Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-07
GBy Latest MALL
BY WILLIAM a. RocAP.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. think of a
professional boxer who could not
walk the streets of any large city
in America without the crowds who
were eager to catch glimpse Of him
causing congestion of traffic If you
can picture this man to yourself yoa
have the writer's choice OF the best
heavyweight eyer developed in this
country. Twenty-Five years ago j
was freely asserted that If John L.
Sullivan were to walk up Broadway
or Chestnut street on one side, and
the president OF the United Estates
were to 60 down on the opposite side,
there would be more people following
the then heavyweight champion than
the executive Of the nation Such is
hero worship. And the assertion YVES
often proved to be true.
Owing to this constant adulatiCa.
Sullivan rarely could walk from Che
railway station % TIE hotel nor could
- 50 slf6Nbiiig nom store % sfisrc
the same IS any other human beifs.
He always was Obliged to ride in a
cab. WHAT was the magnet that SO
attracted mankind TO Sullivan:
What were the attributes of char.
acter thlt 50 endeared him to Z the
sportsnlen OF America? II was be-
cause John l. Sullivan was always on
the level He. always fought to win.
And In the ~ years which he held the
championship title the money which
followed him generally came back
doubled.
Spcrtsmaniike Retirement.
On September Z, 1892, when he was
virtually beaten down by James j.
Corbett after having been target for
the California bank clerks blows for
more than one hour, he pluckily
struggled to his feet, tottered to the
side of the ring and clutehed the
ropes. As soon az he was able to-
speak he made one of the manlieg.
speeches ever uttered by a beaten
boxer. With his lips quivering ,ii..
said: Il have been defeated fairy
and sQuarely, but / am glad that my
title has been won by an American.
Sullivan never fought thereafter. tie
realized that the pace of the Marquis
of Queensbury code had so quickened
that he was unable to keep up with
the procession. He gracefully retired.
Inundated by his defeat and troubled
because those who had such conf
denc in his ring ability had lost thous-
ands of dollars in wagers, Sullivan
told the writer he would never fight
again. No one win ever lose a cent
on me again." he added firmly.
The next morning after the great
battle, with the late Thomas j. Ryan,
who was then harbormaster of Phil.
adelphia, the writer sought Sullivan
In the Turkish baths at the Young.
Mems Gymnastic Club In New Or
leans. Later the little party was.
Joined by Jack McAuliffe. We were
the solitary visitors to the defeated.
man. Corbett, the new champion,
had the crowds. Sullivan, so confident
OF his ability, fought for all he pos
sessed. In fact, the winner took all.
Sulliyan's only asset was $40 note.
and his heart was so big that he was
willing and even eager to spend that
on his trio of friends. That was the
real man. He valued friends and they
valued him. His financial distress
was not of long duration, On his re-
turn north benefit was arranged
and Madison Square Garden, New
York. was crowded to the roof to pay
homage to the man who had so HON
ored the American ring. He was
again started in life No matter what
mistakes Sullivan made, he was the
chief sufferer. and he was always the
idol Of the American sporting public.
Sullivan was man with great force
of character and win power. Seven
years ago, when he was approaching
90 years Of age. he looked back over
his varied, and shall / say checkered,
career and determined to cut ont the
drink AS strong as / am | cannot
handle it." said Sullivan. From that
day he began his restart in life With
Frank Hall. who also made the vow
with Sullivan, he began tour of the