Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-02
J.. |. SULLIV AN /.
CHAMPION.
!. BOXER X ] IS DEAD
Died at Home in Abingdon.
Mass Former Heavy
weight Title Holder.


has lived on farm here Tor ezlast
ten years. He became i'll with heart
trouble three weeks ago, but his
health quickly improved and he went
to Boston yesterday. This morning
he arose as usual and planned another
visit, to the city, but during the fore
non had an attack Of the old trouble
from which he failed to rally. He
died at noon. ...s,t /. .a-.. .
sullivan's wife died some months
ago. - n: Is. Ia
4; sullivan's old fighting spirit re-,
mained with him to the.end: The first
fainting spell left him unconscious for
ten minutes and when he rallied Geo.
NJ. Bush. a friend who lived with him,
was applying ice bags to his head.
Bush told the former champion to
keep quiet, that he had sent for a doc
tor. -, -. -
II don't want any doctor" John L.
said. ''Ive listened to lot of them
in my life, and l know am all right
and can doctor myself"
He protested when DR.. Ram, who
had been summoned by Bush, told
him he had better go TO bed for a.
couple of hours. When DR.. Ram left
Sulliyan beckoned Bush. ,
.Is the bath room warm, .George?'st
he asked. Eyes? Well that's fine. Il
want to take a bath" =
Ten minutes later he was dead.
William Kelley. a 15-year-old boy
who had been adopted by Sullivan,
and Bush were with him when he
passed away,
John Laurence Sullivan was one of
the most picturesque characters In the
history ~ nriZe. n 1htinr For more
than ten years. from the time he de-
feated Paddy Ryan in 1882, in bare
knuckle tight under the london Prize
Ring Rules, until he was defeated. by
James J. Corbett; in;1S92, his per.
soneltty and methods of fighting COM
pletely dominated sporting circles IN
the Cnfted- ef2fes: -. 80 ,ss>s 4:
+ IN the afnaaf bf spngilisn II this
country two notable. dist motions were
khis; he was the last champion under
the London Prize Ring Rules ana ne
was the first native born "a m ertcan TO
succeed to the worlds championship.
1t was largely through his achieve
ments that the cham pionship title was
nnade.a prize of'great monetary value
In the early days Of his career, 1,0oo
a. side. was looked on as a great sum
He received only $50 for the fight that
made him a national character In
challenge Paddy Ryan for the cham
pionship.
His friends ranged all the'waY from
the ordinary fight fan to- many men
OF SOCIAL and financial distinction; y
the United States. and It Is said ne
! was ON. cumming terms with the late
King Edward VII of England.
He began his hghtingcsca career soon
after he was seventeen when as the
Yr1 h
amateur boxing contests in severa
cities in Massachusetts,. II Sullivan's
customary procedure I'm his early
youth could be called boxing. Tactics
strategy, plans Of compaign were al
swept away when John L. hammered
his ruthless. undertaking way to thu
front. His style was atavistic. q re
turn to the simple. primitive principle
oe ba,tering an opponent into insensi
}sreal1anners; certain social:trtumtt I
aBd his subsequent position asa setni
public character proclaimed him !:
sort1ot q !e nitary in the sporting world
/ After his nine-round fight viii
PAID" KNan, on the strip Of green's
war;; On the Gulf ofEMexico. the .Mor'
! kroekc ut" was manufactured b,
Eily MADDEN. Sullivan's trainer tc lie
scrit" the effect OF his blows wnei
properly delivered.
His hardest fight was with Jake kil
rain. 1t was fought near New Or
j leans and lasted for seventy -ffv'
rounds. That was the last champion
ship contest in the United States II
be fought with bare khckles. unde
the old rules.
a That fight practically decided tn
I. uselessness OF trying to beat suiliyal
y t.l' An lL.I.". .s e.sus,