The San Francisco call., 1905-05-28


Nh WISCONSIN a short time ago I
met a man hadn't seen in
years, and he looked a sport
down and out He was in just the shane
I expected 10 find him about this time
He spoke to me and when placed him I
told him to get away quick 1t was this
man who sent a proposition TO me 70 lay
down" IN one OF my fights, and the price
was three times what the winners end
OF the purse would be- This proposition
wasn't made TO me direct. but came
through & friend Of mine who had been
induced to think he was doing me a good
turn BY carrying the message.
When I jumped on the scheme the rob-
bers behind IL tried 70 explain that thew
were only taking measures to be sure
that the money they were going to put
On me would be safe. But was on. That
wasn't the only time the cards were
stacked 10 beat the public, but il never
was done IN any fight was in. Before
my meeting with Ryan. Joe Goss. who
was one Of my seconds, was offered $500
n cold cash-not stage money or prom
1ses-to drug me just enough so that 1
couldn't win Joe Goss, who was as hon
est man as ever stepped. and who loved
me as his own brother, was at 10 do mur-
Ger when the bribe was put 10 him. Joe
didn't do any too much praying and he
didn't do any hymn singing. but he could
show lot OF good people how TO live on
the square and die without fear when his
time came. Although the first fight of
any account in my career was my defeat
OF Joe. who had been champion. he never
had ore minutes hard feeling for me, but
was my admirer, friend and helper dur
ing his life.
Tug Wilson's Quick Touch and Getaway.
The down-and-out sport 1 started
telling about was il his day as high a
roller as you'd find. He made a lot Of
money on fixed" events Of all kinds
and he made boasts that he was out TO
win money, not 10 lose it. He always
played with loaded dice and he was
one OF the men who introduced the
plan, now so much in use, OF having
boxers fight 70 trim the outsiders In
the good old days there was none OF
this, and while fighters did not adver-
Iise themselves as gentlemen boxers
they did fight on the square.
Think over the fights" OF the past
few years and see how many OF them
have been fixed" Enough money has
been picked out Of pockets BY this kind
OF lighting 10 pay for the Panama ca
nal And the strange thing is the
nerve OF some Of the grafters keeping
before the public when they have been
caught with the goods.
There's none OF this in mine In the
few draws in ny list of fights there
wasn't any suspicion that I didn't do
my best. I've already told about Mitch
ell Tug Wilson, in the battle in New
York, kept falling to the floor before
he was hit and used up most OF the
four rounds in that way. did hit him
once and he went down, all right But
he was UP inside Of ten seconds. as
counted by the referee, Harry Hill, but
according 10 the time by Al Smith and
several other outsiders, Tug was down
10 seconds. Al Smith was an English
man
made another match with Tug, and
the owner OF a sporting paper in New
York who was securing the world TO
get somebody TO wallop me, posted $500
forfeit Before the time for the battle
Tug happened TO think Of some business
he had to transact IN dear old Eng
land. and he quietly took ship and SAIL
ed away. The $500 came TO me and
Tug lived happy ever after on the coin
he'd collected from the blawsted yam
keeG
BY the way. expect to meet Mitchell
IN the ring at Tacoma this month.
John La Father Never Weighed
Over 13o.
After Donoghue. the sculptor, had
produced his statue Of The Boxer" for
which posed TO him during a whole
summer, sharps on such matters said
the shape OF the statue was one Of the
most perfect that had ever come down
any pike either IN this country or
Greece. Although this statute which
shows yours truly when I was at my
best has been exhibited 1 nthis country
and Paris and praised as the most per-
feet Of human shapes. I mention it only
to show what g remarkable thing it is
that I should be the son OF q father
who never weighed over 80 pounds
Ny mother was OF fair size, weighing
$50 pounds. and Il was said that I got
my strength from her. Ny uncles and
other relatives on my fathers side were
large mea and IN Ireland were called
by q Celtic word meaning The Big
Sullivans." According to the yardstick
measurements I didn't have much OF a
start IN life. yet here are some OF tho
names I have had put upon me during
my career in the ring:
Boston Hercules. knight OF the Fives,
The Hard Hitting Sullivan. The Bos-
ton Miracle. King OF the Ring, The
Magnificent Sullivan. Boston's Philan-
thropist Prizefghter, Boston Giant,
Trip-Hanmer Jack Spartaeus Sullivan.
Monarch OF the Prize Ring. Scientific
American, Bostons Pride and Joy, Sui
Iivan the Great, Sullivan the Wonder,
Prize Fighting Caesar, Champion
Founder, Goliath OF the Ring, etc.
Pretty strong for the son Of a father
who never damaged any scales.
How He Tied Up Street System.
Several times IN my crowded hours I
put the street car system Of Boston out
OF business When I opened my cafe,