Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-11-06
THE DEAD HERO of the RING
Sketch of John G. Heenan--The
| Last Days OF the Benicia Boy
!" "Reminiscences Of His Career.
From the New York World.

T.. JOIlIl OaEulS1 I1ctllttU, NDOc6 -ucdlll
is just announced by telegraph, was
born of Irish parentage in West Troy,
| n. V, May -, 1885. His life was spent
| in that city till the California fever
broke out, and the young blacksmith
of over six feet in height went West,
and obtained employment at heavy
smithing at an engine-house at BENZ
cia, CAL, mis- future residence. Here
he picked up the rudiments of spar
ring, aad gradually became known on
the West coast for his success over any
and all competitors in hastily organized
exhibitions in which he took part. His
first formal challenge was to Yankee
Sullivan, then the champion of Ameri-
ca, in 1885, but the match never came
off. A year later Heenan came to N
York, and gave the first public exhibit
ton of his powers in sparring match
with Coburn. Public expectation was
universally disappointed at the result,
and no further attempts were made to
arrange inatch.a+if - ~.
An appointment in the New York
Custom House having been obtained
for him, Heenan found himself with
the leisure necessary for proper study
of his art, and rapidly m&tured his
powers under the tutelage of Aaron
Jones. A prolonged correspondence
was carried on meanwhile with the
hackers of John Morrissey, gho had
won the champion belt of America,
AID after several abortive attempts a
match came off between the two men
$500 a side-OctOber ,, 1858, at
Long Point Island, off the Canada
shore. His opponent was seconded by
John Kelly, and Heenan was support
ed by his trainer, already mentioned.
Eleven rounds of downright terrific
fighting ended the contest in Norris
seS's victory. A sporting I.aper of a
subsequent date says that for hard,
merciless hitting the fight was proba-.
bly, never. equaled. -a-. ......
/. "a. The result Was said to be owing to
the fact that .eenan was placed in the
ring when III no condition to fight;
weakened by an illness from which he
had risen tuttwo days before and dis
abled by sore in his left leg. Morris
sey,s superior condition won II rapid
victory over the reach and sledge.
hammer blows of his opponent, but
charges OF fOul play were abundant on
both sides, and the light leitliH-feeling
between the two which WAS never en-
tirely dissipated. IN spite OF his de-
feat Heeuan impsoveaia public estinla-
ton, aud one year later preparations
began for the event of hi5aiife-the in
ternati0nal match bStWeen himself
and Tom Sayers, the champion of all
England, and the victor in more con-
tests than auy other pugillstl eHer
fought. -
Heenan embarked for England with
a host of friends and hackers, January
4, 1860. The articles had been signed
December 10, 1859, Further arrange
ments weye made, ana March II both
were in active training. Sayers was
undisInrbed, but Heenan was forced to
move from place to place, ana once
arrested, it is said, at the instiga-
ton of his opponents baekers. The
great fight came off at FarHsbGroIgh,
Tuesday, April II, 1850. a special
train OF thirty-siX cars ran out from
London, laden with passengers 'to
Nowhere and back" as the place was
kept a profound secret. Yet around
the ring were IA hundred psers, Il Cabi-
net Minister, members UftDngrtss and
Parliament, and in the sporting world
everything that was or had been dis
tinguished.
The men stripped in the ring, the
American feet 2! inches in height,
his fighting weight 1876 pounds, his
skin fair and clear, every vein clearly
defined, in his 26th year; the British
champion, feet 81 inches high, weigh
ing l54 pounds. but with q skin brown
ed and toughened by long exposure,
and eleven years older than his eon-
petitor. With tie tight all are tamili-
ar. How for two hours and twenty
minutes, through forty-three r0ubdS,
the men stood, till Heenan WIS blind
and Sayers' endurance was well nigh
gone; how the last fought for thirty
rounds. while Heenan's blows fell on a
broken arm, and sprang lightly up
from twet4Iy-0ne clear KNOCK downs;
how Heenan stood lo his work when
daylight was gone, ana his face Il
bleeding mass or puip-cBe2t@il OF his
victory at last by cut ropes and ap liu-
patient crowd that surged within the
ring and covered Savers from the blows
tkas had brought him TO the ground
in eaeis If the last dozen rounds
AN sisis ;yas the talk and the
eaE of two nations. The
excitement in Nsw Eurk can scarcely
be exaggerated when the news reach
ed there, tef-ti,iys iatef. Every daily
rushed out an extra, and II single sport
ing sheet sold 100000 copies iii q few
hours. The referees decision decided
the fight a draw, ordered each TO keep
his money, and gave the contestants
fac sinaile belts. After short tour I'D
England with Il circus, in company
with Tom Sayers, Heenun returned to
New York July 10, with his seconds,
Cusick and Macdonald, and received
an enthusiastic welcome from all class
es. His benefits We're crowded, and
for two years he remained the hero oil
sporting circles in New Orleans, New
York. and Washington. Tom King
succeeded SayerS as champion OF En-
gland, and when Heenan revisited that
country in 1861 fight was arranged
between them for .e2,OO0, which came
off December 10. 1863, at WadflurSt.
and resulted in the total defeat eOf the
American champion after twenty-five
rounds, Tough. in thirty-fve minutes:
1t was his last contest, and, by all
odds, his poorest. His science had
departed, the old power Of his left
handed thrusts had gone, and he was
disabled before twenty rounds were
fought. He left the ring terribly pun-
ished, and it was said II blow on the
short rios produced internal injuries
from which he never recovered. An
other report current at the time was
that he was poisoned before the. fight.
King was in all respects his equal, of
Of the same age, six feet two inches i'll
height, and with u fighting weight OF
lS2 pounds. For two y5ars after, Hee-
nan remained In England, and engaged
in sparring tour in company with
Mace. On his return he resided in this
city, and, obtaining slnectire in the
city government, he led the lie of a
retired sporting man. His bank on the
corner of Broadway and Eighth street,
has been \ well-known 7, sort. ....