The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-03
Old Ring Battler Fights
Gamely but in Vain With
Last Opponent.
END COMES SUDDENLY
Spent Final Years on Farm
and in Lecturing Tours
Against Booze.

No"6toi, MANS, req. S.-JOnn L..
Sullivan. one Of the most interesting
figures Of prize ring renOwn died sud
denly Of heart disease at his farm in
West Abingdon today. As was his
wish he died with :iis shoes on. AL
though striker with heart trouble three
weeks ago. he had quickly improved
ana was in no sense an invalid. He
was about to leave his house today to
pay visit to Boston to see his old
friend, Captain James =. Sullivan, Of
the Boston police department, when he
received his final knock out.
His friend and companion, George NJ.
Bush, rushed to his side as the old
gladiator sank to the floor unconscious
and revived him with cold water appli-
cations to the head. John L." re-
spending quickly to this treatment, as
In his palmy days in the prize ring,
struggled to his feet and refused to
take the decision of time. He reluc-
family consented to have physician
called, but after receiving medical
treatment, announced that he would
have bath and keep his appoint
ment. Even as he expressed his de-
termination, he became unconscious
and died apparently without further
pain.
Burial in Boston.
The body will be taken to the home
Of his sister in Boston, where funeral
services will be held Wednesday morn
ing.
Hardly had the news Of the passing
OF one Of Americas greatest fistic
q mi,
messages of sympathy began pouring
into town from men in all walks Of
life. Sullivan, In his prime, was a pop
ular idol and he never entirely lost his
hold on the public This was due, not
to the success of his prize fighting
days. but to his rugged battle later
against his old easy going habits.
Blamed Booze for Defeat.
John L." always attributed his loss
OF the American championship to
James j. Corbett. by knockout in
New. Orleans. September Z, 1892, to
liquor. He had made fortune in the
prize ring and had spent it when his
friends rendered him benefit concert
In Boston to put him on his feet again
The money obtained from this venture
and then Sullivan's old fighting spirit
reasserted itself and he announced that
he had entered the list against John
barioycorn for fight to the finish.
leetursd for Temperance.
The public regarded this challenge
with interest, but John L." battled
with John Barleycorn, as he had with
al his opponents. He forced the fight
ing. as 1t were. He proclaimed his
defiance OF drink from platforms
throughout the country and held him
self up to the youth as a horrible ex-
ample Of what drink would do He
never let up in his aggressive fight
against liquor and frequently left his
farm here for long temperance speak
ing tours.
He was So years of age when he was
counted out. He had often expressed
regret that he was too old to go with
the boys overseas, but he was not too
old to do his bit. He never declined
an invitation to speak at flag rails
ing or recruiting rally or in behalf Of
the Liberty loan.
Sullivan never was taught how to
box.
in Boston, received his education there
and entered the professional ring at 20.
His first fight of Importance was with
Professor John Donaldson, whom he
whipped twice, His next great fight
was on a barge DEPOSITS Yonkers when
he knocked out Hood in 1s minutes.
He whipped or bested Donaldson, Goss.
Rookie, Hood. Wassley. Mccarthy and
Donovan. then whipped Paddy Ryan at
Mississippi City. Miss. in nine rounds
and Jake Kilrain in Richburg, Miss. in
10 rounds in an open arena and under
the fierce heat of a southern sun.
One Of the important engagements of
the champion was with Charley Nit
chcll in New York In a limited no
round bout The two met later in
France and fought to a draw.
81 This was the beginning of Sullivan's
world tour which took him to many
of the foreign countries. He offered
$500 to anyone entering the ring with
him and staying four rounds but only
one. Tug Wilson. could claim his, coin
1t was during this trip he gave an ex-
hibition before the Prince Of Wales.
AFTER his bloody fight with kilrain,
Sullivan's reputation reached it's zenith.
He was the popular idol wherever he
appeared. Seeing a chance to COM
his popularity, with Pat
Sheedy as his manager. Sullivan went
upon the stage, appearing as the star
in Honest Hearts and Willing Hands"
The venture proved profitable one
and ii was estimated that the profits Of
the big fighter reached a million dol
lars.
But Sullivan could not stand pros |
perity. He opened saloons in both New
York and Boston. ano it was not long |
until the fortune he had made was
spent in riotous living.
Then a new star started to rise over |
the rinKside in the person OF James J. |