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Title: Pugilistica, Volume 1 (of 3)
The History of British Boxing Containing Lives of the Most
Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from
Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal
Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the
Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from
Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle
Between King and Heenan, in December 1863
Author: Henry Downes Miles
Release Date: May 9, 2019 [EBook #59465]
Language: English
Character set encoding: UTF-8
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PUGILISTICA
THE HISTORY
OF
BRITISH BOXING
[Illustration:
SOUTHWARK FAIR.
VOL. 1. _Frontispiece_
]
PUGILISTICA
THE HISTORY
OF
BRITISH BOXING
CONTAINING
LIVES OF THE MOST CELEBRATED PUGILISTS; FULL REPORTS OF THEIR BATTLES
FROM CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPERS, WITH AUTHENTIC PORTRAITS, PERSONAL
ANECDOTES, AND SKETCHES OF THE PRINCIPAL PATRONS OF THE PRIZE RING,
FORMING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE RING FROM FIG AND BROUGHTON, 1719‒40,
TO THE LAST CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE BETWEEN KING AND HEENAN, IN DECEMBER
1863
BY HENRY DOWNES MILES
EDITOR OF “THE SPORTSMAN’S MAGAZINE.” AUTHOR OF “THE BOOK OF FIELD
SPORTS,” “ENGLISH COUNTRY LIFE,” ETC., ETC.
VOLUME ONE
Edinburgh
JOHN GRANT
1906
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREFACE TO THE FIRST VOLUME.
The history of “the Ring,” its rise and progress, the deeds of the men
whose manly courage illustrate its contests in the days of its
prosperity and popularity, with the story of its decline and fall, as
yet remain unwritten. The author proposes in the pages which follow to
supply this blank in the home-records of the English people in the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The space covered in these volumes
extends over one hundred and forty-four years, from the time when James
Fig (the first acknowledged champion) opened his amphitheatre in the
Oxford Road, in May, 1719, to the championship battle between John Camel
Heenan, the American, and Tom King, the English champion, at Wadhurst,
in Kent, on the 10th of December, 1863.
The author trusts he may claim, without laying himself open to a charge
of egotism, exceptional qualifications for the task he has undertaken.
His acquaintance with the doings of the Ring, and his personal knowledge
of the most eminent professors of pugilism, extend over a retrospect of
more than forty years. For a considerable portion of that period he was
the reporter of its various incidents in _Bell’s Life in London_, in the
_Morning Advertiser_, and various periodical publications which, during
the better days of its career, gave a portion of their space to
chronicle its doings. That the misconduct of its members, the degeneracy
and dishonesty of its followers led to the deserved extinction of the
Ring, he is free to admit: still, as a septuagenarian, he desires to
preserve the memory of many brave and honourable deeds which the reader
will here find recorded.
A few lines will suffice to elucidate the plan of the work.
Having decided that its most readable form would be that of a series of
biographies of the principal boxers, in chronological order, so far as
practicable, it was found convenient to group them in “Periods;” as each
notable champion will be seen to have visibly impressed his style and
characteristics on the period in which he and his imitators, antagonists
or, as we may call it, “school” flourished in popular favour and
success.
A glance at the “Lives of the Boxers” thus thrown into groups will
explain this arrangement:—
VOLUME I.
PERIOD I.—1719 to 1791.—From the Championship of Fig to the first
appearance of Daniel Mendoza.
PERIOD II.—1784 to 1798.—From Daniel Mendoza to the first battle of
James Belcher.
PERIOD III.—1798 to 1809.—From the Championship of Belcher to the
appearance of Tom Cribb.
PERIOD IV.—1805 to 1820.—From Cribb’s first battle to the Championship
of Tom Spring.
⁂ To each period there is an Appendix containing notices and sketches of
the minor professors of the ars pugnandi and of the light-weight boxers
of the day.
VOLUME II.
PERIOD V.—1820 to 1824.—From the Championship of Spring to his
retirement from the Ring.
PERIOD VI.—1825 to 1835.—From the Championship of Jem Ward to the
appearance of Bendigo (William Thompson) of
Nottingham.
VOLUME III.
PERIOD VII.—1835 to 1845.—From the appearance of Bendigo to his last
battle with Caunt.
PERIOD VIII.—1845 to 1857.—The interregnum. Bill Perry (the Tipton
Slasher), Harry Broome, Tom Paddock, &c.
PERIOD IX.—1856 to 1863.—From the appearance of Tom Sayers to the last
Championship battle of King and Heenan, December,
1863.
In “the Introduction” I have dealt with the “Classic” pugilism of Greece
and Rome. The darkness of the middle ages is as barren of record of “the
art of self-defence” as of other arts. With their revival in Italy we
have an amusing coincidence in the “Memoirs of Benvenuto Cellini,” in
which a triumvirate of renowned names are associated with the
common-place event of “un grande punzone del naso”—a mighty punch on the
nose.
“Michael-Angelo (Buonarotti’s) nose was flat from a blow which he
received in his youth from Torrigiano,[1] a brother artist and
countryman, who gave me the following account of the occurrence: ‘I
was,’ said Torrigiano, ‘extremely irritated, and, doubling my fist, gave
him such a violent blow on the nose that I felt the cartilages yield as
if they had been made of paste, and the mark I then gave him he will
carry to the grave.’” Cellini adds: “Torrigiano was a handsome man, of
consummate audacity, having rather the air of a bravo than a sculptor:
above all, his strange gestures,” [were they boxing attitudes?] “his
enormous voice, with a manner of knitting his brows, enough to frighten
any man who faced him, gave him a tremendous aspect, and he was
continually talking of his great feats among ‘those bears of
Englishmen,’ whose country he had lately quitted.”
Who knows—_sempre il mal non vien par nocuere_—but we have to thank the
now-neglected art, whose precepts and practice inculcated the use of
Nature’s weapon, that the clenched hand of Torrigiano did not grasp a
stiletto? What then would have been the world’s loss? The majestic
cupola of St. Peter’s, the wondrous frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, “The
Last Judgment,” the “Sleeping Cupid” of Mautua, the “Bacchus” of Rome,
and all the mighty works of the greatest painter, sculptor, and
architect of the 16th century, had probably been uncreated had not
Michael-Angelo’s fellow-student learned among “those bears of
Englishmen,” the art of administering a “mighty punch on the nose” in
lieu of the then ready stab of a lethal weapon.
The testimony of St. Bernard to the merits of boxing as a substitute for
the deadly combats of his time, with an extract from Forsyth’s
“Excursion in Italy,” will be found at page xv. of the Introduction to
this volume; and these may bring us to the period when the first Stuart
ascended the throne of “Merrie Englande.”
In Dr. Noble’s “History of the Cromwell Family,” we find the following
interesting notice of the fistic prowess of the statesman-warrior who,
in after-times, “made the sovereigns of Europe court the alliance and
dread the might of England’s arm.” At p. 94 vol. i., we read:—
“They have a tradition at Huntingdon, that when King Charles I. (then
Duke of York), in his journey from Scotland to London, in the year 1604,
rested in his way at Hinchenbrooke, the seat of Sir Oliver Cromwell; the
knight, to divert the young prince, sent for his nephew Oliver, that he,
with his own sons, might play with his Royal Highness. It so chanced
that the boys had not long been together before Charles and Oliver
disagreed, and came to blows. As the former was a somewhat weakly boy,
and the latter strong, it was no wonder the royal visitor was worsted.
Oliver, even at this age, so little regarded dignity that he made the
royal blood flow copiously from the Prince’s nose. This was looked upon
by many as a bad presage for the King when the civil war had commenced.”
The probability of this incident has been flippantly questioned. The
writer has lighted on the following in the dry pages of “Toone’s
Chronology,” under James I. “1603. April 27th. The King, arriving at
Hinchenbrooke, was magnificently entertained by Sir Oliver Cromwell,
where also the Cambridge Doctors waited upon his Majesty. May 3. The
King arrived at Theobalds, in Hertfordshire, the seat of Mr. Secretary
Cecil’s. He made 200 Knights on his arrival in London and on his journey
thither from Edinburgh.” And in the next page we read: “1604. Jan. 4.
Prince Charles came into England (from Scotland) and was created Duke of
York. He had forty pounds per annum settled on him that he might more
honourably maintain that dignity.” It may be as well to observe that
Charles I. and Cromwell were of an age (both born in 1599), and each of
them five years old in 1604‒5; so that this juvenile encounter is highly
probable, exemplifying that “the child is father of the man.”
Again in Malcolm’s “Manners and Customs of London,” vol. i., p. 425, we
find the subjoined extract from _The Protestant Mercury_, of January,
1681, which we take to be the first prize-fight on newspaper record.
“Yesterday a match of boxing was performed before his Grace the Duke of
Albemarle, between the Duke’s footman and a butcher. The latter won the
prize, as he hath done many before, being accounted, though but a little
man, the best at that exercise in England.”
“Here be proofs”: 1, of ducal patronage; 2, of a stake of money; 3, of
the custom of public boxing; 4, of the skill of the victor, “he being
but a little man;” and all in a five-line paragraph. The names of the
Champions are unwritten.
This brings us to the period at which our first volume opens, in which
will be found the deeds and incidents of the Pugilists, the Prize-ring,
and its patrons, detailed from contemporary and authentic sources, down
to the opening of the present century. We cannot, however, close this
somewhat gossiping preface without an extract from a pleasant paper
which has just fallen under our notice, in which some of the notable men
who admired and upheld the now-fallen fortunes of boxing are vividly
introduced by one whose reminiscences of bygone men and manners are
given in a sketch called “The Last of Limmer’s.” To the younger reader
it may be necessary to premise, that from the days when the Prince
Regent, Sheridan, and Beau Brummel imbibed their beeswing—when the
nineteenth century was in its infancy—down to the year of grace 1860,
the name of “Limmer’s Hotel” was “familiar in sporting men’s mouths as
household words,” and co-extensive in celebrity with “Tattersall’s” and
“Weatherby’s.”
My name is John Collins, head-waiter at “Limmer’s,”
Corner of Conduit Street, Hanover Square;
My chief occupation is filling of brimmers,
For spicy young gentlemen frequenting there.
Said “brimmers,” _hodie_ “bumpers,” being a compound of gin, soda-water,
ice lemon, and sugar, said to have been invented by John Collins, but
recently re-imported as a Yankee novelty. This per parenthesis, and we
return to our author.
“In that little tunnelled recess at the bottom of the dark, low-browed
coffee-oom, the preliminaries of more prize-fights have been arranged by
Sir St. Vincent Cotton, Parson Ambrose, the late Lord Queensberry,
Colonel Berkeley, his son, the Marquis Drumlanrig, Sir Edward Kent, the
famous Marquis of Waterford, Tom Crommelin, the two Jack Myttons, the
late Lord Longford, and the committee of the Fair-play Club, than in the
parlour of No. 5, Norfolk Street (the sanctum of Vincent Dowling, Editor
of _Bell’s Life_), in Tom Spring’s parlour, or Jem Burn’s ‘snuggery.’
“Let it not be imagined that any apology is needed, nor will be here
vouchsafed in defence of those to whom, whatever may have been their
station in life, the prize-ring was formerly dear. The once well-known
and well-liked Tom Crommelin, for instance, is the only survivor among
those whom we chance to have named, but in his far-distant Australian
home he will have no cause to remember with regret that he has often
taken part in the promotion of pugilistic encounters.
“During the present century Great Britain has produced no more manly, no
honester, or more thoroughly English statesman than the uncle of the
present Earl Spencer, better known in political history under the name
of Lord Althorp. The late Sir Denis Le Marchant, in his delightful
memoir of the nobleman who led the House of Commons when the great
Reform Bill was passed, tells us that ‘Lord Althorp made a real study of
boxing, taking lessons from the best instructors, whilst practising most
assiduously, and, as he boasted, with great success. He had many matches
with his school-fellow, Lord Byron, and those who witnessed his exploits
with the gloves, and observed his cool, steady eye, his broad chest and
muscular limbs, and, above all, felt his hard blows, would have been
justified in saying that he was born to be a prize-fighter rather than a
Minister of State.’ Long after the retirement of Lord Althorp from
office, Mr. Evelyn Denison, who died as Lord Ossington, paid him a visit
at Wiseton, ‘The _pros_ and _cons_ of boxing were discussed,’ writes the
late Speaker, ‘and Lord Althorp became eloquent. He said that his
conviction of the advantages of pugilism was so strong that he had been
seriously considering whether it was not a duty that he owed to the
public to go and attend every prize-fight which took place, and thus to
encourage the noble science to the extent of his power. He gave us an
account of prize-fights which he had attended—how he had seen Mendoza
knocked down for the first five or six rounds by Humphries, and seeming
almost beaten until the Jews got their money on, when, a hint being
given, he began in earnest and soon turned the tables. He described the
fight between Gully and the Chicken—how he rode down to Brickhill
himself, and was loitering about the inn door, when a barouche and four
drove up with Lord Byron and a party, and Jackson, the trainer—how they
all dined together, and how pleasant it had been. Next day came the
fight, and he described the men stripping, the intense excitement, the
sparring, then the first round, and the attitudes of the men—it was
really worthy of Homer.’
“A pursuit which was enthusiastically supported and believed in by
William Windham, Charles James Fox, Lord Althorp, and Lord Byron, stands
in little need of modern excuse on behalf of its promoters when Limmer’s
was at its apogee. Full many a well-known pugilist, with Michael-Angelo
nose and square-cut jaw, has stood, cap in hand, at the door of that
historical coffee-room within which Lord Queensberry—then Lord
Drumlanrig—and Captain William Peel and the late Lord Strathmore were
taking their meals. In one window stands Colonel Ouseley Higgins,
Captain Little, and Major Hope Johnstone. A servant of the major’s, with
an unmistakable fighting face, enters with a note for his master. It is
from Lord Longford and Sir St. Vincent Cotton asking him to allow his
valet to be trained by Johnny Walker for a proximate prize fight. The
servant, who is no other than William Nelson, the breeder (before his
death) of Plebeian, winner of the Middle Park Plate, however, firmly
declines the pugilistic honours his aristocratic patrons design for him,
so the fight is off. Hard by maybe seen the stately Lord George
Bentinck, in conference with his chief-commissioner, Harry Hill,” &c.,
&c. We here break off the reminiscences of Limmer’s, as the rest of this
most readable paper deals solely with the celebrities of the turf.
The last time the writer saw the late Sir Robert Peel, was at Willis’s
Rooms, in King Street, on the occasion of an Assault of Arms, given by
the Officers of the Household Brigade, whereat the art of self-defence
was illustrated by the non-commissioned officers of the Life Guards,
Grenadier Guards, and Royal Artillery. Corporal-Majors Limbert and Gray,
Sergeants Dean and Venn, Corporal Toohig (Royal Artillery), with
Professors Gillemand, Shury, and Arnold, displayed their skill with
broadsword, foil, single-stick, and sabre against bayonet. The gloves,
too, were put on, and some sharp and manly bouts played by the stalwart
Guardsmen. The lamented Minister watched these with approving attention.
Then came a glove display in which Alec Keene put on the mittens with
Arnold, the “Professor of the Bond Street Gymnasium.” The sparring was
admirable, and sir Robert, who was in the midst of an aristocratic
group, pressed forward to the woollen boundary-rope. His eyes lighted up
with the memories of Harrow school-days and he clapped his hands in
hearty applause of each well-delivered left or right and each neat stop
or parry. The bout was over, and neither was best man. The writer
perceived the deep interest of Sir Robert, and conveyed to the friendly
antagonists the desire of several gentlemen for “one round more.” It was
complied with, and closed with a pretty rally, in which a clean
cross-counter and first and sharpest home from Keene’s left proved the
finale amid a round of applause. The practised pugilist was too many for
the professor of “mimic warfare.” Next came another clever demonstration
of the arts of attack and defence by Johnny Walker and Ned Donnelly. Sir
Robert was as hilarious as a schoolboy cricketer when the winning run is
got on the second innings. Turning to Mr. C. C. Greville and the Hon.
Robert Grimstone, he exclaimed, “There is nothing that interests me like
good boxing. It asks more steadiness, self-control, aye, and manly
courage than any other combat. You must take as well as give—eye to eye,
toe to toe, and arm to arm. Give my thanks to both the men, they are
brave and clever fellows, and I hope we shall never want such among our
countrymen.” It is gratifying to add that, to our knowledge, these
sentiments are the inheritance of the third Sir Robert, whose manly and
patriotic speech, at Exeter Hall, on the 17th of February, 1878, rings
in our ears as we write these lines.
With such patrons of pugilism as those who faded away in “the last days
of Limmer’s,” departed the fair play, the spirit, and the very honesty,
often tainted, of the Ring. A few exceptional struggles—due rather to
the uncompromising honesty and courage of the men, or the absence of the
blacklegs, low gamblers, Hebrews, and flash publicans from the finding
of the stakes, or making the market odds—occurred from time to time; but
these were mere flickerings of the expiring flame. The Ring was doomed,
not less by the misconduct of its professors than by the discord and
dishonest doings of its so-called patrons and their ruffianly followers,
unchecked by the saving salt of sporting gentlemen and men of honour,
courage, and standing in society. Down, deeper down, and ever downward
it went, till in its last days it became merely a ticket-selling swindle
in the hands of keepers of Haymarket night-houses, and slowly perished
in infamy and indigence. Yet, cannot the writer, looking back through a
long vista of memorable battles, and with the personal recollection of
such men as Cribb (in his latter days), Tom Spring, Jem Ward (still
living), Painter, Neale, Jem Burn, John Martin, Frank Redmond, Owen
Swift, Alec Keene, with Tom Sayers, his opponent John Heenan, and Tom
King, the _Ultimus Romanorum_ (now—1878—taking prizes as a
floriculturist at horticultural shows), believe that the art which was
practised by such men was without redeeming qualities. He would not seek
to revive the “glory of the Ring,” that is past, but he has thought it a
worthy task to collect and preserve its memories and its deeds of
fortitude, skill, courage, and forbearance, of which these pages will be
found to contain memorable, spirit-stirring, and honourable examples.
A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOXING.
The curious reader may find some interest in a few paragraphs on the
Bibliography of Boxing; for the Ring had a contemporary literature,
contributed to by the ablest pens; and to this, in the earlier periods
of its history, the author would be an ingrate were he not to
acknowledge his indebtedness.
The earliest monograph is a neatly printed small quarto volume,
entitled, _A Treatise on the Useful Art of Self-Defence_. By Captain
Godfrey. The copy in the British Museum (bearing date 1740) appears to
be a second edition. It has for its title _Characters of the Masters_.
There is also a handsomely bound copy of the work in the Royal Library,
presented to the nation by George III. The volume is dedicated to H.R.H.
William, Duke of Cumberland. Frequent quotations are made from this
book.
_The Gymnasiud, or Boxing Match._ A Poem. By the Champion and Bard of
Leicester House, the Poet Laureate (Paul Whitehead), 1757. See page 19
of this volume.
In _Dodsley’s Collections_, 1777, &c., are various poetic pieces by Dr.
John Byrom, Bramston (_Man of Taste_), and others, containing sketches
of pugilism and allusions to the “fashionable art” of boxing, “or
self-defence.”
During this period, _The Gentleman’s Magazine_, _The Carlton House
Magazine_, _The Flying Post_, _The Daily News Letter_, _The World_, _The
Mercury_, _The Daily Advertiser_ (Woodfall’s), and other periodical
publications, contained reports of the principal battles in the Ring.
_Recollections of Pugilism and Sketches of the Ring._ By an Amateur.
8vo. London, 1801.
_Recollections of an Octogenarian._ By J. C. 8vo. London, 1805. (See pp
29, 30.)
_Lives of the Boxers._ By Jon Bee, author of the “Lexicon Balatronium,”
and “The Like o’ That.” 8vo. London, 1811.
_Pancratia: a History of Pugilism._ 1 vol. 8vo. 1811. By J. B. London:
George Smeeton, St. Martin’s Lane.
_Training for Pedestrianism and Boxing._ 8vo. 1816. By Captain Robert
Barclay (Allardyce of Ury).
This pamphlet contains an account of the Captain’s training of Cribb for
his fight with Molineaux.
_The Fancy: A Selection_ from the poetical remains of Peter Corcoran,
Esq., student of Law (Pseudonymous). London: 1820. Quoted p. 313 of this
volume.
_Boxiana: Sketches of Antient and Modern Pugilism._ Vol. I. 8vo. London:
G. Smeeton, 139, St. Martin’s Lane, Charing Cross, July, 1812.
This very scarce volume, which was the production of George Smeeton, a
well known sporting printer and engraver, was the basis of the larger
work _Boxiana_, subsequently written and edited by Pierce Egan, and of
which _five_ volumes, appeared between 1818 and 1828. The well-written
“Introduction,” much disfigured by the illiterate editor, were
incorporated, and the handsome copperplate title-page will be found
bound into the later work published by Sherwoods, Jones & Co. Pierce
Egan was, at one time, a compositor in Smeeton’s office, and continued
the work for Sherwoods.
_Boxiana. Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism, from the days of the
renowned Broughton and Slack to the Championship of Crib._ By Pierce
Egan. In two volumes. London: Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, Paternoster
Row, 1818.
This was the first complete book. A third volume followed in 1825. There
are _two_ fourth volumes owing to a circumstance which requires
explanation. That published by George Virtue, and bearing the name of
Pierce Egan, has for its title _New Series of Boxiana: the only Original
and Complete Lives of the Boxers_. By Pierce Egan. London: George
Virtue, Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row. Vol. I., 1828. Vol. II., 1829. These
are generally bound as Vols. IV. and V., in sets of _Boxiana_. The other
volume, IV., is identical in title, but not in contents, with Pierce
Egan’s first volume of the “new series,” omitting those words. It was
written by Jon Bee, for Messrs. Sherwoods, who moved an injunction
against Pierce Egan for selling his fourth volume to another publisher.
Lord Chancellor Eldon merely compelled Pierce Egan to prefix the words
“new series” to his book, and the matter ended.
_A Lecture on Pugilism_: Delivered at the Society for Mutual
Improvement, established by Jeremy Bentham, Esq., at No. 52, Great
Marlborough Street, Oxford Street, April 14th, 1820. By S[eptimus]
M[iles]. 8vo., 24 pp., White, 1820. This curious and elaborate defence
of pugilism seems rather to have been a rhetorical exercitation for
discussion at a debating society than a defence. It is printed at the
end of the third volume of Boxiana.
_Boxing; with a Chronology of the Ring, and a Memoir of Owen Swift._ By
Renton Nicholson. London: Published at 163, Fleet Street. 1837.
_Owen Swift’s Handbook of Boxing._ 1840. With Steel Portrait by Henning.
This was also written by the facetious Renton Nicholson—styled
“Chief-Baron Nicholson,” and originator of the once-famous “Judge and
Jury” Society.
_The Handbook of Boxing and Training for Athletic Sports._ By H. D.
M[iles]. London: W. M. Clark, Warwick Lane, Paternoster Row, 1838.
_Fistiana; or, the Oracle of the Ring. By the Editor of Bell’s Life in
London._ This pocket volume, containing a Chronology of the Ring, the
revised rules, forms of articles, duties of seconds, umpires, and
referee, reached its 24th and last edition in 1864, and expired only
with the ring itself. Its author, Mr. Vincent George Dowling, the
“Nestor of the Ring,” a gentleman and a scholar, also contributed the
article “Boxing” to Blaine’s “Cyclopædia of Rural Sports,” Longmans,
1840.
_Fights for the Championship._ 1 vol., 8vo. By the Editor of _Bell’s
Life in London_. London: published at 170, Strand, 1858.
_Championship Sketches_, with Portraits. By Alfred Henry Holt. London:
Newbold, Strand, 1862.
_The Life of Tom Sayers._ By Philopugilis. 8vo., with Portrait. London:
S. O. Beeton, 248, Strand, 1864. [By the author of the present work.]
Among the authors of the early years of the present century, whose pens
illustrated the current events of boxers and boxing, we may note, Tom
Moore the poet, who contributed occasional squibs to the columns of the
_Morning Chronicle_, and in 1818 published the humorous versicles, _Tom
Cribb’s Memorial to Congress_, quoted at p. 306 of this volume. Lord
Byron. See Moore’s “Life and Letters,” “Memoir of Jackson,” pp. 97, 98.
Christopher North (Professor Wilson) the Editor of Blackwood’s Magazine
in the _Noctes Ambrosiane_, puts into the mouth of the Ettrick Shepherd
(James Hogg) an eloquent defence of pugilism, while he takes
opportunity, through Sir Morgan O’Doherty, to praise the manliness, fair
play, and bravery of contemporary professors of boxing. Several sonnets
and other extracts from Blackwood will be found scattered in these
volumes.
Dr. Maginn (the Editor of Frazer’s Magazine), also exercised his pen in
classic imitations apropos of our brave boxers.
Last, but not least, the gifted author of _Pendennis_, _The Virginians_,
_Esmond_, _Vanity Fair_, _Jeames’s Diary_, &c., &c., has perpetuated the
greatness of our latest champions in a paraphrase, rather than a parody
of Macaulay’s “Lays of Ancient Rome,” entitled “Sayerinus and Henanus; a
Lay of Ancient London,” which contains lines of power to make the blood
of your Englishmen stir in days to come, should the preachers of
peace-at-any-price, pump water, parsimonious pusillanimity, puritanic
precision and propriety have left our youth any blood to stir. See “Life
of Sayers,” in vol. iii. Volumes cannot better express the contempt
which this keen observer of human nature and satirist of shams
entertained for the mawworms, who “compound for sins they are inclined
to by damning those they have no mind to,” than the subjoined brief
extract:—
“Fighting, of course, is wrong; but there are occasions when.... I mean
that one-handed fight of Sayers is one of the most spirit-stirring
little stories; and with every love and respect for Morality, my spirit
says to her, ‘Do, for goodness’ sake, my dear madam, keep your true, and
pure, and womanly, and gentle remarks for another day. Have the great
kindness to stand a _leetle_ aside, and just let us see one or two more
rounds between the men. That little man with the one hand powerless on
his breast facing yonder giant for hours, and felling him, too, every
now and then! It is the little Java and the Constitution over
again.’”—W. M. THACKERAY.
Or the following “happy thought,” to which Leech furnished an
illustrative sketch:—
“SERIOUS GOVERNOR.—‘I am surprised, Charles, that you can take any
interest in these repulsive details! How many rounds (I believe you term
them) do you say these ruffians fought? Um, disgraceful! the Legislature
ought to interfere; and it appears that this Benicia Man did not gain
the—hem—best of it? I’ll take the paper when you have done with it,
Charles.’”—_Punch Illustration, April 8, 1860._
CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND
FROM 1719 TO 1863.
1719. James Fig, of Thame, Oxfordshire.
1730‒1733. Pipes and Gretting (with alternate success).
1734. George Taylor.
1740. Jack Broughton, the waterman.
1750. Jack Slack, of Norfolk.
1760. Bill Stevens, the nailer.
1761. George Meggs, of Bristol.
1762. George Millsom, the baker.
1764. Tom Juchau, the paviour.
1765‒9. Bill Darts.
1769. Lyons, the waterman.
1771. Peter Corcoran (doubtful). He beat Bill Darts, who had
previously been defeated by Lyons.
1777. Harry Sellers.
1780. Jack Harris (doubtful).
1783‒91. Tom Johnson (Jackling), of York.
1791. Benjamin Brain (Big Ben), of Bristol.
1792. Daniel Mendoza.
1795. John Jackson. (Retired.)
1800‒5. Jem Belcher, of Bristol.
1805. Henry Pearce, the “Game Chicken.”
1808. (Retired). John Gully (afterwards M.P. for Pontefract).
1809. Tom Cribb, received a belt and cup, and retired.
1824. Tom Spring, received four cups, and retired.
1825. Jem Ward, received the belt.
1833. Jem Burke (the Deaf ’un), claimed the title.
1839. Bendigo (Wm. Thompson), of Nottingham, beat Burke, and received
the belt from Ward.
1841. Benjamin Caunt, of Hucknall, beat Nick Ward, and received belt
(transferable).
1845. Bendigo beat Caunt, and received the belt.
1850. Wm. Perry (Tipton Slasher), claimed belt, Bendigo declining his
challenge.
1851. Harry Broome beat Perry, and claimed the title.
1853. Perry again challenged the title, and Broome retired from the
ring.
1857. Tom Sayers beat Perry, and received the belt.
1860. Tom Sayers retired after his battle with Heenan, and left belt
for competition.
1860. Samuel Hurst (the Staleybridge Infant), beat Paddock, the
claimant, and received the belt.
1861. Jem Mace, of Norwich, beat Hurst, and claimed the title.
1863. Tom King beat Mace, and claimed the belt, but retired, and Mace
claimed the trophy.
1863. Tom King beat J. C. Heenan for £1,000 a-side at Wadhurst,
December 10th.
INTRODUCTION.
BOXING AND BOXERS AMONG THE ANCIENTS.
The origin of boxing has been assumed by some superficial writers as
coeval with the earliest contests of man. This view appears to the
writer both crude and unphilosophical. It might be argued with equal
probability that the foil was antecedent to the sword, the sword to the
dagger, or the singlestick to the club with which the first murder was
perpetrated. The clumsiest and, so far as rude and blood-thirsty attack
could contrive them, the most deadly weapons were the first used; the
sudden destruction of life, not the art of defence, being the brutal
instinct of the vengeful, cunning, and cowardly savage, or the
treacherous manslayer. This, too, would lead us fairly to infer—as the
most dangerous forms of the cæstus are the most ancient, and the naked
fist in combat appears nowhere to have been used in the gladiatorial
combats of Greece or Rome—that to England and her Anglo-Saxon race is
due this fairest and least dangerous of all forms of the duel; and to
attribute to a recent period the padded boxing-glove (at present the air
or pneumatic glove), by means of which the truly noble art of
self-defence can be safely and healthfully practised and illustrated.
The most polished people of antiquity included boxing among their
sports. With them it was also a _discipline_, an _exercise_, and an
_art_. A discipline, inasmuch as it was taught to pupils; an exercise,
as followed in the public games; and an art, on account of the previous
trainings and studies it presupposed in those who professed and
practised it. Plutarch indeed asserts that the “pugilate” was the most
ancient of the three gymnic games performed by the athletæ, who were
divided into three classes—the BOXERS, the WRESTLERS, and the RUNNERS.
And thus Homer views the subject, and generally follows this order in
his descriptions of public celebrations. This, too, is the natural
sequence, in what philosopher Square would call “the eternal fitness of
things.” First, the man attacks (or defends himself) with the fist;
secondly, he closes or wrestles; and should fear, inferior skill, or
deficient strength tell him he had better avoid the conflict, he resorts
to the third course, and _runs_.
A word on the derivation of our words, pugilism, pugilist, and boxing,
all of which have a common origin. _Pugilism_ comes to us through the
Latin _pugilatus_, the art of fighting with the fist, as also does
_pugnus_, a fight. The Latin again took these words from the Greek πυγμὴ
(_pugmè_), the fist doubled for fighting; whence also they had πύγμάχος
(_pugmachos_), a fist-fighter, and πύγμαχια (_pugmachia_), a fist-fight.
They had also πυγδον (_pugdon_), a measure of length from the elbow
(_cubitus_) to the end of the hand _with the fingers clenched_. Another
form of the word, the Greek adverb πυξ (_pux_), _pugno vel pugnis_,
gives us πυξος (_puxos_, Lat. _buxus_), in English, BOX; and it is
remarkable that this form of the closed hand is the Greek synonyme for
anything in the shape of a closed _box_ or receptacle, and so it has
passed to the moderns. The πυξ, _box_ or _pyx_, is the chest in which
the sacramental vessels are contained. Thus mine Ancient Pistol pleads
for his red-nosed comrade:—
“Fortune is Bardolph’s foe, and frowns on him;
For he hath stolen a PYX, and hanged must ’a be.
Let gallows gape for dog; let man go free,
But Exeter hath given the doom of death,
For PYX of little price.”
HENRY V., act iii., sc. vi.
The French have also imported _le boxe_ into their dictionaries, where
the Germans had it already, as _buchs_, a box. But enough of etymology;
wherever we got the word, the thing itself—fair boxing, as we practise
it—is of pure English origin. The Greeks, however, cultivated the
science in their fashion, confined it by strict rules, and selected
experienced masters and professors, who, by public lessons, delivered
gratis in Palestræ and Gymnasiæ, instructed youth in the theory and
practice of the art. Kings and princes, as we learn from the poets, laid
aside their dignity for a few hours, and exchanged the sceptre for the
cæstus; indeed, in Greece, boxing, as a liberal art, was cultivated with
ardour, and when (once in three years) the whole nation assembled at
Corinth to celebrate their Isthmian games, in honour of Neptune, the
generous admiration of an applauding people placed the crown on the brow
of the successful pugilist, who, on his return home, was hailed as the
supporter of his country’s fame. Even Horace places the pugilist
_before_ the poet:—
“Quem tu, Melpomene, semel
Nascentem placido lumine videris,
Illum non labor Isthmius
Clarabit pugilem.”
Lib. iv., Ode 3, l. 1‒4.
And in another place:—
“Musa debit fidibus divos, puerosque deorum,
Et PUGILEM victorem, et equum certamine primum.”
_De Arte Poet._, l. 83‒84.
The sententious Cicero also says:—“It is certainly a glorious thing to
_do_ well for the republic, but also to _speak_ well is not
contemptible.”
Having alluded to the poets who have celebrated pugilism, we will take a
hasty glance at the demigods and heroes by whom boxing has been
illustrated. POLLUX, the twin brother of Castor—sprung from the intrigue
of Jupiter with the beauteous Leda, wife of Tyndarus, King of Sparta,
and mother of the fair Helen of Troy—presents us with a lofty pedigree
as the tutelary deity of the boxers. The twins fought their way to a
seat on Mount Olympus, as also did Hercules himself:—
“_Hac arte_ Pollux, et vagus Hercules
Innixus arces attigit igneas;”
the sign Gemini in our zodiac representing this pair of “pugs.” As one
of the unsuccessful competitors with Pollux, we may here mention AMYCUS.
He was a son of Neptune, by Melia, and was king of the Bebryces. When
the Argonauts touched at his port, on their voyage to Colchis, he
received them with much hospitality. Amycus was renowned for his skill
with the cæstus, and he kept up a standing challenge to all strangers
for a trial of skill. Pollux accepted his challenge; but we learn from
Apollonius that Amycus did not fight fair, and tried by a trick to beat
Pollux, whereupon that “out-and-outer” killed him, _pour encourager les
autres_, we presume.[2] There were two other pugilists of the same name
among the “school” taken by Æneas into Italy as we shall presently see.
ERYX, also, figures among the heaven-descended pugilists. He was the son
of Venus, by Butes, a descendant of Amycus, and very skilful in the use
of the cæstus. He, too, kept up a standing challenge to all comers, and
so came to grief. For Hercules, who “barred neither weight, country, nor
colour,” coming that way, took up the gauntlet, and knocked poor Eryx
clean out of time; so they buried him on a hill where he had, like a
pious son, built a beautiful temple in honour of his rather too easy
mamma. It is but fair, however, in this instance, to state that there is
another version of the parentage of Eryx, not quite so lofty, but, to
our poor thinking, quite as creditable. It runs thus:—Butes, being on a
Mediterranean voyage, touched at the three-cornered island of Sicily
(Trinacria), and there, sailor fashion, was hooked by one Lycaste, a
beautiful harlot, who was called by the islanders “Venus.” She was the
mother of Eryx, and so he was called the son of Venus. (See Virgil,
Æneid, b. v., l. 372.) However this may be, the temple of Eryx and the
“Erycinian Venus” were most renowned, and Diodorus, the Sicilian, tells
us that the Carthaginians revered Venus Erycina as much as the Sicilians
themselves, identifying her with the Phœnician Astarte. So much for the
genealogy of the fourth boxer.
ANTÆUS here claims a place. We have had a couple from heaven (by
Jupiter), and one from the sea (by Neptune), our next shall be from
earth and ocean combined. Antæus, though principally renowned as a
wrestler, is represented with the cæstus. He was the son of Terra, by
Neptune; or, as the stud-book would put it, by Neptune out of Terra. He
was certainly dreadfully given to “bounce,” for he threatened to erect a
temple to his father with the skulls of his conquered antagonists; but
he planned his house before he had procured the materials. The story
runs, that whenever he kissed his “mother earth” she renewed his
strength, from which we may fairly infer that he was an adept in the art
of “getting down,” like many of our modern pugilists. Hercules, however,
found out the dodge by which the artful Antæus got “second wind” and
renewed strength. He accordingly put on “the squeeze,” and giving him a
cross-lift, held him off the ground till he expired, which we take to
have been foul play on the part of his Herculean godship.[3] There was
another Antæus, a friend of Turnus, killed by Æneas in the Latin wars.
