Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-06
.CAWKY JESS WILLARD IS
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Jack Johnson Is Merely Portly,
Middle-Aged Colorcd
Man.
RIGHT-HAND CLIP DID TT
For Twenty-Five Rounds Negro Bat
tied Bitterly and Bravely Against
Young Giant-Big Ace Done With
Ring, but Champ Just Started
ny DAMON RI.NyoN.

p!on OF the world, with all the world
before him, while Jack Johnson, late
lord OF the pugil!stic realm. is just
portly. middle aged colored man.
browsing on the memory of one or the
+. greatest battles ever made by Il fighter
OF his years
one terocious risht-hand smash to
the pit OF .Iohnson's fat black stomach
that crump!cd the big body Of the
negro in grinding pain NJ the opening
OF The twenty-siNth round. followed
half minute later by terrific right
, hard clip TO the jaw. are the blows
that made new history for the >mcri-
can sport on alien soil, with alien
tongues drowning the sound OF Amer
, lean voices III the weird demonstra-
ton that followed.
> Johnson fell and was counted out
by Referee Jack welch In his own
corner.
For twenty-five rounds the negro
! had bastled bitterly and bravely against
his gigantic young white opponent,
a wasinE n warfare OF such gameness
T, and craft as 10 finally arouse admira-
ton OF even the sporting men a tho
rinEside who had been waiting since
) 1910 for this day. And while the finish
/ was obvious no one had looked for
: Spectators Sec Old Smile Fade
Only the round before some one In
) the crowd had remarked that Johnson
had quit laughing. Johnson turned
!.
I. hruised and bloody lips in ghost OF
/. lis famous old golden smile" and
: thcn stumbled ont OF his corner for
inc twenty sixth round
Willard met him with that lifting
: smash in neutral corner, the blow
: driving through the Negroes guard
Johnson was badly hurt, and dropped
) both hands completely. but quickly
= pushed them up again. Before him
z the memory Of that murderous smash
aN-nr- 1t
:. ing the next ninety seconds as he
= shuncd around the ring. and 1t was
F! probably repetition OF that wallop
Z mat he was trying TO avoid when he
was knocked out.
He backed over into NHillard's cor
= ner. where Willard Tented as il to
!. again whip his right into that paunchy
= cushion across the black mans mid
y die. Johnson once more lowered his
Y guard, trying to get away
The next instant the massive Eloved
right cst of the Kansan crushed into
the blacks jaw, and Johnson dropped
nat on his back without scarcely stag
; fcrinE.
F, Even Jack Wclch seemed stunned
with surprise when the big black top
, pied over, but he quickly began count
; ing over The dark form that lay with
i, face upiurned TO the sun Of the dying
! afternoon. and just as tho withercd
. hand OF the referee tol!cd off the finish
( OF IN" champion. tho crowd made
y &. ~ m
I leans in the van
: Johnson Not Wholly Unconscious.
! Johnson did not seem 10 be totally
( Unconscious. recovering soon after his
! seconds gathered him up He stood
I. FOR Il minut" in the centre Of the ring
: with Il white towel wrapp.d around
:. his black face, blinking his ewes a,
! the sun and listening TO the roar about
! MINI Then he went TO his corner.
Meantime Willard would have been
ir,
(. but for his great height The his;
! farmer grnncd amiably while frenzicd
: men reached for his hand
+. cuban soldiers had TO p!lo into tho
{. ring with drawn sisLSrs to- rescue both
OF the lighters from i4Ic crush
!. When Jack Curley went over 70 John
! sons corner 10 cut the gloves on hls
/ hands the negro looked up, smiled
I. fcehy and said:
let me keep these"
-, How do YOU feel" asked Curley.
F.. All right" said johnson: "cvcrythinc
!. Is an riEht--thc best man won
Later Johnson told Tom Flanagan
(: that he was glad he had lost, lie said:
Nov all my trouble viii he over:
they VIII let me alone"
johnson knew lie Wu. In
Johnson knew he was gone sooner
than anybody Else. In tho rest between,
the twenty-trst and twenty-sccond
rounds h" sent for Harry Frazcc and
asked him 10 hnd Curley Soon after
wards he told Flanagan h. was got
ing weak and could not las, much
longer.
want YOU 10 &c, my wife ont of
{. here. ne said
Flanagan ,old him TO 20 a few more
: rounds and see how he felt.
between the twenty-Gf,l ana twenty
(; sixth Curley was found ana Johnson ~
I. pcated his request TO him
Curlcy went 10 the box occuD!.d h..
'ohhson,s "i!". back Of Willard's cor
ner, and told her wha; Jack had said
lie offered 10 take her on, ara st.
agreed 10 go.
The twcn;y-sxth round had s,art,d
when she arose. and AS she moved n,s,
Ni!Iards corner tho Knockout came ana
her husband dropped befor. her cyes
Shc exclaimed. oh, my God" and then
disappeared ia the mad crush nf is nnn
people suddenly gone mad
Something approaching a rae. rio,
followed. thousands OF pcorle began
Darading the race track yelling Viva
Z 81 Blanco" while the blacks drew orr -,
little proups 80
The Cuban cavalry. which had I'm
ished hEhting Their wuy TO willard
drew up in close formation to nu4l
any real trouble, but the people nnallv
!. dispersed
People Cheer News
s. When the automobiles were canine
IN from the track with the FIRST news
/. thousands OF men. women and cver
childTen i!ned the streets roaring their
approval The chauffeur who drove tIa
nrst car to leave tho track .l.w along
handling the car with one hand ana IN
me other holding up picture OF VIII
lard, while even the traric policem,n
gave him cheer.
Tonight IN" town Of Havana buzzes
win cIa'ion over the victory Whi,.
. the Americans join with the Cubans in
~ INC rejoicing, they 90 not hcslta,. "a
e give Johnson iUil praise fcr his fght
prominent ring followers were no,
ashamed TO be seen shaking the ha nd
or tn" old black during the lam abou,
p. his corner at the finish. He fought a
mastery battle. ana the wonder is tina,
ne was ahie TO last as long as he did
Tor the result has been regarded here
az almost f0rcgon. conclusion Tor
: davs
without taking ANYTHING from Wi.
- laEnH NictnrN kcr