The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-25
Chatter Among the Bugs Ouer the Circuit


(NSte: This is the thirty-sixth chap
ter 1T series of articles which Mr.
Corbett is writing on John l.. AS ]
Knew Him" 1t relates many hereto
fore unpublished incidents in the life
of the great warrior. The next in
stallment will appear tomorrow.
1t is more than rs years ago since
my memorable contest in New Orleans
with John l.. Sullivan. But not one
incident of that contest has faded from
my recollections. 1t would be possible
for me to give the story of the fight
in my own way and from memory alone
but ] feel that perhaps the pugilistic
fans of the present era would rather
have the reports of unbiased writer's
real newspaper reports of that contest
covering at least most of the rounds.
SO I shall quote in this chapter the
newspaper accounts of the first five
rounds-perhaps the most interesting
OF the fight with the exception of the
final.
ROUND ONE
THE gong banged at 9;07 p. M, the
two giants jumped to the center of the
TfnS, SHOOK naHuS, uuCItSpCu anu d.
once Sullivan led with his left He
missed Sullivan swung another left,
nut Corbett pushed it aside The cham
pion swung another left but Corbett
pushed it aside. The champion swung
powerful right for Corbetts jaw but
the Californian gracefully stepped out
of the way. Sullivan rushed Corbett
to the ropes, made a mighty swing for
his opponents jaw but Corbett quickly
slipped away. Corbett danced around
In a tantalizing manner, but his ac-
lions didn't please the crowd. Kisses
came from the audience and through
out the house there were yells to Cor
bett to 60 on and fight.o Sullivan
tried a left for Corbetts body, but it
was short. The Kisses grew louder.
sullivan had savage scowl on his
face; Corbett was all smiles Sullivan
swung more than a score of leftS and
rights at Corbett through the early
part of the first round, but they failed
to reach their mark. Corbett continued
to smile at Sullivan in an aggravating
way and danced around, always out
of Sullivan's reach. In the first round
Sullivan did not hit Corbett a real
blow and never once during that ses-
sion of fighting did the Californian at
tempt to hit Sullivan. The crowd Kissed
and booed Corbett as he went to his
corner with the end of the first round.
ROUND TWO
Sullivan came in a furious rage,
rushed but Corbett danced away. Sui
livan led and Corbett ducked. Sulli-
van charged at Corbett once again ana
landed light left with the open hand
on Corbetts face. Sullivan rushed Cor
bett to the ropes, but Corbett ducked
away in clever fashion Sullivan
rushed and Corbett ran away. Some
one in the crowd started to whistle
Home, Sweet Home" Soon the strains
came from all over the house. Then
the whistling ceased and the crowd
took to kissing Corbett louder than
ever. Sullivan rushed. Jim sidestepped
and then with lightning speed planted
left in the stomach of the champion
1t was Corbetts first lead in the fight
and he had hit his target. The two
men kept fiddling in the center of the
ring, with Corbett dancing around. The
crowd implored him to go in and
fight" Corbett in answer, deliber
ately turned sideways facing away
from Sullivan, held up a hand toward
the crowd and said: Wait awhile;
you'll see some action. Sullivan
rushed Corbett once more but Corbett
again danced out of the way. Sullivan
succeeded in landing light right