The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-22
SULLIVAN'S
IMPRESSIONS
He Talks to a Tribune
Reporter Relative to
the Big Fight.
champion Opines That Bob
FitzsimmOns Is Not Over
Anxious to Meet COrbett.
TALKED PUOILLSM AND PUOILLSTS
John l.. Says That Maher Has a License to
Challenge the Winner Of the Fisht-WlIl
Not Last More Than Seven Rounds.

A TRIBUNE reporter went to Woon-
socket Saturday afternoon to interview
John l.. Sullivan, who was playing with
a variety company, relative to the COM
ing fight at Carson City, Nevada. The ex-
champion of the world sat in the smoking
room of st. James Hotel and 1t was just
before dusk. A pack of playing cards was
on the table in front of him. He wore
dark cheviot coat, and as he lolled with
one arm over the back OF his chair and
talked, he made the ideal picture of the
retired prize fighter.
John l.. smiled when asked to express
his opinion as to the outcome of the
Corbett Fitzsimmons fight. 81 can't say
aIgreat.deal about that" said the ex-cham-
pion, "because a New York paper pays
me $1,000 and my expenses to go out to
Carson and report it. The opinions
charged to me were all made out of whole
CLOTH"
Not wanting to press matters, the TRI-
BUNE reporter turned to discussion OF
sporting events in general and later on
managed to get Sullivan to say something
of interest about the two men who are to
win next month.
'Thcy have been hoodwinking the pub
lie for three years and why they have not
fought I do not know. Fitz could have
met Corbett at Hot Springs, Ark, year
ago last November IL he wanted to fight.
The ring was erected during the night by
a large force of carpenters at Whittenton
| Park, Manager Brady having this done at
! an expense of 5000 when he received the
| assurance that the fight could be pulled of
| without interference. There were sports
present from all parts of the country and
Fitzsimmons who was within 400 miles OF
Hot Springs could have reached the battle
ground by taking the route he was advised.
But no, he made q bluff to come and was
arrested by deputy Shicriffs near Little
Rock, Ark, and the sporting men at the
Springs after learning of the way in which
he deliberately ran into the arms of the
officers came to the conclusion that he was
afraid to meet Jim.
"But there is one thing certain next
month";" continued Sullivan. "They must
fight, unless one of them is dead before
the time to enter the ring is reached. AS
far as i am concerned don't care if the
pair of them fall dead. II either of them
led the pace that / have for the past ten
years they wouldn't be in it today. don't
deny that Corbett hit me hard. went
into the ring once too often, that's all.
Like that pitcher that went to the well too
often, got broken at last"
"Do you think that Maher has license
to challenge the winner Of the fight at
Carson?" asked the TRIBUNE reporter.
"Yes, do; and think that Joe God
dard, who is coming from Australia, will
be at the ringside to put in bid for a
piece of the winner. Fitz calls himself
champion of the world because Corbett
presented the championship to Maher, a
thing he had no more right to do than
you have"
The TRIBUNE reporter referred to the
meetings of Corbett and Fitz with Sharkey.
"If that fight between Sharkey and Cor
bett had been finished fight Sharkey
would have put him out. Corbett actually
called upon the police to stop the fight.
He had run up against Sharkey fresh
young chap, without getting himself into
condition"
At the close Of the interview, and John
l.. arose he remarked, "Of course i have
my personal opinion, and Tll simply say
that don't expect Fitz to be in the fight
more than seven rounds. I'll be an inter-
ested spectator, as our show is booked for
the night before the fight at the Carson
City Opera House. ! understand that
some some smart chap will take possession
Of the Opera House before we get through
and turn 1t into an impromptu hotel, SO
you see man can come early I'm the even
ing, and after seeing the show get more or
less sleep and be ready for the fight the
next morning."
1t was easy to see that Sullivap's age is
beginning to show on him. His hair Is
tinged with gray, but when his interest is
aroused there are still flashes that remind
one of the r0u0h n an A readu Inhn l. lnlli-