The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-05
JOHN |. TO SHOW
IN WASHINGTON
Veteran Fighter Back on
the Stage With a
Monologue.

John L. Sullivan, the widest advertised
and best known man the prize ring ever
produced. will begin a weeks engage
ment tomorrow at a local theater, de-
livering a monOlogue. That he will be
great attraction goes without saying,
Tor there is n glamor and glory that
attaches itself to the magic name Of
John L.
Way back in 1881 he first went to
chicago and knocked out James Dalton
he went to the Windy City with Billy
Madden as manager
Mike Mcdonald, The political boss Of
Chicago for years, was the referee. and
Dalton was a great favorite. Sullivan
agreed TO knock him out in four rounds
and while at that time there were many
in Chicago who thought he would fail,
his performance erased all doubts from
the minds Of those who saw him do the
trick
How Sullivan Met Madden.
1t was during that bout that Sullivan
formed his friendship with Nc
Donald, and when the match with
PADDY Ryan was suggested. the big fell
low had trouble in raising the $4,000
necessary to cover the like amount that
Richard X Fox was ready 10 wager on
Paddy Ryan. ParsOn Davies secured Nc
Donald's backing and all looked we'll
Then came a hitch of some kind and
Mcdonald withdrew as SulIivan's back
eT. 1t was then that Jim Keegan. Of
Boston, stepped into the breach
Madden was tending bar for Keegan
ind he was sent to look after the inter
Ists OF the Boston man, IL was through
this match that Madden and Sullivan
became so closely connected, but the
partnership was OF short duration. for
on the initial trip Of Sullivan through
the country. he and Madden fell out. and
Al Smith took the management Of the
champion.
they toured the entire country. and Il
was the greatest kind Of a financial sue
cess. the pair clearing something like
$4,000 on the trip. That ended AL
Smiths connection as manager Of fight
ers- He has ever since given his atten-
ton to his many interests in New York.
and is rich man today and one of the
squarest sporting men that ever bore
that name
Sore as Boil, Sure Enough.
Sullivan's name in the early sos was a
III.
Everywhere he went crowds followed.
and he seemed the popular idol of the
day. as he is now Early in 1885 he
again went to Chicago. matched to bat
tie against Jack Burke at the old Car
field Park race track. John was in bad
condition, with two boils on his neck.
and the first punch that Burke hit him
broke the boils. How he started after
ha tTrfc 10
figure of Inspector John Shea waving
John back saved Burke from A com
plete rout at that moment.
In the second round of the fight John
started to finish his opponent, and had
Burke sroggy, when some one called
time in the middle Of the round. and
before Arthur Chambers and Frank
Moran could again start Sullivan the
round was nearly over and Burke was
saved
John then went on his second tour Of
the country. with Pat Sheedy as mana
ger, and again a great deal of money
was earned. But John knew not the
value Of a dollar. and he squandered it
as he did on the previous tour and gave
thousands Of dollars to supposed friends.
Uplifted the Stage.
After his tour with Sheedy. Duncan
Harrison induced John to adopt the
stage for a short time. and he appeared
in a play called Honest Hearts and
Willing Hands, Harrison and Sullivan
made much money with the play. and
then he again went on the road boxing.
This time he went to Australia with
Florrie Barnett and Jack Ashton, and
from all accounts of that trip, however,
1t was a success. Harry Phillips. OF
Montreal, then took him to England,
where he fought Charlie Mitchell. and
later on to France, and since that time