Evening journal., 1921-07-02
Fighters READY
To BATTLE FOR
WORLD HONOR
Continued from first pager

CONTINUED from first page)
Of his scat. He was accompanied
by a young lady who had field glasses /
and used them.
The house filled lowiy and it look
as if it might be packed by the time
the champion and the Frenchman
climbed into the ring.
The $50 seats were receiving a
crowded.
The first preliminary started at
1904 p. m. The contestants were
Mickey belmont, Of Newark. and
Johnny Curtain. of Jersey City,
bantamweghts.
Big threatening clouds were roll
ing up from the southeast at 1870
o'clock.
To one coming into the arena at
that hour it seemed there was no oc-
eupants but policemen, firemen and
ushers. There we're thousands of
tickets holders in their seats, but
they. were lost in the vast big saucer.
The bleachers were packed.
Blue-coated protectors, red-capped
ushers and white-clad dispensers Of
soda and programs moved around
the crowd furnishing the lone touch
OF color TO the scene. A sob sister"
in the press box dressed in bright
pink, was the only woman in the
stadium at that hour
Workmen were still busy around
the ringside. The ropes we're being
taped with white felt and carpen-
/ ters were building a railing around
| the 54-foot tower to keep the motion
picture operators from falling down
into the laps OF the spectators. Some
of the machines were being pulled
up on ropes and being set in places.
Facing the main entrance was a
triple-horned voice ampliher to be
used for the announcement The
fans were having fun yelling
through in voices that filled the
arena their opinions Of the result
OF the afternoon festivities.
Rumors were brought in from the
outside that 10000 IS seats were
begging, but it didn't look as though
there were so many available seats
upon the rim Of the bowl
Reserved seat holders were slow
in coming in. There were very few
sitting in the $50 section besides cops
and flremen.
Workmen were having fun testing
the ben for the time-keeper. II
sounded like a fire gong and could
be head all over the arena It was
obvious from the sharp clang thai
there would be no repetition OF the
Toledo affair when the bell failed tC
sound. after the first round.
Modern appliances were installed
In the corners of the ring. The
stools swung around the ring post
on a swivel and boxes were fitted
up in the same fashion for the bot,
ties and sponges. Seven old-fash
ioned stools were in the ring. n,
one knew what their end was
French colors were around tn,
top Of the arena. The Stars anC
Stripes were alternatee with IN,
French colors.
The S. crowd filtered in yer,
slowly and to enliven things tn
band struck up another tune.
70 Tex Rickard, owner and boss o
the whole show. appeared at tn
n ring side at 10.45. He walked dow
through the crowd without bein
n recognized. He stood in the pres
n box with an unhghted cigar in hi
., mouth gazing up at the skies.
I'm very well satisfied" Rtckar
Il said. ''The weather is just what
e wanted. The crowd is coming fin,
p / think I'll have a million and
II half house"
/ Charles Lyons and Charles Nc
e Nair, members OF the New Jerse
Boxing Commission with one {
d Richards representatives were III
II first officials in the ring. They fe
l. the padding under the canvas. tugge
ID at the ropes and scrutinized the tar
"a wrapped around the ring boundarie
They were not recognized by IN
i crowd and left the ring without
Il demonstration.
le What the crowd was doing was
G. mystery. There was none OF Il
usual noise and banter found at
lg fight or a baseball game. Firems
~ refused TO allow spectators TO ent
ID with newspaper so they could n
ie read. They we're Just sitting the
". waiting.
Rickard was emphatic ina stat