The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-27
PUGILIsT SULLIVAN.
How He Was Brought Up and Why He Be-
came an Misunderstanding the "Profes

How He Was Brought Up and Why He Be-
came an Misunderstanding the 'Profes-
SION"
Interview in Pittsbure.
II maintain that there are gentlemen in
the profession who are capable of conducting
themselves as such. The public forget that
John Morrissey was member of Congress,
and, although not gifted with collegiate
education, had great deal of hard common
sense that won him a prominent place.
John G. Heenan, although a pugilist, was
finished gentleman. Roscoe Conkling and
Zach. Chandler, in years gone. have estab-
llshed regulations as men who were able to
take care of themselves with the gloves on.
Why is it that people raise such cry against
boxers, and sparring exhibitions de-
nounced as unbecoming to gentlemen, when
there is not college in the country of any
standing that does not encourage their stu
dents in boxing, fencing and rowing%
What about prize-i ghting%'
well, it is just the same as any other
business. You own fine horse, and so does
some other man. There is match made
and you back your horse with money.
man challenges me to a trial OF skill and en-
durance with fists. 1t is my business, and l
go in to win. That is the whole thing.
Arstocratic gentlemen of Europe, and some
times in this country, go out with couple
of friends and try to kill each other with
swords or revolvers at twenty PAGES. Why
don't they settle the question with their
fists? There would be no loss of life, and it
would be equally as effective in determining
who is the better man. Of course, if a man
becomes an expert boxer he gets a reputa-
ton and he is called upon to defend 1t.
Once he gets that reputation he is looked
down upon by society as a degraded man.
But | tell you that this science OF self
defense is growing in favor. There is hardly
city or town that does not have its class OF
gentlemen who are under instructions. Look
at the audience last night at the Coliseum.
1t was as orderly and intelligent an assem-
blage of men as ever saw"
Mitchell, as l suppose you are aware"
said the reporter, us regarded as a remarka-
BILE man to be a pugilist. He had collegi-
ate training, and was at one time q medical
student"
He has that reputation" said the cham
pion, but and he laid his big hand on his
visitors arm and spoke with emphasis, mfr.
Mitchell never set foot inside medical
college, and know what am talking about.
Mitchell is liar. for l have it from men
who knew him from away back. 1 never
have said anything about myself, for l
haven't had much to say. received a good
common school education in Boston at the
Dwight Grammer School, and could have
gone further had I desired You will be
surprised when I tell you that my parents
desired to educate me for the Catholic priest
Boston College, Catholic institution con-
nected with the Church of the Immaculate
Conception. If / had completed the
course there l would have been admitted
to the Holy Cross College l
was young, only about sixteen or seventeen,
and had leaning toward athletic sports
| attended college two or three months, but
as | could make $50 or $40 week at playing
ball and in other athletic games, l threw my
books aside and gave myself up to it. That
is how l got into the baseball profession,
and left school for good and all. From the
base ball business l drifted into boxing and
pugilsm. l have made a great deal of
money, and spent great deal, and have
had plenty of fun as it is called, but came
to point where / concluded that had bet
ter stop, and did. Then l concluded to
open my saloon in Boston, and settled down
to business. OF course, boxing is my bust
ness Just the same as journalism is yours"
"Do you think that the public can be
brought to look at your profession in diff
ferent light, and are you trying to have
them do SOP"
Certainly. would like to see it elevated
and placed on different sphere. | have
project on foot, that am not at liberty to
mention now, whereby l hope before long
to see as many ladies as gentlemen at our
athletic exhibitions. As an illustration of
what l have just said | might mention our
experience at Altoona this week. There was
some kind of a meeting in progress among
the Baptist preachers, and great many of
them stopped at the same hotel where my
self and my party were registered. Some
of them were regular fanatics. That day at
dinner Gillespie sat at the table with some
of them, and, of course, they did not know
he was with the combination Myself and
wife were at an adjoining table. One of
them said: L don't see how such
pretty woman could marry such
fellow Another said: Look at the
countenance he has. Just look at his hand;
it's covered with hair, and he is regular
bully That night met several of them in
the hallway, and a couple of them stopped
me and wanted to know if l did not see the
error of my way, and knew what end would
eventually come to. listened to Them and
when through said l thought my way of
robbing the people about as clever as theirs,
and on the whole it didn't make much diff
ference. They didn't bother me the balance
of the time I spent in Altoona. Fanaticism
prompts some men, you know, to step be-
You'd what is right, and looked at it in that
light"
Sullivan said in conclusion, it was his in
tention to labor for the elevation of the pro-
fession he has chosen.
Wonderful Mountain Railroad