The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-03
JOHN 1. SULLIVAN IS 'COUNTEDOUT"
 IN LIFE BATTLE
Intrepid Old Ring Cham piOn of Yesteryear Dies Suddeny From Heart
 Attack
By the Associated Pres.

Abingdon, Mass, February 2.-John | l.. Sullivan, one of the most interest
 ing figures of ring renown, died sud denly here today of heart disease at his farm. As was his wish. he "died
 with his shoes on.- He was about to leave his house today for visit to
 Boston when he received his final knockout.
 His friend and companion, George NJ. Bush, rushed to his side as the old gladi- ator sank to the floor unconscious, and revived him with cold water applica- tions to the head. John L." responding quickly to this treatment as in his palmy day in the prize ring. struggled to his feet and refused to take the direction of death. He reluctantly consented to have a physician called, but after re- celving medical treatment announced that he would have bath and keep his appointment. Even as he expressed his determination, he became unconscious and died apparently without further pain.
 MANY MESSAGES
 The body will be taken to. the home of his sister in Boston, where funeral ser vices will be held Wednesday morning.
 Hardly had the news of the passing of one of Americas greatest fistic cham pions been flashed broadcast, than mes sages of sympathy began pouring in from men in all walks of life. Sullivan In his prime, was popular idol and he never entirely lost his hold on the public. This was due not only to the success of his prize fighting days, but to his rugged battle later against his old easy going habits.
 John L." always attributed his loss of the American championship to James J. Corbett by knockout in New Orleans, September ', 1892, to liquor. He had made fortune in the prize ring and had spent it when his friends rendered him a bene- feet again. The money obtained from this venture went also, according to his ruling habit, and then Sullivan's old fighting spirit reasserted itself and he announced that he had entered the lists against John Barleycorn for fight to the finish.
 KNOCKED OUT BOOZE
 The public regarded this challenge with interest, but John L." battled with John Barleycorn as he had with all his op- ponents. He forced the fighting. as it were. He proclaimed his defiance of drink from platforms throughout the country and held himself up to the youth as horrible example of what drink would do. He never let up in his ag- gressive fight against liquor, and fre- quently left his farm here for long tenn perance speaking tours.
 SHOWED PATRIOTISM
 He was 59 years of age when he was counted out. He had often expressed re- gret that he was too old to go with the boys overseas but he was not too old to do his bit. He never declined an invita- tion to speak at flag raising or re- cruiting rally or in behalf of the liberty loan. Sullivan was never taught how to box He took to fighting naturally. His first appearance in the ring was at a variety performance in Boston, when he was in his teens, magnificenty built young man weighing nearly 200 pounds A husky boxer, who was one of the per- formers, challenged any one in the audi ence to enter the ring with him. It 1 was a summons Sullivan could not refuse although he had had no ring experi- ence. Feeling off his coat he leaped upon the stage, took a blow to the head and knocked out his opponent with one clean punch straight from the shoulder. It was a method of fighting he never dropped.