Show bo 0 favl A saga of pugilism rm when john L sullivan fought paddy ryan DOWN in louisiana sta state e where prize fighting k saw some of the pal palt niest of the early day festivities in the squared circle they are arc still talking of the old battlers start a conversation about fighters anywhere between biloxi former capital of mississippi rend and new orleans and get an earful from historians who remember as tar far back as tho the seventy five round fight london rules between john L sullivan and jake kilrane at rich illch bourg miss july 8 that was wag a bare knuckle affair last to take place in the united states sullivan the winner some time later september IG 1930 19 10 that sanguinary mill was described by an eyen eyewitness atness As compared with alth the gate affair september 22 1027 1927 chicago between gene tunney and jack dempsey the pickings were sad indeed for the simple reason that john and jake were chased out of new orleans by th the L state constabulary and had to fight practically on the dead jump on an open lot in the next state old timer tells the story skirting along the gulf of mexico where all of the cottages enjoy a southern exposure I 1 stopped at pass christian just out of 0 gulfport Gulf port and picked u up an interview with mr E r i adams sr president of the board of supervisors aho vho ho not only attended the sullivan kilrane setto set to at but was an eyewitness to the mill between john L and paddy ryan at mississippi city 1882 arrangements had been made to pull the fight oil off at new orleans he said but bt the better element put up a protest and the principals agreed to fight wherever a vacant lot could be found and the police butt in at that time I 1 was in the employ of of the coast beacon service at pass christian still in my teens and hot to be at the ringside it if possible A rumor floated in that the train carrying john and paddy would come through the pass on the fly and stop at mississippi city where the bout would take place on the old myers hotel ground 12 miles cast on the gulf A boy friend ferdinand martin and I 1 dropped everything and arranged with henry crown brown a blacksmith to rent us a team of horses and ii a buggy to make the trip A dr J J thornton told brown that we would drive tits his horses to death trying to follow the train the blacksmith at once took the rig away from us what about it fred I 1 asked lets walk he be said lets run I 1 said and run we did over the only road one of white title sand stretches between the pass and mississippi city hard driving for teams fact is we passed most of the horse drawn vehicles it was grudge fight there was no admission fee it was a grudge fight in which only the backers were concerned somebody tried to collect a few dollars but got the horse laugh there was no time to argue as the authorities were expected to turn up tip and arrest the principals martin and I 1 shinned chinned up a ebin aberry tree near the roped square and had a wonderful view of the whole show the actual fight lasted just eleven minutes nine rounds london rules sullivan knocked ryan down or lie fell down nine times altogether a bloody affair with the boston boy having his fits own way from start to finish paddys gaddys wife rife bould not believe a telegram that her man had been defeated until she got a look at tits his face which removed all douht this light fight was about the last of ryans and the beginning or of sullivans sul anns fame there aint much of a crowd on hand probably all told ilow how ever people who lived in mississippi city but believe in a prize ring events and decided to stay home ho with it h the blinds down soon appealed climbed into the trees and sat straddle on the lims cheering and making bets with those who were within reach it was like a colony of monkeys watching a battle of gorillas from the surrounding lorest forest the tree next to mine was occupied by a young fellow who in his bis anxiety to get closer slid so far out that the branch snapped and let him down crashing through the lower foliage lie lilt hit the earth with the echo of a bass drum break ing his leg I 1 was one with ferdinand martin who helped to carry him to a resting place awaiting a doctor man with broken leg ten years later inter while title sticking type in the composing room of the times democrat new orleans the sullivan kyan fight became the subject of con troverse tro versy I 1 chipped in with some observations ions and found myself supported by another printer who insisted that lie he also was an authority on the sub je jeet ct 1 I ought to know something about that light 1 he said because I 1 sat on the limb arub of a chinaberry tree watching round after round until I 1 tumbled off and broke a leg leaving we me a cripple for life what more evl evi dence wo you want leaving my typesetting case I 1 walker over to him and in the presence of the composing room stated elated that I 1 was one of the boys boss who helped to carry him out of the grove believe it or not his bis name came was ed word ward norman copyright service |