Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-20
PUG PADS FIST WITH LEAD
Brooklyn Tommy Sullivan Relates
Little Expose Of the Fight
ing Game,
TELLS MEET-ALL- -CoMERs FAKE

There's little red-headed chap who
hands himself good laugh whenever
John L. Sullivan bobs up with periodical
dissertation upon the days when he met
all comers. Modern fighters, especially
those who demand and set huge guaran-
toes for short. "safety-first" bouts. usu-
ally suffer severely in John LIS oomparl-
sons, and Just to rub Il in the former
king OF 'em all never fails 20 recite the
glory that was sullivan when he toured
the country knocking 'em dead in the
opera houses at the rate of as many as
three a night.
But OF tho sorrel-haired boy--hes
Brooklyn Tommy Sullivan Tommy IS
retired now 90 the precarious business
of running a fight club In st. Louis. but
he had truthfully recall knockout over
Abe Attell when the Hebrew boy was
king OF the feathers. Attel erased
Tommy's clouded glory not long after.
ward with return knockout In three
rounds, but the little Broohynite stnl
Is fresh In the memory OF many a fight
fan as one OF the best who ever donntd
the maullng mlttens Tor trouble among
the little feilows
Brooklyn Tommy Reminiscent.
When Tommy was IN his heyday more
years ago than he cares to say he played
the game of meeting all corners and found
Il great fun. Like William OF Lincoln.
he played the variety circuits. Seated at
his desk In the dinlSy office OF his Future
City Athletic club. st. Louis. Tommy
at times can be guided into reminiscent
mood Such mood overlook him on the
occasion OF suliivan's most recent out i.
| burst.
Meeting 'em all ls a great game," said
Tommy, shooting lll-formed smoke rings
at the dusty electric light. II remember
one chap who did e. lie had a system;
maybe John J.. didn't have one. but ~
he didn't he took some long chances. It'a
hardly worth any mans while 20 risk all
his prestige for the money no collects
In the one-night tour
There are many peculiar turns 10 the
game OF meeting them as they come. III
mention no names. understand. but ri
tip off how one fight who. we'll known
at the time and right next 70 the top
OF the ladder. managed to stay there,
though he fought at least one three
round fight every night OF whoie
theatrical season. But. remember, I am
mentioning no names
THE chap I'm speaking OF had a con.
tract with hurley girley show ana was
billed as the star attraction, next 20 the
dancer The dancers still dancing, by
the way and the fighter is-the fighter
hasn't fought for years.
They brought this boy a tough nut
TO crack ON the first night OF his tour.
The show started at old West side
theater In Chicago. He had been expIor-
Ing the North Side the night before and
was In better mood for sleeping than
for polishing off total stranger who
might or might not be a ringer The
show manager tried the usual stall of
warning the youngstor how tough was
the near champion. He failed TO make
an impression; the climber wouldn't
listen to any proposal 20 take one on
the jaw ana dive gracefully. nor would
he be denied his meeting with the star.
The bout had 70 go on and II did.
THE story OF the fighters second who
stands behind the bank drop I'm the all
oomers act and drops the stranger with
hammer blow on the skull doesn't III
In this narrative. We-that is. they
"Nio H"'""ehoi 'hah Ahht III thiS ca1o-
Tea Lead on KnucISIes.
Just before bell time they wrapped
the stars knuckles in a heavy layer OF
tea-leAd. They didn't even bandage his
hands and the gloves were broken al
the knuckes-that is. the padding was
20 pushed out that only two thin layers
OF Kid stood between the strangers Jaw
and the solid chunk OF lead II the boxer
ever connected. lie connected. In the
third he connected, and judging from the
| way the beaten lad listened TO the
cuckoos he's dreaming still,
"On other occasions no spTinkled his