T H E S I N S O F N E W Y O R K
As "Exposed" by the Police Gazette
By: Edward Van Emery
P A R T I I
THE RICHARD K. FOX GAZETTE (1876)
Chapter 7
Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Fox
How the Sport of Boxing Came To Be Big Business
The Fox may go to England
And the Fox may go to France,
But to beat John L., he can go to Hell,
And then he won't have a chance.
MR. FOX, PROPRIETOR OF THE POLICE GAZETTE IS OFFENDED BY
JOHN L SULLIVAN'S ACTIONS
On a gusty evening very early in the month of April, 1881, Richard K. Fox
and his editor of sports, William E. Harding, came into Harry Hill's place
on Houston Street to regale themselves with a plate of the proprietor's
tasty prime roast beef. As the two took their chairs at the table that had
been provided for them they noted that some person at the other side of the
room was very much the center of interest.
"It's that young Boston fighter, Sullivan," explained Hill, who had come
over personally to see that the wants of Mr. Fox and his companion were
given special attention. Hill hazarded the opinion that this young man was
destined to be the next champion of the prize ring. He then went into
details of how the husky young fist fighter from Boston had cleaned up Steve
Taylor on the stage in this very room only a night or two previous.
"Tell Sullivan to come over and see me," condescended Fox.
The message was delivered to the young pugilist. Flushed with victory and
the applause of his surrounders, and possibly feeling the effects of several
glasses of champagne, which was a brand-new indulgence for young Sullivan,
he replied proudly:
"Tell Mr. Fox, if he wants to see me, to come over to my table. I'm here
with friends and I don't intend to leave them."
And on so trivial an incident the seed was planted that was to see the
pastime known as the manly art blossom, in future years, into big business
boxing.
MR. FOX, PROMPTS A WORLD-WIDE SEARCH FOR AN OPPONENT WHO
COULD HUMBLE JOHN L. SULLIVAN, THE FIGHTER.
As a result of this affront to his dignity, a dignity which Mr. Fox had come
to prize quite highly, the proprietor of the Police Gazette decided that he
would see to it that the chesty youth from Boston should be taken down a
peg. His endeavor to satisfy this desire prompted a world-wide search for an
opponent who could humble John L. This search for a man who could beat
Sullivan led to an expenditure of thousands and thousands of dollars, and
each one of these dollars was returned many-fold to Richard K. Fox in the
way of added circulation for the National Police Gazette.
A few weeks after the incident already related, on May 16 a barge was towed
up the North River by the tug-boat Sadie Ellis; her sinking by the
ferry-boat Secaucus was later graphically pictured by the Gazette. The barge
came to a stop nearly opposite the then tiny city of Yonkers. On this barge,
for a purse of $800., which had been subscribed by a gathering of the
sporting fraternity, John L. Sullivan and John Flood, a burly longshoreman,
fought a contest with hard gloves. The Boston Strong Boy came through this
test in a way that gave greater impetus to the trumpeting of the Sullivan
valor.
Flood was no match for Sullivan, concedes the Gazette, which treated the
world to the first artistic conception of John L. in action. The first blow
the latter got in was landed plump on the side of Flood's jaw and completely
demoralized him. He was groggy and no good from that moment. In the
expressive language of a bulging-eyed and very much astounded New York
reporter, who had never attended a prize fight before, "Sullivan hit Flood
so hard in the neck that it swelled his ankles." After the contest the hat
was passed for the vanquished man and a collection of $98 was made, of which
amount the winner contributed $10.
PADDY RYAN FIGHTS JOHN L. SULLIVAN
Following this victory the Gazette blazoned an announcement that Richard K.
Fox stood ready to back Paddy Ryan for a stake of $5,000. for the fistic
championship according to Queensberry rules. Fox at once deposited $1,000.
with Harry Hill, who was finally chosen stakeholder, as part of Ryan's half
of the purse.
