Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-24
NO SUCH A THING,
!. IN OPINION OF TEX
Learned Basic Principles of
Promoting in Handling
Jeff johnson Go.

This is the only autobiography
fDritten by Ter Richard. 1t ,UdS pre-
man Buloer, for publication erclu-
siUely By The Star and the North
American Newspaper Alliance
Shortly before Richards death he
discussed NTH Bulger plans for pub
hcdtion OF these memoirs in book
form Following is the fifteenth in
stdllment OF the autobiography.
which is appearing in daily chapters
BY PEX RICHARD.
I'm Collaboration with Bozeman Bulser)
TT was in the Reno fight between
Jeffries and johnson that I began
TO learn the basic principles of pro-
i noting. of making big affair like
that successful.
An editor in the West has written to
ask me if ever knew of real grudge
fight. Frankly, I never did. Moreover,
don't believe there ever was one.
In the old days it used to be accept
ed as the proper form for one fighter
to refuse to speak to his opponent
while training There were stories,
probably encouraged by some booster,
about the two fighters meeting acct
dentally while doing road work and al
most coming to blows. This was sup
posed to convince the public that they
we're bitter enemies and, consequently,
would put up harder fight.
That to me is lot of bosh. I never
believed in 1t, and the more I see of
the fight game the less I believe in it.
The public likes to look on a fight as
sporting event. No man ever showed
c1a Inv, hei,s f~ia
to his opponent before and after the
hight. That was my theory and I put
1t into practice with Jeffries and john
son.
Goes Fishing With JEFF.
used to make point of going fish,
Ing or hunting with Jeffries and of
visiting him at his headquarters. On
other occasions would get Jack john
sons big racing car and ride with him.
I never tried to keep anybody from see
ing me do it, either.
You ought to have heard the busy
bodies warning me about this.
ITS bad dope for you to be seen out
with these fighters" they would tell
me; "Therell be lot of underground
talk. Don't forget you are the pro-
moter and the referee"
Maybe you are right" told one adj
wiser, but I'm going out fishing with
him"
Often Jeffries would ask me about
johnson. "'
What kind Of shape is he in. Tex?"
Fine" I told him. Hell give you
quite a fight"
Then Johnson would ask about JEFF
!rles. would tell him the same thing.
would never try to flatter one of them
py teiling him he had a cinch. That
would have been foolish.
j.. In later years have gone further
IN tnls line. I have made special ar
rangements for the two fighters tn he
seen together before the fight, The
Ians ike that. and so do the fighters
Tor that matter.
Fight Not Fixed.
While We were getting ready in Reno
there was much whispered talk 10 the
erect that the fight had been fixed,
That was all foolishness. Often am
asked about it to this day.
Jenries had no idea that johnson
would win that fight. If anything, it
was Johnson who lacked confidence.
ne wasn't so sure. A proof of this is
mat Jenries felt so sure of winning
ne insisted on go per cent Of the purse
gong 70 the winner. johnson felt the
any thought of johnson living down
they would have split the purse nearer
even. You can go and bet that Jim
ming.
In justice to Jeffries, by the way, it
is TACT that the Suddenchange of
cllmate from San Francisco to Reno
affected him very seriously. He con-
tracted stomach trouble and diarrhea.
That made him sloy and loggy, and he
could not entirely get rid Of 1t by
training.
A big item in that fight, apparently
overlooked by many at the Start, was
the moving picture rights. Johnson
and Jeffries were to divide their share
OF this equally. johnson made bad
mistake in selling out his entire pic
ture interest for $4,000. Jeffries
held onto his and it Melted him $66 $50.
AT Reno the preliminary arrange
ments took on different air. There
was all sorts of fun. The newspaper
men really had more to write about
than II we had stayed in San Fran
cisco. There was more of the romance
OF the Goldfield fight about it.
Johnson KEEP his admirers and 9TH
ers constantly amused with his racing
automobile and his big bull fiddle.
Some have an idea that Jack was not
serious about racing that car. Don't
you believe it. He thought himself the
greatest racing driver in the world and
would take any sort of chances.
johnson also knew how to play that
big bull fiddle. 1t was his delight to
get crowd of white folks at night or
afternoon and make the old bull snort.
lie could actually do tricks with that
big fiddle.
Fond Of Chicken Dinners.
Another Of his favorite pastimcs was
TO have chicken dinners. Always he
had smile for everybody. 1t was a
golden smile, too. 1t always looked
To me as If Jack johnson had more gold
teeth than anybody in the world.
There were frequent reports that
Jeffries was acting ugly and surly
While johnson was happy o-lucky and
friendly
AS matter of fact, Jeffries is a big,
friendly fellow. He was suffering from
that stomach trouble. Try as he would,
he could not entirely get over it. That
roade him worry. He was not surly or
slllen.
watched these fellows train because
wanted to learn as much as possible
sbout my job of referee. AS the Fourth
CT July approached, that refereeing
business made me sit up and think.
Next, JEFF and johnson in the ring)