Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-19
HE FIGHTS SULLIVAN
A NEGRO DEFENDS HIMSELF WITH A
CHAIR AND coFFEE-PoT.
The Champion Wants Pepper and Got,
Something Else Hot from the Walter,
who FIaes TO the Roof

1ubIt IL OIt IulI III ANANhAANAN w. ~---
boast Of the proud distinction OF having
met John Lawrence Sullivan in combat.
The meeting was not, however, volun-
tary as tar as the champions opponent was
concerned. though it ia a fact that as far as
the fight went the champion got the worst
Of Il, his adversary discreetly seeking
safety In fight.
The big bean-eater was on his mettle
during the greater part Of his stay in vir-
ginia's capital, and up to Tuesday evening
bis behavior had been faultless. After
the farewell performance Of Honest
Hearts and Willing Hands at the Academy
that night John went out with the boys
and saw something of the town.
As q natural result he was fully conscious
Yesterday morning that he had quite a
considerable head on him. In fact he
must have felt as ugly as Tug OBrien
looked in the play.
SAUCE AND SASS.
II was about o'clock yesterday morn
ing when Sullivan. Duncan b. Harrison,
his partner, BIr. Barnett, their manager,
and Miss Nelson. also of the Honest Hearts
Company, were taking breakfast IN the
ladies' dining-room at Murphy's Hotel.
The party we're engaged in this agreeable
morning task with all the seriousness 1t
demanded, when the champion made 1t
known that he wanted some pepper-sauce,
OF which condiment he is extremely fond.
Calling TO "Jeems" Fry, the negro waiter,
who was supplying his wants, the Bos-
tonlan asked him for the, red pepper. Fry
picked cut the article called for and set II
in front of the big boy.
Again Sullivan called for red pepper and
Fry lifted 1t an inch or 80 from the table
TO show that it was there. Fry then LETT
the room.
Once more the champion roared for the
pepper and announced that he wanted 1t
hot and he wanted 1t quick.
MILLER WAS IN IT.
William Miller, another negro waiter,
came up and told Mr.. Sullivan that the red
pepper was standing by his plate. MIR.
Barnett explained that 1t was pepper-sauce
not red pepper that the eater wanted, and
Miller at once procured the merry article.
AS he handed il TO Mr.. Barnett, Miller ex-
planned to him that Fry was not to blame
for failing to bring Sullivan the sauce, as
he had distinctly called for pepper.
At this iuncture Sullivan interposed and
wanted to know what the "sheol" Miller
had to do with it.
The waiter responded that he was sim
ply telling why the guest had not gotten
what he wished.
AT LulS lue IlPptu Oub NhNNASA
oath.
NO SWEARING ALLOWED.
Miller told him that the apartment in
which they were breakfasting was the
ladies' dining-room, and that Colonel Muir
phy did not allow that kind of talk In
there.
Then Sullivan with significant emphasis
inquired of the negro if he knew TO whom
he was speaking. Miller intimated, that
while the physiognomy OF his tistlc high
ness was perfectly familiar TO him he was
not overawed thereby.
Sullivan made break at Miller. who
eluded him. The champion essayed an-
other pass, which the negro also lodged.
BY this time Miller had gotten behind
the table and against the wall in his efforts
to get out of the wrothy pugilist's path.
Finding he could not escape, Miller drew
back the coffee-pot he had In his hand and
let drive at the big Bostonian, the vessel
and contents striking him in the chest.
Realizing that he had not a second to
lose the waiter grabbed chair, and fol-
lowing up his temporary advantage
struck-yes, actually struck-John Law
renee Sullivan two blows with it. In Sc
cond the prize-fghter had wrested the
weapon from the hand of his assailant, and
was nearly blind with rage and steam from
the coffee.
GONE UP HIGHER.
But the negro. where was he?
Up on the roof of the hotel, TO which
place he had discreetly fed. This point Is
not accessible except to the initiated, and
John L. had no idea as TO the whereabouts
of his prey.
Sullivan fumed and roared and searched
all through the Office and saloon for the
missing man, swearing that if found he
would make "good Niger" of him..
But Miller was safe on the cupola, from
which he patiently awaited the leaving of
Sullivan and his friends. He watched them
depart from the hotel, and when the train
had left he heaved sigh of relief and re:
turned to terra tiy7nd, a queer mixture of
fear and pride.
NOT A HEAVYWEIGHT.
Miller is lightweight as compared with
the champion, the former weighing 100
pounds as against the latter's 249 avoirdu-
pois.
There were numerous spectators OF the
fray, all of whom recognized in coffee-pot
and chair an equal match for muscle and
skill. They saw that each person was able
to take good care of himself, and conse-
quently there was no excitement.
Sullivan Tells Different story.
The Norfolk correspondent of the Dispatch
was instructed yesterday afternoon to see
Mr.. Sullivan and get his version ofthe diff
Guilty with the waiter at Murphy's. After an
interview with the pugilistic actor the
following was telegraphed:
After the performance at the Academy
of Music tonight the Dispatch correspond
ent interviewed John L. Sullivan inregard
TO his difficulty with the waiter at Muir
phys Hotel in Richmond this morning.
He said the negro took advantage of his
familiarity with him and cursed him. FL
nally, when he attempted TO chastise the
darky for his impertinence, the latter
threw pot filed with coffee at him and
the hot coffee went over his clothing. He
endeavored to get at the negro, but he
took refuge III fight and concealed him
self.
HE IS INDIGNANT.
Mr.. Sullivan spoke very Indignantly
about the matter, and he would undoubt-
he could have gotten at him. He consider
ed himself grossly insulted. He said several
of his company were in the dining-room,
and blamed the negro for his offensive be-
havior. When the waiter raised the chair
to strike him, Sullivan caught 1t firmly in
his hand and was not hurt.
NOT so PRoRANK.
AS regards his profanity in the dining
room he thinks that Greatly exaggerated.
The affair, he said, was nothing to be Sc
rious about. Any man would have acted
similarly,
RIcHMoNo's cANNoNEERs.
They VIII Attend the Second Baptist