The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-04-06

ropes Tie platform measured e
feet, The heavy hemp ropes were
wrapped twice with black tire tapo
Great care was taken in preparing the
floor beneath the red canvass covering
and 4 score Of regular red blankets
were placed there - padding.
From two platforms moving picture
machines were focused on the ring
Five machines comprised the battery
three 20 be used regularly and two to
be held On reserve.
There was great excitement about II
o'clock when II was discovered no one
bad thought about the bell 20 be rung
e The starting and stopping ~ the
rounds Two messengers were die
patched % Havana 90 purchase a gong
Cuban troops began % reach the
track a. hair past ten o'clock. several
companies e infantry and two troops
= khaki ciad cavalry being then on
the scene
The race course where the fight was
aold surrounded with green hifla uouge
of which are topped win towering
palms The fiwht management seeing
ne possibility ~ moving picture ma
chimes equipped with telescope lenses
operating from the hills. had guards
stationed c. al tho vantage points
overlooking the Fight arena.
a. II o'clock the sun and clouds stiIl
were Fighting Tor supremacy Yn the
sky several very dark cloud banks
we're hanging over the sea and offer
ing menace ~ rain.
AZ twenty minutes past twelve IL
was apparent that the fight would not
start on time and might not begin untn
O'Clock
At hair past eleven. one hour hefos.
the fight was 60 start. several thousand
people had arrived and found seats. bus
the more expensive locations contained
no spectators
The first notables 70 reach the ring
side were the mayer ~ Havana and tho
speaker az the Cuban house Of repre-
sentatives Mat HinkeI ~ Cleveland
the alternate referee came ln a fev
minutes later.
SOLDIERS AT THE RING.
by this time q number Of soldiers
had taken up their positions around
the ring ln fact soldiers AZ this haftr
seemed 60 constitute half Il the crowd
The ring was finished shortly before
boon While the strongest. Il IN.
doubleday Wa also the crudest ever
erected for a worlds champIonsaip
fight The band in the grand stand
entertained the gathering crowds. The
first tame Il rendered was "Rv yEa
Beautiful sea, which set the Amerl-
can contingent whistlinR
late arrivals at the arena told ~
many automobile wrecks along rr,e
narrow and crowded road from Ia
Nana, but up 90 noon there had been
NO serious accident
There was liberal percentage ~
women among the spectators. Most ~
them occupied box seats and many At
them were Americans
No big betting was reported a. the
ringeide, but tho betting machines we're
quite literally patronized IN amounts
from two te ten dollars. the players
picking the winner and the round
Before tho ring was completed the
big gong had arrived and vas Placed
in position.
Bob Vernon. official stakeholder ana
timer. took his place AZ the rinrside a
noon wiz otto Fioto. timer for VIII
lard and sam Bennett. timer for John
son.
President Menocaf or Cuba arrived \
few minutes after noon and took a seat
Ia box about 100 feet from the ring
He was preceded BY the commanding
officer ~ the Cuban army and the Cu-
ban navy
Johnson arrived ~ track NJ 25. bat
DID not appear until later Hls wife
came To the Fingside accompanied bv
Tom Flanagan, who has been acting
for Johnson
AZ half past twelve Announcer linn
Mace. exhibited Iohnson's recent Tor
$4,000. the balance due him on the
purse, and the meaning ~ these ma
pers was explained 70 the crowd IL
Spanish and English.
AZ 7 O'Clock neither o. the fighters
had appeared Ga the ring.
The attendance Is estimated AZ ah,,,t
$4,000. Only a few of the twenty dol
lar seats are stili vacant The 49,,
began 20 beat down holly and an dan
ser OF rain seems past
johnson u now on way 20 the ring
The sun was shining brightly ~
~ 80 ,. m
Johnson entered the ring atI:15 p. m
THE FIGHTERS ENTER.
~ l.1i johnson made his anpear-
ance. being applauaed by the enthus-
iastic CuhanH one minute later na
eraWled through thu ropes clad In a
gray robe and wearing his usual golden
smile, The neEro's firpt move was q
ascertain where his wife was located
Willard entered tho ring a 90
-Four minutes later prolonged yelling
and cheering announced the appear
ance q Willard. The crowd vent wild
over the young fighting giant. scream
Ing aud handelappinE a. ne crawied
through the ropes
Willard wore a heavy red sweater
blue trousers and black aomhrero
In the chalienger's corner we're the
following seconds
Wiiiiard's manager. Tex osRouka.
Jim Savage, Walter Mahan. Johnson.
seconded BY Tom Flanagan and George
Munroe sam Mcvey. Dave Afinr and
Bob Armstrong The two puigfiipfs
shook hands for the movies. The ring
gradually cleared OF All except referee
Jack Welsh, seconds and principals.