Of the Homeric boxers, EPEUS and EURYALUS are the most renowned. Epeus
was king of the Epei, a people of the Peloponnesus; he was son of
Endymion, and brother to Pæon and Æolus. As his papa was the paramour of
the goddess of chastity, Diana, the family may be said to have moved in
high society. The story of Endymion and the goddess of the moon has been
a favourite with poets. Epeus was a “big one,” and, like others of
Homer’s heroes, a bit of a bully.
In the twenty-third book of the Iliad we find the father of poetry
places the games at the funeral of Patroclus in this order:—1, The
chariot race; 2, the cæstus fight; 3, the wrestling; 4, the foot race.
As it is with the second of these only that Epeus and Euryalus are
concerned, we shall confine ourselves to the Homeric description.
“The prizes next are ordered to the field,
For the bold champions who the cæstus wield;
A stately mule, as yet by toil unbroke,
Of six years’ age, unconscious of the yoke,
Is to the circus led and firmly bound:
Next stands a goblet, massive, large, and round.
Achilles, rising, thus: ‘Let Greece excite
Two heroes equal to this hardy fight;
Who dares the foe with lifted arms provoke,
And rush beneath the swift descending stroke,
On whom Apollo shall the palm bestow,
And whom the Greeks supreme by conquest know,
This mule his dauntless labours shall repay:
The vanquished bear the massy bowl away.’
This dreadful combat great Epeus chose.
High o’er the crowd, enormous bulk! he rose,
And seized the beast, and thus began to say:
‘Stand forth some man to bear the bowl away!
Price of his ruin; for who dares deny
This mule my right, the undoubted victor I?
Others, ’tis owned, in fields of battle shine,
But the first honours of this fight are mine.
For who excels in all? Then let my foe
Draw near, but first his certain fortune know,
Secure, this hand shall his whole frame confound,
Mash all his bones, and all his body pound:
So let his friends be nigh, a needful train,
To heave the battered carcase off the plain.’
The giant spoke; and in a stupid gaze
The host beheld him, silent with amaze!
’Twas thou, Euryalus! who durst aspire
To meet his might, and emulate thy sire,
The great Megestheus, who, in days of yore,
In Theban games the noblest trophy bore—
(The games ordain’d dead Œdipus to grace),
And singly vanquished the Cadmæan race.
Him great Tydides urges to contend,
Warm with the hopes of conquest for his friend:
Officious with the cincture girds him round;
And to his wrists _the gloves of death_ are bound.
Amid the circle now each champion stands,
And poises high in air his iron hands:
With clashing gauntlets now they fiercely close,
Their crackling jaws re-echo to the blows,
And painful sweat from all their members flows.
At length Epeus dealt a weighty blow
Full on the cheek of his unwary foe;
Beneath the ponderous arm’s resistless sway
Down dropp’d he nerveless, and extended lay.
As a large fish, when winds and waters roar,
By some huge billow dash’d against the shore,
Lies panting: not less battered with the wound
The bleeding hero pants upon the ground.
To rear his fallen foe the victor lends,
Scornful, his hand, and gives him to his friends.
Whose arms support him reeling through the throng,
And dragging his disabled legs along,
Nodding, his head hangs down his shoulders o’er;
His mouth and nostrils pour the clotted gore:
Wrapped round in mists he lies, and lost to thought—
His friends receive the bowl too dearly bought.”
So far the first report of a prize fight, which came off 1184 years
B.C., in the last year of the siege of Troy, anno mundi, 3530.
There was another EPEUS, son of Panopæus, who was a skilful carpenter,
and made the Greek mare, commonly but erroneously called the Trojan
horse,[4] in the womb of which the Argive warriors were introduced to
the ruin of beleaguered Troy, as related in the second book of the
“Æneid.”
EURYALUS will be known by name to newspaper readers of the present day
as having given name to the steam frigate in which our sailor Prince
Alfred took his earliest voyages to sea: to the scholar he is known as a
valiant Greek prince, who went to the Trojan war with eighty ships, at
least so says Homer, “Iliad,” b. ii.
“Next move to war the generous Argive train,
From high Trœzenè and Maseta’s plain;
And fair Ægina circled by the main,
Whom strong Tyrinthe’s lofty walls surround,
And Epidaure with viny harvest crowned,
And where fair Asinen and Hermion show
Their cliffs above and ample bay below.
These by the brave EURYALUS were led,
Great Sthenelus and greater Diomed.
But chief Tydides bore the sovereign sway;
In fourscore barks they plough their watery way.”
We may here note that Tydides (the family name of Diomed, as the son of
Tydeus) was Euryalus’s second in the mill with Epeus, wherein we have
just seen him so soundly thrashed by the big and bounceable Epeus. As
Virgil generally invents a “continuation” or counterpart of the Homeric
heroes for his “Æneid,” we find Euryalus made the hero of an episode,
and celebrated for his immortal friendship with Nisus: with him he had a
partnership in fighting, and they died together in a night encounter
with the troops of the Rutulians, whose camp they had plundered, but
were overtaken and slain. (Virg. Æneid, ix., 176.) We will now therefore
shift the scene from Greece, and come to Sicily and Italy, and the early
boxing matches there.
Æneas’ companions were a “school” of boxers, and met with the like in
Italy, among whom ENTELLUS, ERYX, and ANTÆUS (already mentioned), DARES,
CLOANTHUS, GYGES, GYAS, etc., may be numbered.
ENTELLUS, the intimate of Eryx, and who conquered Dares at the funeral
games of Anchises (father of Æneas) in Sicily, deserves first mention.
He was even then an “old ’un,” but, unlike most who have “trusted a
battle to a waning age,” comes off gloriously in the encounter; which,
as we shall presently see, under Dares, gives an occasion for the second
ring report of antiquity, as well as a minute description of the cæstus
itself. The lines from the fifth book of the “Æneid” need no preface.
After the rowing match (with galleys), in which Cloanthus (see _post_)
is the victor, Æneas thus addresses his assembled companions:—
“‘If there be here whose dauntless courage dare
In gauntlet-fight, with back and body bare,
His opposite sustain in open view,
Stand forth thou, champion, and the games renew:
Two prizes I propose, and thus divide—
A bull with gilded horns and fillets tied,
Shall be the portion of the conq’ring chief;
A sword and helm shall cheer the loser’s grief.’
Then haughty Dares in the lists appears;
Stalking he strides, his head erected bears;
His nervous arms the weighty gauntlets wield
And loud applauses echo through the field.
Dares alone in combat sued to stand,
The match of mighty Paris, hand to hand;
The same at Hector’s funerals undertook
Gigantic Butes of the Amycian stock,
And by the stroke of his resistless hand,
Stretched his vast bulk along the yellow sand.
Such Dares was, and such he strode along,
And drew the wonder of the gazing throng.
His brawny bulk and ample breast he shows,
His lifted arms around his head he throws,
And deals, in whistling air, his empty blows.
His match is sought; but through the trembling band
Not one dares answer to his proud demand.
Presuming of his force, with sparkling eyes,
Already he devours the promised prize.
He claims the bull with lawless insolence,
And, having seized his horns, addressed the prince:
‘If none my matchless valour dares oppose,
How long shall Dares wait his dastard foes?
Permit me, chief, permit without delay,
To lead this uncontested gift away.’
The crowd assents, and, with redoubled cries,
For the proud challenger demands the prize.”
Acestes then reproaches Entellus for allowing the prize to be carried
off uncontested. Entellus pleads “staleness” and “want of condition,”
but accepts the challenge.
“Acestes fired with just disdain to see
A plain usurped without a victory,
Reproached Entellus thus, who sate beside,
And heard and saw, unmoved, the Trojan’s pride.
‘Once, but in vain, a champion of renown,
So tamely can you bear the ravished crown,
The prize in triumph borne before your sight,
And shun for fear the danger of the fight.
Where is your Eryx now, the boasted name,
The god who taught your thundering arm the game?
Where now your baffled honour? where the spoil
That filled your house, and fame that filled our isle?’
Entellus thus: ‘My soul is still the same,
Unmoved with fears, and moved with martial fame;
But my chill blood is curdled in my veins,
And scarce the shadow of a man remains.
Oh! could I turn to that fair prime again,
That prime of which this boaster is so vain,
The brave, who this decrepit age defies,
Should feel my force without the promised prize.’”
Entellus then throws down the gauntlets of Eryx (engraved under Cæstus,
pp. xiii., xiv.), but Dares, declining the ponderous weapons, old
Entellus offers to accommodate him, by permission of the umpires, with a
round or two with a lighter pair.
“‘But if the challenger these arms refuse,
And cannot wield their weight, or dare not use;
If great Æneas and Acestes join
In his request, these gauntlets I resign:
Let us with equal arms perform the fight,
And let him learn to fear since I forego my right.
This said, Entellus for the fight prepares,
Stripped of his quilted coat, his body bares:
Composed of mighty bones and brawn he stands,
A goodly towering object on the sands.
Then just Æneas equal arms supplied,
Which round their shoulders to their wrists they tied.
Both on the tiptoe stand, at full extent,
Their arms aloft, their bodies inly bent;
Their heads from aiming blows they bear afar,
With clashing gauntlets then provoke the war.
One on his youth and pliant limbs relies,
One on his sinews and his giant size.
This last is stiff with age, his motion slow;
He heaves for breath, he staggers to and fro,
And clouds of issuing smoke his nostrils loudly blow
Yet equal in success, they ward, they strike,
Their ways are different, but their art alike.
Before, behind, the blows are dealt; around
Their hollow sides the rattling thumps resound;
A storm of strokes, well meant, with fury flies,
And errs about their temples, ears, and eyes—
Nor always errs, for oft the gauntlet draws
A sweeping stroke along the crackling jaws.
Hoary with age Entellus stands his ground,
But with his warping body wards the wound.
His hand and watchful eye keep even pace,
While Dares traverses and shifts his place,
And, like a captain who beleaguers round
Some strong-built castle on a rising ground,
Views all the approaches with observing eyes;
This and that other part in vain he tries,
And more on industry than force relies.
With hands on high Entellus threats the foe;
But Dares watched the motion from below,
And slipped a-side, and shunned the long-descending blow.
Entellus wastes his forces on the wind,
And, thus deluded of the stroke designed,
Headlong and heavy fell, his ample breast
And weighty limbs his ancient mother pressed.
So falls a hollow pine that long had stood
On Ida’s height or Erymanthus’ wood,
Torn from the roots. The differing nations rise,
And shouts, with mingled murmurs, rend the skies.
Acestes runs with eager haste to raise
The fallen companion of his youthful days.
Dauntless he rose, and to the fight returned;
With shame his glowing cheeks, his eyes with fury burned
Disdain and conscious virtue filled his breast,
And with redoubled force his foe he pressed.
He lays on load with either hand amain
And headlong drives the Trojan o’er the plain;
Nor stops nor stays nor rests nor breath allows
But storms of strokes descend about his brows,
A rattling tempest and a hail of blows.”
At this point of the combat—when, after what ought to have closed round
1, by the fall of old Entellus, the latter jumps up and renews the
fight, driving Dares in confusion before him—we find that the referee
and stakeholder had a judicial discretionary power to stop the fight,
the more necessary on account of the deadly gloves in use. Some such
power, in cases of closing and attempts at garotting (such as occurred
at Farnham and at Wadhurst in 1860 and 1863, and numerous minor
battles), should be vested in the referee; but then where is the man who
in modern times would be efficiently supported or obeyed in this
judicial exercise of authority?
“But now the prince, who saw the wild increase
Of wounds, commands the combatants to cease,
And bounds Entellus’ wrath, and bids the peace.
First to the Trojan, spent with toil, he came,
And soothed his sorrow for the suffered shame.
‘What fury seized my friend? The gods,’ said he,
‘To him propitions, are averse to thee,
Have given his arm superior force to thine,
’Tis madness to contend with strength divine.’
The gauntlet fight thus ended, from the shore
His faithful friends the unhappy Dares bore:
His mouth and nostrils poured a purple flood,
And pounded teeth came rushing with his blood.
Faintly he staggered through the hissing throng,
And hung his head and trailed his legs along.
The sword and casque are carried by his train,
But with his foe the palm and ox remain.”
The reader will doubtless be forcibly struck with the close imitation of
Homer by the later epic poet. The length of this account—given, as are
those in the ensuing pages, under the name of the winner—will render
superfluous a lengthy notice of the vanquished—
DARES, another of the companions of Æneas, who also, like St. Patrick,
was “a jontleman, and came of dacent people.” Indeed, we see that he
claimed to be descended from King Amycus. Your ancient pugilists seem to
have been as anxious about “blood” as a modern horse-breeder. Dares was
afterwards slain by Turnus in Italy. See Virg. Æneid, v. 369, xii. 363.
CLOANTHUS, too, fought some good battles; and from him the noble Roman
family of the Cluentii boasted their descent. In “Æneid,” v. 122, he
wins the rowing match.
Of GYGES’ match we merely learn that Turnus also slew him; and of GYAS,
that he greatly distinguished himself by his prowess in the funeral
games of Anchises in Sicily. As to the “pious” ÆNEAS himself, another
son of Venus, by Anchises, he was a fighting man all his days. First, in
the Trojan war, where he engaged in combat with Diomed and with Achilles
himself, and afterwards, on his various voyagings in Sicily, Africa, and
Italy, where he fought for a wife and a kingdom, and won both by killing
his rival Turnus, marrying Lavinia, and succeeding his father-in-law,
Latinus. Despite his “piety” in carrying off his old father Anchises
from the flames of Troy, and giving him such a grand funeral, Æneas
seems to have been a filibustering sort of vagrant; and after getting
rid of poor Turnus, not without suspicions of foul play, he was drowned
in crossing a river in Etruria, which territory he had invaded on a
marauding expedition. We cannot say much against him on the score of
“cruelty and desertion” in the matter of Queen Dido, seeing that
chronology proves that the Carthaginian Queen was not born until about
three hundred years after the fall of Troy, and therefore the whole
story is the pure fabrication of the Roman poets, Virgil and Ovid. This,
however, is by the way, so we will proceed to give a short account of
the implements used in ancient boxing.
These were the CÆSTUS, a formidable gauntlet composed of thongs of raw
hide, with the woollen glove covering the hand with its vellus or
fringe; and the AMPHOTIDES, a kind of helmet or defensive armour for the
head. Four principal forms of the cæstus are known by extant
representations. The first is the most tremendous, and was found in
bronze at Herculaneum. The original hand is somewhat above the natural
size, and appears to have been part of the statue of some armed
gladiator. It is formed of several thicknesses of raw hide strongly
fastened together, and cut into a circular form. These have holes to
admit the four fingers, the thumb being closed on the outer edge to
secure the hold, while the whole is bound by thongs round the wrist and
forearm, with its inner side on the palm of the hand and its outer edge
projecting in front of the knuckles. Our Yankee friends have a small
imitation in their modern “knuckle-dusters.” A glove of thick worsted
was worn beneath the gauntlet, ending in a fringe or bunch of wool,
called _vellus_. Lactantius says: “Pentedactylos laneos sub cæstibus
habent.” The figure given in the Abbé St. Non’s, “Voyage Pittoresque de
Naples et de Sicile,” is here copied.
[Illustration:
FIG. 1.—CÆSTUS.
]
The second form of cæstus, though less deadly at first aspect, is
capable of administering the most fatal blows. This sort is represented
in a bronze group, engraved in the first volume of the “Bronzi del Museo
Kircheriano,” which represents the battle between Amycus and Pollux,
already noticed.
[Illustration:
FIG. 2.
]
This (or the fourth form of glove) would also seem to have been that
offered by Entellus to Dares in the fifth book of the Æneid, though the
“knobs of brass,” “blunt points of iron,” “plummets of lead,” and other
superfluities of barbarity, are not visible. Virgil’s description of the
cæstus being the best, we here quote it:—
“He (Entellus) threw
Two pond’rous gauntlets down, in open view;
Gauntlets, which Eryx wont in fight to wield,
And sheathe his hands within the listed field.
With fear and wonder seiz’d the crowd beholds
The gloves of death,—with sev’n distinguish’d folds
Of tough bull’s hides; the space within is spread
With iron or with loads of heavy lead.
Dares himself was daunted at the sight,
Renounc’d his challenge, and refused to fight.
Astonish’d at their weight, the hero stands,
And pois’d the pond’rous engines in his hands.”
In Smith’s “Antiquities of Greece and Rome,” and in Lenu’s “Costumes des
Peuples de l’Antiquité,” are other patterns. The subjoined is from the
last named work.
[Illustration:
FIG. 3.
]
The last form (No. 4) we shall give is also from a bas-relief found at
Herculaneum. It is certainly of a less destructive form, the knuckles
and back of the hand being covered by the leather, held in its place by
a thumbhole, and further secured by two crossed straps to the vellus,
which ends half way up the forearm. A similar engraving forms the
tail-piece to the fifty-first page of the second volume of the Abbé St.
Non’s “Voyage Pittoresque,” already quoted.
[Illustration:
FIG. 4.
]
The AMPHOTIDES, a helmet or head-guard, to secure the temporal bones and
arteries, encompassed the ears with thongs and ligatures, which were
buckled either under the chin or behind the head. They bore some
resemblance to the head guards used in modern broadsword and stick play,
but seem to have fitted close. They were made of hides of bulls, studded
with knobs of iron, and thickly quilted inside to dull the concussion of
the blows. Though it may be doubted whether the amphotides were
introduced until a later period of the pugilistic era, yet as their
representation would prevent the faces or heads of the combatants being
seen, sculptors and fresco painters would leave them out unhesitatingly,
as they do head-dresses, belts, reins, horses’ harness, etc., regardless
of reality, and seeking only what they deemed high art in their
representations.
The search after traces of boxing among the barbarism of the Middle
Ages, with their iron cruelty and deadly warfare—not unredeemed,
however, by rude codes of honour, knightly courtesy, and chivalrous
gallantry, in defence of the weak and in honour of the fair—would not be
worth the while. The higher orders jousted and tilted with lance, mace,
and sword, the lower fought with sand-bags and the quarter-staff.
Wrestling, as an art, seems to have only survived among Gothic or
Scandinavian peoples. A “punch on the head,” advocated by Mr. Grantley
Berkeley as a poacher’s punishment, is, however, spoken of by Ariosto as
the result of his romantic hero’s wrath, who gives the offender “un gran
punzone sulla testa,” by way of caution. That there were “men before
their time,” who saw the best remedy for the fatal abuse of deadly
weapons in popular brawls, we have the testimony of no less an authority
than St. Bernard. That holy and peace-loving father of the Church, as we
are told by Forsyth, and numerous other writers, established boxing as a
safety-valve for the pugnacious propensities of the people. He tells us:
“The strongest bond of union among the Italians is only a coincidence of
hatred. Never were the Tuscans so unanimous as in hating the other
States of Italy. The Senesi agreed best in hating all the other Tuscans;
the citizens of Siena in hating the rest of the Senesi; and in the city
itself the same amiable passion was subdivided among the different
wards.
“This last ramification of hatred had formerly exposed the town to very
fatal conflicts, till at length, in the year 1200, St. Bernardine
instituted BOXING as a more innocent vent to their hot blood, and laid
the bruisers under certain laws, which are sacredly observed to this
day. As they improved in prowess and skill, the pugilists came forward
on every point of national honour: they were sung by poets and recorded
in inscriptions. The elegant Savini ranks boxing among the holiday
pleasures of Siena.”[5]
These desultory jottings must suffice to bring the history of boxing
among the ancients down to the period of its gradual extinction as an
art and its public and authorised practice. A few sentences from the pen
of the late V. G. Dowling, Esq.[6] will appropriately close this
introductory chapter.
“Both among the Greeks and Romans the practice of pugilism, although
differing in its main features from our modern and less dangerous
combats, was considered essential in the education of their youth, from
its manifest utility in ‘strengthening the body, dissipating all fear,
and infusing a manly courage into the system.’ The power of punishment,
rather than the ‘art of self-defence,’ however, seems to have been the
main object of the ancients; and he who dealt the heaviest blow, without
regard to protecting his own person, stood foremost in the list of
heroes. Not so in modern times; for while the quantum of punishment in
the end must decide the question of victory or defeat, yet the true
British boxer gains most applause by the degree of science which he
displays in defending his own person, while with quickness and precision
he returns the intended compliments of his antagonist, and like a
skilful chess-player, takes advantage of every opening which chance
presents, thereby illustrating the value of coolness and self-possession
at the moment when danger is most imminent. The annals of our country
from the invasion of the Romans downwards sufficiently demonstrates that
the native Briton trusted more to the strength of his arm, the muscular
vigour of his frame, and the fearless attributes of his mind in the hour
of danger, than to any artificial expedients; and that, whether in
attack or defence, the combination of those qualities rendered him at
all times formidable in the eyes of his assailants, however skilled in
the science or practice of warfare. If illustrations were required to
establish this proposition, they are to be found in every page of our
history, from the days of Alfred to the battle of Waterloo; and if it be
asked how it is that Englishmen stand thus pre-eminent in the eyes of
the world, it may be answered that it is to be ascribed to the
encouragement given to those manly games (boxing more especially) which
are characteristic of their country, and which, while they invigorate
the system, sustain and induce that moral courage which experience has
shown us to be the result as much of education as of constitution,
perhaps more of the former than of the latter. The truth of this
conclusion was so strongly impressed on the feelings of our forefathers,
even in the most barbarous ages, that we find all their pastimes were
tinctured with a desire to acquire superiority in their athletic
recreations, thus in peace inculcating those principles which in war
became their safest reliance.” _Esto perpetua!_
[Illustration:
BOXERS WITH THE CÆSTUS.
]
[Illustration:
JAMES FIG (CHAMPION).
_From_ SIR JAMES THORNHILL’S _Portrait_, 1732.
]
PUGILISTICA:
THE HISTORY OF BRITISH BOXING.
PERIOD I.—1719 TO 1791.
FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF FIG TO THE APPEARANCE OF DANIEL MENDOZA.
CHAPTER I.
PREFATORY REMARKS.—FIG—SUTTON—WHITAKER—PEARTREE—PIPES—GRETTING.
We have collected in our Introductory Chapter the few scattered notices
of pugilism as practised and understood by the earlier Celtic nations.
Despite, however, the proclivity of antiquaries, historians, and
scholars to find a Roman or Greek origin for every manner, custom, and
tradition—as if we had none originally of our own,—we may safely say
that Boxing, in the noble manly forbearing and humane practice of the
art, is the indigenous offspring of British hardihood, steady courage,
and love of gymnic exercise and feats of bodily strength and skill, not
unaccompanied with that amount of risk and severe exertion which lend a
zest to sports unappreciated and unknown to more effeminate, more cruel,
and more cowardly peoples. Let not this be taken as the hasty expression
of insular prejudice. The writer, after deeply considering, and often
witnessing, the personal contests of men in his own country and abroad,
and dispassionately weighing the manner, accessories, and consequences
of such contests, feels it a duty he owes to a half-informed and
prejudiced society to express the result of his experience and his
reflection, without fear, favour, or affection:—fear of the onslaughts
of spiritual and moral quacks; favour for those who have degraded or
debased a useful and laudable national exercise and sport; or affection,
more than is due to an art which he would fain rescue from the obloquy
and condemnation to which blind hostility and canting prejudice have
consigned it. He would fain uphold that pugilistic combat which a fair
field, no favour, and surrender at all times at the will of either
party, distinguishes from every mode of conflict yet devised or
practised for the settlement of those “offences” which the highest
authority has told us “needs must come.” At a period within the earlier
memories of the writer, a school of babblers flooded the press with
theories of the perfectibility of man, the ultimate establishment of
universal freedom, and the sublimation of the human faculties by general
education and popular science; and a period was confidently predicted by
these theorising shallowpates, when war would be an “impossibility” as
against the “interests” of men and nations. We have lived to see the
most sanguinary and ferocious contest in history among the people whom
these sciolists set up as the bright example to the “less educated”
nations of the Old World. We may, therefore, safely despise the “new
light” philosophy, and revert to the eternal truth already cited—“needs
must be that offences will come;” and this necessity being inevitable,
the next logical step is to consider how these “offences” may be best
dealt with and atoned.
So long as man is liable to the imperfections of his nature he will need
the art of defending himself from attack and injury, and of redressing
wrong or insult that may be offered him. All experience has taught us
that the passions of pride and emulation (honourable like every human
attribute within limits), and resentment for injury, are the springs of
some of our noblest actions. It is to the stifling and too severe
repression of the active energies of a resolute and independent spirit
that the soul of man as an individual, and of a nation as a whole, sinks
into the vengeful cowardice and cruel pusillanimity of the abject yet
ferocious slave. As, then, a greater or less portion of evil must be
attached to the best system of popular moral or civil restraint, the
wisest policy is that which legislates for man _as we find him_, and not
as the perfect or perfectible (?) creature which theorists and bigots
pretend that _he ought to be_.
At the risk of repetition we will return to our argument. Individuals,
as well as states, must have their disputes, their quarrels, and
then—their battles. This is, there is no denying, the sad but
natural—the regrettable but inevitable, condition and tenure on which
human life—nay, all animal existence—is held. There must, then, be some
mode through which the passions, when aroused, from whatever cause,—
Ambition, love, or greed and thirst of gold,—
may be assuaged, subdued, or extinguished; when the necessity for an
appeal to the _ultima ratio_ of conflict is unavoidable. And surely, in
this extremity the _fists_—the symbol of personal courage, of prompt
readiness for defence and attack—are the most harmless, the
ever-present, and the least fatal weapons. We will leave, gentle or
simple reader, the pistol to your higher-born countrymen of the “upper
ten thousand,” if it so please them; the fatal _fleuret_ to the
fire-eating Gaul (whether soldier, _litterateur_, or “pekin”); the
back-handed stiletto to the stabbing Italian; the sharp, triangular
rapier or the dagger to the saturnine Spaniard; the slaughterous
_schlager_ to the beer-bemused burschen[7] of dreamy Vaterland; the
gash-inflicting knife to the Dutch boor or seaman’s snicker-snee; the
death-dealing “bowie,” “Kansas toothpick,” and murderous “six-shooter”
to the catawampous citizen of the “univarsal Yankee nation;” the waved
kreese, to the muck-running Malay; each tawny savage to his sharp
tomahawk, his poisoned arrow, or his barbed assagai; and then we would
ask the scribblers of the anti-pugilistic press which of these they are
prepared to champion against the fist of the British boxer,—a weapon of
defence which, as exemplified in the practice laid down in the latest
code of Ring Law, is the perfection of the practice of cool courage,
self-reticent combat, restraint, skill, and endurance that can
illustrate and adorn the character of an unsophisticated and
true-hearted Englishman in the supreme moment of conquest or of defeat.
It has frequently been urged by magistrates, and even ermined judges[8]
of quasi-liberal sentiments, that pugilism, as a national practice, and
an occasional or fortuitous occurrence, may be winked at by the
authorities, or tacitly allowed, and prohibited or punished at
discretion, as the occasion may seem to require: but that gymnastic
schools where boxing is regularly taught, and pitched battles, are
social nuisances which the law should rigorously suppress. Granting the
possibility of this utter repression, which we deny, it may well be
questioned whether we have not tried to suppress a lesser evil to evolve
a greater.[9]
To boxing-schools and regulated combats we owe that noble system of
fistic ethics, of fair play, which distinguishes and elevates our common
people, and which stern, impartial, unprejudiced and logical minds must
hail and foster as one of the proud attributes of our national
character. We do not in the least undervalue peaceful pursuits, which
constitute and uphold the blessings of peaceful life; yet a nation with
no idea or principle beyond commerce would be unworthy, nay, would be
impotent for national existence, much more for national power and
progress. Subjection, conquest, and hence serfdom and poverty, must be
its fate in presence of strong, rapacious, and encroaching neighbours.
“The people that possesses steel,” said the ancient assailant of the
Lydian Crœsus, “needs not long want for gold.” A portion, then, of a
nation must be set apart, whose vocation it will be to secure and to
defend the lives, liberties, and properties of the whole. Hence the
honourable calling of the soldier and the sailor; and hence, to fit the
people for these, and to prevent the too general indulgence of
effeminacy, dread of enterprise, and the contagious spread of an
enervating and fanatical peace-at-any-price quietism, it is wise and
politic to encourage the manly and athletic sports and contests which
invigorate the frame, brace the nerves, inspire contempt of personal
suffering, and enable man to defend his rights as well as to enjoy them.
Englishmen have learned, and we sincerely hope will continue to learn
and to practise, fair boxing, as they have learned other arts of
defence,—the use of the rifle among others, in which (as their sires of
old did with the yeoman’s bow) they have already excelled Swiss,
American, and Australian mountaineers and woodmen: men from countries
celebrated for their practice of long shots, and constant handling of
the weapon. Let them, therefore, see that the fair use of the fist is
not sneered down by the craven or the canter. Were every pugilistic
school shut up, the practice of boxing discouraged, and the fiat of our
modern intolerant saints carried out, the manly spirit of fair play in
our combats would disappear, and the people of this country lose one of
their fairest characteristics. A retrospect of the last ten years will
answer whether these are times to incur such risk; while at home,
how-much-soever we may have had of the fist, we have indeed had too much
of the loaded bludgeon, the mis-named “life-preserver,” the garotte, the
knife, and the revolver.
Pugilistic exhibitions are falsely said to harden the heart, to induce
ferocity of character, and that they are generally attended by the dregs
of society. The last aspersion, for reasons that lie on the surface, has
the most truth in it. The principle only, indeed the utility and
necessity of the practice of boxing, is all we here propose to
vindicate. Pugilism includes nothing essentially vicious; nothing, in
itself, prompting to excess or debauchery. On the contrary, it asks
temperance, exercise, and self-denial. If we are to argue and decide
from the abuse of a custom or institution, where are we to stop? Men are
not to be cured, even of errors, by the mere arbitrary force of laws, or
by a cherished pursuit being vilified and contemned, mostly by those who
are ignorant or averse to it. Teach men to respect themselves—this is
the first step to make them respect others. Let this rule be applied to
the Ring; let it be viewed as a popular institution; it may then, and we
have warrant from experience, and in the history contained in these
pages, become worthy of support and patronage. A series of biographies,
which include the names of Cribb, Jackson, Gully, Shaw, Spring, Sayers,
etc. (within the memory of men yet living) may be pointed to without a
blush; while individual traits of heroism, generosity, forbearance, and
humanity, will be found scattered as bright redeeming points through the
lives of many of the “rough diamonds” preserved in the “setting” of our
pages. We doubt not, were the character of the Ring raised, that
successors of as good repute as these worthies would yet be found and
arise among the brotherhood of the fist. Should this “consummation
devoutly to be wished” ever be realised, our gymnasia, a public
necessity, might then be licensed,—a security for their visitors, and
adding respectability to their proprietors; for every government
possesses the power of making expedient regulations, in the interest of
society, even where it may not have the right to absolutely suppress or
interdict. If free trade, and unrestricted leave to carry on profession
or calling are such fundamental principles with our state economists,
why not free boxing? and why not leave the morale of pugilism, as well
as the morality of its professors, to find its level in the neglect or
the patronage, the esteem or the contempt, of the people at large?
Boxing and boxing schools, as free Britons, we must have. Let us, then,
consider, how they can be best made to serve the cause of regulated
pugilism. On the whole, there is no reason to doubt the practicability,
as well as the desirability, of public boxing-schools as a branch of a
system of national gymnastics. It is absurd as well as scandalous to
assert that they must, _ex necessitate_, be the resort of profligates
and thieves. As to the last named scourges of society, long observation
and experience[10] have convinced us that we have our metropolitan and
even rural nurseries for them; our “sin and crime gardens” for their
special propagation, rearing, and multiplication; and we can
conscientiously say, from an equally long observation, that among those
thieves’ nurseries and “sin-gardens” the much-vilified Prize Ring has no
special claim to be counted.
These remarks have extended to an extreme length, and we will here break
off, premising that many opportunities will present themselves in the
course of our history to illustrate and enforce the arguments and
principles here laid down. Waiving, then, all question as to its origin,
the _ars pugilistica_ may be accepted as interwoven for many generations
in the manners and habits of the English people; that it has become one
of our “popular prejudices,” if you so please to term it; and that we
will not abandon it to be suppressed by force or sneered down by cant or
sophistry. It has long since, in this favoured country, been purged of
its cruelty and barbarism, and restrained within well-considered bounds.
No lacerating or stunning additions, such as we see pictured in our
sketches of the ancient athletes, have been allowed to Nature’s
weapon—the clenched fist. On the contrary, for the practice of the
neophyte and the demonstration of the art by the professor, soft
wool-padded gloves cover the knuckles and backs of the hands of the
sparrers. Finally, foul blows, butting with the head, and deliberate
falls, have been particularised and forbidden, and an unimpeachable
system of fair play established, to be found in the “New Rules of the
Ring.” We have nationally imbibed these principles, and hence among our
lower orders the feeling of “fair play” is more remarkably prevalent
than among any other people of Europe or the New World. Hence personal
safety—the exceptions, though occasionally alarming, prove the
rule[11]—is more general in England than in any other country. Here
alone the fallen combatant is protected; and here the detestable
practices of gouging, biting, kicking in vital parts, practised by
Americans, Hiberno-Americans, and other foreigners, are heartily
denounced and scouted; and to what do we owe these characteristics? We
repeat it, to the PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PUGILISM.
FIG (CHAMPION)—1719‒1734.
Although, doubtless, brave boxers in every shire of “merrie England”
sported their Adam’s livery on the greensward, and stood up toe to toe
for “love and a bellyful,” yet the name of James Fig, a native of Thame,
in Oxfordshire, is, thanks to the pen of Captain Godfrey and the pencil
of the great Hogarth, the first public champion “of the Ring” of whom we
have authentic record. Doubtless—
“Vixere fortes ante Agamemnon;”
but their deeds and glories, for want of a chronicler, have lapsed into
oblivion (carent quia vates sacro), and—
“Sleep where lie the songs and wars of earth
Before Pelides’ death, or Homer’s birth.”
[Illustration:
FIG’S CARD.
DISTRIBUTED TO HIS PATRONS, AND AT HIS BOOTHS AT SOUTHWARK FAIR AND
ELSEWHERE.
]
To Captain Godfrey’s spirited and scarce quarto, entitled “A Treatise on
the Useful Science of Defence,” we are indebted for the preservation of
the names and descriptions of the persons and styles of the athletes who
were his contemporaries. It would seem that though Fig has been
acknowledged as the Father of the Ring, he was as much, if not more,
distinguished as a cudgel and back-sword player then as a pugilist.
Captain Godfrey thus speaks of Fig:—“I have purchased my knowledge with
many a broken head, and bruises in every part of me. I chose mostly to
go to Fig[12] and exercise with him; partly, as I knew him to be the
ablest master, and partly, as he was of a rugged temper, and would spare
no man, high or low, who took up a stick against him. I bore his rough
treatment with determined patience, and followed him so long, that Fig,
at last, finding he could not have the beating of me at so cheap a rate
as usual, did not show such fondness for my company. This is well known
by gentlemen of distinguished rank, who used to be pleased in setting us
together.”
The reputation of Fig having induced him to open an academy (A.D. 1719),
known as “Fig’s Amphitheatre,” in Tottenham Court Road, the place became
shortly a great attraction, and was crowded with spectators. It was here
that Captain Godfrey (the Barclay of his time) displayed his skill and
elegance in manly sports with the most determined competitors, the
sports being witnessed by royal and noble personages, who supported the
science as tending to endue the people with hardihood and intrepidity.
About 1720 Fig resided in Oxford Road, now Oxford-street, and at the
period of the curious fac-simile, here for the first time engraved, we
find him still in the same neighbourhood.
The science of pugilism, as we now understand it, was certainly in its
infancy; the system of “give and take” was adopted, and he who could hit
the hardest, or submit to punishment with the best grace, seems to have
been in highest favour with the amateurs. Yet Fig’s placards profess to
teach “defence scientifically,” and his fame for “stops and parries” was
so great, that we find him mentioned in the _Tatler_, _Guardian_, and
_Craftsman_, the foremost miscellanies of the time.[13] Fig, like modern
managers, added to the attractions of his amphitheatre by “stars;” among
these were NED SUTTON, the Pipemaker of Gravesend, Timothy Buck, Thomas
Stokes, and others, of whom only the names remain. Bill Flanders, or
Flinders, “a noted scholar of Fig’s,” fought at the amphitheatre, in
1723, with one Chris. Clarkson, known as “the Old Soldier.” The battle
is highly spoken of for determined courage in the “diurnals” of the
period.
