Jeffries Was Drugged.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18009, 20 November 1926, Page 11

Jeffries Was Drugged.

“NO DOUBT ON THE POINT.” fiiiiiu!nniimi[iiiumiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiii[inmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniinimminiiiiiiiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiiHmiinniniimiiiiiiimii.ii. [ll „„| fl[l , l p

The long persistent rumour that Jim Jeffries was drugged just before his battle with Jack Johnson, at Reno. Nev., on July 4. 1910, is given some additional substance by an article written by Robert Edgren and printed in the September 11 issue of “Liberty.” “A week before the fight the big fellow became violently ill,” says Edgren. “After that his food and water were carefully guarded. There was a strong suspicion 4-hat Jeff was being drugged. “Roger Cornell, Jeff’s faithful trainer, told me shortly after the fight just what had a happened to Jeffries. The big fellow went ot bed early the night of July 3. He said he was sleepy. Cornell watched at Jim’s window all night. Jeffries had been getting up at four o’clock ever}’ morning to run on the road at daylight, but at seven he still slept soundly. “Cornell feared that the champion might be ‘logy from too much sleep,’ and went in to wake him up. “ ‘lt’s time to get up, Jim,’ said Cornell.

“Jeff didn't move. “Suddenly alarmed, Cornell slapped Jim on the shoulder and pulled him over on his back, then, realising that something was wrong, he rushed out and got a bucket of cold water, rushed back, threw the water over Jeffries and dragged hint out of bed. On tne floor Jeffries protested weakly and another big bucket of water was slosned over him. This appeared to revive him somewhat, and then his handlers him into an automobile and took him Vor a ride in the hope that the air would revive him. After an hour they brought him back, able to walk

but still Stupid and heavy, undoubtedly drugged.

"At last the fight began. Jeffries walked out heavily, straight at Tohnf°"' r. l 'T m . Cd " "'•; ry . a,ld uncertain, but at last stepped m and hit the h f aVdy °!i the iaw ' Jeffries hri f— kept talking m. When he ThVwa ™jXes! Slowly - t °°

A hard left hook struck squarely on Jims right eye. In a minute it was closed tight, a round, black, shiny Jeffrles was tryir >S ‘o fight, but "In the fifteenth round, after taking enough to knock out an ox Teffries slowly crumpled up and fell backward through the ropes. He sat there legs the °we f rope, trying to clamber back, and Rickard, who was referee counted him out. Hands pushed Teffries up. He reeled across the ring and fell and Rickard leaped in and pushed Johnson awav. "The crowd stunned, left the arena without a word. "I went out to Jeffries's camp. Jeffnes was alone. The thousands of the day before were all gone. Jim wail sitting on a small bench on the back lawn. He couldn t remember much about the fight—a spot here and there. He remembered being in the dressingroom, feeling that. he couldn't move Men wter working on him. He was drowsy. Then ho heard Jim Corbett say: " 'Go out and take a good punch on the jaw and it 11 wake you up.’ ' .' He -, w ? s the .ring, thinking of what Corbett told him. His arms felt as if they were weighted down; his

shoes seemed to be heavy lead weights. He held out his chin and waited for Johnson to hit. A blow. ‘That didn’t do it.’ thought Jeffries. Another. Still the weights, the muscles that wouldn’t respond, the dullness. “He remembered being hit on the eye. He remembered being hit, some time, waking up for a moment, and hitting Johnson once—them the fog came back again and the weights were on his arms. For Jeffries was drugged the night before he fought Johnson! lie was drugged in liis own camp 1 ”