Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-07
FORM CHAMPION GOES
TO FINAL RESTING PLACE
Funeral of John l.. Sullivan in
Boston Attended by Thou
sands of People.

p,s,on. Feb. Final tribute to a
= champion was paid yesterday wher
body of John l.. Sullivan was buried II
lyary Cemcterr. In the crowds thai
cd the snow-flled streets as the cas-
was borne from the home of SUI
Ivan sister, Mrs. Annie Lennon, IN the
koxhurv district To st. Pauls Church,
where the funeral mass was celebrated,
were scores of children bidding fare
we'll to their hig pal. For them the
tales Of his prize ring days were legends.
They remembered hum best as their big
.pal whose watchword was courage and
v ho rccaled them with stories OF kings
and presidents he had met
Al the funeral mass were men and
women from every walk of life. Suili-
van virtually had been out of sporting
life ever since James J. Corbett won the
American heavyweight championship
rom HIM by knockout at New Orleans
1892, and the honor paid his memory
.nday. came from walks FAR removed
from the squared circle.
Leaders OF the temperance movement
were there 10 testify to their regard
for the man who bossted that hls great
est victory was gained when ne con-
olercd drink Many were there also
whom the former champion had helped
m their hours OF need while unmindful
" the bitter cold and demoralized trans
rartation. neighbors who had watched
. Ilhvan settle down 10 country lte
. tirncvcd from his former homo IN AbIng-
an where he died suddenly Of heart
,lsease last SATURDAY.. Nor did the sport
ug fraternity forget their once great
/, i. and they came IN numbers from
,r and near.
Requiem high mass was celebrated by
y. Frederick J Allchin. assistant pas
of >t Paul's Church. The burial was
Calvary, at Forest Hills, beside the
f-dy ol Sullivan's wife.
From the home of SullIvan's sister To
Pauls Catholic Church the funeral
rocession proceeded through streets
lckly lined with people, most OF them
/, ,rnen and children. On the doorsteps
nd IN the windows Of every house stand
rr on the long hill UP Folsom street,
,vds watched as the body OF the
-mer champion passed the scenes IN
pstclv associated with his boyhood
~ There was a tremendous jam
out the church, and every seat IN the
iuilding was filled, with hundreds stand
lnr m the alsles and at the rear. More
than half of the attendants were women.
II was much like 8 big gathering OF
neighbors ANXIOUS TO pay tribute to the
memory of sn old friend. While many
men who had been closely with Sullivan
IN his fighting days were IN the throng,
there was no outpouring OF that element
which in former times had assembled
about the ring. Indeed there was moth
ing 10 Indicate that II was the funeral OF
"A man rated high in the sporting world
IN bis day.
James ]. Corbett. who wrested the
championship from Sullivan more than
score of years ago, was not present. The
incident of his supposed presence at the
Iennon home was given out tuesday
night bv the family. who had confused his
name with that of another OF the hundreds
of callers. Corhett sent floral offering
and telegraphed his regrets that he would
be unable TO come here for the funeral.
In his absence United States Marshal
John J. Mitchell was substituted as an
active pallbearer. The Others were for
mer Nayor James NJ. Curlcy. William
Nluldoon, Police Captain James P. Sulli-
van. Daniel ]. Mcdonald, Edward NJ.
Curran, William Hogarty, Clarence ".
Rowlev, John Mahoney and Fire Chief
William J. Gaffey There were no honor
sry bearers Jshers at the church included
men who had been identified with some OF
the matches in which Sullivan took part.
Among the old fighters sporting friends
st the church were ''Y3nk" Sullivan, of
Syracuse, y. Y; James O'Brien, of Troy.
y. Y; Thomas Hanton. Chicago; William
Hurtl. Manchester, Y H.: Tim Cronin, Of
Lawrence: Thomas King, Of Gloucester,
md a host Of lesser ring lights. Calvin
n q p+%
the official representative OF Sullivan
alive State.
There was no funeral oration at the
urch, rs many had expected, nor was
casket opened. There was the usual
lal service. at the conclusion of which
crowd stood as the heavy coffin was
ed out.
hundreds of people who had been turn
AWAY from the church followed the
,ession TO Calvary Cemetery at Forest
ls where q multitude waited IN the
Ter cold Cinders were scattered along
e route and on ToadwayS IN the ceme-
~ where the ice made traffic dangerous.
MANY of Sullivan old friends who un-
ertook the Journey afoot 10 the cemetery
iroppcd out of line after marching many
blocks because of tho cold and the ice
coated streets As the hearse passed
Ere engine house the doors were swung
open and the bells were tolled.
The Sullivan plot Is on the highest point
N the cemetery, and a cold wind made it
uncomfortable for those standing about
the grave The service was brief. Rev.
John j. LYONS, OF Abingdon, John LIS
neighbor, who blessed the grave, departed
briefly from the ceremony to refer 10 the
latter great victory over an enemy that
had bcset him after his retirement from
the ring
As the funeral party turned homeward,
,ith sharp wind sweeping across the
cemetery, there WAS a light furry of snow
But there was not enough 10 leave lis
trace upon ne grave where John l.. slept