Smithfield, Moorfields, St. George’s Fields, Southwark, and Hyde
Park,[14] during this period also had “booths” and “rings” for the
display of boxing and stick play. In Hogarth’s celebrated picture of
“Southwark Fair” our hero prominently figures, in a caricatured
exaggeration, challenging any of the crowd to enter the lists with him
for “money, love, or a bellyful.” This picture we have also chosen as an
interesting illustration of the great English painter,—a record of
manners in a rude period. As one of the bills relating to this fair
(which was suppressed in 1763) is extant, we subjoin it:
AT
FIG’S GREAT TIL’D BOOTH,
_On the_ Bowling Green, Southwark,
During the Time of the _FAIR_,
(Which begins on SATURDAY, the 18th of SEPTEMBER),
The TOWN will be entertained with the
MANLY ARTS OF
Foil-play, Back-sword, Cudgelling, and Boxing,
in which
The noted PARKS, from Coventry, and the celebrated gentleman
prize-fighter, Mr. MILLAR,
will display their skill in a tilting-bout, showing the advantages
of _Time_ and _Measure_:
ALSO
Mr. JOHNSON, the great Swordsman, superior to any man in the world
for his unrivalled
display of the _hanging-guard_, in a grand attack of SELF-DEFENCE,
against the all-powerful
arm of the renowned SUTTON.
DELFORCE, the finished Cudgeller, will likewise exhibit his uncommon
feats with the
_single-stick_; and who challenges any man in the kingdom to enter
the lists with him for a
_broken-head_ or a _belly-full_!
BUCKHORSE, and several other _Pugilists_, will show the Art of
Boxing.
To conclude
With a GRAND PARADE by the Valiant FIG, who will exhibit his
knowledge in various
Combats—with the Foil, Back-sword, Cudgel, and Fist.
To begin each Day at Twelve o’clock, and close at Ten.
_Vivat Rex._
N.B. The Booth is fitted up in a most commodious manner, for the
better reception of Gentlemen, &c. &c.
Besides this nobly patronised amphitheatre of Fig, there were several
booths and rings strongly supported. That in Smithfield, we have it upon
good authority, was presided over by one “Mr. Andrew Johnson,” asserted
to be an uncle of the great lexicographer,[15] There was also that in
Moorfields, called at times “the booth,” at others “the ring.” The
“ring” was kept by an eccentric character known as “Old Vinegar,” the
“booth” by Rimmington, whose _sobriquet_ was “Long Charles.” This, it
appears, had a curious emblazonment,—a skull and cross-bones on a black
ground, inscribed “Death or Victory.” During the high tide of Fig’s
prosperity (1733) occurred the battle between Bob Whitaker and the
Venetian Gondolier, narrated under the head of “WHITAKER.”
Let it not be thought that Fig, among his many antagonists, was without
a rival. Sutton, the Gravesend Pipemaker, already mentioned, publicly
dared the mighty Fig to the combat, and met him with alternate success,
till a third trial “proved the fact” of Fig’s superiority. These
contests, though given in all the “Chronologies” and “Histories” of the
Ring, were neither more nor less than cudgel-matches, as will be seen by
the subjoined contemporary verses by Dr. John Byrom. They are printed in
“Dodsley’s Collection,” vol. vi., p. 312, under the title of—
EXTEMPORE VERSES UPON A TRIAL OF SKILL BETWEEN THOSE TWO GREAT MASTERS
OF DEFENCE, MESSIEURS FIG AND SUTTON.
I.
Long was the great Fig, by the prize-fighting swains,
Sole monarch acknowledged of Marybone plains,
To the towns far and near did his glory extend,
And swam down the river from Thame to Gravesend,
Where lived Mister Sutton, pipemaker by trade,
Who hearing that Fig was thought such a stout blade,
Resolved to go in for a share of his fame,
And so sent a challenge to the Champion of Thame.
II.
With alternate advantage two trials had past,
When they fought out the rubber on Wednesday last;
To see such a contest, the house was quite full,
There hardly was room to thrust in your skull.
With a prelude of cudgels we first were saluted,
And two or three shoulders were handsomely fluted,
Till, weary at last with inferior disasters,
All the company cried, “The Masters! the Masters!”
III.
Whereupon the bold Sutton first mounted the stage,
Made his honours as usual, and yearned to engage;
When Fig, with a visage so fierce, yet sedate,
Came and entered the lists with his fresh shaven pate;
Their arms were encircled with armigers too,
With a red ribbon Sutton’s, and Fig’s with a blue.
Thus advanced the two heroes, ’tween shoulder and elbow,
Shook hands, and went to’t, and the word it was, “Bilbo!”
Stanzas iv. to viii. describe the back-sword play, in which both men
broke their weapons, and Fig has blood drawn by his own broken blade,
whereon he appeals and another bout is granted. Fig then wounds Sutton
in the arm and the sword play is over. Stanzas ix. and x. wind up the
match (with cudgels), as follows:—
Then after that bout they went on to another,
But the matter must end in some fashion or other,
So Jove told the gods he had made a decree,
That Fig should hit Sutton a stroke on the knee;
Though Sutton, disabled as soon as he hit him,
Would still have fought on, strength would not permit him;
’Twas his fate, not his fault, that constrained him to yield
And thus the great Fig remained Lord of the Field.
At length the time arrived when “the valiant Fig’s” “cunning o’ the
fence” no longer availed him. On December 8th, 1734,[16] grim death gave
him his final knock down, as appears from a notice in the _Gentleman’s
Magazine_ for the month of January, 1735.
“In Fig,” says his pupil and admirer Captain Godfrey (in his “Characters
of the Masters,” p. 40, ed. 1747), “strength, resolution, and
unparalleled judgment, conspired to form a matchless master. There was a
majesty shone in his countenance, and blazed in all his actions, beyond
all I ever saw. His right leg bold and firm, and his left, which could
hardly ever be disturbed, gave him the surprising advantage already
proved, and struck his adversary with despair and panic.”
BOB WHITAKER—1733.
Two only of Whitaker’s battles have survived the tooth of old Tempus
edax rerum: his victory over the Venetian Gondolier and his defeat by
Ned Peartree.
In the year 1733 a gigantic Venetian came to this country in the suite
of one of our travelling nobility, whose name not being recorded we may
set down this part of the story as apocryphal; in fact, as a managerial
trick to attract aristocratic patronage. Be that as it may, this immense
fellow, who was known by the name of “The Gondolier,” was celebrated for
feats of strength: his fame ran before him, and his length of arm and
jaw-breaking power of fist were loudly trumpeted. Indeed, a challenge
having been issued by the backers of the Venetian, Fig was applied to to
find a man to meet this Goliath. The sequel shall be told in Captain
Godfrey’s own words:—
“Bob Whitaker was the man pitched upon to fight the big Venetian. I was
at Slaughter’s Coffee-house when the match was made by a gentleman of
advanced station: he sent for Fig to procure a proper man for him. He
told him to take care of his man, because it was for a large sum; and
the Venetian was of wonderful strength, and famous for breaking the
jawbone in boxing. Fig replied, in his rough manner, ‘I do not know,
master, but he may break one of his countrymen’s jawbones with his fist;
but I’ll bring him a man, and he shall not be able to break his jawbone
with a sledge hammer.’
“The battle was fought at Fig’s amphitheatre, before a splendid company,
the politest house of that kind I ever saw. While the Gondolier was
stripping my heart yearned for my countryman. His arm took up all
observation; it was surprisingly large, long, and muscular. He pitched
himself forward with his right leg, and his arm full extended; and, as
Whitaker approached, caught him a blow at the side of the head which
knocked him quite off the stage, which was remarkable for its height.
Whitaker’s misfortune in his fall was the grandeur of the company, on
which account they suffered no common people in, that usually sat on the
ground, and lined the stage all round. It was thus all clear, and
Whitaker had nothing to stop him but the bottom. There was a general
foreign huzza on the side of the Venetian, as proclaiming our
countryman’s downfall; but Whitaker took no more time than was required
to get up again, when, finding his fault in standing out to the length
of the other’s arm, he, with a little stoop, dashed boldly in beyond the
heavy mallet, and with one English peg in the stomach,” by which the
captain in another place explains he means what is called “the
mark,”—“quite a new thing to foreigners, brought him on his breech. The
blow carried too much of the English rudeness with it for him to bear,
and finding himself so unmannerly used, he scorned to have any more
doings with such a slovenly fist.” We could not resist transcribing this
graphic, terse, and natural account of a prize-fight; the rarity of
Captain Godfrey’s book, and the bald, diluted, silly amplification of it
in “Boxiana,” pp. 22‒25, vol. i., being the moving reasons thereto.
“So fine a house,” says Captain Godfrey, alluding to the company which
assembled to see Whitaker fight the Gondolier, “was too engaging to Fig
not to court another. He therefore stepped up, and told the gentlemen
that they might think he had picked out the best man in London on this
occasion; but to convince them to the contrary, he said, that if they
would come on that day se’nnight, he would bring a man who should beat
this Whitaker in ten minutes by fair hitting. This brought near as great
and fine a company as the week before. The ‘man’ was Nathaniel Peartree,
who, knowing the other’s bottom, and his deadly way of flinging, took a
most judicious manner to beat him. Let his character come in here.—He
was an admirable boxer, and I do not know one he was not a match for,
before he lost his finger. He was famous, like Pipes, for fighting at
the face, but was stronger in his blows. He knew Whitaker’s hardiness,
and, being doubtful of beating him, cunningly determined to fight at his
eyes. His judgment carried his arm so well, that, in about six minutes,
both Whitaker’s eyes were shut; when, groping about a while for his man,
and finding him not, he wisely gave out (_modernicè_, gave in), with
these odd words—‘Damme, I’m not beat; but what signifies my fighting
when I can’t see my man?’”
The columns of the _Flying Post_ and _Daily News Letter_ have many
advertisements of “battles royal,” but none of sufficient merit to
deserve a place in this history.
TOM PIPES AND GEORGE GRETTING—1724‒1734.
Two other pugilists only of the school of Fig claim our notice, and
these are Pipes and Gretting. “Pipes was the neatest boxer I remember.
He put in his blows about the face (which he fought at most) with
surprising time and judgment. He maintained his battles for many years
with extraordinary skill, against men of far superior strength. Pipes
was but weakly made: his appearance bespoke activity, but his hand, arm,
and body were small; though by that acquired spring of his arm he hit
prodigious blows; and at last, when he was beat out of his championship,
it was more owing to his debauchery than the merit of those who beat
him.”
There is a moral in the downfall of Gretting, as tersely given by
Captain Godfrey:—“Gretting was a strong antagonist to Pipes. They
contended together for some time, and were almost alternate victors.
Gretting had the nearest way of going to the stomach (which is what they
call the ‘mark’) of any man I knew. He was a most artful boxer, much
stronger made than Pipes, and dealt the straightest blows. But what made
Pipes a match for him, was his rare bottom spirit, which would bear a
great deal of beating; and this, in my mind, Gretting was not
sufficiently furnished with; for after he was beaten twice by Pipes, a
mere sloven of a boxer, and everybody that fought him afterwards beat
him. I must, notwithstanding, do that justice to Gretting’s memory to
own that his debauchery contributed to spoil a great boxer; yet, I
think, he had not the bottom of the other.”
It was the opinion throughout Europe, at this period, that the English
nation were more expert than any other, not only in boxing, but in the
use of the back-sword; and sorry should we be were it not so at this
day. The amphitheatre, boxing, foil-play, and cudgelling-schools, were
openly advertised, and the amusements made known, like any of the
regular theatres; the audiences were equally fashionable, and they were
patronised by the noble and great, and not disturbed by the magistrates.
Although it was admitted that these amphitheatrical practices were
productive of some ill, as offering encouragement to idleness and
extravagance among the vulgar, yet there is hardly any useful thing that
does not present some opening for mischief, or is not liable to abuse.
CHAPTER II.
GEORGE TAYLOR—1734‒1758.
PRINCE BOSWELL—JAMES—HARRIS—SMALLWOOD—SLACK—BUCKHORSE—TOM FAULKNER.
On the decease of Fig the immediate patrons of pugilism seem to have
cooled in their ardour, as we hear but little of the doings at the
amphitheatre. For four years George Taylor was his successor, and in
1740 we find him assuming the title of “Champion,” and proprietor of the
“Great Booth in Tottenham Court Road.” With regard to the title of
“Champion,” at this period, and for nearly a century subsequent, it was
assumed by and applied to almost every boxer who challenged publicly. We
make this remark to clear the way for some observations we shall make
upon George Taylor’s defeat by the renowned Broughton. There is some
curious blundering about the date of the first fight between George
Taylor and Broughton; indeed, we should feel inclined to say that his
first defeat was much earlier than the date of 1740, which is given in
all the Chronologies, John Bee’s “Fistiana” and “Boxiana” included. He
was proprietor of the “Great Booth” from 1734, and we have Captain
Godfrey’s authority for saying that “he was not, when he fought
Broughton, more than twenty years old,” and comments on the imprudence
of such “a first attempt.” It will be seen, too, in the Life of
Broughton, that the Captain speaks (writing in 1746‒7) thus of
Broughton—“for seventeen or eighteen years he has fought, etc., and
never been beaten.” From this we may fairly infer that it was some years
prior to 1740 that Broughton first defeated George Taylor. Taylor, whose
portrait is certainly good-humoured and prepossessing, is described as
being a “strong, able pugilist,” according to the fashion of those
times, but shifty and “deficient in bottom.” George’s skill in the
“cross-buttock fall” is also recorded, and his cleverness in the
“hanging-guard” and “back-sword” favourably spoken of. With these
qualifications he entered Fig’s amphitheatre, and seems almost
immediately to have become its proprietor. His advertisements invite
“champions” of the different branches of “self-defence” to come and
display their skill. The terms were that the proprietor should take
one-third of the door-money, and the remaining two-thirds be divided
among the “champions,” at the rate of one-third to the loser and
two-thirds to the winner. We are told the entrance-money often reached
£150, and occasionally it was more. Among the more noted boxers who
illustrated the art at George Taylor’s “great booth,” were the renowned
Jack Broughton the waterman, the Father of the English P.R., who beat
all opposed to him, especially George Taylor himself; Prince Boswell,
Stevenson the coachman, Will Willis, Tom Smallwood, Buckhorse, Jack
James, Field the sailor, Pipes and Gretting already mentioned, and
others of the school of Fig.
[Illustration:
GEORGE TAYLOR, 1734‒1758.
_From a Print published in 1740._
]
One of the most remarkable battles at Taylor’s booth was that of
Broughton and Stevenson, April 24, 1741 (see LIFE of BROUGHTON, _post_,
p. 22).
On the 16th of June, 1741, George Taylor met a formidable gipsy, known
as Prince Boswell. He appears to have been a tricky fighter, and, like
most such over-clever pugilists, deficient in pluck. He had, we are
told, a terrific hit with his left (when he could plant it), but this
being forbid by George’s skill, he made but a poor fight of it. Captain
Godfrey says of this Bohemian, who is stated in “Pancratia” to have been
son to the king of that wandering people, “Praise be to his power of
fighting, his excellent choice of time and measure, his superior
judgment despatching forth his executing arm! But fie upon his dastard
heart, that mars it all! As I knew that fellow’s abilities, and his
worm-dread soul, I never saw him beat but I wished him to be beaten.
Though I am charmed with the idea of his power and manner of fighting, I
am sick at the thoughts of his nurse-wanting courage. Farewell to him,
with this fair acknowledgment, that, if he had true English bottom (the
best fighting epithet for a man of spirit), he would carry all before
him, and be a match even for Broughton himself.” Despite of all these
qualifications, the Gipsy lost heart at finding Taylor so difficult to
get at, and surrendered after a few sharp rounds.
On the 19th of July, 1741, we find recorded the name of Jack James, as
beating one Chicken Harris, a poulterer, after a severe though short
battle.
TOM SMALLWOOD, too, was one of Taylor’s team. On the 23rd of November,
1741, one of the severest boxing matches that had taken place for years
was fought between Tom Smallwood and Richard Harris, a backmaker, for
fifty guineas. The fight lasted an hour, with many alternations of
success, Smallwood proving the winner. Smallwood was a mere stripling,
as we shall note hereafter.
On the same day we find a very good bye-battle was fought between
Buckhorse and Harry Gray, the clogmaker (see BUCKHORSE, post).
The advertisements and challenges of the boxers of this period are
matters of curiosity, as illustrating the manners of another age; we
therefore insert a few which have been preserved in connexion with this
period of Taylor’s career
_From the_ DAILY ADVERTISER, _April 26th, 1742_.
“At the Great Booth, Tottenham Court, on Wednesday next, the 28th
instant, will be a trial of manhood, between the two following
champions:
“Whereas I, WILLIAM WILLIS, commonly known by the name of “the
fighting Quaker,” have fought Mr. SMALLWOOD about twelve months
since, and held him the tightest to it, and bruised and battered him
more than any one he ever encountered, though I had the ill-fortune
to be beat by an accidental fall; the said SMALLWOOD, flushed with
the success blind Fortune then gave him, and the weak attempts of a
few vain Irishmen and boys, that have of late fought him for a
minute or two, makes him think himself unconquerable; to convince
him of the falsity of which, I invite him to fight me for ONE
HUNDRED POUNDS, at the time and place above-mentioned, when I doubt
not but I shall prove the truth of what I have asserted by pegs,
darts, hard blows, falls, and cross-buttocks.
“WILLIAM WILLIS.”
“I, THOMAS SMALLWOOD, known for my intrepid manhood and bravery on
and off the stage, accept the challenge of this _puffing Quaker_,
and will shew him that he is led by a false spirit, that means him
no other good than that he should be chastised for offering to take
upon him the _arm of the flesh_.
“THOMAS SMALLWOOD.”
“_Note._—The Doors will be opened at Ten, and the Combatants mount
at Twelve.
“There will be several bye-battles, as usual; and particularly one
between JOHN DIVINE and JOHN TIPPING, for Five Pounds each.”
The next notice is at the lapse of a month, and runs thus:—
“May 4th, 1742.
“At George Taylor’s Booth, Tottenham Court Road.
“There will be a trial of manhood here to-morrow, between the
following champions, viz.:
“Whereas I, JOHN FRANCIS, commonly known by the name of the JUMPING
SOLDIER, who have always had the reputation of a good fellow, and
have fought several bruisers in the street, etc., nor am I ashamed
to mount the stage when my manhood is called in question by an Irish
braggadocio, whom I fought some time ago, in a bye-battle, for
twelve minutes, and though I had not the success due to my courage
and ability in the art of boxing, I now invite him to fight me for
two guineas, at the time and place above-mentioned, where I doubt
not I shall give him the truth of a good beating.
“JOHN FRANCIS.”
THE IRISHMAN’S ANSWER.
“I, PATRICK HENLEY, known to every one for the truth of a good
fellow, who never refused any one on or off the stage, and fight as
often for the diversion of gentlemen as for money, do accept the
challenge of this JUMPING JACK; and shall, if he don’t take care,
give him one of my bothering blows, which will convince him of his
ignorance in the art of boxing.
“PATRICK HENLEY.”
Pierce Egan says, “Paddy kept his promise, for he so _bothered_ the gig
of the _Jumping Sailor_, that he was not able to _move_, much more to
_jump_, for some time. Paddy gave him a _Tipperary fling_, which so
completely _shook_ all his recollection out of him, that he never
troubled the town afterwards with any of his _epistolary_ challenges!”
For all which Hibernian _perfervidum ingenium_ we have no authority on
record. The “Chronologies” say “Henley bt. Francis (J.),” we suppose on
the faith of the accuracy of “Boxiana.”
In the year 1742 differences arose between Broughton, now in the highest
favour with the Duke William of Cumberland (afterwards so fatally known
at Culloden in the year ’46), and other distinguished patrons of the
Ring. The schism, which was fatal to George Taylor’s establishment, will
be noticed in our LIFE of BROUGHTON, and ended in Taylor’s joining
Broughton’s company of “champions” in 1744‒5, after a sounding challenge
to that boxer.
From this period George Taylor appears to have held his own in numerous
displays, but nothing of importance occurred till his memorable battle
with SLACK (see SLACK), a butcher from Norwich, afterwards so renowned
for his conquest of the great Broughton. Taylor’s battle with Slack has
come down with no details, farther than that it lasted twenty-five
minutes, and was a display of steady coolness and science over rushing
impetuosity. Slack proved an awkward fellow to keep off, but George was
too wary, and in less than half-an-hour the butcher was beaten to a
stand-still.
Among the patrons of “the noble art,” during the period of George
Taylor’s proprietorship of the Great Booth, may be numbered Frederick,
Prince of Wales, the father of George the Third, before whom we may
fairly infer Taylor many times exhibited. It was not then the custom,
except incidentally, to give the people anything like our present “Court
Circular,” thus keeping the general public _au courant_ to the movements
of royalty and its branches. We find, however, among the works of Paul
Whitehead, the poet, who is styled by Captain Thompson, his biographer,
“_The Champion_ and Bard of Leicester House,”[17] a poem entitled, “The
Gymnasiad, or Boxing Match.” It is printed entire in the edition of his
collected works. Dodsley, London, 1777.
Taylor, when he retired from the stage, became landlord of the Fountain
Inn at Deptford. But as the old war-horse is said to prick his ears at
the sound of the trumpet, so, although declining in the vale of years,
he replied to the challenge of Tom Faulkner, “the noted cricketer.” Tom,
it appears, had twice been worsted by Taylor, in bygone days; yet he
felt so confident he could reverse the verdict, that he challenged
George for 200 guineas and “the gate money.” They met on August the 5th,
1758, at a mile and a-half from St. Alban’s, Herts. The betting was
three to one on Taylor, who is called in the account “the old successor
of Fig.” It would appear that there was “no love lost” between the
combatants. It was a complete hammering set-to. For the first twelve or
thirteen rounds, Faulkner was dreadfully punished and floored several
times. The fourteenth round proved a proper trial of skill and strength;
at length, Faulkner levelled Taylor, when the odds began to drop a
little, and Faulkner was getting into favour. George, finding that his
man gained upon him, began to shift, and fell now and then without a
blow, which occasioned considerable murmuring, and the friends of
Faulkner insisted that he had won the battle; but Faulkner was above
taking any advantage and wished to fight it out. The combatants set-to
more furiously than ever.
Taylor, inspired with the thought of his fame and former victories,
stood up like a hero; and Faulkner, recollecting that it must either
make or break him, fought like a lion. After a terrible conflict of an
hour and fifteen minutes, the veteran George Taylor acknowledged he was
conquered. Greater courage and skill could not be displayed; and it was
supposed, that had not Taylor laboured under the manifest disadvantage
of an eye of which he had been blind for some time, Faulkner could not
have beaten him; as the contest was only put an end to by Taylor having
the other eye closed from a blow. The veteran hero thus added another to
the list of great men who have “lingered too long upon the stage,” or
returned to exhibit those powers in their decadence which were admired
in their prime. “We shall have many occasions in the course of this
history to show the unconsciousness of decaying powers among the heroes
of the ring. George Taylor did not recover the shock of this defeat, and
died in the December following (1758) at his house at Deptford.”
[Illustration]
CHAPTER III.
JACK BROUGHTON (CHAMPION)—1734‒1750.
Broughton is indisputably entitled to be regarded as the founder of the
modern art of self-defence. The successor of Fig in popularity, he far
exceeded that stalwart cudgeller in fistic science, and in the
application of those principles which stripped the practice of boxing of
many of those features of ruffianism and barbarity with which the
unregulated contests of mere bruisers had invested it. There was a
neatness and quickness in his style which far distanced his competitors,
and drew crowds to witness his exhibitions. He appears first to have
introduced stopping and barring blows, then hitting and getting away;
before him it appears to have been toe-to-toe work, or downright
hammering; at any rate, his method appears to have had the novelty of a
discovery with his spectators and his antagonists. He stopped the blows
aimed at any part of him by his adversaries with so much skill, and hit
his man away with so much ease, that he astonished and daunted his
opponents, and those persons who had the temerity to enter the lists
with Broughton, were soon convinced of his superior knowledge and
athletic prowess: while most of his competitors, who were compelled to
give in from their exhausted and beaten state, had the mortification to
behold Broughton scarcely touched, displaying as much cheerfulness and
indifference as if he had scarcely been engaged in a set-to.
He was indebted to nature for a good person; his countenance was manly
and open, possessing a sharp and penetrating eye, that almost looked
through the object before him, which gave animation to his face. His
form was athletic and commanding, and denoted uncommon strength. Every
spectator felt impressed who beheld him. Six feet, wanting an inch, in
height, and fourteen stone, or thereabouts, in weight.
Broughton became as a fixed star in the pugilistic hemisphere, His
talents as a boxer gained him many admirers and patrons; but his good
temper, generosity of disposition, and gentleness of manners, ensured
him numerous friends. He was intelligent, communicative, and not
destitute of wit. The system he laid down was plain, and easy to be
understood; and, under his instruction, several of his pupils arrived at
pugilistic eminence, and gave distinguished proofs of the acquirements
they had gained under so great a master.
Broughton was still, up to 1742, an exhibitor at the Great Booth of
George Taylor; we shall, therefore, before giving an account of his
adventures “on his own hook,” turn to his exploits at the Tottenham
Court Road establishment.
Like all great masters, Broughton, we learn, always exhibited something
new in his several contests; and those pugilists who had seen him fight,
and supposed they had observed his method, were awfully deceived when
they entered the lists with him, and expected to “nail” him on “the old
suit.”
Contrary to most other boxers, he did not depend upon any particular
blow, although he was distinguished for giving some remarkable hits,
which were not easily forgotten. Broughton, when necessary in the
conflict, by putting in “_his_ stomach blow,” often decided the battle;
and his lunge under the ear generally produced terrible consequences to
his opponent. The eye of Broughton was lively, piercing, and acute, soon
perceiving the weakness of any adversary; his arm, keeping pace with
that valuable assistant, protected him from the most destructive blows;
and his quick penetration made him always aware of any direct intent
pursued by his adversary, so as immediately to render it unavailing. His
guard was so complete, that his frame appeared secured as if in a fence,
uncommon strength and bottom often fell before him, and his expertness
in the cross-buttock was great. His various attitudes in the fight were
fine and impressive, and his countenance always animated and cheerful.
Pipes and Gretting, already named, both distinguished pugilists—the
former of whom hardily maintained the title of a “Champion” for a number
of years—appeared nothing in the hands of Broughton, who gave them
several chances to recover their lost laurels; these each proved
beatings to them, and tended to increase his growing fame.
George Taylor, of whom honourable mention has been made, fell as a
conquest to Broughton.
[Illustration:
JACK BROUGHTON (CHAMPION), 1734‒1750.
_From the Painting by_ FRANK HAYMAN, R.A., _formerly in the possession
of the Duke of Cumberland_.
]
“George Stevenson, the coachman,” says our perpetual resource, Captain
Godfrey, whose thin quarto we must almost plead guilty to reprinting
piecemeal, “stood up for the length of forty minutes in a most heroic
style to Broughton. It was a hasty match, and although Broughton was
extremely unwell, sooner than make any excuse, he agreed to fight
Stevenson without having that regard for his preparation which he
afterwards found he ought to have had. But here his true bottom was
proved, and his conduct shone and admired. The battle was fought in one
of the fair booths at Tottenham Court Road, railed at the end towards
the pit. After a most desperate conflict of thirty-five minutes, being
both against the rails, and the coachman endeavouring to get the
whip-hand of Broughton, the latter, by his superior genius, got such a
lock upon Stevenson as no mathematician could have devised a better.
There he held him by this artificial lock, depriving him of all power of
rising or falling, till resting his head for about three or four minutes
upon his back, he found himself recovering, then loosed his hold. By
this manœuvre Broughton became as a new man, and, on setting-to again,
he gave the coachman a tremendous blow, as hard as any he had given him
in the whole battle, so that he could no longer stand, and his brave
contending heart, though with reluctance, was forced to yield. Stevenson
was a beautiful hitter; he put in his blows faster than Broughton, but
then one of the latter’s told for three of the former’s. Stevenson had a
most daring spirit, but his strength could not keep pace with it.”
Broughton expressed a very high opinion of Stevenson as a pugilist.
Jack James, a dashing boxer, who ranked high in the annals of pugilism
as a thorough-bred man, was compelled to acknowledge that he had found
his master in Broughton. James’s wrist, which in other contests had been
considered so remarkably “handsome,” lost its attraction when in contact
with the athletic arm of Broughton.
We need not proceed further with an enumeration of his earlier contests,
but come at once to his appearance at his own theatre, in the character
of CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
We have noticed his differences with George Taylor. Broughton was
promised liberal support and patronage if he would open a theatre for
the better accommodation of the admirers of boxing.
Under the patronage we have already spoken of, Broughton seceded from
the Tottenham Court Road establishment, rapidly completing a new
building adjoining the Oxford Road, near the spot where Hanway Street,
Oxford Street, now stands, and opened it on March 10th, 1743, with the
subjoined advertisement in the _Daily Advertiser_. From prints yet
existing in the British Museum, it appears that this edifice was
somewhat similar to Astley’s original circus and riding school, in the
Westminster Road, or rather the large temporary and removable theatres,
which have of late travelled with equestrian exhibitions round our
principal provincial towns. There were boxes, pit, and a gallery; a
stage for the combatants in the centre of the ring, and the _tout
ensemble_ bore some resemblance to the pictures of the Old Fives Court,
in Windmill Street. The following is a copy of the announcement:—
AT BROUGHTON’S NEW AMPHITHEATRE,
OXFORD-STREET,
_The back of the late Mr._ FIG’S,
On Tuesday next, the 13th instant,
Will be exhibited
THE TRUE ART OF BOXING,
By the _eight famed_ following men, _viz._,
ABRAHAM EVANS, | —— ROGER,
—— SWEEP, | —— ALLEN,
—— BELAS, | ROBERT SPIKES, and
—— GLOVER, | HARRY GRAY, the Clogmaker.
The above eight men to be brought on the stage, and to be matched
according to the
approbation of the gentlemen who shall be pleased to honour them
with their company.
N.B.—There will be a BATTLE ROYAL between the
NOTED BUCKHORSE,
And SEVEN or EIGHT more; after which there will be several
BYE-BATTLES by others.
Gentlemen are therefore desired to come by times. The doors will be
open at nine; the
champions mount at eleven: and no person is to pay more than A
SHILLING.
The appearance of this rival was a cruel blow to George Taylor, who saw
the ruinous results which must ensue to his “booth” from Broughton’s
popularity: he, therefore, as a counter hit, instantly let fly in the
following terms:—
TO THE PATRONS AND ENCOURAGERS OF THE MANLY ART OF BOXING.
Whereas, Mr. Broughton, well knowing that I was to fight Mr. Field
on Tuesday next, the 13th of March, 1743, in order to injure me, has
maliciously advertised to open his Amphitheatre on that day, and
where several battles are then to be fought. To prevent the public
from being deceived, I feel it my duty to inform them, that the
principal part of the persons mentioned were never made acquainted
with such circumstances, and have no intention of so doing. Mr.
Broughton wishes to make it appear that he never imposed upon any of
the pugilists who had been concerned with him in any transaction
whatever; but his imposition shall soon be made manifest to the
world. And to show Mr. Broughton that I have no animosity against
him as a pugilist, or any jealousy concerning his amphitheatre, I am
willing to fight him, as soon as he may think proper, wherever it
may please him, not regarding, as he loudly sets forth, the strength
of his arm.
GEORGE TAYLOR.
We are inclined to suspect that there was a little “gag” in the names of
the pugilists set forth by Broughton, from subsequent occurrences; be
that as it may, Taylor had already fallen beneath his conquering fist,
and his challenge was viewed as nothing more than mere bounce, to
detract from the triumph of the rival manager.
The charges of Taylor, made from time to time, led to a sort of paper
war. Taylor charged Broughton with appropriating to himself the “Lion’s
Share” of the door-money, to the injury of the other pugilists. This
accusation Broughton replied to by showing to the satisfaction of his
patrons that he had not received one hundred pounds; that his
amphitheatre had cost him upwards of £400; that he had appropriated but
a third part of the door-money for his own individual emolument, and
that the rest had been shared among the pugilists. This account proving
satisfactory, firmly established Broughton; and Taylor, perceiving that
it would be useless to oppose so powerful an opponent, relinquished his
booth, and was engaged at the Amphitheatre, where the most noted of his
“merry men” followed him, under an engagement to fight on no stage but
his.
We now come to one of the most important epochs in the history of
boxing, namely the promulgation of a “Code” for the guidance of the
combatants, and the satisfaction of the judges. These rules were
“produced by Mr. Broughton, for the better regulation of the
Amphitheatre, and approved of by the gentlemen, and agreed to by the
pugilists, August 18th, 1743.” The code promulgated by this Fistic
Napoleon, whose law-making and fall were much like those of his great
successor, had a much longer duration than the “Code Napoleon!” for they
lasted in perfect integrity from the period of their date until 1838,
when, after the fight between Owen Swift and Brighton Bill, the “New
Rules of the Ring” superseded Broughton’s. We here give the original—
BROUGHTON’S RULES.
1. That a square of a yard be chalked in the middle of the stage;
and every fresh set-to after a fall, or being parted from the rails,
each second is to bring his man to the side of the square, and place
him opposite to the other; and till they are fairly set-to at the
lines, it shall not be lawful for the one to strike the other.
2. That, in order to prevent any disputes as to the time a man lies
after a fall, if the second does not bring his man to the side of
the square, within the space of half a minute, he shall be deemed a
beaten man.
3. That, in every main battle, no person whatever shall be upon the
stage, except the principals and their seconds; the same rule to be
observed in bye-battles, except that in the latter, Mr. Broughton is
allowed to be upon the stage to keep decorum, and to assist
gentlemen in getting to their places; provided always, he does not
interfere in the battle; and whoever presumes to infringe these
rules, to be turned immediately out of the house. Everybody is to
quit the stage as soon as the champions are stripped, before they
set-to.
4. That no champion be deemed beaten, unless he fails coming up to
the line in the limited time; or that his own second declares him
beaten. No second is to be allowed to ask his man’s adversary any
questions or advise him to give out.
5. That, in bye-battles, the winning man to have two-thirds of the
money given, which shall be publicly divided upon the stage,
notwithstanding any private agreement to the contrary.
6. That to prevent disputes, in every main battle, the principals
shall, on the coming on the stage, choose from among the gentlemen
present two umpires, who shall absolutely decide all disputes that
may arise about the battle; and if the two umpires cannot agree, the
said umpires to choose a third, who is to determine it.
7. That no person is to hit his adversary when he is down, or seize
him by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist: a man on
his knees to be reckoned down.
These rules may be called the groundwork of fair play and manly boxing,
and no man, from his experience, was better able to frame such a code
than Broughton. “It is to be observed,” says the talented author of
‘Fistiana’ (V. G. Dowling, Esq.), “that to them we greatly owe that
spirit of fair play which offers so wide a contrast to the practices of
barbarous ages, when every advantage was admissible when brute strength
or accidental casualties placed a combatant in the power of his
antagonist. It is to be lamented that, even in modern times, the inhuman
practices of uncivilised periods have subsisted to a disgraceful extent,
and hence we have heard of gouging, that is to say, forcing out the eye
of an antagonist with the thumbs or fingers—purring, kicking a man with
nailed shoes as he lies on the ground, striking him in vital parts below
the waistband, seizing him when on his knees, and administering
punishment till life be extinct, and a variety of other savage
expedients by which revenge or passion has been gratified; and it is
remarkable that in those counties in which pugilism or prize-fights have
been least encouraged, these horrors have been most frequent. We refer
to Lancashire in particular, where, even to this day, that species of
contest called up-and-down fighting—that is, when a man is got down he
is kept down and punished till incapable of motion—is permitted with
impunity, unless indeed the death of the victim leads to the
apprehension and trial of the survivor.”
The adoption of Broughton’s rules in the metropolis soon led to their
extensive dissemination in the provinces, and public boxing was thereby
stripped of half its evils; while in the adjustment of private quarrels,
the settlement of the simple issue of “which was the better man” after
“a fair stand up fight,” put an end to all bad feeling, and the
conqueror or the conquered submitted with a good grace to “the fate of
war;” the strongest proof of the effects of cultivation, and the best
test of a manly and honourable feeling.
