Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-23
MRS. JOHN C. KEENAN,.
Sara Stevens Tells the Story of Her Court
ship with the Prize Fighter.

Sara Stevens Tells the Story Of Her Court
ship with the Prize Fighter.
The other afternoon a reporter found, at
her rooms ON Market street, the widow Of
John c. Heenan. She is known as Mrs Sara
Stevens, having resumed her maiden name
while playing In the Grismer-Davis company,
with which combination she has been travel
ing.
When approached on the subject of her
marriage with Mr.. Heenan, she said:
II was a mere girl, playing at Laura
Keene's Theatre in New York, when l was
sold that Mr.. Heenan came often TO the thea
ire to see me on the stage. The idea seemed
ridiculous, as was 50 slight and small, and
not playing parts where showed to much
advantage. One night he occupied a box,
and the papers were publishing his challenge
70 the world
Il disliked everything connected with the
ring, and thought that all those people ought
90 be in the war where there was real fight
ing. told the manager | was going 10 get
of a joke at Heenan's expense, and he for
babe me, as he said Heenan was a good patron
of the place, and people often came to see
him in the audience | couldn't help doing
it, however, and was able to do so without
changing a word in my part. When came
TO the line which read An able-bodied men
ought to fight for their country rendered
it this way: All able-bodied men ought to
fght-then turning TO Heenan's box, and
walking over toward it, l continued in a
louder tone-for their country
The effect was instantaneous on the audi
ence, and great shout went up and general
handclapping. Heenan put his hand to his
face and burst out laughing, and when the
audience ceased to applaud he clapped his
hands approvingly and this started another
outburst, and even the manager, who threat
ened to discharge me If guyed Heenan, /
saw laughing behind the scenes. Ii was a
play called The Seven Sisters a burlesque.
Next day a lady in the company, whose
husband knew Heenan, tod me that Heenan
desired an introduction, declined, as had
horror Of fighters but the request was re-
Moved, and sent back that when be gave up
gambling and prize fighting would be glad
to meet him. | supposed nothing would come
of this, but next day received marked
copy OF Wilkes Spirit OF the Times, in which
the announcement was made that Heenan
had withdrawn his challenge to the world,
and had also sold out his interest in a gam
bling saloon in New York
Il was quite astonished, and being vet a
girl, was also pleased, for it flattered nv
vanity that while the whole country was
wondering why Heenan had withdrawn his
challenge to the world | alone knew the real
cause. He was presented to me that after
noon, and was surprised to meet a man 50
gentle and manly, and after admiring him a
week or two / fell hopelessly in love and Sc
cretly married him, for my parents opposed
the match. An odd selection this giant made
for n wife-l only weighed ITO pounds at the
time. IL seemed queer that he should have
ever admired me-
There was look in the woman's ewes, how
ever. that did not make the matter seem SC
strange after all.-San Francisco Examiner