John L Sullivan- the hand

[robert.snell1]

The World
22 November 1896

New York Sporting Men Planning a Benefit Performance For The Former Champion

1000 Tickets at $100 Each to Establish a Trust Fund

NEWS comes from Boston that John L. Sullivan is about to lose his right arm. A cancerous growth on the back of his tremendous fist -a mass of bone and muscle that won its owner close to a million dollars—has already felt the knife of the surgeon, and, although a strong effort is being made to save the hand, the physician holds out little hope.

But Sullivan still has friends. Perhaps no man in America has so many or such generous ones
They have done much for him, and still they are willing and ready to do more. Mike Donovan, who was the first pugilist of merit that ever stood in front of John L. Sullivan, has suggested that a benefit be given "the old man" that will surpass anything ever attempted in that line and that will raise a fund that will insure an income sufficient to keep Sullivan in comfort the rest of his days.

It was Mr. Donovan's idea that every pugilistic star .In America should participate in the benefit
and that as a wind-up of the entertainment and a finale to Sullivan's fistic career, that the ex
champion don a single glove and meet one or more of his former adversaries in a friendly bout
And there are enthusiastic friends of the man from Boston who insist that he will make a good showing for himself even with one hand gone.

JOHN L.'S WORK FOR PUGILISM.

"The pugilists of America and of the world owe a great deal to John L. Sullivan," said Mr. Donovan when discussing the plan. "He has made this sport what It is. My experience dates back to the days when men fought with bare fists under the London prize-ring rules. Sullivan changed this and in introducing glove fighting, changed the character of the men who witness pugilistic entertainments and pay the money that enables athletic clubs and associations to offer the princely purses that .have become common. Large purses were unheard of until Sullivan became champion and made his name known all over the world. Second and third rate men now battle for purses that are several times larger than were ever mentioned in the old days. The remarkable career of Sullivan has brought this about, and I believe that the pugilists and sporting men of America know and appreciate it.

"There ought to be one thousand men in the United States who would gladly pay $100 each to
see the sort of benefit that can be given. No such aggregation of talent as could be secured was
ever got together before, and the show would be worth the money, no matter what the object
and there is not a pugilist in America who would not come to New York to appear in such a company and for such a purpose. More than $100,000 could be realized and this would answer every purpose.. The sum should be invested securely and safely where neither Sullivan nor any one else could get at it; only the income should be available for any purpose. To raise a few thousand dollars would be useless. The sum should be large enough to enable Sullivan to be cared for as well as he deserves."

The idea Involved by Mr. Donovan has caught the fancy of every pugilist and sporting man to
whom it has been mentioned. "It is a great thing," enthusiastically said Samuel C. Austen, the well-known writer on pugilism and 'partner of Tom O'Rourke in the management of .the Broadway Athletic Club, "and one I heartily indorse. We shall be glad to donate the use of the Broadway Athletic Club one, night for such a purpose. The building will seat 4,500 and is one of the most available to be had for sparring exhibitions. Call on me for anything I can do and I will respond,. Some time ago I considered such a move but an Sullivan was then about to secure control of a hotel in Boston and things looked prosperous for him he did not take kindly to the idea, My idea was that the date of the benefit should be put far enough ahead so that the friends and admirers of Sullivan all over the country could have a chance to buy tickets, Thousands of tickets could be sold to people who would not attend the benefit, but who would be glad to have the tickets as souvenirs,"

As the usual rent of the Broadway Athletic Club Building for one night is $500 it will be seen that the contribution of Mr, Austen and his partner is quite liberal,

CORBETT WILL LEND A FIST,

From Boston James J. Corbett telegraphs: It is a grand thing to do for Sullivan , and you can
count on my services to help the good cause along " Joe Choynski said: "I can't do much but I will gladly come from Chicago to appear. Had the fight Monday night Rrsulted differently I could have done more, and would have done it. Sullivan has done more for pugilism than any other man who ever lived, and he deserves the help of every man who ever entered the ring."

Martin Dowling said: "Count me in. Sullivan was a fighter for whom every lover of sports had admiration, He was a fighter who fought, and he never looked, for chances to escape and save his reputation. His wonderful career interested hundreds of men in pugilism who, would otherwise have cared little for it. He was in many respects an ideal prize fighter.

