The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-16
OUR STORY TELLER.
A "HURRICANE" PRIZE-FIGHT.
New York Star.1

New York star.l
In 1549 pugilism in New York was in
its zenith, and great efforts were made to
bring the rival champions, Yankee Sui
ivan and Tom Hyer, together.
The latter was looked upon as the
champion, although he had not fought
as many battles as Sullivan; neverthe.
less, he had proved himself wonder by
whipping Country McCluskey, and his
hackers were ready on the strength of
that performance to match him to fight
any body for 81 900 a side.
Sullivan, on the other hand, had low
cred the colors of all who had faced him
in the magic circle, and now had sup
porters and hackers who were ready to
match him against Hyer.
In the meantime, the rival gangs of
Sullivan and Hyer met frequently at
Ford's Tavern, No. % Park Row, and
No. Chatham Street, which in 1913
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 Null
Hgan, Che irsn-dealer of Grand Street,
since departed, announced his willing
ness to match him to fight Hyer for So,
900 a 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 Hyer 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 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.
tion, but generally limited that he had
no objection to fighting Sui ivan 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 rival:
meet at once carried the news to Sui
liyan's sporting crib. Johnny Ling, bet
ter known now as old Pop Ling, saun
terted into Sullivan's one day, and re
marked, "Hyer says he'll fight you fo
$4,000; Mulligan will find half tn,
stakes. Go ahead, Yank; I think yol
can Just about lick him."
Sullivan jumped over the counter
and called for his loose coat, and seemed
greatly excited.
"Pve got to lick the big loafer, o
else he must lick me-" and off he starte,
to find Hyer. Sullivan heard that Hye
had gone on jamboree, and he foun
him in a saloon then situated at tn
corner Park Place and Broadway.
Sullivan was spelling for fight, an
had drank just enough whisky to max
him mquarrelsome. He found Hyer sitting
half intoxicated, in the heabove-mentione
saloon. Hyer remarked, after Sulliva
had entered, that g Upton Slasher ws
coming over to fight him" (Sullivan
Let him come, he will be afraid [
fight me, like you are" replied Sullivan
"Why, Sully, you amt heavy nor ia
enough to whip me-" One word led O
to another, and in the mean time tt
news few round to the Fountain Hous
in Park Row, and to the other sportir
houses, that Hyer and Sullivan wei
to fight, and the. g Home Guards" WI
for months had been eagerly trying
make the rivals fight, ,eongregated /
the scene. Aregular rough and tur
BILE followed, in which Hyer gave Su
livan n terrible thrashing, and the Co
queror of Hammer Lane was left blee
ing and insensibie. The tocsin of W,
had now sounded, and a ring fight w
inevitable. RI.
The fame of Sullivan, as the co
queror of Hammer Lane, shed ado
tional glory upon Hyer as the conquer
OF Yankee, although this was only
rough and tumble New York sportin
houses were in state of great excit
ment, and fatal encounters with dead
weapons were fully expected, so bitt
were the rivals and their partisans.
Sullivan was terribly mortified ov
his defeat by Hyer, and on June 1, 1874
he published challenge, concludil
with: "As for Hyer, can fax him O
without any exertion." Hyer prompt
responded, and in the journals the {,
lowing day Hyer said: "Sullivan w
hnd me much reader to meet him an
where than in the newspapers; an
where, however, / am his MASTER"
In August, 1849, an admirer of 81
livan wagered $40 with Hyer that
would not make a match to fight Sui
van. Hyer covered the money, and Nc
day, August z, and Ford's Tavern, Pa
Row, were named as the time and pla
for arranging the preliminaries. Hy
won the bet by agreeing to fight Sui
van for $500 q side, and posted 81
forfeit. These were rather large figul
for Sullivan's friends, but Mullig
came to the rescue, and the match v
made later for the men to fight at cat
weight in six, months for $4,000.
On December l 1848, the men we
into training, Sullivan under the me
torshipof George McCheester Count
Cluskey," and Tom ODonnell. S
livan's training quarters were at Sha,
Hotel, at the once famous Union ra
course, Long island Hyer secured [
services of George Thompson and !
Winrow, and went into training at p,
Dodge's hotel, near McComb's Dam.
the meantime, February 7, 1849, m
winter, was named for the day of 1
match. The fight was the topic of G,
versation on both sides Of the Allan,
In fact, no contest, except the Inter
tional at Farnsborough, between Heer
and Sayers, which took place ten ye
after, created so much excitement as
Hyer and Sullivan fight. From the {
-a-txn- -ppgilists went into train