Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-02
John L. Sullivan, Once
Heavyweight Champion of
America, Dead.
LAST OF GREAT BARE
KNUCKLE FIGHTERS
Last Champion Under Prize Ring
Rules, Who Scored 200 knockouts in
Ring Bouts, Counted Out in Fight
With Grim Reaper-Spent Declining
Years Lecturing on Evils OF Liquor
Habit.

Abingdon. Mass, Feb. John l..
Sullivan, formerly champion heavy
weight boxer of the United States died
at his home here today.
Sullivan. who was GO years old, mad
lived on a farm here for the last ten
years. He was taken i'll with heart
trouble three weeks ago but his health
improved and he went to Boston yes
terday. This morning he arose as usual
and planned another visit to the city
but during the forenoon had another
attack from which he failed to rally.
He died at noon.
Sullivan's old lighting spirit remained
with him to the end. Tho first faint
ing spell left him unconscious for ten
minutes and when he rallied. George
NJ Bush. a friend who lived with MIN.
was applying ice bags TO his head. Bush
told the former champion he had sent
for a doctor.
II don't want any doctor" John l..
said. Il have listened to a lot Of them
all my life and can doctor myself
He protested when DR.. Ran. who had
been summoned. told him he had better
go to bed for couple Of hours.
When the doctor left Sullivan called
Bush.
Is the bath room warm" he asked
Yes"
:"Weu. that's f1ne want to talee a
BATH
Ten minutes later he was dead
William Kelly, a 15-year-old boy,
adopted by Sullivan. end Bush were
with him when he passed away.
John Laurence Sullivan was one or
the most picturesque characters in the
history Of prize fighting. For more than
ten years, from tho time he defeated
Paddy" Ryan in 1882, in bare
knuckle fight under the London pfize
ring rules, until he was defeated by
James ]. Corbett, in 1892, his person
ality and methods OF fighting complete
" dominated sporting circles in the
United States.
In the annals Of pugilism In TINS
country a notable distinction was his;
he was the last champion under the
London prize ring rules. 1t was largely
thru his achievements that the cham :
plonship tito was made a prize OF
great monetary value. In the early days
OF his career. 1000 side was looked
on as great sum. He received ohlS
$50 for the fight that made him ma
ticnal character in fisticuffs and won
him the right to challenge PADDY
RYAN for the championship.
His friends ranged all the way 'roih
the ordinary flight fan" to many men
of social and financial distinction Ill
the United States, and it is said he was
on Cumming terms with the late King
Edward VII Of England.
Begins Career at II.
He began his fighting career soon
nfter he was seventeen, when as the
Boston Strong Boy" he took part IN
amateur boxing contests In soVera'
cities in Massachusetts. II Sullivan
customary procedure in his early
youth could be called boxing. Tactics.
strategy plans of campaign were al.
swept away when John l.. hammcreo
his ruthless, undertaking way to the
front. His style was atavistic. return
to the simple. primitive principle or
battering an opponent INTO insehs,o''
itv His success, coupled with his Tree
~ ~
manners. a certain social triumph ana
his subsequent position as semi
public character proclaimed him sort
of dirnitary in the sporting world.
After his nine round fight with
"Pa addy' Ryan. on the strip or green's :
ward on. the S"!: c: Mexico. the Woiu
knockout was manufactured by biiiy
Madden, Sullivars trainer. to descripe
tn. effect of hts blows when properly
deliyered.
His hardest fight wa, With Jake
Kilrain. Twas fought near New
Orleans and lasted for seventy hve
rounds, That was tho last champion
shin contest in the United States to DO
fought with bare knuckles. under the
old rules.
Loses Title to Corbett>
That fight practically decided the
useIsssness Of trying to beat Sullivan
nv combating him In his own sledge
hammer style. A thirty-nine rouhc
arht with Charley Mitchell, wary and
skillful boxer, seemed to show fsht'
ing managers that the great John l.
might be vulnerable to man whe
could box we'll and stay with him long
enough TO wear him down. The op-
portunity to try this method Of the
champion fell to James J. Corbett. Tho
purse was the largest ever put up In
a ring battle up to that time. The
nurse was $4,000 and the stakes $780,
900. The nght that was to end John
LIS championship was fought before
the Olympic Club Of New Orleans
when the fight was over there was