CHAMPIONS LITTLE JOKE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1911, Page 2

CHAMPIONS LITTLE JOKE

"SPEEDING" AT TWO MILES AN HOUR. Sydnoy Sun last week published tho following telograms from* America :— "Jack Johnson has got his smile back! When ho came out of tho county gaol, in which ho had been incarcerated for ten days for oxeceding tho speed-limit in his motor car, a crowd of people woro waiting outsido tho gates, and Johnson, in a speech, announced that ho would havo a surprise for thorn m tho course of a day or two. Noxt day tho surprise materialised. In broad daylight, but with all lamps burning, tho big negro drovo through the town iv a gno now 90-h.p. Panhard car, that he had specially bought for tho occasion. Tho patrolmen had word of his visit, and wero out watching for him, several "traps" having boon prepared. But Johnson has been bitten too many times, and yesterday ho got back on his persecutors. Driving as slowly as ho possibly could, almost at crawling pace, and preceded by a man carrying a 'red flag, tho automobile proceeded through tho main street, Johnson meanwhile tooting tho horn with great gleo and ringing a big bell. _ AU the peoplo weroout lining tho wayside, and thero wero shrieks of laughter at tho champion's practical joke, and tho discomfiture of tho police. Afterwards Johnson stated that he had got tho big now car for tho particular benefit of tho police around that part. "It can go faster than this," ho said, guffawing hugely, "and next time I go through I'll go so fast that they'll hardly sco me." Johnson _ has been telling somo of his gaol experiences to tho newspapers. "Tho crowning indignity," he says, "was when ho was put to clean out tho stables and groom 14 horses usod by tho mounted patrolmen." He adds that California has lost all charms for him, and that ho" will make hasto to Philadelphia, where ho will try half a dozen rounds with Jack O'Brien. "But I feel so palsied as a result of tho priEqn treatment," says tho fighting black, "that I shall not bo surprised if ho turns tho fables." , Johnson has received a tempting offer to mako an' aeroplane flight at tho forthcoming aviation meeting at Kansas City. Tho figure fa said to bo somewhere in tho neighbourhood of 5000 dollars (£1000). Mr. Glen Curtiss, the well-known airman, says ho is under contract to toach Johnson tho art of flying. "He's a pretty big lump of a man," says tho teacher, "but I think I can bueak him in."