Evening star., 1918-02-10


jsonality that impressed and attracted
.the public, that portion of il which
s1assely followed his career through the
sp064ic prints as well as those persons
brought into actual contact with him.
He possessed that indefinable quality
of color" to superlative degree.
Anecdotes of him are numberless and
all radiate the virile spirit of real
fighter. Sullivan was that. He consid-
cred himself the equal of any man, re-
gardless of rank or title. His boasts
never were made with any hint of apol-
ogy and were convincing because he
was ever ready to back up with deeds
what he voiced in words
A fact little known in regard to Sui
Ivan Is that in addition to being a
rabid base ball fan he also had an am
bitfon to shine on the diamond Jim
Corbett. his conqueror, is a s3d degree
rooter. end also once aspired to make
his mark in the game. but John L.
exceiled Corbett. and in fact. nyother
PLAYER before or since. when it came to
getting the cash. for Sullivan holds the
record of being the highest priced PLAY
err the sport ever has known. In 1885
when Chris Won der Abe was prosper-
Gus and owned one of the greatest ball
teams ever gotten together ii is record
ed that he paid Sullivan $1,000 for pitch
ing three innings of an exhibition for his
team. John L. is said to have torn up
a thousand dollars worth of GOD around
the plate in those three rounds. for the
big battler was as wild as he was
speedy.
sullivan always said he had but one
enemy-himself-and the king of the
ring showed it more when keeping
tne oartend~rs busy while on his the
atffcaI tours than at any other time
He was exceedingly hard to manage
an incident occurring while he was
on tour with Ben Harris. vaudeville
agent. illustrating this in a striking
manner. Reaching Detroit on a tour
tnat threatened financial disaster for
Harris owing to his stars refusal to
let work interfere with pleasure. Sui
Ivan vent to bed in his suite on the
eleventh floor O. his hotel and refused
tn h:stir himself when called for the
enenipg performance. Harris was
v-rin~sr~ his hands IN anguish when a
friend told him:
"~ou- .vstenn is all wrong Take
cub =" him. Kindness has no effect
en- Sullivan. Go al him roughhouse and
he'll r-e4ken"
Acting on this advice. Harris bor-
rcwed a base hall hat. went 10 S,,IIi-
vars room ?nd rousine the gladiator
sruttersd Say. YOU his s,ir. what
an 7 n7ytre you for? To run out ON
n'e and leave me in the lurch every
r'v? Won cut this out right away or
III swing this ba' on your head"
Sullivan Law blinking. then slowly
got un and raised windor Harris
vas concentrating himself The cham
pion hid relerted Fe was just getting
tee air Suddenly he whirIed on his
6iminutive manager. believing as he
fived for him: you little shrimn.
What do YOU mean bv talking like
that to me- You're going out of that
wipdo-'.'
Harris drowned his bat and his smile
Il was only joking with you John"
Re screamed in terror as he bolted out
of the room and established some new
records for running broad JUMPS in
descending eleven flights Of stairs
Sullivar's Rree-ir~ to the Prince OF
Wales afterward King Edward when
hA met him at a boxing show at the
National Sportin~ Club of London. was
assic. John J.. endeavored to make
the heir to Fneland's throne feel at
ease IN meeting such celebrity as
himself. and when taken to the roval
mighty fist for handshake: clad tn
meet you. prince think I've heard
Of you before"
Later the prince sent a gentleman-in-
waiting TO John l.. with n present.
Eold-headed walking stick. Sullivan
told what happened: II hollered. Take
this back to his nobs ard tell him
amt no cripple Then I erowIed a;
the guy. and he beat it ont Of the room
reared to death. No never heard
from the Prince of Wales again."
Sullivan tried many schemes for max