The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-06
Kansas Cowboy Batters Way
to Championship W it h
Smashing Attacks
Johnson Floored In
Twenty-sixth Round
White Hopes Terrific Blows
to Jaw Sends Former Black
Heavyweight Champion to
Floor With d / hud
BY II. ID EASTMAN.

the gigantic eA-cow boy, VS. Gro &DLu
heavyweight champion pugllist Of the
world at the race track here this az
ternoon. he battered his way to the
throne through twenty-five .ounds of
bruising, smashing attacks and re-
treats. and won his niche In the fstic
hal # lame in the twenty-sINth
round by drivins; his huge right fist
iato JACK Johnson miusection and
following with two terrific blows or
The same hand TO the negroes jaw.
Johnson went TO the floor with a
thud, an inert mass OF bronzed flesh.
while Referee Jack WEIGH. of San
Francisco. went through the Formally
of counting out the ten seconds be-
fore proclaiming the wnite man the
winner
Pandemonium broke loose as the
negro crashed down. The shriN cries
frem many ~omens throats rose high
above the frenziei shouts of deeper
toned voices. Men laughed hysteri-
The Cdbans. who made up large
proportion OF the vast attendance,
bawled their pleasure at the dra-
matte climax. backs aad whites alike.
New Champ Not Emotional
= fad ru Elf. sore In body. but
elated In spirit. was probably the
most collected person in the enclosure.
tat e.+HUd &tNth SLI4, gains ueNh ON
his fallen adversary, as though unable
To realize that the moment he had
fondiv dreamed Of many weary
months was actually at hand. There
a. caution in his glance, too. for
though il was apparent 70 every man
and woman in the enclosure that
Johnson Nas zone for, willard never
shifted his eyes until Referee WEIGH
tapped him on the back and sent him
-. THAI and only then.
die the big fellow allow a faint smile
To light up his swollen and bleeding
face.
the new champion Is not emotional.
II he were lie would not probably be
champion tonight. He is a one-idea
man. and his determination today
was to battle Johnson after plan
deviated from that purpose. All or
Johnson's taunts. ALI of Johnson =
tricks. all Of Johnsoa's superior KNOW
edge of boxing, availed but little
against the indomitable steadfastness
OF purpose oil the cowboy. lie wased
q waiting battle. and for once the ne
gro must recall his oft-repeated boast
that he could make any opponent in
The world lead at him. " lizard would
not lead Stung by tho ,nought that
the strength was fast eohsng from ms
oyerted and undetermined body, john
son fought as he never fought hefort,
CARRYING the attack into the enemys
territory. willard replied with couh-
tiers and allowed the black TO tire
himself out Then when the siedge-
hammer blows began to lack weight,
wizards pulses quickencd percepubly
and lac started on the last lap OF the
campaign to which he had chung so
tenaciousiy.
Johnson Beat Himself.
1t cannot he classed as one OF the
great battles for the heavyweight title
Ii was too methodical for that Some
of the rounds saw scarcely any nEnt-
ing at all. But the air was so sur
charged with excit, ment and there
was such a dra matte tinge to the grim
determination OF the towering Willard
End the sudden end which BEGAN 10
forecast itself few rounds carrier
that the crowd forgot all about the
lagging periods.
johnson beat himself said many.
but 1t must not be forgotten tina, the
fallen champion taxed his skin To the
utmost before his strength hegai to
ebb. His blows did not carry the old
steam, to he sure. and ais judge OF
distance was had at times. but MS
brain was alert as ever. aud nc haa
all his old knowledge of every angle
tt the game of fisticuffs That some
CT his blows did not topple the young
giant amazed the ringsiders as they
saw them land flush on Wizards jaw.
This also had dlspiriting effect o.
Johnson himself. But. although VII
;.rGts knees sagged a score OF times.
t4pd ne seemed apeut TO go down
,t,rier a rain of bows, he always man
aged to keep on his feet This was
Ina triumph of youth and right living.
Delay In Starting.
There. was long delay II starting
the bout Carpenters building the
Temporary ring and stands went On
a strike in the morning, and all was
confusion. Finally the trouble was
patched up and the men resumed
work with a rush. Bat IL was a2t
until nearly the hour for calling the
men into the rinG that the Iast nan
was driven. Then il was necessary
necessary to lay padding and canvas
;.ad stretch the ropes. The cfowa pc
gan to grow impatient. especially IN
the cheaper sections, while hordes ~
,fshers attempted TO placate reserved
seat holders whose chairs we're not IN
Mace Finally some sefnblance OF or
der resolved itself cat OF the chaot.
and three hundred Cuban soldier.
armed to the teeth with rifles anu
bayonets. filed in and took stations
about the arena.
johnson First In Ring
Forty-five minutes late Johnson
and his party. Including Tom Flana-
gan. George Monroe and horde or
fucket holders and towel wielders,
made their way to the ring. Willard
and his encourage followed a few
minutes later, The only preliminaricg
after the men donned their gloves
MAS. a. 4preteIded.s conference In ~the
center of the ring with Referee WEIGH.
----s
y (Continued on Fifth Pare,