“To Broughton, then,” continues Mr. Dowling, “is to be ascribed the
credit of two great reforms in the practice of pugilism, namely, the
introduction of science and humanity; and by the moral effects these
inculcated, more has been done to establish the high character of
Englishmen for honour and fair play, than by all the eloquence of the
pulpit or the senate.” To Broughton also do we owe the introduction of
gloves, or mufflers, for conducting mock combats or sparring matches, as
they are now called, by which men receive lessons without injury, or
display the art of self-defence without those painful consequences to
which Captain Godfrey so willingly submitted, and which he so feelingly
describes, but which deterred young aspirants from entering those arenas
in which, after harmless initiation, they often became distinguished
adepts, or were prepared to take their own parts in unavoidable
encounters. Broughton thus announces his new invention in the _Daily
Advertiser_ of February, 1747:—
“Mr. Broughton proposes, with proper assistance, to open an academy
at his house in the Haymarket, for the instruction of those who are
willing to be initiated in the mystery of boxing, where the whole
theory and practice of that truly British art, with all the various
stops, blows, cross-buttocks, etc., incident to combatants, will be
fully taught and explained; and that persons of quality and
distinction may not be debarred from entering into a course of those
lectures, they will be given with the utmost tenderness and regard
to the delicacy of the frame and constitution of the pupil; for
which reason mufflers are provided, that will effectually secure
them from the inconveniency of black eyes, broken jaws, and bloody
noses.”
We have said that Broughton’s original calling was that of a waterman;
it appears that the interest of his royal patron made him one of the
Yeomen of the Guard to the King. He also accompanied the Duke of
Cumberland on a tour to the Continent, of which an anecdote is
preserved, of which we may say, _si non è vero è ben trovato_. “At
Berlin he saw the fine regiment of Grenadiers raised by Frederick the
Great. The champion was asked by his patron what he thought of any of
them for a _set-to_, when Broughton, with a smile, instantly replied,
‘Why, your Royal Highness, I should have no objection to fight the whole
regiment, only be kind enough to allow me a breakfast between each
battle.’” Thomas Carlyle has omitted this.
Thus far, Broughton appears to have sailed on the wave of triumph. His
patrons were numerous and aristocratic; but the confidence which good
fortune begets was to prove to him a snare, as it has to many before and
since. Slack, a butcher, and a pugilist of some note, but who had
already succumbed to George Taylor, had, it appears, a quarrel with
Broughton on a race-course, which led to a threat on the part of the
champion that he would horsewhip Slack. The result was a challenge:
Slack obtained friends, a match was made for £200 a-side, and as the
door money was included in the sum contended for, it was estimated at
£600 clear. Although properly falling under the biography of Slack, we
here give the battle, for the purpose of rendering as complete as
possible the history of the Father of Scientific Pugilism.
Broughton’s overweening confidence proved his ruin; for, as we learn
from a contemporary authority, “he refused to take training
preparation,” although “he had not fought for a long time.” Let others
take warning by his fall.
On the evening previous to the battle (Tuesday, April 10, 1750)
Broughton, who had invited his patrons and numerous friends to witness
the battle, was rather apprehensive that Slack would not fight, and for
fear any disappointment should take place, made the latter a present of
ten guineas not to break his engagement.
For the first five minutes, Broughton’s superiority over Slack was so
evident, that the odds were ten to one in his favour; when Slack,
recovering a little from the effects of his antagonist’s blows, made a
sudden and unexpected jump, planting a desperate hit between the
champion’s eyes, which immediately closed them up. Broughton now
appeared stupefied; and as it was two or three minutes before the
effects of this fatal blow were manifest, the spectators were at a loss
to account for the unusual movements of Broughton, who appeared to feel
for, instead of boldly facing and attacking his man. At length his
patron, the Duke of Cumberland, exclaimed, “What are you about,
Broughton?—you can’t fight!—you’re beat!” To which Broughton instantly
replied, “I can’t see my man, your highness—I’m blind, but not beat:
only let me see my man, and he shall not gain the day yet.” Broughton’s
situation was truly distressing; and Slack, following up this singular
advantage, obtained a victory in fourteen minutes!
The Duke appears to have been most unworthily angered at his loss, which
has been (we suspect extravagantly) stated to have amounted to £10,000.
He always declared he had been “sold.” There seems no cause for such an
assertion.
This defeat proved Broughton’s ruin. The Duke of Cumberland could never
speak of this contest with any degree of temper, and turned his back on
the beaten man. The legislature interfered, the amphitheatre was closed,
and Broughton never fought more. Previous to this battle, it is said he
had grown plethoric; if so, it requires no great acumen to opine the
cause of the sudden swelling which temporarily blinded him.
The best monument to the memory of Broughton is the character and
description of his pupil and admirer, the gallant Captain, which eulogy,
like that of Lord Byron on the “eminent” Mr. John Jackson, remain
permanent answers to the slanderers of pugilists and pugilism.
“Advance, brave Broughton!” exclaims Captain Godfrey. “Thee I pronounce
captain of the boxers. As far as I can look back, I think I ought to
open the ‘characters’ with him: I know none so fit, so able to lead up
the van. This is giving him the living preference to the rest; but I
hope I have not given any cause to say that there has appeared in any of
my characters a partial tincture. I have thoroughly consulted nothing
but my unbiassed mind, and my heart has known no call but merit.
Wherever I have praised, I have no desire of pleasing; wherever decried,
no fear of offending. Broughton, by his manly merit, has bid the
highest, therefore has my heart. I really think all will poll with me,
who poll with the same principle. Sure there is some standing reason for
this preference: what can be stronger than to say that, for seventeen or
eighteen years, he has fought every able boxer that appeared against
him, and has never yet been beat? This being the case, we may venture to
conclude from it; but not to build alone on this, let us examine farther
into his merits. What is it that he wants? Has he not all that others
want, and all the best can have? Strength equal to what is human, skill
and judgment equal to what can be acquired, undebauched wind, and a
bottom spirit never to pronounce the word ‘enough.’ He fights the stick
as well as most men, and understands a good deal of the small sword.
This practice has given him the distinction of time and measure beyond
the rest. He stops as regularly as the swordsman, and carries his blows
truly in the line; he steps not back, distrusting of himself, to stop a
blow, and puddle in the return, with an arm unaided by his body,
producing but fly-flap blows, such as pastrycooks use to beat those
insects from their tarts and cheese-cakes. No! Broughton steps bold and
firmly in, bids a welcome to the coming blow; receives it with his
guardian arm; then, with a general summons of his swelling muscles, and
his firm body seconding his arm, and supplying it with all its weight,
pours the pile-driving force upon his man.
“That I may not be thought particular in dwelling long upon Broughton, I
leave him with this assertion, that as he, I believe, will scarce trust
a battle to a waning age, I never shall think he is to be beat till I
see him beaten.”[18]
Broughton retired into private life. In his later days he resided in
Walcot Place, Lambeth. He was for many years seen as a constant
frequenter of sales of private property, where he purchased
out-of-the-way things, curiosities, and articles of _vertu_, and adhered
to the costume of the period of the Second George. Of these habits the
author of “Recollections of an Octogenarian,” gives us the following
information:—“He appeared to me,” says the writer, “a heavy, thick,
round-made, large-boned man, about the height of Humphries.[19] To be
sure when I saw him last he was in the vale of years, and had acquired
some corpulency. It might be about the year 1785, when attending a lady,
to look at some household goods, which were to be sold by auction in
Walcot Place, Lambeth, a catalogue could not be procured, and seeing
Broughton with one in his hand, I civilly requested the favour of him to
permit the lady to look at a certain article in it. The old man replied
with a sullen asperity of countenance, ‘I want it myself,’ turning his
back upon me. At the instant, up started a little, pert, natty, humorous
Jew broker, who, with real politeness, made the lady an offer of his
catalogue, and casting an arch look at the testy old champion, who was
still close to us, ‘Ah!’ said he, ‘Master Broughton, then you are a
_bear_ to-day,’ alluding to the bulls and bears of Change Alley, where
Broughton was well known to be daily jobbing with his property.”
The “Octogenarian” confirms the statement given below from the _Annual
Register_:—“He (Broughton) had long before left the ring, and lived
independently on the property he had saved, and on an annuity which he
enjoyed from his Royal Master, the old, or Culloden, Duke of Cumberland,
whom, by the bye, he used in former days to style ‘Duke William.’”
_Boxiana_ says he died January the 8th, 1789, but this can hardly be the
correct date. In the _Annual Register_ for 1789, Chronicle for January,
we read as follows:—“Died, at his house, at Walcot Place, Lambeth, in
his 85th year, the celebrated John Broughton, whose skill in boxing is
well known, and will ever be recorded in the annals of that science. He
was originally bred a waterman. His patron, the late Duke of Cumberland,
got him appointed one of the yeomen of the guard, which place he enjoyed
till his death. He was buried in Lambeth Church on the 21st instant, and
his funeral procession was adorned with the presence of the several
capital professors of boxing. He is supposed to have died worth £7,000.”
His enjoyment of his place and pension till death seems to qualify the
“utter desertion” of his patron, and falsify the “ruin” which is related
in _Boxiana_ apparently to “adorn a tale,” if not “to point a moral.”
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IV.
JACK SLACK (CHAMPION)—1750‒1760.
STEVENS—SMALLWOOD—EDWARD HUNT—BUCKHORSE—TOM FAULKNER—BILL DARTS—LYONS
(THE WATERMAN)—PETER CORCORAN—HARRY SELLERS—JOE HOOD—STEPHEN OLIVER
(DEATH)—SAM PETERS—ELISHA CRABBE—SMALL.
Though the prestige of Broughton has gone far to illustrate the name of
his conqueror, this lucky, rather than skilful, achievement will not
give him the place he deserves among boxers with those with whom success
is not “the be-all and end-all” in war or in worldly fortune. Slack
fought better battles than that in which he tore the laurel from the
brow of the veteran Broughton. We read of him in a contemporary
journal:—“Slack is a butcher from Norwich; his height is five feet eight
inches and a half, and his weight nearly fourteen stone. He is
remarkably compact” (we should think so at fourteen stone for so short a
man), “superior to the generality of men in strength, and of excellent
bottom. His method of hitting is not regular, and he seldom fights on a
preconcerted plan; but his style being suited to the man contending with
him, few were able to resist him, when he resolved on victory. His blows
were usually given with such force, that his name ‘Slack’ passed into a
slang expression, and ‘a slack’un’ meant a smashing hit. His attitude
was remarkably upright, legs little separated, the right hand covering
the pit of the stomach, and the left placed immediately before the
mouth.”[20] It is not possible to distinguish much science in such an
attitude, and had he not been more resolute in attack, and more game in
taking punishment than his opponents, he might have missed the proud
title of champion. We are told, “with the greatest resolution he
disputed every inch of ground, and was so averse to shifting or
retreating, that he has risked and received a knock-down blow rather
than give up his position. Slack frequently used the _chopper_,[21] and
generally with success (this says little for his opponents’ defence), in
a return. Bringing his fist to his breast, and projecting his elbow, he
threw off a blow describing a segment of a circle(!), the centre of
which was the elbow, unexpectedly striking his antagonist in the face
with the back of his hand. This mode was completely his own, but has
since been adopted by many.” (“Pancratia,” p. 40). We do not know that
we have ever read more nonsense in as many lines; but this is not the
place for a treatise on the art.
Slack, after numerous victories in the provinces, came up to Broughton’s
booth, about 1748, to try his fortune. It may interest some of our
readers to see a challenge of the day in which John Slack figures as the
respondent. The advertisement is curious.
_October 30, 1744.—At the Castle, in Framlingham, in Suffolk, on
Monday, the 12th day of November next ensuing, there will be a
severe trial of manhood between the following Champions, viz._,
I, DANIEL SMITH, the Suffolk Champion, do once more invite Mr. John
Slack, the Norfolk Champion, to meet and fight me at the time and
place above said, for the sum of forty guineas: and though I had the
misfortune to be defeated by him before, am sure I am much superior
in the art of boxing, and doubt not but I shall give him and the
company entire satisfaction.
DANIEL SMITH.
I, JOHN SLACK, the Norfolk Champion, do accept the above challenge,
and will be certain to meet and fight the above hero for the said
sum, at the time and place above mentioned; and don’t doubt but I
shall support the character I have hitherto maintained.
JOHN SLACK.
N.B. They are to fight upon a stage, and galleries will be erected
for the reception of gentlemen, &c.
The doors will be opened at nine o’clock, and the champions mount
the stage at one.
It will be seen from this that Daniel Smith had already fallen before
Slack’s ponderous arm. When and where we have found no record. That on
this occasion he again made the Suffolk champion strike his colours, may
be fairly assumed from the fact that when, after some successes over
inferior boxers, he had the audacity to challenge George Taylor himself,
it is recorded as Slack’s first defeat. “He had not been hitherto
beaten.” The battle, as already narrated, took place on the last day of
January, 1750, at Broughton’s amphitheatre, and was a desperate contest
on the part of Slack, who rushed in till he was punished to
helplessness.
[Illustration:
JACK SLACK, OF BRISTOL, THE CONQUEROR OF BROUGHTON.
_From a Bust sculptured by_ SIVIER.
]
Shortly after this defeat Slack was present at Hounslow Races. Here a
dispute arose, in the course of which Broughton, considering Slack’s
conduct insolent, assumed a high tone of superiority, threatening to
horsewhip “the butcher” on the spot. With the merits of the quarrel we
have nothing to do. Slack, in whose composition there was certainly no
fear of man, at once challenged the redoubted and highly patronised
waterman, who upon the spot accepted the defiance. Some of the
preliminary incidents of this remarkable battle have been already
touched upon in the memoir of Broughton. That skilful boxer appears to
have viewed the challenge of Slack with a fatal self-confidence. Indeed,
considering that Slack had recently surrendered to Taylor, whose
qualifications none knew better than Broughton, who had long since
defeated him, probably more than once, there was some ground for
confidence, and we have it on authority that he considered there was no
necessity for regular training, imperfectly as that process was carried
out at that period. We prefer copying an account from a paper of the
day, to the embellished apocrypha of later histories.
“On Wednesday, April 11 (1750), was fought the grand boxing match
between the celebrated Broughton, hitherto invincible, and John Slack,
the Norfolk butcher. Before the battle began Broughton gave Slack ten
guineas to fight him, according to a previous promise, which Slack
immediately betted against one hundred guineas offered as odds against
him. The first two minutes the odds were ten to one in favour of
Broughton; but Slack, recovering himself, struck a blow which blinded
his adversary, and following up his advantage, obtained a complete
victory in fourteen minutes, to the great mortification of the knowing
ones, including a peer of the first rank, who, betting ten to one, lost
£10,000. The money received at the doors was £130, besides 200 tickets
at a guinea and a half each; and as the battle was for the whole house,
it is supposed the victor cleared £600.”
We have already said that the downfal of Broughton was the downfal of
public pugilism in the metropolis; whatever there was of good in the art
to a great extent perishing at the caprice of a prince and the power of
a few aristocrats. If these are necessary concomitants to its existence,
it would not have been worth preserving, but it has survived the frowns
of power, and had a better support in the favour of the people. If
Broughton’s theatre was closed, the _ars pugnandi_ dwelt in the
provinces, and we find our hero engaged in 1751 at Harlston, in Norfolk,
with a gigantic Frenchman, whose name, Petit or Pettit, almost savours
of a jest. Pettit appears to have been an exhibitor in a circus as a
“strong man,” and was noted for immense muscular powers. Of his boxing
capabilities, like those of the Gondolier, we cannot form a high
estimate. The following letter appeared in the papers of the time:—
“_Harlston, Norfolk, July 30th, 1751._
“Yesterday, in the afternoon, Slack and Pettit met and fought. At
the first set-to Pettit seized Slack by the throat, held him up
against the rails, and _grained_[22] him so much as to make him
extremely black. This continued for half a minute, before Slack
could break from Pettit’s hold; after which, for near ten minutes,
Pettit kept fighting and driving hard at Slack, when at length Slack
closed with his antagonist, and gave him a severe fall, after that a
second and a third, but between these falls, Pettit threw Slack
twice off the stage; indeed Pettit so much dreaded Slack’s falls,
that he ran directly at his hams, and tumbled him down,[23] and by
that means gave Slack an opportunity of making the falls easy. When
they had been fighting 18 minutes the odds run against Slack, a
guinea to a shilling; whereas, on first setting out, it was three or
four to one on his head; but after this time Slack _shortened_
Pettit so as to disable him from running and throwing him down in
the manner he had done before, but obliged him to stand to _close
fighting_. Slack then closed one of his eyes, and beat him very much
about the face; at twenty minutes Pettit grew weaker and Slack
stronger. This was occasioned by Slack’s straight way of fighting.
At twenty-two minutes the best judges allowed Slack to have the
advantage over Pettit very considerably, as he was then _recovering
his wind_, owing to his game qualities. When they had boxed
twenty-four minutes, Pettit once more threw Slack over the rails.
This indeed Slack allowed him to do, for as he got his hold, Slack
fired a blow under Pettit’s ribs that hurt severely. While Slack was
again getting upon the stage (it was not half a minute before he
remounted), Pettit had so much the fear of his antagonist before his
eyes, that he walked off without so much as civilly taking leave of
the spectators. The cockers call this rogueing it, for it is
generally thought that Pettit ran away full strong. The whole time
of their fighting was twenty-five minutes, and this morning the
battle was judged to Slack, who drew the first ten guineas out of
the box.”
From the last sentence it would seem that there was a subscribed fund,
and principal and secondary prizes for the winners.
We read in “Pancratia,” that “the name of Slack was, and not unjustly, a
terror to fightable rustics.” “At a country fair a ‘native,’ depending
on his natural prowess, gave Slack a blow in the face. We may presume it
was returned, and ‘a ring’ being called, a sharp set-to began. It is
said the countryman had the advantage, until Slack exclaimed with
fervour, ‘What! shall it be said a ploughman beat Jack Slack?’ The very
name appalled the countryman, who, imagining his antagonist had been
playing with him, said, ‘Have I been fightin’ wi’ Slack? I’ll ha’ no
more on’t.’ And he was as good as his word, donning his clothes and
leaving the field to the veteran professional.”
The next recorded battle of Slack was for 100 guineas with Cornelius
Harris, a collier of Kingswood, near Bristol. It took place on the 13th
of March, 1755. The skill and tactics of Slack were severely tried,
Harris fighting desperately in Slack’s own early style for twenty
minutes, when he gave in.
On October 20th, 1759, Slack is again recorded as victor in a fight for
£50 aside with one Moreton, who had issued a challenge to the champion.
It came off at Acton Wells. Moreton proved himself a courageous, if not
a good boxer; but at the end of thirty-five minutes he acknowledged his
mistake.
Ten years had now elapsed since Slack had vanquished the renowned
Broughton, and held the title of champion—but the honour was dazzling,
and another hero put in his claim for the towering prize. Slack’s fame
was well established; and here royalty once more appeared on the
pugilistic scene; for Broughton’s old patron, the Duke of Cumberland,
stepped forward and backed Slack for £100 against Bill Stevens, the
Nailer, whom the Duke of York took under his patronage. The Haymarket
was the scene of action, and a stage was erected in the Tennis Court,
James Street, on the day of the 17th of June, 1760. Slack entered the
field with all the confidence of a veteran, and was acknowledged to have
the advantage in the first part of the battle; but the Nailer, with an
arm like iron, received the ponderous blows of his antagonist on his
left with ease, while with his right arm he so punished the champion’s
nob, that he knocked off the title, picked it up, and wore it. Thus fell
the hitherto invincible Slack.
This second great mistake of William of Cumberland seems to have
disgusted him with the ring, and we hear no more of him. The Duke of
York here spoken of was one of the uncles of George III., whose father,
Frederick, Prince of Wales, died in George II.’s lifetime.
Slack now quitted the pugilistic profession, and returned to his old
trade, opening a butcher’s shop in Chandos Street, Covent Garden. Here
he carried on a good business, but still mixed himself in fistic
matters. He backed and trained George Meggs, of whom more anon, to fight
Bill Stevens, his conqueror, for the championship and 200 guineas. The
fight came off on the 2nd of March, 1761, at the Tennis Court, St.
James’ Street. The reporter says, “At the first onset Stevens missed his
blow, and Meggs struck him that instant on the side of the head and
knocked him down. This error seems to have lost him the battle. After
this the battle lasted seventeen minutes, with scarcely a blow struck,
when Stevens gave in.” We regret to say that this disgraceful affair was
clearly traced to Slack, who gave Stevens 50 guineas and his stake.
“Pancratia” says: “An old supporter of Stevens, meeting him one day,
expressed his surprise at this defeat, when Bill drily answered him,
‘Why, Lord bless you, the day I fought Jack Slack I got 90 guineas; but
I got 50 guineas more than I should otherwise have done by letting
Georgy beat me; and, damme, ain’t I the same man still?’” The Nailer and
Slack both fell into disrepute; but the latter stuck to his business,
and appears to have prospered until his death in 1778.
BILL STEVENS THE NAILER (CHAMPION)—1760.
This tremendous boxer, whose courage found no counterpart in his
honesty, will aptly come in here. It would be tedious, could they even
be dug up, to give an outline of his many battles before his crowning
victory over Slack, with the exception of one, that with Jacob Taplin,
the coal-eaver.
The winter of 1760 was rendered memorable in the annals of pugilism by a
desperately contested battle, “fought in the month of February between
William Stevens the Nailer and Jacob Taplin. The site fixed on for
deciding the boxing match was the hollow known as Marylebone Basin,
which held about 3,000 spectators. A ring was formed in its centre, and
the champions commenced the combat. Taplin in the first rounds seemed to
have much the best of the Nailer, who received some tremendous blows in
the ‘bread-basket,’ which had several times knocked him down. The last
time Stevens seemed to rise with the fury of a lion roused from slowness
and placidity into excessive irritation. He faced his antagonist and let
fly, levelling him at his feet. The odds, which had been in favour of
Taplin, now became four to one on Stevens. In the next round he repeated
his knock-down by a tremendous blow below the left breast. When Taplin
rose next time, he closed on him suddenly and both fell. The next round
decided the battle in favour of Stevens, who struck Taplin on the left
eye with his left hand, while with the other he followed it by a blow on
the temple, which laid him senseless. Taplin not being prepared in time
to resume the contest, Stevens was declared the victor.”—_Daily
Advertiser, Feb. 20, 1760._
And now the fame of Stevens running abroad he received the highest
patronage, and was matched for 100 guineas aside against the veteran
champion Slack. The result has been already told. He disabled Slack’s
guard by repeated and heavy blows on his left forearm, and followed them
by a right hand lunge at the head, accompanied by a trip at his left
foot, which disturbed the champion’s balance. In the words of the
report, “he with his right hand beat him about the head, while at the
same time tripping him off his centre with his foot.” The champion’s
title fell to Stevens, but he did not long wear it, through his own
misconduct. The battle, or rather sham fight at the Tennis Court with
George Meggs, the collier, has been already noticed. Stevens, after
seventeen minutes of trickery, scarcely knowing how to make a fight of
it, gave in.[24]
Stevens’ later fights were few. His backers had, of course, deserted
him. On July 4, 1769, we find as follows: “William Stevens, the Nailer,
who dexterously played the _cross_ with George Meggs, fought a battle
with M’Guire, an Irish pugilist, on the green stage at the back of
Montague House. M’Guire was beaten.”
Stevens was also defeated by one Turner, but the date and circumstances
are not recorded. We learn this fact from the account of Turner’s
victory over Peter Corcoran, the Irish champion (Sept. 24, 1769).
Stevens’ career closed in defeat and disgrace. Eighteen years after his
victory over Slack, he entered the ring with the rising Harry Sellers
(see SELLERS, _post_). Stevens added another illustration to the ring
proverb—“Youth will be served.” Had Stevens kept the straight course, he
might have emulated Taylor, Broughton, and Slack. The date of his death
is uncertain.
THOMAS SMALLWOOD—1741‒1757.
Among the luminaries of George Taylor’s Great Booth, and subsequently of
Broughton’s Amphitheatre, Tom Smallwood, though never opposed to the
very foremost men of his time, was a ready and resolute boxer of no
small pretensions. Captain Godfrey has enshrined him in his curious
pages, so that entire omission of him would be inexcusable in these
sketches of the early heroes of the ring. “Had he but possessed weight
(whence we may infer he was what we should now call a ‘middle weight,’
say 11 stone), he was capable of standing against any man.” It must be
remembered that “rushing,” and “hammering,” and “driving against the
rails,” seem to have been much in vogue in the stage encounters of the
period; and the preposterous weight of thirteen stone and a half and
fourteen stone was thought advantageous for a man of five feet eight or
nine inches! Smallwood’s battles were numerous and creditable, whether
in defeat or success. His first battle recorded in the “Diurnals” was
with one Dimmocks, a powerful carman, at Taylor’s Booth, in May, 1741,
the month after Broughton had defeated Stevenson, the coachman. It was a
desperate affair, and well contested by Smallwood, then a youth. After
three-quarters of an hour of severe fighting, Smallwood was beaten by
the superior strength of his opponent.
In the following November Tom Smallwood again entered the lists with
Richard Harris, a brick-maker, for 50 guineas. It is described as “one
of the severest boxing matches that had taken place for many years,” and
“contested with alternate successes, with the greatest hardihood and
intrepidity, for one hour, when victory decided in favour of Smallwood.”
Broughton expressed a high opinion of the courage and skill of
Smallwood. The day was also noted for the first appearance of
“Buckhorse” (John Smith) upon this stage, who fought “a draw” with Harry
Gray, the clogmaker. See BUCKHORSE, _post_.
In the notice of GEORGE TAYLOR will be found a couple of specimens of
his booth advertisements. They contain the names of Tom Smallwood and
Will Willis (the Fighting Quaker). On this occasion (April 28, 1742) our
hero despised Willis, who derived his nickname from a remarkably plain
and formal appearance, and a sedateness of manner not common among
“knights of the fives,” with whom fun and flash appear to have been ever
prevalent. At this point, after an imaginary account of Smallwood’s
victory, stuffed with the slang of the first quarter of the present
century, and bald attempts at facetiousness, the “Historian” adds, “Tom
Smallwood fought several other battles, in _all_ of which he proved
victorious; but the combatants were not of sufficient importance to
claim mention.”—Boxiana, vol. i., p. 33. He then proceeds, p. 67, to
give a memoir of Edward Hunt, on whom he lavishes just praises, and
records his _defeat_ by Smallwood, as one out of the many specimens of
_method_ with which his hash is concocted.
Smallwood, after the closing of Taylor’s Booth in 1744, does not appear
to have belonged to Broughton’s company, for we find him fighting one
King, a butcher, at Stanton Green, who beat him, in January, 1746. The
particulars of this battle are not recorded, but King is said to have
also “fought several good battles at the Booth.” There is something
obscure about this battle, as Captain Godfrey, writing in 1747, a
constant visitor at Broughton’s, and _au courant_ with every man in the
fistic world, says, “If I was to choose a boxer for my money, and could
but purchase him strength equal to his resolution, Smallwood should be
the man.”
The most remarkable of Smallwood’s triumphs was his victory over
Broughton’s favourite pupil and _protegé_, Edward Hunt, whose defeat of
Hawksley, the Life-guardsman, had made him the talk of the town. The
battle had been long talked of, and was fought on a stage at Hounslow,
July 14, 1757. The stake was 150 guineas. For thirty minutes the combat
was carried on with equal resolution, and without any leading advantage.
“For the first 35 minutes the odds were alternately on each man. After
this time, Tom, who was the heavier man, closed with Hunt more
frequently, and by superior strength followed it up with such advantage,
that in 50 minutes the battle was decided in his favour.” Hunt is said
to have weighed but nine stone. Smallwood was seconded by “Old George
Taylor,” and Hunt by the champion, Jack Slack.
Smallwood, who had now been at least seventeen years before the public,
seems to have retired a conqueror, as we have no further mention of his
name.
EDWARD HUNT—1746‒1758.
This favourite pupil of Broughton continually appears in his master’s
advertisements. He was a boxer of first-rate science, as then practised,
with unquestionable courage, extreme hardihood, and remarkable activity.
Though barely five feet five inches, and weighing but nine stone, he
often fought and defeated men of large stature, and vastly his superiors
in weight. “Being constantly overmatched, he had more difficulties to
encounter than any other boxer on the list, and of the few instances of
‘shifting’ which occurred in his time, he is the most singular, for he
conquered the stoutest men by his admirable art. With strength so much
beyond his own opposed to him he might have been allowed to drop, but he
seldom fell without a blow. He never confined himself to one attitude,
for, being extremely active, he found he could more effectually confuse
his antagonist by continually changing his guard. He endeavoured to
avoid blows aimed at his body by stepping aside, and then took an
opportunity of dexterously ‘winding’ his man, who was driven forward by
his own force. If a blow was aimed at his head, he stooped to let his
adversary’s arm pass over him, and then succeeded in general in planting
a good body blow. These manœuvres proved highly advantageous to Hunt in
his pugilistic career, for his opponents became aware of these
practices, and accordingly fought on the defensive, by which means he
became the assailant, and avoided being overwhelmed by their superior
power.” This is the description of a consummate boxer by a master hand;
quoted in “Pancratia,” pp. 50, 51. “What a picture of a combination of
the styles of Young Dutch Sam and Bendigo! With this before you read
Pierce Egan’s stuff about Hunt’s not “fearing the _disparagement_
(_sic_) between him and his _lofty_ opponent,” and “stood up to Hawksley
prime as a _game_ cock,” etc. The contemporary account of Hunt’s battle
with Hawksley is brief:—
“On June 11th (1746) a very severe battle was contested at the
Amphitheatre between Edward Hunt, a pupil of Mr. Broughton’s, weighing
only nine stone,[25] and one Hawksley a Life-guardsman, who weighed
seventeen stone. The odds before fighting were ten to one in favour of
Hawksley. The battle lasted only ten minutes, during which the odds
changed in favour of Hunt, who was declared the victor.” This affair is
most unaccountable; shifting, and the “planting” of a nine stone man,
could hardly have beaten Hawksley in ten minutes, unless he was out of
condition, drunk, or a coward.
His next great battle was with Smallwood (1757), already narrated; and
his last recorded appearance was with Richard Mills, a game boxer, known
by the name of “the Onion Boy,” May 17, 1758, at Islington. After an
hour’s severe fighting, Hunt, upon whom large odds were betted, was
compelled to surrender.
BUCKHORSE (JOHN SMITH)—1732‒1746.
There was one pugilist of this period, whose name we rather introduce as
a remarkable _lusus naturæ_ than as an illustrator of the noble art.
This individual was John Smith, more commonly known as BUCKHORSE. The
following particulars are chiefly derived from a memoir which appeared
in the “Eccentric Magazine.”
[Illustration:
BUCKHORSE (JOHN SMITH), 1732‒1746.
_After an Etching by_ WILLIAM HOGARTH.
]
“BUCKHORSE, whose real name is said to have been John Smith, first saw
the light in the house of a sinner, in that part of London known by the
name of Lewkner’s Lane, a place notorious in the extreme for the
eccentricity of the characters it contained: here the disciples of
Bamfylde Moore Carew were to be found in crowds, and cadgers of all
descriptions resorted to regale themselves upon the good things of this
life, laughing at the credulity of the public in being so easily duped
by their impositions; and here the juvenile prig was soon taught to
become an adept in the profession, by taking out a handkerchief or a
snuff-box, from the pocket of a coat covered with bells, without ringing
any of them. In these slums the finished thief roosted from the prying
eyes of society, and laid plans for his future depredations.
“It appears, then, that few places could boast of more originality of
character than that from which BUCKHORSE sprang; and, from the variety
of talents here displayed, there is little doubt he did not remain long
a novice. As we have never been troubled with any account to what
good-natured personage he owed his origin, we cannot determine; but
suffice it to observe, that little BUCKHORSE and his mother were turned
out upon the wide world, long before he knew its slippery qualities, by
the cruel publican, their landlord, which inhuman circumstance took
place about the year 1720.
“This freak of nature, it would seem, was indebted to his mother for
what little instruction he received, the principal of which was an
extraordinary volubility of speech; and from his early acquaintance with
the streets he picked up the rest of his qualifications.
“Buckhorse’s composition, however rude and unsightly, was not without
harmony; and although his fist might not appear musical to his
antagonist by its potent touch, yet when applied to his own chin, was
capable of producing a variety of popular tunes, to the astonishment of
all those who heard and saw him, and by which peculiar trait he mostly
subsisted, added to selling little switches for a halfpenny a-piece, his
cry of which was so singular, that Shuter, the celebrated comedian,
among his other imitations, was more than successful in his mimicry of
Buckhorse, which was repeatedly called for a second time.
“As a pugilist, BUCKHORSE ranked high for strength and endurance among
the boxers of the day, and displayed great muscular power in the battles
he contested.”
“Boxiana” says, under date 1742, after the fight of Smallwood and
Willis, “About this time the noted Buckhorse fought Harry Gray, when the
latter got severely punished by this ugly customer.” It is true that
this battle took place in 1742, but if Mr. Egan had read Fig’s bill,
which he prints at p. 44, vol. i., he would have seen there that, ten
years previous (Sept. 18, 1732), it is announced that “BUCKHORSE and
several other pugilists will show the art of boxing.” Unless the infant
was eight years old in 1720, he must have been “noted” enough to be
specially underlined in capital letters at twelve years old! Fig died in
1734 (see p. 12, _ante_). Buckhorse continues, too, it will be seen, in
Broughton’s bill for his “New Amphitheatre,” on the 13th of March, 1743
(p. 24, _ante_), and is there advertised, not for a match among the
eight men specially named as to be paired, but in a singular manner,
indicative of a _mêlée_ rather than a boxing match. Thus: “N.B. There
will be a battle royal by the NOTED BUCKHORSE and seven or _eight
others_, after which there will be several _bye-battles_ with others.”
Buckhorse seems to have fought previously in these bye-battles, _e.g._,
that with Harry Gray (who here appears among the men to be matched), two
years previously (23rd Nov., 1741), after Tom Smallwood had defeated
Harris. (See _ante_, p. 38.)
There is something truly Hogarthian in the portrait handed down to us;
and as he was a contemporary of “the valiant Fig,” it is no strained
supposition that it came originally from the great English master’s
pencil, as well as that of the champion himself.
“As ugly as Buckhorse” was for a long time the uncomplimentary
expression for a remarkably ugly man. This singular being is said to
have been in the custom of allowing himself to be knocked down for a
trifling gratuity by any one who might fancy a trial of the strength of
his own arm.
TOM FAULKNER, THE CRICKETER—1758‒1791.
One of the best men of his day, and who divided his attention between
the two great English games, cricket and boxing, both, in a scientific
form, nearly contemporaneous, was Tom Faulkner. Twice, fired with the
ambition of holding the champion’s title, did he enter the lists with
the renowned George Taylor, and twice, after a good fight, he succumbed
to his master in skill. But Tom feared not an uphill game. He felt that
he had the key to the secret of his former defeats, and a third time, in
1758, challenged Taylor to the field. Taylor had now retired, and, as
already stated, kept the Fountain at Deptford. The “old ’un” accepted
the challenge without hesitation, and in Hertfordshire, one mile and a
half from St. Alban’s, on the 13th of August, 1758, the heroes met, the
stakes being 200 guineas and the door money. Faulkner, it is said, with
the odds of three to one against him, risked all he possessed upon the
event. Faulkner, knowing his man, determined to keep him to fighting.
“He began the attack with astonishing courage, amounting almost to
ferocity. For several of the earlier rounds Faulkner was either knocked
down or thrown. About the fifteenth, Taylor was blowing, but in a rally
each put in a dozen hard blows before Faulkner levelled his opponent.
Taylor now began to shift, and several times fell without a blow.[26]
This created much disapprobation and confusion, but Faulkner easily
consented to proceed. Afterwards they set to more resolutely, if
possible, than before, when after a severe contest of one hour and a
quarter, Taylor acknowledged himself beaten. They were both carried off
the ground, and it was the general opinion that more skill and courage
never was displayed by any pugilist in this country. Taylor’s loss of an
eye and a blow at the close of the fight on the other were the aiding
excuses of his defeat.”
