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Show Colored Champion Sorry He Is an American Richmond, Va., Feb. 22. W. H. Moseloy, a sporting man of this city, received the following letter from Jack Johnson, the pugilist who recently de-reate.1 de-reate.1 Tommy Burns: Sydney, Australia, Jan. 1. Your kind Ifctter received before my light with Burns, but not having a private secretary then I have delayed a reply until now. I enclose the photograph as requested and hope It will reach you without getting ruined in transit-, and answer the purpose for which it Is desired. Concerning the "go" with Burns: As I wrote you, I knew it waa a cinch, and I could have won easily In the first two or three rounds; but I wanted to show I wasn't the "yellow dog with the yellow streak" that Tom called me. If you failed to get down a good bet on me. why, it's your "funeral," "fu-neral," for, In reality, Burns was the easiest I've ever "been up against." As to your suggettion that I don't fight Langford in the event I whipped Burns, I will say that I am open to all comers and would not call myself the ! champion if I cannot defend the title. I gave my word to my English friends to fight Langford. win or lose with Bums, and I shall do so. I know Sam has whipped some good men in America Amer-ica lately and that 1 am going up against a warm proposition, but you will remember I bested him In our fifteen-round fight, and while he has improved im-proved a great deal from his lecent fights, I hae learned a thing or two myself. I do think, however, that Sam is the best today In the game out6lde of myself; but when we fight get a big bunch on me, for "I'll deliver the goo.ls " The papers here from America, and dispatches, speak of Jeff coming out and the only man to whip roe. Well, let him come. You know he refused to fight me in his prime, but instead sent In Brother Jack, and you know what I did to him, eh? I don't fear Joff now, or any man living. I am In much better bet-ter condition now than when we were in Atlantic City and have learned "a thing or tw-o" since being on this bide. If I fight Jeff or he will fight me (and I believe he's bluffing) I would prefer the fight taking place in Sydney, Syd-ney, as Australia is the greatest country coun-try for a fight I ever saw. The game here ig on the square and very popular. With the exception of the English people, the Australians are about the squarest I have ever seen I feel at times as if 1 would like to be an Australian Aus-tralian or an Englishman intsead of Jack Johnson, Galveston, Tex., U. S. A., champion heavyweight of the world. However, I am from dear old America, Amer-ica, and while press reports state that I am not taken seriously by my own country, I assure you that the fellow who gets the title from me will have to do some "tall fighting." indeed. My one ambition now is to return to America the champion, andafter aj short f,top in 'Frisco will visit New i York, Chicago and a few other cities, ! when, after a call on the president, I will visit my old home town down In Texas, and after a chat with the may- or will clve a public reception to every little American boy. both white and j colored. In my town. j In the event of Jeffries' returning tn j the ring, I would prefer fighting him ; here. Should I fight him in America I ; shall have something to say, especial-; ly concerning the third man in the i ring, and shall insist that he is one of 1 my own color, as there are plenty of good men among the colored fighters who could act as referee. If wo fight In Australia I am not so particular as i to who the referee will be. As to the j purse. I'll fight for $50,000 or $100,000, ! with a $10,000 side bet, winner take I all. - I Mcintosh will leave here in a few days for England' and for America J from there. Any arrangements he j makes will be satisfactory to me. I am i hooked here for, five weeks at a good salary, after which I shall leave fori dear old England, where I have enough I to keep me busy for two years. But ! mine, you know," is the lighting game, ' and as you both know, too, w hat a poor actor I made In "Uncle Turn's Cabin," you may imagine how I look before the footlights in the role of an actor. When I reach England I will drop you a line and would be pleased to . have a letter from you. - Remember me to Gans when again ' in Baltimore, and also to our old friend Fitzgerald of Atlantic City. Regards Re-gards to all friends, and with beat wishes for you both, I am. sincerely vour friend, ' JACK JOHNSON. I Champion of the World, of Galveston, Texas, U. S. A. |