The match created an unprecedented interest in pugilism, but it remained for
Richard K. Fox to take real advantage of the situation. The prominent
newspapers of the country gave the Sullivan-Ryan match far more attention
than was the case with the battle between Ryan and Joe Goss. Even against
their will the leading editors were forced to take cognizance of the
circulation harvest that the Gazette had reaped out of the prominence it had
given the Ryan-Goss match the previous year. But Fox distanced all
contemporaries in his handling of the meeting between Ryan, the American
champion, and the challenger, Sullivan. Though the men did not come together
until February 7, 1882, every issue for many previous weeks had several
columns devoted to the preliminaries and the training.
The battle-ground, it was agreed upon, was to be located one hundred miles
from New Orleans. Though it was secretly agreed it was to be pitched within
the boundaries of the State of Mississippi, the lawmakers of that
commonwealth soon got wind of the plans and the Mississippi legislature
passed a bill which prescribed sevewre penalties for prize fighting. The
training quarters were hastily shifted near to New Orleans and the
preparations for the battle went on and for several weeks before the day set
for the contest the sporting men from all over the country were gravitating
toward the Crescent City. On January 28, a special train left Jersey City
that carried so many from New York that "Gotham was depleted of her fancy
element almost entirely." In spite of the action of the Mississippi
legislature the ring was pitched in front of the Barnes Hotel, Mississippi
City, Mississippi.
In its issue following the contest the Gazette added an eight-page
supplement which was given over entirely to printed matter and pictures that
had to do with the Sullivan-Ryan prize fight. On the first page was a
picture of the gladiators shaking hands in the ring just before squaring
off. Pages two and three gave fine display to the fighting colors of the
contestants. Sullivan's colors, we are informed, were made abroad and
nowhere nearly as attractive as those of the Police Gazette Champion, Paddy
Ryan, which could be purchased through the Fox offices at $10. each, and
less costly but beautiful ones could be had at $7.50 each.
Ryan's colors represent America, Ireland and New York. On white silk is a
border of red, white and blue, representing our national colors. In the
center is an eagle standing on a globe, the latter colored blue and dotted
with stars. Beneath is the insription, "Paddy Ryan, Champion of America."
The eagle holds a scroll with the inscription, "Police Gazette, New York,
1881." In the left-hand corner is an Irish harp, in the right-hand corner is
a golden sunburst, which is an emblem of the Fenian Brotherhood. In the
lower right-hand corner "Excelsior" represents the seal of New York. In the
lower left-hand corner is an American shield.
The fighting colors of the two men were on display through the country in
practically every saloon of prominence, to say nothing of the barber-shops,
both of which sporting centers usually had the complete files of the Gazette
for the year on hand. The center pages of the special fight issue were
entirely taken up with pictures. One page was devoted to bust p hotos of the
pugilists and their backers. The other depicted lively scenes on the way to
the battle-ground. The back page of the supplement was given over to the
artist's conception of "The Battle of the Giants," as the picture was
captioned. We see Sullivan and Ryan in the center of the roped space in the
act of making threatening gestures toward each other. The spectators are
standing many-deep around the ring and all appear tremendously exited.
Apparently much money is being waged.
Although this special supplement edition was not to be had until a full week
after the Sullivan-Ryan contest was fought there was such an avid demand for
this number of the Gazette that the Fox presses were kept busy day and night
to supply the demand. Though Mr. Fox's champion suffered an ignominious
defeat, being unable to respond for more of the Boston Strong Boy's
sledgehammer smashes after eleven minutes of bare-fist fighting, Mr. Fox's
weekly profited handsomely.
TUG WILSON FIGHTS JOHN L. SULLIVAN
Fox became the more determined to put John L. in his place, when John L.
disdained to accept the Fox "dog colar," as he dubbed the championship belt.
