The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-25
THE MlLLIONAIRE PRI1E-FIuHIER.
Something about John MOrrissey, the
wealthy 9ameeter and bPOEIsmaa-
How the PuenaciOus ShOuIder.htIter
spends his Time, Etc.

wealthy 6Rmeeter aud spOrIsman-
How the PuenaciOus ShOulder.htIter
spends his Time, Etc.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, July 23.--There are few
men here 20 great an object of curiosity or
whose opinion upon sporting matters Is more
sought after, than John Morrissev. In all mat
tiers pertaining to the races ne IS the oracle con-
suited by every one, and OF games IS equally
well posted. He appears to have the esteem Of
the sporting Saratoe1ans to large extent. and
Is on most intimate term here with the powers
that be. Morrissey began life in an IRON esta-
bishment owned by the Davidson Brothers, at
Troy, N. Y.
With This firm he grew up, and first attracted
the attention OF Mr.. Mob. Davidson from his
immense muscular strength, with which none
of his fellow.Trojans could cope. He was q
young man of steady habits, and soon won the
esteem OF his employers to such an extent that
they began to look more particularly after his
welfare, and he was given better position in
the factory, one OF trust as well as labor. At
the time OF his celebrated battle with Heenan
he was at loss to find the necessary hackers.
His employers were opposed to his entering the
pr1ze-ring, although aware of the taunts that
were flung IN his face OF his being a coward,
that he dare not fight Heenan, ETC.; and did
all in their power to prevent the meeting.
MOrrssey, smarting under a sense of the
wrongs he was suffering, finally signited his in
ten,ion TO fight Heenan at all hazards. This
determination being fixed upon, his friends
finding their persuasiOns no longer of any avail,
came generously forward and put up the money
At that time the stakes might have been made
TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars for MOrrssey as
the departure of Morr1ssey for the battlefield,
he called on one of his benefactors and executed
written contract, agreeing in the sum OF $25, 900
not to enter the prize-Iing az ain win or lose on
the present fight. The results OF the fight are
well known to every one, 1T having been VIC
tory for the Trojan.
Previous to this, Morrissey had been engaged
in several Iough-and-tumble encounters his
disposition inclining towards the puenacious
In one of these he met the renowned Bill Poole,
on the Hammond street dock, who, with the
aid of his friends, administered to Morrissey a
severe punishment No man IN America, how
ever, could bear more of it than he, and his
tavorite expression used TO be, "rll give them
the lett side OF my head, and if they can make
anything of that they are welcome to it,"
MorrisseY's present wealth, Is estimated in
round numbers at 81, ,250, 900. This, in the main,
has been accumulated by the gaming table,
though it is claimed by his friends that he would
have made money in any walk or business of
lite, He has ventured but little in stocks. He
tried Wall street for one week, made $4,000,
was highly elated, and would have continued
either to immense wealth or utter ruin when
Commodore Vanderbilt clapped his hand on his
shoulder and satd:-"Morrissey, come out of
here, Wall street is no place for you" Morris
sey was wise enough to obey, and since then
has confined his operations to the faro table and
betting on elections, in which he has been as
lucky as wise.
magnificent house on Matilda street. fitted
up in style of luxury surprising any hotel or
private establishment in the place, is the man.
sion owned by Morrissey, and devoted to games
OF chance. Thousands upon thousands OF dollars
change hands here nightly, the game being
known in the sporting world as square" one,
or one in which no unfair advantage is taken of
the players.
The house is the resort Just now of the turf
ites as we'll as the eamesters, and some of the
former do not hesitate, on rainy day, when the
horses cannot run, to "take hand in" As the
oOod Ordnr nraVaiIa and tho lOearS
to be willing ones, no complaints are made
against the proprietor, and the house is likely to
go on, season after season, as long as its owner
may please to run it,
Morrissey scatters his great wealth with
liberal hand. He has not yet arrived at the
status of his old employers and backers-the
Davidsons.as they represent about three mil
lions OF dollars, but he has patterned after them
in the knowledge of how properly to use his
money. Among other praiseworthy acts he has
purchased splendid residence for his father and
mother at Troy, New York, and to relieve them
of all care and annoyance. gives them a
carte blanche to 90 to any store in the city,
purchase what they please, and have the bills
sent to him. These he foots without a murmur.
Morrissey is certainly a man OF mark, or he
could never have achieved his present position,
and won the goodwill of the men by whom he
is surrounded here. The great secret of this is
perhaps, his devotion TO his friends, and his
gratitude to any one rendering him personal
| service. ...
Morrisseys personnel is that of man of great
muscular strength, indomitaole perseverance
| and untiring energy. He stands about five feet
nine inches In height, is very broad across the
| chest and shoulders; has large head covered
with bushy black hair; broad full face, usually
| ilumined with a smile; speaks moderately bu
| with determination; has deep, sonorous voice
and impresses the stranger at once with an ideS
! that he is going to be fairly dealt with as Ions
as John Morrlssey has anything to say in thC
matter.
His eye is dark, sharp, and stares you straigh
in the face while you are talking, looking
neither to the right nor left. His admirers say o
| him "his head covers as big brain as there il
on the top of the planet, and his heart is as big
| as bullock's.n His counlenance bears marks
| of the tmany encounters he has had, and il
which he has received punishments such as few
| men could have survived. -.'
His nose is somewhat indented, and there Il
| an ugly mark on the side OF his face. In man
ner he is polite and agreeable, courteous t
| everybody; has great memory of faces and
| friendly shake of the hand tor all. He is a won
der to his friends, who know him intimately
but into the presence of a stranger who ha
always regarded him as an unpoished, rough
and an unworthy member Of society, he come
as gentleman and an agreeable surplise.-A
Y. World.
A DEMOCRATIC REvIvAL.-Petroleum V. Nash