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THE HISTORIAN OF HANCOCK COUNTY
The Coming Fight
A Visit to Bay St. Louis, Sullivan?s Training Ground (From the New York Herald)
A very rapid and pleasant run over the finest, beyond all compare, of our Southern railroads?the Louisville and Nashville?brought your correspondent from New Orleans to Bay St. Louis. The object of the writer?s visit to this most charming resort on the Mexican Gulf shore was for the purpose of interviewing John L. Sullivan, the celebrated Boston pugilist, and his trainer, Billy Madden, who were here located, who, in fact, have been here some time preparing for the coming prize fight. The train reached the Bay at 7:15 P. M., making the run in two hours and fifteen minutes.
On asking the exact whereabouts of Sullivan and Madden, the answer came that they were probably at their quarters immediately fronting the bay. It was further stated that they had been at the hotel when the early evening train came in, and it was very probable that they would come back later. The above information proved correct, for in a few minutes in came Sullivan and Madden. Both men had evidently seen hard work since your correspondent had last laid eyes upon them. Sullivan, to be sure, had the same yellowish brown suit he sported when located in New Orleans, but instead of a neat shirt of spotless white, he carried a flannel undershirt which answered the purposes of an outside one, and
this was laced up about the neck with a blue cord and tassel. But the neat, jaunty mustache which both men had sported when seen last in the Crescent City, had utterly disappeared. Both of their faces were closely shaved. In fact, both presented the appearance of game cocks of the shawl-neck breed prepared for battle, with all the glory of their beauty gone.
Cordial greetings were exchanged and an especial inquiry addressed to Sullivan elicited the information that he was in tip-top condition and weighed 128 pounds, stripped, yesterday.
The next question that followed was addressed to Madden: ?What do you think of the Bay as a training place?? ?I will tell you; I think it is just as nice as it can be; indeed, I do not believe anything much better could be found anywhere. We have a splendid shell road to walk on, and we enjoy all the quiet that could be desired. We have been here two weeks, and the first visitors we have had made their appearance today. These were Bob Farrell and Pete McCoy. The representatives of the New Orleans Times-Democrat were the next that honored us, and those, I can assure you, comprise the entire list since we have been settled in these parts.?
The information was now given that they had determined to change their quarters and locate themselves in the Depot Hotel. The house they were then occupying had been kindly placed at their service by Dr. Latham, to be sure, but the cooking there was not
suited to a man under training and hence the necessity which compelled a change to the hotel.
A visit was proposed to their present quarters. A few minutes walk brought the party to the Latham cottage. The road which leads to it at one time wound through a perfect wilderness of magnificent white oaks, and at another skirted along the shores of the bay where the faintest murmur of the waves gave a dreary appearance to the scene.
The little white cottage which glimmered in the darkness stood on a bluff overlooking the blue waters of the Mississippi Sound. Here had been up to the present time Sullivan and Madden?s quarters. A bed stood near the door beside the front window. This, a large round table, a rocker, three chairs?not enough for the small company then present? completed the furniture of the room. At the time the company entered it, it should be confessed, it did look a little in disorder; then it should be remembered its late occupants were now on the move. A tub and a bucket for bathing purposes stood at the foot of the bed. A ball of leather was suspended from the ceiling; two or three sand bags were lying on the floor. On the table were newspapers, writing paper, and a bottle of ink. The last gave things about the room quite a literary air albeit Billy Madden disclaimed the honor of being considered literary, saying he had not yet climbed to the high, distinction of being even private secretary to his principal, desiring to be addressed simply as trainer. The arrangements of the