From Leicester, England, Fox brought a middleweight named Joe Collins, but
better known as Tug Wilson, who had been recommended by Arthur Chambers, a
well-known figure in pugilism of the time. Sullivan at first declined to
take up the Gazette challenge on the grounds that the Briton was too small
to make a fit opponent, but his backer finally agreed to wager $1,000. that
Wilson could not stand up to John L. for four rounds in a contest with
gloves. Fox snapped up the offer and the bout took place in Madison Square
Garden, July 17, 1882. It was a sizzling hot night, but Sullivan had other
reasons to be burning up. He failed dismally in his attempt to knock out
Wilson, who dropped to the floor and hugged and worked all manner of artful
tricks that baffled the American champion completely. The affair drew a
packed house at an admission of one to five dollars and the gate grossed
around $16,000.
CHARLEY MITCHELL FIGHTS JOHN L. SULLIVAN
So nettled was the champion over the outcome of this match that he accused
his manager, Billy Madden, of double-crossing him, and the two came to the
parting of the ways. Madden thereupon allied himself with Fox in trying to
bring about the overthrow of Sullivan. With $5,000. of Fox's money, just as
a starter, Madden went to England and promoted a boxing competition. Charley
Mitchell came through the winner and on March 25 arrived in this country on
the Republic. On May 14, of that year, Mitchell was sent against Sullivan.
This was in Madison Square Garden.
There have been various versions handed down of this contest, most of them
unfavorable to John L. The Gazette report may be of interest therefore,
since, while it may have been biased in favor of the man backed by Fox, the
report makes it look like Sullivan's fight.
After Al Smith (a noted sporting character of the Eighties with no designs
on the presidency) called time, both pugilists went right to work. Sullivan,
in his usual off-hand, rushing style, dashed in at Mitchell, as if to
annihilate him, swinging left and right with tremendous quickness and
determination, expecting to land a terrific steam-hammer blow on the English
champion's neck and end the contest. Mitchell electrified the crowd in the
first round by a series of new ring tactics, landing his left with terrible
force several times on the "mark," which must have made the champion feel
anything but easy; and then when the champion would again swing his right,
hoping to knock Mitchell out, the Englishman would evade the terribly
dangerous blows and make a grand rally. Sullivan followed Mitchell up all
over the stage, sending in tremendous blows, many of which landed but not on
the spot intended, but he managed to knock the BRiton down several times.
Mitchell also knocked Sullivan down, clean off his pins, and it was the
cleanest knock-down ever seen. The first round ended at the expiration of
the specified three minutes without either having the advantage.
In the second round Sullivan knocked Mitchell around a la Tug Wilson and
fought Mitchell to the ropes, and knocked him down. Mitchell fell over the
ropes off the stage, injuring his back, and his friends looked blue.
In the third round Sullivan forced the fighting and several times he floored
Mitchell, but the plucky pugilist, who was overmatched, gamely faced the
music. Finally after a grand rally and any amount of slogging (now termed
slugging) Sullivan bore Mitchell to the ropes, fought him down and fell on
top of him. Mitchell was apparently dazed when he got up, but was going to
continue when Capt. Williams jumped on the stage and stopped the affair.
According to one who was associated with Mr. Fox in those days, the Mitchell
investment stood the Gazette owner $20,000. in one way and another, but Fox
thought the money well invested. He got much publicity for the Gazette by
the manner in which he took up the cudgels for Mitchell, but more than a
year went by before Sullivan was drawn into a return match with the Briton.
Interest in the bout was tremendous.
CROWDS COME TO WITNESS THE GREAT FISTIC DISPLAY BETWEEN
THE CHAMPION PUGILISTS OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLD.
Monday, June 30, was the date set for the contest and all the sporting
houses through the city were thronged with visiting sportsmen, and the
respective merits of the pugilists were apparently the one topic of
discussion. Crowds from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston and more distant
points had come on to witness the "great fistic display between the champion
pugilists of the Old and the New World. At 5 p.m., fully four hours before
the rival gladiators were to meet in battle array, a tremendous throng
swarmed every street leading to the arena. Tickets were retailing at two
dollars each, and they were sold like hot cakes to the sweltering mass of
humanity. Soon the mamoth Garden, which will seat 13,500 persons, was packed
to its utmost capacity."
