Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-13
JOHN L. SULLIVAN'S BEGINNING.
How He Was Taken in Hand by an Expert
With the Gloves-His Temper.

How He Was Taken in Hand by an Expert
With the Gloves-His Temper.
Madden first saw Sullivan at a sparring
match in Boston. Sullivan was much too
heavy and clumsy for fine work, but the
look OF dogsed determination, not to say
ferocity, his features wore, as well as his
immense muscular development, attracted
Nadden's attention, and he remarked to
an old Boston sporting man, "There stands
the coming champion OF the world" The
Boston man appeared to have some doubts
on the question, but did not strongly dis
sent on account of Madden's reputation as
a Judge. This was in 1880. Madden de-
cided on the spot that there was much
money in a partnership between himself
and Sullivan. He limited as much to the
Boston man. Sullivan took the hint and
closed with the offer. He was quite green
as a pugilist at the time. He considered
himself wonderfully strong, and knew SO
little about science that lie thought strength
was all he needed to fight his way to the
top of the neap. Madden quickly showed
him the fallacy OF this notion, and Sullivan
was very much astonished to discover that
in spite of his immense strength, Madden,
IL
could tap him where he pleased. Madden,
with his pale olive complexion, made paler
by it's contrast with his jet black hair and
mustache and piercing black eyes, his easy
conversational style, carefully selected
words and modest demeanOr, was the
exact opposite ri all that constituted a
good man" in Su!livan's opinion when he
first put Oh the gloves with his partner.
The coming champion changed his opinion
when he found that his manager bad physi.
cal strength as well as science, and a fore
sight that showed the Boston mans judg-
ment away in the background. In under
taking to polish and manage Sullivan
Madden learned that he had undertaken a
well as his physical energies. He found
Sullivan possessed of tremendous strength.
! and for a man of his size, wonderfully agile.
| Sullivan at this time was q terrific hitter,
| but expended too much force on his blows.
He had no scientific knowledge, and exhaus-
ted himself with exertions from which no
adequate benefit was received. When he
stood up to spar he planted his feet as il
they were nailed to the ground. His argu'
ment was that it was more difficult to
knock him down when he stood in this
fashion than ii he danced on his toes and
made an effort to avoid his opponents
blows. He was a mere tyro in stopping and
feinting-in fact. had much to forget AND
everything to learn. His temper was al
mild and equitable as that of a Texat
steer, and he had d pleasant habit OF oc
casionally throwing all his strength into .
blow when mere tap was expected. HI
also had fondness for stimulants thai
was apt to override every consideration al
critical periods. Altogether Mr.. Sullivan
bore striking resemblance to q corpulen
dynamite cartridge, so delicately construc
ted that it was liable to explode under tn
most gentle handling. Yet the cartridg
was handled without fatal results for two
years by Madden, Who, in that period
reyolutionized the business and placed i
on a basis that not only pail, but simpl,
coined money for those who conducted i
|iudiciously.- York Sun.