Year: 1875

the New York Gambler.


The old inhabitants of Troy, N. Y,
says q correspondent, tell some very
queer stories about the hardships Of
John Morrissey's early life, and it GER
tainly was strewn with more hard knocks
than roses. The principal industry of
Troy is iron manufacturing, and the
men employed in it's works have long
been celebrated for the perfection of
their physique and their prowess.
Though as well behaved as the gener-
atty of men of their class, they are fond
of the manly art, and the younger por-
ton of them are adopts in its mysteries.
This was especially the case when the
subject of our sketch was boy, and he
Was one of the sort that "didn't take
wster from no one." Many is the turn
up he has had with them just to set at
rest the ve1ed question, "who WAS the
best man." It is related that he was
never a quick fighter, though he was q
slayer for all that was out There were
dozens of the lads in his day who could
make his face look Like raw beefsteak
in ten minutes. but just about the time
that he ought to have cried enough, he
would turn upon his antagonist with
such fury that he would soon be COM
PEELED to acknowledge himself whip
ped man. An old competitor of his
once remarked: "John didn't never
seem TO know when he was licked, and
just as you got tired humping him, he
kind O. got his second wind, an then
you might as well give up trying to
make any headway against him." Of
the iron Industries of Troy, stove-mold-
ing is the most important, and in the
days of Morrissey's boyhood every
molder had his helper, or "Berkshire,"
as he was called and when he was about
nineteen years old he became Berk-
shire in the Clinton stove works, the
largest at thpt time in the world. He
soon became valuable man in the shop,
his great strength enabling him to do
great deal of what is called "jackass "
work with ease. Among other Incidents
of his shop life, it is related that he
would often, for a small wager, stand
barefooted and lift ladle of molten
iron at arms length breast high, an
achievement never before or since &C
complished.


r


After the Steinway hall tragedy, Nor
rissey settled down somewhat, and won
the affections of Miss Sally Smith Of
Troy, daughter of q prominent steam
boat captain and the belle of her native
city. This was the most fortunate step
of his life, for he now began to think of
making money. With this object IN
view, he started q barroom in Troy.
Selling whisky was net profitable enough,
however, and he borrowed $500 and en-
barked in the faro banking business.
While thus engaged, he found time to
patronize other forms of sport, and he
developed quite passion for cock fight:
ing. One night, while attending fight,
he got into a quarrel with man named
Heenan and his son Tim, which resulted
in his whipping the pair. Heenan had
son in California who had acquired the
soubriquet of the Benicia Boy, and con-
siderable reputation as a prize fighter.
When the Benicia Boy learned Of the in.
suit to his kin, he determined to return
home and thrash the man who had struck
his father. When he reached New York
he soon found friends to pit him against
Morrissey, and the wife of the latter
having given her consent, match
was made for the championship of
America. The battle was fought in
Canada, and was one of the most terri
BILE in the annals of the ring. In the
first round Heenan broke Morrissey's
nose with blow that would have taken
the fight out of half the sluggers in the
country; but Morrissey bided bis time,
and on Heenan's smashing his hand
against stake in the fifth round, he
sailed in and put the "boy" to sleep
with ease. This ended Morrissey's
career in the ring.