Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1910)
s THE MORNING OREGONIAN. FRIDAY, JULY, 1, 1910. LONDON LOOKS FOB LONG, HARD FIGHT 20 Rounds Minimum Length of Championship Battle in Novelist's Opinion. NEITHER MAN KNOCKER-OUT .Both Will Iepend on Cumulative Effect of Their Blows, Jeffries With His Left Rips and John-' eon With Right Smashes. BT JACK LONDON. Copyright, 101O, by the New fork Herald Company. Registered !n Canada In ac cordance with the copyright act. All r right reserved,) RENO, Nev., June 30. (Special.) Of course, every fight fan believes he knows Just .how the fight Is going- to go. I find myself no exception to this, and I am filled with quite definite Ideas, in & general way, as to how the big fight will open and move on to wards its finish. For in the first place, barring acci dents, lucky punches and yellow streaks, it will not be a short fight. There is practically no chance at all that it will be over inside of 10 rounds. Twenty would be nearer the mark, 'though it may go to 30. Thirty-five rounds is the maximum I dare suggest, heyond which it Is unthinkable that the contest can continue. Xeither Is Knocker-Out. Neither man is a knocker-out in the Sense that Fitzsimmons was or that Sullivan was. Neither carries the se dative kick in his biceps and shoulder muscles that can put a man abruptly to sleep at any stage of the fight. Both men depend upon the cumulative effect of their blows, Jeffries with his rips and Johnson with his right smashes. Their method has been to reduce an an tagonist a blow at a time, piling up an account of weakness and distress. Thus, when the end comes, if come it must, one of three things will hap pen: The referee may stop the fight and award the decision, because one or the other man Is in a bad way; one or the other man, or his seconds, may throw up the sponge, because he is in a bad way, or one or the other, being In a bad way from the cumulative ef fect of punches received, will go down for the count before a blow, not nec essarily severe, but enough to do the "work on his weakened condition. Britt Weak at Finish. Thus, ho weakened was Britt at Colma that almost any sort of a punch from Battling Nelson was sufficient to finish him. Corbett did not really knock out Sullivan at New Orleans. While it is true that in the latter part of the fight Corbett administered a lot of sharp punishment, nevertheless Sullivan was ready, and had been long ready, to take the count, having exhausted him self by vainly trying to reach the wily dodger. The blow that put Sullivan down for keeps would not have shaken Mm in the epening rounds of the fight. Quite different was the blow Fitz simmons' struck to finish Corbett In the Carson fight. That blow was a genuine knocker-out. Whether deliv ered in the first round or the last, or in any Intervening round, Corbett would have gone down for the count Just the same. Fight Will Be Long One. Neither Jeffries, nor Johnson carries such a knock in his arms. As a re sult, always barring accidents, of course, the fight will be of fairly long duration, each man striving to pile up a score of cumulative punishment. And how will they go at it? It is fair to assume from the history of the two men that the first several rounds will le easy. It is scarcely plausible that Jeffries will start to rush the fight at The sound of the gong, and Johnson certainly will not rush it. There won't te much tearing in, In those first sev eral rounds. The men have never met before. They will take it easy, feel each other out, learn slowly and safely what to expect, what to avoid, and how to get in their own licks best Jack Will Give Most Blows. It is in this opening part of the fight, as sure as pigs is pigs, that Jeffries will Teceive the greater portion of the punishment. The man never lived who could prevent Johnson landing on him. That Jeffries will receive, during the opening period, three blows to every one he gives, is not too mild a thing to believe. Jeffries himself has said that he is prepared for this and that he is quite willing to exchange blows at the ratio of one to three. He bases his willing ness upon two things: His belief in his greater stamina for assimilating pun ishment, and his belief that his own punches have far more punishing power " than Johnson's. Jeff Will Be Quick. One thing notable in this fight will be Jeffries' quickness. He will be quicker than ever before. This can be depended upon, though his quick ness may not be so evident because he will have to employ it against a phenomenally quick and cleveri ad versary. Jeffries' own cleverness will be a surprise to many who have never seen him in action, or -who have not seen him in