The Gazette lists in fine print more than a column of names of those at the
ringside. William K. Vanderbilt, from whom the arena was rented and who was
then reputed to be the richest man in the world, was there; and Paymaster
Cunningham, U.S.N.; Supervisor P. Pickett; Samuel Carpenter, Esq., General
Passenger Agent of the P.R.R.; Coroner Robinson; and a lot of Alermen,
including Duffy, Cleary, O'Neill, Fitzpatrick, McCabe, O'Reilly, McLaughlin;
and Judges Duffy, O'Brien, McCord, O'Rourke and Whalen; and Assemblymen
Brogan, Cassidy, O'Donovan and Harrigan; and County Clerks Keenan, Cahill,
Mooney and Maloney; Roscoe Conkling, Edward Stokes, Herman Oelrichs, and
other notables had good seats, as did Fire Commissioners Purroy and Croker,
Police Commissioners Nichols and Matthews, and Police Inspectors Thorne,
Dilks, Murray and Burns; also Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and Rev. De Witt
Talmage. The sporting notables were out strong and a quick glance noted Joe
Goss, Billy Edwards, Harry Hill, William Muldoon, Jake Kilrain, Mike Donovan
and a long list of others. It was a big night in New York.
Shortly after eight o'clock Billy Madden, who had charge for the real
sponsor of the affair, Richard K. Fox presented J. Hyland, master of
ceremonies, and after a rattling setto between a couple of light-weights.
Gus Hill, the champion club swinger, was accorded the stage, and a
delegation of the uniformed Police Gazette patrol lifted the Richard K. Fox
club, weighing 115 pounds, onto the stage and Hill gave a "first class"
exhibition, after which came several more lively short bouts. Then came an
annoying delay during which disquieting rumors spread through the gathering.
Just as every one was on the border of restlessness the tall form of
Sullivan was seen coming from the Madison Avenue entrance. He was followed
by Police Captain Williams. Sullivan mounted to the ring with difficulty and
taking off his hat, staggered to the ropes and said:
"Gentlemen (hic) I am sick (hic) and not able to box (hic). The doctor is
here (hic), and this is the first time I disappointed yer (hic)."
The champion was drunk as a lord, and a very intoxicated one at that. The
Gazette intimated that the beer-makers' strike had not had its effect on the
champion, who had advanced beyond the beer-imbibing stage.
No, the crowd did not wreck the place or start a serious disturbance. There
were hisses, groans and cat-calls, but that was all, though the box holders
had paid as high as $25, for their places. Not a penny of the receipts was
returned to the victimized patrons. The gate was said to have amounted to
only $6,668, which would seem to have called for a lot of explanations.
Can you imagine any modern prize ring champion, even Jack Dempsey, living
down such a fiasco? Yet John L. Sullivan was able to come back to New York
not only as a fighter and actor, but as a public hero as well. It was soon
after this that the song, the chorus of which heads this chapter, and which
was soon carried all over the country, was first sung in Tony Pastor's music
hall. Which was on the same night M'lle Zuila, one of the performers, had a
perilous accident.
HERBERT A. SLADE FIGHTS JOHN L. SULLIVAN
A Few months previous to this bad break by the champion he had made short
work of another of Fox's importations. Jem Mace, a former champion of the
ring and one of the most scientific big men the game has ever known, brought
from New Zealand, Herbert A. Slade, the Maori. The coming of Slade was made
much of. He looked even taller than his six feet, two inches in height, had
a tremendous shoulder spread and his fists were an enormous "pair of
pounders." Slade was something of a sensation as he arrived at the Gazette
offices. His skin was a coppery hue and his hair was black and straight as
an Indian's; his burly form was encased in a huge buffalo-skin coat and on
his head was a high sealskin cap. Crowds followed him everywhere. There was
some trouble over securing a permit from the Corporation Council for a bout
between Sullivan and Slade at the Garden. A warrant was sworn out for the
arrest of Richard K. Fox as instigator of a prize fight. Without waiting for
the serving of this warrant Mr. Fox and his lawyers appeared at the Tombs
prepared to do legal battle for the cause of boxing.
