The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-29

whipping Bogus Mr.. Sullivan and Demon
alizing a Boastftil Quartz Crusher.

leal interested this winter in pugilism. Nobody
is here to interfere with them, and when
match is arranged it usually comes off according
TO agreement. No admission fee is charged,
honor being the only pursuit of the cowboy at
this season, and the prizes are lnvaria bly, small
The fighting mama along the Niobrara and
Loup rivers grows out of an incident which &C
Cured about six weeks ago at a ranch seventy
five miles due west of here. where dozen or
more of the boys were Quartered for the night.
One of them had newspaper and was reading
an account Of how John L. bullivan struck his
hardest blows. The article explained in do
tail the manner in which the champion struck
an attitude. and then by mighty lunge of the
shoulder delivered a blow with such terrific
force that nobody could resist it The reader,
whose name was Arson Miliett, sometimes called
Muley Millett on account OF certain exploit OF
his several years ago with mule, sheriff, and
Justice of the peace, entertained the boys with
extracts from the article, and finally as they be-
gan to show interest in the matter he tried to
explain just how the thing was.
Taking off his coat so that the full play OF his
shoulder and elbow could be distinctly observed,
he illustrated his idea of Sullivans movement
quite clearly up to the striking point. One of
the men, John Vance. said he was a little near
sighted, and couldn't just get the hang of the
movement, and Muley, with good deal of spirit,
undertook to show him, talking louder and ges-
ticulating more wildly all the time.
NOW, you see" said Muley sullivan gets
himself up in this shape, and then, when the
this
Mulev had no intention of loosening ali Of old
John Nances teeth, but he did so nevertheless.
John fell fiat on his back and did not stir for a
minute. Then he got up spit on his hands.
grabbed piece of cord wood, and made for
Muley who ran out in the snow yelling, Muir
der!" John couldn't catch him, and when he re-
turned the rest of the boys insisted that Vance
and Millett must have it out IN the prize ring
The fight occurred next day, and resulted in
victory for Muley, and after that he whipped
every man in that neighborhood.
His fans s..read so fast that he more than had
his hands full. l;i.as 7Sere little dull and
everybody wanted TO try him. one cowboy alter
another was polished off, until Muley cc-'eoun-
tered timber jointed and long legged stripping
from the North Platte country, named Watson,
who bent him double almost at the first blow.
After this Muey was obliged to leave that part
of the country lie went up IN wyoming Tor
while, and when he came back here he was &C
companied by the hardest man who was ever
seen in Nebraska, and whom he introduced to
everybody as John Sullivan, just out for lit
tie fun on the frontier, yo1 know"
Mr. Sullivan had two or three scars on his
face tremendous fist and bad eye. When
he walked he raised and lowered his shoulders,
and he treated the average cowboy good deal
as though he were half inclined to eat him up.
This gave him great importance in the eyes of
the boys, and everybody was willing to admit
in advance that he was the chief. Any other
man coming into this community with as big
swaggar and a smaller reputation would have
had half dozen fights on hand IN an hour.
Mr. Sullivan only encountered praise and hos
pitality No one challenged him, and even his
contemptueus illusions to various of the first
citizens of White Pine caused no heartburn
ngs.
After Sullivan had been here three or four
days, Watson, who had been sent for by Muley,
arrived on the scene, and began to size up the
newcomer Muley had fixed it up that Watson
should not know with whom ne was fighting
until the first round had been ended. Every
body Joined in the trick, and it was laughingly
predicted that there would be fighting after
the victim discovered the truth. In the course
Of time, when Watson came to consider the mat
ter, he said he was not exactly spelling for
fsht but since the bows insisted on it he would
give the stranger whirl The prospect seemed
to please Sullivan, who told his friends eontiden-
tally that he was out for little rest and really
didn't care to muss himself up, but still he would
not disappoint the crowd. Sullivan was fol
lowed around by an admiring throng, and
had everything that the town afforded, Some
of-the cowboys had received invitations from
him to visit him in the East and all had agreed
togo.
Ks the time for the fight came on everybody
began to feel sorry for Watson. He showed no
signs Of distrust however He threw off his
jacket cheerfully and toed the mark. and as
Sullivan jumped into the ring with an ugly
scowl, there was chorus of: Hes bad 'un. 3"
The first round did not amount to much.
feeling his adversary, while Sullivan made
one or two efforts to hit him hard AS the
men retreated to their corners, there was
shout Of
Look out there, Watson. You're fighting
John Sullivan, of Boston,
Watson looked around in q dazed way and de-
manded an explanation. Everybody began to
speak at once:
bruise you if you don't let him alone He's just
out here for little vacation, and they've put up
Watson said. 'If Mr.. Sullivan is ready for
another serape I'm in now" and he made a
lunge for the other, which made everybody grow
faint
''SullivanN kill him for that" soliloquized one
cowboy, whiting off piece of plug tobacco
I'and | don't know but he'd oughter."
WED better keep him, guess said another
Wen want some more fun this winter"
The men went at it, Sullivan receiving more,
If any. than he gave
HES saving him." said one of the hoys apollo
getically. He'll murder him in q minute"
just then Watson got in a resounding blow on
Sullivan's light eye, and second later another
under the ear which dropped the champion on
all fours. Their seconds removed the men to
their corners, and gave them some iFewater
When the time was called Watson came to the
scratch smiling, but Sullivan was groggy. His
knees were weak and his eyes rolled.
II really don't feel much like hurting the lad,
he said Perhaps he would like to call the
match of now"
Not any," said Watson, reaching for him. At
The end of minute the bogus Sullivan was down
on his knees begging for mercy, and the boys
we're yelling so that they could be heard in the
aext township AS soon as Watson was satisfied
that he had finished his adversary in the ring he
made jump for the spectators, giving Muley
one in the mouth as he went along. There hasn't
been such a round up in many day as he made
on that occasion After he had bruised half of
them and put the others to flight, he observed as
he paused to get breath:
II want you fellers all to understand that I'm
the only John Sullivan in this State, and that
you can't palm off any Wyoming mulewhaeker
on me for science man.
They all did understand it, and told him So
Soon after that Muley and Mr.. Sullivan disap-
peared and the rest of the boys set about find
ing match for Watson. Wherever promis-
ing man appeared messenger was sent out
to interview him, but the reports were all unsat-