The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-01


prize ring quarter of a century or more
ago. Sullivan, whose real name was
FRANK Ambrose Murray. after his success
sive defeats at the hands of Tom Hyer aad
Jonn Morrissey. sought TO mend his for
tune In that section where Horace Greeley
In later years said 'the star of empire"
lay. He migrated 10 California toward
the waning days of the gold fever. The
famous vigilance committee of San Fran
cisco was then in existence and ruled the
embryo municipality with an iron hand.
Yankee" being a fighter Was arrested as
suspicious character ana hurled into
prison. A few nights after bis incarcera-
tion he was murdered in his cell while re-
slstlng with might and main the fate his
captors had endeavored TO mete oct to
him. Sullivan had been suspected OF an
alliance with gang of burglars then
operating on the Pacific slope but no
proof of his guilt was adduced at the time
1t IS matter of history with which
many people of the past generation, but
lew OF the present, are familiar how Bill
Poole, the king of rough-and- tumb e
lighters, met his fate. Poole and Tom
Hyer were recognized as the leaders of the
American or Know Sothing'1 faction
which dominated New York from 1850 to
1880, and were unrelenting in their opposi-
tion TO the Influx upon American soil of
foreigners. whose political power they had
VI
IN after years state senator. congressman
and prince of gamblers, was the leader of
the element opposed TO Poole. A tistic
battle naturally followed.
The principals agreed to meet at the foot
, OF Amos street dock with but one attend
ant each. Morrissey kept his word, but
Poole violated his. Morrissey was accom-
panied by his trusted friend and iieuten-
ant, John Lyons, while Poole had a
retinue of 800 followers. Morrissey was
feariully pummeled by the mob and barely
escaped with his life. This was on the
morning of July p, 1854. The friends of
MorrIssey swore vengeance. The oppor-
tunlty came on the night of February q.
1855. Poole was standing at the bar of
the Stanwix Hall. No. $40 Broadway,
when Lew" Baker, "Pangene" McLauCh-
lin, Jim Turner Charley Van Pet, Cor
nelius Lyon and John Hyler entered the
place and forthwith picked a quarrel with
him. Pistols were drawn, and in the
melee which followed Poole was shot in
the left breast just below the nipple. He
fingered In great agony for nine days. His
murderers escaped punishment.
Among other pugilsts who have met
with an untImely end were John 7. Glow,
champion OF the Northwest" who was
shot through the heart in a rarroom row
by Officer L. c. Marshall at Denver, Col.
on December 8, 1850, and George Full
lea, who was murdered a few years ago at
the ringside in Manitoba while battling
with an unknown pugilist. Fulljames was
winning easily, when gambler who had
backed the unknown brained him with a
mallet. The Manitoba authorities never
investigated the affair.
l started out with the proposition that
few pugilists. no matter what wealth they
may have accumulated in the golden DAYS
of youth and tistic supremacy, ever have
enough OF this worlds goods to render
comfortable their declining years. John
Morrlssey, of America, and John Gully, of
England, were probably the most famous
pugiiists of their time, and in after years
acquired wealth and legislative honors.
Gully became member of the English
parliament and won fortune on the turf
and In speculative enterprises. He lost
the greater part of his gains, however. in
the latter part of his life, and was con-
stantiy haunted by the fear that he would
Idle in the work house, He was saved
that untoward fate, and patrons of sport
were highly gratitied IN consequence.
John Morrissey "plcked up" to use
sporting phrase, more money than any
gladiator who ever lived, not even except
ing the renowned John l.. Sullivan. of
Boston. Yet he died without q solitary
silver dollar to giisten before the expiring
light of his eyes. After his defeat of Hee-
nan ana retirement rom the ring MOTIFS
sey opened up gambling house on
Broadway, and money literally poured in
on him. He won the friendship and good
will Of the late Commodore Vanderbilt,
the gruff old tinancier let him ''into many
a good thing" Morrissey "wedged into"
the famous Harlem corner. which the
commodore engineered in 1867 and cleared
$500. 900 by that operation alone.
At one time Morrissey was worth ST.
100000, and conducted the greatest gam
bling houses in America-one at No. SIG
Broadway, New York. and one at Sara
toga Spa. The latter was world famous as
the "Saratoga Clubhouse"
After Commodore Vanderbilt's death,
however. Morrissey tried speculation on
his own account, and from that time his
process of financial disintegr&tion began.
He could not buck the Wall street tiger
with any degree of success with such arch
manipulators as the late Jay Gould, Leon
ard Jerome. Addison Cammack, Baron
Woerishoetier and others equally expert in
the field. His fortune gradually slipped
away from him, and when his estate was
settled up after his demise it was found
that the former Prince of Fistiana" had
not a nickel 10 his name. Indeed, he was
heels over head in debt. Nor does the pic
ture end here. Sad to relate, Morrissey's