The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-27

(Note. This is the tenth chapter of a series of articles which Mir. Corbett is writing on John l.. as I Knew Him It relates many heretofore unpublished incidents in the life of the great war rior. The next instalment will appear to- morrow.)
 John L. Sullivan was the last stepping stone I used in my climb toward the top in pugilisn. Yet. from the first moment I saw him in 1884 until within year of our contest the thought Of battling him never entered my mind. Sullivan ap- pealed to me as a pugilistic deity and 1 had, in my earlier youth, the opinion. that was general throughout the world that John l.. was unbeatable.
 From the time that became interested in boxing, around the age of 15, until that day in San Francisco when I saw John l.. on the street, one of my most ardent wishes was to see him in action to see how the champion of champions" waged a battle. I was wild to acquire all possible Knowledge of boxing and felt that just one sight of John l.. would enable me to learn much in ring con IL. delight when John L. was matched with George M. Robinson in San Francisco on March G. 1884
 At 4:3O that afternoon finished up my work in the bank and hurried immedi- ately to the hall where the contest was to be staged. The fight was not to go on until Il o'clock at night, but at , p. T to pat nj n. The doors were locked. I hunted up one of the men who was connected with the promotion of the fight and asked him to let me in right away.
 What's the hurry?" he countercd; ''the fight isn't going to be put on until Il o'clock
 Yes, sir, know that was my an- swer; but I want to get in now so that can get good seat
 There you are, kid. Grab yourself good seat
 And I did--in the gallery overlooking the ring; the nearest vantage point possible for a holder of an unreserved ticket.
 It was still daylight when I entered that place. Soon twilight came, then it faded and was alone in the big building for more than an hour-and in absolute darkness It was a long wait and a tiresome one, but the anticipation of see ing the wonderful Sullivan in action was enough to compensate me for the sacri- flee of having passed up my supper and for the lonely vigil in the big arena. I've often looked back to that time and wondered how many kids since that day have endured as much merely to see an idol?
 At last John l.. made his appearance in the ring, stripped to fighting condi- ton. I gasped in astonishment. In those days Sullivan was at his best. He was deep chested. wonderfully muscled. and still trim and speedy in his move l ments. In real life he lived up to all l the press notices concerning him. And I as saw him this wish was mine: T hope that some day I may be as | husky and as powerful looking as John l.. Sullivan
 I Eagerly waited for the bout to begin. l wanted to see whether John l.. ccul1 perform in the ring all the wonderful l deeds credited to him. But the bout was l a disappointment. Robinson, from the outset, did nothing more than to avoid 1 Sullivan. He was in fear of him. He 1 spent most of the four rounds on the l floor Time and again John L. rushed. 1 but whenever the champion got withhin
 range. Robinson would flop to the can 1 vass for a few seconds. Then he would I jump out. run away and when cor l programme almost throughout the entire
 four rounds. %
 At that time there was popular