In the next year (1759) Tom Faulkner was in turn challenged by Joe
James. Joe came of a fighting family, and his brother Jack James, “the
bruiser at Broughton’s Amphitheatre,” with his father, “old Jockey
James, of Newmarket,” seconded young Joe. The battle came off at Putney,
Surrey, on April 8, 1759, for 100 guineas. “A stage was erected near the
White Lion Inn, and they set-to about two o’clock. Before a blow was
struck the odds were two to one (they betted preposterously tempting
odds in those green and early days) in favour of James, and after the
third round five to one. Joe knocked Faulkner down several times (here
was piling up the agony), when, in the last round, _which was not more
than ten minutes from the commencement of the contest_, Faulkner, by a
well-aimed blow, brought down James (!), on which, though apparently not
hurt or even fatigued, he gave in.” We should think so: it would have
been mere tempting fortune to go on. The chronicler adds, “the
indignation of the spectators was very highly expressed by their hissing
him off the ground,”[27] which did not, it seems, prevent the bets going
with the battle-money. Verily, as Bildad the Shuhite said of the man of
Uz, so may we say of this ancient ring-scribe, “Behold, he is yet in his
greenness.” “Old Jockey James” seems to have known when to give “the
office” that the “book was full.”
Tom appears now to have betaken himself to attacking his opponents’
_stumps_, and bowling them out with “underhand twisters,” for as yet the
hand above the elbow was not, the curve-bladed bat was like a
butter-knife, and two stumps with a cross-piece gave every chance that a
straight ball would go harmlessly through the wicket. Yet were there
skill and enjoyment in those days of our forefathers, and the village
green and its May-pole were institutions of “Merrie England.” The
May-pole is as extinct as the megatherium, and what has modern science
given us in its place? Among those who—
“At foot-ball or at cricket,
At prison-base or touching-chase
Right featly then could prick it,”
Tom Faulkner was long remembered. Yet does his name again occur in 1789.
The bruisers of Birmingham challenged those of the best note in London.
Isaac Perrins challenged Tom Johnson, the champion (See life of JOHNSON,
_post_.) Jacombs challenged Bryan (Big Ben); Pickard, George Ingleston,
the brewer; and these fights came off, as we shall see, in favour of the
metropolis. Fired with the idea, Tom FAULKNER (at 53 years of age!)
challenged Watson, and Thornhill threw down the gauntlet to Hooper, the
tinman. These two last matches went off; a proof, we think, that the
Birmingham backers were not without judgment, though they did lose the
first three events.
Tom Faulkner was certainly an evergreen of amazing sap and pith. Early
in 1791 he was challenged by Thornhill (called in the report “the
Warwickshire bruiser”), who had been disappointed in his match with
Hooper, the tinman. The veteran Tom accepted the cartel, and they met at
Studley, in Warwickshire, March 21, 1791. “Ryan seconded Faulkner, and
Williams was his bottleholder. Jack Lea waited upon Thornhill, with
Biggs his bottleholder.” We copy the report. “At two o’clock the
combatants set-to, and throughout the battle Tom’s superiority in
judgment and distance was manifestly evident. Thornhill was much the
stronger man, and only fell by one knock-down blow during the contest,
except the last, which Tom struck him in the neck, too forcibly to be
withstood, and Thornhill gave in. The conflict was extremely severe, and
lasted fifty minutes. The door money amounted to upwards of £80,
two-thirds of which became the property of the winner, and the remainder
to the unsuccessful combatant.” Faulkner was one of those lucky men who
closed a career of exceptional length with the garland of victory on his
grey head. Tom was living in 1798.
BILL DARTS (CHAMPION)—1764‒1771.
Among the boxers of his day, Bill Darts, the dyer, held a high
reputation for steady courage and hard hitting, and by no means a
contemptible amount of science. One of the most remarkable of his
battles was with Tom Juchau,[28] at Guildford, Surrey, in May, 1766. It
was a famous fight for forty minutes, when Juchau was beaten out of
time. The stakes were 1,000 guineas.
Dogget, the West Country Bargeman, had secured so high a name among the
“twoads” that an invite was given to Bill Darts to come down to
Marlborough to be thrashed. With the first part of the invitation Bill
complied; the second he not only declined, but, _per contra_, gave Mr.
Dogget such a thrashing, that he carried off the honours of the day and
the irate countryman’s 100 guineas staked upon the event.
Swansey, the butcher, found friends to back him for 50 guineas, and he
and Darts met, Oct. 13, 1767, on Epping Forest. The butcher was soon
knocked down and thoroughly cut up.
Bill Darts now invited all comers for the championship, which he had
held for five years, when Lyons,[29] a waterman of Kingston-upon-Thames,
disputed his title. They met, and Darts, for the first time, was
defeated in forty-five minutes, on the 27th of June, 1769.
Bill Darts next entered the lists with a competitor of formidable
name—Death (Stephen Oliver). Oliver was certainly “stale,” as he had
been one of Broughton’s favourite pupils. (See DEATH.) It was a
well-contested fight, Oliver proving extremely game and skilful; but the
superior strength and weight of Darts’ hits overcame the darts of Death,
and the namesake of the universal conqueror fell before Bill’s
victorious arm. This battle was fought at Putney, on a stage, March
25th, 1770. “Boxiana” has not given a single date to any of Darts’
fights; accordingly, “Fights for the Championship,” 1855, informs its
readers that, “the dates of these battles,” as well as those of George
Meggs, Millsom, etc., “are not recorded!”
On the 18th of May, 1771, during Epsom races, Bill Darts fought Peter
Corcoran, an Irish bruiser of vast pretensions, about whom Pierce Egan
has indited his usual amount of rhodomontade, which we shall correct
under his name. The match was made for £100 aside, by the notorious
black-leg and bully, Captain O’Kelly, the lucky owner of Eclipse, who,
“before the fight gave Bill Darts 100 guineas to play _cross_.”[30] The
rest of this nefarious swindle we will give, according to our plan,
under the notice of the so-called victor Corcoran. Bill had now sold his
reputation, and was a lost man; his seducer, the greater scoundrel,
fared, like woman’s seducer, none the worse
“Through tattered clothes small vices do appear—
Robes and furred gowns hide all.”
Perhaps one of the funniest pieces of historical perversion on record is
Pierce Egan’s account (without a date) of this scandalous affair. It
would be injustice to mutilate it. “The famous Bill Darts now mounted
the stage with Corcoran for £200, to give additional sport to Epsom
races. The set-to commenced with cautious sparring on the part of Darts,
who soon discovered that he could not win (!), and in a short time gave
in. A singular report crept into circulation, accounting for Darts
losing the battle, that Colonel O’Kelly (one of the most celebrated
sportsmen on the turf) backed his countryman to a large amount; but to
make his bets dead sure, on the night previous to the fight, he
presented Darts with £100 not to win the battle, but positively to lose
it. Surely no thoroughbred sportsman could commit so barefaced a
robbery!” This is rather modest, considering the Colonel’s character;
what follows, however, distances it by lengths. “And upon the best
information, we are assured that Darts in his prime was never half man
enough for Peter Corcoran!” The notes of admiration are Pierce’s: we
have omitted his emphasised italics and small capitals. The reader may
form his own conclusion by reading Corcoran’s actual battles.
Darts appears several times as a second during 1771 and the following
years; notedly in a fight between Sam Peters, of Birmingham, and
Rossemus Gregory, an Irishman, in which Darts seconded the Hibernian,
but behaved so unfairly to save his man that Peters refused to fight on.
The result will be found under PETERS.
PETER CORCORAN
We may as well here dispatch Peter Corcoran, to whom Pierce Egan has
devoted several pages of fabrication in honour of “ould Ireland.” First
he thrashed all the potato diggers in the vicinity of his father’s mud
edifice; then he, and perhaps another, beat an English butcher who
refused to let him and a friend have a shoulder of mutton at their own
price: Pierce almost hints they had no money. It seems that Paddy not
only thrashed the butcher “Master Steel” in a few minutes, but “shortly
afterwards enjoyed his mutton (is the reader or the mutton roasted?)
with as keen an appetite as if nothing had happened (which we suppose
was the case), and next day pursued his journey to London.”[31] At
Portsmouth, after a trip to sea, he performed a number of feats of
strength; one among them was “_beating a whole press gang_, and breaking
the lieutenant’s sword over his head.” Here’s a scene for a new
“Black-eyed Susan.” The promotion of Billy Taylor’s sweetheart did not,
however, fall to the lot of Peter, and “on leaving the navy, he came to
London,” etc.
The first authenticated notice of his name we find under the date of,
“Sept. 4th (1769). A boxing match was decided between Turner, a pugilist
who had beaten Bill Stevens, and Peter Corcoran, an Irishman, for £20
aside, which was won by _the former_.” The battle took place in Hyde
Park, and is correctly given in “Fistiana,” though without a date. Now
let us turn to “Boxiana,” p. 59, vol. i. “Peter beat one Turner, who
fought him for £20, and although the latter had beaten the Nailer, yet,
in the hands of Corcoran, he was soon disposed of.” Three others, “good
men,” Dalton and Davis and “Smiler, the bricklayer,” were also,
according to the same veracious chronicler, “beaten dreadfully.” These
exploits bring us to Corcoran’s two “crosses” and his final thrashing.
That with Bill Darts we have said enough about. Of this we read in a
contemporary print—“After a little sparring, Corcoran gave Darts a blow
on the side of the head, which drove him against the rail of the stage,
when he immediately gave in. It was said that Darts had played booty,
and none of the sporting men would afterwards back him; thus by one
dirty action Darts lost all the fame he had been for so many years
acquiring.” This reflection has a peculiar moral squint, as we have
already said. “What about the Colonel who bought the poor fellow?”
Whether his next battle with Peters was a victory we will just leave to
the reader of the report. “The long expected match between Sam Peters
and Peter Corcoran took place at Waltham Abbey, Essex, in June, 1774. At
setting-to the bets were three to one in favour of Peters (this, we
should say, was a good thing), who, though he maintained the
superiority, gave in without any apparent cause at the expiry of fifteen
minutes, greatly to the disappointment of the sporting ones.” We should
think so. Here is the account from “Boxiana,” p. 86, “Sam Peters was the
best man, according to Corcoran’s account, that ever set-to with him. It
was a complete hammering fight (!), and at the expiration of _ten
minutes_ Peters declared he was satisfied, and Corcoran’s body for
several days afterwards was entirely black, the bruises being extremely
severe.” Heavy work on both sides for _ten_ minutes. The fastest moderns
cannot go this pace. The account of Corcoran’s battle with Harry
Sellers, October 16th, 1776, will be found under HARRY SELLERS. As Peter
was thrashed, it was of course “a sell,” though it looks like a victory
on its merits, and “Boxiana” “points a moral,” which is applicable to
this as to all other cases of betrayal of backers by pugilists, who
should never forget—
“’Tis not in mortals to command success,”
but “do more, deserve it,” is very good—if the case warranted it.
The favourable notice in “Pancratia,” whence Pierce drew the staple he
has spun out so absurdly, thus speaks of Corcoran: “Peter, as a pugilist
of his period, stands first rank as a fair fighter; being generally
engaged with powerful pugilists, he was _unfortunate_ in the _events_ of
his contests, and indeed he had little reason to triumph when
victorious, for as he never shifted or fell, unless accidentally,
without a blow, he seldom escaped a severe drubbing.” These are the
words of truth and soberness, and place Corcoran’s courage and game on a
fair footing, despite the extravagant eulogies of his compatriot.
Perhaps, however, Mr. Vincent Dowling, in his “Fistiana,” has exercised
the wisest discretion; finding the accounts too discrepant for
reconciling, he has left the name of Corcoran out of the letter C
altogether.
HARRY SELLERS (CHAMPION)—1776‒1785.
Harry Sellers, a west country boxer of deserved provincial reputation,
was chosen by some friends as a likely young fellow to reduce the
braggadocia of Corcoran, whose challenges were of the true Hibernian cut
of some hedge-schoolmaster transplanted to the Seven Dials. The match
was made for 100 guineas “and a bet of £500 or £600 on the event,”—we do
not profess to know what the last phrase means—and the combatants met at
the Crown Inn, Staines, October 10, 1776. The attendance appears to have
been remarkably good. Corcoran, with the “gift of the gab,” was the
landlord of the Blakeney’s Head, St. Giles’s, and was a sort of
“Stunning Joe Banks” of his day: what he was good for as a pugilist we
cannot say. “At the first onset,” says the report, “Corcoran gave his
antagonist a violent blow, which threw him to the farthest end of the
stage, and the odds increased from three to four to one in Peter’s
favour. Sellers now fought very shy for about eighteen minutes, in order
to wind his antagonist, which having accomplished, he advanced boldly
and beat him by straight-forward hitting in ten minutes.” Did any one
ever read a more “plain unvarnished tale” of how a natural fighter and
good boxer beat a bounceable publican? What need of the farrago we find
at pages 86, 87, 88, vol. i. of “Boxiana,” to explain that which needs
no explanation? Corcoran was thrashed, and, we believe, couldn’t help
it. Pierce tells us a story of his house in St. Giles’s flowing with
“all sorts of spirits, plenty of new pots, etc., inside and outside
painted, and got up in superior style to what it was ever witnessed
before,” etc. Moreover—and here is the detail that clinches it—“Peter
was playing skittles next morning with all the activity and cheerfulness
of a man who had never been engaged in pugilism.”
As Pierce about this period was a Dublin “gossoon,” he must have had an
exact knowledge of the decorations, interior and exterior, of Peter’s
hostelrie, and a reliable tradition of his morning’s amusements. For
ourselves, a much more careful search than that of the inventor of
“Boxiana” (who made none, by the way), fails to tell us more than we
have hereinbefore set down.
On the 4th of June, 1777, at Ascot Heath races, Joe Hood,[32] a hardy
and successful boxer, fought Harry Sellers for 50 guineas aside. Joe
fought with great courage and skill, but the science and activity of
Sellers secured the victory. Hood fought Sellers again, four weeks
afterwards (June 2), and was again beaten.
In June, 1778, Harry Sellers met the once formidable champion, Bill
Stevens, the Nailer. It was a one-sided affair. Stevens, still
courageous, could not stand against the rapidity, skill, and freshness
of Harry, and was defeated. The stake was but £25, which shows how the
mighty Stevens had fallen.
The Crown, at Slough, a favourite rendezvous of the swell patrons of
pugilism, was the scene, on the 25th of September, 1780, of a boxing
match between Harry Sellers and Duggan Fearns, an Irish boatswain
(called Jack Fearns in “Boxiana”). The accounts read very like a cross,
though we can hardly say that there is clear evidence. “The battle
lasted _one minute and a half_, when victory was declared in favour of
Duggan.” We are not told _how_ the event was brought about, but the
reporter adds his own opinion: “the amateurs were swindled to a large
amount,” and certainly very clumsily.
On the 7th of June (1785), we find that Harry Sellers contested a battle
with William Harvey, an Irishman, in the Ass Field, near Holywell Mount,
Grays Inn Road, “in which, notwithstanding he exerted himself to the
utmost, he was conquered by dint of the Irishman’s strength in twenty
minutes.” The reader will observe the date is the 7th of June. This may
give him sufficient insight to value accordingly the story of “St.
Patrick’s evening” (17th March), the “insult to Mr. Harvey’s shamrock in
his hat,” the “leg of mutton and trimmings,” offered by Sellers to be
let off a thrashing, and the wretched rubbish in “Boxiana,” pp. 88, 89,
“for the greater glory of ould Ireland.” The red hot ire of Mr. Harvey
remained to cool from March 17th to the 7th of the following June, if
there be any truth in the periodical contemporary press.
The appearance of Humphries, Big Ben (Brain), and the rise of the great
Tom Johnson, seem to have quite extinguished the minor pugilistic stars,
and so occupied the whole attention of the patrons and historians of the
ring, that Sellers disappears from the scene. In “Pancratia,” p. 63, we
read, “It has been reported that Sellers actually died with grief, on
account of his friends refusing to match him with the celebrated
pugilist Tom Johnson when first he rose into fame.” This proves, at any
rate, that Sellers was what the west countrymen call “a good woolled
one:” there was no deficiency in breed, whatever there might be in his
probity or judgment.
STEPHEN OLIVER (NICKNAMED DEATH).—1770‒1788.
OF Stephen Oliver, whose singular sobriquet, “Death,” had a less
terrible derivation than it might suggest, we have but scant
contemporary notices, yet these have been neglected, and “Boxiana”
dismisses him with an incidental mention in the notice under DARTS (see
p. 45, _ante_), and four lines in reference to his battle with Small.
Oliver seems, by general consent of the best judges, to have been a
remarkably skilful, steady, and formidable boxer. The deadly paleness of
his visage during his pugilistic contests procured him the nickname of
“Death.” Oliver, as one of Broughton’s pupils, stood high on the list of
his favourites. The veteran often commended him as the best teacher and
exponent of his system. “He was a well made man, and light (as they
reckoned it then), never exceeding twelve stone; he did not possess
great strength, but this he fully compensated by his astonishing
agility. Oliver fought more battles than any man in England, and though
frequently overmatched, often conquered against odds. But his sparring,”
adds the author of “Historical Sketches,”[33] “notwithstanding it was
thought excellent some years back, is now equalled by any pupil of
Mendoza and Humphries. This indisputably shows we moderns have improved
in science.”
We pass over a long interval of Stephen Oliver’s performances to come to
his great fight with Bill Darts, March 25, 1770, wherein he was defeated
by youth, length, weight, and strength.
Six years afterwards, July 3rd, 1776, Death fought a short battle at
Barnet for £20 with a butcher of the name of William Small, a name by no
means corresponding with his bulk. A diurnal print tried a small piece
of wit in the form of what it called “an epigram.” Here it is—
“Ah! foolish wight, why strive to conquer Death?
When he, thou know’st, can stop thy vital breath;
That ruthless tyrant rules the lives of all,
And vanquishes the Great, as well as SMALL.”
The renowned Tom Johnson, of whom anon, had already beaten several
commoners, and especially Jarvis, “the fighting carman.” Stephen
accepted his general challenge, and, though stale and old, made a
creditable fight, at Blackheath, in 1784. (See JOHNSON, _post_.) Though
Jack Towers (brother of William, the bricklayer) is called the
“conqueror of the celebrated DEATH,” we cannot find the record of his
victory.
Oliver still lingered on the stage till 1788, in which year, on April
17th, “he fought one Elisha Crabbe,[34] a Jew, _on the turf_, at
Blackheath.” It was observed in the course of the contest that Death had
the lead in fair boxing, but that Crabbe got the best in closing, when
he was generally successful in flinging his adversary so as to pitch him
on his head. Although Crabbe had received many sharp blows, they did not
impair his strength, but Death was wounded badly in the face by a fall,
and had a severe gash over his right eyebrow. This obstructed his sight,
and very much contributed to lose him the battle. At the end of
thirty-five minutes Crabbe succeeded in giving Death a knock-down blow,
and the Jew was declared the conqueror. (“Pancratia,” p. 78.) The Prince
of Wales (afterwards George IV.), Colonel Hanger (Lord Coleraine), and
the leading patrons of the ring, were present on this occasion. A
bye-battle between Doyle, a well known pugilist, and a sawyer from
Deptford, which followed, ended in the anonymous sawyer beating the
professional in twenty minutes.
SAM PETERS, OF BIRMINGHAM—1771‒1774.
SAM PETERS, of Birmingham, is one of the second rates demanding notice
previous to closing this chapter. After many victories in Warwickshire
and the midland counties, Sam made his way to the metropolis, and was
backed for £20 against Trainer, a stalwart Irish chairman. They met at
Epping Forest, June 7, 1771, but Sam was so overmatched that, after a
clever fight of thirty-seven minutes, he fell before the heavier metal
of his antagonist.
The next month, on the 13th of July, Sam entered the ring at Fair Mead
Bottom, near Epping, with Rossemus Gregory, another Hibernian pugilist.
Bill Darts seconded Gregory, and Peters gave in on the ground of Darts
interfering unfairly in favour of his man. Another match was accordingly
made, and came off in the Riding School at the Three Hats,
Islington.[35] Here Master Gregory found he had better not have “bitten
his thumb” at Sam, for he got a most undeniable thrashing in half an
hour. Sam Peters’ “sell” with Corcoran, in 1774, has been already
commented on. From this time he ceased to find backers.
JOE HOOD—1773‒1780.
JOE HOOD, a weaver, fought some good battles between 1773 and 1780. His
first important contest was with the noted Jem Parrot, on the 9th of
November, 1773, in White Conduit Fields, Islington, for a stake of 20
guineas. Rossemus Gregory (see SAM PETERS, of Birmingham, _ante_)
seconded Parrot, and Sam Peters attended upon Joe Hood. The fight was
obstinately contested for thirty-five minutes, when a dispute arose
between the seconds as to a foul blow. Rossy Gregory would not allow his
man to fight longer, and Parrot left the ground, refusing to return. The
battle, upon a reference, was awarded to Hood.
On the 31st of March, 1775, Joe Hood met and conquered Dennis Kellyhorn,
“a famous Irish bruiser.” The battle was for 50 guineas, and took place
at Chingford Hatch, Essex.
Macdonald, a sawyer, of great strength and stature, issued a challenge
to Joe for £10. The set-to is described by the reporter as “furious on
the part of Macdonald.” Joe fought on the defensive for half an hour,
when the rush of Macdonald having slackened, Joe completely turned the
tables, and milled the sawyer all over the ring. Macdonald fought
obstinately: “he was beaten so dreadfully before he gave in, that both
eyes were closed, and it was found that his jaw was broken.”
Joe’s next battle with the champion, Harry Sellers, June 4, 1777, ended
in a defeat, though “Hood displayed astonishing judgment and bottom.”
This important battle is not mentioned in “Boxiana” (JOE HOOD, p. 81),
nor in “Fistiana,” under HOOD (p. 58, edit. 1864); nor does Hood’s
second defeat (July 2, 1774) appear under his name in either authority.
A noted Birmingham pugilist (the “Hardware Village” has always been
renowned for boxers) hight Joe Higgins, “who had fought fifteen battles,
in all of which he had been the conqueror,”[36] challenged Hood. He had
miscalculated his skill. They met July 23, 1778, when Hood gave him so
severe a beating as, says the authority just quoted, “taught him the
proper respect due to a scientific pugilist.”
The tide of battle now turned against Hood. On the 8th of September,
1778, after a severe attack of illness, Joe met “the Bristol Boy,” Peter
Bath, at Maidenhead races, for £50 a-side. “The bets were two to one in
Joe’s favour, notwithstanding his indifferent health.” Joe soon “found
himself entirely unable to cope with his opponent, and gave in after
fighting twenty minutes, when Bath[37] was hailed the conqueror.”
On the 4th of September, 1779, Hood was again unsuccessful in a pitched
battle in Smithfield with William Day, an active and game pugilist. This
seems to have been Joe’s last appearance as a principal, his
constitution being impaired.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V.
TOM JOHNSON (THOMAS JACKLING). CHAMPION OF ENGLAND—1783‒1791.
Tom Johnson, whose real name was Jackling, was a native of Derby,
although a general claim of Yorkshire extraction has been made for him,
and “Boxiana” so states it; followed, of course, by “Fights for the
Championship,” London, 1855. However, as he signs himself “Thomas
Jackling, of Derby,” in a printed letter, the point is not worth
disputing. He surely could himself have no motive for such a
misrepresentation.
Johnson, for we shall retain his popular name, was certainly a hero
among heroes; and if Tom was inferior to Broughton in science, he came
certainly nearest of any man that had hitherto appeared to that phœnix
of pugilistic skill. Nature had endowed him with unusual strength of
body, and he was universally admitted to possess a careful and precise
style of hitting. His courage was of the highest order, and he possessed
a constitutional coolness of disposition and temper. Johnson was born in
1750, the very year that Jack Slack defeated his prototype, the champion
Broughton, and at an early age repaired to London, where he followed the
laborious occupation of a corn-porter, on a wharf near Old Swan Stairs.
His surprising strength was paralleled by his kindness of heart; and
while in this employment an anecdote is recorded of him which deserves
preservation. Johnson’s fellow porter was taken ill, and being burdened
with a wife and a numerous family, dependent on his labour for support,
they were likely to be reduced to want, had not Johnson immediately
undertaken (unknown to them) to do his fellow porter’s work, as well as
his own. The warehouses where the corn was deposited were situated at
some distance from the wharf, at the end of a court, denominated, from
its steepness, “Labour-in-vain Court,” and to which place Tom carried
every journey two sacks of corn instead of one, and gave the money to
his family, till his fellow porter was able to return to his work. We
would recommend this anecdote for extract in the next number of the
“Evangelical Magazine;” it can be much better authenticated than most of
the “lose-nothing” benevolences of their portrait-loving “labourers in
the vineyard.”
As we prefer truth unadorned to clumsy rhetoric we have here merely
paraphrased what we find in contemporaries, and, where advisable,
resorted to acknowledged quotations. “After he (Johnson) had assumed the
profession of the gymnasium (somewhat pedantic this, but the writer as
he goes on becomes more natural), he soon proved the most effective
among the whole race of modern athletæ. His strength, science, and
astonishing bottom gave him rank superior to all his contemporaries, but
his greatest excellence was his surprising coolness and judgment. It may
appear somewhat ridiculous to the inconsiderate, and those prejudiced
against the art, to attempt panegyric upon the mental gifts of a
pugilist, but where such a merit did or does exist, it is a duty
incumbent on those who are just and impartial to record it. The natural
powers of Johnson’s mind, although not developed by the care of what the
schoolmaster calls fostering education, were remarkably extensive and
capable of the accomplishment of great difficulties. Unlike many
pugilists, who seldom form any rules for their guidance in emergencies
until they find themselves on the stage, he invariably, long before,
determined on a system of conduct adapted to his own advantage, and
calculated to defeat the style of his adversary. To effect this, he
calmly balanced the respective abilities of his opponents, their
tempers, power, and mode of attack, and particularly noted the
constitution and disposition of his opponent. His grand principle in
fighting was never unnecessarily to expose himself to danger, nor hazard
anything which could be obtained with certainty by waiting. By acting on
this plan, he frequently at the conclusion of a battle, was nearly in as
good condition as at its commencement; for though confident when first
setting-to of an easy conquest, his prudence led him to protract an
engagement, which perhaps he could not speedily terminate, unless by
endangering himself. He usually, therefore, acted on the defensive, and
never made a blow but when confident of getting home. If his opponent
was cool, he was cooler; if warm and precipitate, he endeavoured to make
him still more so, by using every justifiable measure to disappoint and
baffle him; but he never took advantage of his man by unfair
manœuvres.”[38] This description, despite a certain stiffness of the old
school, is written by a master, and an appreciator of the art.
A few casual turns-up had shown the bent of Johnson’s natural genius for
fistic fame; and at 23 years of age, in June, 1783, he met a carman of
the name of Jarvis in Lock’s Fields, Walworth. The skill of Johnson, a
supposed novice opposed to a practised boxer, astonished the spectators.
Jarvis was severely thrashed, and Tom’s fame spread abroad.
A desperate rough, known as “the Croydon Drover,” next challenged
Johnson, and they fought on Kennington Common, in March, 1784. The
Drover was completely polished off in twenty-seven minutes.
Stephen Oliver (Death), though a decided “ould ’un,” would not believe
in Johnson’s vast superiority until he tried him, on Blackheath, in
June, 1784, when he had ocular demonstration by being beaten blind in
thirty-five minutes.
Johnson now seems to have reposed on his laurels without a competitor
till 1786. On the 11th of January in that year, Bill Love,[39] a
butcher, fancied Tom for 50 guineas a-side. Johnson disposed of Bill
Love’s pretensions in a few minutes.
Jack Towers, “the celebrated conqueror of Death,” says the reporter,
though we have not met with the record, met Johnson (for a stake not
stated), at Barnet, in February, 1786, and was soundly beaten without a
chance of retrieving his fame.
About this period, 1786, Humphries, Martin, the Bath butcher, and
Mendoza appeared. These celebrated men will be found duly chronicled “in
their right place.”
Fry, a big, heavy, and powerful man, next challenged Johnson for 50
guineas, and they fought at Kingston, in June, 1786, but in less than
half an hour Fry got so much broiled as to be very glad to put an end to
the contest; and Tom walked off the ground almost without a scratch.
Johnson, about this period (1787) beat every one that was opposed to
him, and the sporting world was almost nonplussed to find a man who
might stand something like a chance with him. As the metropolis could
produce no such character, Bristol was searched (the _parsley-bed_ of
pugilists), when Bill Warr[40] was selected as an article that could be
depended upon. He was backed to fight Johnson for 200 guineas, on a
stage, at Oakingham, in Berkshire, on January 18, 1787.
In the first round Warr found out he had got a trump to deal with, by
receiving a doubler from Johnson. He immediately assumed the defensive.
In fact, it was scarcely worthy of being called a fight, and the
amateurs were not only disappointed but much displeased. Warr was
convinced that he could not beat Johnson by standing up to him, and
therefore determined to try whether he could not tire him out by
shifting and falling; accordingly, whenever Tom seemed likely to make a
blow, Bill Warr was on his knees praying for pluck, _à la_ Tass Parker
and Nick Ward of more modern days. This humbugging lasted for nearly an
hour and a half, Johnson’s intentions being continually frustrated by
Warr’s dropping. At length an ugly hit nailed him as he was falling. He
insisted on a “foul!” which not being admitted, he instantly bolted,
notwithstanding the remonstrances of his seconds to come back and finish
the fight. In the words of the report: “Warr jumped up from his knees,
crying ‘foul!’ and jumped from the stage. His second called him several
times to return, but he ‘mizzled’ clean off.” Johnson was now firmly
established as the champion; his fame ran before him, and it was some
months before any person could be found hardy enough to dispute his
well-earned title; at length, a brave Hibernian chief, who, like Tom
Johnson, had milled all his opponents, came forward, and soon found
backers.
How this came about must be told by an episode. On November 22, 1787, a
severe contest was decided, in Stepney Fields, between W. Savage and
Doyle. Tom Johnson seconded Savage, and Ryan, his countryman Doyle.
After a sharp battle of forty-five minutes, Doyle was defeated, and Ryan
in some heat challenged Johnson.
Michael Ryan, the Irish champion’s skill and courage stood so high, that
the odds were six to four before the fight, which took place at
Wradisbury, in Buckinghamshire, on December 19, 1787, for 300 guineas
a-side. The seconds were chosen from the first-rate pugilists, Humphries
for Johnson, and Dunn for Ryan; and even the bottle-holders were of
fistic eminence, being Tom Tring for the latter, and Mendoza for the
former. The spectators were numerous. The celebrated Mr. Windham, Sir
Richard Symonds, Colonel Hanger, Colonel Hamilton, Mr. Bradyl, General
Fitzpatrick, etc., were more than spectators on this occasion.
The contest long hung doubtful, though, at the commencement, the odds
were in favour of Ryan. What follows is from “Boxiana.” “After the fight
had continued nearly twenty minutes, and at the close of a most
tremendous round, Ryan put in a blow upon Johnson’s temple, which so
completely stunned him that his arms fell by his side, and was following
up this advantage with another hit, which must have decided the contest,
when Humphries ran in to save Johnson, and caught Ryan in his arms.
Cries of ‘Foul! foul!’ resounded from all parts, and the friends of Ryan
instantly demanded the money, by observing that, as long as Johnson had
not fallen, it was perfectly fair on the part of Ryan to strike him, and
that the latter had won the battle. Here a general clamour took place,
during which Ryan, with the warmth peculiar to his country, indignantly
told his second, Dunn, that he had not done his duty by him as a man, in
suffering such conduct to take place without resenting it, and, had he
not been prevented, he would have milled Dunn upon the spot, his rage
was so great. Considerable time having now elapsed, Johnson was
recovered, and challenged Ryan to renew the combat: the latter, like a
man, notwithstanding it was considered there was no necessity for so
doing, agreed to it, thinking he could beat Johnson.
“The battle was at length renewed; but it was soon perceived that Ryan’s
strength was exhausted by passion, and he now, in about ten minutes,
became an easy conquest to Johnson, by giving away the chance. Ryan’s
conduct in the battle was so noble, and his manly courage and science so
truly apparent, that the amateurs were still left in doubt to decide
accurately which was the best man” (“Boxiana,” pp. 94, 95).
In consequence of this opinion, a second battle was determined upon, and
fought upon a stage in the Rabbit Dell in Cashiobury Park, near
Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire, for 300 guineas a-side, on February 11,
1789. This was a contest of great anxiety, and the whole sporting world
was there, from the Corinthian to the costermonger.
Johnson, who had for his second, Humphries, and Jackson as his
bottleholder, mounted the stage at three o’clock, and were immediately
followed by Ryan, who was seconded by Mr. Rolfe, a baker, and Nowlan his
bottleholder. The set-to was one of the finest ever witnessed, and much
science was displayed; the parries and feints eliciting general
admiration. At length Ryan put in a severe blow on Johnson’s chest,
which floored him.
The second round, which continued about two minutes, was terrible beyond
description—science seemed forgotten—when Ryan received a knock-down
blow. The battle was well sustained on both sides for some time; but
Ryan’s passion getting the better of him, he began to lose ground.
“Johnson,” says “Pancratia,” p. 83, “stopped Ryan’s blows with the
greatest dexterity, and, hitting over his guard, cut him under the
eyes.” Ryan’s head and eyes made a dreadful appearance. The contest
lasted for thirty-three minutes, when Ryan gave in. A hat, ornamented
with blue ribbons was placed upon the conqueror’s head; and Johnson
gained a considerable sum of money, as, besides the 300 guineas stakes,
and £512 door money, equally divided between the combatants, Mr.
Hollingsworth, a cornfactor, and a former master of Johnson, settled £20
a year upon him for life, in consideration of the money he had won by
backing him.
Brain, better known as Big Ben (see _post_), was now considered the only
man capable of meeting Johnson, and a match was made for £1,000; but
Ben, being taken ill at the appointed time, forfeited the deposit, which
was £100.
We now approach one of the most interesting and remarkable contests in
the annals of pugilism. The various coloured accounts of more modern
writers cannot be excused of exaggerating the incidents of this fight,
yet, as our object is rather authenticity than “sensation,” we shall
simply transcribe the report from the old _Sporting Magazine_, for the
month of September, 1789.
Birmingham having challenged London to produce its most noted men to
meet their best pugilists, the matter has been put in train, and the
combatants paired thus:—Isaac Perrins[41] challenges Tom Johnson, the
champion; Jacombs will fight Bryan (Big Ben); Pickard, George Ingleston
(the brewer); Tom Faulkner (the cricketer), Watson; and Thornhill,
Hooper (the tinman). The challenges of the three first heroes were
accepted, and the terms proposed by “the bruisers” agreed to.
The meeting of Johnson and Perrins was arranged for the first October
meeting at Newmarket, to be fought on the turf, for 250 guineas a-side,
and two-thirds of the door money to the winner, one-third to the
defeated combatant. We continue from the contemporary report:—
“Perrins was an uncommonly strong man, gigantic in height and weight,
with force adapted to his form, and, for his size, of astonishing
activity. He stood six feet two inches in his stocking feet, and weighed
seventeen stone, three stone heavier than Johnson. Perrins is stated to
have lifted eight hundred weight of iron into a waggon, and to have
performed other feats of strength almost beyond credibility. He was
universally allowed to possess much skill in boxing, and excellent
bottom. He had won many battles with ease, beating every competitor in
Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire, and undoubtedly thought
himself superior to every athlete, as is shown by his advertisement,
challenging to fight any man in England for 500 guineas. His Birmingham
friends considered him invincible, and backed him in the contest for
many thousands of pounds, at two, and even three, to one against
Johnson.
“The combatants, however, were not permitted to fight at Newmarket, and
Banbury, in Oxfordshire, was then fixed upon, where they accordingly met
on the 22nd of October, 1789. The battle was fought on a turfed stage,
raised five feet from the ground, twenty-four feet square, and railed
in. Johnson’s second was Will Ward (Warr), and his bottle-holder Joe
Ward; Pickard seconded Perrins, and his brother was his bottle-holder.
Colonel Tarleton was umpire for Johnson, and Mr. Meadows, of Birmingham,
for Perrins.
“At a little before one the combatants set-to, and Johnson’s friends,
who before had flattered themselves with certain success, when they
viewed the wonderful difference of size between the bruisers, began to
tremble for the event.
“For five minutes all was anxious expectation; Perrins then with great
force aimed a blow, which Johnson very dexterously eluded, and gave the
first blow, by which Perrins fell. The three next rounds terminated also
in Johnson’s favour, who confused his antagonist by dancing round him,
and occasionally planting an unexpected hit. Perrins became excessively
irritated at this conduct, and throwing off the caution he had shown at
the beginning, followed Johnson with vast resolution, and appearing to
treat his manœuvres with contempt, he, despite of several sharp hits, at
last got in a successful knock-down blow, which success he followed up
for several rounds, in one of which he brought blood by a severe cut on
Johnson’s lip.
