The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-09
BETS on THE BIG FRAY.
SULLIVAN BAD THE GALL IN sA-
VANN All BY HEAVY ODDS.


The RichburR Fight Recalls the Kelly
White Mill at the Hermitage in 1858
Savannah Was Not Much ola Prize
Fighting Town Then, and the Author
tiles Set Down on the Pugiists-The
Boston Slugger's Friends Celebrate
His Victory over Kilrain.
1t is time now to settle bets on the big
fight
The Sullivan-Kilrain mill was the all
absorbing topic yesterday, and excited
crowds stood in front of the MORNING
News building all day and extracted all
the comfort they could from the bulletins.
When it was finally settled that
Sullivan had bested his man, the news
spread like wIldfre, but hundreds, who had
heard the news from others, wanted to
make assurance doubly sure before settling
up their bets, and visited the MORNING
NEWS office, and did not go away satisfied
until they had read the latest bulletin them
selves The crowds continued to arrive
until long after dark, blocking up the side
walk in front Of the building, and talking
of the fight as they went away.
Sullivan had the call here, and, being
general favorite, the earlier bulletins were
depressing to the crowd and to those who
had heavy odds on him, but after the result
was known the friends Of the champion
were cheerful. The Kerry COWS nave
shorter horns nor the cows Of any other
country" said an admirer of the Kerry
county pugilist.
CELEBRATING SULLIvAN's VICTORY.
On South Broad street the victory of
Sullivan was celebrated by a crowd Of
rollcking young Irishmen, bydressing up
a monster wooden Indian to represent John
i. The figure was wrapped in an Irish flag
aud broom was held in the right hand Of
the big Indian, IMPLYING that he
had swept the pugilistic ring clean OF all
would-be champions. The Indian was
trundled about on rollers to all the sample
rooms and exhibited in triumph.
II would do no injustice 10 say that
some of the refreshments, which it is alleged
John L. INDUCES in, were taken by those
who celebrated his supremacy as the worlds
champion slugger, aud they drank deeply
10 his future triumphs.
THE HERMITAGE FIGHT IN 1858.
The Richburg mill recalls the last prize
fight which occurred in this part OF the
state, between Darby Kelly, a north Of
Ireland man, who came to Savannah from
New York after going to pieces there,
where he kept sailors clearinghouse and
saloon, and bartender on the
Bay by the name Of White, who came to
Savannah from Baltimore. The mill was
fought at the Hermitage, and came off in
the fall OF 1858, for 800 side. White was
a delicate fellow, weighing about AS
pounds, but was scientific hitter,
while Kelly pulled the beam
his man after ten or twelve rounds, as
opinions do not agree among those who re-
vived the incident yesterday. Kelly was
arrested, and Mayor Z. G.. Anderson fined
him 500 and gave him twenty-four hours
to leave town. White left the city before
lie could be apprehended, going back to
Baltimore Since then nothing has been
heard from him.
DIED IN THE ToMBs.
Darby Kelly returned to New York,
and few years after while in the tombs,
having been run in for drunkenness, died
Of delirium tremeus. Kelly, before he left
New York for Savannah, was the prosper
GUS proprietor of a saloon, and backed Ker-
rigan for 81 900 in his fight with
the Englishman Morris, and as Darby was
then worth big money, he let Kerrigan keep
the 81, 600 and all winnings. Kelly couldn't
stand prosperity, and his money slipped
through his fingers. When he landed at
Savannah he was a sailor before the mast
and came ashore and became runner for a
sailor boarding house on the Bay.
The town was too small for two pugilists,
and the fight at the Hermitage was the re-
suit. Steamboats, carried up crowds, some
rowed up in small boats, and others drove
up. About 500 people witnessed the fight,
and considerable money changed hands.
The public sentiment was against prize
fighting, however, and the action of the
mayor was not encouraging to the sport, so
that no effort has ever been made to bring
any of the heavy hitters to this section,
although an old sporting man said yester-
day that Daufuski Island would be a
pugilist's paradise. and battle could be
fought and the principals get off without
danger of arrest
Sullivan was here three or four years ago
and gave an exhibition at the theater.
That is the only acquaintance Savannah
has with him except through the illustrated
sporting papers.