Show World (July 1910)

12 THE SHOW WORLD July isl i9io. (SM&jo AOjtZto'S Denver, July 13—Back home again from the big fight—I meant to say back home again from what was to have been the “fight of the century,” but which proved to be the poorest exhibition ever witnessed for a cham¬ pionship title. Those who took the trip need find no fault with them¬ selves, although the fight was not what they had bargained it would be. They were amply repaid for the long trip by the great sight that met their eyes when that arena was filled and by the hundreds of celebrities that they met or had pointed out to them. Representatives from all corners of the earth were there. Some had come a few hundred miles; others a few thousand miles, and some ten thou¬ sand miles. No distance seemed too far removed from Reno for the man interested in championship battles. Never before has there gathered the number of sporting writers or other prominent writers, for that matter. Every leading paper in the land had its representative. Never before had six men that had held the heavyweight title of the world in their day met and conversed together. There were Johnson, Jeff¬ ries, Burns, Corbett, Fitzsimmons and Sullivan, who have all held the honor. Then there was Bill Lange, the Aus¬ tralian champion, who is striving for the honor, and Sam Langford, who believes that he is the master of Johnson. Added to this were Stanley Ketche!, Battling Nelson, Tom Shar¬ key, A1 Kaufman, Jack O’Brien and many others. In the promoting line all the best were there. Jim Coffroth, with his smile, was one of the first to be introduced; so was Hugh Mc¬ Intosh, the Australian premier; Tom McCarev of Los Angeles, another, and then Tex Rickard and Jack Glea¬ son were brought forth. One of the biggest receptions was accorded “Big Tim” Sullivan, the final stakeholder. In fact, old Bill Jordan kept introduc¬ ing celebrities until his voice gave out, and he himself said: “My pipes are gone and I can’t go any further.” It must be remembered that Jordan is seventy-seven years of age and the straining of his vocal cords was ex- The excitement that always pre¬ cedes an event of this kind is some¬ thing that cannot be expressed out¬ wardly. The taking of the pictures, the watching and straining of eyes as this or that notable enters to take his seat. The fact that Tex Rickard had built a private box on top of the arena edge for his wife to entertain her friends, among whom were Mrs. Rex Beach, Mrs. Dick Ferris and the wives of officials of the state. A luncheon was served before the battle began, and the ladies entered the box by a private entrance from the outside, es¬ pecially built for that purpose. All these little incidents served to attract attention. Then someone would come along and whisper: “Johnson has just entered his dressing room.” Again the conversation would drift to inci¬ dents that were taking place in the big inclosure. On all sides you would hear the cry of those willing to stake thousands on the chances of Jeffries, while Johnson money was nowhere to be had. Then pretty soon someone would come along the press row again and softly say: “Jeffries and Corbett have just come in from Moana.” We all knew then that the fight would begin shortly afterward. A band had held the center of the stage while the people were taking their seats. No sooner had the picture men finished and the introductions completed than Johnson with his trainers was seen making his way toward the center. Only a few cheers greeted him. Then came Jeff, with Corbett and Berger in his wake. Everybody shouted for the white man. Johnson in an elaborate bathrobe walked about the ring. When the reporters began to kid him about the gorgeous attire he pulled it back so he could show the inside and said: “Look at this inside; this is a Canada baby.” It was regal in its splendor, and emphasized the fact that Johnson, as always, leaned to¬ ward the gaudy. The moment that Jeffries sat down in his corner his friends realized that he was gone. All the confidence that he had inspired by his wonderful work in the training quarters fell when he took his seat. He no more resembled the Jeffries that we had seen doing his road work, boxing and going fishing for the past month than night does day. It was a different man in that corner. When Abe Attell fitted the pearance indicated and breathed suc¬ cess. -All this was outwardly, how¬ ever, for when he got into the ring this was changed to just.the opposite extreme. No one inspiring item of his former self did he present. He ap¬ peared broken in mind and spirit— physically a giant, but a mental wreck. It was as complete a collapse as ever was witnessed anywhere in the world. While Johnson was fortunate in having opposed to him a man in this pitiable plight, no credit should be taken away from his splendid victory. It is almost certain that -he believed that the most formidable man he had ever been called upon to meet was about to face him. He knew the rec¬ ord of the man and realized that the man who had defeated Fitzsimmons, Corbett, Sharkey and a lot more was not to be trifled with. For that rea¬ son it is certain that Johnson himself was as much surprised a man when he learned of Jeffries’ condition as anyone else about that big arena. The very fact that Johnson sent to Jeffries the day before the fight and wanted the money cut 50 and 50, instead of 75 per cent to the winner and 25 per cent to the loser, speaks for this asser¬ tion and shows in what high regard he held