Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-05-09
DEAD.
John Merrissey-Bruiser. Con-
gressman. Politician and
49, .-.t ~ Gambler.

Saratoga. was born in Tipperary county, Ire
land, in 1881, and came to this country fv
years afterwards. His youth was spent in ant
around Toy and Lansingsburg, where h
j worked at paper mill, then in a brush facto
ry, next as deck hand on a Hudson rive
steamer, ard then drifted into employment a
a steamboat runner. His reputation during
these years was that of free-and-easy young
fellow, who gave and took hard knocks, wa.
great at ward meetings and political gather
ings, and yet was an industrious worker. Some
of his escapades got him into trouble, particu
larly fght.in Troy, for his share in which
only the Offices of political friends saved hin
from conviction and imprisonment. Hi:
sshrewdness and industry stood him in good
stead with hesteamboat campany of which he
was an employe, and they located him in New
York city There he speedily became ia.
vorite with the roughs, and relinquished hon.
orable labor to run with gangs of shoulder-hit.
ters 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 foul blow. He got some reputation
as a pugilist, and returned East especially for
the purpose of trying conclusions with the no
torious Yankee Sullivan. The fight took place
at Boston Corners, on the boundary line be-
tween New York and Massachusetts, October
IL, 1858, 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 hadiyastly the advantage as boxer. =
Morrissey was fearfully punished from the
start, but on the thirty seventh round he raj
| lied, when he seemed so weak as to be scarcely
able to stand, and pounded the other man ter
ribly. Then wrangle commenced among the
outsiders, during which Sullivan failed t. re-
spond to the call for time, and the referee
gave the fight and the $1,000 of stakes to
Mornssey. The next year Morrissey was
whipped by Bill Poole, and the formers great
| fight with John c. Heenan, for the champion
ship and 81, 500, came off October 20, 1857,
| Ou h9uS Olui 1oAuuu, III SdAdudy 4t1OiAlooCJ
showed up in perfect condition, balancing the
beam at 173 pounds He seemed small, how
ever, in comparison with the Beuicia Boy, who
was three inches the taller and weighed 100,
but was not well trained. The struggle was
short. but was marked with terrific hitting
Only Morrissey's wonderful fortitude saved
him from throwing up the sponge in the sixth
round, but by sheer endurance he took his pun
ishment until Heenan showed indications OF
weakening Then he rushed in, and on the
eleventh round had the other mau fairly de-
feated. ~ g = sT..sl.e,..4 fs
This was Morrissey's last appearance inside
the ropes. He turned his attention seriously
to politics and gambling, and was successful in
both. Clever at making and keeping money,
and an expert political mtnipulator, he made
his power and sagacity felt and acknowledged,
and soon rose in eminence among the manag-
ing men in the Democratic party. He did not
care especially for holding office himself, but
aspired to debating nominations and appoint
ments. In 1866 he was elected to Congress
and served for one term. He was always a
vigorous opponent of Tweed and the Tamma-
Even after the downfall of the Tweed coterie
of thieves he continued in enmity to Tamma-
ny, and in 1875 was elected by anti-Tammany
10 the New York State Senate. Last Novem-
ber he had the memorable contest with Tam
many for reelection. Augustus Schell was
the Ring nominee, and Morrissey was support
ed by coalition of the Republicans with the
anti Ring Democrats. The district is the
wealthiest in New York, and the prejudices of
the people against a man having Morrissey s
record were strongly appealed to. Schell be-
logged to rich and respectable family, but he
was overwhelmingly defeated. Morrisseys
exertions in this campaign broke down his
health, and soon afterward he departed for the
sojourn in Florida from which he returned
home to die The trip did him no good, but
his strong viii prolonged :he battle with death
until the last moment. 80 -. .... i...-.
1Morrisseyis character is too well known to
need much comment. In spite of the discredit
attached to his early life and his later business
of gambling, the man had many friends. There
was a strain of honesty and straightforward
ness in his nature that were out of keeping
with his pursuits. As public man he was en-
tirely trustworthy. He would not steal, and
he had the utmost contempt for people of the
Tweed stamp. 1t is said that the one object
of his later years was to establish social stand
ing for his only child and son. For that pur-
pose he procured an election to Congress and
accumulated fortune. The boy died two
years ago, and Morrissey was never the same
man afterward. His wealth must be consider
able, and there is no one but his wife to receive
it. His face was familiar upon all the racing
tracks in the country, and visitors to Pimlico
saw him at each recurring meeting until that of
last October He owned lucrative pool busi-
ness, but never appeared on the stand himself.
His famous and magnificent place at Saratoga
Springs, carried on as a gambling house, is
knownthroughoutth the length and breadth of
the land. His establishment in New York has
been closed for several years. Under more fa-
4orable conditions in his youth John Morrissey
might have become an honorably distinguished
man in al; respects. His resolution, sagacious,
ness and goodjudgment were apparent always,
and he had'tnany fine instincts, but his bad
start in life overshadowed all his days
A Japanese Rip Van Wrinkle.
sj Most young people know Washing
ton Ieving's story of Rip Van Wrinkle.
The, Japanese haveone very much like
It., A young man fishing In his boat
on the ocean was invited By the god