JACK JOHNSON.

NZ Truth, 5 October 1918, Page 8

JACK JOHNSON.

According to Iko Dorgan. manager of irank Moran, Jack Johnson would give nis life for the sake of getting one more look at the Statue of Liberty, says an American paper. The big black is m Barcelona, Spain. What is he doing? the mends of Jack Johnson will ask. Well, the last heard from him, he was grinding out copy on a Spanish newspaper. Jack has a streak of humor m him, and they say that he is doing quite well m writing stuff for one of the newly-formed political parties m the land of King Alfonso, where everyone has been sneezing so much of late. Dorgan says that Johnson recently wrote a letter asking for the' address of several negro heavyweights he used to know when m the States. He wants them to come to Spain to give boxing exhibitions with him. An American who ■ met Johnson m Europe some time ago said that the former champion cried like a baby when speaking of his old home m Chicago and his black mammy, now dead. He said that he had spent over 100,000: dollars fighting the white slave charge against him, and had to flee the country at last when he found himself, without funds. After Jess Willard had .defeated Johnson for the championship at Havana, he watched all the Americans going down to the pier to board the steamer for home. "Good luck, big fellow," he said to Willard. "I wish you luck. My title is gone, but I would give it ten times over if I could just step on that boat and leave it when she hits the States and walk down the gang-plank a free man." Johnson fought Blink McCloskey, of Philadelphia, not so long ago. Their meeting took place m Madrid. Writing to a friend m America about the flg-ht, McCloskey says: "Well. I guess you are anxious to know how I came out m my scrap with Jack Johnson, former champion. Well, I fought him, as I wrote I would, and you can believe that I was surprised myself at the showing I made against him. He had 80 pounds the best of me, weighing 24 Bibs, while I stripped at 1651b5, which was a big handicap. The best he. could do against me was nothing, at all, but it wa3 too bad for me, as I< broke my 'thumb m the fourth round. You ban imagine how Johnson has gone back and how I have improved. . I am better than when you saw me m London. I received 15,000 pesetos. which is .3000 dollars m our money. "Johnson was to-knock.me out m four rounds, and failing to do so I was to get the whole purse, which I did, as you can see by the papers I am enclosing. Of course, I could not have beaten Johnson when he was right, but just the same I have improved and gave him a good fight, so that he could not stop me and get any of the money. Jack is really broke, and is not having 1 the easiest time getting along, although he makes enough to live on m comfort, but not the way lie was used to m Chicago and when he was champion. "I intend to helpvJack all I can, for he is a good fellow at that. lam running a boxing class, and making quite a hit with the people. I have fifteen young Spaniards who can box very well indeed, and when the war ends you will hear of them going against the French and English fighters. • They are not so fast to learn as the Frenchmen, but they , are quick." The following appeared m a London exchange: Jack Johnson, former heavyweight champion of the world, wants to get into the American Army, and fight for the country of his nativity, we are told. m the Paris edition of the "New York Herald." Johnson, who is still m Madrid, the Spanish capital, has written .to Captain F. H. La Guardia, Representative m Congress from the City of New York —whom he met during Capt. La' Guardia's visit to Spanish cities —asking him for his assistance m the following terms: My Dear Sir, —After my talk with you yesterday it occurred to me to ask you to use your good offices m my behalf. I am as good an American as anyone living, and naturally I want to do my bit. I. firmly believe that I was not fairly treated at home. All I ask now is a chance to show my sincerity to America, my own country. There is no position that you could appoint me that I would consider too rough or too dangerous. I am willing to fight and die for my country. I cannot offer any more. Will you kindly make my offer known to the proper American authorities? I anxiously await a reply. Captain La Guardia referred, the letter to the Adjutant-General of the American Army stating that he did not know the exact nature of Johnson's troubles m the State of Illinois, but that he believed it was pretty hard to deprive any American of the opportunity to fight and die 'or his country, •