Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-06

-rT
. Jack johnson has retired. Not a
Patti farewell, according to the Big
Smoke, but genuine, for-ever-and-
ever, cfoss-his-heart good-by to the
squared circle. .s. =.
From Chicago, the home of the
black champion, a press dispatch
flashed over the wires July 20 last,
bringing gloom to the early fall crop
OF white hopes, who saw chances Of
fame and fortune disappear. Here is
the way the sad news was worded !.
Jack Johnson is through When
the clock struck midnight tonight the
champion resigned from further ac-
tive participation in all things fistic
Disguised with all things that apper-
tain 10 the squared circle, Jack moved
the eventful day ahead from that first
proposed Labor Day-and declared
ne was through
They won't let me fight white
man In New York, and there's too
much red tape, connected with the
shorter bouts, the champion gave as
the reason for his sudden decision.
I've got all that can get out Of the
out among themselves.
No, there's no chAnce for me to
come back. I'm through, and that
means that there can be no induce
Inent offered which will be sufficiently
strong to get me to don my fighting
clothes again.
Read the signs.
IL IN quite posRibie that lacks de-
cision to get away from the game for
good and all isn't entirely due to the
dlfliculty OF arranging bouts in New
York or elsewhere His Fourth OF
July Affair at Las Vegas may have
had something 10 do with 1t, for the
whisper has gone the founds since,
that Jack wasff6r nom satisfied with
his own showing Id the ring with
Flynn, end that be told intimate
friends afterwards that he wouldn't
60 through the training grind again
under any consideration.
Jack can't last for ever, and he Is
keen enough to see the writing on
the wall. From all accounts, he Is
well fixed in coin, and the stories that
emanated from London last year, to
the effect that the champ was down
and out financially, have been dis
proved BY the Missouri method. He
now owns q cafe that must be as good
as q mint, and there is little chance
of the wolf scratching at the door.
A while back, before the Flynn
fight. Jack talked OF going over TO
Australia and having crack at Lang
ford and McVea. After the fight he
didn't even whisper the suggestion,
another indication that July brought |
q revelation to both men inside the
ropes.
Won't BE Tempted.
One thing Ia pretty certain, and that
Is that johnson won't make the ass
of himself that Jim Jeffries did by
trying to do q comeback after an ex-
first place there won't be the demand |
for his temperance. and in the sec
ond he has far more intelligence than
the thick-headed Jeffries, and has |
Jeff's disastrous experience to profit
by.
OF course, there may be. match
arranged Immediately, with either Joe |
jeanette or AL Palzer, in which case
Johnson could gracefully set aside his
resolve and 60 back to his original
plan. of having one more fight and re-
firing on Labor Day. This, however,
seems to be the only chance Of seeing |
Jack johnson In the ring again, and.
from all accounts, it's a slim chance
at best
So ring fans have in all probability I
said good-by to Jack johnson, cham
pion. A wild, irresponsible and in
character of the fighting I
game was this big negro, with the
love of q child or barbarian for
pomp. splendor and adulation. He
basked in the light and glory of the
title. and il is safe to say that no
other champion ever priced his hon.
ors so highly, not only for what they
brought In riches, but also for what
they meant in distinction Of a certain
sort Laying race prejudice aside, it
must be admitted that Jack johnson
was one of the greatest champions
the ring has ever seen, and that he
has left his mark on boxing for all
time.