Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-24
MANAGING PRIZE FIGHTERS
bot suchan Easy Task as One Would
| Imagine.
wEcoLLECTIoNs OF A VETERAN
air Months ~ suIl4yan's Mentor
Caused . General breakdown ON
the Part OF = Veteran
spent.

NEW YORK. jar. 2-"Every young nei-
low who knocks about the boxing clubs
1 Turks IT'S a picnic to manage a star
Tighter" said a veteran sporting man as he
oha4ted with several clubmen at the ring
side OF the National Athletic club the other
might "Some years ago l thought so my
self. when 1 was young and full Of ginger,
and after spending a lot OF money across
the bar 20 make myself solid with John l..
Sullivan I became his manager. Then IT
was that 1 could see the money rolling into
my pockets in ten and twenty thousand
stacks. but. let me tell you. 1t was the
warmest six months of my life and ~ l
had remained Sullivan's manager for an
other half year I'd have been In my grave.
ut took me Just six months, however, to
discover that the big fellow was managing
me instead Of me managing him. Why. I
was obliged to conform to all his habits
and ways Of living. his manner Of eating,
drinking. sleeping and conducting business.
AT the end of my experience I was a mental
and physical wreck and was obliged to
spend a couple months at Hot Springs to
recover my normal condition.
Costly Job, This.
Sullivan was a very hot bird in those
days, l think It was about 1886, just before
he got that severe fit of sickness that put
him out OF business for several months.
Suffering with gastric fever, he lowered
between life and death and as 1t was a
second attack everybody thought 1t was
his finish. Did I make any money? Well,
] really never found out. l know we picked
mp a pot of It on the road, but we blew it
as fast az we got it and faster, too. for we
must have borrowed a wagon-loed of the
stuff from all kinds Of people who were
stuck on John and wanted to do him a
favor.
ITO tell you the truth. the last three
months I was with John I was in a sort
of champagne trance, for IT was wine. wine,
wine day and night. We never went to bed
until 4 or 8 In the morning and never got
up until noon. Then We started the wine
going before we were dressed-before break
fast-and kept at It until we could hold no
more. Well, IT cost some to keep the ball
rolling, but we certainly made some dough.
because Sullivan drew big houses wherever
he showed. For my part l know that l
quit the Job broke and with the little bank
roll ] had before I started out as Johns
manager gone"
"How did Sullivan train for those
knockout shows of his?" asked a lis
tener.
How sullivan Trained.
Why" replied the veteran sporting
man, he never was in condition. On a
day or night that he was to meet some
fellow and try to knock him out in four
rounds sullivan generally took a Turkish
bath. a good rundown and a clean shave.
Then TO the public he looked like a real
gladiator. Sometimes he went into the
ring as full as a goat and got away with
his man Just the same. Considering the
life hc led, John was the most wonder
full fighter In the world. If he had taken
care of himself as he's doing today, his
equal would never have been seen in the
prize ring.
Several years after ! quit Sullivan q
fat little theatrical man named Harris
came to me in a Cincinnati hotel one
day and told me that he had booked
Sullivan for a couple of weeks in vaude.
willie. He asked me confidentially what
was the best way to handle John.
He has missed a couple of matinees
by being intoxicated and l have had &
stand the loss said Harris. Tell me
please. how I should go about it to ge
Coutro, of him.
"'That's very simple I replied. will
an important air. You must go at hin
goo1 and strong, Don't let him thinl
you are afraid of him. Tell him he's
rum-soaked bluff and you won't stanC
for any more of his drunken capers.'
"'As strong as that, ehT' remarked tn
little manager. as he turned pale. We'll
you ought to know! He's up on the slxtl
floor now. half stewed, in bed. I'll g
up and give him a stiff call! You know
I'm a business man. not a fool, and In
out for the velVetl'
Harrfa Calls Sullivan.
"'Yes. by ali means, Mr.. Harris. tn
sooner the better! Business is business.
I replied, as he disappeared in the ele
kVator. Then 1 took a chair in the dark
lest corner of the sitting room and begal
TO laugh over what would probably hap
pen in Sullivan's room. Would 1t be
comedy or q tragedy? I didn't have I
wait long for results, probably eight min
utes, when Harris rushed out of the ele
vato. like a man chased by some will
animal He looked nervously around 70
- - -