Jeffries as a fighter. For that reason all the honor and glory that goes with the black man’s victory belong to him. He, last of all, dreamt that he was going to get a “NAPOLEON” AND “GOVERNOR.” Twin colts owned by Mr. and Mrs. George West, Columbus, Ohio, named after “Governor” Robinson and “Napoleon” Tammen. bandages he said: “Why, Jeff your hands and arms are cold and clammy.” The big fellow kept chewing his gum and replied: “They will be all right after we fight a round or two.” When he took his clothes off and stepped to the center of the ring to be presented to the spectators he straddled his legs and his arms hung by his side apparently helpless. The moving pictures will show this more plainly than words can tell. Instead of the trained athlete who was about to strive for the greatest honor in pugilism, there stood a man who suf¬ fered a total nervous collapse. The strain had proven too great. He then realized the importance of his posi¬ tion. He felt that the eyes of the whole world were riveted on him and his performance. He was like the actor who suffers from sthge fright and can’t remember his lines. Jim Jeffries was beaten before he ever ose who had stood by him and championed his cause did so on what they saw in the preliminary workouts in training quarters. There he was the real wild “cave man.” He toyed and tossed about all his trainers and assistants. His strength was some¬ thing marvelous. In fact, there were many who thought the fight would never go over three rounds and that he would cave in Johnson’s body with his terrible wallops. His every ap¬ man in the nervous condition that Jeffries showed himself to be. He all along felt that Jeff had regained his former condition, and that’s why he didn’t want to take any chances on the long and short end of the purse. Whatever comedy there was in or during the fight was furnished by Jim Corbett and Johnson himself. They kept up a perfect crossfire of words that brought forth many a laugh. Once Corbett said: “Go after him this round, Jeff, and he’ll show that yellow streak.” “That’s what they all say,” replied Jack with a grin. “Why don’t you fight instead of stalling?” came back Corbett. “I’m too clever, like you used to be, Jim,” blurted out Johnson. At another time after a short rally in the center of the ring Jeffries clinched with the black man. “Love me, Jeff; love me,” grinned Johnson. “I’ll love you before I get through,” came back Jeff. These little sallies at repartee were all that enlivened the contest, or it would have been as solemn as a funeral. Jim Corbett gave about as good an explanation of Jeffries’ action as I have heard, when he said: “Jeff had nothing.” Then he went on and said: “You know even so great a pitcher as Mathewson has days on which he ‘has nothing.’ The poor¬ est excuse of batters in the world go up against him and hit him for home runs. Then there are days when he ‘has everything,’ and the mightiest men of the willow cannot touch Km. In short his ‘spitter’ wasn' That’s how I dope it, now over.” In short, the fight is now passed into history. Jeffries came back phy¬ sically, as his friends claimed 9 ex¬ pected. But they had not reckoned his mental condition, which proved his undoing. Johnson won, and is entitled to the championship and all that goes with it. Gotch Could Win at Rough and Tumble. Frank Gotch is going to make an¬ other attempt to master the fighting game. Whether he will succeed re¬ mains to be seen. Certain it Hthat Gotch has the strength, courage and weight which are some of the most essential requisites in the making of champions. Whether or not hi will ever become scientific enough to make use of the other valuable assetsjwith which nature endowed him time alone can tell. Some years ago Frank at¬ tempted to take a whirl at the fighting game in Alaska when he met Frank Slavin. His showing at that time did not bring forth anything on which hinge championships. However, it must be remembered that Gotch at that time was but twenty years old. He had not faced the world in ath¬ letics and had not met with the suc¬ cess he has since gained. Confidence is a wonderful factor and the fact that he realizes he is master of everjgman in the world when it comes to wrest¬ ling may instill a new spirit in his mind and he may labor under the im¬ pression that with the glove hawill make equally as good a record^^B Were he to meet Johnson in a rough and tumble match it would be twenty dollar gold pieces against counterfeit dollars that the man from Humboldt would defeat Johnson just as easy as any other ordinary man, for if Gotch got a hold on the big black man it would be all off.l He could either twist his arm out of the socket or break_ his foot by twisting his ankle. Yes, in a rough and tumble match Johnson would stand no show whatever. However, if he meets Johnson in the ring he must meet him at his own game. He can not take a “toe hold” nor can he bring the ham- merlock into play. It’s a case of lead, block and cross center once he gets within the squared circle. If Gotch thinks well of it he might try.1 He certainly could do no worse against the black man than did Jeffries’ at Reno on July 4. That Little-Johnson Controversy. It seems that the battle just afthis time should be labeled Johnson vs. ' ■-rkinc It it’s all AL. W. HATCH. Al. W. Hatch has purchased Frank Jones’ buffet at 708 Walnut street, Kansas City. Mr. Hatch is a well known sporting man, and his buffet is the rendezvous for prominent show people with whom he is popular^®