Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-02
FIGHT FANS RIOT WHEN
BIG SMOKE QUITS WORK
Jack johnson Won't HoX In Rain,
and Management Hangs
On to Money.
CROWD REFUSES RAIN Cheers
Both Scrappers Confident of Success
ON Monday, and Each Has Started
To Taper or W0rk-N mcricnns
Coming Fast.

HAVANA, April IA riot occurred
IN the stadium to-day because Jack
Johnson refused TO work out in a
downpour of rain. \ crowd of 800 had
Sathefcd to see the biz smoke go
through his stunts. and when il was
announced that johnson would not
train outside. but would do his work
III inc kEmnaSium. the management RE-
fused TO refund money, but offered to
give out rain checks. emitting the hold
crS TO admission Tomorrow Thi. an
tered the crowd. which commenced to
throw Things. The seats and nearly
everything portable in the place were
torn up ana the air WAS filled with
missiles. The gate had been nearly
torn OFF its hinges when Il riot call was
sounded, and the Cuban police. COMING;
on the double quick, put :, hastv Stop
TO the disturbance.
Johnson didn't do any wort, this
morning. and spent the major portion
oil the afternoon at the race track
where. questioned. he said:
am in condition to fight the great
est battle of my life. | want my friends
TO bet on me. and am telling them all
TO do so. | will win before the fight
goes twenty rounds, probably before il
goes thirteen
Willard boxed seven rounds this af-
tcrnooh in the rain. while Il crowd of
90" gathered i'm the Hotel Miramar
grounds. looked on. He had intended
to do more work. but quit for fear of
falling and injuring himself. owing
TO the slippery condition of thee plat
form. He now weighs 23S pounds and
tomorrow will commence tapcriug OF
in his work. He will do his last box
Ing on Saturday and last road work on
sunday.
Willard Chirkrn-lIcartch.
What keeps the Willar,lites from bet
ting without getting long odds is tho
fact that Willard has not what is
known as the 'nghting heart" He
isn't natural fighter. hu, just a good
naturcd giant with Il particularly ten
der heart.
This time Willard says. however.
that he will tear right into J. Artha'
Johnson and transform his golden
smile into "A Hamburg steak.
Willard is srcn- in" his spare time
dclving into railroad folders aud plan
ming Il trinmphal entry into tho United
states. The cowboy is confident he will
he able To land Johnson with his right
aud il he does, he intends To charter "a
special car and make back platform
speeches in every town and hutnlc, be-
tween Key West ana New York Jess
stands to make his everlasting fortune
if he wins. and he doesn't intend to
overlook Il singlei opportunity for pub
LEFTY
To-day Willard turned down n vautle-
Vile contract for :, week. win or lose.
at $1,000. Willard figures that he is
worth five times as much If he brings
the championship back to the white
race. and figures that he can get the
$1,000, anyhow,
Havana is beginning TO fill MP with
American fight fam About coo are
on the ground already. and more are
expected tomorrow on,a special boat
from New Orleans. \ big batch also
is on the way from New York. while
others are coming by the way or Key
West
Jack WEIGH who will referee. is
slated to arrive on Friday. To-day
Mat Iiinklc, Of Cleveland, was So
lccted as emergency or alternate ref
cree He will serve in case WEIGH for
any reason is unable to Oiiiciate.
The following timekeepers also were
selected:
Bob Vernon, OF New York with Ben
Harris. of New York, as alternate; san,
Leonard. OF New York, for John: vii
lard'S man has not yet been chosen.