New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-02
HINKEL NAMED
AS ALTERNATE
FOR BIG BATTLE
Johnson and Willard
Agree on Cleveland Man
as Substitute Referee.
RAIN SPOILS DAY
FOR BOTH FIGHTERS
Negro Takes Swim in Harbor
and Their Visits Races-Jess
Boxes Nine Rounds.

Havana, April IN. J. Hinkel. o,
Cleveland, was to-day named alternate
referee for the Johnson Willard fgh,
He will referee in case Jack Welsh h.
for any reason unable TO reach Havana
In time.
II Welsh does get here, il will be
Hinkel's duty TO sit at the ringsids
ready TO step In and relieve Welsh in
case the latter should be knocked on.
by a stray punch, or suffer from sun
sickness.
This decision was reached at a meet.
ing of the principals and promoter,
held late to-day. At the same time
Bob Vernon, of New York, was an.
pointed official timekeeper Of the club.
with Ben Harris, also Of New York. as
alternate. Sam Leonard, OF Toronto.
is the timekeeper for Johnson. Willard
to-day named Otto Floto, Of Denver. as
his timekeeper.
Johnson Takes II Easy.
With only few days left FOR train.
ing, rain to-day interfered seriously
with the work Of both pugilists. John.
son did virtually nothing and Willard
was forced 10 curtail his activity. A
hot humid morning was followed By
thunder storms throughout the after.
noon.
willard carried out his exhibition
programme before a lot Of enthusiastic
who paid to see him. In the rain 10
boxed nine rounds with his sparring
partners, Savage, Monahan and Hemp
hill. The floor Of the ring was greasy
and he took big chances. Yet he did
excellent work. He cut loose against
Savage and lifted the 200-pounder clear
off his feet with an easy right swing.
He finished by letting Tex 0'Rourks,
the wrestler, throw a heavy medicine
ball with all his strength twelve times
against his stomach. At the end Of this
test O'Rourke, who weighs 220 pounds,
was tired out, but Willard just laughed.
Winding up his other routine work Of
the morning, Willard walked and ran
FIVE miles in heavy sweater and cane
home dripping.
Persons apparently never tire OF
watching this young giant train. The
attendance at his quarters during ex.
hibition hours has zen large, and
enough money has been taken in daily
to pay all camp expenses.
Johnson took a short run in the
morning to u private bath in the hsr-
Dor, where he swan for the greater
part OF an hour. When the rain began
to fall in the afternoon he decided to
cut out his exhibition in the open
stadium Instead he went 70 the races,
where he was the object OF much stten-
ton.
Frazee, the chief promoter. said to-
night that he. would not let Johnson
box an exhibition bout with Sam Nc
Vey on Saturday for fear Of injury 20
the champion on the eve Of the battle.
Special Box for Menocal
General Mario G. Menocal, Presiden.
OF Cuba, has accepted a special ring
side box OF eighteen seats. from which
he will watch the fight with his friends
and Cabinet officers. His tickets have
been deliberately engraved.
Next to the Presidents box one has
been set aside for the American Min
ister. and adjoining boxes will be occu-
pied by the Governor of Havana prov
ince. the Mayor OF Havana and the
commanding general of the army.
Twenty Of the leading stores-the
largest In the city-will close at 10
o'clock on Monday morning "a enable
the proprietors and employees to see
the contest.
The contrsc ors started real WORK
on the arena at the racetrsck this
morning. The first tier OF seats was
made according to Chairman size and
looked funny. A big American could
scarcely squeeze into them. When at
tention was called TO this, the con-
tractors explained naively that Cubsns
were much small than Americano:.
The ticket sale for the fight has been
large among the natives, and the pro.
motors refused to sell a block OF 6.OVo
So seats to-day TO a local ticket agency,
being convinced that they would have
no difficulty in disposing OF them them
selves.
Hundreds of negroes, the best sport:
on the island, are anxious 20 sttena
the fight, but cannot afford the admn'
sion charge In many cases they aIe
scraping every penny together In theu
eagerness to see the Samson Johnson
facing the white Goliath.
According to advices received heiS
parties totslling five hundred VII
come from New York for the nsn.
Queries regarding reservations nsvs
been received from all parts OF IN
South. Five Kansas men from VII.
lard's home town arrived to-day to roo'
for the cowboy.
The Cuban Congress has decided nc;
to convene on Monday, as that wouId
interfere with the desire OF tas mem
bers to witness the battle. They pre-
fer this to listening TO the Presidents
speech, which was set for Monday, ana,
besides, this accords with the view o.
the President himself.