The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-27
FIGHTERS BROKEN HACKERS
,OTED SPORTING MEN WHO
BLEW THEIR FORTUNES.

,,cN champions Spend Other Peoples
Mcnty-Biily Bennett, Harry sam,
warren Lewis, Dick Roche and
Others Financially wrecked by Ring.
Many a thoroughbred sporting man has
cone dead broke on a pugilist,' remarked
'bc old time fight promoter recently. aTo
hack. rain, dress and keep n high flying
6rhter is a luxury and costs . pot of money.
reS fighters know the value OF money and
many Of them would blow In the Bank OF
England if they had the chance.
.Ona Of the best known Of the former
beavyweights probably squandered more
Of other peoples money than he ever made
in the prize ring. 1t came pretty easy for
the big fellow when he was champion, for
he could go out any evening and touch
some admirer for $500 or Il 900 without the
scratch Of a pen or a word Of explanation.
In fact there was many an easy mark who
considered it an honor to stake him to a
piece Of change. No wonder that he could
blow in money like a drunken sailor! He
got it easy and il Invent the same way. 1t
wasn't until this man was defeated that
he became alive to the TACT that he was
dead broke and without many of his for
mer generous friends. Then he swore of
drinking, got into the theatrical business
ami saved his money.
This man in his sober moments was
reyer a spendthrift. He learned much
from experience while roaming all over
the world, but in his cups he was alto
gether different. l remember one night
shortly after winning a championship
fight he found himself high and dry. He
hal handed his winnings to a burlesque
queen who promptly skipped away. but
that didn't worry him. With a couple OF
friends he took a cab and started up
town to dig some coin.
-On the way they made stops OF several
popular saloons. but before entering each
yIacc the champion touched one OF his
companions for, a ten or a twenty so that
he could order two or three bottles OF
vine. half a dozen perfecto cigars and
throw the change to the bartenders.
Cne of his companions on this little trip
was his business manager and, being
also in financial distress. kept urging the
champion to be or his way to an uptown
hotel where a swell admirer had $500 to
slip to him: but the fighter didn't seem
to be in a hurry to get the coin and fingered
At the bar wherever he stopped. Finally
the little party reached the hotel and
found their friend ~anxiously awaiting their
arrival.
I'm glad you've come, old boyi I've
feen waiting an hour for you'll exclaimed
the man with money. The champion
received this greeting rather . gruffly.
much to the CONSERVATION Of his CON-
panions, who wanted him to get the dough
as quickly as possible.
Iwould like to speak to you privately
laid the swell. taking the fighter by the
arm to lead him aside.
There's nothing private between
me and my friends! Anything you've got
10 say you can say before them!' was
the answer.
The man with money hesitated a mo-
ment and then declared that he had drawn
$500 out OF the bank to give to the big
fellow. The champion swelled up and
Exclaimed in his most dramatic style:
"No. / don't need your money. I
can get all the cash I wantl'
-Tha more the heavyweight refused
the more the swell insisted that he should
lake it. Finally after a wrangle the
champion took $50. threw II on the bar
and ordered wine and cigars galore.
When the money was almost gone he
rushed the few remaining bills over to
The bartender and said good night to
his ~benefactor. This strange proceeding
amazed his two companions, who de-
manded an explanation.
Il don't like that guy. and his money
is no good to me- was all the answer
hey got. =.
About a year later I met the swell
admirer and we had a chat about the
big fellow and his eccentric ways. /
recalled the incident at the hotel and the
swell burst into a hearty laugh.
1T was rather queer why. he refused
the $500 that night. he said. but he came
a thousand from me. Very clever, wasn't
it; You see he didn't want TO split the
coin with his friendsl Very clever in
deed!' So you see there was method in
his madness. He "a q wise fellow all
right when not too full Of the old stuf.'
There was Billy Bennett, n OF the
best ,tL known sporting &. men nrab II, this S,,S city
more fighters Who died broke than any
other man in America. He backed
Mike Cleary, Jimmy Lynch and q bunch
Of others and kept many a pugilist from
doing hard work. Bennett took John
l., Sullivan in as a partner In a Sixth
avenue saloon once. greatly to his financial
detriment and sorrow. At n time
Bennett was worth q quarter OF q million
dollars and was a very liberal giver UP.
About two years z he drifted down to
Coney Island, where he tried to run a
saloon. but as he was a broken down old
man, crippled with rheumatism, he was
soon taken to the hospital at Flatbush.
where he died alone n unknown. He
was buried in potter's field and remained
there until a former partner In the liquor
business learned Of his fate. Then poor
Bennett was removed to his own plot
IN Calvary, where he raj placed beside
his wife. Bennett was q dead game
fellow in his day and q hard proposition
to beat in a rough and tumble fight.
lie was one OF the last Of the old New
York sporting men.
Poor old Harry Hill. who at time
was half a million to the good, was al
ways a good friend Of the fighters. He
provided a decent burial for many q pug.
He spent his money freely with the boxers.
and was always On deck with a benefit
for any worthy fighter in Distress. Sulli-
van made his first appearances hero at
Harry Hin's place. on the corner Of
Houston and Crosby streets, on March
~. 1881. where he bested Steve Taylor
~ two rounds. Hill was q good friend
nf John l.. long before he was champion,
item lending him money. {.
Hill was the best known and most
y~opular promoter Of boxing In the world