The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-03

reason Of some fstic performances which
they thought possessed o slight bit of
merit, notably the defeat of kilrain at New
Orleans the year following his battle with
Sullivan, the ''big fellow" began to speak
in the most disparaging terms OF my ablE
ity and courage. This, too, of a man he
had meyer seen and could consequently
fo,m no estimate of his qualities of head
and heart.
Next he declared in Boston that he could
knock me out in four rounds That caused
me to speak for the first IN | gave an
exhibition in Brooklyn about this period
and offered the mighty man from Boston
the entire gate receipts if he could make
good his words. He did not see tit to &C
cept, and Dominick McCaffrey, the man
who stood Sullivan off for seven rounds at
Cincinnati in 1885, took his place, with
what results the public are familiar. !
stood all Of Sullivan's '.roastinRs" without
because I knew that he had his hands full
in this line with ''bombastic sprinters'
from abroad. and, second. because he was
the first American who attained the proud
eminence of being the worlds champion.
I wanted no interchange of journalistic
''courtesies'' with my countrymen. what
| ever I might do with foreigners.
All this, / thought, was past and forgot
| ten when | met Sullivan out west and after
! ward spared with him at my benefit IN San
| Francisco. just prior to his departure for
Australia. Atthat time the "big fellow
was in poor condition, weighing something
| like go pounds. and | had been requested
by his manager to .play light as .'Sully
could not box for keeps just then. In fact,
Sullivan was in such bad form that it was
determined by those nearest him to have
US box in dress suits instead of ring cos
tune SO as to conceal his obesity from the
eyes of the public. We boxed and | kept
my agreement. ssplayed light Judge
of my amazement and indignation then
when Sullivan announced Immediately
after. rs he also did a few days ago, that |
had asked him to "let up on me. That
abatement is false and he knows it. | never
have challenged Sullivan, nor never would
have challenged him, because, as | said be-
fore, he was an American and held she
proud title of worlds CHAMPION" | was
cunning for foreigners who schemed to pull
him down from hia high pedestal by
spiking, fouling,5 and other tricks
peculiar to British sprinters. | will say
this, however, that it has always been the
dearest wish of my heart to meet Sullivan.
While | never gave expression to the con-
%viction, as I did not wish to be put down
as a boaster, it has always been my earnest
belief that / could defeat john l.. / was
convinced of it after our san francisco
meeting. ] could hit him when and where
I pleased, and stop or evade his fierce
PUSHES. Hu6n6rB nave pe0n whipped DeIOre,
and | am confident John l.. Sullivan can be.
Inquiring friends have asked what | shall
do in the event of defeat at the hands of the
great Bostonian. TO that l will simply gay
this: II did not 20 INTO the fighting bust
ness for the mere love of the sport, but tc
get what gold and glory | could out of it.
determined as soon as possible to reach tht
top of the ladder, if it lay In me, and ther
retire. If Sullivan whips me my occuption
like Othello's, will be- gone. will seel
other fields"
If l win | will be prepared to defend thu
title of worlds champion against Slayin
Mitchell, jackson, Goddard or any aspir
ant who may have an ambition. properl,
fortified by the necessary coin to bacl
it up.
Here it may be asked If / am not stultify
ing myself by declaring in one breath tina
/ never meant to challenge Sullivan and il
the next stating that | always meant t.
strive for the worlds championship. No
| would not challenge Sullivan, for the rea
sons stated above, and, further, because h
had announced his retirement from tn
ring to Slavin at st. Louis. There wer
other neutrality-suspicious. could fgh
for that title. / would not fight Sulliva
unless he challenged me. ! am now gln
= that it has come to this issue. / prompt
4 accepted his challenge ana covered hi
n money when he classed me with that bon
y bastic Splinter" Charles Mitchell. and tbs
n 'Austtalian ~windbag," Francis P. SlaviI
He had no right to do that. | never mad
any bluffs at him like the foreigners. nor {
anybody else. Moreover, | have nlwaJ
made good my promises and have invaria
y bly, been in the ring at the specified tim