The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-28
THE TRAINING OF SULLIVAN
Interesting and Authentic Account by
A. I. Lumley, a Sullivan Backer.
How the Quietness of the Country Affected
misunderstanding Physical Wreck
Into Marvel of Animal Strength.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal

deal written about the way John l.. Sulh-
van was trained by Muldoon. very few of
the statements in regard to the matter have
approached the truth This was not from
any fault of the newspaper writer's, but
rather from the want of opportunity to get
at the full and correct facts OF the case.
1t may be said, at the outset, that the
most remarkable thing in connection with
the latest and greatest fight in the annals
of the .prize-ring, was not the fact that
Sullivan won flor that was expectedl. but
that, thanks to William Muldoon. his
trainer, he had been put in such physical
condition that he was able to win.
Muldoon had never before trained man
for a prize-fght; he made no professions
that he was gifted in that direction, but he
was great believer in and great admirer
of John L. Sullivan. He considered him,
naturally, the grandest piece of humanity
living. He wanted to see him win the bat
tie, and the thought occurred to him that if
Sullivan could be put absolutely in his
hands he could put him in proper condition.
MuldoOn, the general reader may not re-
member, was formerly, about 1876, on the
police force of New York. Soon after join
ing the force he became noted for his ath-
letic performances at the police gymnasium.
There, IN a wrestling match, he threw GAIT
ney. who was. at that time, the champion
wrestler of the department. Walling was
superintendent of police during this period,
and refused, as often as he could, to accom-
modate MuldOOn with nights Oft when he
could engage in matches. As cODSe-
quence. MuldOon resigned from the force in
1SS2 In the meantime his reputation as
wrestler had become established; he had
thrown all the leading wrestlers, including
Bibby, Cristol and Bauer. This, as / say,
was not only the first time that MuldOOn
had ever trained a man for fight. but the
first time he had ever gone into the ring,
and he says it will be the last time. He has
proved himself wonderfully cool-headed
man, with great force of character. as shown
in his influence over the champion, and q
great deal of Judgment in regard to the
the fight. 1t was by MuldOon's advice that
Sullivan adopted entirely different tactics
from those he had usually adopted, and
fought slow instead of doing what would
have pleased him better-rushed in and
knocked his man out in one or two rounds
Muldoon held him back.
In the early part of the evening when
John l.. Sullivan left for his training quar-
that 1T had become absolutely necessary
for Sullivan to be sent away to the country,
away from the crowd of people who were
continually lowering around him, and who,
of course. were not doing him any good.
johnson went at once to the Vanderbilt
Hotel, where Sullivan was stopping. found
him drinking at the bar, and asked HIM to
come up stairs to his bedroom at once.
When johnson had locked the door he said
to the champion: Are you really man
in this matter, and do you intend to fight
KilrainW Sullivan replied Yes; I'll lick
him, too" johnson responded: You are
going to work i'll fine way to do it." Sulli-
E yam was silent for moment Ss t. OF . SSurss
want me to dor Johnson answered:
Il want you to go into train
toeIn,ight.n That's rather sudden no.
tice," said Sullivan. postpone it until to-
morrow" mo, won't was JOhnson's
answer, whether you are in condition or
not you've got to go in the ring, and say
saw that his hackers meant business and
sulenly acquiesced.
At this time Sullivan was a physical
wreck. He weighed 24O pounds, his flesh
strung, he suffered from isOmnia, and a
very little eXertion tired him out. He had
but short time before recovered from a
tit of gastric fever. and had constantly
nagian manner. He ate very largely of
very rich food, and drank wine, beer,
whisky, gin. ale, Unfortunately during
the day and night; he would not retire
until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning.
and rise at about noon. Such style of
living would soon break up the cOnstitu-
tiOn of the great Samson himself.
Belfast, In Allegheny county, New York,
is a small hamlet where MuldOon was born
and brought up, and where, after he left
the police force, he came to live on the old
homestead which had been bequeathed to
him. A little settlement up among the
hills, it is an exceedingly quiet place. L
can truly affirm, from personal experience,
W a there ha
is almost startled at the sound of his own
voice, while an animated conversation on
some ordinary topic will at first sound to
his ears like breach of the peace.
this furnished a striking contrast to the
gay and lively scenes with which the
champion had for a long time been
familiar. / believe that physicians affirm
dria and melancholia only comes to people
who are physically weak. Sullivan was, of
course, comparatively speaking. very
strong man. but the first two or three days
man who suffered as much from lonesome
ness, and the melancholy spirit that is born
of that feeling, as the great John l.. If
men suffer in this way In proportion to
their size and strength, we can well under
stand how the champion felt. He confessed
to me that there were moments during
those first few days when he thought,
owing to the absence of cOngenial cOmpan-
1OnShlp, he would go crazy. MuldOOn, Tor
the first two or three days, let him moon
around" the place and get used to it, that
was all, for not even his sanguinary trainer
could have supposed he would learn to love
Belfast and ultimately settle down there
as a tlller of the soil.
The first thing Sullivan did in the way of
training was to take ten grains of blue
mass; he took this dose on his journey to
Belfast MuldOon stepping off at one of the
way stations to get 1t for him. A few days
after he had been at the farm he took an
other ten grains of blue mass; this is the
only medicine he used during his training.
Although Muldoon let him roam about
alone during these first days of lonesome
ness, he kept watch of him. Muldoon
would walk with him, talk with him, try
and cheer him up. and when they got home
he would occasionally give him a drink Of
ale, and sometimes, if he thought it was
necessary. glass of spirits.
On the third day MuldOon said to Sulli-
vac: How would you like to try a little
wrestlingW The champion replied that he
would like nothing better. The fact is that
| Sullivan always thought he was quite fair
wrestler. an opinion which he was not JUS
titled in holding. Muldoon took him to his
wrestling room, an apartment fitted up in
the barn, with big padded square in the
center of the floor. Muldoon did not, on
| this occasion. wrestlc for fun" he went at
| Sullivan pretty roughly, and threw him
| violently on the floor three times inside of
| five minutes After the third fall they
stopped. 1t was somewhat comical sight
| to see John l.. walk slowly and very
thoughtfully down the narrow stair
Il H.. Il 80 h ~