John L. Sullivan in England.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 233, 17 December 1887, Page 4

John L. Sullivan in England.

John L. Sullivan, the pugilist, who arrived at Queenstown on November sth, is indignant at the boastful language used by Kilrain and Mitchell. He cays that he wants to fight both of them in the same ring. He believes that Smith is a better man than Kilrain, and declares that he means to return to America as the champion of the world, or die whero ho is. Sullivan's reception at Liverpool on tho 6th was such os might have been accorded to a great general returning from a victorious campaign. On landing nn enthusiastic crowd met him, and tried to unharness the four horses of the carriage in waiting. A reception was given at the Grand Hotel in the afternoon, which was attended by many fighters, among them Greenfield and Bevan. For all this, the Customs retained Sullivan's belt pending the payment of duty. Sullivan arrived in London on the 7th. A crowd of 2,500 betting men, pugilists,

and roughs assembled at the railway station to welcome him, and when the train> arrived a wild rush was made for the car which Sullivan occupied. The excitement was intense. On the 9th — evening of the day of the Lord Mayor's show— Sullivangave a public exhibition. St. James's Hall was crowded. Sullivan was in pink tights and without a shirt. Before setting to with Jack Ash ton, he shook hands with Jem Smith, tho Engli&h champion, and made a little speech, in which he thanked the audience for the reception given him, and said he had come over to show the English what sort of timber he was made of. Jem Smith also said a few words to the effect that he hoped to knock out Kilrain and do the same thing to Sullivan. The American champion's condition and science in the four rounds with Ashton sent the fistic experts in the audience back to the days of Tom Sayers for comparisons. After the exhibition was over, Sullivan was driven around to the Pelican Club in a coronetted carriage, accompanied by a horde of Americans, who sang "Hail to the Chief " until they were hoarse. The police are taking every possibiemcasure to prevent the fight between Kilrain and Smith. The probabilty is that, after all. the idea of making Spain the battle-ground will bo given up, and the combatants and friends will take steamer to Boulogne, and fight somewhere on the French coast.