action since his early, fighting days. Nevertheless, more than once, as he comes in, crouched, with his shoulder, into a clinch, will his head be lifted by Johnson's right. Another thing that .will be mani fest is that Johnson will better meas ure time and distance. Jeffries will pay the penalty for this, but will con tinue doggedly to bore in at the ratio of one for three back. Hev has done it before, he will do it on the Fourth. Clinches Will Interest. The thing I am most curious to see, what. will happen when these two strong-shouldered men come together in the clinches? Johnson has always been noted for his strength and skill at such times, in blocking, locking arms, stalling and so entangling an opponents arms as to make him helpless. Can he do this with Jeffries? It must be remembered that for the first time in his life. Johnson en counters an opponent who is Just as strong as he in the shoulders and arms, if not stronger. In fact, Jeffries may be far stronger. No one knows just how strong, he is in- that partic ular.' Wll! Johnson entangle Jeffries arms and make a toy of him. or will Jef fries teach him at such moments what strength Is? I am curious to know. - Rudolph Sie. a Chinese hoy. has juet walked away with the I'nlvernity OI Pennsylvania- scholarship which Is yearly award ed by competitive examination to a Iistriut of Columiba high school student. FAMOUS AUTHOR WHOSE FIRST ANTE-FIGHT STORY AP PEARS IN THE OREGONIAN TODAY. M.,i?,3si a- : 1 sis REX YOUTH WILL DECIDE Reserves to Count in Big Bat tle, Says Rex Beach. , EYES OF WORLD ON RENO Same Elemental Lrve of Fighting Hero That Hailed Roosevelt Is Behind Interest iu Contest, Author Believes. (Continued From "First Page.) spectacled one-tenth who looked upon him as a President, and lawgiver are raising' their voices against prizefight ing and pointing the finger of scorn at Nevada. We claim to be a Nation ruled by a majority. Our civic spirit is rent and our democracy is goaded to fury at the mere suggestion that a hated minority holds the reins "of government and shapes our laws for its own protection yet prizefighting is governed in Just that way. The submerged nine-tenths has made pugilism a felony in every state except Nevada. . Privilege Weakly Defended. I do not think I exaggerate when I say that out of every 10 normal, healthy ' American male voters, nine would like to see a good square prize fight. And not only would those nine like to witness the spectacle, but out of their number there would be five at least who would pawn their shirts for the price of a ringside seat. I do not set myself up to say that these men are right or wrong: morally excellent or depraved, but nevertheless the per centage holds. It is not a theory, it is a condition, and acknowledging that condition it has ever been a mystery to me why this sport of sports has been tabooed so generally. It is a kink that I have never yet solved to my own satisfaction. Some say women are be hind It, some claim that it is the awak ening of a higher moral sense, but woman has yet to prove her political power, and to a student of American morals the latter explanation is laugh able. I hold to the theory that men guard their rights by blood, yet allow their privileges to be curtailed without much of a struggle. If. the American man ever decides that it is his inalien able right and not a mere privilege to amuse and relax himself as he sees fit so long as he does not Interfere with the liberty of his fellow-man, we will have prizefights, Sunday theaters and horse racing. Abuses are possible in all things of course. One can drink enough water to kill himself, and I have heard of a woman who laughed herself to death at a circus, but why shoot a dog because he has fleas? - x Keno Is Obsessed. One is brought face to face with this condition of affairs when he steps foot in Reno. Back in Washington, D. C, they are making history; from Wall street comes the plaintive, bleat of lambs and an echo of the old, old struggle between bull and bear; Eng land faces an epoch-making political crisis; great things are happening at various places over the world, but in Reno, Nev., all things are dwarfed in comparison with the Johnson-Jeffries struggle. .The air is. surcharged with It; we hear the tramp of approaching thousands; we are obsessed by the magnitude of this coming clash; we see. we hear, we talk nothing else. Monday 150,000 words went out from here over the wires and the fight was a week away. Tne fall of Port Arthur did not take one-quarter that number of words to tell. And every day It is the same. From now on until tne time of the battle the dally number will in crease. In other words, two novels are being