“Johnson watched his opportunity, and in reply to a taunt from the
Birmingham Goliath jumped in, and planting a blow over Perrins’ left
eye, cut the eyebrow, and completely closed it up. This blow, and the
failure of Perrins’ wind, which was now very visible, raised the bets
amazingly in Johnson’s favour; the odds, however, again changed upon
Perrins closing one of Johnson’s eyes; after this Johnson began once
more to fight cunning, and having skilfully parried a violent attack of
Perrins, he caught him so severe and swift a blow in the face as laid
his nose completely open. Odds now rose 100 to 10 on Johnson.
“Perrins recovered his breath, and with great vigour and resolution
attacked Johnson, who retreated parrying, but Perrins got in a blow over
Johnson’s right eye that again brought down the odds, but not to even.
Forty rounds of resolute boxing had now taken place.
“In the following round Johnson fell when not struck, and Perrins
claimed the victory, but the umpires decided it was allowable,[42] as
the articles did not specify to the contrary.” We suspect the Birmingham
men, for Perrins was as brave a boxer as ever pulled off a shirt, were
trying to “snatch a verdict,” as the day was clearly going against them.
“Perrins, in turn, seemed now to lose much of his strength. He tried to
imitate his antagonist’s mode of fighting, with which he was totally
unacquainted.[43] He fought low, and had recourse to chopping
back-handed strokes, which at first drove back Johnson and disconcerted
him, but against which he soon guarded himself very collectedly; often
getting home a sharp return.
[Illustration:
THE FIGHT BETWEEN TOM JOHNSON AND ISAAC PERRINS, AT BANBURY,
OXFORDSHIRE, NOVEMBER 22ND, 1789.
_From an Engraving published in 1790._
]
“Johnson seemed to improve in strength as the battle went on, never
beginning the attack. Perrins, in aiming several heavy blows, fell, as
if from weakness. Johnson watched his falling, and hit him in the face,
generally falling at the same time. He seemed now to hit Perrins
whenever he tried. At the end of one hour and a quarter Johnson gathered
himself for a blow, and it took effect directly, in the centre of the
face,[44] and finished as severe a contest as stands recorded in the
annals of pugilism; the combatants having fought sixty-two rounds of
fair hard boxing.”
Mr. Bullock won £20,000 by the battle. He backed Johnson, taking high
odds, and afterwards made him a present of £1000 (and he deserved the
generous gift). The door-money amounted to £800, of which Johnson had
£533, after expenses deducted. As the song says,
“Shall we ever, shall we ever;
Shall we ever see the like again?”
The remarkable print from which our engraving is furnished, is
certainly, when we compare it with most of the art-productions of the
day, a most creditable production. The descriptions which we have quoted
from witnesses of the fight, and from persons who well knew the
combatants, are fully realised. Although the stoop of Johnson certainly
exaggerated the vast proportion of Perrins, the disparity, upon closer
examination, is not so extreme. The faces, you feel, must be portraits.
The fights which followed will be found under BRAIN (Big Ben) and GEORGE
INGLESTON (note to JOHN JACKSON).
Johnson now seemed to be without a rival to dispute his supremacy; but
about the year 1790, the Duke of Hamilton, who had been the firm friend
and patron of Ben Brain of Bristol (Big Ben), was extremely anxious to
back his _protégé_ against the renowned, and as yet invincible Johnson.
A challenge was accordingly published, the Duke backing Ben for 500
guineas.
“Johnson,” says “Pancratia,” “who the year before possessed the amount
of £5000 acquired by his astonishing success in the battles he had
fought, by an unlucky ‘_leter_’ of shaking the elbow, found himself
obliged, in order to replenish the exchequer, to accept Ben’s offer. The
conditions were agreed upon, and the day fixed for January 17th, 1791.
Never was public curiosity more on tiptoe;” but as this battle belongs
by our system to the memoir of the victor, it will be found in the
memoir of BIG BEN. This was the last fight of both these celebrated
pugilists.
Johnson’s name appears from time to time as second to Hooper, the
tinman, “Gentleman Jackson,” and other pugilists, but no more as
principal. We find Bell soon after his victory over Stanyard, the
Birmingham boxer, (in December 1792) challenging Johnson to “mill for a
guinea;” whereon the reporter remarks: “Tom, however, has lost too many
of the yellow-boys lately to trouble himself to win a single one, and
left the stage.” A sufficient allusion to Tom’s improvidence.
Johnson, becoming a Boniface, took the “Grapes” in Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields.
Here he failed in business, owing to his gambling propensities, which
also caused the loss of his license. He then became the proprietor of an
EO table at races, etc. This, too, failing, he migrated to Ireland. In
Dublin he kept, as we see by advertisements, a public house in
Cooper-Alley: but here again the gaming practices and frequenters
incensed the magistrates, and he was deprived of his license. He next is
found in Cork, where he advertised for pupils in the art of boxing, and
where, on the 21st of January, 1797, aged forty-seven years, the
Champion fell before the arm of the great leveller—death.
“Johnson’s appearance,” says a contemporary, “indicated, when stripped,
more of strength than beauty of form. He was in height nearly five feet
nine inches, and about fourteen stone in weight; a remarkably round-made
man, with very fine chest and shoulders, and displaying immensely strong
loins. He was by no means a showy fighter, and his guard was generally
considered inelegant, and his attitudes more defensive than otherwise.
In the fight he was peculiarly steady, watching every movement of his
antagonist with a coolness unequalled, receiving the attack unappalled,
and scarcely ever failing in the return of planting a most desperate
hit. The head was his favourite object, and if his adversary did not
possess considerable science, he was in extreme danger of being put in
the dark. Johnson walked round his antagonist in a way peculiar to
himself, that so puzzled his adversary to find out his intent, that he
was frequently thrown off his guard, by which manœuvring Johnson often
gained the most important advantages. Tom was thorough game, and showed
the utmost contempt for retreating; at the same time careful to avoid
exposing his person too much to the attacks of his antagonist. One
pugilist,” continues the author of “Pancratia,” “may be superior in
strength, a second in science, a third in endurance, but in Johnson have
been more fully combined the requisites of a complete boxer than in any
pugilist up to this day.”
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VI.
BENJAMIN BRAIN (BIG BEN). CHAMPION—1786‒1791.
Benjamin Brain (called in the chronologies Brian and Bryan) was a native
of Bristol, where he was born in the year 1753. His familiar nickname,
“Big Ben,” was scarcely justified by his size, his weight being rather
under that of Johnson (14 stone), and his height 5 feet 10 inches. Brain
was a powerful pugilist, celebrated for his straight and severe
right-handed deliveries, though remarkably good with both hands. Ben’s
early years were passed as a collier at Kingswood, near his native
place; and it was here that the future champion first signalised himself
by a battle with Clayton, “the Shropshire champion.” A fellow collier,
also of Kingswood, called Bob Harris, who had earned a provincial
reputation in that nursery for pugilists, Bristol, also succumbed to
Ben, after a game and determined conquest.
Brain arrived in London in 1774, shortly after these battles, and passed
several years as a coal-porter, at a wharf in the Strand. He was a
good-looking man, and when out of his business always appeared clean and
respectable, mild and sociable in his demeanour, and never ridiculously
presuming upon his qualities as a boxer.
Ben’s first set-to in London was with “the Fighting Grenadier,” in the
Long Fields, Bloomsbury, on October 31, 1786, in which, had it not been
for the assistance of a medical man, who witnessed the contest, Ben must
have been defeated. The soldier was a first-rate punisher, and Ben’s
eyes were so swelled, from the heavy blows he received, that he could
not see, when just at this juncture the ring was broken, during which
accident the swellings were skilfully lanced by a surgeon, and Ben
restored to vision. A fresh ring was made, and the combat renewed; and
in the course of a few minutes the Grenadier gave in.
Corbally, an Irish chairman, fought Ben, upon a stage, twenty-five feet
square, at Navestock in Essex, on December 31, 1788, after Bill Warr had
defeated Wood, the coachman. Notwithstanding the weather was extremely
severe, the combatants stripped with the most perfect indifference, and
the fight was carried on with determined courage on both sides; Corbally
was eventually defeated. Mr. John Jackson seconded Ben on this occasion.
In 1789 he forfeited £100 to Johnson, as already noticed, which sum was
deposited in part of £500, Brain being in a bad state of health.
Ben received a challenge from Jacombs, a Birmingham pugilist, which he
accepted (See JOHNSON and PERRINS), and the battle came off at Banbury,
in Oxfordshire, on a twenty-four feet square stage, October 23, 1789.
Jacombs[45] was a stout made man, of high courage, and not without
science. In the early part of the combat, Jacombs exhibited determined
resolution, and went into Brain in a style that would take no denial.
Whether Ben felt any doubt about the battle, he did not conduct himself
after his accustomed method, but fought on the retreat, shifting often
to avoid Jacombs’ blows, and fell frequently. Jacombs, on the contrary,
received Ben’s attacks undauntedly. Considerable disapprobation was
expressed by the spectators, particularly the Warwickshire men, who were
getting outrageous at Ben’s manœuvring. Brain at length stood to his
adversary, and showed what he was capable of performing by putting in a
tremendous floorer, which quickly convinced the spectators of his
quality. First-rate courage was displayed upon both sides; but after a
most dreadful battle of one hour and twenty-six minutes, the brave
Jacombs was conquered.
Tom Tring (the Big Porter at Carlton House) was matched, as a sort of
bye-battle, with Ben, who, as we gather from contemporary prints, had so
very “little” opinion of his really “big” opponent’s boxing
qualifications, that he met him at Dartford, for the paltry stake of 10
guineas a-side. Pierce Egan has invented a dreadful battle, in which
“Ben was nearly blind,” “the blows that passed between them were
tremendous in the extreme,” and that Big Ben “refused to enter the lists
with Tom Tring a second time, but declared before his death that his
constitution had suffered most materially from the severe blows which he
had encountered at Dartford,” etc. (see “Boxiana,” vol i., pp. 298, 299,
TOM TRING). The fact is, Tom could not hit his man, and was thoroughly
beaten in twelve rounds, occupying under twenty minutes.[46]
In the following year (1790), the battle, long anxiously looked for
between Big Ben and Hooper, the tinman (see HOOPER’S other battles in
Period II.) at Chapel Row Revel, near Newbury, Berkshire, on August 30,
for 100 guineas.
Hooper’s patron had completely miscalculated his man’s powers. The
affair could not be called a fight. Ben treated his opponent with
perfect contempt. In a close at the end of the first round Ben hit
Hooper so heavily in the body, that he could not be induced again to
come within distance. He fell every time Ben’s hand reached him, and
even before; ran all over the stage, filled his mouth with water and
spirted it in Ben’s face, accompanied by provoking and blackguard
epithets to irritate Ben and throw him off his guard. It is true Hooper
got in some few “facers” by his trickery and activity, and he was on the
ground before Ben could get in a return. At length Ben determined not to
follow him, and none of the stratagems of the tinman could induce him to
break ground. He stood firmly at the scratch, in the middle of the
stage, and called upon Hooper to face him: this the latter did for a few
seconds, and was then off and away. This piece of diversion took place
on August 30, 1790, at Chapel Row Revel, near Newbury, in Berkshire, and
continued for three hours and a half. The night coming on fast, several
of the amateurs asked Ben if he should be able to finish the battle that
day? He jocularly replied, “That it entirely depended upon his
antagonist;” and observed, “they had better begin the next morning at
six o’clock, and have the whole day before them.” The Fancy were
completely disgusted with such treatment. After what was termed one
hundred and eighty rounds had taken place, and it being nearly dark, it
was declared a drawn battle, and Ben walked off without receiving any
particular hurt.[47]
And now came Ben’s crowning victory over the renowned, brave, and
skilful, but imprudent and reckless champion, Tom Johnson.
Towards the close of the year 1790, the Duke of Hamilton, the patron and
firm supporter of Ben Brain in all his matches, was anxious to match him
against the hitherto invincible Johnson, and offered to back his man for
500 guineas. We have already noticed Tom’s reckless prodigality and
gambling, and necessity spurred him not to let pass the chance of such a
golden prize. “Public expectation,” says the _Oracle_ newspaper, “never
was raised so high by any pugilistic contest; great bets were laid, and
it is estimated £20,000 was wagered on this occasion.”
On a stage twenty feet square,[48] at Wrotham, in Kent, on January the
17th, 1791, the two best boxers in England met to decide the
Championship. Punctually at one o’clock, the time named in the articles,
Johnson ascended the theatre of combat, followed by Joe Ward, as second,
and Dan Munday as his bottle-holder. He bore an aspect of steady
composure and modest confidence. Big Ben immediately followed, with a
cheerful countenance, having Will Warr as his second,[49] and Humphries
as his bottle-holder. “The betting, from the first making of the match,”
says the reporter, “was seven to four in favour of Johnson.” Truly our
grandfathers were bold, nay reckless, layers of odds. What follows is a
verbatim transcript of the contemporary report.
“The combatants being prepared, set to, and in the first round, which
was much more violent and quickly terminated than usual, Johnson fell
upon his forehead, from a violent blow on the nose. This blow determined
the fate of the battle, for Johnson never was capable of recovering
himself.
“In the second round he also fell by a severe blow; bets became even.
“Third round he knocked Ben down, and odds again increased in his
favour.
“After this, Ben reassumed his advantage, and kept it to the end. In
this round (the fourth) both combatants seemed to throw aside skill,
and, entering upon a rally, totally depended on strength and courage. At
the expiration of twenty minutes, Johnson drew back, and springing in
with a desperate blow at Ben, which the latter evaded, broke the
metacarpal bone of his middle finger by striking the rail of the stage.
At first this severe accident did not seem to affect his spirits and he
manœuvred actively; but shortly afterwards Ben put in two successive
blows which decided the turn of battle. One struck him in the ribs,
another dreadfully cut his lip.” Another account describes Johnson as
“holding Ben by the hair to prevent his striking, so unlike his conduct
in former fights.” All, however, did not avail; the die was cast, and
Ben Brain was the undisputed conqueror in eighteen rounds, occupying no
more than twenty-one minutes. We resume the report:—“Johnson, in this
battle, did not preserve that coolness and regularity of temper which
hitherto have caused him to be considered so admirably pre-eminent as a
safe boxer. His wind was good, but the first knock-down blow so much
disconcerted him that he frequently shifted, and went back. Ben,
however, seldom advanced, at least not at the instant, and when he did,
he kept up good guard, and penned Johnson in without room to manœuvre,
compelling him to fight out of it if he could. Though Johnson was so
heavily punished, in appearance Ben seemed little hurt, and on the
Monday following he displayed great agility in a sparring match at the
Grecian Theatre, in the Strand.”[50]
After four years’ interval, during which Ben appears now and then as a
second, our hero accepted a challenge from Will Wood, the coachman, to
fight on the 24th of February, 1794. Though Ben’s health had been in a
precarious state, the odds were largely in his favour. But a more
formidable adversary declared himself: a scirrhous liver deranged Ben’s
vital functions; his disease ran on rapidly, and on the 8th of April,
1794, the Champion died in full possession of the honour, at his
dwelling in Gray’s-Inn-Road. On the Friday following (the 11th) we find
him among the burials in St. Sepulchre’s churchyard. His funeral, which
was conducted with the solemnity such occasions demand, was attended by
his old friends and professional brothers, Johnson, Warr, Wood, Symonds,
and several others of inferior note.
A pugilist wrote the following epitaph for his tombstone:—
“Farewell, ye honours of my brow,
Victorious wreaths, farewell!
One blow from Death has laid me low,
By whom such brave ones fell.
Yet bravely I’ll dispute the prize,
Nor yield, though out of breath,
’Tis not a fall—I yet shall rise,
And conquer even Death!”
Of which rhymes we can conscientiously say the anonymous “brother
pugilist” of Ben need not have been ashamed; for far worse have been
written on marble by “unco’ guid folk” who would scorn to bestow a
glance on the grave of a boxer.
END OF PERIOD I.
PERIOD II.—1784‒1798.
FROM THE APPEARANCE OF DANIEL MENDOZA TO THE FIRST BATTLE OF JEM
BELCHER.
CHAPTER I.
DANIEL MENDOZA—1784‒1820.[51]
The conveniences of the plan of a biographical history the editor
flatters himself are by this time sufficiently obvious to the reader:
the index of names and of events at the end of the volume, and the
grouping of the memoirs into Periods, bringing the men who contended
their most important battles with each other into close companionship in
our pages.
As the introducer of a new, a more rapid, and more elegant style of
boxing, and a more artistic _tactique_, the Israelitish champion Mendoza
deserves the distinction of heading a division of followers and pupils.
Accordingly we begin with his pugilistic career, to be succeeded by
those of his clever antagonists, Richard Humphries and Mr. John Jackson,
Bill Warr, Tom Owen, Paddington (Tom) Jones, etc., with Stanyard, George
Ingleston, Fewterel, and many minor stars in the Appendix, and in
foot-notes, where their conflicts with more distinguished boxers have
preserved their names from oblivion.
DANIEL MENDOZA, one of the most elegant and scientific boxers recorded
in the annals of pugilism, was born in the year 1763, of Jewish parents,
in the vicinity of Whitechapel. Of his earlier years nothing worthy of
record is known. His first noted pugilistic contest took place at Mile
End, in 1784, with a big rough, known by the name of Harry the
Coalheaver. Dan appears to have polished off this black diamond in forty
minutes—at least, so says “Boxiana;” yet so far from being drawn from
his regular employment and pursuits by this triumph, his name does not
figure until 1787. Shortly after, Dan rose like a phenomenon in the
fistic horizon, where he long sparkled a star of the first magnitude.
His advent was unquestionably a new feature in the practice of the art,
and his style of fighting gave rise to much controversy and
animadversion among the cognoscenti.[52] So far as it was illustrated in
his own practice, it was substantial and complete; and it may be
candidly allowed that whenever Mendoza failed, it was rather from
insufficient muscular strength, and being overmatched in weight, than
any deficiency of skill or courage. It has been contended that there was
more elegance about his positions than strength, and more show than
utility. No pugilist ever stopped with greater neatness, hit oftener, or
put in his blows quicker, than Mendoza; but they often failed in doing
that execution which might have been expected from want of force. In
height about five feet seven inches, with a well-formed manly chest, and
arms of a strong athletic nature; a courage never impeached; and
possessing wind that was seldom disordered, his battles were numerous
and well-contested.
On the 17th of April, 1787, Mendoza made his first public appearance in
the lists, on Barnet race-course, with Martin, the Bath butcher, an
opponent of Humphries, and of great provincial reputation. The victory
was well disputed, Mendoza exhibiting thus early those points of
excellence which soon afterwards ripened to perfection. The battle was
for 25 guineas, and in twenty minutes the Bath boxer acknowledged that
the young Israelite was his master in the art. Humphries, who had last
fought Martin, in the previous year, had taken 105 minutes to dispose of
him.
This victory was much talked of, and already the youthful Jew was
mentioned as “the coming man” to lower the pretensions of “the Gentleman
Boxer.” In 1787, a casual rencontre took place between these great
rivals, at the Cock, at Epping, in which rumour gave Humphries so much
the best that it led to a match in 1788, which, as Mendoza was defeated,
will be found in Chapter II., under Humphries. The superiority of the
latter was, however, a matter of very serious question with the most
competent judges, and their doubts were proved valid by the sequel, for
a second match was made, the progress and result of which we now proceed
to detail.
May the 6th, 1789, was the day fixed for the long and anxiously expected
battle. The place fixed upon was Mr. Thornton’s park, near Stilton,
Hunts. In order to accommodate the spectators, a building was erected,
enclosing a space of forty-eight feet in diameter (“Boxiana” says “in
circumference”), with seats raised one above the other, capable of
containing nearly three thousand persons, the highest seat being
eighteen feet from the ground.
Humphries, attended by Tom Johnson, as his second, entered between one
and two o’clock, followed by Butcher, as his bottle-holder, and Harvey
Combe, Esq., the brewer and alderman, as his umpire. Mendoza immediately
afterwards made his appearance, attended by Captain Brown and Michael
Ryan, as his second and bottle-holder, having Sir Thomas Apreece for his
umpire. The seconds, according to agreement, retired to separate comers
on the setting-to. The reporter continues: “The first blow was struck by
Humphries at the face of his antagonist, which Mendoza stopping with
great adroitness, returned and knocked Humphries down. The second and
third rounds terminated in precisely the same manner. Astonishment at
the confidence and quickness of Mendoza was expressed by every
spectator.
“After the contest had lasted about forty minutes, in which Mendoza, by
generally catching his opponent’s blows on his arm and returning with
his left hand, or throwing him, had indisputably the advantage of the
combat, it was stopped by a circumstance that created the greatest
confusion on both sides.
“In the twenty-second round, Mendoza having struck at Humphries, the
latter dropped. The articles of agreement particularly specified that
whichever combatant fell ‘without a blow,’ should lose the battle.
Consequently a general cry of ‘Foul! foul!’ took place, and it was
declared by Mendoza’s friends that he had won the battle. Humphries,
Johnson, and the spectators interested on that side of the question,
contended it was fair, asserting that Humphries had stopped the blow
before he fell. The partizans on the opposite side as vehemently
insisted on the contrary, and the whole was a scene of uproar and
confusion. Sir Thomas Apreece, as the umpire of Mendoza, declared it
foul, but Alderman Combe refused giving an opinion. During this affray,
Captain Brown (Mendoza’s second) in a moment of irritation called
Johnson a liar and a blackguard, which was answered by the approach of
Johnson in a stern and menacing manner. This led to the expectation of a
bye-battle between the seconds. Humphries came several times to his
adversary, calling on him to fight out the battle, but Mendoza’s friends
would not permit him. Humphries then threw up his hat, and challenged
him again to the combat. However, numbers present said, that this went
no way to the decision of the point in dispute, and the battle most
likely would have been a drawn one, had not Mendoza, by the advice of
his friends, or perhaps irritated by his adversary’s continually
taunting him for not continuing the fight, consented to resume the
contest.
“They again set-to, and the first two rounds terminated by Mendoza’s
knocking down his adversary. They fought for about half an hour, Mendoza
all the time evidently holding the advantage, and at last gained the
victory, by Humphries again violating the articles of agreement. In the
last round, after some blows had passed, Humphries had given way,
Mendoza followed him up, and was preparing to strike, when his opponent
fell, obviously without receiving any blow. Mendoza was immediately
declared the conqueror.
“Mendoza in this battle displayed great superiority of skill. Humphries
allowed his antagonist to gain ground upon him during the whole combat;
and when he was preparing to strike, he always flinched. Mendoza, on the
contrary, stood up to his man manfully, and followed him with coolness
and resolution, which proved much more serviceable to him than the
impetuosity of temper he displayed in his last contest with Humphries at
Odiham. Several times, when Humphries was in the act of setting-to, he
walked up to him, and viewing him with a keen look, seemed
contemptuously to drop his guard. When Humphries closed, he several
times said to Mendoza, ‘Very well, indeed—very well!’ and which Mendoza,
when he succeeded in throwing him, repeated in a mocking tone of irony.
Nevertheless, during the whole contest, up to his fall, the bets were in
favour of Humphries.
“The only blows of consequence received by Mendoza were one on the
cheek, and several on the ribs and back at the time of closing. Towards
the end of the contest Humphries aimed several very severe darts at the
pit of the stomach, which were admirably stopped by Mendoza; had they
reached their aim, they might have proved fatal to his chance. Humphries
was much beaten about the face; one eye was closed, and his forehead cut
above the other; his lip was also cut, and he frequently spat blood, but
we think the hemorrhage was merely from the last-mentioned wound.”
Humphries was by no means satisfied of the Jew’s superiority, and
persisted he had been “wrangled” out of the fight. A third trial by
battle was therefore sought by him, and readily agreed to. We copy the
report.
[Illustration:
THIRD FIGHT BETWEEN DANIEL MENDOZA AND GEORGE HUMPHRIES, AT DONCASTER,
SEPTEMBER 29TH, 1790.
_From an original Picture._
]
“September 29th, 1790, is rendered memorable in the annals of pugilism
by the well-fought third battle between the celebrated champions
Humphries and Mendoza. An inn-yard at Doncaster was pitched upon as the
spot for the decision of the contest. The time (the Sellinger and Cup
week), and the place were capitally chosen. The ground was bounded on
two sides by the backs of houses, at one end by the inn, at the other by
a strong palisade, behind which ran the river Don.” Upwards of 500
tickets at half-a-guinea were sold, and the persons admitted. But the
Yorkshire “tykes” of humbler means were not to be baffled; and a ‘cute
ferryman having brought over some hundreds at sixpence a-head, the crowd
outside soon demolished the paling, stout as it was, and an immense
concourse got in. The spectators seated around the stage, however,
prevented any inconvenience or interruption of the principal performers.
“At about half-past ten Humphries made his appearance, immediately
followed by Mendoza; the former mounted the stage, which was about four
feet high, and twenty-four square, with astonishing agility, evidently
in high spirits. Mendoza also seemed equally alert and devoid of
apprehension. Ward seconded Humphries, and Jackson was his
bottle-holder; Colonel Hamilton being chosen by him as his umpire. Tom
Johnson was second to Mendoza, and his bottle-holder Butcher. Sir Thomas
Apreece, who was umpire for Mendoza on his last battle with Humphries,
at Stilton, was also chosen on this occasion, and Mr. Harvey Aston was
mutually agreed upon as the third umpire, should any altercation arise
during the combat, and a difference of opinion arise between the Colonel
and Sir Thomas with respect to its decision.
“Everything being thus arranged, the combatants began to strip. Odds
were laid five to four in favour of Mendoza, and readily accepted by
Humphries’s friends, who considered that although perhaps it might be
impossible for him to beat the Jew by carrying on the fight regularly
and in a scientific style, yet, by his impetuous exertions at the
commencement, would be able to overcome his antagonist, and bear away
the palm.”
THE FIGHT.
ROUND 1.—The onset of Humphries was bold and
astonishingly vigorous, but was repelled by
Mendoza with equal force; they mutually closed,
struggled, and both fell.
2.—The same vigorous spirit was manifested on
both sides, but Humphries struck the most blows,
though apparently without overpowering Mendoza.
3.—This round was fought with much caution on
both sides, each being equally careful of giving
or receiving a blow; what passed, however, were
in Mendoza’s favour, and it terminated by his
giving Humphries a knock-down blow.
4.—They engaged, but only for a few moments.
5.—Humphries aimed a severe blow at Mendoza’s
stomach, which he dexterously stopped, and
struck him in the face; this blow, however,
Humphries returned, but at the same time fell.
“A number of rounds after this took place, but
in every one of them Mendoza evidently had the
advantage, and odds had risen forty to five, and
ten to one in his favour; Humphries continually
fell, sometimes in consequence of blows, but
more frequently from a policy often used in
boxing, which perhaps may be considered fair;
several times he sunk without a blow, which
conduct, although contrary to the articles of
agreement, was passed unnoticed, as his general
manners placed him above the suspicion of
cowardice. For although he had undoubtedly the
worst throughout the battle, he fought with
great resolution, and even when his friends,
perceiving him conquered, and one eye perfectly
closed, persuaded him to yield, he solicited to
fight a little longer. Notwithstanding all this
display of excellent bottom, he was again
obliged to acknowledge the ascendancy of the
Israelite.
“Mendoza was very much cut about the left side
of his head, his left eye and ear being much
mutilated, and he had received a severe cut
in the ribs on the right side by a projectile
left-handed blow of his antagonist.
“Humphries had several hits which drew blood
under his left arm; his right eye was closed
early in the battle, and he had a severe cut
over his left. He had a wound clear as a razor
cut by the left side of his nose by a
straight-forward springing blow of Mendoza’s.
The same hit also split his upper lip. He was
carried through the crowd on the shoulders of
his friends, who conveyed him in a post-chaise
out of the town. Mendoza walked on the
race-ground on the Town Moor for some time after
the combat, ‘the observed of all observers.’”
“Money was collected from the spectators and amateurs present, as a
prize to be fought for between Aaron Mendoza, a cousin of the successful
champion, and Packer, a West-country boxer; the former was seconded by
Johnson, and the latter by Ward. It was a most severe contest; they
fought for an hour with the greatest violence, when on closing, they
fell, and when down, Aaron being uppermost, Packer raised his knee, and
so threw him a perfect somerset against the railing.[53] This decided
the battle, and Packer was declared the conqueror.”
Dan spent the year 1791 in a sparring tour; for like most of the
“prophets” he had an eye to the “jewels of gold and the jewels of
silver” to be collected from the Gentiles. He crossed from Liverpool to
Ireland, and there we find one “Squire Fitzgerald,” a swell of “great
weight” and little prudence, tried his “prentice han’” on Dan. He soon
found he had a workman to deal with, for Mendoza soundly thrashed him in
twenty minutes, on the 2nd of August, 1791, fully demonstrating the
striking difference between professionals and amateurs in boxing as in
most other arts and sciences.
On his return to “Duke’s Plashe,” the Fancy, who had been looking out
for the triumphant Jew, decided that Bill Warr[54] was a likely man to
lower the pride of Dan, and a match was made to come off in June, 1791.
Stokenchurch, in Oxfordshire, was named as the rendezvous. As, however,
the company were on the road, they received intimation that the
magistrates of Oxfordshire were resolved to prevent the battle. Upon
this the cavalcade stopped at Uxbridge, and an arrangement was made to
fight in Fenner’s Cricket Ground. Objections were, however, started, and
the Duke of Hamilton, on the part of Warr, and Alderman Macaulay, on the
part of Mendoza, agreed that they should postpone the affair till the
Doncaster Meeting in September; all bets to stand over. Here, however,
the old cup and lip proverb was verified; the authorities interposed,
and the treat was postponed till May 14th, 1792, when the venue was
changed to Smitham Bottom, near Croydon. On this eventful morn
pedestrians out of number, and vehicles of every quality, were seen in
rapid motion, eager to arrive at the destined spot. Between one and two
the combatants appeared upon the stage, and were greeted with shouts of
applause. Mendoza had for his second and bottle-holder, Tom Johnson and
Butcher, with Harvey Aston, Esq., as his umpire; Warr was attended by
Joe Ward and Jackson, and Mr. Watson as umpire.
At the commencement of the fight the odds were in favour of Warr; and
much was expected from his well-known skill and strength. For the first
eight rounds of the battle he fought tremendously; and in the fourteenth
he succeeded in nailing Mendoza on the jaw in such a style that the Star
of Israel came down with uncommon violence. Warr’s friends were now in
high spirits, as it was thought that Dan had received a sickener; but
his game soon brought him about, and he finished two successive rounds
by flooring his opponent cleverly. The superiority of Mendoza now became
manifest, Warr perceived he was in the hands of his master, and the
spectators began to change their opinions. Mendoza knocked down his
antagonist every round; nevertheless, Warr fought gamely an uphill
battle, and put in some good hits. In the twenty-third round the
combatants closed, Warr was completely exhausted, and Mendoza falling on
him, he reluctantly gave in. This victory established Dan’s fame as a
game man.
Nevertheless, Bill Warr fancied that in another trial he might regain
his laurels; accordingly a match was made to come off in January, 1794,
near Hounslow, but the magistrates interfering, it was postponed till
the 12th of November following, when it was decided upon Bexley Common.
The opening of the battle was good, and Warr seemed to feel that he
should accomplish his wish; as before, in the earlier rounds he seemed
to have a slight advantage, and his opponent fell before him. Whether
Mendoza permitted him to show himself off in this manner that he might
be enabled to exhibit his great superiority afterwards, or that he could
not resist the efforts of his antagonist, cannot be ascertained; but it
was evident that he treated all the attempts of Warr with perfect
coolness, and seemed quite confident of the success of his waiting game.
In the fifth round he went in, stopped the hits of his opponent with the
greatest ease, and returned so tremendously, that Bill was disposed of
in the short space of fifteen minutes! It was clear that Warr, from the
moment Mendoza assumed the offensive, was lost; his opponent’s
confidence completely overawed him, and it was visible that he laboured
under its depressing effects.
But amid all his glory he was doomed to experience the vicissitudes of
fortune by a mortifying defeat in his contest with Mr. Jackson, at
Hornchurch, on April 15, 1795, which will be detailed in the memoir of
Mr. JOHN JACKSON. This preyed so much upon his feelings that, after six
years had elapsed, they burst forth with fury, occasioned by the
following circumstance. Jem Belcher, after defeating Burke at Hurley
Bottom, challenged Dan to fight, who immediately replied, that he had
given up pugilism, and supported by his industry (as a publican, at the
Lord Nelson, in Whitechapel), a wife and six children, and only wished
to fight Jackson, who had dealt unhandsomely by him as a pugilist; and
he now publicly declared himself ready to enter the lists with him for
100 guineas, provided that he would not take the unmanly and cowardly
advantage of holding his hair. This speech of Mendoza’s was soon
trumpeted abroad, and some busy persons inserted a sort of challenge to
Mr. Jackson in the _Oracle_ and _Daily Advertiser_, which was
immediately answered by the latter. The letters, as mere specimens of
the ring correspondence of the time are given under the head of JACKSON.
It will be observed that Mendoza asserts therein that he had fought
_thirty-two_ pitched battles, and Pierce Egan makes up a list to that
amount of names, which, for aught the records of pugilism show, may have
been selected from the London Directory.[55] It will be, however, to the
point to give one of Mendoza’s letters, from which it would seem that
Dan’s challenge was not, in the first instance, inserted with his
permission.
_To the Editor of the_ DAILY ADVERTISER.
MR. EDITOR,—It was with inexpressible concern that, in your paper of
Wednesday last, I observed a letter signed “John Jackson,”
purporting to be an answer to a supposed challenge from me, inserted
in your detailed account of the recent pugilistic contest at
Maidenhead. Mistake me not, Sir. I was not concerned at the contents
of Mr. Jackson’s elegant effusion, nor in the least affected or
surprised at the opprobrious falsity, brazen impudence, or malignant
calumny of his assertions, which I deny _in toto_; but felt
particularly hurt at the idea that I was compelled either to sit
down tamely under injury, or incur the risk of offending my best
friends, and particularly the respectable magistrates of this
division, by resuming a profession which, both from principle and
conviction, I had wholly relinquished.
In order satisfactorily to refute Mr. Jackson’s allegations, it is
only necessary to observe that a month after our battle at
Hornchurch I waited on him, upbraided him with his unmanly conduct,
by laying hold of my hair, and offered to fight him for 200 guineas.
Jackson proposed to fight for 100 guineas; and upon that sum being
procured, declined fighting under 500 guineas. Here was courage,
here was consistency, here was bottom, and yet Mr. Jackson is a man
of honour and of his word!!!
Mr. Editor, after this I left London for five years, which may
easily account to Mr. Jackson for the interval of silence. I have
fought thirty-two pitched battles—four with Humphries (three of
which I won), and two with Will Warr, in both of which I was
victorious; these two men were both game, and good fighters, and of
course, having received so many blows, my only motive for wishing
again to fight Mr. Jackson must be that spirit of honour and
retaliation ever inherent in the breast of man.
Mr. Editor, I repeat that I am delicately situated. I wish to fight
Mr. Jackson, and intend it; but that, from a dread of injuring my
family, by offending the magistrates as a challenger in a newspaper
(which would be indecorous in a publican), I can only observe, that
I should be very happy to see, as soon as possible, either Mr.
Jackson or his friends, at my house, where they shall receive every
attention from me, as I wish most earnestly to convince the world
what a deep and just sense I entertain of all Mr. Jackson’s favours
conferred upon
“Admiral Nelson,” Whitechapel.
DANIEL MENDOZA.
Mendoza, in the year 1806, again introduced himself to the notice of the
public in a diffuse correspondence, arising out of a personal quarrel
with Harry Lee. Those curious may read the whole in “Boxiana,” vol. i.
pp. 272‒276. We learn from it incidentally that Dan, after his
retirement from the ring, was an officer of the Sheriff of Middlesex, a
favourite Jewish calling in the days of arrest on mesne process and of
sponging-houses. Harry, in his last letter, accepts the challenge of
Dan, which is all we care about the quarrel.
Harry was well known as an elegant sparrer, but his ring capabilities
were untried. He was also taller, younger, and more active than the
veteran Dan.
On March 21, 1806, at Grinstead Green, a short distance beyond Bromley,
in Kent, the combatants met, and 50 guineas were the stakes deposited.
It was a roped ring of twenty-five feet. Mendoza had for his second his
old opponent and firm friend, Bill Warr, and for his bottleholder, Bill
Gibbons; Harry Lee was attended by the Game Chicken and John Gully. The
odds were three to one that Dan proved the conqueror.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Mendoza, with his piercing black eye,
looked at his opponent with scornful contempt,
and a more than usual degree of confidence.
