The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-09
Death Of John Morr1ssev,

| For my love is coming to see me,
And the world is all in tune
Death Of John Morr7ssey. !
John Morrissey. who died Wednesday IN
Saratoga, was born in Tipperary county,
Ireland, in 1881, and came to this country
five years afterward. His youth was spent
in and around Troy and Lansinburg, where
he worked at a paper mill, then in brush
factory, next as deck hand OH a Hudson
river steamer, and then drifted into employ
mcnt as steamboat runner HIS reputa-
ton during these years was thatof free and
easy young fellow, who gave and took hard
political gathering, and yet was an indus
trious worker. Some of his escapades got
him into trouble, particularly fight in Troy,
for his share in which only the offices Of po-
ltical friends saved him from conviction and
imprisonment. His shrewdness and indus
try stood him in good stead with the steam
boat company in which he was an employe,
and they located him in New York city.
There he soon became favorite with the
roughs, and relinquished honorable labor to
run with gangs Of shoulder-hitters in the
service Of party managers. About 1850 he
went to California amongst the other hard
cases attracted to the Pacific Coast by the
gold discoveries, and in 1851 he entered the
prize ring for the first time, meeting George
Thompson, and winning the victory ON ac-
count of a fou. bow. He got some leputa-
ton as a pugilist, and returned East es-
pecially for the purpose o? trying conclt-
sions with the notorious Yankee Sullivan.
The fight took place at Boston Corners, on
the boundary line between New York aid
Massachusetts,, october II, 1853, and was
one of the most noted In the annals OF the
ring. Sullivan was twenty years the older
man, but much lighter and shorter but he
had vastly the advantage as a boxer. Nor
rssey was fearfully punished from the start,
but on the thirty-seventh round he rallied,
when he seemed SO weak as to be scarcely
ably to stand, and pounded the other man
terribly. Then a wrangle commenced among
the outsiders, during which Sullivan failed
to respond to the call for time. and the ref
cree gave the fight and 81 ,O00 OF stakes to
Morrissey. The next year Morrissey was
great fight with John c. Heenan, for the
championship and 50. 500, came off October
20, 1857, on Long Point Island, in Canada.
Morrissey showed up imperfect condition,
balancing beam at 173 pounds. He seemed
small, however, in comparison with the Be-
nicia Boy, who was three inches the taller
and weighed 1870, bu5 was not we'll trained.
The struggle was short, but was marked
with terrible hitting. Only Morrissey 'swon-
derful fortitude saved him from throwing
| up the sponge in the sixth round, but by
| sqeer endurance he took his punishment un-
| til Heenan showed indications OF weakening.
| Then lie rushed in, and on the eleventh
round had the other man fairly defeated.
This was Morrissey's last appearance
inside the ropes. He turned his ate ntion
seriously to politics and gambling, and was
successful in both. Clever at making and
keeping money, and an expert political
manipulation. lie made his power and sagac-
IL " felt and acknowledged, and soon rose TO
e. ninence among the managing men in the
D emocratic party. Tie did not care especial
ly for holding Office himself, but aspired to
die tating nominations and appointments.
In 1866 he was elected to Congress and
serv ed one term. He was always bitter
oppo uent of Tweed and the Tan many Ring,
and fought them at every point. Even after
| the dc wnfall of the Tweed coterie of THE yes
he continued in enmity to Tammany, and
in 1875 was elected by anti-Tammany to
the New York State Senate. Last Noyem-
Der he had the memorable contest with
Tammany for re- election. Augustus Schell
was the Ring nominee. and Morrissey was
supported by a coalition Of the Republicans
with the anti-Ring Democrats. The dis
trict is the wealtlliest in New York, and the
prejudices Of the people against man hav-
ing Morrlssey'+ record we're strongly ap-
pealed to. Schell belonged to rich and re-
spectacle family, but he was overwhelming
" defeated. Morrissey's exertions iii thus
campaign broke down his health, and soon
afterward he departed for tie sojourn in
Florida from which he returned home to die.
The trip did him no good, but his strong
will prolonged the battle with death until
the last moment.
4 Morrissey's character is too we'll known to
4 need much comment. In spite of the dis
\ credit attached to his early life and his later
4 business of gambling, the man had many
4 friends. There was strain of honesty and
\ straig htforwardness in his nature that were
\ out Of keeping With Ills pursuits. As pub
lie man he was entirely trustworthy. He
\ would not steal, and he had the utmost con-
tempt for people Of the Tweed stamp. It is
was to establish social standing for his
only child and son. For tina: purpose he
procured an election to Corgr ess and accu-
mulated fortune. The boy died two years
ago, and Morrissey was never the same man
\ afterward. His wealth must be considera-
i BILE, and there is no one but his wife to re-
\ ceive it. His face was familiar upon all
the racing tracks in the country, and wish
\ tors to Pimlico saw him at each recurring
i meeting until that of last October. He owned
a lucrative pool business, but never appeared
l on the stand himself. His famous and mag
nifcent place at Saratoga Springs, carried
on as gambling house, is known through
out the length and breadth of the land. His
establishment in New York has been closed
for several years. Under more favorable
conditions in his youth John Morrissey
might have become an honorably distin-
gnished man in al respects. His resolution,
sagaciousness and good judgment were ap-
parent always, and he had many fine in
! stinc.s, but his bad start in life overslad.
owed AID his days.
When we are young we waste a great
deal OF time in imagining what we will do
vnen we grow cider, and,when we are old
we waste an equal amount of time in won.