written every 24 hours, dealing entirely with te question of individual superiority. When lt is realized that of those 150,000 words, 100,000 at least are relayed through dozens of syn dicates to countless newspaper offices in the United States, Canada and for eign countries, and that those offices in turn print papers by the myriads which are read by an average of two or three people to each -copy, it Is possible to grasp something of the enormity of the public's Interest in the coming event. It means that every day more printed matter bearing on the Johnson-Jeffries Is ' 4 : BEACH. prizefight is -written, printed, distrib uted and read than most booklovers have in their entire libraries. Jeff Elusive In Training. I had no sooner reached a hotel on Monday morning than I was advised that my arrival -had been timed to the psychological second. Jeff was about to work. . "Quick, Into this automobile," a fel low chronicler advised me, with no ef fort to conceal his excitement. "Gee, you are in luck." ' "But I want to change my clothes," said I. "I'm so full of cinders it sets my teeth on edge." ' "What about the cinders?" inquired an eavesdropper, Koldly edging his way toward us. "Is Johnson going to "spar this morning?" My friend drew me aside. "Don't bother to change now. We Just got the tip from Corbett." "Just a collar," I pleaded; "it won't take but a minute." "Look here." said he, "I've been in Reno for a week and haven't had a peek at Jeffries yet. I Marathoned out to Moana Springe three times a day, until alkali dust is like talcum powder in my nostrils, and I haven't seen him put on a mitt. He has the disposition of a tarantula. He's got a diabolical gift of second-sight. He can smell a spectator for a mile, and he seems to know Just when we won't be there. You come." , Jeff "Man Who Came Back." So I went. And I was very glad, for I saw that wbJch I had never expected to see, a man who has "come back." Jim Jeffries has renewed his youth. DeLeon should have gone West in his search for that fabled fountain the waters of which he believed could roll back the years from human shoulders. He should have gone to Rowardennan. I had been led to believe from the late pictures of the California giant that his face was drawn and haggard, his body fallen away to folds where the fathad burned, but it 1k not so. His cheeks are sunken, but it is the gauntness of vigorous health, and they shine with a ruddy color. His muscles are firm and pliant and they are tanned to that perfect brown which comes only from a life beneath smiling skies. He Is younger than the camera shows and no clicking shutter can snap the vigor that seems to lie in his massive, hairy frame. In build he Is more like a wrestler than a fighter, and -at first sight one refuses to credit the stories of his quickness, but it is there, and with it all is a certain irresistible pow er that is hard to describe. His arms are huge and In his blows there ap pears to be the same heavy weight that is in the thrust of a steamboat's "walking beam." That is- what im presses ' one most strongly, the tre mendous weight that lurks behind his blows. I saw none of that clever, stinging "snap" that other champions display in their boxing, and yet with it all is a re markable agility and a catlike certainty of motion. Pound for pound I believe Jeffries to be the most i dangerous, the most rugged fighter, the 'world has ever known. This does not mean, to a cer tainty, that he will win on Monday next, for the human eye can see nothing be yond the surface, nothing but the mate rial, and no man knows, not even Jeffries himself, whether back of the superb equipment of bone and brawn and nerve s..il smoulders the magic spark that will flare and blaze and vivify him in his hour of need. Johnson's Victory Unlikely. No matter how marvelous is Johnson's defense, I do not believe he can stand before this rushing, stubborn monster once they have both settled down to the point where blood is pumping, lungs bursting and fatigue dragging at them equally. In the afternoon I watched Johnson work, and, it was very different. He has the. soul of a Joy-rider. Nature designed him for a chauffeur, and while he Is the master of the greatest defensive 'system any fighter of his weight has - been equipped with, he seems to look upon this battle as a Joke. I believe he knows of 50 good and sufficient reasons why he will beat his opponent next Monday. I doubt if the other possibility has ever appealed to him. He is fast, marvelously fast. Jeffries cannot approach the swift ness of his arms and hands. He has a straight left that taxes the eye to follow, but it seems that most of his agility xnd superlative