Lee soon showed he was no novice in the art.
He stood well up, with his left arm extended,
and tried rather artfully to pop in a hit over
Mendoza’s guard; but the latter stopped several
of these, and eventually sent Harry down. The
odds rose ten to one on Dan, and the bets were
decided respecting the first knock-down and
first blood.
2.—Lee rose exasperated, the claret flowing
copiously. Mendoza made a hit, which was neatly
returned by Lee upon Dan’s nose—they closed and
fell.
3.—Lee, out of temper, went in to mill away; but
Mendoza punished him right and left for his
temerity, and he saluted his mother earth.
4.—Lee now convinced the spectators that he
was something more than a sparrer, by showing
game—he put in a good hit over the left eye of
Mendoza; but Dan threw him in the close. The
opinions of the cognoscenti began to waver,
for it appeared not quite so easy a thing as
imagined; and two to one was sported that
Mendoza did not beat Lee in half an hour.
5.—Lee, not destitute of pluck, attempted to
rally; but Mendoza, aware of his intentions, put
in so severe a blow, that Harry went under the
ropes. Three to one against Lee.
6.—Mendoza, experienced in all the manœuvres of
the art, with the coolness of the veteran,
judging that his opponent would attempt another
rally, waited for him with the greatest
composure; as he came in Dan put in a tremendous
hit over Harry’s nose, and threw him.
7.—Of no account.
8.—Lee, trusting to impetuosity more than
judgment, went in rapidly; but the folly of such
conduct was self-evident—Mendoza hit him away
with the greatest ease, following him, and, in
the event, throwing him a cross-buttock. Lee’s
frontispiece had now a variegated appearance.
9.—Lee, full of gaiety, rallied; but Mendoza hit
him sharply over the left eye, which was already
terribly swelled. Five to one on Mendoza.
10.—Dan laughed at his opponent; who made a
feeble hit and fell upon his knees.
11.—It appeared from Lee’s conduct that he
entertained an idea that his opponent was to be
conquered by impetuosity. He rushed in most
furiously, when the latter hit him; Harry
retreated and took refuge upon the ground.
12.—Mendoza thought it was necessary to show a
little fight, and, in a sharp rally, quickly
punished his opponent out of the ring.
13.—Rallying was the order of the day with Lee;
Dan put in a severe hit, and, to avoid going
down, Harry caught hold of his opponent.
14.—Mendoza struck his adversary, who, to the
astonishment of the spectators, laid himself
down as before. (Some hisses and disapprobation
occurred; and cries of “Foul—take him away!”)
15.—Trifling away time; Lee went down without a
hit, and Dan laughed at him. (Six to one against
Lee.)
16.—Mendoza waiting for his opponent, hit him in
the throat, which more than tickled him, and he
fell from its effects, to all appearance
extremely weak. (The odds now were out of
comparison: a guinea to half-a-crown was
offered.)
17.—Lee went to the ground on the first blow.
18.—Mere flourishing-the men closed and fell.
19.—Harry, quite gay, tried what effect another
rally might produce; but Mendoza’s sagacity
rendered the attempt futile. He gave Lee a
desperate blow upon the chin, which not only cut
it severely, but sent him under the ropes.
20.—Mendoza laughing at the insufficiency of his
opponent’s attempts—who now appeared quite
passionate—stopped Harry’s blows with the
greatest _sang froid_. In closing, both went to
the ground.
21.—Dan gave Lee so severe a body hit that it
instantly floored him. (All betters, no takers.)
22.—As Mendoza made himself up to strike his
opponent, Lee fell. (Cries of “Foul!”)
23.—Of no consequence-both closed and fell.
24.—Lee, still fond of rallying, tried it on;
but Mendoza hit him away easily, and Lee slipped
down.
25.—Mendoza, as if expecting Lee would rally
again, was perfectly prepared for the attempt.
Lee went in, and got punished right and left,
finally going to the ground, much exhausted.
26.—Dan, full of spirits and vigour, as soon as
Lee stood up gave him a floorer.
27.—Lee, in making a hit, lost his distance and
fell.
28.—This was a most singular round. Harry went
in to his opponent, and by main force threw him
down by the arm.
29.—A rally on both sides—Lee, undismayed, put
in several hits: in the close Mendoza was
uppermost.
30.—The science of Dan was truly conspicuous, he
stopped every blow; but happening to slip, Lee
put in some facers as Mendoza was going down.
31.—Of no note whatever.
32.—Dan appeared rather fatigued, in making a
blow he went down upon his knees.
33.—Lee now endeavoured to show that his spirits
were in good trim, and made the best use of his
knowledge, which was by no means mediocre; but
it was in vain: his heart was better than his
skill, and Dan milled him down.
34.—Both the combatants fought well; but the
turn was in Dan’s favour.
35.—Mendoza sent Lee under the ropes, from a
well-directed blow.
36.—Dan repeated the dose.
37. 38, 39.—In all these rounds the superiority
of Mendoza was manifest: Dan stopped and hit as
he pleased.
40.—Mendoza punished Lee’s ribs severely; he
fell from the effects of the blows.
41.—Lee was now becoming much exhausted: he fell
from a mere touch.
42.—Lee began to be convinced that the chances
were against him; his exertions were on the
decline. Mendoza did as he pleased, and closed
the round by throwing him.
53.—For the last ten rounds Lee had not the
smallest prospect of success; still his game
prompted him to continue the fight in hopes
that some lucky chance might offer; but having
fallen a second time without a blow, Mendoza
was declared the conqueror.
The amateurs were completely surprised at the protraction of the above
fight, for one hour and ten minutes. It is certain that Lee was not
equal to the task of encountering so experienced and finished a pugilist
as Mendoza; but it is equally true that his conduct was entitled to
honourable mention; and, considering it was his first appearance in the
ring, Lee acquitted himself in a superior manner. That he was not
wanting either in courage or resolution was evident; and his scientific
efforts, in several instances, were entitled to much praise; indeed, he
eradicated the prevalent idea that he was nothing more than a sparrer.
Among the amateurs present the reporter enumerates, Lords Albemarle and
Seften, Count Beaujolais, Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, Sir John Shelley,
Sir Eden Nagle, Captain Halliday, Squire Thornhill, General Keppel,
Messrs. Baxter, Fletcher Reid, Bagley, Challis, Robert Allen, etc.
Year after year we find “Ould Dan,” with an eye to business, making
tours and exhibiting the “noble art,” of which he was unquestionably a
talented demonstrator. In the summer of 1819, Dan made a most successful
sparring tour, and we find him at Lincoln issuing a hand-bill, of which
the following is an extract:—
“Mr. Mendoza has the authority of members of the Senate and Judges on
the Bench in asserting the tendency of the practice of boxing to prevent
the more fatal resort to the knife or other deadly weapons. To gentlemen
it may prove more than an exercise or an amusement, by initiating them
in the principles of a science by which the skilful, though of inferior
strength, may protect themselves from the ruffian assault of the
powerful vulgar, or save their friends and those who are defenceless
from insult and imposition.”
We have already had occasion to observe the rarity of men believing in
the decline of their own physical capabilities; and Mendoza,
unfortunately, must be added to the list of those who, in the words of
Captain Godfrey, when speaking of Broughton, allow their “valour” so far
to get the upper hand of their “discretion” as to “trust a battle to
waning age.” But other men, as well as pugilists, are guilty of this
mistake: we shall not therefore dwell upon it further than to say that
Dan ended his career, like so many other celebrated men, in defeat,
though by no means in disgrace.
In July, 1820, being fourteen years from his last appearance within the
roped ring, Mendoza met Tom Owen, in a contest for fame and 50 guineas.
The battle arose from an old grudge; and although no one can doubt the
game of Tom Owen, as we shall duly note in our memoir of that boxer, yet
the frothy outpourings of the “Historian” in honour of his friend “Tom,”
and at the expense of Mendoza,[56] are as bad in taste as they are
extravagant in phrase. Be that as it may, Dan was defeated, and we need
hardly add it was his “last appearance” within the ropes, though not
“upon any stage,” the Fives Court being occasionally illuminated by his
displays. In August, 1820, he made an “appeal” to the amateurs for “past
services” to the pugilistic state, and delivered the subjoined address,
which breathes a tone of reproach to the boxers as well as gratitude to
his patrons:—
“GENTLEMEN,—I return you my most sincere thanks for the patronage you
have afforded me to-day, and likewise for all past favours. To those
persons who have set-to for me to-day, I also acknowledge my gratitude;
and their services will never be forgotten by me. Gentlemen, after what
I have done for the pugilists belonging to the prize ring, I do say they
have not used me well upon this occasion; in fact, the principal men
have deserted me _in toto_. Gentlemen, I think I have a right to call
myself the father of the science; for it is well known that prize
fighting lay dormant for several years after the time of Broughton and
Slack. It was myself and Humphries that revived it in our three contests
for superiority, and the science of pugilism has been highly patronised
ever since. (Hear, hear, from some old amateurs.) Gentlemen, I have once
more to thank you for the present, and all other past favours; nay,
more, I now take my leave of you, and I trust that I shall never trouble
you for another benefit. (Applause.) I have now only to say—Farewell.”
From this period Dan’s life no longer belongs to the history of the
ring. We may, however, observe that for several years he supported a
large family, a wife and eleven children, as a publican, keeping the
Admiral Nelson, in Whitechapel. He died on the 3rd of September, 1836,
among his “peoplesh” in the East, in the region where he had been so
long the milling star, at the advanced age of 73.
Mendoza was, in company, a shrewd, intelligent, and communicative man.
As a scientific professor of the art of self-defence it was Mendoza who
trod most immediately in the steps of Broughton. His success as a
professor was unrivalled; and there was scarcely a town in the kingdom
where he did not exhibit his finished talents to admiring and applauding
assemblages. It seems, from a work we have before us, published by
Mendoza himself, and containing much forgotten squabbling between
himself and Humphries, that he derived his first knowledge of the art,
scientifically, from his elegant competitor, “the Gentleman Boxer.” But
he so rapidly improved upon his master’s system as to stand for years
without a rival. No man of his time united the _theory_ of sparring with
the _practice_ of boxing so successfully as Daniel Mendoza; and hence,
as a distinctive feature, the “School of Mendoza” marks a period in the
HISTORY OF PUGILISM.
CHAPTER II.
RICHARD HUMPHRIES, “THE GENTLEMAN BOXER”—1784‒1790.
The popular cognomen of the “Gentleman Boxer” may give the cue to the
prepossessing appearance, quiet self-possession, and amenity of manners,
which contemporary writers agree in attributing to Richard Humphries.
“His attitudes,” says the author of “Sketches and Reminiscences,”
already quoted, “were remarkable for their impressive grace;” of course
according to the taste of the old school. We doubt if modern
cognoscenti, as they inspect our faithful copy of a contemporary
engraving, will endorse the opinion; but, as the Latin poet told us two
thousand years ago, “times change, and men change with them:”[57] though
we must admit that our progress has brought improvement.
Humphries was about the middle size, 5 feet 8 inches, well-limbed, and
had practised boxing to great advantage. He was apt and ready; his blows
were effective; and his aims at the “mark,” or wind, and under the ear,
are talked of by contemporaries. Contrary to our modern notions,
Humphries puzzled his antagonists by hitting with his right at leading
off, and stopping with his left. He did not, however, like Mendoza, use
both hands with equal facility. His game was unquestionable, and he was
justly esteemed a model of pugilistic excellence. He was so attractive
as to give a new and increased impetus to the art of self-defence; and
on the public announcement that “the Gentleman Boxer” would fight Samuel
Martin, the Bath Butcher, on a stage at Newmarket, on the 3rd of May,
1786, the battle was attended by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of
Wales and Duke of York (_arcades ambo_), the Dukes of Orleans and De
Fitzjames, and most of the French nobility then in England, with a crowd
of the best and bravest of the land. A guinea was the admission-fee,
which hundreds cheerfully paid, to go to the winner, and between £30,000
and £40,000 awaited the wager of battle.
Sam Martin[58] was a boxer of some repute, shorter than Humphries,
strongly made, a little heavier, and had seen some service in the field
of battle. The set-to was remarkable for science, Humphries parrying
Martin’s attacks with singular adroitness, and standing up to Martin
manfully. Martin seemed deficient in distance, and occasionally fell;
hence his deliveries were ineffective. Humphries retained his position
of favourite. Martin, finding himself kept out of distance, went in
boldly. Humphries exchanged, and fought “with” his man, till the betting
became equal. Humphries appeared the stronger man, giving his opponent a
most tremendous knock down, which brought the odds to his favour.
Martin, notwithstanding, appeared game, and fought well, contesting
every inch of ground; and it was not until after a determined combat of
an hour and three quarters, (“Boxiana” states three quarters of an hour)
that Martin declared he had had enough. The distinguished company were
highly gratified, and Humphries won—“golden opinions from all sorts of
men.”
Numerous sporting men rallied round pugilism, and the professors of the
science were not without high and noble patrons. Royalty now frequently
witnessed the display of the art, accompanied by dukes, earls,
honourables, etc.; and men of the first distinction did not feel ashamed
of being seen in the ring, or acting as umpires at a manly boxing match.
The science, courage, and gentleman-like conduct of Humphries had
secured him many friends; and, with a mind by no means destitute of
intelligence, he could not fail in obtaining admiration and respect.
But, deservedly distinguished as Humphries stood in the boxing
hemisphere, a competitor arose to share his fame and glory, if not to
aspire to superiority. He was not only a daring, but a most formidable
rival, as his pretensions to pugilistic excellence were known to be
sound. He had been proved, and his displays of skill in trying conflicts
had made a deep impression upon the best judges. As there was beyond
this a personal jealousy and rivalry, there was little difficulty in
bringing together Daniel Mendoza and Richard Humphries.
We have already noticed the preliminary brush between the rivals at the
“Cock,” at Epping.
Preliminaries being agreed to, Odiham, in Hampshire, was fixed upon as
the place, and 400 guineas as the sum for which these masters of the art
should contend. A raised twenty-four feet stage was prepared, in a
paddock, and the door-money was to be divided between the combatants. On
the day (January 9, 1788) being announced, the anxiety which prevailed
upon the decision of this tourney was unprecedented. Odiham was then a
distance from town; it is now a steam steed’s “stride.” Everybody was
there, for Humphries and Mendoza were to fight. In the towns and
villages near the scene of action, the country people were equally
interested, and innumerable pedestrians were seen in all directions
moving towards the fight, so that within an hour previous to the battle
the multitude collected was truly astonishing. To prevent the combatants
from being bilked of the door-money (which was half a guinea each), the
most athletic of the milling _corps_ were selected for the protection of
the entrance, and the potent arms of Dunn, Ryan, Warr, and Tring,
assisted by other powerful pugilists, kept for some time order in the
crowd. But, as the time drew near for the combatants to mount the stage,
John Bull’s anxiety increased beyond every other thought; and, with one
desperate effort, the “majesty of the people,” like a mighty flood,
swept all before it. The door-keepers were soon lost in the violence of
the torrent, and thousands never gave themselves the trouble of asking
the price of admission. All was noise, uproar, and confusion, for some
minutes; but upon the appearance of the combatants their attention was
so completely riveted that silence instantly prevailed.
According to our practice, whenever procurable we quote the report:—
“About one o’clock on Wednesday (January 9th, 1788), Humphries ascended
the stage amid the cheers of the spectators, attended by Tom Johnson as
his second, Tom Tring as his bottle-holder, and Mr. Allen as his chosen
umpire. After bowing to all around, he proceeded to strip. His dress,
when prepared for the contest, was a pair of fine flannel drawers, white
silk stockings with gold-coloured clocks, pumps, and black shoe-ribands.
While Humphries was preparing, Mendoza mounted the stage, and was
received with reiterated plaudits. His second was David Benjamin; his
bottle-holder, Jacobs, both Jews; and his umpire, Mr. Moravia. Mendoza’s
dress was more plain than his opponent’s.
“In a few minutes the combatants were prepared for the onset, shook
hands, and immediately Mendoza assumed his attitude with the air of a
man determined on victory. Humphries appeared astonished, and both
remained in serious expectation for some minutes before a blow was
offered. Mendoza struck first, but recoiling, slipped and fell;
Humphries caught it, and retreated. The second blow Mendoza gave his
opponent brought him down, and in the next round they closed, and
Mendoza threw his adversary. For full fifteen minutes did Mendoza attack
with such violence and superiority, that the odds, which at the
beginning were two to one against him, changed considerably in his
favour; and during this time Humphries had many falls, but still
remained undaunted.
“Whether the defensive mode of fighting adopted by Humphries in his
first onset was manœuvre, or the _nouvelle_ style in which he was
attacked, and the unexpected vigour of his antagonist, made him give
way, cannot but remain a matter of dispute. At the commencement of the
battle Mendoza drove him to the side of the rail, and, while his body
was suspended, aimed a blow at the bottom of his ribs, which undoubtedly
would have decided the battle, had not Johnson caught it. Mendoza’s
friends immediately exclaimed, ‘foul, foul;’ but the umpires decided
Johnson was perfectly justified in acting as he had done, for that
Humphries must be considered as being knocked down.[59]
“From the wetness of the day, the stage was extremely slippery, and this
was particularly unfavourable to Humphries: he therefore took off his
shoes; but silk stockings were ill calculated to remedy the
inconvenience, and he afterwards put on a pair of worsted stockings, in
which he stood more firm, and began to manifest great superiority.
Having very much recovered himself, he stood up to his antagonist, and
with great dexterity threw Mendoza, pitching him on the face, which cut
his forehead above the right eye, and very much bruised his nose. From
this moment odds changed again in favour of Humphries. He threw in a
blow near the loins of his antagonist, and in the next round planted a
most severe one in the neck. In this round Mendoza also struck him in
the face; but slipping, he fell with his leg under him, sprained his
foot, and immediately gave in: he shortly after fainted, and was carried
off the stage.
“The contest lasted twenty-nine minutes (twenty-eight minutes fifty-four
seconds), and it was acknowledged there never was more skill and science
displayed in any boxing match in this kingdom.
“Mr. Bradyl, Humphries’ patron, not being on the ground, he immediately
forwarded to him the result in the following laconic style:—
“SIR,—I have done the Jew, and am in good health.
“RICHARD HUMPHRIES.”
The Israelites were severe sufferers; but although Mendoza was defeated,
his fame and character as a pugilist were considerably increased. His
style of fighting was highly spoken of by the scientific; and at close
quarters, and as a quick hitter, he was evidently superior to his
antagonist. The advantage was also upon the side of Mendoza in strength
of arm; and, when struggling to obtain the throw, he punished his
adversary considerably by keeping down his head. His guard was
excellent, and displayed a thorough knowledge of the art; in consequence
of keeping it closer to his body than that of his adversary, his blows
were given with more force when he hit out; and with respect to stopping
he was not inferior to Humphries. For elegance of position, cool and
prompt judgment, fortitude of manner, and force of blow, however, he was
thought much inferior. He wanted also that manly bearing which was so
apparent in Humphries, whose confidence rendered him so apparently
indifferent of self. In throwing, Mendoza, to the great surprise of
many, had the advantage.
Humphries’ attitudes were of the most manly and tasteful description,
and, even in the most trying moments of the fight, his postures were
considered graceful. His intellectual capacity had rendered him more
acquainted with the properties of the human frame than pugilists in
general; and his habits of life had tended to make him more conversant
and attractive in society than fighting men perhaps think essentially
necessary. His manners were conciliatory, and he endeavoured through
life to enact the gentleman. His friends were materially increased by
such conduct.
It was extremely difficult to decide which was the neatest pugilist; so
much activity, science, elegance, and courage, were displayed upon both
sides, though extremely different as to character and manner: but it
appeared that Humphries, in the defensive position, although he kept his
adversary at a distance by extending his arms, lost that celerity and
power which his hits might have possessed had his arms been nearer his
body.
Thenceforward, the pugilistic career of Humphries was a fruitless
attempt to prevent his victor’s wreath from falling into the hands and
adorning the brow of his able Israelitish rival. Twice did he do all
that man can do—his best—to stem the advancing tide of fate, but in
vain. How he struggled is already written in the memoir of MENDOZA.
Humphries lived for many years after their last contest (September 29th,
1790), and died in respectable circumstances, his calling being that of
a coal-merchant in the Adelphi, Strand.
CHAPTER III.
MR. JOHN JACKSON—1788‒1795.
In penning the History of Pugilism, one object has been our polestar—a
desire on the one hand to avoid fulsome adulation, and, on the other,
never to cast undeserved censure: to “nothing extenuate, nor set down
aught in malice,” but to speak of men as they were, and as their actions
proved them.
These remarks appear appropriate to a notice of John Jackson, inasmuch
as, blinded by early prejudices, which no after information has tended
to dispel, and imposed upon by the contemptible sophisms and paltry
libels of lily-livered scribes, who “earn their dirty pay” by pandering
to what they suppose the taste of the reading public, no small
proportion of that public has taken it for granted that pugilism and
blackguardism are synonymes. It is as an antidote to these slanderers
that we pen a candid history of the boxers; and, taking the general
habits of men of humble origin (elevated by their courage and bodily
gifts to be the associates of those more fortunate in worldly position),
we fearlessly maintain that the best of our boxers (we take no account
of outsiders, inasmuch as they have no claim to the designation,)
present as good samples of honesty, generosity of spirit, goodness of
heart, and humanity, as an equal number of men of any class of society.
But the manly art of self-defence—one of the most generous, noble, and
national traits of the English character—has never lacked detractors.
The mean-spirited, the treacherous, and the cruel can never be its
admirers. But does it appear that the mind is debased from witnessing
such public displays? would the usages of society be infringed upon if
such exhibitions were legalised? Are the feelings of men so blunted from
these specimens of hardihood and valour, as to prevent them from
fulfilling those public situations in life which many are called upon to
perform, with fidelity, justice, and reputation? We reply, no! and
experience corroborates our assertion. Were it otherwise, we should
admit pugilism to be a disgrace to the country where it is permitted,
and boxers obnoxious to society.
The “great moralist,” Samuel Johnson, surely saw the rough side of
pugilism in his day; yet we read in his works, “Courage is a quality so
necessary for maintaining virtue, that it is always respected, even when
found associated with vice.” Without accepting the corollary of the
ponderous Doctor, himself—as in the case of the brewer’s servant in
Fleet Street, and of Davies, the bookseller in Covent Garden—a practical
exponent of the _ars pugnandi_, we are ready to appeal to the readers of
these pages, whether courage of the highest order, in the case of the
leading pugilists, is not associated with forbearance, humanity, and
active benevolence?
One of the most respected public characters in the early part of this
century, whose patriotic attention to the preservation and due
administration of the laws; whose firmness in supporting, upon all
occasions, the liberty of the subject; whose dignity and consistency of
conduct in representing the first city in the world in Parliament; and
who filled the office of Lord Mayor of London, with honour to himself,
and advantage to his fellow citizens, was an ardent and firm patron of
pugilism, and “a friend” of John Jackson. We allude to Harvey Christian
Coombe, Esq., whose name never suffered the slightest tarnish from his
patronage of the Old English custom of boxing in the early part of his
life; but, through a long and distinguished career, proved his
pretensions so clearly to the character of a real Englishman, an honest
citizen, and an independent senator, that in 1816 he was returned a
fourth time as member for the City of London.
Another member of the senate, whose enlightened mind, classical
acquirements, and transcendent talents, shone at a time when wits and
orators were rife in St. Stephen’s Chapel, was the friend of John
Jackson, and of pugilism. To a mind stored with ancient and modern
literature, conversant with popular recreations in all their gradations,
from the rusticity of a cudgelling bout at a country fair to an _assaut
d’armes_ in the aristocratic fencing-school, the Right Hon. William
Windham added a true English spirit of fair play, when he thus publicly
declared his sentiments:—“A smart contest this, between Maddox and
Richmond! Why are we to boast so much of the native valour of our
troops, as shown at Talavera, at Vimiera, and at Maida, yet to
discourage all the practices and habits which tend to keep alive the
same sentiments and feelings?” The sentiments that filled the minds of
three thousand spectators who witnessed those two pugilists were the
same in kind as those which inspired the higher combatants on that
occasion. It is the circumstances only in which they are displayed that
make the difference.
‘He that the world subdued, had been
But the best wrestler on the green.’
[Illustration:
MR. JOHN JACKSON, 1798.
_From an original Painting in possession of_ SIR HENRY SMYTHE, Bart.
]
There is no sense in the answer always made to this, ‘Are no men brave
but boxers?’ Bravery is found in all habits, classes, circumstances, and
conditions. But have habits and institutions of one sort no tendency to
form it more than another? Longevity is found in persons of habits the
most opposite; but are not certain habits more favourable to it than
others? The courage does not arise from mere boxing, from the mere
beating, or being beat, but from the sentiments excited by the
contemplation and cultivation of such practices. “Will it make no
difference in the mass of people, whether their amusements are all of a
pacific, pleasurable, and effeminate nature; or whether they are of a
sort that calls forth a continued admiration of prowess and hardihood?”
A slight anecdote, apropos of the prevalence of the taste for the use of
the “muffles,” as boxing-gloves were then called, will take us back to
the days when Vauxhall was in the height of its splendour. Old Tyers,
then the proprietor of the Gardens, had commissioned Hayman, the
painter, to panel the “Hall of British Worthies” with portraits of the
heroes of our land. The gallant and good-natured Marquis of Granby was
waited upon by Tyers, with a request that he would honour Hayman with a
sitting. In consequence, the hero of Minden dropped in at the artist’s
studio in St. Martin’s Lane. “But, Frank,” said the peer, “before I sit
to you, I insist upon having a set-to with you.” Hayman, astonished at
the oddity of the observation, affected not to understand his visitor,
whereupon the Marquis exclaimed, “I have been told that you are one of
the last boxers of the school of Broughton, and I flatter myself not
altogether deficient in the pugilistic art; but since I have been in
Germany I have got out of practice, therefore I want a little trial of
your skill.” Hayman pleaded age and gout as obstacles to his consent. To
the first the Marquis replied, “There was very little difference between
them; and to the second, that he considered exercise as a specific
remedy,” adding, laughing, “besides, a few rounds will cause a glow of
countenance that will give animation to the canvass.” Hayman no longer
resisted; the gloves were donned, and to it they went. After a good
display of strength and science, Hayman delivered such a straight hit in
the “breadbasket,” that down they both went with a tremendous crash.
This brought up stairs the affrighted Mrs. Hayman, who found the
academician and commander-in-chief rolling over each other on the carpet
like two unchained bears. Frank, who was a humourist and _bon vivant_,
often narrated this anecdote of the nobleman,
“Who filled our sign-posts then as Wellesley now,”
over a social glass at his own and his friends’ merry meetings.
We cannot but think the reader will consider these slight notices of how
our fathers viewed the science of self-defence—now, for a season only,
as we trust, “fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf”—as a fitting
preface to the life of Jackson, who flourished in the palmy days of
pugilism; one of “nature’s gentlemen,” who not only supplanted Mendoza,
but took a higher position in the social scale than any boxer who
preceded or followed him, no less from the firmness and urbanity of his
manners, than the high requisites he possessed for shining as an
athlete.
John Jackson was born in London, in 1768, and was the son of an eminent
builder, by whom the arch was thrown over the Old Fleet Ditch, near the
mouth of the River Fleet, flowing from the Hampstead and Highgate Hills,
and crossed by bridges at Holborn and Ludgate. This forms the great
sewer of Blackfriars from the north into the new Low Level, over which
run Farringdon Street (the site of the old Fleet Market), and Bridge
Street, leading to the splendid bridge by Cubitt, with its ugly iron
companion carrying the L. C. & D. R. John Jackson’s uncles were farmers,
and tenants of the Duke of Bedford and the Marquis of Hertford. Nature
had bestowed upon him all those athletic requisites which constitute the
_beau ideal_ of perfect manhood. There was a happy combination of
muscular development with proportionate symmetry in his frame (his
height was five feet eleven, and his weight fourteen stone), which
rendered him a fitting model for the sculptor, and excited the
admiration of all those by whom these qualities are appreciated. At the
age of nineteen he became a frequenter of the sparring schools, and
displayed such talents as proved that he was destined to eclipse the
most favoured of his cotemporaries; added to which, possessing as he did
the _suaviter in modo_ as well as the _fortiter in re_, he soon found
patrons of the highest grade.
It is stated that a conversation with Colonel Harvey Aston[60] led to
his first encounter in the prize ring. Fewterel, a Birmingham boxer, as
yet unbeaten, had been the conqueror, says “Pancratia,” in eighteen
battles. The meeting took place at Smitham Bottom, near Croydon, June
9th, 1788. We copy the report.
“This day there were decided three boxing matches, which had been long
depending, and great bets were depending on. The first was between
Jackson, a fine young man of nineteen years only, and Fewterel,[61] of
Birmingham. Tom Johnson seconded Jackson, and Bill Warr, Fewterel;
Humphries and Dunn were the bottle-holders. Fewterel is a man of
extremely great bulk, so much so that, at first setting-to, it was
doubted whether Jackson would ever level such an opponent. Yet this he
never failed to do when he could plant his blows at distance. The
contest lasted one hour and seven minutes; its decision being very much
procrastinated by Fewterel fighting shifty, getting down to avoid a
blow, and then remaining so long on the floor as often to require the
interposition of the umpires to remind his seconds of ‘time.’ Fewterel
at last gave up the contest, and Major Hanger, by command of the Prince
of Wales, who was present, gave young Jackson a bank note.”[62]
Jackson’s next contest (March 12th, 1789) was with George Ingleston, the
brewer. It closed by an untoward accident, by which Jackson broke the
small-bone of his leg, as will be seen under the head of Ingleston, in
the Appendix to Period II.
Jackson’s next contest was one of the greatest interest to the
pugilistic world. The victories of Mendoza had placed him on the
pinnacle of fame; and the attempt to defeat the conqueror of Sam Martin,
of Humphries (twice), of Bill Warr (twice), to say nothing of minor
boxers, was viewed as indeed a bold flight of young ambition. On April
15th, 1795, the men met at Hornchurch, in Essex, for a stake of 200
guineas aside. We copy the contemporary report:—
“A twenty-four feet stage was erected in a most advantageous hollow,
which accommodated upwards of three thousand spectators, and so
excellently adapted that no one could claim a superiority of situation.
All the eminent patrons and amateurs were present: the Duke of Hamilton,
Lord Delaval, Sir John Phillipson, Mr. Clark, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Lee, Mr.
Fawcett, etc.; and among the pugilists of note were Jackling, Will Warr
and Joe Warr, George the Brewer, Tom Tyne, Fearby (the Young Ruffian),
etc.
“At one o’clock Mendoza mounted the spot of combat, accompanied by his
second, Harry Lea, and Symonds (the Old Ruffian), as his bottle-holder.
Jackson immediately followed, with Tom Johnson as his second, and Wood,
the coachman, for his bottle-holder. The chosen umpires were Mr.
Alexander and Mr. Allen.
“They each politely bowed to the people, and were received with general
acclamations. About five minutes after one they, as usual, saluted each
other by shaking hands, and immediately set-to. Bets five to four in
favour of Mendoza.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Both having assumed their attitude,
displayed the greatest caution; full a minute
expired before a blow was struck, when Jackson
made a hit, and his antagonist fell.
2.—Mendoza guarded with great science, avoided
the blows of his opponent, and put in several
severe ones.
3.—In this round there was much hard fighting.
Odds rose two to one in favour of Mendoza, but
the round terminated by Mendoza falling.
4.—This was the most severely contested round
throughout the battle. Jackson seemed to hold
his opponent’s manœuvres in contempt, followed
him up with great resolution, and put in some
dreadfully severe blows, by the last of which
Mendoza fell, and his right eye was much cut;
Jackson now evidently had the advantage.
5.—In this round Jackson caught his opponent by
the hair, and holding him down, gave him several
severe blows, which brought him to the ground;
Mendoza’s friends called “foul,” but the umpires
decided on the contrary. Odds had now changed
two to one on Jackson.
6, 7, 8.—Throughout these three rounds Jackson
supported his superiority. Mendoza acted
entirely on the defensive.
9.—This was the last round. Jackson manifestly
displayed astonishing advantage; he several
times struck his adversary, when he fell quite
exhausted, and gave in.
The battle only lasted ten minutes and a-half,
and was acknowledged by every spectator to be
the hardest contested that ever was fought in so
short a time. Jackson was very little hurt,
leaping from the stage with great agility, but
Mendoza was quite cut up.
“A subscription purse was made and fought for between a Jew called Black
Baruk, who was seconded by Symonds (the Old Ruffian), and Burk a
glass-blower, seconded by James the waterman. It was very well contested
for half an hour, when a dispute arose about a foul blow, and it was
terminated by sharing the money between them.”
Nearly seven years after his combat with Mendoza, a “gag” paragraph
having appeared in the newspaper, announcing a forthcoming fight as in
arrangement between Mendoza and Jackson, the latter inserted the
following letter to the Editor of the _Oracle and Daily Advertiser_ of
Wednesday, December 1, 1801:—
“SIR,—I was somewhat astonished on my return to town on Saturday, to
learn that a challenge was inserted in your paper on Thursday last,
as if from Mr. Mendoza. Should I be right in my conclusion, by
believing that it came from that celebrated pugilist, I beg you will
inform the public through the medium of your paper, that for some
years I have entirely withdrawn from a public life, and am more and
more convinced of the propriety of my conduct by the happiness which
I enjoy in private among many friends of great respectability, with
whom it is my pride to be received on terms of familiarity and
friendship: goaded, however, as I am to a petty conflict, I hope
that it will not be considered too much arrogance on my part simply
to observe, that, after waiting for more than three years to accept
the challenge of any pugilist, however dexterous in the science, and
however highly flattered by his friends, I think it rather
extraordinary that Mr. Mendoza should add a silence of four years to
those three, it being nearly seven years since I had the
satisfaction of chastising him; but Mr. Mendoza derived one great
good from the issue of that contest—he was taught to be less hasty
in forming his resolutions, more slow in carrying them into effect.
“This cautious and wise principle of action deserves much
commendation; and having served an apprenticeship of seven years to
learn a certain portion of artificial courage, he now comes forward
with a stock of impudence (the only capital which during that time
he seems to have acquired) to force me to appear once more in that
situation which I have for years cheerfully avoided.
“Reluctant, however, as I am to attract again, even for a moment,
the public attention, I shall have no objection to vindicate my
character by a meeting with Mr. Mendoza when and where he pleases,
provided he’ll promise to fight, and provided he’ll also promise not
to give previous information to the magistrates at Bow Street, or
elsewhere.
“I am, Sir, yours and the public’s most respectfully,
“JOHN JACKSON.”
_Nov. 20, 1801._
Need we say that this was on the part of Mendoza a mere piece of that
absurd system of gagging then so much in vogue, and on which we have
elsewhere commented.
Independent of his pugilistic prowess, Mr. Jackson was distinguished for
his extraordinary powers as a runner of a short distance, and as a
leaper no man of his day was equal to him at a standing jump, of which
many extraordinary feats are on record. His muscular strength was equal
to his bodily activity, and in the presence of Mr. Harvey Coombe, and
other gentlemen, he lifted ten hundred weight and one quarter, and wrote
his own name with eighty-four pounds weight suspended from his little
finger!
One of the most able and experienced sporting writers, the late Vincent
George Dowling, Esq., the founder, and for more than thirty years the
editor of _Bell’s Life in London_, has left on record a graceful tribute
to the memory of his friend of many years, John Jackson, in the form of
an obituary notice. From this we shall here make a few extracts.
