Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-18
CORBETT AND SULLIVAN.
They Appear at Madison Square in a
Benefit for John L.


New York, Sept. 1.-THE benefit
gwen to John l.. Sullivan.at the Madi-
son Square Garden tonight was a great
success so far Us numbers present were
concerned. But as to the profit TO
John l.. Sullivan it may be mentioned
as another element. Fully 5000 peo-
ple paid entrance fees. There was
more than that number present, but
John L. only derived benefit from what
the box sheet showed. John had ar
ranged individually before his fight
with Corbett with the Madison
Square garden management that he
should appear at the garden on Sep
tember II, WIN or lose, with Corbett,
for half the gross receipts. Friends of
Sullivan, when they heard of Corbetts
offer 10 appear with him tried TO make
John cancel the contract, thinking that
John could draw a big house alone,
and another when Corbett would spar
with him. But Sullivan had made an
agreement and refused tC devlate from
1t. Hence the show of tonight. There
were several good preliminary bouts.
Jack Fallon, the Brooklyn strong boy"
and Tom Green, of New York, had q
90, as did Jack Skelly, the Brooklyn
amateur, who was well licked IN New
Orleans by George Dixon. When
Skelly's name was mentioned by the
master OF ceremonies, Jack was
cheered. Kid Hogan. one OF Skelly's
trainers, mad u go with Eddie Locher
of Brooklyn, another ex-amgteur, aud
then Jack McAullffe, the Light weight
champion, and Jimmy Nelson of Green
Point, l.. l., came on. McAuiitfe was
called on for speech. but Jack was
not in his normal condition and the
speech that he ought 20 have made
was lost. The crowd was delighted TO
see him Just the same. John l.. Sulll-
van, fat and tlabby, showed up next.
lie was cheered as IN the old days IN
the old garden. He stood with folded
arms for half a minute before the
great assemblage would let him say:
81 thank you for your kind recep-
ton, not as winner, but for my de
feat | have nothing 10 say but that
would cast the best Of honors on the
present champion. Ii be Will continue
IN the right path, be will hold the
championship as | have. have no
excuses for my defeat. In my opinion
a defeated man who makes excuses,
makes bg mistake IN his life"
The speech was loudly appIauded
and his friends in the box and IN the
galleries cheered him increasingly,
As the champion sat down in
bis corner whirlwInd of ap-
plause touched the ceiling and John
l.. MAS happy. Then came the cham
pIOu, James J. Corbet. There were
Wild cheers for hinl. but Sullivan had
the house. COrbctt wore white trunks
aud green stockings. Neither one could
get swsv NTH the other in the wearing
of the green. There was large sized
shout when Corbptt came forward, but
Il was not n marker - the one that
greeted sullivan. Corbett was called
upon for a speech, too. and be said
LADIES and Gentlemen II affords
me great pleasure to spar AZ John l..
Suliivan's benefit. | know 30 deserves
all that can be & wen 10 him ss chsnl-
p.ou. He hes been kind in saying be
hopes I will hold the champ.oush . a.
long "a he held 10 here the applause
broke - ioid and long that COrbett
had % cease speaking When ne re-
sumed be added, II VII try 20 hold Z
anyhow" CoFbetts speech made
more friends for him than he had ever
known ri New York TIE house stool
NO and Yelled. "Corbett. Corbet. you
ars brcs "A the crowd left the
building everybody bad q good word "a
sav for the Young Californian.