cunning are exercised in self, protection. And therefore lies, one great difference between the two men. I believe Jeffries would take a blow equal to his own, if by so doing he could land. Not so John son. Regarding their actual, 18-karat fighting ability when it comes 'to the crucial test, nothing can be proved until the fateful Fourth, for both men are holding back. On the one hand Is the white man. somber, sullen, dogged and tremendous in his strength: on the other the black man. alert, cautious, brilliant in execution, self-protective and utterly confident. i ' '.A Ililpfil BOTH GLADIATORS F 'f Am Ready," Says Jeffries, and So Says Johnson, as He 7 Quits Sparring. BETTING AT RENO LIGHT Negro Does Last Active Stunts Be fore Moving Picture Machine, While ex-f Iiarupion Plays Cards Throngs Pour In. RENO, June 30. "I am ready; my training is finished. With-the excep tion of a sprint now and then to keep myself in shape I will do no more work." This was the declaration made by James J. Jeffries late today. When he made It he was sitting at a card table, where he had been all afternoon. He was playing hearts against Jim Cor bett, Sam Berger and Dick Adams. A big heap of silver was piled before him, gleaned from the pockets of the other three, and the man who hopes to wrest the heavyweight championship from Jack Johnson next Monday afternoon wis laughing like a boy over his lack. Xo More Boxing, Says Jeff. "There wHl be no boxing,", said Jeffries, and his tone plainly Indicated that he meant what he said. From now until he steps into the ring to face 'Johnson he will amuse himself as the spirit moves him. His year and a half of hard, honest effort to put himself in shape to fight this one great fight of his life is over, and, looking back over" what he has done and forward to the work that he, feels is yet for him to do, Jeffries says: "I am ready." He will await the hour with trout rod or cards. Jack Also Ready. Under the eye of the moving picture camera Johnson toiled through a day of gymnasium stunts, boxing and pos ing. Afterward he said he would do no more actual training before the fight. Like Jeffries, he is "ready." The only event of the day to mar his happiness was the clash with Joe Woodman. Johnson's conduct in that matter was dubbed "Chesterfieldlan," by those who saw-it, and by his re strained manner and courteous de meanor toward 'the man whom he deemed his enemy, the champion won new friends. Johnson Finds Woodman. After his road jaunt in the morning Johnson encountered Woodman on his return and asked Langford's manager to leave the campgrounds. It was all quietly done on both sides without any display of temper r exchange of harsh words. When Woodman had left, how ever, Johnson seemed to change his mind and he did not go. out to the canvas-floored ring to work under the vigilant gaze of the camera until late in the afternoon. The middle of the day was devoted to securing typical "scenes about camp. The champion took great interest . in this work. He helped to pose . his trainers and to arrange the scenes the machine was to record. Machine Clicks "Away. , After luncheon Johnson devoted more time to the camp pictures and it was nearly 4 o'clock before he slipped through the ropes of the ring and began medicine ball tossing, bag punching, and other preparatory labors while the machine clicked steadily away. John L. Sullivan, cap, -black and gray checkered suit, black braided trousers and all, was on hand to watch the fun. He was persuaded to hammer away at the bag for a few minutes and the wal lops he delivered were of sledgehammer force. The old-time champion is not training these days, however, and he puffed and blew after a moment's work in a way that made him quickly desist. Punching Bag Flies. Johnson went at the bag again. Al most his first blow drove it from Its moorings, and away it went, ' sailing toward the crowd, causing many heads to duck. "Come on." called Jack, reaching out his hands for the boxing gloves. Al Kaufman responded, and in a mo ment the pair were at it, Al boring in as though he wate trying to knock the champion out. First- one way, then an other, he tried. Jack stopped everything that came. They kept It up for four rounds, and it is doubtful that the films will show that Al landed even once. Johnson's defense seemed to be every where. His elbows, shoulders and every part of his body Joined in the barricade. Nothing that fame seemed fast enough to bother him. He stopped some of the blows in midair, apparently without exer tion. Cotton Plunges In. When Kaufman retired, big "Kid" Cotton plunged in. Jack went back at Cotton with some snap. They wrestled around the ring, the champion