The Washington herald., 1915-04-06

|
Of light blue trunks. while Willard wor,
tights of a darker blue hue, with al
American flag around his waist.
Miss Cecilia Wright. an English singer
who once appeared in an engagement a
the Palace and other New York theaters
was sitting at the press bench to writ,
a story for several local American pa
pers. johnson took exception to he
presence and said he would not fight un
less she was excluded from the box
Johnson's reason was that he did no
want women to hear what he might hav,
to say. Miss Wright took q seat further
back without protest.
Jess Was serioua.
| when they shook hands and posed fol
! the pictures. His brow was drawn to q
pucker. while Willard also seemed very
| serious.
| Wizards weight was announced at 2ss
pounds; Johnson's at rs.
During the Introduction Of Tom Jones
Willard lolled back In his chair. his great
limbs stretched out before him and kept
licking his lips
Johnson's expression never changed One
iota during the preliminary. His sleepy
his gaze stray over the crowd. He gave
his wife brief nod of recognition.
When Willard was introduced he re-
| ceived az tremendous demonstration
from the crowd by which by now was
stretched all over tho enclosure. Will
lard's seconds were Tom Jones, Jim
Savage. Tex o'Rourke. and Walter
Monahan.
CLEARS tho Ring.
At 1:2o Curley yelled clear the
ring" and everybody piled out.
WEIGH nodded to Bob Vernon. who
whacked the big gong with a ham
mer and the fight was on.
Both men walked out slowly. John
SON was especially deliberate. After
brief bit Of sparring that had no
result one way or the other they went
to clinch. For tho first time John
sons celebrated golden smile crossed
his face. but the once bright teeth
were now dimmed and broken where
the gold had disappeared.
Willard pumped three stout blows
to Johnson's paunch without much ef-
feet johnson nodded sleepily when
WEIGH called on the mon to break.
Precipitation broke out on the shiny
head of the negro almost Immediately
and his body was soon as wet and
slippery as a seals, but oddly enough
as the fight went along the sweat
gradually disappeared and at the fin
ish the negroes body was perfectly
dry. This probably was due to the
way Jack rested through the closing
rounds.
When the first round. which was
fairly even. was ended there came
the first uproar. the Cubans being
especially demonstrative. filing the
air with screams of Viva" for one
man or the other.
Eneoup,~sa WSpu~-
From tho Americans came yells of en-
couragement for Willard. Scarcely one
English voice was heard in Johnson's
behalf. although some Of tho Cubans
cried his name. -
Never for q moment did Willard seem
afraid of his dusky opponent
In the second round the long Kansan
led briskly for the stomach and through
out the fight kept striding In without fear.
10 was in the second round that John
son began a series of statuesque poses
that kept up to the end. He would stand
perfectly still with gloves poised high in
the air. his eyes glued to Willard for
several seconds at q stretch. This prob
ably was his way Of resting.
Willard staggered him slightly in this
round with q body blow. and It became
apparent to all that the negro had lost
his speed. He shuhied. rather than walk
ed. about the ring.
Jess Marches In.
johnson got in q smash to willard's
stomach that caused Jess mouth to pop
open. but when the second round came
to a close Jess was still marching In.
unafraid.
Up to this time johnson had not said
a word. He rarely smiled at the verbal
abuse which fell on him from all sides
Of the ring, but he gave no sign that he
heard 1t until the third round, when he
made some remark to willard
When he sat down in his chair be-
tween the rounds. 1t was noticed that
ne breathed heavily. but in the fourth
No deliberately thrust his stomach for
ward, inviting a blow from Jess.
WIZARDS blocking was excellent, and |
ne always seemed to have perfect COM /,
nand of himself. at times standing on
.iptoe to make johnson hit high.
Jones DoeS Talking.
The faces Of the seconds on either
'ide of the ring were q study through
ought the fight. Jones did all the talk. |
ng in Jess corner. but this was only
between rounds; he never shouted a 1
word during the fighting. Over in |
Tohnson's corner Armstrong and Me-
7ey were sombrely silent. Mcyey occa-
Iionally lifting his lips In . grin when
le watched Johnson.
The crowd was generous in its ad-
ice to Willard. but Jess might have
,een deaf for all the attention he paid
t.
willard's lips began bleeding in the
ourth and later on blood smears
howed on his right ear. while John
on spat blood between the rounds.
In the sixth johnson was making
desperate effort to put some drive be-
lind his punches. but when that round
losed the waistband Of his trunks was
in thick roll OF tat when he
reathed.
Jack Misses swlng. I
Old Jack was showing the effect Of
he grind, but in the next round he i
made desperate charge that brought
ess' tongue between his teeth John.
on missed one swim that almost over
alanced him.
Jehnsen wers = worried ieeG - H. y