Hype Igoe Tells How John L. Sullivan Found His Match

By HYPE IGOE

NEW YORK, Dec. 28.— A sweltering day and John L. Sullivan, feeling
a little high, stepped through the swinging doors of Paddy Roche s
Saloon near Union Square to get a breath of fresh air.
A is his habit John was dressed to kill, a 10-karat diamond in his
tie a glistening silk topper cocked at a rakish angle on his powerful
head He was immediately surrounded by a group of pop-eyed admirers,
but there was no rush for his autograph. The boys and girls of the
period had not come around to that form of public torment.
John tossed a few coins to the kids and was enjoying their rough and
tumble scramble after the money when along came a middle-aged woman Carrying a huge wash basket of freshly ironed linen and such.
he walked to the curb and set the basket down to rest while she
mopped her brow with her apron. She was delivering the wash in person and John L. eyed her for a time and then moved toward the basket.
A Gailant Cavalier.
"Where are you going, my good woman? That's quite a load
vou're toting. Ill shoulder it myself and carry it for you.
' "I'll be thanking ve to mind your own sweet business and let mine
alone I'm the one who will carry the basket and I won't be asking the
likes of a dude like ye to help me either. Stand aside me fine dandy and ill be on about me chores
now I’ll take upon myself to carry you’re the basket to your destination. "where i don't know, but ill carry it Just the same. . . It, will
be no trouble, my good woman, and I'll consider it an honor," insisted Sullivan with that. Sullivan bent over and was starting to pick up the basket when the "good woman" hit him an open hand smack on the side of the jaw. knocking John L.'s silk tile into the gutter.
"I'll be thanking ye to get along with ye and let a hard-working
woman attend to her work. Go on with the likes of ye."
"I meant you no harm. I was only trying to ease your burden," protested the champion.
Then reaching into his pocket he pulled out a ten-dollar bill and
pressed it into her hand.
"Now will you let me carry your basket," said John l. more determined than ever to carry the basket away from the crowd which had gathered.
"Who are ye?" asked the woman, somewhat startled to find a $10 banknote in her hand.
"I'm John l. Sullivan," came the answer.
Triumphant Procession "That's a- fine name. Mine's Sullivan too, Mary Sullivan." "Then it IS a grand name," drawled the mighty king of the ring.
"Now I'm carrying your wash for you."
Sullivan lifted the basket to his shoulder and then began the march which took him clear over into Second avenue.
With every step John L. drew more and more followers. The news that the mighty John L. Sullivan was carting Mary Sullivan's laundry to its destination had spread like wildfire and by the time they had reached It there was a cheering throng following In their wake. . . . If Sullivan had been their hero before, he now had taken on golden wings In their estimation. Only a John L. Sullivan could have, would have, done so gallant a deed! Housewives and the old boys with the dudeens came clattering out of their abodes. It wasn't every day that the "Greatest.Roman of Them All" was to be seen delivering Mary Sullivan's laundry and the crowd grew. Sullivan had a keen sense of humor and he was enjoying the unusual performance. Mary Sullivan with the Great John L. Sullivan
playing the role of gallant Knight of the Linen was now taking her newly found fame In stride.
Top Billing for Mary
They came finally to the house where the wash was to be delivered and John L..set the basket down, fished out another $10 bill, doffed his stovepipe hat and was off.
Somehow, the story crept Into the public prints and Steve Brodle, the hero of the famous jump from the Brooklyn bridge, knowing the power of publicity, sought out Mary Sullivan and engaged her to appear at his place on the Bowery every night, ten dollars being her nightly fee,
•THE WOMAN WHO SOCKED THE MIGHTY JOHN L. SULLIVAN ON THE JAW," her billing. Mary showed the muscles of her good right arm and did it for 18 weeks! Thousands came to shake the hand that socked the iron chin
Of the mighty John L.