The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-01-27
SPENT A MILLION.
WHAT JOHN L. SULLIVAN DID
FOR OTHERS I
And Corbett, too, Hal squandsrse .
Handsome Fortune-Tho Champion Of
Champions Tells How He Got separ-
arated from His Lucre. q

a million dollars or rather loaned q
good part of it to men who, in all like
lihood, will never pay him a dollar.
This makes John feel sad and lonely
these holiday afternoons. He paid out
sos, 900 to the Richburg (MississippD
authorities to get rid of imprisonment
after his fight with Jake Kilrain. He
loaned $4,000 and never took a mans
note for any sum thus negotiated. He
spent 100000 for dinners and wine
and lost $4,000 at the gaming table.
In unfortunate business ventures $780,
900 more disappeared. Ills legitimate
living expenses were 5000, OOO. In train
ing for battles another 100000 has
been expended.
One year John L. took in $500, 600 as
the result of his shows and his box
ing victories. He always wagered big
amounts on his besting an opponent
and this alone amounted, to. a: large
income. In 1882, after his, scrap with
Paddy Ryan, he made s29,400. by the
mill and on exhibitions. in. the big
cities. From this time on until his
discontinue with Corbett he made big
money. In his Boston saloon venture
he made $50, 900. In his tour with Pat
Sheedy he made $4,000. His tour in
England enriched him $4,000: In. his
three plays he made S210, 600.
John L. says: with a fighter money
comes easy, and it goes the same way.
1 spent $4,000 training for my battle
with Corbett, and lost $4,000 betting
on myself. I always kept a stable OF
trainers following me, and they were
a heavy expense. But it was being. a
good fellow that broke me. L was. thu
great and only John L. That title
cost me enough money to last an! Or
binary man a lifetime. I was too, easy:
When someone would say that L was
the only one, it meant another basket
of wine. When another would say
that I never refused q friend, a dollar;
and afterward asked me to: lend him
$50, he got a hundred.
Then, too, I was slow in getting to
the box Office. The others got their
first, and the first count of the receipts
was the largest. Was I robbed?' Yes;
I was robbed. If I had what they took
from me I would be satisfied. How
ever, I don't regret it. I had my fling,
and 1 paid for it. I haven't touched a
drop of liquor for six months, and am
not going to drink again. 1 feel as
we'll as ever, and if I could lose a bit
- cot 7 mould hov,o onothor %rv. in tho
ring. But that is out of the question.
I am going to try and make my bust
ness a success, and If I ever get another
fortune they will have to break the
United States to break me. My money
will go into bonds"
"Jim" Corbett, who wrested the
championship from Sullivan, has also
known the ups and downs of life. He
spent $500 getting himself into shape
to be defeated by Fitzsimmons, and
lost $4,000 which he bet on himself in
/ that fight. He received $4,000 from
the purse and $4,000 as his share Of
the picture money. He says that his
money, like Sullivan's had gone in
riotous living and in stalking his
friends. Unlike John L." however,
he has neve gone the limit. He still
owns his house, which he values at
$40, 900, and has money otherwise in
| vested.
"a pugilist," said Corbett, "is a good
thing for every borrower in the land,
We have to give up. Sullivan has
| given away a fortune, no doubt. If
had what is due me I could buy a
brick block with the money. We are
| all spendthrifts. A man with one good
trainer can fit himself sufficiently well
for any battle. But nowadays we must
have five or six trainers and sparrine
partners. They are costly ~luxuries
Managers, too, are necessary, but ex.
pensive. I have divided half a mil
lion dollars with my manager, while 8
man in any other business would have
been able to have kept it all himself
It is the unnecessary expenses which
| lyoor a n,,u{1}cf hrolroD