The Alaska daily empire., 1918-03-28

John L. Sullivan returned from his tour of Australia on October 30, 1891, and shortly afterward joined theat- around the country.
 Hardly had the champion arrived l on native soil when he was greeted with challenges from Frank Slavin and Charlie Mitchell. And also, John l.. found some newspapers advocating that he take me on in a finish bout under Marquis of Queensbury rules. My showings against Kilrain and Jackson and also against John L.. in our exhibition bout had impressed them. And they figured that my speed, skill and youth were assets not to be reckoned lightly.
 I was on a theatrical tour at the time myself. Naturally, some of the sporting writers who were advocat- ing match between John l.. and myself came to me. They asked me whether I would fight John l.. if giv- en chance and I readily replied in the affirmative Those boys elaborat- ed somewhat on my statements and I guess when John L. read them he was somewhat nettled although I had issued no formal challenge.
 Slavin was ranked as John L.'s most formidable foe; as the only one who had a splendid chance of whipping him. Slavin, product of Wn1nc arriuad thn United States just a few months be- fore John LIS return from his Aus tralian tour. Slavin had whipped the best fighters in that country and then had gone to England. There his success continued
 Slayn was nearly six feet two in- ches tall and in his prime beamed around 200 pounds. He was a great two listed fighter, not gifted with extreme cleverness but he under stood the principles of scientific box ing. Furthermore. he could hit with fearful power and had shown ability in standing up under punishment.
 At the same time Charlie Mitchell was in the United States and ever and anon issued challenges at John l.. Charlie felt that his 39-round draw with John L. on French soil en- titled him to another chance and Charlie voiced his thought in the newspapers. The British fighter was said to have the solid backing of a number of wealthy English sports men and it was common talk that if Sullivan would give him a fight those Englishmen would back Charlie with a unlimited bankroll.
 For a number of months the cham pion paid no attention to the chal- lenges of Slayin and Mitchell, other than to term them publicity schemes" But finally he discovered that public sentiment demanded that he get into the ring again with some ] one.
 | that his prestige had wancd trifle through nearly three years of ring inactivity. Flight somebody" was the cry of fandom.
 | Ninetynine per cent, of the lovers
 of pugilsm still felt that John L.
 was unbeatable: but they wanted the
 champion to prove it by actual ifs
 tic performance.
 i Under such pressure, John L..
 while in St. Paul, Minn., on March g.
 1892, issued his famous challenge which follows verbatim:
 St. Paul. Minn.. March 5. 1892.
 Our season ends about June 4th. | and we do not resume again until September 18th. This gives me over 1 three months to prepare.
 q hereby challenge any and all of I the buffers who have been trying to make capital at my expense to | fight me, either the last week in August or the first week in Septem Der. this year. at the Olympic Club, in the city of New Orleans. La. for purse of $25,OO0. and an outside bet of <s10,000, the winner of the fight to take the entire purse "I insist upon bet of $1O.O0O to show that they mean business g 300 to be put up inside of thirty days. another $2.50o to be put up May 1st, and the entire $10.000. and as much more as they will bet. to be placed by June 18th. am ready to put up the entire si0.O00 now. First come, first served.
 q give preference in this chal- lenge to Frank F. slayin, of Aus