The Washington herald., 1915-04-04
AMERICANS IN
HAVANA PICK
JESS Willard
Wise Sporting Men Are Going
Wild with Enthusiasm Over
Cowboys Chances.
JOHNSON WILLING TO BET
Negro Champions Ability Is Being
Underestimated by Fistic
Followers.
BY DAMON RUNAON.

Havana. April 3.-Opinion among
Americans here has been almost COM
pletely stampeded to big Jess Willard
during the past twenty-four hours
From the talk of even some Of the
wisest old sporting men one might
think that the formal transfer of the
heavyweight championship now mere
ly awaits an exchange of a few per-
functory blows on Monday.
This sudden general sentimental
switch is based on no hint of fake
either. There simply seems to have
developed a strong belief that willard
can beat johnson.
Where few months ago any man
who expressed the opinion in America
that Willard had a chance against the
champion was regarded as foolish. to-
day in Havana any one who suggests
that willard cannot whip Johnson is
guilty of something similar to lese
mai jeste.
For a time last night the town-or
at least the American population of
the town-went Willard wild. From
listening to the conversation that was
churned up in the packed lobby of the
Plaza. stranger who had not seen
Johnson might have gathered a men
tai picture of the champion as a VEN
cradle colored man wearing specs and
leaning on a cane, with one hand
FIRMLY implanted in the small Of his
back, like Uncle Tom of cabin fame,
while Willard might have been i'm
agined as a young Western Adonis of
marvellous grace and power.
Gibson's Drawing. "The Cham pIon-,
Later in the evening Willard came in
with a crowd of wide-hatted friend from
Kansas. treadinE on his heels, with the
Havana rabbie bringing up the rear. The
scene reminded one of Gibson's famous
drawing, The Champion Then the en-
thusiasm reached a high pitch. II Will
lard looks Gawky without any clothes
on. sartorial trimming certainly con-
tributes little additional grace.
As he moved through the mob towering
far over the heads of all. he received an
enthusiastic greeting, grinning innateIy
in reply.
Soon there were tales of bets being
made that placed Willard the favorite
at to 5.
But today johnson breezed into the
hotel in a white derby hat and offered to
lay $4,000 at ten to eight. He found no
td..ctS.
johnson had been out on the road and
came In to see why Jack Robinson, the
press agent of the show, had been abrupt
with dark friend Of the champion the
day before. After this matter had been
amicabiy adjusted. the champion retired,
sleek and smiling, to his quarters.
johnson willing to Bet.
"I'll bet my money. just like I tell you
right this minute said johnson, when
he Was asked what he thought Of the
wave of Willard feeling. That's all I've
got to say about it-s10.0oo to 5000 right
now"
Chances are that Johnson underesti-
mates Willard to some extent. In his
hAp ha Holl t.,
He has asked but few questions about
his opponent since coming here and pays
little attention to him when they meet.
johnson boxed six rounds with Sam
McVey in public exhibition at the
stadium this afternoon. going on with
the show in spite of the protest of Jack
Curley. johnson still retains his old at
titude of doing Just as he plcases before
a big fight. He is going shark fishing
tomorrow.
His years have not told to any great
extent on Johnson. as far as outward
appearances are concerned. His face
shows no marks of age, although occa-
sionally his eyes look tired. He has lost
some of his old lisht-hearted manner. but
he spent most of his time at headauar-
'ters today joking with several acauaint-
ances from Texas. The negro's intimates
say that he is feeling his ostracism more
than ever.
Boats Are Making Trips.
Boats made frequent trips back and
forth from Key West today. bringing
additional crowds of newcomers. who
would listen a while in amazement to
the tales of willard's prowess and then
suddenly turn enthusiastic for the
Kansan.
willard does not appear to the writer
in the same light he seems to appear to
his more ardent admirers but to hear