| OCR Text |
Show . .sonnies says he's here ! TO WIN HND HE'S NOT AFRAID Of THE BEST in, but right here at the start off, with a strange country and a strange climate facing him, he thinks two months a barely safe margin." ,- Reynolds explained that Squires is so constituted that he thrives best in hot weather. "What do you think of him having a punching bag ceiling built on the steamer and starting work right in the tropics f That's just what he did, and he seemed to enjoy it, too. The other passengers were fanning themselves while watching him cut loose, and as for form. I could just muster up energy enough to mop the perspiration from my face." Squires says that Reynolds has stated the case correctly so far as his partiality for really warm weather is concerned. He was told on board the steamer that hot days are plentiful around San Rafael in the spring and summer months, and he made ut his CAN FRANCISCO, April 22. When X13 Squires, the Australian champion puffllst, came ashore from the steamer Ventura he ran the gauntlet of a half score of interviewers and a full score of .ketch artists and camera fiends, says 3illy Naughton. He visited the park ind beach under the guidance of his ountryman, Jack McNamara, and before be-fore nightfall he selected training quarters quar-ters at Billy Shannon's condition camp it San RafaeL Firom all of which it will be inferred that Squires does not let the grass grow under his feet. He is what his manager, Barnev Reynolds, terms a country gawk, fie has a natural aversion aver-sion to the turmoil of a big city and the way of the madding crowd. Moreover, More-over, he was told that San Rafael in the matter of warm climate comes near-out near-out to his own sunny New South Wales and be lost no time in getting across to the village. Many of those who ran the rule over Squire today said they expected to see a bigger man. They saw a fellow ' measuring five feet ten and a half inches, and weighing 193 pounds in his street clothes, but his lean face and his dark attire made him appear comparatively compara-tively slight. mind that it was at that point he wanted to pitch his tent. While over on the Marin side Squires met Jimmy Britt, and it was a case of friendship at first sight. The Australian Austra-lian and the native son took naturally to each other, and before many minutes it was "Jimmy" and "Bill" as though thev had been friends for many years. ?You'll like this place, Bill," said Jimmy. "It's the greatest spot for training in California. I do a little work myself over at Shannon's every day and I'll show you the ropes. We'll go ont on the road together and I'll make you acquainted with all the bent footing and all the short ruts. If you like, we'll spar together, too." In Squires' idea this is genuine hospitality hospi-tality and good fellowship and he promised prom-ised to avail himself of Britt 's kind offer. After leaving the steamer in the forenoon fore-noon Squires was the guest-of Jack McNamara Mc-Namara of Tom's Cabin. A party was made up of Squires, McNamara, Barney Reynolds and Mavor Dinton of Fitzroy. Melbourne, a fellow passenger or Squires, and a couple or hours were spent taking in the Sutro baths, Beals and other sights at the beach. On the return to Tom's Cabin. Jack O'Brien, the Philadelphia pugilist, put in an appearance and bid Soiiires welcome wel-come to America. Squires told O'Brien that he intended to become acclimated before making matches and O'Brien as sured him that it was a wise resolve. O'Brien informed Squires that it looked as if the obstacles in the way of the O'Brien-Burns match had been removed and that the contest would take place at Los Angeles on May 9. "Glad to hear it," said Squires. "I'll be down to see the fight." "Will be pleased to renw the acquaintance, ac-quaintance, Mr. Squire," said O'Brien, then he bowed and walked away, swinging swing-ing his cane. Asked about his failure to box Jack Johnson in Australia, Squires said it was simply this: ' "I had 'all my arrangements made for a Irip to America before Johnson came along and I didn't see why I should alter my plans to suit him. At that, I offered to meet him if he would make it worth my while by putting up a good sized bet, but he wasn't able to come through. I suppose Johnson and I will meet some day, that is, if I'm not defeated de-feated in my "first fight here. I might sav, in fact, that I believe I will box Johnson in. this country before returning return-ing to Australia. I saw him fight Felix and I judged him to be a fairly good fighter."' Looks Like a Fighter. Squires looks every inch a fighter. He ias a resolute face, large hands and powerful wrists. He has sloping shoulders, shoul-ders, and tbte way his coat tightens across the back suggests that he "strips big" in the matter of muscular devcl-', devcl-', ' opment. He is firmly set upon his legs and he has the springy walk which is native to men who are fast on their feet and generally active in their movements. move-ments. - Squires was told that Tommy Burns had agreed to box him befofe Cof-froth's Cof-froth's club at Colma on Decoration day, May 30. "May 30," he Paid, "let me see. That's just six weeks away. Say for me that the time is too short. I will not listen to any scheme which will put me in the ring before I have been in this country at least two months. You see, it's this way. I am in a strange land, and everything depends upon the way I acquit myself in my first engagement. I don't know how the climate will suit me, and I want to get thoroughly acquainted with it. Another thing, my friends in Australia will back me heavily the first time I box, and it . is for me to see that I am able to give a good account of myself for their sake. "Anyhow. I thought O'Brien and Burns were to box at Los Angeles early next month. I expected to be on hand to witness that event and make arrangements ar-rangements for meeting the winner." It was explained to Squires that there was a hitch in the Burns-O'Brien affair over the question of a forfeit, and he expressed a wish that the difficulty would he adjusted and that the match . . vrould go on. Two Months to Frcpare. "In any case," said he. "uo matter what happens or what offers, 1 must have a full two months to accustom mvsflf to this climate and regain what I lost in the line of condition by cross iog the ocean. I am not situated so that I have to jump at every chance ' that is offered. My backer, Jack Wren of Melbourne, thinks so well of my chances that he is ready to bet 1000 on me, no matter who I go against. We will post this money with the Examiner just as soon as we can get onr drafts attended to at the bank. Th fact that I have this backing shmld show that I am not in search or whai you call easy money here. I meany I am not looking for loser's ends or snort ends. I am not particular whom I fight, but I mnst be trained to my xown satisfaction before I take anvbody on." Barney Reynolds, who accompanies Squires, is" Wren's representative. Said Reynolds: "Any matches that are offered to us must be ratified by Mr. Wren by cable I t fore we sign articles. X do not think ' -i he American managers . will find us hard people to deal with, but. as Squires says, there is no hurry about things and he must have at least a roople .of months to prepare. It 's just possible, of course, that after he has been in camp a week or two he may find he can do with a shorter period of train- |
