South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-06
Youth and Drawn of Willard
Too Much for Fat Black Man
Young Cowboy Is Popular
Champion.
by Ed. W. Smith.

gone. j can't go mucn Iurtner.
This was the pitiful remark made
by Jack Johnson at the end Of the
oath round as faithful Tom Flanagan
stood beside him in mis- corner. Elan
agan was seated In a nearby box
and Johnson sent for him.
'NOnsense." said Flanagan. hes
aE tired as you are. Keep up your
courage and II you want me again
send for me"
Johnson was right He was all
through then. and at the end OF the
Goth round he again sent for Elan
agan.
Tell my wife she had better leave"
ne SAID. Il can't go much further
and 7 don't want her TO see this"
Flanagan started 10 escort Mrs.
Johnson out Of the park. but before
.ley had left the ringside smash
ing blow on JOhnsOns jaw had
brought about the shift OF the big IT,
tie. Mrs. Johnson turned deathly pale
and would have tOppled over but Tor
friends with her. She wanted 70 rush
into the ring but was restrained and
escorted out of the place. Several
times she attempted TO return.
Collapsed I'm Goth.
II was perhaps the most decisive
champiOnship battle decided since
Corbett's defeat Of Sullivan in New
Orleans in 1892 and Johnson fell just
as all Of the champions OF the past
have fallen. He was knocked out 1t
is true. but he collapsed completely
at least six rounds before Willard
found the spot ne was seeking as a
resting place for that terrific right
smash OF his.
Sullivan collapsed because he was
through as q training possibility.
Corbett stood up until he met a pow
erfuI fighter like FitZsimmOnS Bob
al he oh mir n
youthful Jeffries smashed him into
oblivion and then Johnson, coming
fast and whipping the diminutiVe and
insufficient Tommy Burns brought
about a complete collapse Of the de-
caying Jeffries.
II is the story as old as sporting
history the story OF youth being serv-
ed. less Willard, Kansas farmer, a
product Of the soil and living close TO
nature. caught a rOtting champion AT
a time when his athletic decay was
all TO apparent
willard Real American.
The Kansas man. now worlds
champion and one Of the finest spec
irnents Of real American manhood.
should be one OF the worlds most
popular idols. Already the possibili-
ties as a champion have been point
ed out.
Not only IS Jess a freakish man of
but he is one of the most likeable
chaps that ever sat upon the throne.
He has all the elements that go to
make up an idol.
Boyish as a kid still in school. in
geniOus as a country yokel and 81
thoroughly unspoiled by conditions,
he should be a whirlwind with the
American public.
stomach Smash Wins.
one ferOciOus right hand smash to
the pit OF JohnsOn's fat black stOm-
ach that crumpled the big body of
the Negro in grinding pain at the
opening OF the 26th round, followed
half a minute later by terrific right
hand clip 70 the jaw, are the blows
that made new history for the Amer
lean sport on alien soil, with allen
tongues drowning the sound of
American voices in the weird demon
stration that followed.
Johnson fell and was counted out
by Referee Jack Welch in his own
corner.
For 25 rounds the Negro had bat
tied bitterly and bravely against his
gigantic young white opponent. wag-
ing a warfare of such gameness and
craft as TO finally arouse the admira-
ton Of even the sporting men at the
ringside who had been waiting since
1910 for this day. And while the fin
ish was obvious. no one had looked
for it so soon
Had Quit Laughing.
only the round before someone in
the crowd had remarked that John
son had quit laughing. Johnson
turned and winked his eye and lifted
mis- bruised and bloody lips in a
ghost OF his famous old golden
smile and then stumbled out of his
corner for the 26th round.
Willard met him with that lifting
smash in a neutral corner. the blow
driving through the Negroes guard.
Johnson was badly hurt and drop
ped both hands completely. but quick
~ pushed them up again. Before him
the memory of that murderous smash
was ever uppermost in his mind dur
ing the next 90 seconds as ne shuftied
YEARLY around the ring and il was
probably a repetition OF that waAop
that he was trying 10 avoid when he
was knocked out
He backed over into Wizards cor
ner where willard tented as If TO
again whip his right into that
paunChy cushion across the black
mans middle. Johnson once more
lowered his guard trying 10 get away.
The next instant the massive gloved
right fist OF the kansasan crashed
into the black jaw and Johnson
dropped fat on his back without
scarcely staggering.
Even Welch Is Stunned.
Even Jack Welch seemed stunned
with surprise when the big black top
pied over. but he quickly began count
ing over the dark form that lay with
face upturned To the sun OF the dying
afternoon and just as the withered
hand OF the old referee tolled over
the finish OF the champion. the crowd
made a wild rush for the ring with
the Americans in the van.
johnson did not seem To be totally
unconscious. recovering soon after his
seconds gathered him up. He stood
for a minutes in the center OF the ring
with a white towel wrapped around
his black face. blinking his eyes at
the sun and listening 20 the roar
about him. Then ne went 10 his cor
ner.
Meanwhile Willard would have
been lost IN the great swarm I'm his
. corner. but for his great height
The big farmer grinned amiably while
freuZied men reached for his hand