The San Francisco call., 1910-06-26
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New Orleans he authorized friend who vas with
him to wager $4,000 his chances at the prevailing
odds
Corbetts confidence, however, was as nothing
pared with that of the champion. Sullivan did not
believe the lived who could stand before his tre
mendous rushes- He had prepared tor the battle at
Canoe Place inn, famous hotel just beyond Good
Ground Long island, established under royal grant
in the second decade of the eighteenth century,
frequented by automobile parties touring through
Long island.
Sullivan ran over the Shinnecock hills and plowed
through the sand, training faithfully than he
thought the occasion required He took off many
pounds of surplus weight, yet went to New Orleans
carrying girth that made his friends shake their
heads and long for the Sullivan of five years earlier
Corbett did his training at Asbury park, with De-
laney at the head of affairs He gave himself most
careful preparation spendinga his wakeul hours in
the open air.
Odds of to against Corbett were freely offered
when the two pushed their way through the great
throng and entered the ring OF the Olympic club.
Even at these almost prohbitive figures Sullivan
money urgent and plentiful while the hackers of
Corbett were shy OF all the thousands OF men who
packed the clubhouse that evening Corbett unques-
tionably the alone absolutely confident of his
own victory
John L. Sullivan was the originator of the fighting
face In his hundreds of ring he had fright
ened his opponents by the ferocy of his appearance.
More than one fight had been by him before a
blow was struck. Yet Sullivan was puzzled by the
demeanor of Corbett while the prelimnaries of the
battle being arranged in the ring In Sullivan
corner were Jack McAuliffe, premier lightweight of
all time; Joe Lannon, Phil Casey and Charlie John
son. Behind Corbett were Billy Delaney Mike Dono-
van, Jim DAILY and John Donaldson
Corbett stopped and joked with his seconds after
crawling through the ropes, and then stepped jauny
Sullivan, paying not the slightest heed the
heavy scowl that darkened the champions visage He
gripped his opponents huge fIst gave 1t hearty
squeeze and told Sullivan he was glad to see him
Then he went prancing away jumping from one foot
to another like schooigirl-he testing the floor
of the ring to find any possible weakness that might
be developed. His GOODNESS revelation to
his most intimate friends. The experience new
John L. and it may have had the effect Corbet de-
sired upon the giant title holder
When the two men came together to receive in
structions from John Duffy the official referee Cor
bett stood nonchalantly shoulder to shoulder with
Sullivan. He looked ideal Greek athlete compared
with heavy musced Roman gladiator.
Sullivan began to explain his understanding of the
bett stepped away to shake hands with friend al
the ringside Sullivan stopped in disgust, showing he
had been making another effort TO discourage his
opponent.
There was hush through the building as the gone
changed, little after o'clock, and brought tht
two men together. Sullivan rushed and as he ap
preached Corbett he swung his left which Corbet
ducked under and hoped away just in time to escape
a vigorous right intended for the jaw Sullivan wa
carried almost off his balance but he steadied hmsel
by catching the rope with his left hand
Again he plunged toward Corbett swinging righ
and left while the crowd was inclined to jeer Corbet
for his evasive tactics Rush after rush made b,
the champion Again and again he swung his tremen
dous right followed by his no less tremendous left
1t seemed that Sullivan expected the eers of th
crowd would compel Corbett to halt and exchang
blows with him But the round ended without blow
having landed. Corbett had been content to let hi