ADVENTUROUS CAREER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 108, 9 May 1931, Page 12

ADVENTUROUS CAREER

FORMER CHAMPION BOXER DISTINGUISHED WAR SERVICE A picturesque figure is Mr Charles Garrett, bos’un on the steamer Corinthic, which arrived at Auckland on Wednesday from Southampton, known in boxing circles as “Spike Sullivane.” An adventurous career has fallen to the lot of Mr Garrett. An Irishman by birth, he was considered from 1898 to 1908 to be unequalled in the world as a middle-weight boxer, and has more than 700 victories to his credit. He met his defeat at the hands of Stanley Ketchel. Subsequently, however, he defeated “Philadelphia Jack” O’Brien, a boxer who defeated the famous Tommy Burns. Apart from boxing, Mr Garrett has an. adventurous record. Two rows of war medals and decorations are ample evidence of this. Before he became a boxer of note he made the voyage round Cape Horn twice in sailing ships. Then, when his boxing days were over, he returned to sea again, and was on board the ill-fated Titanic when she struck an iceberg in the Atlantic and was wrecked. For 12 hours he was struggling for his life in the ice-cold water. Then for a period Mr Garrett left the sea and toured America with a circus. The Great War broke out and he joined the Canadian forces. Sailing for France, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant-major and saw a great deal of fighting. He was wounded in the head and leg. For bravery in the field he was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal, with bar, the Military Medal and the Croix de Guerre. After being discharged from the Army in 1920, Mr Garrett returned to Canada and became a physical instructor to the Royal North-West Mounted Police, the organisation whose fame is known all over the world. Subsequently he returned to England and followed various occupations before resuming a seafaring life. Johnny Sullivan, at present a noted professional boxer, is a son of Mr Garrett.