The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-03
AMITTEN MANS MEMORIES
John l.. Sullivan Recalls Men That
He Has Met.
shook Hands with the Prince OF
MaIes and Advised Cleveland TO
Reduce His COrpuIcncy Once
Caused Sarah Bcrnhardt to Faint.

I've met lot of great people in my
career" said John L. Sullivan TO crowd
of friends one night last week king Ed
ward VII, of course you all know, shook
hands with and / smoked some fine cigars
at his expense. That was when Edward
was the Prince of Wales and good fellow
at that
I've been asked many times to name
oyer the great men who have been intro
duced to me. but / can't remember all of
them. 1t was in 1887 that l went up TO
the White House to shake hands with
President Cleveland. Pat Sheedy, my man
ager. was along and when we were in
troduced l noticed that Mr. Cleveland was
hog fat.
Mr.. President, says l. you're too fat.
Why don't you come out and take run On
the road with me and then put on the
gloves? That would reduce ynn gnnl'
But Grover said he was too busy.
though he agreed with what / said. ! met
Vice President Hendricks several times.
There was an all right old gentleman and
don't you forget it. Every time We met.
no matter where il was, Mr. Hendricks
used TO say:
John, are you still Champion
That's what l am l replied.
-" I hope you will never be whipped,
was the usual remark, as he grasped my
hand warmly. He was good fellow, and
when he died no one mourned his loss
more than cid John L.
1--WE been introduced to Mckinley sew
eral times. Once he and John sherman,
then Secretary OF State, were on the same
train with my theatrical combination.
When we got TO Springfield, Ohio. there
was big crowd at the station all rubber
necking
where's john they yelled. Where's
Jchn?'
Sherman and Mckinley were on the
platform, their hats in their hands
They're calling for met said the ven-
cradle Secretary of State TO the President
Of the Nation.
Are you sure asked Mckinley. John. 1
] think they're looking for SulIivan.'
Just then l stuck my head out of the /
window and there was no longer any doubt /
as 10 who was it. Hooray for John, John |
L. Sullivan, That showed what good 1
line Mckinley had on the situation.
Roscoe Conkling was one of my par
ticular friends. He was a lover of the /
manly art and quite handy himself with |
the mitts Whenever | had a match in
the old Madison Square Garden. the Sena-
tor always had front seat. He was a
great man TO know and always had a good
word for fellow in trouble.
Then there was James G. Blaine. one
of Americas most famous statesmen. I
met him once al the Arlington Hotel in
Washington. We had chat about politics
up in Maine and found that he was we'll
posted.
Il met Richard Croker a good many
years ago. He's a self-made man and de-
serves lot of credit. | see where there's
I lot of guys knOckin him. but what does
he care7 He owns the town and that's
plenty TO have, Amt it?
THE nearest ! ever got to Admiral Dew
ey was his picture. but l know Buffalo Bill
well. Colonel Cody is the real article and
white old p. T. Barnum was a conservative
chap. but Adam Forepaugh was my friend
all the time. When Teddy Roosevelt was
a police commissioner here, called OF
him. He said:
John. I've heard of you. but I've new
err seen you with your hands up
Il told him that | was sorry he hadn't
seen me when l was in my prime. and he
SAID that he was. too. We talked about
fighting and l found that he was away up
In the art CT self-defence. He was strong.
powerful fellow and I'll bet a round O.
drinks he can take care Of himself with
any man his weight in the world ! think
Teddy is on the level and that some day
he'll be sittin in the White House
II never knew Jay Could but / know
his son George very well. Billy Madden
used to give George boxing lessons, and
frequently looked on. He's a fine. big
hearted man and deserves all the coin
he's got
Il mustn't forget old Governor Lowris
Of Mississippi. He was the duck who
made me come back and stand trial for
lighting Kilrain. While he looked fierce
enough to eat you when he was on the
throne, he was not so bad when it came
line TO take drink ! always said that