The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-04-10

JESS WILLARD. KANSAS COWBOv,
WINS PUG WORLD UHAM.
PIONsHIP.
knocks Jack Johnson out I'm Twenty
stx koapds-Youth Proves Superior
70 Power and skill-FYght Wa Less
Brutal thpn Usual.

Jess Willard, the Kansas cowboy, the
oisgest man who ever entered a prize
ring and q white hope" who at last
has made good.
The day after tomorrow Johnson.
his wife and a little group OF friends
Will sail for Martinique. there to await
passage back 20 France. where John
son proposes to settle down and lead
the lie Of a farmer. raising pigs and
chickens. There is no doubt that he
Is Tough with the ring.
Willard 10 going back to the United
States to win the money which was
denisd him today when johnson got
$4,000 before the fight started. VIII
lard taking only q small share of the
net rceeipts. Just what his share
was v net known.
Today's night probably has no
parallel In the history of ring battles.
For 40 rounds johnson punched and
pounded Willard at will. but his blows
grew preceptibly less powerful as the
light progressed until at last he seem
cd unable Or unwilling to 60 on.
Johnson stopped leading and for
three or -four rounds the battle be-
twesn the two huge men was little |
morsEthan a series Of plastic poses of
white and black sladiatora
So IL was until the s5th round
when Willard got one of his widely
swinging. windmill right hand
smashes to Johnson's heart. This was
the b~egfnning OF the end.
When the round closed Johnson |
sent word to his wife that no was all
In and told her to start for home.
She was on the way out and was
passing h ring In the 26th round
when n singing left to the body and
n cyclone right to the jaw caused
Johnson to crumple on the noor of
the ring. where he lay. partly outside
tho ropcs. until the referee counted
ten and held up Wizards hand In
token OF his newly won iaureis. |
There IL much discussion tonight
among the followers OF the lighting
same as 70 whether johnson was
really knocked out. In tho sense OF
being umashed into unconseiousness
he certainly was not put out.
Tho consensus OF opinion Is that
Johnson knew that there was no pos
sieiiity OF his winning: SO. when
knocked down. he chose to take the
eounl rather than rise and stand
further punishment. Johnson often
has declared that fighting Is a bust
ness and he would not submit fool
SHY to repeated knockdowns when
he found he had met his master. A
second or two after Jack Welsh. the
refervc. had counted ten Johnson got
up. Il was well that he did, for a
momsnt later a rush OF spectators to
the lighting platform all but smoth-
cred the pusilists.
For an instant II seemed as IL trou-
BILE wa threatened. but some 80 or
more soldiers jumped into the ring
and fprned circles around the a n
auishsd and victor.
Under escort OF the soldiers Willard
and johnson went to their dressing
rooms while the crowd cheered and
broke into wild discussions.
Willard was on, OF his dressing
roouf In a few moments and In an
automobile on his way back to Ha-
bana~ He was escorted half way to
tho efty from the M~arinanao race
track. where the fight was held, by
a troop OF Cuban cavalry.
Crowds lined the streets and mar
row roadways and the new white
champion was loudly cheered. He
was decidedly the favorite oil through
the aght and tonight is the hero OF
tho island.
Noyhght between heavyweights that
has some to a finish was cleaner or
less brutal. Johnson's left eye was
partly closed In the early rounds but
not sufficiently TO interfere with his
lighting. His lip also VS. cut inside
and his famous golden smile flashed
fromfa very red setting.
The END Of the fight came with a
s~uddsnness that dazed spectators. 1t
followed two or three rounds of al
most complete idleness on the part OF
the contestants Inc the crowd settled
down to q long drawn out struggle.
believing it would 20 the fuli limit OF
tho IS rounds without either being
able to register a knockout.
The early rounds were filled with
flashes OF Johnson's former wonder
full speed and he rained rights and
leftsgto Wizards body and face. de-
1lveinR ten blows 10 ono from tho