The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-01
ABOUT GREAT PUGILISTS.
THE FATE OF THE CHAMPIONS OF
THE FIs ITO ARENA.

H4BnIcfb h6V0 OOLuo az h2Sb W EON-
erty and Violent Deaths.
Copyright. 1922
NEW YORK. Dec. SL-''There 10 one
fighter who won't 60 broke"
Champion James J. Corbest gave utter
ancs 10 this oheery sentiment a fortnight
ago as be pooketed deed FOR large strip
of land on the choicest section of the Boule-
ward. Thirty-three thousand dollars was
the amount invested, which, taken with
! $4,000 outlAied In g pretty piece of prop
erty near Asbury Park, n. J., in October
last. represents the tidy sum the youthful
Californian has garnered since his fstic
argument With John l.. Sullivan at New
Orleans three months ago.
The expression, indicative of the cham
pions hard common sense, was drawn from
him by an observation made by Phil Dryer,
the famous turfmAn, Corbett's friend and
counselor. to the effect that fighters. no
matter what money they may have &C.
oumulsted during the period OF their earlier
success. generally due penniless.
A glance at the careers of tho great gladi-
ators Of the past proves the truth Of Mr..
Dryers assertion. Not only had the f1okle
Jade Fortune ceased to smile upon them To-
ward the termination Of LIES journey, but
their last hours were often embittered by
the desertion Of friends and patrons who
were but too willing to pay tribute to
the Drawn when the sun of success shone
upon Its effort and gold and glory followed
in Its wake.
Yes, restitution and despair have marked
the eliminating period Of most Of fighters
lives and frequently the element OF tragedy
entered into it Who does not remem Der
the sad ending of Ned O'Baldwin, the Irish
giant, the clever Titan whom Jem Mace,
the wizard Of the prize ring," was afraid
to battle for the worlds championship
OBaldwin was deliberately murdered In a
West street dive by man who had once
been his friend and the recipient Of bis
bounty-shot in the back by q coward who
dared not face him, even with a "gun" in
his hand. O'Baldwin would have been
buried Ia potter's field had not kind hearted
sportsmen subscribed to give his poor body
Christian intermeut.
YANKEE sULLIvAN's DEATH.
The fate OF Yankee Sullivan, the greatest
fighter Of his weight aud inches IN his day
and generation, is frequently recalled by
war worn veterans who followed the prize
ring q quarter OF a century or more ago.
Sullivan, whose real name was Frank
Ambrose Murray, after his successive
defeats at the hands Of Tom Hyer and John
Morrissey. sought to mend his fortune In
that section where Horace Greeley in later
years said "the star of empire" lay. He
migrated to California toward the waning
days Of the gold fever. The famous
vigilance committee of San Francisco was
then In existence and ruled the embryo
municipality with an iron hand. Yankee"
being fighter was arrested as a suspicious
character and hurled into prison. A few
nights after his incarceration he was muir
dered in his cell while resisting with might
and main the fate his eaptors had sndeav-
ored to mete out TO him. Sullivan had been
suspected of an alliance with a 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 few Of the
present, are familiar how Bill Poole the
"king Of rough and tumble fighters, met his
fate. Poole and Tom Hyer were recognized
as the leaders Of the American or know
nothing faction which dominated New
York from 1850 20 1885, and were unrelent-
ing in their opposition TO the influx upon
American soil Of foreigners, whose political
power they had begun to dread Pugilist
John Morrissey. in after years state senator,
congressman and prince of gamblers, was
the leader OF the element opposed to Poole.
A fistic battle naturally followed.
POOLE WAS TRKACHKRoUs.
The principals agreed to meet at the foot
Of Amos street dock with but one attendant
each. Morrisssy kept his word, but Poole
violated his. Morrisssy was accompanied
by his trusted friend and Lieutenant, Johnny
Lyons, while Poole had a retinue Of 300 fol-
lowers. Morrissey was fearfully puu-
meled by the mob and barely escaped with
his life. This was on the morning OF July
"a, 1854. The friends of Morrissey swore
vengeance. The opportunity came on the
night OF Feb. "a, 1855. Pools was standing
at the bar of the Stanwix hall. No. $40
Broadway, when "Lew" Baker, "Pangenen
Mclaughlin, Jim Turner. Charley Van
Pelt, Cornelius Lyon and John Hyler en-
tered 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 pugiiists who have met
with an untimely end were John p. Glow,
champion OF che northwest" who was
shot through the heart In a barroom row
by Officer 4. G. Marshal at Denver, Col.
on Dec o. 1890, and George Fulliames, ex-
light weight champion OF America, who
was murdered few years ago at the ring
side In Manitoba while battling with an
unknown pugilist. Fulljames was winniu q
easily. when gambler who had backed the
unknown Drained him with mallet. The
Manitoba authorities never investigated the
affair.
APT TO BE sPENDTHRIFTs.
/ started out with tho proposition that
few pugilists, no matter what wealth they
may have accumulated in the days OF their
youth and flstic supremacy, ever have
enough Of this worlds goods to render com
Portable their declining years. John Nor
rissey of America and John Gully Of Eng
land were probably the most famous pugi-
lists of their bime and In after years ac-
quired wealth and legislative honors Gully
became q member OF the English parlia-
ment and won a fortune on the turf and In
speculative enterprises. He lost che greater
part OF his gains. however, in the latter
part OF his life, and was constantly haunted
with the fear that he would ''die in the
work house, He was saved that untoward
fate, and patrons of sport were highly graft
fed in consequence.
John Morrlssey ''picked up" 10 use a
sporting phrase, more money than any
gladiator who ever lived, not even except
ing the renown John l.. Sullivan of Boston.
Yet be died without q solitary silver dollar
10 glisten before bis expiring eyes. After
his defeat OF Heenan and retirement from
tho ring Morrissey opened up a gambling
house on Broadway and money literally
poured In on him. He won the friendship
and good will Of the late Commodore VAN
derbilt, aud the gruff old Gnancier let him
Into many good thing" Morrissey
tsvyadDad ineOn tina famous HarIaxo oo.o..