The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-29
MRS. JOHN C. HEENAN
Wife Of the Benecia
Boy, in Way Down
East Company.
KMAWM NnW as SARA STEVENS
KNOWN NOW AS SARA STEVENS.
Sac Made the Champion
Quit the Ring After the
Sayers Fight.

OF the hundreds who have seen the
performances of Way Down East" at
the Worcester theatre for the last two
nights, hardly one knew the identity of
the gentle mother whose name appears
on the program as Sara Stevens.
The lady is the widow of the cele-
brated pugilist, John C. Heenan, known
more Familiarity as 1.-THE Benecia Boy"
Heenan was the best man in the world
in his day, and it was when he was at
the top of the ladder that the lady who
is known as Sara Stevens, married him.
She was then a young actress playing
in New York, with whom Heenan fell
in love at first sight. Heenan accom-
panied party of friends to a theatre
and occupied box When she came
ON the stage to perform her part, Hee-
nan fell in love with her.
He sent her notes and importuned
her for meeting, but she paid no at
tention TO his requests. At length,
Heenan, who was persistent obtained
an introduction and they were mar
ried. The young lady learned Of Hee-
mans prize-fighting and refused to
marry him unless he gave Up the ring
He promised but a year or two later
was induced by his friends to try con-
clusions with Tom King, which was
his last battle. Mrs. Heenan did not
know of the match until her husband
left home to undergo a course of train
ing. She realized that it would be use
less to attempt to dissuade him at that
time, and contented herself with a re-
neWal of the promise which showed her
good sense, us Keenan, never entered
the ring after that
A reporter of The Spy had a pleasant
chat with Mrs Heenan after the per
Torrance last evening. The charms
which Heenan found so lovely have not
departed. and the pleasant featured
lady has not lost the beauty which
Heenan could not resist. Mrs. Heenan
has had long and prosperous career
on the stage, and has an enviable rep
utation as an actress but maybe she
ism acting as much as a person might
be led to believe. The sweet motherly
affection and the gentleness which wins
the hearts of her audience, isn't entire
ly assumed, for Mrs Heenan in private
life is the ideal of a gentle, motherly
woman. with a sweet, welcoming smile
and happy manner.
To the reporter she spoke interest
ngly of her first meeting with Mr.. Hee-
man, laughingly describing his persist
was a year or two after he fought the
great international battle with Tom
Sayers in England. The inner story of
that battle isn't as much a matter of
history as the details of the battle it
self Everybody knows that the crowd
broke into the ring and the battle had
to stop. Mrs. Heenan doesn't pretend
to know much of pugilism, but she says
Sayers would be entitled to some kind
f,f
club or house if he succeeded in beat
ing Heenan. He was champion of Eng
land, and had held the title for a num-
Der of years. The year he fought Hee-
nan was the last of the prescribed num-
Der, and that was his last fight. Hee-
nan was getting the better of the battle
and ultimately would have beaten Say
ers. The action of the crowd saved
| him. While Savers was credited with
having successfully defended the cham
pionship and winning the right to the
pension, Heenan also received a belt
which was emblematic of the cham
pionship of the world.
1t was after that fight, that she mar
ried Heenan. She strenuously object
ed to her husband fighting, and insist
ed that he withdraw the challenges
which he had published in all the sport
ing papers of the day, to fight any
BODY III the world. Heenan withdrew
the challenges and intended to retire
for keeps. He probably went back for
his last battle through his fascina-
ticn for the ring and to please his
friends
Mrs. Heenan said her husband stood
feet 21A inches in his stocking-feet,
and weighed about 100 pounds. She
did not know much of his system Of
/ training for a fight. When he pre-