The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-28


several men made lasting reputation as
professional pugilists- Great secrecy had
20 be observed about the matches, espec'
tally tho ground selected, and as no
large crowds could go, tickets were scarce
and high.
1t was not altogether tho rough
element that attended these fights. Here,
as we'll as in England, class of respect
able young men of athletic and sporting
prcclivities paid the highest prices for
tickets, and received the earliest informa-
tion OF the time and place of departure.
Attending prize fight was regarded as
an adventure that gave the best claim TO
the title of "sport, whether the person
was genttaman or a bruiser.
The butchers in Washington and other
markets looked with favor upon prize
fighting, and some of them. like Blll
Harrington, were fighters themselves.
The east side was full Of great shipyards
and foundries, which were very cradles OF
pucilsm John Kelly and Richard Cro-
ker. as young mechanics, were famous In
the manly art OF self-defense, before
thew became political bosses.
in the earlier city, which arc not now 20
well understood There was large
Volunteer Fire Department, with much
rivalry between the companies anu hghts
among the flremen were OF frequent oc-
currence. However, the fireman was not
"a scientific lighter, and did not identity
himself with pir ze-iighters. He wore
red shirt, cocked his hat over ono eye,
and squared OFF TO fight on the slightest
proyocation. His fight was terrific whllo
it lasted, and when the whole company
''pitched in" with fists. speaking trum-
pets and hose pipes there was battle
royal. The animosity between the
s.Bowery Boys" VINO were firemen. and
the dead Rabbits, F" who were rowdies
or thieves, caused a riot which the Seventh
Regiment had to be called out to
quell In the Bowery at the shipyards,
ana in the markets, there was very
stronR American sentiment, and 1T dis
played itself in resenting all real or fan-
uied insults from those representing the
foreign class of the population. On tho
other hand, the principal prize-nghter OF
the day was Yankee Sullivan, who was
the idol OF the Irish. He was native
born Irishman. but went to England from
America as prize-nghter ana there re-
ceiyed the name OF "Yenkee', which
he always bore thereafter. The name of
"Sullivan" was.also anIassumed one. His
place on Division street was called Saw
dust House. and later he had barrooms
on Chatham square and at Franklin and
Centre streets 'Sawdust House" was
froquented by those who delighted In box
ing and rough fighting. The American
class, not 10 DO taken at disadvantage at
any tire, or on any corner whore young
men congregated, at first used their fists
In blacking eyes ana then studied science.
The result was tho production OF native
born prize-fightors
+Ad n1I ~. ar1i inof n aQ
OF scientific pueilism from England.
Every chop-house here had framed
pictures of the fighters from the begin
Ming ard the English sportin < and other
papers on file gave the most elaborate de-
tails on the subject. The ~elative merits
OF these men and their great battles were
loudly discussed over potations OF 'alf and
'alf, and it was as solemnly believed that
a Sayers was champion OF the ring
as Ii was that Britannia ruled the waves.
After a time New York had u sporting
paper of its own, which still exists. ana
pugilism Dogan TO thrive exceedingly, on
a more scientific basis, both in the train
ing for lights and the manner of conduct
ing them in the ring itself.
1t may be mentioned here that when
SRyros and Heenan fought in England,
April II, 1860 Ga good picture of which
fight Is now hanging on the wall OF
q reading room at the Astor House),
VI mum stbb
Thomas Mast, then young and unknown
artist. to England to illustrate it, and an
an Lbitious young literary man TO write it
up. Before they started on the steamer
he bad them serenaded at the Metropoli-
tan Hotel. The paper was prepared COM
rlete In London, and issued In New
York on the arrival OF the steamer.
Tho account was better and ahead of tho
London papers, and it threw the chop
honses hero into state of tremendous
agitation that such thing could hap
per, while il gave great fame TO the enter
prising publisher.
Yankee Sullivan was born fighter, and
loved IL with all the ferocity OF a human
bulldog. No training was too severe,
though it did not reach the perfection in
physical development of this day, and no
glory was greater than TO draw first
b God, F" and finally stretch out In tho
ring fellow fighter pounded into bleed
ing. limp. unconscious mass. The bull
dog cared nothing for his own bruises
but with his eyes on ..fire ami the most
savage animai-like yearning for blood
and brutality. he stood ready for longer
battle, TO shake, manRle and crush in
positive sport and JOY. like the beast. of
which he was an unmistakable and hor-
rible type. He won in many battles,
threw down the game to all corners, and
Tor q long time was invinoible in the
ring. BY the respectable part of the
community his name career and busi.
ness were regarded as reproach to the
reputation of the city, while to tho
hrnwny and the vile he was hero.
The native element did not deny that
Yankee sullivan was a great fighter.
They admired his science, but thoy did
not like his "crowd" or his boasting. Ii
was determined that he must be whip
ped. But who was TO do it, Tom Hyer
was the namo generally mentioned. Now
Tom Hyer was as different from Sullivan
as two men could he, except that both
Vere scientific boxers
Hyer was in no sense brutal, and he be-
came fighter simply because he was a
great big fellow, with strength and mus
cle that it was a second nature TO develop
and display. lie always wanted TO hit
somebody. and he squared oil on the
slightest proyocation, but he was always
smiling, good-Latured and playful. It
was not the ferocious bulldog trying TO
use his teeth and drink blood, but rather
Q huge hound at Its pranks for exercise.
Hyer was tall man and broad in proper
tion. and he stood as straight as an ar
row. Large. b3ny. sinewy. as no was
sucn was the amiability OF his face and the
Kindness OF his manners that n child In
alarm would In On instant have stretched