The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-03
Jack Johnson, as Boy. Let
His Sisters Do His Fighting
By JAMES J. CoRBETT.
Copyright 1917. by King Features Syndicate. Ine)

Years ago In Galveston. Tex. there
Was negro boy so fearful OF physt-
cal combat that whenever he got in
to q quarrel with any Of his boy COM
panfons he ran home and tried TO
get his sisters to fight his battles for
him. The boy became known as a
coward among hts associates and thie
condition continued for a number OF
years-
Finally. the mother of the little
negro. disgusted by the tactics OF her
son. threatened one day to give him
the worst licking OF your life the
very next time that he ran away from
a fight She told him that he Ia q
grown big enough to nght his own
battles and that In future HIS sisters
wouldn't take his part. And 80 the
boy. when forced into another quarrel
by the tAunts OF his companions. re-
nj euabered the treat of his mother
and fought back, made the fght not
beca use Of bravery but because of
the greater fear of being whipped at
home IL he avoided II.
A score OF years later that same
boy developed into the greatest fight
err Of his time; the champion OF
Champion for he was none other
than Jack johnson. king OF the heavy
weight division from 1903 until he
was dethroned by jesse willard in
1915
The discovery OF Johnson was
made in 1899, in Springfield, H.. by
George Siler The famous referee
had gone to that city to offfciats at
some boxing bouts. The man who
the show with battle royal with
negroes participating Siler was i'm
pressed with the work Of a six foot
negro. This chap. who was none
other than Jack Johnson. showed
skill and cleverness for beyond the
average battle royal" performer. AZ
ter the fight, which Johnson won in
decisive way. Siier turned to Sam
Pooier. weli-known promoter of
pugilism in that era. and said:
THAT negro looks like a conner:
why don't you take him to Chicago
and give him a tryout?''
Pooler declared that he couldn't
see anything In Johnson as a fighter
and so Eiier. still enthusiastic about
Johnson's work. took up the matter
with johnny Corners The latter. who
knew of Siier's splendid judgment
concerning boxers, took him at his
word and Johnson was taken to
Chicago for a trial in real boxing
bout.
During his Springfield days Jack
was lighting the free lunch counters
and when Johnson got to Chicago he
was In half starved condition for
his first fight with 'Klondike," then
quite a favorfte among the negro
heavywe'HNts. Johnson put up a
strong battle for three rounds but az
ter that his strength failed him ow-
ing TO thu fact that he hadn't eaten
a real meal for nearly week and
johnson lost the decision. However
he got enough money for his work
in the contest to "fli the wrinkles in
his stomach" and having had one
taste of prosperity that falls to the
lot OF ring performers. decided to
stick.
After johnson engaged in two fishts
early in 1901 and accumulated few
hundred dollars he decided upon a
trip back to his hometown---6ialves
ton. Soon after his arrival there he
learned that Joe Choynski was TAX
ing on all Corners. johnson sought a
bout with Choynski and Joe promptly
obliged him. The affair was staged
on February IS. 1901.
Johnson lasted Just three roundz
with the wonderful white fighter He
put up a good fght for two rounds
but in the third Joe battered him 80
much that the Police stopped thecon-
test. and Johnson was charged with
q knockout defeat. II waA his frs'
1pyo'sb eating and from that dAs