Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-24

NEW YORK, December 23.-Because
a man knocks a million dollars out Of
the world with his fists in a trifle 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 THE Inferno" his new place In
Broadway, reviewed to-day his career
since he took his first shy into the
ring. Running through his personal
papers to make an estimate of his ex-
penses. the big Fellow" paused for a
moment over an entry made a little
more than ten years ago, just after he
had won his memorable battle with
Kilrain. Then, with a sad shake of
his grizzled head, and apparently
apropos of nothing, he said:
That's my courthouse. | paid for
1t, and If justice were done, | would
be able TO go down there and cart it
off. 1t cost too much, anyway"
Pressed for an explanation of his In
coherent remarks, the once champion
of champions clinched his teeth tighter
into the butt of his cigar, paused remin-
iscently for a moment, and then pro-
ceeded.
We'll, you have asked how | sue
oaaIaJ ~ rNanlt,r n p,slIiOn lNl1nr~ t.
a few years and | suppose that this
story will serve to give you an insight
into the business. Here'-throwing a
time-yellow paper across the table
you see an entry where have charged
myself with SIS, 900. That represents
the big end of the money / received
for beating Jake Kilrain. l made a
present of it to some friends of mine
down in Mississippi.
You will remember that I was ar
rested after the Richburg fight, which
took place July s, 1883. l was taken at
Nashville and lugged back into Missis-
sippi. Well, they needed a courthouse
at Purvis. They never had been able
to put one up. / ave up $4,000 in
one lump. Purvis got Its courthouse,
all right.
That Was Only a Drop
"Still, what was $4,000 in those
days? If that was all, | would be a
wealthy man now / have literally
given away more than 5000, 900. new
er took a mans note in my life. have
lent sums of $4,000 and $4,000 more
than once, and always held that il a
man was not honest enough to pay. his
note would have no effect upon him.
If they thought they were beating me
they were mistaken. The money was
a gift. l don't now consider that l
am any mans creditor.
MY first earning in the ring was of
little consequence. 1t was just nine
teen years ago this coming New Years
that l defeated John Donaldson in Gin
cinnati. l liked to fight in those days,
and in order that | should not be dis
appointed, | contributed $50 toward the
purse which only amounted to $76,
making my net gain for whipping Don-
aldson just $26.
81 fought and whipped Paddy Ryan
at Mississippi City, February Z, 1882,
and received for doing it $4,000, which
was dDOuL lld1l my uhN. 4 wac ApbhNd
of the balance. On my way home, |
gave exhibitions at Chicago, Detroit,
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Pitts
burg and New York, and received S24,-
900 as my share of the receipts.
For whipping Elliott ! received ST.
600. and when Tug Wilson stayed four
rounds with me at Madison Square
Garden | was paid $4,000. A few
weeks In the show business brought
me s16, 900, and when Inspector Will
liams, in May, 1888, stopped me from
giving Charley Mitchell the final blow,
| was able to add $4,000 to my bank
account. Beating Slade, the Maori, was
worth another $4,000 to me. | put
$4,000 into a saloon in Boston and
took out twice that amount"
Then the former champion sketehed
more of his winnings, and said:
.They were coming my way in great
shape about 1883. Two exhibitions, in
which / beat big John Latin and All
Greenfield In Madison Square Garden,
brought me s33, 900, and for thirty sec
onds, the time ii required for me to put
Paddy Ryan out, / received $4,000. /
would like to work a few hours at that
rate now
Money Poured In.
"In 1866 ] was with a minstrel
show. doing the states and received
S35, 200 for my work. | whipped Frank
Herald in Allegheny City and earned
5000. A saloon In New York brought
me in $500 Another exhibition with
Paddy RYAN. this time in San Fran
cisco, was worth s15 900 to me. I
toured with Pat Sheedy and we had
$4,000 to divide. When / broke my
arm on Patsy Cardin, / was given
$4,000 as a balm. Then | went TO Eng