The Washington herald., 1915-04-10
Willard HERE;
FANS GO Wild
World'|Heavy-weight Box
ing Champ Stops Over in
Capital Twenty Minutes.
UNION STATION TANNED
Boxer Denies that johnson Fight Was
Fixed|Laughs at Threat of
Bob Fitzsimmons.
UNION STATION TANNED
By JOHN A. DUGAN.

Although the crowd of 10000 turfmen
at the Bowie race track yesterday was
disappointed at the lateness of the Will
lard special from Key West, which
caused his nonappearance there, some
5000 local fistic fans and admirers Of the
Kansas cowboy greeted the new worlds
heavyweight champion with open arms
at Union Station when his party stopped
over here for twenty minutes on the way
to Baltimore. where Willard was booked
to appear at the Lyric Theater
Even the crowd which assembled to
meet the Nationals three years ago when
they won those sixteen straight games
could not compare with the throng which
turned out to meet the champion yester-
day. No one dared ask who was expect
ed to arrive because from every lip was
talk of the recent Havana fight for the
heavyweight title and Jess Willard.
Most Of the crowd had been waiting
for two hours to get a glimpse OF the
new titleholder. and when the old Sea-
board Air Line express pulled into this
city Jess was the first to hop of the
coach to get his initial view of the Ma
TONS Capital. But a glimpse was all
Jess got. as the fans Of the ring game
present became enthusiastic and COM
PEELED Willard to seek protection behind
the closed gates inside of the station.
Answers Many Questions.
Moving picture operators and newspa-
per men were on all sides of the cham
pion when he stepped off the train. but
the big cowboy fell right in line. giving
each a handshake and answering any
number Of questions during his short
stay.
-'How about the story of Sam Mcvey
and Dave Mills about the fight being
fixed" was one Of the first questions
put to Willard
Those black boys were having bad
dreams when they told that story. and
the best I can advise is to pay no atten-
ton to them. for the fight was not faxed,
and whoever says so is liar.
Il will beat both McVey and Mills in
the same night, and am willing to sign
articles to this effect when I have finish
ed my contract with Hammerstein.''
How about Bob FitEsimmons beat
ing you up in four rounds for a &c.,
900 side bet?'
why. that old phoney! You boys
know they will not allow old men to
fight anywhere in this country. and
would not even consider meeting
him."
Refuses to Split.
When questioned about the story
that he split "hfty-1fty" with Tom
Jones on everything big. Jess laughed
and said 1t was all wrong. But he did
not care to make public the terms Of
his contract with his manager.
In talking of the fight. Jess said
Johnson never hit him hard enough
during the milling to hurt him, and
that after the exchange Of blows in
the opening round he was confident
Of victory.
ssThIa ma sfyoo ~ cour aca IN r,ue
ing quite a little talk. How about It?
Is It 80 or 2s?"
At this question the big champion
showed the first signs of indignation.
but laughed II off by sticking to his
years in life as twenty-eight. Then
he smiled good-naturedly when Bob
Fitzsimmons came forth to shake
hands. reminding him he was not an
old man yet.
The moving pcture concern travelling
with the party took pictures Of Willard
shaking hands with F'itzsimmons and by
the greeting handed IT, veteran champ
by the cowboy. one would think that
they never could or would face each
other in the same ring. p. F. O'Connor.
the well-known local referee and sport
ing man. was among the friends of the
cowboy who met him at the station.
Willard showed no marks of his hard
battle for the title. He
is big, good-natured fellow willing to
please and to make friends. When
asked about his plans for the future. he
said his party would 60 to New York.
from Baltimore. and from there would
start on a tour of the Western States.
where he expects to get q much-needed
rest and meet his wife and Riddles"
On the Willard special was Jack Cur
ley, the promoter Of the fight; Tom
Jones. Wizards manager: Ted Moore.
Hal FRAZIER, Bob Vernon, Jim Savage and
Bob Monahan. who acted as sparring
partners. Tex O'Rourke, Ed We'll and
Bob Edgren. the sporting editor Of the
New York World.