Fox's lawyers contended that, while prize fighting was prohibited under a
legal act of 1859, this law did not affect sparring contests in which
scientific exhibitions of the manly art were given with padded mits. Henry
Bergh, who led the enemies of the sport of boxing, was charged in the
Gazette with being soured against the sport because he could not get
Sullivan and Slade to box for the benefit of the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Bald-Headed Men. The Gazette printed a long list of notables
who condemned the arrest of Mr. Fox, which never actually happened, as an
outrage. When Fox finally forced a hearing his lawyers made an excellent
plea for boxing as an exercise and an entertainment. Well-known teachers of
the fistic art were lined up ready to prove that their pupils included
ministers, ministers' sons, deacons and doctors and men of high standing.
Henry Ward Beecher, it was insisted, was quite handy with the gloves. When
Judge Donohue handed down his decision it did not come as a surprise that it
was to the effect that sparring was not necessariloy an unlawful act.
It was a notable victory for Mr. Fox. it took an entire page to give
expression to the messages of praise that came from various parts of the
country, and the press of Gotham rallied strongly in support of the Gazette
owner as was evidenced by a column of editorial comment culled from the
Tribune, Herald, Sun, Times and other dailies.
The only unsatisfactory part of this victory, so far as Fox was concerned,
was the outcome of the Sullivan-Slade bout. They met for four rounds in
Madison Square Garden, August 7, 1883. The Maori was knocked out of time in
the third round.
ALF GREENFIELD FIGHTS JOHN L. SULLIVAN
In 1884 Richard K. Fox brought another foreign contender to these shores in
the person of Alf Greenfield, of Birmingham, England. Sullivan took him on
in Madison Square Garden, on the night of November 17. The physical
advantages were decidedly with the American, still the Briton showed pluck
and boxing science that enabled him to make a commendable showing through
the first round. The second round indicated that John L. was too strong for
his opponent. The smaller man fought back with desperation but he suffered a
severe cut over his left eye that soon had his face and chest crimson
stained. Soon Greenfield was fought to the ropes, where he was being
wickedly belabored. At this point Police Captain Williams leaped upon the
platform and pushed the fighters apart.
The bloodstained men were loath to stop, but Captain Williams pointed in the
direction of Superintendent Walling. It seems that the latter had come to
the conclusion that the contest had ceased to be a sparring exhibition, that
the passions of the contestants had been aroused, and that they were trying
to knock each other out which made it a physical combat contrary to the
letter of the law.
Once again many notables outside of the sport and theater world were among
those present. The gathering included quite a few members of the Union Club,
many of them still wearing the apparel with which they had graced the Astor
wedding that afternoon. In the boxes and at the ringside were isidor Straus,
Benjamin G. Arnold, Dean Sage, William B. Hilton, John J. Knox, Rev. E.W.
Donald, Charles L. Tiffany, Henry M. Flagler, James B. Colgate, Cyrus W.
Fields, James McCreery, Elihu Root, Abe Hummel and many others equally
prominent.
A JURY WAS EMPANELED TO TRY SULLIVAN AND GREENFIELD ON
THE CHARGE OF PRIZE FIGHTING.
Shortly before Christmas Day, 1884, a jury was empaneled to try Sullivan and
Greenfield on the charge of prize fighting. Richard K. Fox was on hand with
a fine array of legal talent. The Gazette report of the trial has some
interesting points.
