New-York tribune., 1915-03-28
BIG FIGHT NOT
TO BE HELD ON
EASTER SUNDAY
JOhnsOn-Wil1ard Bout for
the Heavyweight Title
Goes Over One Day.
PRESIDENT OF CUBA
MAKES THE REQUEST
Half.Holiday Declared for Mon
day, April 5, When Battle
Will Be Waged.

Havana, March 27.-The forty-fve
round battle between Jack Johnson aud
Jess Willard for the heavyweight
championship Of the world has beer
postponed once more, this time for a
day, from Sunday, April 4, to Monday,
April 5. The men will take the ring
at 1890 p. m.
This Is the second time the bout has
been advanced. as originally it was
scheduled at Juarez, Mexico, on March
6.
Later in the day Sub-Ninister Of tho
Interior Montalvo declared half holi-
day for all government employees on
April D. The banks and the merchants
are expected to follow suit.
The postponement is due 10 a re-
quest made by President Menocal OF
| Cuba. In letter TO the fight promot-
ers he says that great objection has
arisen in Cuba and the United States
to the fight taking place on Easter
sunday, holy day, and he requested
that the bout be postponed until tho
/ day following.
A meeting Of the boxers and pro-
moters was at once held, and the re-
quest of President Menocal was sc-
ceded to-
The postponement was due to the
( great pressure brought TO bear upon
the government cf;cials BY mar. -p--
pie who declared that TO hold the fight
on April 4 would be to desecrate Eas-
ter Sunday.
There was surprising sentiment in
Cuba against the holding of the fight
rs ~ IL.
first day OF the week is general hol-
day on the island.
Objection also was raised by inAu-
entlal persons in the United States.
William +. Gonzales, Minister for tho
United States to Cuba, and President
Menocal of Cuba received some six
hundred cable dispatches and tele-
grams protesting against the holding
of the fight on Easter Day.
Americans here have been surprised
at the extent Of the opposition in Cuba
TO holding the fight on Easter Sunday.
The promoters were assured that az
least 5000 more persons would attend
any day other than Easter. The date
originally was set for Saturday, April
8, but 1t was changed 10 Sunday at the
request Of several Havana associations.
Both boxers say that the change in
date will not upset their training
plans, due 10 the fact that they have
had full weeks notice.
Light road work was in order this
forenoon for the two men. Both are
In fine condition, if looks count for
anything.
There is much interest in the bet
: ting, with Johnson the favorite, but
thus far comparatively few wagers
have been laid. The largest 70 date is
81 400 on Johnson 10 $500 on Willard.
Johnson Fishes for Sharks.
Jack Johnson and Jack Curley have
had their first disagreement In Cuba,
and Johnson has had his own way He
went shark fishing. in spite OF Cur
ley's wild, indignant, and finally plead
ing, protests.
Just outside MORO Castle there ex-
lists the finest little shark colony on
earth. Even the babies are twelve
and fourteen feet long and capable OF
eating and digesting an ordinary man
the same day.
One of Havana's great sports is
shark fishing from the deck of an
ocean going yacht. Johnson longed TO
indulge in the sport, and made up a
party TO invade the shark fields.
The sport is dangerous in the eX-
treme, and when Curley found out thsc
his $4,000 worth of black lighting ma
chinery was ready 10 start for tho
shark invasion he protested. He or
dered Johnson TO lay of the sharks.
Johnson refused. Then the verbal wa r
started.
Johnson already had hired a steam
yacht, laid in a big supply OF lines
and bait, also sufficient LIQUID nourish-
ment for his friends, some Of the best
Havana cigars, and sent out his inyi-
tations. His automobile was 20 call
for the guests at 3 in the morning.
lie absolutely refused to change his
arrangements, SO Curley himself finally
Joined the party and became the most
seasick man on the Gulf of Mexico.
Several others were laid low, but
Johnson and the survivors enjoyed a
good mornings sport, five sharks be-
ing captured.
The smallest was thirteen feet long,
while the biggest was a veteran o.
fifteen feet. Shark fins were the pieco
de resistance for dinner at Villa do
Johnson that night.
Government to Police RINK.
The Cuban government will police
|
and Willard clash
Through the influence OF Colonel
Jose d'Estrampes, chairman of the
Citizens Committee, 200 of the crack
rurale guards will surround the field
and act under the directions Of their
commanding officers in maintaining or
der and incidentally seeing that all
those who witness the fight first paw a
visit TO the box office.
General Avalos, commander OF the
guard, sent his aide de corps TO Curley
early this week and made the final
arrangements, the offer coming from
General Avalos himself.
The Cuban rursle guards correspond
TO the Canadian Northwest Mounted
Police or the state police OF Pennsyl-
vanH.
1t is selected from men who served
in the Cuban wars, and every man is
a picked soldier No more highly or