Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-01

Mr.. Muldoon at the time was travel
ing at the head of a refined vaudeville
show which was demonstrating the fine
points of the manly art of modified
murder and the art Of pachydermy, as
wrestling more recently is known. Mr..
Muldoon was impressed and was instru-
mental in bringing the Boston Strong
Boy to Harry Hills Electric Light Pal
ace in New York, where the caulifiower
industry had its cerSter in those days.
John L. Sullivan challenged Jem
Mace, but that gladiator, looking the
Boston Strong Boy over, was evaSive.
A lesser gladiator who needed the $50
purse volunteered for the sacrifice.
Sullivan butchered him as losing fight
ers we're butchered in those days. The
Boston Strong Boy was toasted by the
gentlemen Of the fancy who frequented
Hills Electric Light Palace.
Then somebody recalled that the
vanquished one had a wife and family
who we're destitute. There was much
alcoholic sympathy, and the hat was
passed for the sufferers from Sullivans
first great victory. When the hat came
to Sullivan, he tossed in the $50 purse
with light gesture. It was the only
money he had in the world. But what
did he care? He was the king. He
could lick any man in the world.
AIJSTWaTQ ne Ola Walk WIFI kings VI
those about to be kings and as an equal.
When he visited England, the grand
father of the present Prince of Wales,
also a patron of the sports, sought him
out. John L. Sullivan was condescend-
ing enough to treat his highness as an
equal, and 1t Is recorded that he said
to him: Remember me to your good
mother, the Queen, and tell her that I
have heard a lot about her" It was the
II pNyoI tn an
othefe
The Sullivan Kilrain fight was the
last epic of the bare-knuckle days and
the law of the London prizering. Sui
Ivan fought them all, with the excep-
ton of Peter Jackson, for Sullivan drew
the color line. There are those who
insisted sacrilegiously that this was a
matter OF caution, but those who knew
John L. best Stoutly insist that this was
decreed by his various managers.
The fighter who annoyed him most
and who was most hated by John l..
was Charley Mitchell, the Englishman.
It Is recorded that once, when Mitchell
spiked him as they fought on the turf,
Sullivan made the classic remark: BE
a gentleman, Charley, If you can, you
blankety-blank."
Challenging the World.
John L. SULLIVAN made one ges-
tIre that has not appealed to any
of his successors. He toured the
country, offering a prize to anybody
who would stand against him for four
rounds. Many tried, but the prize never
was collected. Those were days OF
riotous living for Sullivan He was now
thoroughly convinced that he could
whip any man in the world and felt
that there was no necessity Of keeping
himself prepared to prove it.
His progress through the land was
like the progress OF monarch. He did
not wear a crown, but he wore the IA
nous diamond belt of the champion
ship. They wanted him to run for
Congress, but that was no occupation
for a king. The royal belt alaSl even
tually found. its way into a pawnshop
where the royal jewels we're extracted
one by one.
william A. Muldoon tried to bring
the reckless John l.. back TO the straight
and narrow path. He talked TO Sulli-
San as no other man could talk TO the