The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-27
Sunday he Abused His Best Friends, Swore Cor
bett Didn't Knock Him Out. and Announced
He Would b Champion Again.
Then Corbett Replied in q Manner That
Was More Forcible than Elegant
Yesterday John LOADED Up" with Cocktails.
Stormed end Ragged, Wanted to Kill Jack
Ashton. and Finally SObbsd and Cried.
FIGHTING WITH WORDS.


Sullivan Filings Few at Corbett and the
Champion Fires Back Many More.
New YORK. Dec. 26-John l.. Sullivan
made statement yesterday in which be de-
ciared that Corbett never defeated HIM. He
swore by q locket which, he said. contained
lock of his mothers hair. that he had
been foully treated at New Orleans. Cor
bett did not knock him out; he knocked
HIM down and he could not rise because
his hacker of being an enemy In disguise
and says he was beaten for tho benefit of
combination of gamblers. Sullivan de-
clares that he will be champion of the
world again. and that he will fight COrbett
when his theatrical engsgements are oyer.
THIS time he will be backed by business
men; not sporting men. Sullivan was very
severe in his denunciation OF his backer
and trainer, and in regard to the latter
said that being denied q glass of ale he
craved with hts meals, he stole bottles of
lager and drank them in farmhouse.
When James Corbett. who is at Syracuse,
read the Sullivan interview given above.
he became very mad. This Is what he said
to reporter: Say for me that think 1t
very unklnd of Sullivan to try to take
away any credit which / have gained and
which am entitled to. If he thinks he
can lick me, why the devil don't he fight.
] will fight him for $4,000 q side. or as
much as he likes. next October. when our
theatrical engagements are closed. II he
hos not got the hackers / will fight him
without the backing. We will settle it for
the purse. feel sorry for the man. Send
word to Sullivan that say / can lick him
in four rounds. He Is very lucky that l
did not knock him out quicker than did.
Why. it is q fact that when l spared him
OF his benefit he sent 10 less than five men
to ask If would 60 light with him. Up to
the present time have had nothing but
kind words for him, but now must say he
is acting like big losfef and ls playing
the baby act.
''It makes me tired to read his sniveling
interviews Sullivan is now fighting with
his mouth, and that Is about all he will do.
say now. without swearing by mothers
hair. that Sullivan will never be champion
as long as / am able to walk. Pm done
saying pretty things abont him. AS far as
bis being drugged is concerned. don't be-
lieve II. But that talk is all we'll enough
TO create sympathy. Why. that man bad
SIMPLY mesmerized the people of this coun-
swes great fellow. IfIhad known he was
shade of such fllmsy stuff I'd have done
him quicker than did. Please convey my
compliments to Mr.. Sullivan, and tell him
that say am willing to fight him in Oc-
tober. | want to convince HIM once and
for ell that he is no longer champion and is
not going to be. If he wants to fight now
is the time to sign papers and mako ar
raDsements. If he does not mean to fight
then he will please shut his mouth and re-
tire 70 his proper place."
SULLIVAN LOADS UP"
Corbett's angry reply has apparently
aroused the iro of Sullivan, and In conse-
quepce the latter has been imbibing in
drink at o dizzy rate to soothe his anger all
day. The ex-chsmpion immediately after
leaving his bedroom in the Vanderbiit
Hotel late this morning, proceeded to tho
bar-room on the ground floor and made the
bartender mix HIM mp all sorts of fancy
drinks. 1t was plainly evident to the pro-
prietor Mat CluDo, that Sullivan was lay
ing foundations for another of his famous
'.jags" and ne anticipated trouble. He en-
deavored TO persuade the great modern
Hercules to desiet and return to his room,
but In every effort he was met with q
vicious rebuke. Sullivan kept drinking
until late in the afternoon, when be had ac-
compllshed his craving desire to "get good
and full.n He Was then In genuine fahtlng
humor. tHe cursed evey ono about him and
made several successful attempts In clear
irg out the place. Jack Ashton, his sparring
partner and friend. wos called in to try and
subdue the heart. broken tighter. nut his
efforts were met with curse and In quicker
himsclt scarce. as likewise did the other
occupants of the bar-room.
''i'll kill you il you como near me-" Sui
livan said In storm OF rage, and then he
began to sob and cry over his crushing de-
feat. He continued: "Corbett licked me
when | was physical wreck and the
shadow of John l.. Sullivan of SIX years
ago. | have been wronged and treated
dirty because my good nature permitted 1t.
Give me another chance. give me another
chance and Ill show tho world what can
do" Then he sank back in q chair aud
cried like a child. Finally he grew quister
ana permitted Ashton to take him mp TO
his room.
The opinion Is expressed among sporting
people here that the hacker he accused IN
yesterdays interview of druggiDg him, and
then betting on Corbett. is Jimmy Wakely,
but there is no evidence to warrant such
statement Wakely. when seen tonight
concerning Suliivan's statement. and tho
reflection it casts on his character, was
very indignant sullivan is going crazy"
said he. "for / am sure that If his mind is
not weak he would never make such awful
remarks. have been told that he men,
tions no names. but that l am the
person accused. Heaven be my Judge.
/ never injur ed that man In my life
but instead. / treated him like q brother.
Drink has been the cause of his ruin, and
nothing else. Charley Johnston and |.
during his training on Long Island.
watched him. like a mother would q child I.
to keep him away from drinking, but de.
spite our watchfulness. he STOLE beer and
sneaked it to his room. Yes. that 10 the
cause of bis defeat, and not morphine,
which he says was put in his food. His
defeat ts killing him gradually, and his
brain is beyond doubt getting weak.
had fortune on Sullivan TO whip Cerbett
ace of ruiD.ng me. | feel sorry for poor
John. but God knows was always his
friend, and always Will be-"
Charley Johnston. his other backer was
in an angry mood. tonight. over what Sui
livan had said, and refused to talk at
length on the subject He believes. too,
that sullivan is losing his mind. and fears
the future. Regarding the statements that
Sullivan. was drugged, he Gays they were
made by q man whose mind has been
wrecked by reverses and "old John Bar
Ieycorn." The opinion prevails here that
John Sullivan's queer actions foretell an
early breakdown. Sullivan appeared az
the Windsor Theater, tonight. TO crowd