The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-04
Butte Department.
WHENJOHN WAS HERE
How He Wilted Robinson, the Printer,
in 1884.
ID TIMERS REMINISCENT
The Story OF His Encounter With
the Big Blacksmith at Astoria
Sullivan Knocked Out Many
Men on hat Tour.

The coming of John l.. Sullivan on hi:
farewell tour has put many of his ole
time Butte admirers into reminiscent
moods, and they have all become inter.
ested in the big mans fighting and
sparring record. His first visit to Butte
was made ON Jan. II, 1884, with a com
bination of boxers including Herbert
Slade, the Maori, Steve Taylor, Pete
Mccoy and Mike Gillespie. on that
tour Sullivan had a standing offer OF
81 900 to any man who would stand be-
fore him four rounds. Fred Robinson
Butte printer, was ambitious to meet
Sullivan and win the $1,000. The meet
ing took place in j. ID. Thomas roller
skating rink in Park street, and Robin
son made a good defense for two rounds
but he couldn't stay long enough to get
the $1,000. mo man who ever came be-
fore me to earn that thousand dollars
lasted more than two and a half min
utes," said Sullivan in a recent inter-
view. II originated that idea of offer
ing $1,000 to any man who would stand
before me four rounds. L reasoned that
! would keep plugging along for years
and perhaps only make few thousand
dollars, whereas If l would offer big
money to any man who would stand
i would crowd the houses wherever i
went. / figured that IL / offered $1,000
TO any man who would stand up for
four rounds 1t would be the means of
putting $4,000 in the house and then IL
i failed to put out my man / would be
$4,000 ahead anyhow. 1t worked like a
charm. packing the houses wherever l
went. and fortunately i never met any
one whom / could not put out. / must
hax o1 t,of fri,
1t was on that same tour that Sulli-
van made the famous knockout of an
Italian blacksmith at Astoria, oregon.
Sullivan was asked a few days ago for
the true version of that affair.
well, I'll give you the straight of
it." said the ex-champion. His name
was Sylvester. Astoria was a lively
town in those days. We went down
from Portland on a little steamer.
When we got to Astoria 1 was told
there was a big fellow there who was
going to try for the 81 900. In the aft
ernoon he and some of his friends came
around and wanted to see the money
put up. l told the manager to put ii
up. The Sylvester party wanted to
know in whose hands II would be
placed. / suggested that II be put in
the hands of the mayor. Mr.. Hume and
this was done. The party wanted to
see that the money was put in the
hands of some one they had confidence
in, as they were sure Sylvester would
win it. Wonderful stories were told
about his strength. They said he could
split boards with his bare fists, and ii
was reported that he inquired what
would be done with him II he should
happen to kill me with one of his
blows, but / don't know how true that
was.
In the evening when we were dress
ing to go on Sylvester came into the
dressing room and asked to see Sulli-
van. Somebody pointed out Slade, and
told him that was Sullivan. Slade is
taller than I am. and looked much
larger than ] did. l was sitting down.
sylvester went out with the remark
that he was a big fellow, but did not
appear to be much worried. / tackled
sylvester the first thing, so would be
fresh. He was a great big broad
shouldered fellow, but the first time /
kidded him Qeinted) / had him sized
up. l smashed him once, and he went
into the wings. When he came out he
made lunge at me, and / stepped to
one side and let him go by. Then 1
kidded him again, and he threw both
arms Wildly. l hit him twice more.
both times with my left in rapid sue
cession, the first time in the stomach
and a second later on the Jaw. and he
fell like a beef. He did not come to for
half an hour. After the show he came
TO me In the dressing room and told
me that the first time i hit him he saw
two French soldiers, and the second
time he saw the whole French army
1 split boards with my fist he said.
but you split a stone wall"
Another version of the great knock
out Is given by a Portland paper. as
follows:
A bill poster had just tackled up a
hanger in the bootblack stand announc-
ing the showing in Portland of John L.
sullivan, "ex-champion and still the
IDOL of the pugilistic world"
AS the cut in the center OF the hill
depicting John L. as he appeared in his
palmy days. caught Tonys eye. the
Greek ceased work on the customers
shoes.
'A-Madre mia!" he exclaimed. "Des-
sa Giovanni l.. or watta youse Gala des
man hes hitta lika da mule?"
John L." answered the customer
who understood sufficient Of the Medi-
terranean languages to interpret Tony's
iona L." repeated the Greek in n
saddened retrospectice tone. mia
Dieul but des man bessa da whale.
An! ma poora fren' Sylvesta, watta
fur you no killa des iona L. por Wilma
da tousand dolla por Astoria. A mala
tesla tula quanta," and Tony waved
his blacking-brush defiantly in the
pictured face Of the hanger.
What was the trouble between your
friend Sylvester and John L. p" asked
the customer.
"You-a no heara bout dassa granda
fght?" asked Tony. "Ah. ma fren'
Sylvesta hes da bravo man. no de'fren
spose iona l.. hita eem por da Jaw a
maka eem sleepa. / tella you"
You see bout nine year'a go. dessa
man iona l.. hes coma des country Dor
maka da talk hes paya da t'ousand
dolla por any man watta standa nm
widd him por da four round. ARA da