Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-05-02
SULLIVAN SLUGs
A Foolhardy Memphis Bricklayer-Flem-
ing Knocked Senseless by the
Champions First Blow.
Fears for Some Time Entertained That
He Had Been Killed. Couple
Of Coons
Bung Each Others N0ses-Other Spar.
ring Matches at the Exposition
Before 5000 People.

The largest crowd that has assembled
in the Exposition building In years was
present last night to witness the entertain-
ment furnished by the Sullivan tombina
tion of pugillsts, ably assisted by couple
of home grown darkies, not counting the
Hon. Mr.. William Fleming, whose pres
euce in the ring was lamentably short.
On Tuesday morning last, when it was
understood that Sullivan would return
and give another exhibition last night,
Fleming, who is bricklayer, and though
slender rather stout, conceived the
idea of standing up before the cham
pion without the least idea of
ultimate success, but just for the honor
of the thing. He signified his willingness
to Sullivans manager, who promptly ac-
cepted his challenge, When Fleming was
laughed at by several of his acquaintances
he replied he would surprise some OF
these fellows yet" and went at once into
training, practicing with sand-bags. His
friends began telling everybody about
remarkable incident of Fleming's career as
proof OF his exceeding teughness; that
he fell from a scatfold, a hight of four
stories, upon an iron grating in the side
walk and escaped uninjured. He became
quite hero, and whenever he appeared
on the streets was pointed out as the man
who had agreed to stand before Sullivan.
Fleming was undoubtedly under the in
fluence of whisky when he agreed to stand
up before Sullivan, but sobered up imme-
diately afterward and drank nothing but
soda-water until yesterday evening, when
his resolution gave way and he took
several drinks.
The same ring used Monday night was
again utilized for last nights performance,
and when Sullivan and Fleming made
their appearance at $50 o'clock the gal
leries were packed four rows deep all
around. The stage was more than half
full and the main floor was swaying
mass of perpendicular humanity, the
whole number being about 5000.
- FLEMING KNocEsn OUT
: Frank Moran, master of ceremonies, in
troduced Fleming as an ambitious amateur
boxer of Memphis, and Sullivan as the
champion pugilist Of the world. They
were both stripped to the waist and wore
soft gloves. They advanced toward the
center of the ring at a signal from Moran,
and Sullivan rendered his hand which was
hesitatingly taken by Fleming, who looked
up into the Boston boys face, as if trying
to read there what he intended to do.
The next instant Sullivan made rapid
stride in the direction OF Fleming who as
Quickly retreated, throwing up his left
arm. Like afiash the champion tore down
Fleming's guard with his left hand and
struck him with the edge of his right under
the left jaw. The brickmason fell Ikea clod,
his back striking the chair in the corner,
his side striking the hard pine floor with
dull .hud. For about half minute not
move was made, but Moran, at once
~, a.
at once ran to where the vanquished hero
Law, and attempted to bring him to his
feet. He was as timber as rag and ut
terly unconscious. Sullivan at once drew
off gloves, and calling in third person,
vigorous measures were taken to revive
Fleming. A pitcher OF water was emptied
a glass at time, into his face, his hands
slapped and the back of his neck
chafed for some time without effect, and
the impression rapidly spread that Flem-
ing had been killed. At this anxious
moment Fleming began to show signs of
life, and slowly recovered sufficiently to
take himself off the stage. HIS jaw
swelled mp considerably afterward, and he
went to bed in a semi unconscious state,
due partly to the blow, partly to beer.
DONOVAN AND M'coY.
After an intermission OF about five miu-
utes Mike Donovan and Pete Mccoy were
Introduced and fought four rounds. They
were pretty well matched, with the odds a
little in McCoy's favor. Donovan got in
comparatively few good shots, Mccoy dis
playing considerable skill in dodging those
he could not parry. Donovan got his arm
around McCoy's waist in the second round
and had struck two sounding blows when
time was called There was a similar
maneuver on Donovans part at the con-
clusion of the fourth round and both re-
| tired pretty well blown.
TAYLOR AND GILLESPIE.
Steve Taylor and Mike Gillespie next
entered the ring and in the first round
| returned slap for slap with the advantage
/ little in favor of either. Taylor, in the
| second and third rounds held Gillespie at
| arms length, standing his ground firmly
| and delivering an occasional blow full in
/ his antagonists face. Gillespie got little
| angry and made desperate effort to get
his work in, but failed. He was much
/ the smaller of the pair, Steve Taylor APP
preaching nearer to Sullivan than any
other member OF the combination.
SULLIVAN AND DONOVAN.
The champion and Mike Donovan came
next on the programme. Sullivan was de
cidedly aggressive, pressing Donovan
i against tnc Topco d. bno oiooo VI my h,''
and second rounds. IN the third he
stood while Donovan delivered foul
or five straight from the shoul
der directly at his head, dodgins
as fast as they came with the greatest
ease and without moving an inch out Of
the spot upon which he stood when time
was called to begin the round. Suddenly
throwing out one of his beam-like arms
Sullivan got Donovan's head in chancery
and the latter delivered two blows in the
champions stomach, receiving in return {
sounding smack on his ear. At this instan
they were ordered to their places, shooE
hands and left the ring.
THE COON FIGHT.
Nelse Scott and Bill O'Neil followed.
One is a 1.-the and wellproportioned vel
low man, the other muscular black
/ about half head taller. They were
stripped TO the waist, and wore the same
kind of gloves as those used by the mem
bers of the combination. The yellow fel
low was the most active of the two, anC
! danced about the stage as if on springs, bu
lin the first round the black had the advan
ftage, and delivered one telling blow upon
his opponents nose, from which the clare
| spouted. They were separated and tool
their seats. Moran filed his mouth full
l OF water, and taking good aim s2urted t
in the yellow boys face to wash away tn,
blood. The black had smile on his fac,
during the whole of the second round
and was evidently not anything like 81
deeply in earnest as the o.her fellow, whS
forced him to the ropes twice, and deliv
] cred several square blows. At the end o
i the third round the blacks nose wa
bleeding profusely, but both were ready a
the signal, and f1ught until they wert
both SO tired as to be hardly able to lif
the gloves 1t was the general impression
| however, that the little mulatto had thu
best of the fight.
4 GILLESPIE AND MCoY.
4 The prettiest match of the evening wa
between Mccoy and Gillespie, who arr
nearly of the same size. Nearly ever,
blow in the first round was parried, but a
the close Mccoy planted sumner on Gil
lespie's ear with his right, taking his wine
/ at the same moment with his left, while
| he forced Gillespie against the ropes. Nea
the close of the second round McCo,
lodged back, made a feint and, taking
Gillespie unawares, struck him two blow
in rapid succession in the face. The las
round was rough one, the blows beiD,
rapidly exchanged, and both men retiring
blown.
SULLIVAN AND TAYLOR.
The last round was between Sullivan
and Steve Taylor, who is splendid speci
men of manhood and nearer on an equal
| ity with Sullivan than any other membe
of the company. Their rounds wer
much shorter than the others, and con
siderably hotter, too. Taylor got in tw'
or three good, square hcks, and Sullivan
began to look wicked, when time was de
clared to be up, and they retired.
The affair was an orderly one, ane
| among those present were not less thai
800 OF the best men OF the city.
Iron Manufacturers and workers.