The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-24
FRIENDS COST HIM 100000.
Says He Paid for the County Court
House at Purvis, Miss.
From the New York Herald.


From the New York Herald.
Because a man knocks million dollars
out of the world with his fists in a trlfe
less than twenty years it does not neces-
sarily follow that he can afford to build
court houses for impoverished counties,
particularly if his convivial friends have
the wine habit firmly fastened upon them.
John L. Sullivan, sitting in the office of
1.-THE Inferno" his new place in Broad
way, reviewed with me yesterday his ca
reer since ne took his first shy into the
ring. Running through his personal pa
pers to make an estimate of his expenses,
the big fellow paused for a moment over
an entry made little more than ten years
ago, just after he had won his memorials
battle with Kilrain. Then with sad shake
of his grizZled head, and APPARENTLY apro-
pos of nothing, he said:
That's my court house. 1 paid for it
and If justice were done 1 would be able
to go down there and cart it off. 1t cost
too much, anyways"
Pressed for an explanation of mis- nco-
herent remarks. the once champion Of
champions clinched his teeth tighter into
the butt of his cigar, paused reminiscent
ly for moment, and then proceeded.
well, you have asked how l succeeded
in spending a million dollars in a few
years and / suppose THAI this story will
serve to give you an Insight into the bust
ness. Here'-throwing a time-yellowed
paper across the table-"you see this en-
try where I have charged myself with
$4,000. That represents the big end OF
the money l received for beating Jake
kilrain | made present of it to some
friends of mine down in Mississippi.
You will remember that l was arrested
after the Richburg fight, which took place
July s, 1889. I was taken at Nashville
and lugged back into Mississippi. Well.
they needed court house at Purvis They
never had been able to put one up, and
knowing that 1 had plenty of cash thew
proceeded to put on the screws. l gave
up $4,000 in one lump. PuryIs cot its
court house all right"
Still, what was $4,000 in those davs2
If that was oil that l have ever been
robbed of would be a wealthy man now
nave literally given away more than
@lVV'0o. l never took mans note in nv
life. / have lent sums of S. 600 and $40 o1o
more than once. and always held that If a
man was not honest enough to nav his
note would have no effect upon him IL
they thought they we're beating me thew
were mistaken. The money was a eif,
don't now consider that am any mans
creditor '''
My first earning in the ring was of If
ne consequence 1t was just nineteen
90 tiAtS NDhiiu- new ears that
defeated John Donaldson in Cincinnati 7
liked to fight IN those days. and in order
that should not be disappointed 7 con-
tributed $50 toward the purse. which only
amounted TO SIS. making my net gain for
whipping Donaldson just S2S
II fought and whipped Paddy RYAN n
Mississippi City. Feb T. 1852 and received
for doing IL 1880. which was about bais
my due. | was robbed of the balance an
my way home 1 gave exhibitions at chica-
go, Detroit, Cleveland Cincinnati. BUR-
10. Pittsburg, and New York. and receiv-
ed $3.50 as my share of the receiDts.
For whipping Elliott / received g. eo0
and when Tug Wilson stayed four ro,in ls
with me al Madison Square Garden I vas
paid $4,000. A few weeks in the show
business brought me $1,000. and wbsn
Williams. IN Nay, 1853. stopped me from
giving Charley Mitchell the final blow /
was SIN able 90 add $1,000 90 my hank
account Beating Slade. the Maori was
worth another $1,000 10 me. put soon
into a saloon la Boston and took ont twice
ihat amount"
Then the former champion fksiched
more Of hlf winnings ana said.
They were coming my Way 81 great
zhape about is,3. Two exbibiuors a