The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-05-08

SULLIVAN, IN 1906
Here's how montana Jack" Sulli-
var o a popular and heavy
weight electrician in Butte, looked
just 30 years ago when he fought
Stanley Ketchel a 2O-round draw
at Butte. Later Ketchel won the
worlds championship and was
ready to give Montana Jack q title
fight when murdered in 1910.
days. At the time he was homesteading
the island spot, and maintained BACH
elor quarters. He gave Jack a stand
ing invitation to have breakfast every
morning at his shack. Jack accepted,
but Louie's ~provender was 50 rich, and
he was taking on weight. He had to
pass up breakfast on his morning visits
with Mack, who made it a point to
meet the Butte boy as he arrived at
the bridge daily. Louie would tempt
Jack with a recital of the fruit, cereal,
trout, steak, fried potatoes, hot cakes,
corn bread and other palatable dishes
after the fight Jack hired a hack to
60 to Louie's place, and he put away
q breakfast that widened the smile Of
Mack and the girth of Sullivan
Baron Long, proprietor of the q. S.
Grant hotel at San Diego and the Bilt-
more at Los Angeles, and one of the
owners of the old Tiajuana race track,
hung the monicker Montana Jack" on
the Butte boy. Jack (Twin) Sullivan
was fighting in California in 1908,
state. It distinguished the two Jacks,
both of whom would mix with middle
weights or light heavieS, Long christ
ened the lad from the Treasure state,
Montana Jack" and the name has
stuck.
There was a family in Billings, re-
siding on Montana avenue, who had
two daughters who were in their teens.
Jack knew the father and called on
him n evening. The daughters were
great length that Jack a none other
than the great John l.. Sullivan, the
champion of the world. The father also
told the young ladies that Jack was a
worldwide traveller and at one time
had snubbed the Prince of Wales, later
King Edward VII. The girls believed
the stories, and with all of their en-
For several months after he left Bill
lings, letters would come from the
young ladies. One day a letter, written
IN sister collaboration, was devoted to
a proposal of marriage from both. The
sisters explained that they were in
!OVe WIN JACK, n they put 1t up to
him to make his choice, the one not
selected to be bridesmaid at the we'd
ding. Well, Jack is still a bachelor,
though he could have been a benedict
had he cared to, or even a bigamist, as
far as two Billings ladies were con-
cerned.
Jack started boxing professionally in
1900. He hung up his gloves for keeps
IN 1913. His last fight was with Jack
Fitzgerald at Omaha. Sullivan winning
BY 9 kayo in the ninth round. Jack and
his brothers, Dan, Gene, Jerry and Phil,
reside in Butte. All have been boxers
in their time. Jack, Dan and Gene
were professionals, while Jerry and
Phl were content to be amateurs. The
Sullivan boys have never used intoxi-
eating liquors o. tobaccos. Dan is one
OF two Montanans to be selected on
American Olympic teams. The other is
Casper Omen, now in Germany, cap
tain OF the American ski jumping team.
Both hailed from Anaconda. Dan was
on the American wrestling team at the
games in Athens, Greece, in 1906. Dan
was a boxer and track athlete as well,
but his Olympic efforts were confined
to the wrestling mat. Montana Jack"
also went to Athens, but as a spectator
to see the games. Burton Holmes, the
noted traveller and lecturer, had the
seat next to Jack in the coliseum every
day.
Tommy RIrns former heavvveioh