The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-06-20
JOHN L. SULLIVAN.
A Recent Writer Denies That the
Boston Fellow is the Greatest
Fighter That Ever Lived.

The New York WorM recently
printed an excellent profile picture of
John l.. Sullivan in his prime, label
ing it: "The Greatest Fighter Ever
Born" 1t also gave nearly column
OF eulogy Of Bos,on's erstwhile fore
most slugger that was very amusing
to those who knew "the big fellow"
and were foremost among his friends
when the author of the article was in
knickerbockers. John Boyle O'Reilly
was true poet, and he was one of
the warmest admirers Of Sullivan's
proves that ever lived. He wrote a
description Of Sullivan's manner of as
sault that was a prose poem, beside
which the article in question is but
dishwater compared to champagne.
Almost Homeric in its descriptive
grandeur, all other tributes to Sullivan
are puerile beside it. Its author was
one of the many who thought Sullivan
would defeat Jim Corbett in jify,
and never forgave the champion for
proving him no prophet.
The WorITs rhapsodist says: "The
test of courage lies not in a mans
ability to hop around prize ring and
dodge trouble, but his willingness to
maintain under all circumstances his
right to rule creation. Sullivan, for
instance, is old and not the man he
was. But it is quite safe to assume
that he could drive Corbett or any
other fighter out of any ordinary small
room if dispute arose. Corbett and
other fighters under such circumstances
might reflect that a row would be un-
dignified or that it might damage their
faces for acting, but Sullivan would
have only one idea-he would long to
demolish the offending person, and
his soul would be devoted without re-
flection to that object. When he
fought in France with hostile English
men all around him he haG one small
but able supporter in the person of
Billy Porter, the burglar. Mr.. Porter
had killed several men. 1t was gen
orally understood that he was ready
and willing to kill several more. He
was looked up to even by the Birming |
ham toughs. When Sullivan Tough!
Porter stood in the corner with both
hands in his pockets. In each hand
he held a revolver. Sullivan was
treated very fairly on that occasion.
Mr.. Porter, now serving life sentence
in a Ger.nan salt mine, or perhaps
dead, declared that he had no bet on
the fight, and he had come simply to
do his duty by Sullivan, the only real
fighter, in his opinion that ever lived.
Mr.. Porter had his weaknesses and his |
life was not good one. But it was
he who hid in a safe and then blew
the safe open from the inside, blowing
senseless and trusting to his
pals to get him out. He was bur
glar and pest, but he was judge Of
plain, everyday courage"
Sometimes an article is as remarka |
bic for what it doesn't tell as tor what
it does relate, and this one is of that
character. Not a word, it will be
noted, is said of this lion hearted man
who for nearly all the last hour Of their
fight stood at bay in front of Charley
who was his inferior in
height, in weight, in strength and in
name, utterly powerless to do him in
fury. This was nice prediCament
for "the greatest fighter ever born"
wasn't it? Not word, either, is said |
Of the fact that Sullivan was only saved |
from defeat on that occasion by his
manager bribing Mitchell's seconds to |
induce him to consent to draw. No
one knows better than do that John |
l.. Sullivan was a great glove fighter.
| was the first who ever gave him a
chance to demonstrate this, outside of
his native Boston, but say now, with |
out the fear of successful contradiction,
that in skill, in strength, and in cour-
age in his palmiest day or night, he
never was the equal Of the man who
now bears the title of champion Of
the world-Jim Corbett.