The Washington times., 1919-07-04
TOLEDO SWELTERS
WAITING FOR GONG
Continued from First Page.)

Willard were freely quoted. Dempsey
money has had a lapse, and unless
a large wad of it shows early, Will
lard will have the backing that be-
longs to a titleholder.
Freak bets abound, among them an
attempt by a New Yorker to lay an
against $1,000 that the
champion will win. Several bets were
placed last night that the champion
would not respond for the sixth round.
Odds OF l to 8 are being demanded for
such bets.
1t is hot in Toledo. Just plain hot,
and lots OF it. Oldest inhabitants
were around telling visitors they
never saw anything like il. The resin
in the boards at the Richard arena is
defending itself in very poor fashion.
Weather forecasts are to the effect
that there is no hope for relief, even
in the shape OF breeze.
Jimmy De Forrest, trainer of the
contender. declared yesterday he hoped
the day would be blistering hot
Used to Hot weather.
Dempsey is used TO the heat and is
stronger. willard has trained in the
shade. That will give Dempsey a bet
ter chance" said De Forrest.
Both battlers, however, are in the
acme Of training. They quit work
each man resting all
yesterday. Dempsey was up early this
morning for a short walk He spent
the morning at a cottage near the
scene OF the fight and slept a few
hours early this afternoon. Willard's
scheme was practically identical.
Whatever was booked to happen
today at the arena, il was certain
there would result one of the great
est scraps in the history OF pugilism.
in each Of the principals. Neither will
go down easily from a punch.
The size Of Willard has had the eff
feet of splitting the experts badly in
their opinions. There are quite as
many Dempsey adherents- probably
the wise" followers OF
the game as there are to back Will
lard.
Arguments Frequent.
Arguments are still frequent. and
due to this fact the betting is apt to
be very active.
There was a scene OF frantic effort
at the arena early. a line OF would
be spectators strung out along the
ticket DOOtnS, winch nave DeeH
erected at BayYicw Park.
Automobiles dotted the roadside,
and their owners slept in them. Army
tents and tents of other descriptions
filled many vacant places. Two port
able booths used in Toledo for cleo
ton purposes had been wheeled up to
a spot near the arena, and here sew
eral persons spent the night.
Lined With Booths.
Streets leading to the huge struc-
ture erected for the great battle by
Tex Richard were lined with booths
one Of an old-faShiOned street car
nival. Anything from lollypops up
could be purchased at almost any
price.
There was a new feature to this
fight. Ten airplanes took the air
carly. and most of them were up all
morning, droning about over the
arena and about the open spaces. A
huge United States army captive bal
loon, with its full crew Of handlers,
Swayed about. Occupants OF planes
and balloons were there mainly for
the purpose of taking photos. Planes
have been engaged to distribute pic
lures of the contest to be sent to
newspapers IN various sections or the
country. BY means of aircraft 1t
was hoped to have motion pictures Of
the mill showing tonight in CIeve-
land.
Transportation systems in Toledo
promise to be taxed to the utmost
for the big gathering. A single
duubIc-tracked railway runs to Bay
.-'o-.- fark. while another runs a few
blocks distant. There are only two
.,Ivvts wnicn can be used with any
degree of success by motorists, but
the fact that the Maumee is nearby
will cause many persons to make
their way to and fro by motor boats
and launches. 1t is probable that
every trolley line in the city will
be stripped of cars to handle the
crowd for the fight.
Ticket scalpers fiocked on every cor
ncr in the downtown section Offering
SIS tickets for $12 and S14
Only a few tickets were sold, and
II appeared as If the SIS pasteboards
would soon be selling at SIS and SO.
Several ticket spectators declared
they would lose hundreds of dollars.