displaying' his great strength more than once by hurling Cotton away from him as though his weight was nothing. In the second round, --the blood sprang from Cotton's lips when Jack's left landed. A little later Cotton missed a swing, the cham pion ducking clear under the blow and the sparring partner sprawled on the floor, overbalanced by his own exertion. They went four rounds, then Johnson signaled the end of the show and - the crowd began to hustle out to town. Governor Dlckerson was again a vis itor at the Johnson camp. He seemed fascinated by the cleverness of the gi gantic negro and watched, every move with admiration shining in ' his eyes. "It Depends," Says CJovernor. "It depends on what Jack- feels like doing," he said. Out at Camp Jeffriea the " day passed in idleness. Jeffries went fishing with Jack Wooley in the morning and on his return, about noon,- he found Ed Moody, of Santa Cruz, the man who taught him deep-sea fishing on Monterey Bay, wait ing to greet him. They clasped hands like brothers and Moody stayed about camp all the rest of the day. t The card game was Jeffries' only form of occupation after lunch. He Is fond of the game and winning makes him mighty happy. He won today, much to the sorrow of Corbett and the others, and he was overflowing with, good hu mor in consequence. Jeffries Is Undetermined. Jeffries thought it possible that he would do a little sprinting some time In the evening. He was not sure, he said. It depended on how he felt about it later. If he felt like going he would; If not, he would stay In camp. Jeffries, had planned to Inspect the arena personally today. It Is one of the things he always looks after Just before a fight. His great weight Jarring around the ring makes staunch supports an ab solute necessity end he likes to have NI5H TRAIN NG someone in whom he has" confidence look at the construction before be fights. Today he directed that Sam Berger, his manager, make a trip to the arena tomorrow and thoroughly examine it. Sam will also endeavor to arrange with Tom Flanagan for a coin-tossing con test with himself on Sunday. On the call ing of the coin will hang the choice of corners. Corners Important Issue. This is considered quite important, as the eyes of the fighter who is seated with his baclf to old Sol will not-tm sub jected to the glare. The influx of visitors assumed such proportions today that it, began to look like an invasion. During the evening hours, the nerve centers of the fight talk. Tex Rickard's hotel, was the busiest place in town. It was more than that. It was the busiest scene Reno has wit nessed In many years. Reno Is eagerly welcoming the visitors and the clubs and other civic organiza tion? are outdoing each other in hospi tality. Correspondents Will Frolic. For Saturday night the Nevada Edito rial Association has planned a reception to the host of newspaper writers, which bids fair to be a thing unique in the history of such affairs. About every member of the newspaper fraternity now present, who has achieved -distinction in one part of the country or another with an entertainment "stunt," is slated to appear. The audience will be composed almost entirely of men whose fame as sporting writers or as describers of any great event is widely known. It jjs probable that never before was such an assemblage of newspaper talent assembled as is now. here and all are looking forward to the "Jinks" with a purpose to make it a memorable affair. Though the fight is but three days off. local betting- continues very light. Tom Corbett, official betting commissioner for the promoters, is now on the ground and although hehas secured quarters in one of the most important up-town gambling halls and placarded the walls of the es tablishment with flaring signs- telling of his desire to transact business, there was little besides those mural decorations to Indicate that local sportdom is interested in placing its money on the outcome of the battle. Corbett, however, does not seem to be worrl over the dearth rf wagers. He beliefs that a great deal of money is being held in reserve and will come for ward between now and the hour when the men come together. Independents Fare Better. An independent poolroom, close to the uniujni commissioner s headquarters. Is showing a. trifle more activity. Two big bets were placed by members of John son's camp today. One was $1500 to $3000 that Johnson would win. the other $500 at even money that Jeffries would not put the quietus on the champion in 18 rounds. A San Francisco business man is reported to have made a bet at the same place of $1000 to $600 on Jeffries. As he walked toward his dressing-room Johnson was asked what work he con templated