JOHNSON IN MELBOURNE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 328, 21 January 1909, Page 4

JOHNSON IN MELBOURNE.

A CKOWD WITH BIiASS BAND. AfELBOUiiNE, January j. •lack Jolinson, the champion boxer of the world, arrived in .Melbourne from Sydney yesterday morning. Despite, (he heavy rain, a large crowd gathered and cheered Johnson heartily. He was driven away in a drag to his hotel. A band was in attendance and played appropriate airs. WANTED TO SHAKE HANDS. in an interview Johnson, after referring to the contest with Burns, said : " 1 heat him in a nice way, and I have snap-shot pictures to show that lie did not conform to the rules. 1 did not protest, because it would have been said that 1 wanted to stop the light. ' Duke' -Uulins appealed, but the referee overlooked it. -My absolute weight; when 1 went into the ring was 1851b (13st 31b). All the talk about my having been List is bunkum. J will bet £.1(10 that I do not weigh that now, clothes and all. Burns is a bigger man than 1 am 'vom the waist down, although I measure more across the shoulders, and am taller. Burns can get another light with mo mi terms that he exacted when he was champion. Mr Brcnnan i, ready to back me for 12000 against anyone in the world, •(.'halt' bet-ween m'en in the,) ring is a usual thing the world over, lie started it by using language which it would be impossible for ine to repeat. All I did was to ' kid' him in a nice wav, but he used other sort of language, if I had killed Burns for the language liv used to me I would have been justified. When our stormy interview took place in .Mr, Mcintosh's ollice. I had a little j'.irl with inc. When he started to perform I drew his attention to live presence of the child, and remarked. ■ I would not do that if I were you.' 1. sent the child away. Burns, grabbed a chair and his language was something beautiful. He could have got to me if he had liked. Although he had a chair and an ink pot, I said to Mr .Mcintosh. •Turn him loose. Mae.' Burns cabled that he wanted a 14ft ring, and my reply was that he could have it ten if he like. I don't move about much— that office would have suited me as well as anywhere. After he was put out of the room he "went back to his camp and. boasted that he had bluffed the big alligator. One night, I met him in the dark at the Stadium, Sydney. 1 clapped him on the shoulder and said, 'Come on, ina-i. shake hands.' bui he only turned, his eyes on me.' It will tell you how anxious 1 was to get into the ring with Tommy Bums when I let in v best friend, leferee the light. Mr Mcintosh has said, since that he would have given his right, hand for Burns to have won.''