The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-08

editors Note: This IL the first
OF three articles which Mr.. Corbett
is writing concerning Jim Jeffries' de-
feat by Jack Johnson. The second
instalment will appear tomorrow
The worst case of nerves. that
ever afflicted an athlete-that is what
sent Jim Jesfries down 10 defeat in
his memorable battle with Jack
Johnson in Reno, Nevada. in 1910.
The oft repeated story that Jerrses
was drugged before he went into the
ring In bunk" There is no disput-
ing the fact that Jeffries acted
"dopey' but it wasn't drugs that
brought about that condition. It
ives the absolute shsttesing of his
nervous system
SO many persons have written TO
me for the inside story of Jeffrfes'
defeat and the incidents leading up to
il that / am going to tell the story aa
I know it. feel that I am in a po-
sitlon to relate the real facts because
for two months ] was in Jeffries'
camp and acted as one OF his sd
visors
AS everyone knows. Jeffries retired
in 1905 after beating every formidable
foe; not once but twice. Jeffries
cleared the pugilfstic horizon of every
rival and when there Was none left
TO give him battle he quit the ring
When he laid away his gloves in 1905
1t was his firm resolve never to car
~ them again into a professional
Wize ring. But fate ruled otherwise.
Some months after his retirement
in 1908 Jesferies was called upon to
referee q coptest between Marvin Hart
and Jack Root II took place on
July of that year in Reno. New. Hart
knocked out Root in tho twelfth
round and after Jefferies had declar-
ed Hart the winner he announced to
the crowd that he was bestowfng his
vacated title upon Hart. The ring
rifles do not permit, champ ion to
turn over his crown TO another, but
the public generally approved of JEFF q
action and Hart became recognized
as the champion. He retained the
technical title until February 20, 1905,
when Tommy Burns outpointed him
In a twenty-round decision in Los
Angeles. That made Burns the title
holder and be remained az the king
of the heavyweight division until he
tried conclusions with Jack johnson
ON Christmas day. 1903,
johnson, then almost at his prime.
met Burns in Sidney. Australia. de-
feated him in fourteen rounds. the
police jumping into the ring at that
time and stopping the light John
son became recognized generally as
the technical heavyweight champion
of the world But Jefferies still was
the ring champion and was so re-
ssrded by the fight fans. Just the
same. Jeffries, retirement made John
son practically supreme as a heavy
weight.
Along In 1909 johnson made a
theatrical tour and included among
his posters was a huge one which
read:
| Jack Johnson. the pugilist. that
/ every white man Is afraid 10 meet"
| This. naturally stirred up something
/ akin to racial enmity. The white fight
| fans at once began looking around for
q man who. they figured, might havs
! a chance to beat johnson. But they
could find no active warrior who
ranked in Johnson's ciaas. There wa
] only one white fighter who was re.
gardsd as the possible conausrer Of ths
neEro--snd that man was Jim JefGries
So the press ana the public ngttatet
a Jefrries~J ohnson nght. Every pos
sible pressure was brought to bear upor