for tomorrow. "I'm through," he said. "This closes my work." James J. Jeffries and John Arthur Johnson are ready to fight. Both rnen completed their long training work today and will merely do light exercising through the three days that will elapse before they face each other In a 22-foot ring to fight out the heavyweight cham pionship of the world. AL. NEIIili liAUDS JOHN-SON Middleweight Says Black Is Best Man Jeffries Has Ever Met. ' a,AtT?1A: r" June OD (Special.) Al Neill,' of San Francisco, the well known middle-weight pugilist, who is here for a bout with Otto Berg, of Fort Stevens, on next Monday afternoon, is an admirer of Jack Johnson's- fighting qualities and considers him much more clever than Jeffries. In fact, he does not hesitate to say that in his opinion if the big negro was a white man and could thus enter the ring without the odds that race prejudice breeds against him, Johnson would be a 6-ure winner in the coming contest. In speaking of the big fight this evening, Mr. Neill said: "In my opinion Jeffries is meeting the cleverest, biggest and strongest man in his career. When Jeffries met Fitzsimmons he was in the prime of life, but until he landed that solar plexus punch on Fitz he was one of the worst-beaten men I ever saw. Fitz simmons weighed only 165 pounds?- wniie jerrries tipped the beam at about 225, and I don't think Fitz ever saw the day when he could beat Johnson. "The negro will demonstrate that he is fully as- strong as Jeff and not hav ing the 'heart,' will make a careful fight. Unless Jeff is able to knock him out cold, with a s'ngle punch, he will have a hard time, to locate John son, once Jeff hurts him. Jeffries on re-entering the ring after his retire ment may come back as strong and good as ever, but If he does he will be the one exception to the rule. "If Johnson Is not frightened and gets- an equal show with his adver sary, I believe he has a chance of win ning." FIGHT TRAINS ARE DUE Oregon and Washington Pans Are Estimated to Number 100 0. Two special trains carrying fight fans bound for Reno will arrive in Portland today. One train carrying 90 passengers from Spokane territory will arrive in the morning and remain in Portland all day. , The other, bringing 125 from Puget Sound, will arrive at night. Both trains will depart via the Southern Pacific at night. Southern Pacific officials estimate the number of Portland residents who have bought tickets to Reno ai 200, but all are being handled by tbe regular equip ment. The estimate by the same offi cials of the number of persons from Oregon and Washington who will at tend the fight is placed at 1000. Four-Passenger Coupe. Long Wheel Base, Ample Boom. Cushion Tires No Puncture. Frank C. Riggs Seventh and Oak Streets. After July 15th In Our Sfew Packard Service Build ing, Cornell Bond, Twenty-third and Washington Streets. TELEPHONES MAIN 4542, A 1127. ijjl Thsrt which all. men say must ili!!iin, CIGARETTES If it came to a vote, Turkey Red Cigarettes would , be first choice of every smoker who has tried them. Their v popular ity is unprece dented but so is their flavor taste aroma and value. Cork Tips c for We noes AT .31 rt. In order to accommodate all those wishing to spend the 4th at North Beach, Wash., the Steamer "T. J. Potter" will on her return trip on that date Leave Megler at 9 P. instead of 3:00 P. M. her regular schedule, and will arrive iii , Portland early next morning thus givinr; TWO FDLL DAIS AT THE BEACH Business men can spend Sunday and Monday at the Coast) without loss of time. Round Trip Eate $3 Tickets good going Saturday, July 2d at 1 P. M. on the Pot ter, or at 10 P. M. on the Hassalo and for return Monday. A Daylight Ride on the Scenic Columbia The steamer Potter will leave Portland, July 4th, at 8 :30 A. M. For reservations, 'tickets, etc., call at our City Ticket Office, 3rd and Washington Streets. WM. McMURRAY, General Passenger Agent. Grand Trunk Pacific Steamships" The New Steel Steamship " Prince Rupert" Length, 320 feet Twin Screw 18 knots per hour Double Bottom Water-Tight Bulkheads Wireless Telegraph. MOST LUXURIOUS OS PACIFIC COAST. f Victoria, Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Portland Canal, Seattle to "I Queen Charlotte Islands, and Stewart, the New Go'd I Fields. SIX DAYS' CRUISE Seattle to Prince Rupert and Retara S36.00 Including- Meala Leave Seattle June 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, at Midnlpht Sundays. For tickets and reservations apply to rocal ticket agents or J. H. BURGIS, G. A. P. D., Grand Trunk Pacific Steamships, First avenue and Yaler Way, Seattle, Wash. 0 I ! ' ill I ! M,iiI Foert. eace Seattle to Stewart and Return 48.00 and Bertha. 10