The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-09
SULLIVAN RULES THE SHIP.
The Effect of an Ocean Voyage on Bos-
toms First Citizen.

The Effect of Ocean Voyage on Bos-
toms First Citizen.
BosToN, April 26.-The officers of the
steamer Catalonia are 10th to admit it, but
the facts justify the assertion that the big
Cunarder was commanded on her last trip
across by man named John L. Sullivan
OF Boston. The big fighters rule on the
sea was despotic and arbitrary, and none
of his 1,400 subjects will ever forget
some of the incidents of his reign. Sulli-
van assumed control of everybody around
him almost from the moment the ship left
the dock at Liverpool, and did not relin-
quish his authority until the ship ar
rived within two DAYS of the end of the
voyage. Some of the measures which he
adopted to enforce his authority and to
maintain literal reign of terror on board
were most extraordinary. Sullivan be-
came angry with the officers of the steamer
at the outset because they would not allow
his friends on board to bid him farewell,
and he didn't like the location of his
staterOOm, which was next that of a
clergyman with four small children.
The pride of Boston began his
long spree before the steamer left
Liverpool harbOr. The last incident of
his farewell to his English friends was his
knocking off the neck of a bottle of
champagne against the rail, and drinking
the contents as good-by toast. He soon
took control of his immediate surround
ings in the cabin. and he began to make
things lively for his fellow passengers.
The clergyman in the next stateroom was
the Rev. w. X. Manley, missionary, re-
turning from Hindostan, and he soon be-
came the object of Sullivan's displeasure.
The children disturbed the champion, and
not long after the ship sailed he took the
astOnished clergyman one side, and said
with good deal of profanity:
"If YOU don't keep your - - brats
out of my sight, I'll break them in two and
throw them overheard"
The poor parson has spent several years
in heathendOm, and he was unused to the
ways of modern civilization. He promptly
promised that his ''brats" should be in
visible and silent during the voyage. The
mother of the children was so terror
stricken that she hardly dared sleep
nights, in the fear that one of her offspring
might get into the clutches of the big Bos-
tOnian. When he is good-naturedly
drunk Sullivan is one of drollest fellows
imaginable. He tackled Missionary Man
ley one day for a theological argument.
He seated the clergyman in a chair and
sat down in front of him. Next he pro-
duced two punches of matches, placed one
on each knee, and said:
''YOu say you're clergyman?
Eyes, was the meek resp Onse.
"Here are two punches of matches.
This one is heaven and the other one is
hell. Now, l want you to tell me as cler-
gyman where l am going. Is it here or
here ?" pointing to the celestial bunch and
then to the extra sulphurQls bunch.
Il hope, Mr.. Sullivan, that you will 90
to heaven" gently replied the parson.
'No you don't" Numbered the big
fighter; Eve got through ticket straight
to he'll, and I'll meet you there. And if
you're any kind of a man you'll put on
the gloves with me when we meet"
The missionary fervently wished he was
back again among the HindOoS. The
champion soon struck terror to the hearts
OF all the stewards on board. He amused
himself frequently at first by singing for
them and then pinching their arms black
and blue. One evening he rang, and the
response was slightly de~-ed. When the
under steward did enter the stateroom
Sullivan struck the man in the face. The
victims dander rose and he jumped for
the water bottle, with which he vigorously
belabored the half-tipsy champion over
the room. When the steward realized
what he had done he was frightened and
fed. When Sullivan went back to his
room and rang again for liquor not one of
the stewards dared respond, but half q
dozen of them gathered in the cabin out
side the door. Sullivan got angry and
started to investigate. The stewards
heard him coming, extinguished all the
lights in the cabin, and hid themselves
under the tables. John fumbled around
until he got hold of the water fountain,
and he opened the faucet full head. The
frightened stewards, so they told Sun
correspondent to-day, dared not come
from their hiding places to turn off the
water and the floor was flooded
In a merry mood one day Sullivan
thumped the storekeeper in the back, so
that the man was lame for several days.
He insulted the carpenter plucky little
Scotchman half his size, and that function
airy carried a billy up his sleeve, so he said
this afternoon, for two or three days, hop
ing the champion would give him an ex-
cuse for using it. When the big fellow in
vaded the engineers department with
good deal of buster one day, the chief
promptly produced the hot water hose,
and informed his unwelcOme visitor that
if he ever entered that portion of the ship
again he would deluge him with scalding
water He made a merry visit to tie
steerage, where there were more than
1900 emigrants, one morning. An awk-
ward Dutchman accidentally stepped on
the champions toes. John drew himself
up to his full height and glared for a mo-
ment at the little Dutchman. The of
fender stepped back, and his mouth
opened with mingled establishment and
terror.
'Shut up that bloody mouth" roared
the champion. The Dutchman was still