THE MORNING STAR WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1918

DEATH KNOCKS OUT JOHN L. SULLIVAN Veteran of the Prize Ring Dies of Heart Disease at His West Abington Home HE MADE A GAME FIGHT He Blamed Liquor for Loss of Cham- pionship to Corbett in 1892 and Later made Strong Battle Against It.

_ Abington, Mass., Feb. 2 - John L. Sullivan, one of the most interesting figures of prize ring renown, died sud- denly of heart disease at his farm in West Abington today. As was his wish, he died with his shoes on. Although stricken with heart trouble three weeks ago, he quickly improved and was in no sense an invalid. He was about to leave his house today to pay a visit to Boston to see his old friend, Captain James P. Sullivan, of the Boston police department, when he received his final knockout. _ His friend and companion, George M. Bush, rushed to his side as the old gladiator sank to the floor uncon- scious, and revived him with cold wa- ter applications to the head. "John L.," responding quickly to the treat- ment, as in his palmy days in the prize ring, struggled to his feet and refused to take the decision of time. He reluctantly consented to have a physician called, but after receiving medical treatment, announced that he would have a bath and keep his ap- pointment. Even as he expressed his determination he became unconscious and died apparently without further pain. _ The body will be taken to the home of his sister in Boston, where funeral services will be held Wednesday morning. Hardly had the news of the passing of one of America's greatest fistic champions been flashed broad- cast, than messages of sympathy be- gan pouring into town from men in all walks of life. Sullivan, in his prime, was a popular idol and he never entirely lost his hold on the public. This was due not only to the success of his old prize fighting days, but to his rugged battle later against his old easy-going habits. _ "John L." always attributed his loss of the championship to Corbett by a knockout in New Orleans September 7, 1892, to liquor. He had made a fortune in the prize ring and had spent it, when friends tendered him a benefit concert in Boston to put him on his feet again. The money ob- tained from this venture went also according to his ruling habit and then Sullivan's old fighting spirit reassert- ed itself, and he announced that he had entered the list against John Barleycorn for a fight to the finish. He never let up in his aggressive fight against liquor, and frequently left his farm here for long temperance speak- ing tours. _ He was 59 years old when he was counted out. He had often expressed regret that he was too old to go with the boys over seas, but he was not too old to do his bit. _ He never declined an invitation to speak at a flag raising or recruiting rally or in behalf of the Liberty loan. Sullivan was never taught how to box. He took to fighting naturally. His first appearance in the ring was at a variety performance in Boston when he was in his teens, a magnificently built young man weighing nearly 200 pounds. A husky boxer, who was one of the performers, challenged any one in the audience to enter the ring with him. It was a summons Sullivan could not refuse, although he had no ring experience. Peeling off his coat, he leaped upon the stage, took a blow to the head and knocked out his opponent with one clean punch straight from the shoulder. It was a method of fighting he never dropped.

ROME NEW YORK DAILY SENTINEL FEBRUARY 2, 1918 JOHN L. SULLIVAN DIES SUDDENLY THE OHIO STATE JOURNAL SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 3. 1918 JOHN L. SULLIVAN TAKES LAST COUNT THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION FEBRUARY 3, 1918 JOHN L. SULLIVAN IS DEAD

Source: wikipedia: John Lawrence Sullivan (October 15 1858; February 2 1918) was recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing from February 7 1882 to 1892, and is generally recognized as the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing under the London Prize Ring rules. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts (now a part of Boston) to Irish emigrant parents, Michael Sullivan from Abbeydorney, County Kerry and the former Catherine Kelly from Athlone, County Westmeath. Sullivan was nicknamed The Boston Strongboy. As a youth he was arrested several times for participating in bouts where the sport was outlawed, and he went on exhibition tours offering people money to fight him. In 1879, he challenged anyone in America to fight him for $500, Sullivan had had won over 450 fights in his career. In 1883 - 1884 Sullivan went on a coast-to-coast tour by train with five other boxers. It was scheduled to comprise 195 performances in 136 different cities and towns over 238 days. To help promote the tour, Sullivan announced that he would box anyone at any time during the tour under the Queensberry Rules for $250. He knocked out eleven men during the tour.