James Wakely, who was the backer and close friend of Sullivan for years thinks well of the scheme, Mr. Wakely organized and managed a benefit for Sullivan at Madison Square Garden in June 1895, which netted a few thousand dollars. “of course I can be depended on to do what I can to help Sullivan” he said “and it seems to me that the thing should be a big success. If Sullivan really loses his arm he will have the sympathy of every man who has ever admired him, and this sympathy should take tangible form

SULLIVAN'S REMARKABLE! CAREER,

The career of John L. Sullivan has never been equaled in the annals of prize fighting. For
twelve years he was the undisputed champion of he world. He did more fighting in a month than
many champions do during their entire careers, His name was terrifying, and for years it was impossible for him to arrange a finish fight, In lieu thereof he travelled about the country offering $1,000 to any man who could stay in front of him for four three-minute rounds. More than one hundred men went down before him under this offer, and Tug Wilson was the only one who was not “put to sleep" before the end of the fourth round. Wilson saved himself by falling, dodging, running holding to Sullivan's arms and legs and by resorting to other tricks never seen before or since in prize ring.

Feb. 85, 1880, Sullivan met Mike Donovan in Boston. At that time Donovan was a champion
and.stood in the highest rank of pugilists. Himself a middle-weight, he had whipped heavyweights and was considered the best man of his class, and. perhaps the best of any class, in America, He had met Sullivan before and Sullivan had asked him to give him lessons. Donovan had promised to do so, but sickness prevented. When Donovan went to Boston to give sparring exhibitions he wanted a partner who would not be afraid of his reputation and who would "pitch in" and fight, Young Sullivan was recommended and Donovan secured him, Sullivan ''pitched in." So Efficiently in fact, did fight that be knocked Donovan down. Hardly had the elder man got on his feet when wither blow again sent him to the floor.

"I did not like this treatment," said Donovan in discussing the matter the other day, "and I resolved to teach the young man a lesson by knocking him out. I soon had a chance to bit him and I sent a terrific right-hander on the jaw. It merely turned the big fellows head. A moment later I got another blow hat knocked me down. I was not knocked out but I should have been had there been another round. The blow that I landed on Sullivan's jaw did not faze him, but it broke the bones of my hand and prevented my appearing in the ring again for months I then said that Sullivan was the coming man and that if he had pluck he could whip any man in the world. I
told Joe Goss that and Goss laughed at me. A few months later Goss and Sullivan met at a benefit and Goss was knocked down by Sullivan precisely as I had been. Then Goss concluded thatthe young man was all I had said he was.

From that time until he met Corbett Sullivan was always ready for a fight. He met and defeated
John Donaldson, Paddy Ryan, Jake Kilrain John M. Laflin, Dominick McCaffrey, Frank Herald
and fought draws with Patsey Cardiff and Charley Mitchell, Besides he whipped a hundred men of lesser note who accepted Sullivan's offer to "stop" any man in four-rounds or forfeit f 1,000. This was the most remarkable offer ever made by any pugilist and was open to the world without money and without price. A favorite trick of Sullivan's was to let the other man alone for three rounds and then knock him out with one terrific blow after the other man thought he was going to win.

THE BIG FELLOW'S DOWNFALL.

Sullivan's superb physique was wrecked by drink and debauchery, and when Corbett met him he
was nothing like the man he had been years before, in spite of the fact that be had won thousands
of dollars in the ring and had made enormous sums in his theatrical ventures , he was nearly always financially embarrassed. So long as he had money he spent foolishly, extravagantly
and without regard to its value, He gave away fortunes almost as quickly as he won them.
He was the prey of shysters and beggars’ and as soon as money was put in his pocket it poured out in an unceasing stream. His money was anybody's money, and he spent it with, never a thought of the morrow.

Now he sick in a Boston hospital with the prospect of losing his right hand , a hand that has
never had an equal. Perhaps his last days will be made more comfortable by the generosity of the thousands of men who have admired him as the most perfect specimen of physical manhood this century has produced.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

Now he sick in a Boston hospital with the prospect of losing his right hand , a hand that has
never had an equal. Perhaps his last days will be made more comfortable by the generosity of the thousands of men who have admired him as the most perfect specimen of physical manhood this century has produced.

- Seems they saved his big right if the only clip of Sullivan I've ever seen on the eve of Jeffries/Johnson is to be believed.

Made a fine fist with it and showed some old school feints before crossing over his right in an impromptu spar with Corbett.