New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-04

was 10 have the opportunity of meet
ing johnson for the t.tle.
The place for holding the bout was
variously named as Central America,
South America or Havana, Cuba, but
Curley refused TO make any positive
statement, and 10 was not until the
carly part Of last November that Tom
ZONES. manager of Jess Willard, the
Kansas cow puncher, announced mat
his man was going 10 meet Johnson.
While Willard had suffered only one
reverse I'M the ring. "Gunboat' smith
having outpoiutcd him IN twenty
round bout iu California. and mad won
seventeen Of his twenty-sN bouts WIN
mockouts. D. was generally beleved
that the giant kanSan had not had the
necessary experience to enable hlm 70
cope successfully with man OF Jonn-
sens Calibrc.
Jones was emphatic, however. in his
statements that Willard was the log
zeal man TO bring the title back to the
white race. end he at once set about
schooling Dig Jess in the inner points
Of the game.
After much dickering the promoters
finally selected Juarez, Mexico, as the
nlace for holding the battle and March
& as the date. Curley worked hard 10
norfect arrangements for the contest
General Carran2a and General villa
had 70 be pacitcd, the safe entry OF
Johnson into the war-rldden country
insured ard a hundred other details
attended 10 before Curley felt conn
dent that all would be well
Willard began training IN earnest
near Juarez, but Johnson, VINO had
gone TO Buenos Ayres, was slow IN
reaching Mexico.
In the latter part OF February john
son arrived at Cienfuegos. Cuba, on
schooner he had chartered at Bar
bados. and from there went to Ha-
vana II was discovered that after tax
ing steamer from MOntevldeo, Uru-
ou2v. on January 20 the negro had de
cided Barbados Island was the safest
Mace TO land before making has hnal
dash for Mexico.
After reaching Havana and hearing
disquietinc reports about the actiVl-
ties Of the CarranZa-Nilla factions us
in Mexico and the anxiety Of inc
United States federal authorities to
Law their hands on him, Johnson de-
cided that Havana was as close as ne
chose TO come to the land OF his birth.
He sent word 20 Curley and Jones that
he would meet willard in Havana or
not at all.
The date for the proposed battle at
Juarez was fast approaching, and be-
cause Of the champions ulumatum
Curley and Jones saw that II would be
necessary TO change their plans. While
they were trying 70 come TO some deii-
mite arrangement with Johnson. Will
lard. who was almost down to fighting
weight, became disguised and left for
Los Angeles.
Curley hurried to Havana and there
had his second conference with john
son. The chamoion insisted that Ha-
vana was the only place in which to
hold the battle and refused TO consider
Juarez or any other spot Curley had
been 10 great expense already in ad-
vertising and in other ways, and the
sale OF tickets for the bout in the Mex
lean city had been well under way
when Johnson changed his mind at the
last moment.
After several days OF ceaseless work
Curley made a contract 10 hold the big
fight in the racetrack grounds IN the
suburb of Havana, and the date was
put forward to Sunday. April !.
Willard, assured that everything was
satisfactory at last, travelled across
the continent and selected training
Quarters Al Miramar. a short distance
rom the scene Of to-morrow's battle.
and Johnson also secured quarters and
began the work OF preparation.
One more change was made IN the