The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-28
JESS WILLARD, THE NOTORIOUS
"WHlTE HOPE" 81 TOMORROW

Pottawatomie county, Kansas, has
never loomed very luminous in the
pages OF past history, but just
one year hence, come tomorrow, the
people in%habitating that county expect
to hold G great celebration common
Grating the birthday Of a native son
who has achieved a place in the sun
Of famo. For the morrow will marx
the twenty.seventh anniversary of the
birth in said county of the Sunflowcr
State of Jess Willard, the notorious
white hope" who has been matched
to practice the rites of his peculiar
pr Profession with n Jack Johnson.
Many sporting men in other parts en-
certain doubts whether the altitudin-
Gus Jess, in case he actually meets
Tack, will be able to triumph over his
dusky opponent, but Pottawatomie
county sports entertain no such mis-.
sivings. 1t is rumored that one Potta-
watomie plunger has already wageret
fifty cents against a dime that Willard
will win If he fights Johnson, and other
big bets are being arranged. Jess
will carry a lot of Pottawatomie conn-
~ money if he ever gets into the ring
with tho worlds champion.
Willard was a cowboy before he
started out to disarrange the maps Of
his fellowmen. He spent the days in
punching fractions steers and the
nights in growing. Every morning he
found that he had gained an inch or
two during tho night, and the process
didn't stop until he had gained an alti.
tude of six feet and seven inches
above sea level. He has a reach OF
sag inches, and weighs about 2S5
pounds when in condition.
1t was four years ago that Willard
started fighting in the ring. His first
match was with Louis Fink, at Sapul-
na, Okla, and he lost on a foul. Later
he fought Fink in Oklahoma City and
pvt him to sleep in the Bird round.
During 1911 Willard took part in eight
pattles, all in Oklahoma, and won all
Tut the first, five Of them by knock
outs. The next year Jess set out for
the East. and made a good showing
against Luther Mccarthy and Arthur
pedkey in New York. besides knock.
ing out Soldier Kearns and other
"hopes."
Wizards first 2O.round engagement
was with Gunboat Smith in San Fran.
cisco last year. The big Kansan had
q bad case of stage fright. to all ap.
pearances. and the Gunboat got the
decision, but Smith didn't have any.
thing to brag about, and a lot of sports
thought Willard was entitled to the
shade. After the unfortunate "Bull"
Young battle at Vernon Jess returned
to the East, outpointing "Boer" Rodel
in Milwaukee and giving Carl Morris
the whipping of his young life in New
York. Later Jess knocked out Rodcl
in New Haven and put a crimp in the
0SPiIatAolo VI GSOlS6 OdFlS III buIdiO.
These and other past performances
give some basis for PottawatomIe
county's faith In It's native son. One
Of Jess's greatest weaknesses is his
overlooking good nature. He won't
fight at his best unless his opponent
does something to inture his feelings.
When he gets to feeling really peeved
he can go 1il1 a demon. If johnson
meets the Jawhawker, he will be wise
TO keep his golden smtel constantly
on display, and to refrain from indulg.
ing in any rude conversation. Such re.
marks as Jack c%ustomarily makes dur.
ing the course of his battles would
Grille" Jess and make him feel very
enjoyed. When he gets that way,
Jess Is likely as not to take a hearty
slam at his annoyer. Then-ouch!--
enc IN two ~ three w four five
six ~ seven Ivy eight nine - ten!
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