New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-17
THE RIVAL JOHNS.

The world will little note nor long remember
what those eminent chin-pounders, James Cor
bett and Robert Fitzsimmons, do to-day at Car
son. New. but it can never forget what those
much more illustrious word-painters John l..
Sullivan and John j. Ingalls, say about it in cur
rent yellow literature. For these two have been
engaged at enormous expense by the rival yell
lows to portray in their own vivid and pictu-
rescue STYLE the scene ana its surroundings. the
appearance and attitudes of the punchers. their
physical proportions and mental states. their
lunges and Clinches. their knockouts and their
sockdologers Both were expected to arrive al
the scene Of action either last night or this morn
ing and to begin absorbing public attention I'M
mediately on their arrival. There may be some
among the spectators AT the ringslde to-day who
will hermit their minds 10 be occupied with the
spectacle itself with the ring and the bruiSers'
and the altogether edfying manner in when
they pound each other out OF reach OF recognl-
ton. But they will be only such as have laid
Wagcrs on the result and are moved by merce-
nary and material considerations. The large
body Of spectators who are there purely for in
tellectua recreation and the mental stimulus
which the occasion offers will concentrate their
thought and their vision upon the much more
momentous contest in progress at the reporters
tables between John l.. Sullivan and John j. IN
calls That will be Il competition worth witness
ing Each Of them seems conscious of the
greatness OF the task before him. but each faces
il with unshrnkng courage though there is this
difference. as is generally understood, that Sui
lvan. not being handy with the pen. Will fact
per alum" while ingalls, will "fact per So"
e H.,
mails have been giving large space for the last
two or three days 10 descriptions of the prog
ress Of their respective representatives to the
scene of the conflict. TO the receptions accorded
them on the way. and the varied emotions well
ing up in them as they go along. On Monday
ingalls, was heard from at Atchison. Kan, where
he was settling up his private business. doubt
less preuarlng for the worst. From that point
he conveyed 10 the readers of the younger yell
low, which employs him. his views as to the
nobleness Of his calling. and IFS superiority IN
all respects to the business Of craftsmanship. Of
which he speaks in the most disparagng terms.
| II he had gone into 'the hospital for political
| ncurabes." he says. land hung around Wash
"ington, haunting the White House and the de
apartments. importunng friends for ndorse-
'ments and begging for some place at home or
abroad" where he could he supported from
the public Treasury" his course would have
.brcn considered as dignlfed and in strict az
"cordance with usage and precedent" But he
saws he has suffered heavy losses. and ~ COM
PEELED to earn his living by daily toll: conse-
oucntly he is grateful for the opportunity Of
getting his bread "by reputable employment
He seems to he little Off on what would he
considered as dignifed' as well as on what
constitutes reputable employment" But that
will not be treasured up against him If he comes
out ahead in the competition with Sullivan.
Sullivan, meanwhile. has been drawing toward
Carson by easy stages each one Of which has
been stately step In n trumphal progress, and
the senior yellow which employs his descriptive
talent nj an enormous outlay has kept tab on
him by wire as he moved He has not yet be-
gun sending dispatches himself. bis literary
work being so costly that even the unstinted
enterprise and lmtless resources Of the senior
yellow could hardly stand the strain Of paying