The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-06
YES INSIDE FACTS
OF JEFFERIES' DEFEAT
I'm Had Retired From the Ring for All Time But Lure Of
Big Purse for Theatrical Appearance Brought Him Back
Jack Gleason Disposes to Tell Many Facts as Yet Not
Published

on the subject OF returning to the
ring. always rejected the proposition.
II am through with the ring for all
time he declared.
About that time when Jer's name
was on everyone's lips as the pugilis-
tic hope of the white race, the pro-
prietor of the Wigwam theater in San
Francisco figured 1t would be great
stunt IL he could get Jeffries TO ap-
pear on his stage for one week He
had friends send 'feelers" to JEFF. but
always the nothing doing answer
came back.
Just as the theatrical manager was
about to throw the idea into the dis
card. a friend of his said:
There's only one man who can mt
this thing over for you and that man
is Jack Gleason. (At that time Glea-
son was the owner of the San Fran.
league.) The big fellow is very fond
OF Gleason and II anybody can infu-
ence him. ii is this same Gleason"
SO the theatrical man went to Jack
Gleason and said:
II am willing to nay Jim Jerries
$4,000 for a one-week appearance in
my theater. ! have sounded out JEFF
fries concerning this proposition and
he is opposed to it. I am coming to
me the favor of going to Los Angeles
and submitting the thing to him.
started For 10. Angeles.
Two hours later Gleason boarded a
train for Los Angeles and the next
afternoon hunted UP Jim JeTries;
Gleason's own story of how JEFF
fries finally was induced TO accept.
follows:
'Jeff was not in a very receptive
mood at first He then weighed about
300 pounds and was not keen about
doing any active work. or course, he
realized that sparring exhibition on
the stage wasn't going to call for
much effort, but Just the same. IL
spelled work to him. And JeTries
had enough money laid aside right
then to keep him comfortable for the
rest of his days.
However. I was nightly interested
in JET himself Although ne was out
Of condition ! figured that he might,
with the training of more than a
year. whip himself into such shape
that hc could take on Johnson. The
problem was to get him started II
was my belief that II he went on the
stage for one week at the Wigwam
thater that the venture would prove
a financial success and would lead
other theatrical producers 10 offer
good contracts to Jeurtes. felt ina
having started, the big fellow would
keep right at 1t and that through this
medium OF training for his bouts on
the stage, he would gradually whip
himself into fair lighting condition.
And it would be just a few jumps
from then TO get him into the mood
where he would sign up articles for
aEht with Johnson.
Il argued for the greater part of
twenty four hours with Jeffries. but
all the while he remained obdurate-
Finally ] suggested that he put the
matter up 10 Mrs JeTrics. knowing
all the time that Mrs. Jerries was
very much in favor of JcfY's accept
ance of the theatrical offer. So Jeff
said he would do so and talked the
matter over with his wife few
minutes later he came To rse and said
Well. ! guess It's all right Mrs.
Ienriex is for il, so III sign the con-
tract Give me your fountain pen
And then JeYFies signed the pa :
pers."
Copyright 1918 by King Features
Syndicate. Incl