The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-11


sporting men.
sulliyan's second appearance in Seattle
was in the fall of 1885, when he was tour
ing the country under the management of
Pat Sheedy. In this party were Steve
Taylor. George La Blanche, the Marine, -
and Jimmy Carroll, who was recently
beaten by Billy Myer at New Orleans. The
lighters were advertised to give an exhioi-
ton of sparring at the new Bijon theater,
on South Second street, which was.then In
It's palmiest days. Owing to police inter-
ference the show wa. never given. At
that time Judge Roger S. Greene was on
the bench of the territorial district court,
J. I. Ronald was prosecuting attorney and
Patroiman William Murphy was chief of
police. Manager Shsedy had been warned
that the show would probably De stopped,
and he went 20 Ronald and Murphy for in
structions. They took him for informa-
ton on the matter to Judge Greene. There
was then territorial law against prize
fitting, and his honor construed the law
so as to bring the proposed exhibition
within its scope. That night the Bijou was
packed, but when the boxers appeared
on the stage they were notified by the
police not TO attempt to do any sparring.
Sullivan, in response TO loud calls, came
down to the footlights and made little
speech, in which he regretted he was
unable to show the audience what he
could do with his fists and expressed his
sorrow at being unable to entertain them
with song or a dance. Sheedy an
nounced that he had been advised by
eminent legal talent that if he made a
fol iv,f ta1 nj he
but that his party were law abiding citi-
zens and furthermore could not afford to
make trip to Seattle for the purpose of a
law suit. His advisers were none other
than the firm of Mcknight & Ferry, COM
posed of James McNcught and Governor
Il. z. Ferry. Although there was $3.50
house, everybody present was heartily
satisfied with the manly course pursued
by the Sullivan party and not one asked
to have his money refunded.
Deprived of the expected treat at the
Bijou, several local followers of the ring
determined not to be beaten out of their
sport altogether and began arrangements
for mill on the quiet. which was in
tended to be for blood. Ed Smith. the
Denver pugilist, who is rated as one of the
cleverest men with his fists in the coun-
try. was in the city, and from a seat in the
gallery looked down on Sullivan and his
He made the remark that he
could whip any man in the party for 500
except the 'big 'un." This statement was
carried to Sheedy, who Immediately an
nounced bis willingness to back La Blanche
for 500. Smith had some difficulty in
raising the amount, but finally
did SO. A small party of sports,
among whom were some OF Seattle's
prominent business men, repaired to
dark basement, which was we'll hidden
from prying police officers. When the
time came for the fighters to strip, Smith
backed down, and could not be prevailed
upon to tight although Sheedy doubled
his stake and offered to bet $500 to 800.
Sheedy then proposed that Lightweight
Jimmy Carroll should fight Smith, but the
Denver man declined, and the party was
again disappointed. Jimmy Smith, pro-
prietor OF the Bijou at that time, and now
owner of the Standard, held the money on
this OCCASION
gentleman who now lives in Seattle,
tells good story of an impromptu fight
between John L. Sullivan and Pete Nc
Coy, the middle-weight, in 1884, at which
Detective E. Cudihee, of this city, figured
prominently as peace officer. He said:
In 1854, when Sullivan was in the height of
his glory and was travelling about the country
giving exhibitions. slade was with him, and
among the other pugilists who formed the CON-
bination was Pete Mccoy, the then great middle
weight McCoy's boxing partner was Mike
Gillespie.
At that time Cudihee was chief OF police of
Leadville, Col. The town contained a great
many sports. lived there then, and though
was not much OF sport l wanted to ses the big
pugilst Just us every one else did and we look ed
forward to the time of his arrival
In the city with great deal of
expectancy. So great was the interest
taken In the pugilistic combination that upon
the day Sullivan was TO arrive in Leadville the
mayor, council and many leading citizens
chartered special train and went down to
buens Vista, distance of thirty miles, to well
come him ana show their admiration by pre-
senting him with myriadsof flowers and cases of
wine. sullivan accepted the wine, threw away
the flowers and snubbed the entire Leadville
delegation from the mayor down to the car
porter. This did not keep the big man from
drawing crowd and making money, however,
The combination showed at the Grand Gem
trail thsster, which is capable of seating 1900
people, for three nights. and every night the
house was packed. The cheapest seat in the
thsater could not be had for less than 81. and
the management coined money in the town.
The third night was even more exciting than the
frst and standing room could not be had for
any price.
Each night the performance closed with 4
boxing exhibition by sullivan ard slads. Dur.
ing tho last day of his stay In town, Sullivan
drank q great deal and felt very ugly. and In
taking he growled, as no always does
han In IA
bulldog. During the closing round slsds
punched Sullivan several times pretty hard,
and before the big follow could retaliate the
master OF ceremonies called 'time," and sulli-
van went of the stage in very ugly frame of
mind
Chief Cudihee, myself, several aldermen and
Sam Martin, the Tacoma auctieneer whe WAS
then resident of Leadyille, were in the green
room, king to Pete Mccoy. Mccoy was aress
ing, having had bis bout with Gillespie Va
heard the curtain go down and the peonls
applaud, and We knew that Sullivan and
Slsde had finished their turn" and the
performance was At an end. little later wa
heard sullivan coming towards the greenroona.
growing in s savage manner He stslked int
the room, taking not the slightest notice of Us:
but, as he passed the middle weight, he gave
him vicious shove Mccoy turned around,
and in an irritatea manner said: Well, let VI
on that, sullivan
quick as lash Sullivan wheeled about and
gave Mccoy shove that sent him across ths
room into 3 corner, where he fell on his head
Mccoy regained his feet, seized heavy chair.
and made q rush at his big antagonist, who
glowered at him like wild beast.
The middle-weight brought the chair
Down on sullivsn's head, breaking
IL into hundred pieces The blew dszed sull-
van, but he quickly recovered himself AMI made
~ Mccoy, swinging and punching yioIeusly
Mccoy retTestsd around the room, lodging and
fighting like demon. Mccoy landed g RICH
swing On Sulliysn's nose, which brought the
blood. When ae saw the blood Mccoy said:
UNon big COWARD xnn can't rnaLa m snuasl >,