A VERSATILE CHAMPION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2398, 13 January 1909, Page 3

A VERSATILE CHAMPION.

JOHNSON’S BOASTED PROWESS

BOXING, BOAYLS, MUSIC AND ARCHHJOLOGY.

Jack Johnson, the new world’s boxing champion, would seem tq he a man of many parts. -The other day, at one of the leading Sydney motor garages, he gave sonic particulars of liis abilities outside pugilistic encounters.

“Another go with Barns?” ho exclaimed in answer to a question. A contemptuous look spread over his countenance. “Look here,” he continued, “I don’t mind telling you that Burns is absolutely no good. . He is a popular certainty here, but in England and America he is -looked upon merely as a bluffer. AVliy, the man was a mere child in my hands on Boxing Day. I could have beaten him in two rounds, but I was in -a merry mood that -day, and just gave him little hit by little bit, so that, in case he ever fought anybody else,; lie might know a wrinkle or two, AYiisn’t that friendly?” . “Burns heat me?” asked Johnson, as he lay back with folded arms in his motor-car. “AA 7 ih3 r , I could heat Burns -at any line of sport. I met Baras the other day oil tho road- to Tom Ugly’s Point. I was in an old rattletrap of a car hired for the day. AA 7 ho should' come up behind us hub Tommy on his auto. ‘Shake her up,’ I -said to niy chauffeur, but Tommy hung on -and went p»ist inside the mile. Then I took the wheel, and if our old huzzy cart didn’.t hum I am not the champion of the world. In less than five minutes I was alongside. The struggle was short. I simply left Tommy as if lie had been walking, and I did so by skilful- and superior handling of the motor, as the old' crock I was on was decidedly slower tluin liis. But that--is not the only thing I can heat Tommy at,” continued the champion. “I can beat him at any line of sport he chooses to name. I will deposit ,£2O that I can wallop him as easily as I did in the fight nt cycling, •running, swimming, tennis, baseball, or golf. At howls 1 am an adept, and would -like a match even with any local champion. But I need not -dwell on my powers there, as Tommy doesn’t even know wliat. bowls are.- As for sculling. I know a little, and. if boxing grows less popular, you may soon see me out against Dick Arnst. I. •don’t know whether Burns knows anything of other sports. Only I feel oso sick of hearing opinions of Sydney people about Burns’s merits that I want to show that I can heat him at anything.' You ask him will be play mo a gamo of billiards, and' take 30 in 100.- Find out if lie avill tackle me

on the piano", guitar, fiddle, or banjo, or even concertina/ What about chasing chickens, or was it iabbits? was asked of Johnson. '“Chickens?” he replied, with a broad grin. “Waal, now I see you aro trying to poke fun at me. All gentlemen of. my calibre aro supposed to be fond of chickens. But, say, there’s none of-the chicken about ine. You can say that I am a better man than Burns in anv line of sport, and will hack myself, to beat him in any one mentioned.” Johnson added that- he intended remaining some weeks in Sydney before visiting Melbourne and Adelaide. “I like this country, and do you know, ’ he remarked/ “I spend most of my spare time in the Art Oakeries and the Museum. My principal hobby is archaeology. AA lien I visit your Museum and see the spe,---mens of the prehistoric nian r art, vi)iir boomerangs of manx varieties, your stone axes from Marions states, and many examples of* palacolitmc and monolithic man’s skill, t simply envy you. We in America have our rude stoue. flint, and quartz specimens. but they do not- show anything like the same'forethought or skill as yours. Your Central Australian ivi-. tives must have been men pi genius to have turned out such artistic and ideal weapons. “And look,” he continued: "you won’t believe it, hut I m real lnteiested in aeronautics. I have an idea of a new kind of flying-machine, which will turn out, I think, a fine success. It has sot the usual motor engine and planes and propeller, ami all that, but ill addition possesses tions of my own invention that .should make it fly better than some of the machines now on the market.