JOHNSON’S JEWELS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3271, 17 July 1911, Page 3

JOHNSON’S JEWELS.

. “ A BLAZE OF DIAMONDS.” PORT AND STARBOARD STONES FOR NIGHT. Files of even -the most sedate London, journals just to hand are full of .the oominnr of Jack Johnson to England. One says that American ideas seem to have been shocked because he and his wife were received on board by the firstclass passengers. ' He ;is .said to :hav© paid £l7O for his suite of rooms. The New York journals, since Johnson sailed for London on board the Kronprinz Wilhelm, have indulged in fanciful prophecies as to what will happen in the dining saloon when Mr and Mrs Johnson join the company of dukes, counts, lords, earls, and _ American multi-millionaires. They picture the pugilistic negro going out of his way to draw the Customs officers’attention to the jewels lie carried. Johnson, by the way, wanted to bring them back. He wanted to have no difficulty about getting them through the Port collector. “Ahm going to wear these bits of glass at the Coronation,” said h© champion, smiling broadly, as he stepped aboard the boat at New York, i “Ah comes hek ’cos we don’t want "no trouble about smuggling, when we return.” , The champion brought from his jewel bag a pair of superb diamond earrings, a diamond sunburst as big as a walnut, five solitaire rings, two sapphire rings, a diamond-studded Geneva watch, and a cigarette case similarly decorated. “I also expect a couple of automobiles,” he added. > “And diamonds in them?” asked the Customs officer. • “Only some little ones,’ was the negro’s reply. *’ Both Jolmson and his wife were a blaze of diamonds when they went on board Johnson wore a big ruby on his left hand, and a big emerald on his right. As to the colors of these stones, • lie is credited Ayith the declaration that he always dresses port and starboard, so that ‘lie can sail a proper course in the night. “When I’m on deck,” lie 6aid, 'and l it’s dark, people can see the lights, and tell whether I’m coming or o-oing, and it avoids collisions.” The negro gives the Engish people the credit ofl knowing how to treat a colored man with decency. He recognises England as a nation of sportsmen. Hundreds of admirers, both white and colored, surrounded the pugilist before the boat started. He created general laughter by remarking, “When. I get

through the Coronation I’ll do a turn at the Oxford music hall. I’ll fight any first-class man in Europe, if there is one, if : thev give me £6OOO. I’m just willing to fight any living thing, and if you can’t get a man just send along a good, big bear.” (Cable news received within the past few days intimated that Johnson was “broke.” The above probably explains his financial downfall.)