Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-23


Of tho world. James 7 Corbett. The Cali
fornian will make good his boast delivered
Immediately after his cofS uest of Sulll-
van "Ihere's one fighter who'll never go
broke" Not he The man from the
"slopo" is too cautious and thrifty to ex-
pend penny unnecessarily. He Is the nus
sell Sage Of pugilism. In this regard he Is
the direct antithesis of his predecessor,
John L. Sullivan, who was fistlc Coal
Oil Johnny. The Bostonian literally
"burncd" his money. The Californian
guards his as previously as Shylock did his
trea sure casket.
1t is n sad truth that the greatest or nst-
ic heroes go to their last resting place bro
ken in heart, health and purse. John Nor
risscv. once champion of America, maze
81. 900, 900 or more in gambling and specu-
latlan and even became a state senator
and a congressman from New York. Yet
he died without a dollar. His wife, who
once rcveed in riches, is now working in
II collar factory in Troy. His great rival,
John c. Heenan, spent his last days IN
Colorado pensioner upon the bounty OF
his friends. His wife, the beautiful Adah
Isaacs Menken, the original Mazeppa, was
buried in the potter's field in Paris, where
she was once the favorite of aa emperor.
Fate has been almost equally unklnd
with all the renowned champions of both
England and America. Tom Sayers, Bill
Perry, the Upton Slasher; Jack Langhain,
Aaron Jones and Joe GOSS of England,
and Tom Hyer, Mike McCoole, ZOO Coburn
and Johnny DWyer of America all died
without even tn pence to close their eyellds.
Tom King champion of England 30 years
ago, who obtained a questionable victory
over John C. Heenan soon after the latter's
battle with Sayers, like our own John
Morrissey, accumulated Il fortune on the
turf and was presumed to have died
wealthy a fey years ago. Upon rigid
investigation, however, it was discovered
that but d shadow of his cnce magnificent
substance remained.
OF course the life partners of these cele-
brated champions were left in destitute
circumstances and had a hard struggle.
The one luminous exception is that of the
widow of the American champion, John
]. Dwyer. She is now the wife of Richard
X. Fox millionaire several times over,
and is able to spend several months OF the
year in Europe.
Fighting is poor business from flnan-
cial point Of view. This may sound strange
in view of the munificent purses which
great athletic clubs offer, but it is never
thelcss true. In the first place, as the old
love ditty has it, there's only room for
one" But one man can win the need OF
victory. The conquered mans lot is
mass of bruises, a broken spirit and a loss
of friends. The woodland especially the
sporting worid-has no use for u loser,
The only two exceptions I have ever known
to this rule are those of John l.. Sullivan
and Jack Dempsey. But it is their mag
netic personality, their magnificent man
hood, their splendid qualities of head and
heart quite as much as their fistic proves
that keeps them enshrinod in the affections
of the sporting public.
1t must be remembered that only cham
piors in their respective classes can com
mand big purses. Those next to them, "
the men who have given the champions
the battle of their lives, must be content
to fight fer one-tenth of the sum cham
pion would look at. They must be salts
fed with occupying stall in some mana
gers stable"
And the manager. All, there's the pu
gilistic rub! No fighter seems to be able tc
get along without him. He is usually Il
clever, brainy fellow, suave, courteous to
degree and as glib of tongue as "a Wall
street promoter. He is the man who car
ranges" matches for his principal at the
various athletic clubs and fixes matters
with the authorities if menaced by blue
coat interference. For the cerebral or dip
lomatic work thus performed the manager
declares himself in'' for half of his prin-
cipals purse, whether that purse be the
winners or the losers end. The only ex
ception know to this rule is that of the
present champion, James j. Corbett, who
''splits" with no manager He takes every