get Down to Fighting.
With no preliminary handshaking or
picture posing the men faced each other
at 2:s5 O'Clock. Johnson Wore blue
tights and an American flag as his belt.
There was a sign Of Involuntary admira
riun as his naked body stood in the
white sunlight Jeffries in his purple
trunks stood out as hairy giant-some
hero Of folklore.
There was no open attempt on the
part of Jeffries and his men to frighten
the negro. They figured he would be
trembling with fear at the sight Of the
white monster. and there were many
cries 90 Cold feet. Johnson when his
entrance i, the ring was delayed.
snd wien the men stood up at last 10
l..
a WAS plain that the negro was nervous.
Non. you Viii get it. you black cow
srGt" yelled .geffIies' admirers.
Don't talk 20 them. Give them a
square deal" saiG The ma jority of the
lslen Il tie -ingside.
The men smiled ~ each other Ief-
fr.5s Tented. Johnson Rlided e way and
ircy smiled again. Johnson tried out q
straight left and tapped Jeffries's face
They clinched and worked cautiously for
,3ody biows bgt there was little snap IN
eifile,, and they were still Waiting when
fhe round ended.
Cut Out the motion pictures" yelled
the crowd. johnson turned and tapped
.Iefsles lightly GA the shoulder as ne
vert 10 Ills corner. and smiled.
Al the opening Of the second round
getrrles came up with his old crouch
ard mis- ielt arm stuck Gut like a soant-
ling This ~as the blow and The stti-
tatc taat carried h:m TO glory III the
osriy DAYS u rs fighting career
Eut taere aa-s d change IN tie negro
re had foana himself. This was no ter
ror Of the mountains 10 be afraid Of.