The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-06
WAS THE CHAMPION AFRA1D9
An Old e-Fighter Tells of Two Events In
the Career of John L. Sullivan.

WAS THE CHAMPION AFRAID?
An Old Prize-Fighter Tells of Two Events in
the Career of John L. Sullivan.
Detroit Tribune.
John l.. is, presume the ugliest bully that
ever stood in shoe leather when he's been going
against the wine bags too hard, remarked man
last evening. whose name is pretty familiar in
sporting circles away from home as well as here
in Detroit. Comments by several of the fancy
on the prize sluggers disgraceful exhibition of
himself at the base ball grounds on Friday called
out the remark. There's no use trying to dis
guise the fact went on the sporting oracle,
John L. isn't fit to be in any kind of society
even sluggers-when he's in liquor. At such
times the boys ought to throw him in the trap,
he concluded, with feeling, using an expression
meaning that Sullivan should be placed in Jail.
"The boys ought to do it out of pure friendship;
thats what they ought to do"
There was general assent to this highly ap-
propriate and somewhat moral sentiment, and
the party fell TO relating instances Of Sullivan's
drunken feats and extrayagances Finally, a
small man in a loud check suit said:
Remember the time Sullivan and his combi-
nation of sluggers were on their tour through the
West three years agoq Yes. Well. maybe some
OF you have heard of the time John L. and
two or three of the others came near getting
done up in Denver Something vas published
about it then. Well, l was in Denver at the
time, travelling for Philadelphia drug house.
say-and John L. and the Maori, together with
Pete Mccoy, Gillespie and one or two others,
were out casting deep vermillion hue over the
town. At last they landed at a little place on
one of the main streets I've forgotten the
name just now. and began raising all sorts of a
row. The bartender was a little fellow with
smooth face, and he didn't say anything for
some time. The bevy of sluggers got so noisy,
though. that finally he suggested. in a mild way,
that they let up just bit. This made John l..
hot nd ha
body out, turning the place inside out. or some
thing Of that sort-you know how he gives it
out when he's loaded Well, the smoothfaced
bartender tried to explain. but John l.. wouldn't
have it. and began to get hotter and talk ranker.
There were only two men in the place beside
John LIS crowd and the young looking bar
tender. They were gamblers both small men.
sitting back in the room, playing euchre or some
quiet game. aud neither of 'em had said a word
John l.. saw them and made crack at them, too
That settled it. You never saw lightning
change transformation scene on the stage to beat
that in your lives. Those two under sized gam
blers just hoped up quicker than three-card
man can do sucker, and whipped out two big
selfcocking revolvers The smooth faced bar
tender. at the same instant, pulled big gun.
and, putting one hand on the bar. vaulted over
like trained gymnast. Then he said: You big
suckers git" Did they git? You bet! Every
slugger in the party fell over every other one
trying to get out of the door first, but John L.
the two little gamblers and that innocent-look-
ing smooth faced bartender wasn't satisfied to
merely fire them; they actually chased 'em down
the street six or eight blocks! Facts should
say it was fact. All the Denver papers had
columns, more or less about it for week after
ward"
"Yes, remember hearing something about
that Denver snap" said man with wen over
one eye II saw a funny little thing myself in
which John l.. seemed to be pretty badly fright
apa1 in
Louis Ira been down there backing Greek
George the wrestler, against some of the local
elbow twisters, it was when Sullivan and his
combination were on their way back from the
West You know Sullivan was Offering 5000 to
anyone who would stand up before him four
rounds. There was heavy weight in ST. Louis
then named Zachartz-Bill Zacharitz, l think
and the local sports decided to have him 60
against John L. The boss slugger was going to
show at the Peoples Theater. Among others who
took an interest in the event we're old Tom AL
len, who used to be cock f-the walk himself,
you know ard Tom Kelly (also something of
celebrity with his dukes at one time), who keeps
the toughest joint in the town. and encourages
smuggling as much as the law permits. Well,
Allen and Kelly were back of Zacharitz, and
feeling friendly toward John L., any way each of
'em bought 500 worth of tickets. The night of
the exhibition the Peoples Theater was jammed
with a pretty tough lot of spectators, among
which Allen and Kelly with their gangs, among
whom they had distributed the $40 worth of
tickets, were leading spirits 1t seems Sullivan
hadn't been around to see either Allen or Kelly,
so they were feeling little anyhow; es-
pecially Allen, who had been told that Sullivan
had given out as his reason for not calling t
Aliens place that he hadn't any use for broken
down prize-fghters. So Allen was ready for
trouble at the slightest bad break 1t came
when Sullivan refused to stand up with Zacharitz,
alleging that the police wouldn't have it. Old
Tom got up and declared himself right there.
He said it was fake. Sullivan would have to
give Zacharitz a whirl or there would be fun
and there was was in the house, and took it all
in. After Allen made his crack there was little
sensation in the house, and then old Tom moved
down to the footlights followed by big crowd.
with Kelly bringing up the rear Allen climbed
up on the stage and shot off his lip again. uglier
than ever. Then he wanted Sullivan to come
out. He said he'd fight the big Boston duffer
himself, and the crowd howled SO you could hear
'em over to East st. Lonis-but John l.. didn't
show up again. What had he done? He'd
'sneaked,' that's what he'd done. 'Sneakedp
You're mighty right he had. police sergeant
had just give him the run out side door, and it
was mighty good thing for John L. that he got
away as quick as he did, for Allen and Kelly,
with their gangs, would have done him up for
keeps, sure.