Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30
JOHN l.. SULLIVAN POOR.
How He Has Suuandered His Easily |
Gotten Wealth.

John l.. Sullivan. who for so many years
held the scerter of king over the sporting
fraternity of the world, and whose returns
TO Boston have always been welcomed by
cheering crowds and small fortunes in ad-
mission money, returned last week I'M
welcomed and with hardly enough money
in his pocket to pay for weeks lodging
in q first-class hotel.
In the height of his power, when his rep
utation as the great knockcr-out was III
d!sputable, little Pat Coakley, Boston's
famous gambler, made the prophecy that
inside oil ten years Sullivan would want
for the dollars which he was then throw
ing away SC recklessly. This prophecy
has come to pass.
There are few nIen who have had more
opportunities to accumulate a fortune than
the eN-chtmpion.
All kinds Of estimates have been made
OF Johns winnings, and the most conSer-
vative of these agree that from the day
lie met Joe Goss in Music Hall in 1880 up
to the present time he has received and
spent over half million dollars.
Has career, SO far as money making en-
t"rs into it, has been marvellous one,
ranging from nights receipts in Bos-
ton of $4,000 to Il hundred or thousand
dollars for the simple use of his name,
either as all advertising dodge or to boom
some theatrical combination.
To give some idea of the money earned
by him in his boxing contests, the following
correct, will serve this purpose:
John Donaldson. bout. $500
John Flood, prize fight. 1000
Padcy Ryan, prize light, Feb. 4, 1852 1900
Jimmy Elliott bout, July !, 1SS2 1860
Tug Wilson, sham. Observation-Disclosures. 1900
Charley Mitchell, bout................. 1900
Herbert Shade. .......-.............. 5000
Tour of the United States............. 100000
Captain Dalton. Observation-Disclosures. 5000
Dick Burns, the Michigan giant. 1000
Jack Stewart. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1900
FREQ, Robinson, at Butte City,. 1900
Alexander Marx, at Galvest on. 2WO
John Henry, at Hot Sprinss......... 1000
William Fleming, at Memphis. ....... 4GON
laos Phillips. at Nashville. ..:....... 5000
Professor Latin, at New York.. 5000
AFT Greenfield at New fork......... 400
Alf Greenfield. at Boston............. 1000
Paddy Ryan, at New York. 1900
Jack Burke, at Chicago. 5000
McCafrey, at Cincinnati. 5000
Paddy Ryan,. at San .Frsncisco...... 5000
Duncan Mcdonald, at Minneapolis. 1900
Patsy Cardiff, at Minneapolis. ...... 1000
The EEglish-Irish tour. 1881. 5000
Boston's Welcoming Home Benefit. 1000
Sporting Editor. New York lllustrat-
ed news. ---.......--.--..-.....-...-- oUU
Jake kilrain. ............................ 24OO0
In 1890 John began his career as an ac-
tor. and for a short tour with the Honest
Hearts and Willing Hands company re-
ceived 10000. In all. it is estimated that
he has received during his stage career
$4,000. After his defeat by Jim Corbett
his benefit at the Madison Square Garden
Melted him s12,oU0.
With his book, THE "reminiscences of
Nineteenth Century Gladiator" and his
other exhibitions, together with the privi-
lcges he has extended 10 cigar and liquor
men who have named their brands after
him, adds $4,000 more.
For the purposes of comparison, Johns
income for the past twelve years has been
at least S25,0oo a year. The governors
yearly salary is $1,000: the mayors yearly
salary is $4,000; President Eliot's salary
is. 5000.
And this fortune he literally threw away.
Some instances of his recklessness and
carelessress and his spendthrift methods
are told in the story of his memorable
knocking-ou. tour. 1t was his custom to
enter a bar room and lay 500 upon the
counter and order wine for the party, re-
fusing the change. If he was hilarious, he
has been known 10 recklessly dash down
pyramids of glasses or hurl champagne
bottles into elegant mirrors, and calmly
ask the cost and pay for the damages.
There have been days when he has spent
$500. and there have been weeks when
his outlay amounted to $4,000.
For the insane pleasure of burying
colored mans face In a squash pie he paid
the man $50. For the privilege of knock
ing a waitress down in Yeaton's oyster
house on Washington street, he paid S4OO.
For the brutal pastime Of kicking two Of
tending grays he paid 500. He gave his
friends carte blanche one night to drink to
his health, and they punished $1,000 worth
OF wine. Another favorite pastime was to
from dollar under. recklessly. as he pass
ed along the streets, for the mob that al
ways followed him to scramble for.
There are hundreds Of men who are in
debted to him for amounts ranging from
hundred to ten thousand dollars, which
they borrowed under a promise to pay,
who still owe him the money, and, as he
has no record of these loans, he is not
likely to ever receive a single dollar of it.
A pitiful story, crying beggar, a man,
woman or child in misfortune, could have
anything he had, even the coat that he
wore upon his back.