The Washington herald., 1915-04-06

ninth passed and tho tenth came on
which was about the time that tn,
fight commenced to slow up.
He shambled out of his corner, wip
Ing tho sweat from his eyes and cast
Ing a queer dumb look upward a.
the sun and outward over the crowd.
High over head swung a number Of
Cuban buzzards. their wings flattenet
against the sky. their beaks dropped
The crowd had grown quiet. Fol
tho moment only the voice of 8
Cuban was heard. passing through the
boxes, Offering to bet on johnson
when suddenly an American vel back
from the ring Numbered an offer OF
$500 to $500 to the Cuban.
This is the round" said Jack as
he walked back after the tenth. bu,
the meaning Of his comment was not
apparent.
| Negro Talks.
During the eleventh he was con.
stantly talking and answering the re-
marks hurled at him from the crowd.
Once he said something to Willard
that made Jess grin. At the finish of
tho round he playfully slapped Jess
on the back.
| The great hairy body Of the white man
was red from punches. and his leg mus
| cles were shaking like masses of telly.
but Jess did not seem the least fatigued.
His eyes were wide open, while the eyes
OF the negro were heavy with a great
WEAKNESS. Lying back in his chair. his
stomach was as habby ss a mass of
| black ough. It was an effort for his Sec
onds to push their hands between the
waistband and body to aid his breath
ing.
1t was apparent even now that the
white man was winning. and that it was
| only q question Of time when the end
| must come
In the fourteenth johnson was warned
by WEIGH for heeling.
Come out with that one." said the ne
gro to Willard. indicating Jess right
hand a. they stood feintinG.
III DO you'll be sorry" said tho
Admire. Negro.
IN the fifteenth and from then to the
close Of the fight comments of admiratio
on the fight the negro was making were
heard from all sides OF the ring and al
most drowned the abuse of the big black.
johnson either heard the remarks or
sensed the feeling Of the crowd. for he
cried:
He must have been 4 Grand old man
Later he said: II see a little red spot
there on this boys body where I am
Immediately about to land my right"
and then charged In furiously, but fu-
tilely.
What round Is this7'' he asked George
Munroe, one Of his seconds. a little later.
When he was told the sixteenth was
coming up he expressed surprise.
johnson Starts PavvinE.
II must have been a great man once"
he shouted again during the fighting In
tho sixteenth. johnson was paving all
through this round, indicating that his
punch had gone forever.
In the eighteenth his eyes became
glazed when Willard raped him on the
jaw.
By this time the crowd was yelling
wildly for Willard to finish his man,
Old fighters and experts were yelling
across the ring to Tom Jones, begging
him to cut Willard loose, but Jones only
shook his head.
Over In Johnson's corner the seconds
did not seem alarmed. while johnson
himself still carried q shadow Of his
smile.
Tho faces Of the old followers OF the
game. which were grouped around the
ring. were a study in expression. Bob
Vernon and Otto Floto. the timekeepers,
became 50 excited that they almost for
got to hammer the gong.
Jess Seconds Smile.
Wizards seconds were grinnIng. Tom
Jones countenance wore a wide smile az
he wfnked at friends across the ring.
Every man around the press bench was
calling to his neighbor that johnson was
about done and specializing on how long
the big negro could last, Johnson couId |
not help but hear.
Through the nineteenth Jim Savage, |
one Of Willard's seconds, began talking !
to Johnson with his chin level with the !
ring floor. Jack never answered, in |
strange contrast to tho ready fire of |
Corbett, who followed like bantering |
tactics while in Jenries' corner at
Reno.
In the twentieth. however. he made
another furious charge. hurting Will
lard with q couple OF punches, which
caused willard to hare up and COM
mence driving wickedly for the
} deadly monotony OF rounds.
Negro starts weakeninE.
1t was plain that johnson was stead
Is weakening. and the wonder At his
grew as he shufiied out Of his
corner at each succeeding bell.
Once in q while he switched his
weary gaze over to the box where sat
lis wife, watching him with strange
,alf frightened look.
The Cubans had begun to sense the
situation. which was well understood
" the Americans around them. They
logan to realize that johnson was
bout done.
From the twentieth to the finish
once . marvel Of judgment
4 distance and accuracy, was missing I
,adly. His ring wisdom never left
lin. however. Round by round he
ested himself In the <linchss. letting
Willard DO All the tu9ging and haul