The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-15

John L. Sullivan a Loathsome wreck
Utterly Unfit to Fight.
San Francisco Examiner
Wnen John Farley went East q few
weeks ago he carried in his pocket instruc-
tons from the California Athletic Club to
arrange the biggest series of matches ever
recorded in the sporting wsrld.
The gentleman in question returned two
days ago with the written instrument
which Sullivan was to have signed, and in
not signing which he has thrown away the
opportunity of making three fights within
twelve months, the aggregate purses for
which were to have been 800 600. Nor did
the gain stop there. In addition Sullivan
was to be retained as the clubs heavy-
weight professor during the interim of rest
and training at q salary equal to that paid
by Vanderbilt TO his cook.
The three men Sullivan was asked to
fight were Jackson, McAuIiffe and Siavin.
provided he did not get whipped. But the
paper was neither signed nor presented, and
the reasons are best told in the words of
the man who bore il.
when reached New York, empowered
by the California Athletic Club to sign Sui
Ivan for the three engagements, looked
him up at once" said Mr.. Farley. II
found him sitting behind the stage so
drunk that he was in no condition to be
talked to.
1T was not an ordinary drunk, but
sickening. dead, duh. beastly drunk that
made my heart sore. because must con-
fess, with every other American. that my
heart had always turned toward the man
as he idol of pugiiism.
He went over to Washington shortly
afterward and followed him there, hop:
ing that might have chance to talk bus
mess with HIM. l did not. saw him
again and his condition was the same.
went away determined to look him up no
more, for felt assured that John l.. Sulli-
van was ont of the prze-ring forever.
"His ambition is gone, his prowess is
lost and his constitution is such that
question If any man could ever train him
back to condition again.
Sullivan is in the hands of his worst
enemies, a lot of sycophants who are con-
tent to stand within the shadow of his
former fame. doing all in their power to in
crease the shades that are fast gathering
around him to his utter destruction, by
pandering TO his vanity and weakness
guiding their com sciences by the reflection
that they will hereafter be able 70 say that
they knew Sullivan.
Ill tell you the mans influence, even
today. as he slowly goes down to his newt
able ruin, is something remarkable. He is,
it is true, prize-tghter, and synony-
mously a brute, and men stand on the
street and call him such.
"A moment later he goes by the crowd
and then their expressions change. As he
passes they smile in admiration and they
say to each other, There goes John L. Sui
hyan, as If he were king.
'Even The women know him and admire
him as much as the men Go, and they turn
on the street and smile softly after his re-
ceding figure and they whisper, There
goes John L. Sullivan.
when he comes out on the stage gen.
eral hush falls upon the audience, and then
word goes around, That's Sullivanp and
they applaud him to the echo. These who
see his condition whisper pityingly to each
other that he Is not the Sullivan of old.
And he isn't. He is old and he is broken.
His hand is tremulous, and his hair is get
ting gray, and the lines of life are closing
in very rapidly around him.
do you wonder that peonle pay homage
to him! I do not He has carried the
american colors around his waist wherever
he went He has met all corners and be
has defeated them all. He stood at Chan
tiiiy and fought Mitchell and got the worst
of il through jobbery, AMI they stole his
laureIs from him, and II broke his heart
nearly. but no one heard him complain.
He has done MANY foolish things, and he
has done things that were brave ana even
noble. and so the people have worshiped
him, and they kneel at the shattered altar
in way.
did ask him if he would sign the
agreement with the club? No, did not.
knew it was useless. The old Sullivan is
dead, and the man who has his place
would be an easy game for even second
rate good man OF his weight"