Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-02-10
THE SULLIVAN
 K|LRA|N FIGHT Recalled by Mississippi Opening Up in Spots for the Prize Fighting Game Once More.
 FOUGHT 75 ROUNDS State Authorities Chased John l.. All Over the Country and He Finally Compromised by Purchasing Court House for Town of Puryis.
FOUGHT 75 ROUNDS

With the news that the state of Mississippi is at least open in spots to the boxers comes the recOllec- tion of the blow that killed the game in that state.
 Reference is made to the mem orable encounter between John l.. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain at Rich burg, Miss, on July s, 1889.
 The great battle lasted for 73 rounds, with J. l.. the victor al- though later the officers of the state gave a final decision. When the judge had finished the count on Sullivan it also marked the death blow to the sport in the state, and with the possible excep- tion of a minor bout or two, the commonwealth has been closed to the 'pugs" since Sullivan's money built the court house at Purvis.
 The facts and the results of that encounter stirred the entire nation at the time, although now almost forgotten. It was the most am- bilious effort any state ever made to land the transgressors of that particular law. It was chase that covered almost half of the United States. Columns and columns of matter were given to the subject at the time, and no state south of Mason and Dixon's line ever re- ceived such amount of advertising as did Mississippi.
 Reads Like Story.
 The events leading up to this historical setto between two of the idols of the prize ring at that time almost reads like chapter from story book. Old-timers at the game Wjll remember how every step taken was heralded the coun- try over. The fun began after the fighters had reached New Orleans. The promoters at the Crescent City had promised to pull off the fight within 100 miles of the city, and they gave it out that the bout might take place ill any one of four states. Richburg, Miss, was finally selected as the spot, but Governor Lowry of that state had suspected it and had ordered out the militia and warned the sheriffs of the different counties to arrest the pugilists on sight. In the mean time the governor of Louisiana had made similar preparations should the men stop within the state.
 After much bluffing between the authorities in New Orleans and the promoters the special trains pulled out of the city about midnight the morning before the fight. The trains were Jagged just at the state line, but the engineer is said t6 have disregarded the warning ant gone at full speed into Mississippi peaceful sheriff in the county il which Richburg was located failed to give the state executive warn ing and after some further sensa tions the men got into the ring ant battled for those long 75 rounds
 Outwitted Authorities.
 The fact that the fighters ha' outwitted the authorities simpl added fuel to the fire. Governo Lowry immediately started on tn warpath, and the upshot was Una Sullivan was finally returned Mississippi after chase whlc covered several states. kllraln ha himself arrested in Baltimore an stayed off the inevitable for a time but was also landed and hustle South
 Sullivan appeared at PufVl' Miss. with a great array Of less talent. but it availed him nothing and he was sentenced to one yea in iail. An appeal was taken an Sullivan gave bond and escape serving out the jail sentence whe the case was taken up again.
 The only "John L." has alwa! cisfmed that he got out of it l paying over something like $1s -. bpo for new court house, whit