The Worcester spy., 1899-08-21
Pugilists Make Money
in Abundance, But
Die Poor.
CHAMPIONS OF The RING.
Cash Slipped From Their
Grasp and They Were
Left Stranded.

Sharkey and Fitzsimmons' statement
that he hopes to meet Jeffries again,
prize-ring champions rarely amount to
much in the pugihstic business after
they have once been whipped. Like
John L. Sullivan, who has been on the
retired list ever since Corbett knocked
him out, they are thenceforward gener-
ally considered "old men," though still
so young that in most callings they
would be spoken of as in the prime of
life, says the New York Press.
OF late years nearly every pugilist
too old to fight any more has "re-
tired" to some sort of a retail drink
ing shop. This has become so COM
mon that the public expects nothing
more or less from any ex-champion,
though Bob F'itzsimmons gives no sign
of intending to be a saloonkeeper, and
it was by no means the invariable rule
in the earlier, more brutal days Of bare
knuckle fighting. Thus John Jackson,
whowas the British champion one hun
dred years ago, taught boxing after he
had retired from the ring, numbering
among his pupils nearly all the young
sprlgs of fashion and scions of aristoc-
racy in England. Lord Byron was one
of Jackson's pupils, and the titled poet S
diary contains many pleasant illusions
to his flstic teacher. Jackson was prob
ably the most polished pugilist the
world has ever seen, for it is recorded
that he was ''veritable dandy in the
fashionable sporting world of London,
and the pet of royalty, for whom he
repeatedly provided private ring con-
tests"
Few or no other British pugilists have
died rich, though the last resting place
OF three others are marked by impress
i've monuments. They were Tom
Cribb, Tom Spring and Tom Sayers.
Tom Cribb's monument, a colossal
sculptured lion standing with one paw
on funeral urn over which is thrown
the champions belt duplicated in stone,
is in Woolwich cemetery, near a much
frequented road, and may be seen easi-
ly by all who drive past. The stone
was set by a popular subscription,
started by Bells Life, the famous Lon
don sporting newspaper. The inscrip-
tion thereon is much less portentous
than the one on Jackson's monument,
and Cribb himself had no such personal
standing with smart folk as Jackson
had. Cribb died in 184s. The monu-
ment OF Tom Spring (real name Win
ter), who died poor and broken down in
1851, was set up in Norwood ceme-
terry, not far from Crystal Palace at
Sydenham. This monument also bears
a chiseled lion. The monument to
Sayers, better known in this country
than any of the others because of the
drubbing he got at the hands of the
American champion, John c.. Heenan.
in 1863, stands in Highgate cemetery.
1t is ornamented by the figure of a dog
instead of lion, and its inscription
is simplest of all. Sayers' "old age''
was decidedly brief-he died in 1866
besides being a burden to Savers be-
cause OF constant illness, due to the
most extraVagant dissipation.
Two ex-prize ring champions have
gone into politics and amassed wealth
after leaving the fistic arena. though
neither had much money when death
called. One of these was John Gully.
the Englishman, and the other John
Morrlssey, the American. Gully got into
parliament, and for a while "enioyed
tne friendship and respect of many OF
Englands most exalted personages. -
de made part of his wealth out ot
racing, and the remainder in various
speculative enterprises, some of which
turned out disastrously. In his Later
years he was in constant fear of the
Workhouse, but he didn't fall so low as
that.
John Morrisseys post-prize-rine dave
were far more spectacular than GuIlv;s
Morrissey retired as champion. hayine
defeated Heenan, and having sensibly
retusei TO light again. Morrissey num-
oered old Commodore Vanderbilt amone
mis- closest friends, and by following the
commodore's advice was able to win
heavily on Wall street. Morrissey also
made money in wads and rolls in the
Two gambling houses which he estah-
llshed-one in New York on Broadway
and one in Saratoga. Morrissey's politi-
cal rise began early in the sixties. For
years ne was SO strong in this city
that he had a virtual monopoly as ia
gambling here, which he took adyan-
tage of by levying tribute upon ali the
establishments of his fellow boss ganb-
lers in town. He was sent to the house
OF representatives in 1866, by the demo
Gratis, and In the fight between Tweed
the Tammany boss, and Tilden. sided
with the latter. AT one time Mo1rjssev,s {
fortune was $2,0OO,O00 The death Of
Commodore Vanderbilt was the begin
ming OF bad luck for Morrissey. He tried
speculation on his own nook, but with
out vanderbilt to tip him off found II
Impossible TO buck up against Jay
Gould ana the other expert Wall street
operators OF that day. Still Morrissav
kept up a brave front as long az he
lived, for till his death it was supposed
generally he had much wealth left. but
on examination 1t was found that his
estate had dwindled practically to
naught, and his widow, who had been
HUDSON river steamboat captain's
daughter, when Morrissey was a deck
nand, found herself plunged in poverty
instead of rolling in wealth.
John Z. Heenan, who, though a VIC
tor over Sayers, was himself defeated
Dy Morrissey. ran gambling den for a
Wnile, and for time did fairly we'll;
out the tide soon turned the wrong
way, and Heenan died of consunntion
IN Colorado, in great financial straights.
Heenan was married to the erratic
Adah Menkin. She died in France a
year or two before her husband.
Yankee Sullivan, whose real name
was FRANK Ambrose Murray counted in
his day and generation the greatest
lighter of his weight and inches in the
United States, left the east and went
to California to dig for gold after his
successive defeats by Tom Hyer and
John Morrlssey. Sullivan might have
peen a good thing as a miner, but in
some manner he ran against the San
! '4oA"hSS NoHllHlLlee In Its
palmiest days, and was by 1t thrown
into prison. He was suspected of having
been connected with gang of burg.
lars, and, though nothing was ever
proved against him, he was put in iall
and committed suicide.
Tom Hyer, Mike McCool and Joe Co.
burn, each an American champion In
his day, died In poverty, and were buri-
ed with money raised by subscrintion
papers passed around among prize-ring
supporters. At one time Coburn had n
good deal or money. George Law was
men men ms friend, but one night the pug
after there was breach wide and deen
between them. The list Of prize-rinS
champions who were unable In thaip
DID age to keep what they had gained