The first man called for jury duty was Felix Bohen, a bookkeeper in a liquor
store. He said he didn't know Sullivan or anything about athletics. He was
accepted. Thomas R. Bronson, a drug merchant, testified that he had read
Roamn history and knew about gladiators and such things. He was accepted as
Juror No. 2. James M. Bulger would seem to have been excused by the District
Attorney for no other reason than that his shoes gleamed, his hat was nobby
and his clothes natty; anyway he was excused without a word. David Kirsch, a
lace merchant, who admitted he was opposed to men like Sullivan, but thought
he could be fair, was accepted. James D. Spraker, ship chandler who not only
admitted having seen sparring exhibitions in Madison Square Garden, but
seemed proud of the fact, was also accepted.
After several rejections along came William McBride, who admitted he did not
approve of boxing to excess. To illustrate, he said he had often played
checkers all night and considered that excess. When he said "checkers" the
court room smiled right out loud and the checker fiend was excused. Alfred
H. Thorn, an architect, caused something of a sensation when he looked
calmly at the great John L. and told the court that he did not object to
boxing, but he did object to Sullivan and many of his acts. It took over two
hours and a half before a full jury was panelled. The others accepted were
as follows: John Graham, builder; Joseph Swan, silk goods; Lippmann Toplitz,
millinery; Julius Friend, another lace merchant; Ludwig Schwabacher, metal
broker; Silas H. Rushton, who was employed in the same capacity as Juror No.
1, but not in the same line of business; John G. Gnadt, machinist; and H. A.
Barclay, whose business, if he had any, was not given.
THE TRIAL
Police Superintendent Walling was called first and went into a description
of the blood spilling. He admitted that Captain Williams had made the arrest
under his instructions. Captain Williams, who came next, made a fine witness
for the men under arrest. He admitted he had seen more blood and harder
exchanges of blows in boxing bouts presented under the auspices of the
Police Athletic Association. Inspector Thorne's testimony was also in favor
of the defendqants. He did not think there had been any evidences of passion
shown by the contestants. Captain Clinchy came next and he was not of much
help to the people. He admitted he liked to box himself and did not think
the blows exchanged between Sullivan and Greenfield had been hard ones. The
gloves were next passed over to the gentlemen of the jury. Mr. Schwabacher
tried one on and so did Mr. Lippmann Toplitz, and Mr. Cohen and some of the
others examined the gory stains.
Here the people rested and Lawyer Howe opened for the defense. Harry Hill
was called and after kissing the Bible promised to tell the truth. Then he
up and said that, without wishing to express anything derogatory to the
character of either pugilist, he was prepared to say that nothing had been
less ferocious than the exhibition which those two gentlemen, Mr. Sullivan
and Mr. Greenfield, had given. With some trouble he was confined to the dry
testimony about the rules of the Marquis of Queensberry. Quite a number of
other qualified, but possibly not disinterested, judges were called. They
all agreed that the blows struck were tame, bordering on gentle.
Alfred Greenfield was called next. Those who may have taken note of how
small he appeared compared to Sullivan, probably wondered how large he
looked beside Mr. Schwabacher and Mr. Lippmann Toplitz as he passed the jury
box. He promised to tell the truth, as the rest had done. Assistant District
Attorney Gove wearily requested him to merely tell the truth.
Greenfield identified the gloves he boxed with, and said the bout was only
an exhibition to please the public. They fought under no rules in
particular, and he didn't want to hurt Sullivan any more than Sullivan
wanted to hurt him. In England he taught gentlemen how to take care of
themselves, and he treated Sullivan as he treated any of his gentlemanly
pupils. "The way we came to clinch," he said, "is this. 'E's a good judge of
the bizness, and when I tried to 'it 'im 'e ducked 'is 'ed, and my arm
slipped round 'is neck. We 'ired the 'all through our managers, just to make
a little money. I 'ad no ill-feeling, and 'e had no ill-feeling. We do it in
England all the time, but of course, I don't know whether it's allowed 'ere
or not."
