The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-05-25
OUR STOR Y TELLER.
A "HURRlCANEo PRIZE-FIGHT,


New York Start
In lS49 pugilism in New York was il
its zenith, and great efforts were made K
bring the rival champions, Yankee Sui
livan and Tom Hyer, together.
The latter was looked upon as thu
champion, although he had not Tough
as many battles as Sullivan neverthe
less, he had proved himself wonder by
whipping Country McCluskey, and hi,
hackers were ready on the strength Of
that performance to match him to figh
any body for 81 900 side,
Sullivan, on the other hand, had low
cred the colors of all who had faced hin
in the magic circle, and now had sup
porters and hackers who were ready tt
match him against Hyer.
In the meantime, the rival gangs Of
Sullivan and Hyer met frequently al
Ford's Tavern, No. % Park Row, and
No. Chatham Street, which in 1915
were the rendezvous of the sports and
the square headed fraternity. who would
Just as leave fight as eat.
The Irish Brigade and the Hibernian
Division of New York looked upon
Yankee Sullivan as invincible, and Mul.
ligan, the iron-dealer of Grand Street
since departed, announced his willing.
ness to match him to fight Hyer for So,
600 side. When this offer was made
public the Irish Brigade accounted Sui
livan "cock of the walk" while the
leading sports and members of the old
Empire Club considered Tom liver a
fair specimen of the American eagle,
who can make common buzzards get out
of his way. Rough-and-tumble discus
sions usually acquire an accumulated
force, and Sullivan swore every time he
drank a straight whisky at Shaw's
Hotel, on Dodge's, near McComb's
Dam, that he was bound to whip Hyer
on sight and make him fight. Every
time Sullivan met the great Tom Hyer
he would threaten to whip him, but
never made an attempt, especially if
Hyer was sober and walked circum-
specify.
Hyer was gentleman on the street,
and never exhibited any rash perturba-
ton, but generally limited that he had
no objection to fighting Sullivan in the
ring, providing the stakes were large
enough to make the fight an object of in
terest.
Sports who were eager to see the rivals
meet at once carried the news to Sui
hyan's sporting crib. Johnny Ling, bet
ter known now as old Pop Ling, saun-
terted into Sulliyan's one day, and re-
marked, Hyer says he'll fight you for
$4,000; Mulligan will find half the
stakes. Go ahead, Yank; l think you
can just about lick him."
Sullivan jumped over the counter,
and called for his loose coat, and seemed
greatly excited.
:" I've got to lick the big loafer, or
else he must lick me" and off he started
to find Hyer. Sullivan heard that Hyer
had gone on jamboree, and he found
him in saloon then situated at the
corner Park Place and Broadway.
Sullivan was spelling for fight, and
had drank just enough whisky to make
him quarrelsome. He found Hyer sitting
hall intoxicated, in the aforementioned
saloon. Hyer remarked, after Sullivan
had entered, that " Upton Slasher was
coming over to fight him" (Sullivan)
" Let him come, he will be afraid to
fight me, like you are" replied Sullivan
"Why, Sully, you amt heavy nor tall
enough to whip me-" One word led on
to another, and in the mean time the
news flew round to the Fountain House
in Park Row, and to the other sporting
houses, that Hyer and Sullivan were
to fight, and the T" Home Guards" who
for months had been eagerly trying to
make the rivals fight, congregated to
the scene. A regular rough and tum.
BILE followed, in which Hyer gave Sui
livan terrible thrashing, and the con.
queror of Hammer Lane was left bleed
ing and insensible. The tocsin of wal
had now sounded, and ring fight was
inevitable.
The fame of Sullivan, as the con.
queror of Hammer Lane, shed add
tional glory upon Hyer as the conquerol
OF Yankee, although this was only q
rough and tumble. New York sporting.
houses were in state of great excite.
ment, and fatal encounters with deadly
weapons were fully expected, so bitter
were the rivals and their partisans.
Sullivan was terribly mortified over
his defeat by Hyer, and on June l, 1913
ne published challenge, concluding
with: " AS for Hyer, can fax him out
without any exertion." Hyer promptly
responded, and in the journals the fol
lowing day Hyer said: Sullivan will
find me much reader to meet him any,
where than in the newspapers; any
where, however, am his MASTER"
In August, 1849, an admirer of Sui.
Ivan wagered 500 with Hyer that he
would not make match to fight Sulli-
van. Hyer covered the money, and Mon
day, August 7, and Ford's Tavern, Park
Row, were named as the time and place
for arranging the preliminaries. liver
won the bet by agreeing to fight Sulli-
van for $500 side, and posted 500
forfeit. These were rather large figures
for Sulliyan's friends, but Mulligan
came to the rescue, and the match was
made later for the men to fight at catch
weight in six months for $4,000.
On December ]. 1848, the men went
into training, Sullivan under the men
torshipof George McCheester Country