THE TWO CAMPS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 860, 5 July 1910, Page 5

THE TWO CAMPS.

GREAT GATHERING OP PUGILISTIC CHAMPIONS. SCENES IN RENO. (Rcc. July 4, 10.10 p.m.) Reno, July 1. Special trains are arriving half-hourly, and many people arc sleeping ill tho open. Schwab and other millionaires arc living in privato railway cars. Tho streets are thronged with hungry crowds, seeking entrance to tho crowded restaurants. Exorbitant prices arc being charged for food and drink. A great many people are visitiug the camps of Jeffries and Johnson. ' Tho saloons and gambling halls were closed on Sunday, and the boxers had an idlo day. Uniy intimates saw Jeffries, but Johnson's camp resounded with 6ongs and music. Crowds of Californian enthusiasts favouring Jeffries have arrived, and many consider that Johnson will not last 20 rounds. Amongst those who have arrived are tho following well-known pugilists:—J. Co.rbott, Jako Kilrain, "Battling" Nelson, Fitzsinimons, J. L. Sullivan, Burns, Lang, F. I'. Slavin, Sharkey, Langford, and Kctchcll. The arena is a milo and a half from tho city. It is three huudred feet and tliero is a tiventy-sevcu feet platform in tho centre. Below tho platform aro telegraph instruments anil telephones for supplying bulletins to the music halls and other places where bulletin boards havo been arranged. Each row of seats is fivo inches higher than tho. row in front, and seats are so arranged that spectators can seo between the heads of llwie in front. Tho ring, therefore, will appear circled by sloping walls of faccs to a height of thirty feet.

PRAYERS FOR JOHNSON. PROGRESS REPORTS IN CHURCHES AND GAOLS. (Rec. July 5, 0.10 a.m.) Reno, July 4. Sonio negro churches havo invited members to meet to pray and sing until Johnson wins. The progress of the fight will bo shown on screens above the pulpits. Prisoners in tho Chicago gaol have been privileged to operate a special wire giving a bulletin of tho fight.

JOHNSON'S CONDITION. RUMOURS OP "SQUARED" EIGHT. Writing on May 17, the San Francisco correspondent of the Melbourne "Ago" said :— Tho day before yesterday Jaclc Johnson indulged in boxing preparatory to his fight with Jim Jeffries for tho iirst time .since his arrival iu San Francisco, and l 1000 people paid l!s. each to sec him go through his paces. i'rum indications of this kind an itiea may be gained of the extraordinary internsl that has been aroused in the coming contest. Apart from hia physical condition, what pleased the onlookers most wns the wonderful defensive work displayed by tho coloured champion. As a boxer, it is agreed that lie is at least the equal of any heavy-weight who over fought, including Pitzsimmons and Corbett. Jl.c invited his sparring mates to coino in and search for an opening, but not one punch were they able to get past his impregnable guard. • llif, system of blocking ami (lucking sconicd absolutely perfect. , It is now certain that: big Jetf. is going to have tho fight of his life. Tile white man, never having bts>j, beaten in his career, is still the favourite, but the odds are eloper than they were before Johnson started training. Probably it is only tho "native son" sentiment of the *Californs that keeps him favourite in the betting. Johnson looms up bigger and moro lusty than on nny of his prior visits to California, ilo weighs about 22(11). at present. Jlis fighting weight is around 2001b., so plenty of leeway is allowed for training. 110 appears to be carrying a little surplus fat around tho abdomen, but this will wear off.

'l'hcra is a persistent rumour in Smi Francisco that Hie light is "fixed." No intimation of this has crept into print, and, to be just, there is absolutely no evidence of anything o! the kind. But it is nevertheless a fact that whispers io that effect are flying about very freely. Tho story is that it has been agreed Jeffries shall win and fjnifc the ring for ever. It must be admitted that if Jeffries demanded a prearrangemont of this kind preliminary to signing articles, there was ample monetary inducement for Johnson to accede. For losing tho fight, arguing 3iich an arrangement was made, the negro probably would be given ,l'iu,00(1. Following tho retirement of Jeffrie:", there would bo plenty of money ill tho game for Johnson, ft does net look as though any other man could deprive liini of the championship abandoned to him by Jeffries for the neil. five yi-nrs, and in that period he could realise a fortune. As against these nniiours and theories, it is but fair to say that Jeffries has a record without blemish for clean and above-board sportsmanship.

Jeffries is not training ? ; n linrd a> when ho first entered llio training r:tinp at: ftovvardennan, but every day ho poos through a solid round of work. What displeases the critics is that lie has no young and powerful heavy-weights to ?]mr with, but. contents wilh men tike Bob Armstrong ami Jot- Choynski, both old-timers. In ;i week or two lie will hnvtf the benefit, of .Tim Cnrbet.t's assistance. JclTries is his own trniner, and is rejecting all advice. He argue* that he know mote about what i- good for him Ilian anyone else. Training wjis interrupted for a week or so bv a ykiii eruption in the smnll of his baek, but this ha* passed jr.vny. From all accounts, the big fellow is rounding into splendid nhape. Rjul nil doubt, alwut hi? ability to "come back" is practically at an *nd.