THE LATE FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 85, 19 July 1910, Page 3

THE LATE FIGHT.

SCENES IN NEW YORK. j DELIRIOUS EXCTTEMir"". This Fourth of July (says a New York cable published in the Australian newspapers on July C) is one of the mo«t memorable in the history of New York. At the hour the fight was timed to start •Park Row, where most of the leading newspaper offices are situated, was the scene of delirious excitement. Tens of thousands of people congregated in this vicinity, and while waiting for news from Reno City, this surging multitude was tuned up to a feverish pitch of expectation. Here and there fights broke out, im almost every case the result of racial feeling. Almost any assertion of confidence in Johnson on the part of a negro provoked an assault, and colored residents peacefully inclined had frequently to seek the protection of the police. Around the Times building, close by which stands the Hotel Astor, leading theatres and cafes, the traffic was blocked by a dense crowd, millionaires and workmen jostling each other in their frantic efforts to hear the first news. "Johnson wins!" Four million voices are shouting the words. The white population is dazed. On the other hand the negro quarters are scenes of maniacal enthusiasm. The whole negro community seems to have gone mad. In their excessive joy at the result they are stopping at nothing, and riots are imminent. All through the negro quarters, extending from Sixth to Tenth Avenues, tin* colored element is en fete. Small fights are occurring everywhere bottles are (lying, windows lielng smashed, explosives being let off regardless of danger, and many saloons are 'being taken possession of by frantically excited negroes. Negro churches are holding special thanksgiving meetings. j At Coney Island, where a million peo-| pie were enjoying their holiday, every wheel in this colossal pleasure machine stopped when the news of Johnson's victory was received. All ordinary plea* sures were abandoned for the time while the crowds gave vent to their expressions of feeling. Thousands of negroes spending the day here banded themselves together for mutual protection, and before the day was over it was feared there would be some serious riots in this quarter.

JOHNSON'S GRIN,

IMBUED WITH CONFIDENCE,

In an account of the fight cabled to Sydney Mi 1 . AY. W. Xaughton. an ex-New Zejilauiler. widely known in the United States as a sporting writer, says: "Johnson won all the way. When lie knocked Jim Jeffries down the first time in fifteenth round many of the spectators turned and struggled towards the exits. ■lt was a heart-rending sight. In the earlv stages of the fight it looked as if it would be a cautious engagement, and so it proved until Johnson became imbued with confidence. Then the Galveston black became flash, sneered at Jim C'orbett over Jeffries' shoulder, and in the twelfth round Johnson kept nodding and grinning over Jeffries' shoulder to people he knew in the crowd."