Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-03
SULLIVAN THE STAR.
PuEilists Boost the Drnma-Hanlon's Fam
tnsma-Hilariiy Indeed.

'The Paymsster" military comedy drama,
which has been seen in Pittsburg before. was
presented at the Bijou Thearer last night The
house was crowded, the upper part 20 an extra
ordinary degree The drama did not attract
the great audience, neither did the actors;
it is safe to say that seven out OF ten
went to see 'the champion of champions"
John Lawrence Sullivan, engage in a friendly
bout with Joe Lannon. In passing it may be
said that 'The Paymaster' is fairly interest
ing drama, to render which Mr.. Duncan b.
Harrison and his company are entirely eompe-
tent. The course of the play was impatlently
followed by the audience, although consider
able applause was lavished upon Mr.. Harrison
and Messrs Reynolds and Miles in their Irish
specialties.
When the curtain rose again upon a garden
set after the fourth act. wave of enthusiasm
passed over the audience, and shouts OF "Suiil-
van." sullivan" and cat-calls came from the
gallery Handsome John Barnett, master OF
ceremonies, between cheers managed to intro
duce first Mr.. Joe Lannon, and then the redoubt-
able Boston boy, champion of champions John
L.. Sullivan Joe Iannon, big and smiling, re-
ceived warm reception. but when Sullivan
stepped from the wings the l,I6O men and boys
who had paid to get into the gallery rose as one
person and yelled till the sunlight in the roof
shook. The dress circle and the parquet added
vigorous clapping and from one OF the boxes
came came the cry Speech Speech" which the
gods repeated with emphasis.
Sullivan, dressed in swallow tail, low cut
vest, spotless linen, and rather tight doeskin
trousers, stood in the center of the stage, bow
ing slowly and knawing his mustache. His ad-
vance to the footlIghts was the sgnalfor a Sec
ond cyclone in the gallery. When the throats
grew tired Sullivan passed his hand over his
mouth, gave jerky nod by way of extra reeog
milton OF the applause and said: ladies and
gentlemenp'-then there was more shouting and
stamping of feet. Ladies and gentlemen" :" he
went on, Il thank you for your kind reception.
hope to merit your appreciation in the future
as In the past" A burst of applause followed
this eloquent effort, and an enthusiast with a
calliope voice beloved: Honest JohnP' and
SO the applause went on till Joe Lannon came
out, shook hands with Sullivan, and at the
referees word the two pugilists, with big box
ing gloves on their hands, began banging away
at each other
The work was very pretty and to the point
There was no sparring for effect; it was ex-
change heavy ana hot Of right and left all the
time. Some of Sullivan's blows made Joe
Lannon stagger, and it was plain that he had
not bit too much to spare in the way of weight
when Sullivan pressed him. The most inter-
esting feature of the three rounds was the
extraordinary agility and quickness of
the champion heavyweight in avoiding
Lannon's blows. Sullivan's grinning face was
continually coming out at unexpected places a
little wide of Lannon's left. The exhibition
was decidedly artistic. The good humor Of
the big fellow" won him renewed applause
and at the finish, when he offered his face un-
guarded to Lannon to pummel, the house broke
into cheers Both pugilists puffed like
grampuses at the wind-up. A floral horseshoe
was presented to Sullivan and the curtain fell.