Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-04
MIGHTY JOHN l..
Death Of Most Cele'
brated Prize Fighter
End Comes Suddenly to Hero Of Many
Batties-Aetive After Leaving Ring
in Fighting Drink Evil

+; BattIes-Aetive After Leaving Ring
in Fighting Drink Evil
Sullivan, the most interesting firure i'll
the prize ring. died suddenly of heart
disease at his farm in West Abingdon
Saturday. He was SO years old. As
was his wish, he died with his shoes
on.
Although stricken with heart trouble
three weeks ago he had quickly i'm
proved and was in no sense an invalid
He was about TO leave his house
Saturday morning to pay a visit to
Boston to see his old friend, Captain
James p. Sullivan of the Boston police
department, and to look after his NOV
ing picture business. when he received
his final knockout.
His friend and companion, George Nj.
Bush. rushed to his side as the old
gladiator sank to the floor unconscious
and revived him with cold water ap-
plications to the head John L., re-
spending quickly to this treatment as
in his palmy days in the prize ring,
struggled to his feet and refused to
take the decision of Time.
He reluctantly consented TO have Il
physician called, but after receiving
medical treatment announced he would
have Il bath and keep his appointment.
Even as he expressed his determina-
ton he became unconscious and died
apparently without further pain.
The funeral will take place Wednes-
day morning from the home of his sis
ter. Mrs. Genevieve A. Lennon. RoX-
bury, where the body was taken Sun
day. There will he a solomon high
mass of requiem at st. Paul's Catholic
church, Roxbury. The Rev. Peter c.
Quinn. pastor, will officiate.
The famed gladiator died in harness.
AT periods. for Il hours. he fought the
approach of death with the aid of an
electric vibrator which he used to
tsimulate blood and heart action. But
science could not avail, and in the
presence of his adopted son, William
c. Kelley, II years old. and his old :
time sparrinS partner. George NJ Bush
Of Boston, he passed away
His Remarkable Career
John Lawrence Sullivan was born in
Boston, Oct Is, 1858, in a house on Har-
rlson avenue, opposite Boston College.
His father, Michael Sullivan, was a
native of Tralee. county Kerry, Ire
land, and his mother was born at Ath-
lone, county ROsccommon. Ireland.
After leaving the public school he at
tended Corners Commercial college for
| about one year; he finally went to Bos-
ton college on Harrison avenue, where
! he studied for Is months About this
period his parents tried to induce him
to study for the priesthood, but John S
love for outdoor sports was too great
Sullivan was never taught to box
His style was perfectly original. Some
| said that old Prof. Bailey claimed the
credit of teaching him, but John T..
never took a boxing lesson in his life
He simply picked it up.
He was fond of practicing such feats
as lifting barrels Of -four, and beer and
| kegs of nails above his head, and by
these feats he became known as 1.-THE
strong boy about Boston.
The first time Sullivan ever SPARED
in public with a man of reputation
was whit Johnny Woods, better known
as ''Cockey" Woods. in Cockerel hall,
Hanover street, in 1878. He was a big
man, and was matched to fight Heenan
at one tine. John soon disposed of
4 "Cockey" and the following year he
spared Dan Dwyer in Revere hall,
and surprised many old followers of the
ring, and became known as the cham
pion Of Massachusetts. Tommy Chand-
Ter. one of the old-timers, was the next
man defeated by Sullivan
After his first public appearance I'M
til the time when he finally met his de-
feat in the ring with Corbett. in 1892,
John l.. stood ready to prove his title
rs tho greatest fighter of all time by
meeting everybody and anybody, wher-
ever and whenever an opponent. pre-
| scented himself.
The first of his notable ring cncount-
ers was with Paddy Ryan, at Missis-
fippi CITY, Feb. :. 1882. for the cham
pionship Of America. This was with
bare nuckles, according to the Lon
don prize ring rules. Sullivan won this
fight with a Knockout the battle last
ing nine rounds.
Soon after this Sullivan offered to
stop any man with gloves in four
rounds, and first and last knocked out
about 80 inside the limit In July, 1892
! Tug" Wilson, a famous English fight
er, was brought over here to stand
against the champion. and by clinching
and hugging to the floor. Wilson last
! ed the four rounds.
In 1888 Charley Mitchell. another
fighter with a great reputation in Eng
! land, came to America for the purpose
of meeting Sullivan. The men met May
| II Of that year in New York, and Sui
liVan administered such a beating to
| the Englishman that the police stopped
\ the bout in the third round
! Herbert A. Slade, the Maori, of Aus
tralia, and c!assed as the best heavy
weight in that country, faced Sulli-
/ van, also in New York. on Aug 6,
1883. and he. in turn was stopped by
John l.. in three rounds. Sullivan went
on tour Of the country Immediately
after this fight meeting all Corners
and with unqualified success. Not only
did he not lose battle, but in each
bout he succeeded in stopping his op-
! ponent within the prescribed four
Dc.