John L. Sullivan’s Gift of Gratitude
A famous prize-fighter leaves a $25 gold penknife for the Tacoma theater manager who returned his lost $135 check.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
W. J. Timmons, manager of the Pantages theater, received the surprise of his life Saturday afternoon when he opened his mail. In one of the packages was a handsome gold penknife, with the initials 'J. L. S. & F. H. to W. J. T.,' engraved on it. The knife was a present from John L. Sullivan, who had been at the Pantages two weeks ago, and from his manager, Frank Hall. The gift was made as a result of a favor which Manager Timmons did for 'John L.' While the big prize-fighter was in Tacoma he lost a check, endorsed by him, made out for $135. Manager Timmons accidentally found the check and returned it to him. The penknife which Sullivan presented to Timmons is worth at least $25. It is made of highly embossed gold.
“The penknife which Sullivan presented to Timmons is worth at least $25. It is made of highly embossed gold.”
John L. Sullivan was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and a massive celebrity of the era. This story captures a fleeting, humanizing moment of the 'Boston Strong Boy' in a Tacoma theater setting that has long since vanished, highlighting how even Gilded Age titans relied on the simple honesty of local workers.
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