The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-30
Both Described as Being Fit to Make the Fight
of Their Lives, Although John L. Has
Too Much Flesh on His Stomach.
The "Big Fellow" Greeted by Hosts Of
Friends on His Arrival, and at Night.
His Coming Opponent in the Battle for the
Championship Also Well Receved-Ths
Californian Active as q Cat
THE GOD OF THE SPORTS"

John L. Sullivan Gwen an Ovation by HI.
worshipers at New York.
NEW YORK. Aug. 29.-If ever a man re-
ceived hearty welcome it was John l.
Sullivan. when he arrived st the Flafbush-
avenue depot Of the Long Island railroad.
fresh from his training quarters at Canoe
Place Inn, near Good Ground. IL wae
Johns first appearance In this city since he
went down to the lower end of the island
to 60 into training for his great battle with
James j. Corbett for the championship of
the world. and the crowd were
anxious to see what the big fellow
really looked like after his long
siege of training The train was o hall
hour late. but that cut no figure with the
enthusiasts, as the crowd kept swelling in
number until it took q platoon of police
men 70 keep free passage. so that the aver
age person could pass through the crowd
Indian file. Every available place for
view of the great champion was occupied.
eyen to the lamp-posts and supports of the
elevated railroad. A happy thought struck
some of the longheaded men In the crowd,
and they gave up cents for a grand-stand
position BY paying their fare on the Fifth.
avenue eleva ated road and remaining on the
platform to get glimpse of Sullivan when
he arrived.
The big fellow came at last, even though
IL was suspected that he had left the train
at some other point. To avoid the crowd.
Sullivan was hurried through q private
exit into the main depot. and up the stairs
toward the elevated station. As he wens
through the passage he was followed by
the admiiipg crowd, who cheered him to
the echo. When he got around to the
shot down on the street and started for his
carriage, which was only reached through
the assistance of two mounted policemen,
who had to ride through the crowd and dis
corted him TO the hack. There
must have been fully q thousand persons
present. The carriage was driven rapidly
TO Phil Casey's hand ball court, but Sulli-
the crowd began to gather and in half
hours time there were five hundred people
gathered in and around the place. Sulli-
van was taken up to private room where
he refused TO see any of his friends. bars
Der was called in and the big fellow was
sitting on q chair in the middle of the hooI
getting shaved when the reporter called on
him. His skin was clear and healthy look
with the exception of his stomach. which
looked trifie large and soft.
SCENES AT THE RISK.
It was great, seething. bowling crowd
. that crushed its way into the Clermont-
avenue rink In Brooklyn tonight to wit
ness the reception rendered John L. SullI-
van. AS early as o'clock there was q
large gathering at the rink's door. The
small boy was ont in force; b ad been there.
in fact. ever since school was let out
L., L. n. sol a. ~
gan to deposit their burdens at the corner.
At 7:S0 o'clock the string of pedestrians
was unbroken. They came three and four
abreast for q while, and then
of '' the % police officers bobbed up
every where, and there was the best of or.
der. The elite of the sporting fraternity
was there to see what Sullsyan looked like
after his eight weeks of training and to get
an idea of what the man was who would
carry their hopes and their dollars at New
Orleans. Charlie johnson. who has allied
his hopes to Sullivan's prowess for so many
the throng. He was smiling and happy.
HIS looks were those of a man who 10 look.
ing earnestly forward to success In the
center of the immense rink was pitched the
it the multitude surged. There was
an unbroken sea of faces stretching
from the ring away back TO the walls and
upon the galleries. 1t was. of course, Q
lowed Sullivan through his fighting career,
and many had seen him win his greatest
victories He Is their one star In theif
heaven OF pugilism. and they delight to
gaze on HIM.
There were half dozen bouts at the be-
ginning in which some local fRhterl
showed themselves. Shortly before 10
O'Clock the man of the evening appeared,
and walked towards the ring, there wal
pandemonium. Jack Ashton followed
the champion. A great floral harp. on
which was inscribed John l.. Sullivan.
into the ring, and as Sullivan turned and
bowed to the audience the bowling grew
louder. There were cries of Speech" and
then the big fellow said Il thank You for
believe L have the good will of all the peo-
pie hero this evening, on my last appear:
ance before my fist fight. That fight will
decide whether am the John L. Sullivan
of old or the John L. Sullivan who has
passed by. Lam not going to speak dis
paragingly of Mr.. Corbett All will say
is that IAm most glad TO appear here. have
never deceived you once. but let byeonet
be bygones. | am going to stop speaking
the 7th of September" Sullivan's words
were punctuated by the widest yelling
There were shouts for Phil Casey and that
modest gentleman was dragged into the
ring. There appeared TO he good deal OF
flesh on Sullivan as he sat In his corner.
His eyes were bright and flashing and his
face was hardened and tanned. His
shoulders are in SPLENDID condition and
his muscles show exceiiently. There ap-
peared, however to be lots of fat over his
stomach and on his back. It Is very
strange if he does not weigh in the
vicinity of 220 pounds He per-
spired very freely when he spared
three rounds With Jack Ashton. but
showed the agility of a CO. as he went
around the ring. His actions were like
lightning. He wore . confident. hardened
air that could not be mistaken. He went
at Ashton very hard. tapping him ct short
intervals. twice with the left and once
with the right Although he only touched
his companion On the neck and shoulders
he had him very tired at the end of each
round. IL was remarked that Sullivan
puffed o goo d deal after the finish of the
rounds The wrinkle of fat over nis
waistband heaved in and out TO no small
degree. Still his admirers feel that he 10
in prime condition. His flesh Is we'll col.
ored and his striking force Is as marvellous
as ever. His legs are in the best of form.