THE UNCONVERTED ATHLETE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11696, 22 July 1890, Page 3

THE UNCONVERTED ATHLETE.

ARTHUR CLAMPETT INTERVIEWED.

(Auckland Stay). WELLINGTON. One of the Star reporters who interviewed Arthur Clampett, alias Sullivan, prior to his departure from Auckland about twelve months ago, was able to again interview the unconverted athlete soon after he arrived at Wellington by the Ruapehu, from London. I mot Clampett walking up the wharf in company with a lady and gentleman and little girl, and on seeing me he immediately stopped to have a chat, hia recollection of the former interview in the Star Hotel, Auckland, being still fresh in hia memory. Having shaken hands with his friends and kissed the little girl, he placed himself at my disposal, and having mad 9an adjournment to the Occidental, once ' again made me the confidant of his singular experiences. In the first place I questioned him as to the correctness of the statement, made by himself at our former interview, and these, aa reported, he admitted were absolutely correct. Ho had been credited with making an assertion to the effect that he must have been drunk when he gave that interview, and he now denied emphatically having made any such statement. " Indeed," he saidj "I was as Bober as I am now and knew perfectly well what I was saying. The only incorrect statement I made to you/ he proceeded, " was that I made .fiIOOC out of the religious racket in New Zealand. I actually only made £300 beyond my expenses. JBSO of that amount was given to me by one party." As to his experience since leaving Auckland Clampett said .- — " After arriving at San Francisco I went on to Texas. Subsequently I went to Chicago and New York, and everywhere I found that copies of a New Zealand Methodist publication containing an exposure of my religious career iv this colony had preceded me. When I went to England I found the same paper, and my own friends were turned against me. In consequence of this I was thrown on my resources. I gave lectures on New Zealand, and spoke in the highest terms of this country, but here again, my New Zealand experiences dogged my footsteps, and I had,' perforce, to resort to gambling. I did not box, myself, but made some money by backing others. While I was in London I received from a resident of Chriatchurch forty' guineas to pay my passage back to New Zealand. They asked me to come back to Christchurch and make a confession, but I am done with the religious racket now. When I arrived here there was not a friend on the wharf to meet me. The religious people, you see, are not prepared to ' restore a brother in a spirit of meekness,' and therefore I intend to resort to the ways of men of the world, who know more than they do. I used the money sent to me for a ticket, and took passage by theßuapehu, but I have plenty of money and intend to return the f orty guineas to the donor. I intend henceforth to pursue my own profession as a professor of physical culture, giving my gymnastic exhibitions, and lecture on- my past experiences : throughout the world. I have written to Professor Miller, of Melbourne, asking him to join me, and if he consents, I believe we will do well. I intend to proceed from here to Dunedin, and will visit Auckland again without fa,il later on." Further conversation of a general character brought the interview to a close. Clampett is well dressed, and carried himself with the Bame self-possessed deportment as on the occasion of his former visit. He has evidently been doing a lot of, muscular exercise, but still possesses the neat, clerical look and persuasive ways which formerly enabled him to ensure & good reception amongst the religious brotherhood almost everywhere he went. He denies he ever on any occasion since leaving Auckland attempted to' impose upon the religious denominations, and asserts that' he finds his own profession much more remunerative.