Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-07
PROMOTERS IN COURT
OVER MONEY WRANGLE;
WILLARD LEAVES CUBA
Big Ovation Greets New
Heavyweight Champion
as He Starts for U. S.
Curley Says Actual Re-
ceipts Were $4,000.
By FRANK G. MENKE

HAVANA, April Jess Willard worlds
heavyweight champion, left the shores of
Cuba this morning, but his leaving was
preceded by the biggest demonstration
ever accorded any public or private citi-
zen. So big was the demonstration and
so eager the crowd to get to the new
champion and shake his hand that the
police were forced to clear the way so
that Willard could make his way to the
boat. Cheer after cheer was given for
Willard, who appeared on the deck and
bowed to the crowd which was paying
homage to him.
Jack Curley said this morning that the
actual receipts of the fight We're $4,000.
and the expenses $4,000, He said the pro-
moters lost $4,000 on the bout. BefoHe he
left Curley was summoned to court be-
cause of his failure to pay some small
bills. He compromised the matters. Dick
Klegin, another of the promoters. also
was summoned to court for failure to pay
$3.50 to lawyers who drew up the contracts
incidental TO the staging of the fight. The
case is still pending.
Havana newspapermen are also up in
arms against the promoters. They say
they were promised $25 to $50 for boosting
the fight, but were not paid. Today they
are DdlnllS lIt pIOHlOltiS Ill lIt COL
umns Of their papers.
Havana was completely deserted this
morning by the Americans who came to
the island to witness the Willard-JOhnson
fight. The only notable who remained was
Johnson. He was slated TO leave soon for
Kingston, Jamaica, there to catch a boat
for England. The peaceful attitude of a
week ago was shown again today. Willard
was the big scream, and when he left on
the boat for Key West with most of the
correspondents the town had a deserted
appearance. 1t happened that the races
closed just as the fight was decided, and
dozens of horsemen wanted to get away
on the first boat, The result was a tre-
mendOus crush, and the company had to
put on extra tubs to take care of the
traffic
Willard took his entire camp with him.
including Jim Savage, Walter MonOhan,
Jack Hemple and Tex O'Rourke. 1t was
suggested to him that he cut ii down.
less was indignant.
They helped me win the title, and IL /
hadn't had them / would have been in
bad shape" he said EVERY one stuck
to me, and I'll stick to them now Much
credit is due them for the punching they
stood during the long test at El Paso and
at Havana, In the two tough campaigns
we fought, died and bled together. Why
shake them now2"
Breaking camp was a pathetic and in
terestng sight. There was gloom around
JohnsOn's quarters, where everybody was
sad. Jacks big smile was the lone bright
spot. Sam McVey and Bob Armstrong
are going to New York at once. Gus
Rhodes and Jacks sister are going to
England with Johnson. George Munro
the old-time boxer, goes with Jack as sec
retary. Colin Bell is out of job.
Johnson keeps up brave front. He
welcomes the day when he can be his
own boss, hefsaid. and asks no sympathy
Jack got enough coin out OF the wreck
age TO go along the rest of his life fru-
gally and intends 10 do so. He told VIII
lard not to be foolish, as he and other