Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-28

MRS. Hill writes me: 1.-The Sullivan
Legend written by you, pleased me,
especially when you did not mention
the name of the giver of that famous
diamond belt or the newspaper 1t rep
resented. The giver was not a friend
of John L. at any time.
Charley Mitchell was grand char
acter, q bulldog in the ring, but q
kinder man God never made. When
Sullivan was down and out, with his
eyesight failing, Mitchell heard Of it.
wrote and told him of 1t.
He crossed the Atlantic Che had no
other businesS) and went to Sullivan's
home. John L. was with his sister at
that time in Massachusetts,. Mitchell
was a real jolly fellow. When he ar
rived at Sullivans retreat his first
greeting was, All, John, old boy, you
look like a bale of hay!' They shook
hands and talked and laughed.
Mitchell gave Mrs. Delaney (John's
sister, several pounds. OF this I am
positive. Mitchell was always a money
getter and a giver
when Billy Madden went to Eng
land (after falling out with Sulli-
van) to find a man who could fight
John L. he liked Mitchell's get-up and
said: Yes, YOU win do. although you
are a middleweight. But we will have
to give some more exhibitions to get
the fare
Madden said he was never more
surprised in his life than when
Mitchell said: Here is 600. Let us
60 to the States. III fight Sullivan
II 1 die in the ring Then he said:
You bet a quid that I'll not die In
the ring He died In England years
after.
"Of their meeting no doubt you know.
Mitchell had advantages John L. never
had-a wife and four children. When
he knew his end was at hand he cross
ed again to the States to bid old friends
good-by. OF the last two letters he
wrote one was to Bat MasterSon and
one to me.
He held no animosity toward any
one. He just wrote to me: I am about
to shut up shop. Good-by, with my
kindest wishes to you and regards to
your daughter and her husband. Faith
fully yours, &C. MITCHELL
Eyes, I have pleasant recollections
of my friends in the sporting world.
/ was out of the city and did not
ming. I regret 1 did not see you, as
I could Have told you of a humorous
remark made by John l.. before he
boxed for the Prince of Wales, when
Arthur Brisbane was with him and
they refused Brisbane admission.
John l. said: If this young fellow
does not get in, then I'll not go in"
The Sporting Spirit.
THE letter of Mrs. Hill gives some
l. rather different notions of Mitchell
the gallant gladiator of another day.
In all of the Sullivan stories and
legends Mitchell stands out as a hard
ened sort of character, with no sports
manship and no humanity.
There is the story of the classic re-
mark made by Sullivan in one Of their
encounters. 1t was on the turf, and
the fighters wore spiked shoes. SulI-
van accused Mitchell of spiking him on
the shins, and is alleged to have said
in the heat of the contest, BE a
gentleman, Charley-if you can--you
blankety- blank"
In all Of the many statements
attributed to Sullivan he never had
q good word for the EngIishman.
who caused him more annoyance
than any fighter until James j.
COrbett subjected him to the final
annoyance. But perhaps this de-
nunciatiOn Of Mitchell was part of
the game. Then, as now, the glad
iatOrs always were supposed to be
bitter enemies, and tried to make Il
appear that every fight was a grudge
fight.
All those associated with John l..
Sullivan in his hedday were at this
same disadvantage, for Sullivan was