John L. Sullivan next testified. He was satisfied with Judge Barrett's
decision, and had decided to be ruled by it. He simply sparred a friendly
round of three minutes, and in the second round both received their
scratches by ducking their heads to avoid blows. He had no intention of
hurting Greenfield.
"Were you angry during the exhibition?" "No, sir. I have never been angry in
any of the engagements I have been in."
Sullivan showed a slight abrasion on his head, back of his ear, to the jury.
He assured them that he had not been hurt by any of Greenfield's blows, and
had reserve power to have struck his opponent much harder, but refrained
from doing so. Though it was customary for even prize fighters to shake
hands before a contest, he had shaken hands with Greenfield simply through
friendly motives. The master of ceremonies, a Mr. Johnson, had stated to the
audience that the exhibition was to be under the Marquis of Queensberry
rules, but neither he nor Greenfield intended that they should be.
At the conclusion of the champion's testimony the case rested. Mr. Mitchell,
Mr. Howe and Assistant District Attorney Gove made short addresses. Mr.
Mitchell pitted the testimony of Captains Clinchy and Williams and Inspector
Thorne against the impressions of aged Chief Walling, and drew the
conclusion that when supplemented by the testimony of all the other
witnesses there could be no question that Sullivan and Greenfield had taken
part in nothing more than an athletic exhibition. Mr. Mitchell was followed
by Mr. Howe, and Assistant District Attorney Gove closed the case, after
which Judge Barrett charged the jury. He warned its members to divest
themselves of sympathy with sparring matches and of any prejudice against
boxing contests and determine if this was a fight or contention without
weapons for mastery; "if it was a physical contention for supremacy, then
the defendants are guilty under the statute."
The jury filed out, taking with them the gloves. When they had been gone out
about eight minutes they filed back. The defendants stood up, stared at the
foreman, and the foreman stared at them. Then he sang out in a loud, clear
voice: "Not guilty."
WHATEVER THE TRIAL COST, FOX, THE GAZETTE OWNER AND
THE SPORT OF PUGILISM PROFITED.
That this trial cost Richard K. Fox a goodly sum in coin of the realm is
well known, though no specific amounts appear to have been charged on the
books of the publication. Whatever it was he spent, the Gazette owner was
well satisfield with the investment. Fox, and the sport of pugilism,
profited, of that there can be little question.
By this time, however, Fox appears to have given up any hope of discovering
a foreign fist fighter who could humble John L. Now he diverted his search
through this country, and after looking over the field with much
thoroughness he became the backer of John Joseph Killion, who attained ring
prestige under the name of Jake Kilrain. This was in 1886. Mitchell was
engaged as trainer and Kilrain was taken abroad the following year for a big
international bout with Jem Smith, the English champion. It was called a
draw after one hundred and six rounds of bare knuckle fighting that consumed
two and one-half hours. The National Police Gazette and the American press
were united in the contention that the decision should have gone to the
American fighter.
When Fox brought his new "Police Gazette Champion" back home a broadside of
challenges was fired at Sullivan, and when John L. was tardy, for various
reasons, in taking up the defi, the title was claimed for Kilrain. The war
of printers' ink went on for many months until finally, late in 1888, John
L. took the position of challenger himself, and dared Kilrain to fight for a
purse of $20,000. Fox called the bluff, if bluff it was, and signified his
willingness to back his champion for $10,000. The battle did not take place
until July 8, 1889. Sullivan's victory, which came after seventy-five rounds
of fighting, was forecast by the kids on the street, who could be heard
going about chanting:
Sullivan will KILLrain! Sullivan will KILLrain!
Sins of New York
As "Exposed" by the Police Gazette
By Edward Van Every
Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Company--New York
Copyright: 1930 3 Printings October 15, October 23 and October 30.
Prepared and Transcribed by Miriam Medina
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