Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-07
BOSTON GLADIATOR
is LAID At REST

Boston, Feb. 6.--Fhe body of John L..
Sullivan. one time heavyweight cham
pion, was laid at rest beside that OF
his wife in Old Calvary cemetery. to-
day, after ritual service held i'll the
parish church, in the RoXbury dis
trct, where his early days We're pass
ed. Crowds lined the streets near TIC
church and the church itself was Till
&C to overfiowinS. A handful of veter-
ans of the sporting world. associates
of Sullivan in MS pugilistic career,
and men prominent in city and state
affairs were in the gathering al the
church, but the funeral was largely Il
neighbo,hOod affair. made UP of resi-
dents Of the district, their wives and
children Jake kilrajn, principal in one
of Sullivan'S most celebrated battles.
served as an usher. as did Jack Shee-
han, the referee. Daniel DWyer of Chi
copee, q former sparring partner %
Sullivan with a few others Of note n
pugiiistic circles circles but ASIDE from
this group there was little to suggest
the prominence Of the dead man in the
sporting world.
Noteworthy among the mourNClH
We're George Bush. companion Of Sui
livan at tie farm i'll West Abnctor,
where the old gladiator passed his last
wears. and William Kelly, a boy to
whom Sullivan took " strong liking
and for whom he had agreed to provide.
Sullivan did not adopt Kelly legally
but the boy will be looked after until
he becomes seif-supporting in defer
cncr to the known wish Of the former
champion, although the latter did not
leave large estate.
James j. Corhett who WreSted tho
championship from Sullivan more than
Il score of years ago, was not present
COrbett's presence at the Lennon home
had been announced by the family last
night and many of his Boston friends
called there to sec him. The eXplana-
ton offered today was that in the anA-
iety of the family TO meet all callers
they had mistaken another man 70!
Corbett. The latter sent q fiora' offer
ing and telegraphed his resrets that he
would be unable to come here for the
funeral.
In Corbetts absence l. ;. Marshal
John ]. Mitchell was substituted as an
active pall bearer. The others were For
mer Mayor James NJ. Curley, William
Muldoon. Police Capt. James 7. sullivan,
Daniel J. Mcdonald, Edward NJ. Culran,
William Hagarty. Clarence W. EowleN,
John Mahoney and Fire Chief William
J. Gaffey There were no honorary Dear
ers fishers 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
Mt the church were James O'Brien SYRIA
cuse. y. Y: "Yank' Sullivan, Troy, \.
Y: William Hurd, Manchester, y. H.
Tim Cronin, Lawrence: Thomas King,
Gloucester. and a host Of lesser lights.
Calvin Coolidge. lieutenant governor, at
tended as the official representative OF
Sullivan's native state. Nearly every city
official was present.
There was no funeral Grafton at the
church, IS many had expected nor was
the casket opened. There was the usual
ritual service at the conclusion Of which
the crowd stood as the heavy coffin was
carried out.
Hundreds of people who had been turn
ed away from the church followed the
procession TO Calvary cemetery at Forest
Hills, where q multitude waited in the
bitter cold. Cinders were scattred along
the route and on roadways in the ceme-
terv. where the ice made traffic danger
ans