The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-01
ohnL.seMnepAn.
MJauos Goblet
Copyright 1918. by King Features Syndicate, rnc)


Editors Note: This is the twelfth
chapter of a. series of articles which
Mr.. Corbett is writing on John L. As
] Knew Him" 1t relates many here
tofore unpublished incidents in the life
of the great warrior. The next Install
ment will appear tomorrow
Paddy Ryan insistently challenged
John L. to fight almost from the day
that the Bostonian took away the
heavyweight championship crown. For
more than three years John l. ignored
hts formidable foe. Finally he con-
scented to a match with Paddy but in
sisted that 1t was TO be nothing more
than four round affair with gloves.
Ryan wanted a finish bout under
London prize ring rules. but sullivan
would have none Of 1t. So. for the
consented to four round affair un-
der the Marquis of Queensbury rules
and the bout was put on In New York
city on January 10.
1t attracted big crowd despite the
fact that the police declared they
would stop the fight. II was feared
that the old enmity between the two
men would bring about "a brutal ex-
hibition." The two fighters entered the
ring at the appointed time and went
into action. But the first round hardly
was under way before the authorities
jumped in and stopped further milling.
John l. met Jack Burke The Irish
Lad" In a contest In Chicago which
attracted a crowd OF $4,000. Burke,
o fast and shifty performer. felt certain
that he could stop Sullivan. Many OF
hts friends, OF the same belief, took
a lot of the short end OF the bets that
were made that Sullivan would win,
Hut Burke proved to be no match for
she big champion who rushed him con
tinuallys and bombarded him through
every one of the FIVE rounds with heavy
right hand smashes. II was only the
wonderful defensive work of Burke
which saved him from going down
and out
Then agitation was started for bout
between John L. Sullivan and Dou1i-
nick Mccartney, who had come along
in spectacular fashion In the year pre-
vious McCafrrey. in addition TO hav-
ing q reputation for being heavy
hitter, was fast and had demonstrated
his ability to stand up wonderfully un-
der merciiess punishment. Although
the country at large recognized the
mighty power OF Sullivan there were
few who figured that MeCaffrey. In
splendid condition, might have q good
chance with John /.
Sixteen thousand persons witnessed
the Sullivan Mccartney battle which
WAS put on IN Chester park, Cancin-
natf John L., whose normal ngfsina
weight was around 1876 pounds In
those days, went into the ring beam
Ing $40.
Mccartney. through the early rounds
had no trouble in taboing Sullivan
face and body, but eventually the tire
snendous rushing OF John L. backed
McCaffrey 10 the ropes. Whenever this
champion had Mccartney so corneret
he would send crashing right-hander'
to the head OF his lighter rival
Through the third and fourth ROUNDS
the terrific hitting of Sullivan tool
much of the ginger cut of McCanre.
ana several times during the fgh
Dominick went down.
There was much Ill feeling between
the Sullivan and Mccartney partisan
in that fight and many freefor-a al
fights broke out in the audience dur
ing the progress OF the six rounds
Some of McCaffrey's friends insisted
that John l. was using tactics no
entirely in keeping with the Marquis
of Queensbury rules. McCafrey
brother. who was acting as his sec
md. got into an argument In the cente
of the ring with Arthur Chambers
one OF Sullivan's attendants. 0ha
was between rounds. Their heate'
verbal clash which followed, provoked
nat fight and the men furnished |
aide issue to the main attraction b,
going to II. They siugged away a
each other and roughed around but be
fore they were really able to get dow
TO business" other ring officials jump
Many different stories have beel
told concerning the finish of that fight
some OF them of a sensational nature
Most historians have it that the con
test was halted when a series of free
Scr-all fights brooks out In the audi
~nce and some of the crowd begai
stsun play" 1t has been recorded tina
Referee Tom Tate, of Toledo, jumpe,
out OF the ring and didn't announc
his decision until two days later. Blu
all such stories ara wrong.
The bout was scheduled to 60 81,
rounds. and it did. At its conclusion
Tate, moving over to the ropes, an
nounced to the crowd:
IT award the decision to Sullivan.
There was so much noise at the tim
that only few persons in the ring
side seats heard Tate. Then Bill
MuIdoon, acting as master OF cere
told Tate to reiterate his decision
hut bedlam still reigned in the crow,
and only few persons heard Tate
using his hands as q megapeaonel
shout:
II award the decision to Sullivan. III
had a decided advantage all through
the fight"
After making the second announce
ment Tate Jumped out of the ring an
went back to the city. Some OF tn
newspaper men had not heard hi
ruling owing to the commotion and tn
next day some stories appeared whicl
stated that Tate had made no ruling
When such articles were brought to hi
attention Tate denied the truth OF tn
assertions and just to please the news
papers, ruled In his own handwrit
ing:
sullivan won the fight on points.