Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-02-15
GREAT PUoILIsrs DIE POOR
Money wou and Lost by Many Noa

Money wou and Lost by Many Noast
Fighters.
The recent purchase OF about $50.
700 worth OF real estate by Champion
Jim Corbett and the statement thai
he aspires to be the richest pugilisi
in the world, remind Us that many OF
the best lighters have come at last II
poverty and violent deaths. Few
pugiiists, no matter what wealth
they may have accumulated in the
golden days OF youth and nstic su
premacy, ever have enough Of thi:
worlds goods to render comfortable
their declining years John Nor
rissey of America, and John Gully oi
England, were probably the most IA
nous pugllists OF their time, and in
after years acquired wealth and leg
islatiye honors Gully became mem
Der of the English Parliament and
won fortune on the turf and in spec
ulative enterprises. He lost the
greater part OF his gains, however, in
the latter part or his life, and wa:
constantly haunted by the fear that
be would 'die in the workhouse.
He was saved that untoward fate, and
patrons of sport were highly gratItied
in consequence. John Morrissey
''picked up" to use asporting phrase,
more money than any gladiator who
ever lived, not excepting the re-
nowned John L. Sullivan of Boston.
Yet he died without solitary silver
dollar to glIsten before tie expiring
light OF his eyes At one time Nor
rissey was worth 81, 600, 900 and con
Quoted the greatest gambling house:
in America-one Z. No. 618 Broad
way, New York, and one at Saratoga
spa. The latter was world far1ous
as the Saratoga Club House" Hi:
wife, who once wore $500, 900 worth
Of diamonds, is now working in a Troy
collar factory aud earns about a dol
var a day.
John c. Heenan, the conqueTor ol
Gom Sayers, the champion OF En-
gland, for time rose to the crest OF
the wave, but he ultimately sank be,
meath the pillows OF poverty and de.
;pair. Sickness followed in the trail
Of poverty, and forgotten, forsaken.
and in need, Heenan died OF cousump.
tion in Colorado. BY a strange coin.
,idence his wife, the gifted but er.
ratio Adam Isaacs Menken, the most
beautiful actress of her day, died
shortly before her husband in the
most abject poverty, at Paris, France.
She was buried in Potter's Field.
Tom Hyer, Mike McCool, and Joe
COburn, all champions of America,
lied without as much as a shroud to
cover their bodies. Subscriptions
were taken up by friends to bury
them. or these two CobuTn had al
one time the most money. Million
aire George Law was his friend and
backer and gave him many thousand
dollar note, besides ''placing" him il
advantageous business spots.
The history Of the English ring 1,
eplete with even more heartbreakine
ncidents. Bill Perry, the "Tiptor
Slasher," for many years champion
of England, died in the poorhouse al
West Bromwich, Staffordshire.
Tom Sayers, PerrY's conqueror, ano
John C. Heenan's subsequent oppo-
nent died in great poverty at Cam
den town, near London. In his life
time he had squandered 500, 900. The
last SIS, 900 he possessed, a purse
given him by his admirers after hi:
battle with Heenan, he lost by invest
ing in country circus
Billy Edwards, once light weigh,
champion OF the world, had at one
time SO. 600. He made it in ''lucky
turns" in Wall street The bulk Of
it has gone back there Arthur
Chambers, Edwards great rival, al
one time could proudly point to al
ss5, 900 bank account. Now he i:
"broke." The horses got it.
OF all the active pugilists befort
the public-COTbett, Sullivan, Jack
son, Goddard, Choynski, Maher,
Mitchell, Slavin, McAuliffe, Griffin,
Dixon, Fitzsimmons, and Hall-but
three have money. These are Cor
bett, Mitchell, and Fitzsimmons
This is thrifty trio. They ''hold the
coin" They let their admirers spend
it. Every dollar these cue gentle
men capture remains prisoner.