The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-01
JESS MUST WIN.
He Says 1t Means Fortune to
His Family.
Would Be Ashamed to Face
Them as Loser.

Havana, Cuba, April LESS Will
lard must win his fight with Jack
johnson on April 5. He declared
himself Wednesday to a party of
friends when he came down town
showing much spirit and confidence.
In a talk he said he would almost
rather die in the ring than quit loser.
Its a case of must with me- de-
clared the Kansas cowboy. after
this fight if 1 lose, there can be moth
ing for me in the ring business. I
have a big family wife and four
children-waiting in Los Angeles for
me- 1 can't get a dollar if lose but
can clean up a fortune if I win,
through later work.
1.-The loser will not get even small
money after this fight and L would
go to work rather than humiliate my
self by being laughed at as a man who
could get no money in the game I'M
less right on top or close to it. If
beaten I won't consider myself even
near the top, therefore L must quit the
ring.
'sThis is a fortune for the kids if I
can pull it off and I mean to do it. I
simply can't lose and go home to face
them. / would almost rather die
first
dence than did Jess as he looked over
the sale to see if the receipts would
cover the expenses Harry Frazee
said the money already taken in would
ed a wild rush during the last two
days, especially for the cheaper seats.
The most expensive ones are gone
now.
The fight seems an assured success.
1t is predicted as big a crowd in num-
berS as ever attended fight anywhere
will be on hand.
johnson said today that he would
enter the ring weighing between 222
and 225. He will be bigger than ever
haf inn nj
admits having too big waist line but
claims he is in as good condition as
he ever was since the Jeffries fight.
To the critical eye it doesn't seem
possible for him to hold hot pace
for an hour or more under a hot sun.
There are two rolls of flesh over the
hip bones that were never there be-
fore when he trained hard. 1t seems
impossible to remove them. Johnson
has worked desperately but it was no
use. The big smoke denies there is
any inside fat that won't come off
He says he eats everything he wants
and has great speed, but critics doubt
his staying qualities.
Jack Says He's 81.
The story that johnson trained Sc
cretly with McVey was denied by him.
Others claim they boxed ten or eleven
rounds daily on the roof of a house
early in the morning without the
knowledge of the rest of the camp,
which accounts for Jacks present
condition, which came so quickly
The story has shortened the betting
odds some.
Johnson claims Thursday is his
thirty-seventh birthday; others say
it is his thirty-ninth by Galveston
birth records. s---------
Several critics today come out flat
footed with the statement that if Jack
can win he is the athletic marvel of
any age. 1 feel that way myself if the
fight goes any distance, say IL or is
rounds.
The government has ordered three
platOOns of cavalry to Oriental park
Monday to preserve order and keep
the crowd back. The local officials
have assigned two policemen to guard
Johnson's house from now on, espec-
tally during the battle. Johnson's
wife has a ringside seat.
Stakeholder Vernon has arrived
here with the purse and Referee
WEIGH will reach town Friday