The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-15
JACKSON ESTIMATED
AS a Pugilist by the Champion,
John L. Sullivan.
A FATAL SPARRING EXHIBITION.
A scheme to Kidnap Ex-senator Tabor-The
Conspiracy Against Old Hutch-Benson,
the FOrger, Convicted.

Especial to THE HERALD-Examlner Dispatch. :
NEW YORK, Feb. IA have just inter
viewed John L. Sullivan. The ''big un'' is
not over fond of talking to newspaper men.
1t is true the New York dailies abound in
alleged interviews with the great heavy
weight, but these, the Examiner correspond
ent has discovered, are usually inspired
from the box office, so to speak, John L. IS
management. Last night the fighter I'M
bosomed himself very freely, and his re-
marks have the merit, exceptional in his
case, of authenticity and point The En-
aatfler being anxious to obtain an expert
opinion from the champion upon the merits
OF Peter jackson as a boxer and fighter, 1
especially directed Sullivan's attention to
| these points. A great many men here who
know more or less of pugilism have looked
Peter pretty thoroughly over since he re-
turned from England, and some of the
opinions which have been expressed might
not please the Australians, certainly not
Californians who take a just pride in the
dusky lighters pluck and modesty. But
New ork is essentially Sullivan CITY.
and great many of these unfavorable
caitlcisms are owing to prejudice in favor
OF the champion Curiously enough, John
Z. Sullivan himself does not entirely spare
his views on his friends. He has formed
an opinion of Peter jackson which, when
1t is remembered that the big fellow does
not, as rule, throw around compli-
ments freely, and that indeed he is some
times very hard on men he has defeated or
expects to defeat, must be considered as
very favorable to the California Athletic
clubs pet.
What do / think of Peter Jackson9,,
SAID the hero OF Richburg cycling the Er-
opinion, but L don't know whether Won
people would like it,"
MIR. Sullivan was assured that what the
Examiner wanted was any opinion really
his own
swell, will tell you lust what think of
the fellow. When people first began talk
ing about him. did not pay much attention
to him. did not give him much credit for
licking either Godfrey or McAuliffe I
read all the reports of his fighting Jem
Smith. There isn't much doubt in nv
mind that he'd have made holy show of
that sneaking cur, if he had not fouled the
black man purposely;:: and 1 don't give
jackson much credit for beating Smith. be-
cause Smith never was much of fighter
But I've seen the fellow put on gloves nv
sell" continued Mr.. Sullivan significantly.
land when | see man fight with nv own
eyes L can generally size him up. Seq,
The Examiner correspondent assured the
champion slugger that he did see
"Ehe time l am alluding to was when
jackson spared in Boston with Ashton.
ThA.J made very bad set-to according to
my idea, but that is not Jackson's fault, for
Ashton was altogether too slow for him.
Vn11 fb<,,, liz
comes to Judging these bouts 1t is not !
often that boxing exhibition amounts to |
anything, because it is the greatest luck in |
the world when two men are evenly |
matched. | had rather see two Door fight |!
ers who are evenly matched than the best
man In the world fighting with one who
isn't quite suited to him. Then there's luck
IN the rounds. They won't come Just to
suit people. All the good ticks NAV come |
at first and then towards the end the whole
thing peter out. That is" said Mr.. Sulli-
van with grin, ''if the thing is on the deal,
secure. Usually we put a little style in the
hghtlng so as to make it real interesting.
fIhen you think, Mr.. Sullivan, that YOU
did not have fair opportunity at Boston
or Judging MIR. Jackson's ability:'
"F'ion't say that neither. What say is
!, Li.,s great many fellows that saw him
box don't know how he is going to fight.
From what saw of him l think he is the
quickest man in the ring ever saw. l
never saw quite as much real science
backed up by solid good sense I mean good
sense from the fighting point of view. |
thought, too, he might have good head.
es, he must have good head; but don't
know about that You will have to wait
and see."
gathered from further conversation
with the tighter that good head with him
was term akin to genius, which, accord i
ing TO the champion, was an important fac
tor in the ring.
"But I'll tell you what after all is more
important stlll-lt is hard hitting. Jackson
hit hard, there is the whole point. l thiuk
he can box as well as I can In general
way, perhaps a shade better, but can he h1t
like pile drivers That's the business.
and that's what I'd like to know, if 1 were
betting on him. A great fighter is like a
big gun-lf he gets one good shot in. i,
doesn't matter how much popping the
other fellow does.n
With this somewhat mixed figure the in
terview concluded, with an assurance ON
the part OF hllraln's victor that he was
looking after his general health very. very
John l.. weighs three pounds less than
when he entered the ring in Richburg last |
July. He has been taking Turkish baths |
very frequently of late, and this has got A |
deal to do with reducing his weight. Every |
morning he rides in Central park on !, |
spirited horse. After lunch he takes a |
long walk, and by dinner time he has :;
ferocious appetite. In the evening he |
takes in the theatre and has become quite
a critic, after his own fashion, in the dra |
matte line. This is Sullivan's mode of liv |
ing, and he appears to enjoy himself thor |
oughly. Nothing disturbs him hardly, and |
as Z. DeWolf Hopper says, 'sIt is dollars |
to red apples'' that he would rather be John |
l., Sullivan than the Car of Russia.