The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-16
JEFFR|ES To TRY
JOHNSON AGAIN
Hopes to Regain Lost Laur.
els by Defeating the Big
Black Heavyweight
tBy w. W. Naughton.)

~ett ulS No.
lherc was a rumor q few days ago
u fairly we'll defined rumor, IL may he
stated-that Jim Jcffries is becoming
restlNe in his retirement, that his hat
is in h ring. as it We're, and that he
is consumed with q desire to wipe out
the indignities thrust upon him by ono
JACK at Reno Il year and a
haIf ago. AS Mr.. Jeffries refused eth
or to confirm or deny the report, it
created a small ripple of excitement.
It's Just as we'll. in fact. that Jeffries
kept his lips closed and thereby gave
the rumor an air of instability. II III,
had confirmed the story without fur
ther ado. 1t might have grievcd him
to discover how little the public is in-
terested in his pugilistic ambitions.
1t serves to show the changes a year
or two bring about. Not SO very long
ago. when Jeffries. after much hang
ing back. announced his readiness to
box johnson, the news created world
wide commotion. Now that he is seri-
ouslN suspected of a similar design. all
that is heard Is an occasional smoker.
Yet they a it's true; that the hope
OF bringing about another clash with
the negro springs eternal i'm the JEFF
fries breast. and that the only reason
big Jim has not hoen more definite in
~ AAo Poi l'OSc Is Iudl ne Is
maintaining his old policy of unbos-
oming himself a hit at a time. Now
that some kind friend has broken the
ice for him. 1t is prophesied that Of
flclal confirmation Of the rumor will
shortly he Forthcoming and that JEFF.
fries will devote himself to the fur
therancc of his scheme irrespective of
sneers and jeers from the sporting
body.
Here's the way of it," said a we'll
EnnWn vine man who is friendly with
.jenrles and was in the old days. This
new notion of Jeffries' is not based on
the expectation OF making money.
Jim has old me not once but a dozen
times that. If it hadn't been for the
financial aspect of that first night with
johnson. he might never have come
out of retirement but this is n differ
ent proposition. To begin with. JEFF
fries believes he was doped that July
day when he faced johnson at Reno.
iou Know what a close-mouthed fell
low he is. He will not reveal the
source of his information. but he says
he has become possessed of convincing
information that his suspicious were
we'll founded. He knows and every
n who saw the fight knows. that he
was not himself that day. He believes
that. he had felt as we'll as he did on
any of his ordinary training days. he
could have licked Johnson. He has
been taking good care of himself--has
g training quietly i'm fact-and he
Is going to bring about another fight
If it can be done"
As Johnson is perfectly willing to
obliee. it seems thai the only thing
needed now is some definite declara-
ton of his intention from Jeffries
himself. If that were forthcoming,
It is reasonable to suppose that a
purse and d battle-ground could soon
be located. Personally the writer has
no expectation cf seeing the thing
come to a head. Indecision was al
ways M o N,ffries' characteristics
and he is likely to abandon this new
project on some pretense at ali in
stant's notice. But. if he comes out
of his shell and decides to go right
through with the thing. it is interest
ing to speculate on the kind of a fell
low Jeffries will appear when he has
pitched camp and is in full swing OF
training.
To begin with. he will probably be
more tolerant of and more approach
able by newspaper men. Time was
when timid correspondents dared not
approach the awful presence of the
champion unless conveyed by Bill De-
laney or some other s~oft-voiced, kind
hearted mediator. Those We're the
Gays when poor, ratified photograph
ers used to get their legs entangled
with their tripods while e%ndeavoring
granted by the big fighter. There may