The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-06
What His Friends and Backers Say About His
Condition and His Chance for Besting His
Opponent in the Ring on Monday.
Kilrain's Admirers Growing More Conf
dent than They We're a Few Days Ago.
He Denies that He Drank to Excess While in
Cincinnati-Reward Offered for the Capt
ure Of the Principals if They Fight.
SULLIVAN AT WORK.
Good Days Exercise at the Gymnasium
What His Friends Say.

Good Days Exercise at the Gymnasium
What His Friends Say.
New ORLEANS. July 5.-A representative
of the Associated Press, while crossing
Lake POntchartrain, at IL o'clock. this
morning, had a chat with the veteran Jack
Turner. of Rochester, N. Y, formerly Paddy
Ryan's trainer, and also one of Sullivan's
party on his sparring tours. Jack believes
that the battle will be to finish. and that
the best man will win. He does not believe
that either of the men desires or can afford
to have draw, as there has been too much
of that kind Of business in late years. He
says that, if Sullivan fails to accomplish
anything with his first notorious rush. he
will become discouraged and somewhat
ratified, or out of patience, and lose his
nerve. If he should succeed in landing his
man with his first rush, the fight will be a
short one. Turner has great confidence in
Kilrain, and his opinion is based on the fact
that Charley Mitchell. above all other men,
knows the skill, staying and hitting pow
ers of both men. He believes that Kilrain
is good "short" side in the betting.
AS to the dispute now going on about the
London prize-ring rules, he says the rules
are perfectly plain. and there should be no
quibbling about them. He gave a brief
version as follows: Twenty ring
on turf; no gloves; round to end when a
man is knocked or thrown down. A man
cannot drop or throw himself without
being either struck or thrown by his an
tagonist. The time between rounds is
thirty seconds, with an allowance of eight
seconds to toe the scratch from the time
time is called. A round may last indei-
nitely, for it is not completed until one of
the men Is either knocked or thrown down."
Among the many who saw Sullivan at
the Young Mems Gymnastic Club rooms
yesterday were not few of the friends of
Kilrain, who were actuated by desire to
see the man against whom Kilrain was to
stand. Some of the best informed of these
went away well satisfied, and Kilrain
The odds are still largely in
favor of Sullivan in the pool
the non-arrival of his adversary. Some of
the latter's friends assert that their man
will in no way suffer in comparison with
Sullivan. but on the contrary say that Kill
rain will show mp in much better form. The
programme as regards Sullivan's transfer
to Spanish Fort has been changed, and he
is still auaFtered at Ranspaft street. OPP
posite the Young Mems Gyninastic Club
rooms. A large crowd has been congre-
gated in the vicinity ever since daylight
tented to watch the brick ard mortar
which surrounds the hero OF the hour.
AT 1890 o'clock Sullivan, Muldoon and
Cleary proceeded to the gymnastic club
rooms ana at once proceeded to the hall IN
the third story. With but few words they
proceeded to strip and the doors were then
closed on all and no one allowed in the
room save the three athletes. members of the
H., u Il e. Ill -.
ball, a sphere eighteen inches in diameter,
weighing about twenty-five pounds
dnced, and practice commenced by
Muldoon hurting the ball at Sullivan
it aud threw it back with both hands, some
times over his head from the chest or with
arms held down. This practice continued
for half an hOnr, Cleary taking MuldOon's
place, while Sullivan gave not the slightest
evidence of fatigue or of being winded.
During the exercise the athletes converse6
on the subject of gymnasiums and ex-
pressed themselves pleased with the young
mems quarters. After the ball came dumb
bell exercise, and Sullivan and Muldoon
wrestled. the former gaining several falls.
Sullivan showed himself 10 be in perfect
condition. The rather prOtruding stomach
has been reduced somewhat. and he showed
up in better form than on his first appear
ance in the gymnasium. Those who were
present and witnessed his exercise declared
him to be q sure winner, no matter what
form Kilrain might be in. After the wres-
tling came rope-skipping at which Sulli-
van has proved himself quite an. adept
His movements were graceful. 1.-the and
active, and, after skipping the rope for
more than thirty minutes, gave not the
slightest evidence of distress or fatigue.
After the exercise the three men returned
TO the baths, and afterward Sullivan was
rubbed down By his attendants.
The force and ceierity Of the blows amaZ-
ed all who witnessed Sullivan's practice to-
day. They demonstrated two things con-
elusively: First, that Sullivan can hit as
hard as ever, and second, that he has lost
none of his Old-tlme lightning rapidity.
Once he hit the ball so hard as to break
the thin rope by which it was extended, a
get in a couple of these terrific right-hand-
ers OH Kilrain's head the fight will be
pretty near over.
While the big fellow" as he is Familiarity
called, was dressing for dinner. the re-
porter had an opportunity to inspect him
better than ever before in his life. He
measures forty-twO inches around the
| chest, and Is as deep through from breast
to back as he is from side to side. There does
| not appear to be an ounce of surperfluous
| flesh on him. His flesh glows with the color
| of health, and his back is covered with
prickly heat which causes him, however,
| no Inconvenience. His legs, from the waist
".
| Below the knee they are not as perfect.
His calves are not developed in proportion
| to the upper half of the leg. Experts say,
however that his skipping exercises prove
| him to be very firm on his pins. His mus
cles are hard and firm, and his biceps meas
ure sixteen and half inches. Altogether
| his friends are jubilant over his condition,
| and predict an easy victory.
Joe COburn says there is no doubt what
| ever that Sullivan will win; that he has
seen him in all of his fights. but never in as
perfect condition as now. Barney Mcguire,
| of New York, said he has had an experience
| of thirty years in witnessing fights and
never saw as perfect q man as Sullivan now
| is to enter the rinQ. He thinks that if Kill
| rain will stand up and fight it will be over
! in fifteen minutes Mr. Lavelle, OF the
| Sullivan party from New York. doesn't think
| the fight will last over five rounds. and that
| Sullivan will be the victor. These opinions
| prevail largely here now, where kilraln
| has not recently been seen. The betting is
| all one way-ten to seven on Sullivan.
| When Kilrain and his crowd arrive, how.
| ever, there may be change.
| At 1 o'clock Sullivan dined in company
| with MuldoOn aud Dan Murphy. The bill
| of fare was chicken broth. stewed chicken
! rice and watermelon. This was washed
down with glass of ale. At O'Clock the
| party again proceeded To the club rooms
| where the exercises of the morning were
repeated. with this difference, that the
rope was only skipped 645 times. instead oi
be- the last day of active training. Sunday
~..etl 4. Il