“John Jackson was an instance of the glorious truth which this country
is constantly evolving—that if a man be true to himself, he may defy the
obloquy and malice of millions. No matter in what grade of life a
creature be thrown; no matter whether from necessity or choice he
mingles with the learned or the illiterate, the high or the low; give
him the attribute of genius, or, if that be denied, honesty and
perseverance, and he must distinguish himself. The choice of a
profession is the puzzle of boyhood—be it so. _A profession never
degraded a man, if that man took care not to degrade his profession._”
This last axiom deserves to be written in letters of adamant; it
contains the philosophy we hope to inculcate by our pages. Mr. Dowling
continues: “As there always have been, and always will be, ruffians
loose upon society, who can only be met and quelled by the arguments
such brutes can appreciate; and as
“Heads, nineteen in twenty, ’tis confest,
Can feel a crabstick quicker than a jest,”
it is essential that boxing, as an art, should not fall into
desuetude. It empowers the little man to defend himself against the
big one; makes the weaker man, to a considerable extent, able to
protect himself against the onset of the stronger one, and, in some
cases, to punish his want of skill and his presumption. Doubtless much
has been done in our great cities by gas and an improved police; but
even now things do occasionally occur to call upon every man to know
how with his own hands to defend his own head, or, what is doubtless
of more consequence, the heads of those near and dear to him, or under
his protection. Such a power is a _corps de reserve_, which, though it
_may_ never be called into action, it is valuable and assuring to
possess. So thought our grandfathers, so thought our grandfathers’
fathers in the days of Fielding. Boxing, to a gentleman, was a more
modern and practical application of knight-errantry; it enabled a man
to protect himself against aggression, and yet more, to defend an
insulted woman. ‘Good,’ exclaims the anti-pugilist, ‘but what say you
to the prize-fighter?’ The response is plain: He is the exemplar, the
professor, the demonstrator of a practice, of an exercise. Could or
can the sword or the bow be taught without professors, and can they
teach without exemplifying?” * * * After a few facts, which will be
found embodied in our Memoir, Mr. Dowling concludes: “From 1785, Mr.
Jackson ceased to be a public pugilist, having fought but three
battles, winning two, and not gaining (for it cannot be called losing)
the third by an accident. On what basis, then, rests his fame as a
thoroughly tried boxer? On none whatever; the pedestal of his
popularity was conduct, the keystone to fortune in every grade of
life. There is a singular similarity in the career of John Jackson and
John Gully: the latter fought but thrice, was beaten once, won the
other two, and then retired to enjoy a better fortune in a higher
sphere of society.”
Ere quitting the mere active sporting career of Mr. Jackson, it may be
as well to state that as a runner his speed was extraordinary, but he
could not last: he also excelled as a jumper until the celebrated
Ireland “took the shine out of all England.”
The opening of “Jackson’s Rooms, 13, Old Bond Street,” was literally an
era in the gymnastic education of the aristocracy. Not to have had
lessons of Jackson was a reproach. To attempt a list of his pupils would
be to copy one-third of the then peerage. Byron, who was proud of being
thought a pugilist, has in his correspondence spoken highly of his
tutor; but the fact is, from lameness, the poet could neither hit nor
stop effectively. When Jackson taught the author of “Childe Harold,” he
was forty-four, Byron about twenty-three; the latter therefore stood a
boy before a veteran. In a note to the 11th Canto of “Don Juan,” we find
this: “My friend and corporeal pastor and master, John Jackson, Esquire,
professor of pugilism, who I trust still retains the strength and
symmetry of his model of a form, together with his good humour, and
athletic as well as mental accomplishments.”
And in his diary we read:—“Jackson has been here; the boxing world much
as usual, but the club increases (_i.e._ Pugilistic Club). I shall dine
at Cribb’s to-morrow.”
He records going to this dinner thus: “Just returned from dinner with
Jackson (the Emperor of Pugilism), and another of the select, at
Cribb’s, the Champion’s.”
The next extract shows the author of “Childe Harold” actually in
training: “I have been sparring with Jackson for exercise this morning,
and mean to continue and renew my acquaintance with my muffles. My
chest, and arms, and wind are in very good plight, and I am not in
flesh. I used to be a hard hitter, and my arms are very long for my
height (5 feet 8¼ inches); at any rate exercise is good, and this the
severest of all; fencing and the broadsword never fatigued me half so
much.” This latter is dated the 17th of March, 1814.
“Got up, if anything, earlier than usual; sparred with Jackson _ad
sudorem_, and have been much better in health for many days.”
Byron kept at his work, for we find him writing thus on the 9th of
April, 1814: “I have been boxing for exercise for the last month daily.”
In returning to the younger days of the “finest formed man in Europe,”
we shall take the liberty of borrowing a graphic colloquial sketch from
the lips of a veteran: “There were the Lades, the Hangers, the Bullocks,
the Vernons, but give me Jack Jackson, as he stood alone amid the
throng. I can see him now, as I saw him in ’84, walking down Holborn
Hill, towards Smithfield. He had on a scarlet coat, worked in gold at
the buttonholes, ruffles, and frill of fine lace, a small white stock,
no collar (they were not then invented), a looped hat with a broad black
band, buff knee-breeches, and long silk strings, striped white silk
stockings, pumps, and paste buckles; his waistcoat was pale blue satin,
sprigged with white. It was impossible to look on his fine ample chest,
his noble shoulders, his waist, (if anything too small), his large, but
not too large hips (the fulcrum of the human form, whether male or
female), his limbs, his balustrade calf and beautifully turned but not
over delicate ankle, his firm foot, and peculiarly small hand, without
thinking that nature had sent him on earth as a model. On he went at a
good five miles and a half an hour, the envy of all men, and the
admiration of all women.”
As regards his face nature had not been bountiful; his forehead was
rather low, and the mode he wore his hair made it peculiarly so. His
cheek bones were high, and his nose and mouth coarse. His ears projected
too much from his head, but his eyes were eyes to look at rather than
look with; they were full and piercing, and formed a great portion of
his power as a pugilist—with them he riveted his men.
Anatomists of the first standing examined Jackson, and artists and
sculptors without number took sketches and models of his arm; but it was
the extraordinary proportion of the man throughout that formed the
wonder.
After 1795 Mr. Jackson resolved to teach others the art in which he
himself excelled. For an instructor he had that invaluable requisite,
temper; he was never too fast with his pupils. This made his initiatory
lessons tedious to young gentlemen who go ahead, and it may readily be
conceived that amid the aristocracy of England he had plenty of rough
assailants to deal with. But he was always on his guard; there was no
chance of rushing suddenly in and taking Jackson by surprise—he could
not be flurried. Amid the other qualifications he had studied Lavater,
and managed to reckon up his customers at first sight, and knew what he
had to trust to. It has been said “he defied any man to hit him;” this
is the truth, but not the whole truth—he defied any man to hit him
whilst he (Jackson) stood merely on the defensive; in a fight, of
course, it is impossible to avoid being hit.
“His sparring was elegant and easy. He was peculiarly light upon his
feet, a good judge of distance, and when he indulged his friends with a
taste of his real quality, the delivery of his blow was only observable
in its effect. It literally came like lightning, and was felt before it
was seen. Most big men are comparatively slow, but he was as rapid as
Owen Swift or Johnny Walker, and this, too, when upwards of fifty years
of age.
“Jackson not only told you what to do, but why you should do it; in this
essential point many capital instructors are and have been deficient.
The want of this power of explaining the purpose of an action made Young
Dutch Sam and Richard Curtis bad instructors, though they were finished
pugilists, and, which does not always follow, capital sparrers.
“Jackson was not unmindful of the fact that art never ends. If there was
anything new in the gymnastic, equestrian, or pedestrian way, there be
assured was Jackson; not merely witnessing the exhibition, but examining
the means by which the effects were produced. He was consequently often
at Astley’s and at the Surrey, when Ireland, the jumper, was there, and
knew all the famous fencers, funambulists, dancers, and riders of his
day, and his day was a long one.
“Of his private character, what can be said more than that all his
pupils became his friends. Save with Dan Mendoza, it is not known that
he ever had a quarrel. He was a careful man, not a mean man—saving, but
not penurious. It is to be remembered, too, from his peculiar situation,
continued calls were made upon his purse by the ruffianly and
profligate, who claimed a brotherhood that he utterly and properly
repudiated.”
In 1811, he procured a benefit at the Fives Court, in aid of the
subscription for the suffering Portuguese; it realised £114. Next year
he did the same for the British prisoners in France; this benefit
amounted to £132 6_s._ He also aided the benefit for the Lancashire
weavers (1826).
One old boxer (but who was not of Jackson’s day) pestered him
incessantly for money. “No,” said Jackson, “I’ll give you no money; but
you may go to the Horse and Groom, and you will find a clean bed, three
meals, and a pot of beer a day; stay there until matters mend.” The man
was thankful in the extreme; but a week had not elapsed ere he was found
in the taproom bartering his dinner for gin!
Of course a “lion” like Jackson could not avoid being made a “show” of
on particular occasions; accordingly, when the allied sovereigns were in
England, his aid was required. On the 15th of June, 1814, at the house
of Lord Lowther, in Pall Mall, a pugilistic fete came off in the
presence of the Emperor of Russia, Platoff, Blucher, etc. The display so
delighted those illustrious fighting men that it was resolved to carry
the thing out on a grander scale; accordingly, the King of Prussia, the
Prince Royal, Prince of Mecklenburg, and others assembled. Jackson,
Cribb, Belcher, Oliver, Painter, and Richmond, were the principal
performers. The foreign nobility now wanted a peep, and at Angelo’s
rooms some splendid displays took place. It was said that Jackson had
inoculated them with a pugilistic fever, but it is believed he never
obtained a single pupil from among them. If this be a fact, it is an
extraordinary one.
At the coronation of George the Fourth, 1821, Mr. Jackson was applied to
to furnish an unarmed force “to preserve order.” Cribb, Spring, Belcher,
Carter, Richmond, Ben Burn, Harmer, Harry Lee, Tom Owen, Joshua Hudson,
Tom Oliver, Harry Holt, Crawley, Curtis, Medley, Purcell, Sampson, and
Eales, with Jackson at their head, formed the corps, dressed as Royal
Pages.
One gold coronation medal was given to the boxers—they raffled for it at
a dinner. Tom Belcher won and wore it.
In 1822, a number of noblemen and gentlemen, admirers of the gymnastic
sports of their country, with a Royal Duke (Clarence) at their head,
presented John Jackson with a service of plate. The salver, which bears
the subjoined inscription, is of magnificent workmanship, weighing one
hundred and eighty-seven ounces.
THIS SALVER
(With other Plate),
_Was purchased by Subscriptions from_
A ROYAL DUKE
AND SEVERAL OF THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY,
And presented to
JOHN JACKSON, ESQ.,
_Under the Superintendence of the following Committee_:
The Most Noble the Marquis of | Admiral Tollemache,
Worcester, | Major General Barton, and
Henry Smith, Bart, M.P., | John Harrison, Esq.
Mr. Jackson had for many years been stakeholder, frequently referee, and
was always ready to go round personally to solicit a subscription for
the beaten man—and who could refuse John Jackson? A match was made in
1822, between Randall and Martin for 500 guineas a side, but Mr. Elliot,
Martin’s backer, “cried for his toy again,” in fact, demanded his money
back. Mr. Jackson declared he would never again be a stakeholder, and he
kept his word. Thus virtually he retired from the ring, and from that
moment the ring declined. Its progress downwards has been checked, now
and then, by men of good conduct, and battles of great interest. Spring
and Langan (1824) revived the hopes of many. Dutch Sam from 1827 to
1839, rallied a few of the right sort around him, so did Burn and Owen
Swift. A sort of reaction took place when Broome fought Bungaree;
another, when Caunt fought Bendigo; again on the occasion of the great
resultless battle of Farnborough between Sayers and Heenan in 1861; and
lastly, the Benicia Boy’s pulley-hauley match with Tom King, awakened
attention; but down, down, down, the ring was doomed to go, and in 1879
we may safely say that in writing its later history we have penned its
epitaph. The management of fights fell into the hands of Jew speculators
in special railway trains, whose interest it became _not_ to allow the
announced battle to come off, and to repeat the process of plunder in
the shape of extortionately charged “excursion tickets,” at one to three
pounds each, until the fraud would no longer be submitted to.[63]
John Jackson lived for many years at the house in which he died, No. 4,
Lower Grosvenor Street West. The Old “Tattersall’s” may be said to have
divided his residence from that of another great artist, the late John
Liston. “It is with pleasing melancholy we remember,” says his old
friend Vincent Dowling, “the Yarmouths, the Coombes, the Lades, the
Ashtons, wending their way to the house of the one, while the Kembles,
with perhaps Charles Mathews and Charles Taylor, Theodore Hook and
Young, were standing in converse near, or visiting the low-roofed house
of the latter.”[64]
There is little more to say. Loved by many, respected by all, enjoying a
large circle of excellent society, John Jackson passed his later days.
Affluent, but not rich in the vulgar sense, he wanted less than he had,
and his income exceeded his expenditure. He was a cheerful companion,
sang a good song, told his anecdotes with great tact, and never obtruded
them. For the last year or two before his death his health declined, but
until then he rarely had a day’s illness. Peacefully and trustfully,
with his hand in that of his niece (whom he loved, and had assisted as a
daughter), John Jackson expired on the 7th of October, 1845, in the
seventy-seventh year of his age. His death was as calm and resigned as
his life had been exemplary.
The remains of John Jackson rest in Brompton Cemetery, beneath a
handsome monument, by Mr. Thomas Butler, of which we give a faithful
representation. On the side of the mausoleum nearest to the entrance is
inscribed on each side of a medallion portrait of the deceased:—
HERE LIE THE Born, Sept. 28,
REMAINS OF 1769,
JOHN JACKSON, Died, Oct. 7, 1845.
HIC VICTOR CÆSTUS
ARTEMQUE REPONO.
On the opposite side to the footpath is a nude gladiator, holding a
laurel wreath, and plunged in grief. On the top is a lion couchant, and
on the farther end we read the following:—
“Stay, traveller,” the Roman records said,
To mark the classic dust beneath it laid;—
“Stay, traveller,” this brief memorial cries,
And read the record with attentive eyes.
Hast thou a lion’s heart, a giant’s strength?
Exult not, for these gifts must yield at length.
Do health and symmetry adorn thy frame?
The mouldering bones below possessed the same.
Does love, does friendship every step attend?
This man ne’er made a foe, ne’er lost a friend.
But death too soon dissolves all human ties,
And, his last combat o’er, here Jackson lies.
THIS MONUMENT was erected by the subscriptions
of several noblemen and gentlemen,
to record their admiration of one
whose excellence of heart and incorruptible worth
endeared him to all who knew him.
[Illustration:
MONUMENT TO JOHN JACKSON IN BROMPTON CEMETERY.
THOMAS BUTLER, _Sculpsit_, 1847.
]
CHAPTER IV.
BILL HOOPER (THE TINMAN)—1789‒1797.
As a foil to the bright memoir of a high-minded, self-respecting, and
honoured athlete, we cannot better “point a moral” than by devoting a
brief chapter to the sudden rise and inglorious fall of the
“lion-hearted” boxer, known in the latter part of his career as “Bully
Hooper;” his story is a beacon of warning to the successful pugilist in
the day of his patronage, prosperity, and success.
William Hooper was born at Bristol in 1766, and previously to his
unfortunate connexion with the notorious Lord Barrymore, followed his
trade as a tinman in Tottenham Court Road, where he had the character of
a smart, industrious, well-behaved young man. His qualifications as a
pugilist were undoubted. Fear formed no part of his composition. His
confidence was innate; and neither the size nor strength of his
antagonist deterred him any more than a thorough-bred bull-dog would
calculate the bulk of his unwieldy bovine foe. Transplanted from making
saucepans to the festivities of Wargrave, and made the personal
companion of a _roué_ nobleman, he lost his head, as many better
nurtured men than poor Hooper have done. The transition from narrow
means and humble station made him insolent, overbearing, and
ostentatious, and finally the petted pugilist sunk into the ferocious
“bully,” thence from dissipation and violent excess into a shattered
human wreck, his melancholy end marked by poverty, desertion, and
disease.[65]
In person Hooper was compact and symmetrical. His shoulders and arms
were fine, his chest deep and broad; his height under five feet eight
inches, giving him the weight of 11 stone, showing him to have been
nowhere overloaded.
He is said to have fought “a number of good battles,” of which we have
no evidence, save Pierce Egan’s assertion, to set against the _per
contra_ of a contemporary, that he had “fought but twice before he met
Lord Barrymore’s man.” We suspect, however, an incidental trace of our
hero to lurk in the following paragraph at the end of the account of the
great battle between Tom Johnson and Ryan, at Cashiobury Park (see
_ante_, page 59).
“Two other battles were likewise fought on the 11th of February, 1789,
on the same stage. The first between Solly Sodicky, the Jew, and Wilson,
in which the Jew beat. The second was between the Welchman and _a
Tinman_, in which the former was cleverly defeated.” Be this as it may,
on the 19th of August, 1789, Hooper was matched with a local celebrity,
Bill Clarke, the plasterer, and the affair came off in Bloomsbury
Fields, a plot now covered with streets and squares, adjacent to
Tottenham Court Road, where Hooper exercised his vocation of a tinman.
The battle was obstinately contested, Clarke being a powerful man, but
the intuitive skill, activity, and courage of Hooper carried him
through, and his fame as a boxer spread.
Cotterel, the shoemaker, challenged Hooper for 10 guineas a side, and
they met on Barnet Common, September 5th, 1789. There was a numerous
assemblage, for Hooper was looked upon as something surprising, and was
seconded by Tom Johnson, the Champion, while Bill Warr picked up
Cotterel. Thirty-five minutes’ desperate fighting on the part of
Cotterel led to his utter defeat, and Hooper, little the worse for the
conflict, was proclaimed the conqueror.
A carpenter at Binfield Heath, of the name of Wright, having acquired
much fame in Berkshire for his fistic skill, was proposed by Lord
Falkland as a competitor for the Tinman, and Lord Barrymore, who had
witnessed Hooper’s prowess, at once accepted the cartel on Hooper’s
behalf, naming his own seat of Wargrave as the place of battle. Whatever
might have been Wright’s pretensions among the yokels, he made a poor
figure before Hooper, who fought with such skill and rapidity at his
opponent’s head, that in twenty minutes Wright[66] was all wrong, and so
punished as to be compelled to give in. This battle took place December
3, 1789.
Bob Watson, of Bristol, whom we shall have occasion to mention elsewhere
(see WATSON, Appendix to Period II.), was next introduced as an
antagonist for Hooper. This proved a most remarkable battle. The place
was Langley Close, near Salt Hill, in the neighbourhood of Windsor, and
the day February 17th, 1790. Bill Warr seconded, and Joe Ward was
bottleholder to Watson; Hooper was waited on by Tom Johnson and Butcher.
Major Churchill and Colonel Harvey Aston acted as umpires, but called in
a referee, owing to several differences of opinion during the prolonged
contest. In the third round the Tinman cleverly floored his opponent,
being the first knock-down blow; and this success he repeated in the
three following rounds: the odds were now high in favour of Hooper, and
continued to increase as the battle went on. Watson, though he could not
ward off Hooper’s attacks, proved thorough game, and rallied strongly at
the close of each bout. Two hours and a half, and one hundred rounds
were fought, not without several appeals as to Watson’s style of
delivering a blow and falling, and other unfair practices. Finally,
after Watson had been “seven times accused of striking unfairly,” Hooper
was acknowledged the victor.
Lord Barrymore’s increasing folly now led to Hooper being matched with
Brain (Big Ben). This mockery of boxing took place at Chapel Row Revel,
near Newbury, Berks, August 30th, 1790; night coming on, after three
hours and a half harlequinade by Hooper, it was declared “a drawn
battle!”[67] (See _ante_, p. 67).
This exhibition much tarnished the fame of Hooper, who was now the boon
companion of the depraved Lord Barrymore’s excesses, and for more than
two years he did not appear within the ropes, save in the capacity of a
second. As on one of these occasions we find him officiating for Bill
Treadway in a combat which brings under our notice the earliest record
of a black pugilist, we preserve the paragraph as we find it, under the
date of—
“June 13th, 1791. A pitched match was contested in Marylebone Fields,
between an excellent African pugilist and the well-known Treadway. Peter
Bath seconded the Black, and Hooper, the Tinman, his antagonist. The
battle lasted thirty-five minutes, when Treadway was carried senseless
from the field. During the combat the African showed great agility,
excellent bottom, and a thorough knowledge of the art, not to be
exceeded by the most skilful among the boxers.” This black diamond’s
name is not preserved.
In September, 1792 an announcement appeared in the _Chelmsford
Advertiser_ that two pugilistic contests would take place at Colchester
on the 4th of that month. “The grand jury who were at that time sitting,
addressed the mayor, recorder, and magistrates, expressing their wish
that they might not be permitted within the corporate jurisdiction. The
mayor accordingly, by the public wish, forbad the erection of any public
stage or any prize fight within the limits of his jurisdiction.”
In consequence of this notice, “orders were given for the erection of a
stage eighteen feet square at Bentley, about nine miles from
Colchester.”
On Thursday, September 4, 1792, the men met, according to arrangement,
and at four o’clock the first two combatants, Hooper, the Tinman, and
Bunner of Colchester, mounted the stage. Tom Johnson seconded Hooper,
with Sharp as bottle-holder. Bunner’s second was Williams, and his
bottle-holder Johnson’s old opponent Ryan. The stakes were 50 guineas a
side. Bunner, who was a young fellow of great strength and resolution,
began so vigorously that he bored down Hooper, and in the second round
closing upon him, brought him down heavily. The odds went up on Bunner,
and the Essex men were triumphant. Hooper found it would not do to
trifle with his opponent: he kept out, and displayed his superiority in
the art in great style, punishing his man sharply. In the sixth round,
however, Bunner fell by an overreach, and broke his right arm, thus
giving Hooper an easy conquest.[68]
George Maddox,[69] whose battle with the young Tom Cribb, has preserved
his name and memory, next challenged Hooper. They met for a stake of 50
guineas, at Sydenham Common, Kent, Monday, February 10, 1794. Tom
Johnson once more seconded Hooper; Maddox was attended by Joe Ward and
Bill Gibbons, the renowned of Westminster, as his bottle-holder. George
had proved himself a good man, and great expectations were entertained
of his ability to dispose of Hooper, who was much the lighter man.
Betting was five to four on Maddox. The Duke of Hamilton and a number of
the aristocratic patrons of pugilism were present. For the first three
or four rounds Maddox appeared to have the lead, and his friends were
confident. Hooper, however, met him with undaunted courage, hitting
straight, and putting in his blows with cutting severity. After three
quarters of an hour’s sharp fighting, Maddox fell off, while Hooper
increased in activity, and at the end of fifty-five minutes, Maddox gave
in with much reluctance, and the Tinman was hailed the victor.
So high had Hooper’s fame now risen that a match was made by his backer
in March, 1794, for him to fight the renowned Dan Mendoza on a
twenty-four foot stage, for 50 guineas within a month. Dan, however, was
not to be had at such a bargain. The Israelite preferred forfeiting his
friends’ £20 deposit to risking his reputation on such terms.
That determined boxer, Bill Wood[70] was anxious to try his abilities
with our hero. His friends assisted him with £50, and on Monday, June
22nd, 1795, they met and fought upon a stage erected on Hounslow Heath,
in the dangerous vicinity of the powder mills. At two o’clock the
combatants set-to. The contemporary accounts describe it as “a truly
desperate battle.” After the first few minutes, the odds rose five to
one, ten to one, and twenty to one on Wood. After fighting twenty-five
minutes, during which the punishment was heavy, Hooper levelled Wood
with a stupefying blow under the left ear. From this time Wood, though
he struggled gallantly, never entirely recovered, and the blow being
repeated, at the end of forty-eight minutes[71] Hooper was victorious.
Towards the close of the fight the odds had changed to twenty to one on
the Tinman. “The Duke of Hamilton, Colonel Hamilton, and a distinguished
party of amateurs were present,” says the chronicler of the day.
Hooper had now arrived at the summit of his success by the conquest of
so game and experienced a pugilist as Wood. His time had come to tread
the downward path that leads to the cold shade of poverty, disgrace, and
neglect. Within one year of his conquest of Wood his excesses and riot
began to tell on a constitution shaken by hard living, night-riot, and
debauchery, and Tom Owen,[72] a powerful young fellow, then known as
“the Fighting Oilman,” having been quarrelled with by Hooper, professed
his desire for a fight with “the Bully,” as he was now generally called.
Charley Coant, then a boxer of some note, forming a high opinion of Tom,
introduced him to Mr. John Jackson, and that good judge, approving the
new candidate for the honours of the P. R., obtained friends for “the
Young Oilman,” and a match was made for 100 guineas, which came off at
Harrow on the 14th of November, 1796. Owen proved himself a resolute and
steady fighter, and in the words of the reporter, “constantly kept a
straight guard of such prodigious strength that Hooper could never beat
it down, and very seldom put in a hit. Hooper, in striking a blow,
dislocated his shoulder, and being dreadfully bruised, gave in” after
fifty rounds of hard fighting. (See Life of TOM OWEN, _post_, p. 110).
As we have already said, Hooper was but a shadow of his former self;
luxury and debauchery had spoiled him.[73]
Few men are more obnoxious to the smiles and frowns of fickle fortune
than the pugilist: victory brings him fame, riches, and patrons; his
bruises are unheeded in the smiles of success; and, basking in the
sunshine of prosperity, his life passes pleasantly, till defeat comes,
and reverses the scene. Covered with aches and pains, distressed in mind
and body, assailed by poverty, wretchedness, and misery, friends forsake
him—his fame waxes dim—his character is suspected by the losers; no
longer the “plaything of fashion,” he flies to inebriation for relief,
and a premature death puts a period to his misfortunes. Thus it was with
Hooper: sheltered under the wings of nobility, he became pampered,
insolent, and mischievous. His courage was undoubted, and though his
frame was but small, it contained the heart of a lion; big men struck no
terror to his feelings, and he opposed them with all the hardihood of an
equal competitor, determined to conquer. Lord Barrymore, as already
noted, was fond of larking and practical jokes, and whenever he could
not come through the piece in style, Hooper appeared as his bully—his
name overawed, and many a time saved his patron a deserved thrashing.
One evening his Lordship took Hooper to Vauxhall, “disguised in liquor,”
yet farther disguised in band and cassock, as a clergyman. The visitors
discovered “the bully and his patron,” and after some rough handling,
they were summarily expelled from what Old Simpson, the M. C.,
grandiloquently termed “the Royal Property.” At length his lordship cast
him off, which, as he had cast himself away before, is not surprising.
Hooper soon afterwards became wretched, disease overtook him, repeated
intoxication brought him to the brink of the grave. One evening he was
found insensible on the step of a door in St. Giles’s, and conveyed to
the watch-house; on enquiring who he was, he could but faintly
articulate, “Hoop—Hoop—.” Being recognised as the miserable remnant of
that once powerful pugilistic hero, he was humanely taken to the
workhouse, where he immediately expired!—_Sic transit gloria athletæ!_
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V.
TOM OWEN—1796‒1799 (1820).[74]
Tom Owen, though living only in the memory of the present generation as
a landlord combining liquor and literature, some fancy, more fun, a
certain amount of old-school pugilism and much pretence, deserves a
niche in this period of the History of British Boxing.
True it is the clumsy bespattering of praise with which, in bad English
and worst taste, his name is loaded in “Boxiana,” may induce many of
better judgment to turn from his biography; yet is there enough to
furnish matter worthy the pen of the chronicler of deeds of courage and
of skill.
Tom Owen was a native of Hampshire, being born at Portsea, on the 21st
December, 1768.
Of the apocryphal rigmaroles which disfigure “Boxiana,” we shall not
condescend to take any account; suffice it to say, that after several
provincial encounters with the Smiths, Joneses, Greens, and Browns of
his vicinity, Tom Owen came to London, where he followed the occupation
of an oilman; a calling which the reader will perhaps condescend to
remember was much more followed than now; for, as Byron says, “in those
days we had not got to gas.”
A casual turn up caused an introduction to Mr. Jackson, who, perceiving
the germ of future greatness in Tom, took him in hand, and, fancying his
style, he was matched against the then celebrated Bully Hooper, for 100
guineas.
On the 14th, Nov., 1796, Owen met his formidable antagonist, who, it
must be remembered (with the exception of his draw with Big Ben) was as
yet unconquered. The battle-field was near Harrow. Owen was seconded by
Joe Ward and Jack Bartholomew, Hooper by Symonds and Paddington Jones.
“The contest,” says the reporter, “lasted rather more than an hour,
during which the men fought fifty rounds of hard fighting, but for the
most part of which Owen constantly kept a straight guard of such
prodigious strength, that Hooper could never beat it down, and very
seldom put in a hit. Hooper, in striking a blow, dislocated his
shoulder, and being also dreadfully bruised, gave in. Owen was so little
hurt, that he leisurely put on his clothes and walked away.”
[Illustration:
TOM OWEN, 1820.
_From a Portrait by_ GEORGE SHARPLES.
]
Pierce Egan tells us of a second fight (Hooper not being satisfied) for
100 guineas, at the same place (Harrow), a few weeks afterwards, which
“Owen won in equally good style.” We fail to find it in contemporary
records, though Pierce adds, “the stakeholder had his pocket picked of
the 100 guineas, and Owen never got a single farthing afterwards,” vol.
ii., p. 194.
The fame of Owen now spread, and a match for 25 guineas a-side was made
between Jack Bartholomew and Tom, which took place at Moulsey Hurst,
August 22, 1797. George Maddox and Goff seconded Owen upon this
occasion. It was a desperate battle, and highly spoken of at the time,
for the courage displayed on both sides; but here Tom was forced to
succumb; Bartholomew overfought him, both at close quarters and
out-fighting, and the contest was finished by Owen being hit out of
time.
On September 2, 1799, Tom entered the lists with one Houssa, a Jew, for
10 guineas a-side, on the race-ground at Enfield. Joe Ward was second to
Owen. But here again Owen was so desperately beaten, that, after a
struggle of forty minutes, he was incapable of coming to the scratch,
and the Jew was the conqueror.
Davis, of Deptford, an excavator, weighing fourteen stone, was beaten by
Owen in one hour, at Deptford, in December, 1799.
At a benefit which took place at the Horse-shoe and Hoop, Tower Hill,
Owen and Jack Bartholomew had some words about their fight at Moulsey.
The result was an exchange of blows. Pierce Egan tells us, “the smiles
of victory crowned the exertions of Owen in a quarter of an hour.”
Perhaps so—but old Tom was his own reporter.
At the Surrey Sessions, in January, 1805, Owen was indicted for a riot
and conspiracy, on Putney Common, in aiding and abetting Joe Berks and
Pearce to fight a pitched battle. The jury found Owen guilty, and he was
sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in Horsemonger Lane.
From this period Tom figured as a trainer and second, and his judgment
was generally considered good in all matters pugilistic; he also
flourishes immensely in the benefit-taking line, and was, as the
“Historian” terms him, “fly to every movement on the board.”
We shall decline transferring the trash of the Apocrypha of Boxing
respecting the exploits of Owen, as no traces of them are to be found in
the “canonical books,”—which, we take to be the journals of the time.
Leaving him, therefore, as a blind guide, we proceed to the contest with
Mendoza. This, although a very foolish affair on the part of the Jew, as
the follies of great men, even in pugilism, outweigh in interest the
wiser doings of lesser ones, is our chief reason for giving Owen a
separate chapter in the history of pugilism—despite the immense,
intense, and absurd gaggery of his injudicious friend and biographer.
In 1820, Tom (being no bad judge at match-making) proposed to Daniel
Mendoza a “passage at arms” to settle an old grudge. Dan, like an old
war-horse at the sound of the trumpet, though physically but a shadow of
his former self, met the twelve stone Tom Owen. Thirty-three years had
elapsed since the “Star of the East” had first peeled in the lists, and
fourteen since his last appearance. Although, however, his deeds were,
even to the existing generation of ring-goers, rather matter of
tradition than evidence, the fame of Mendoza made him the favourite at
six and five to four. Owen was known to be a good man, but it was
thought he had not science enough to oppose the accomplished Israelite.
Hence a great number of the oldest amateurs were induced to be present.
It is worthy of note, that Sir Thomas Apreece, Bart., who was Mendoza’s
umpire at Odiham, acted in that capacity on this occasion.
Owen, attended by Cribb and Josh. Hudson, threw up his hat first; and
Mendoza, followed by Randall and Harry Lee, repeated the token of
defiance. Mendoza was loudly cheered, and backed at five to four.
Mendoza was quickly ready, and walked about the ring with a coat thrown
over him. Owen was a considerable time preparing himself, and in making
his shoes right; instead of drawers he fought in a pair of nankeen
breeches. Mendoza’s colours were a blue silk bird’s eye, and tied over
Owen’s.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Mendoza, on stripping, exhibited a fine
manly bust; his eyes sparkled with confidence,
and there was altogether an appearance about
him that seldom characterises an individual of
fifty-five years of age. Owen, on the contrary,
looked thin; and his general appearance was
rather meagre than otherwise. On setting-to,
both the ould ones were extremely cautious, and
a minute elapsed before a hit was made. Owen at
length let fly, but without any effect. Some
exchanges took place, when they closed at the
ropes, and, after an attempt to fib on the part
of Mendoza, which was frustrated by Owen, a
struggle for throw ensued: in going down, Dan
was the undermost.
2.—Mendoza ran in with great alacrity, made
a sort of push forward, and got Owen on the
ropes; the latter went down, and his neck got
scored from them. (Great applause for Mendoza.
While Tom was on the knee of Josh, the latter
said, “Master!”—Owen, smiling, “What says my
boy?”—“Have you brought the pepper castor with
you?—“Yes, my lad, and the mustard and vinegar
cruet too!”)
3.—The Jew behaved very handsomely, and
showed some good fighting; but Owen planted
a tremendous hit on his left cheek, just
under the eye, whence the claret flowed
copiously: Mendoza went down, yet jumped up
gaily. (Randall told Mendoza he should not
have done so. “Let these ould ones alone,”
said Josh; “they know more about fighting
than you or I do.” Even betting, but Owen
for choice. “I say, master,” says Josh, “you
furnished Danny with some sour crout then!”)
4.—Owen now showed the spectators that he was
the younger man. Mendoza was again nobbed, and
the claret profusely running down his cheek.
In going down Owen was undermost. (“When am I
to have the tobacco-stopper, master?” cries
Josh.—“Leave it all to the cook yet!” Owen
smilingly observed.)
5.—Mendoza now showed he was completely gone
by as to any superiority of fighting. Owen,
having nothing to oppose him, “displayed talents
that astonished the ring.” Mendoza received a
dreadful fall.
6.—Owen, in retreating from his antagonist, ran
against the stakes, but the latter again planted
a heavy facer. In struggling, both went down.
7.—Here Tom was the hero of the tale. He nobbed
Mendoza, and got away with all the dexterity of
a youth: it was now only Mendoza by name; his
excellence as a fighter had evaporated, and his
hits were generally short. Owen, in a close at
the ropes, held Mendoza as firm as if the latter
had been screwed in a vice, and pummelled him at
the back of the neck so dreadfully, that Dan at
length fell exhausted.
8.—Mendoza came to the scratch bleeding, and
almost in a state of stupor, from the severity
of the last round. Owen planted such a
tremendous hit on Dan’s face, that he went back,
and slipped down at the corner of the ring. The
Jews were still backing Mendoza with confidence.
9.—Long sparring: Owen convinced the spectators
that he was a perfect master of the art. He hit
Mendoza in the eye, jobbed him also in the face,
and at the end of the ropes held Mendoza by the
arm, and punished him till he went down. (Two to
one on Owen.)
10.—The appearance of Mendoza’s face was much
changed; his left eye was encircled in claret.
Owen got away from his antagonist in good style.
Mendoza was punished all over the ring; Owen
threw his opponent, and fell heavily upon him.
(Three to one. Indeed, it was any odds.)
11.—Owen was determined not to give a chance
away; and he also appeared determined not to
have any more body blows. He accordingly kept at
out-fighting. A short but sharp rally occurred,
when Owen fell; and Mendoza likewise, at about
two yards distance, came heavily down upon his
face on the turf.
12th and last.—Mendoza was quite abroad, and
hit short, and at the ropes was again held by
Owen, and fibbed down. Mendoza said he would not
fight any more, as he could not win it. He was
terribly punished, and defeated in fourteen
minutes and twenty-seven seconds and a quarter;
while, on the contrary, Owen had not a scratch
on his face. The latter was carried out of the
ring by Cribb and Hudson, amidst the cheers of
the spectators.
Mendoza, while being dressed, seemed sensibly affected at his defeat. He
had not the least idea of losing the battle.
Mr. Jackson collected £20 on the ground for Mendoza, who was put into a
coach. Owen soon returned to the ring, decorated in the spoils attendant
upon conquest. Mendoza’s blue trophy was hung round Owen’s neck,
surmounted by the yellow-man of Hooper; now doubly won.
This battle hardly deserves comment, after the observations we have
already made under the memoir of Mendoza; yet it is valuable as a
warning. The merits of the combatants remain, except in the balderdash
of “the historian” of the P. R., just where they stood previous to the
fight.
Tom’s judgment as a second was unquestionable. His coolness and
readiness as second to Turner in his victory over Scroggins, and in the
remarkable fight with Sutton and Painter, may be cited.
Tom was known for many years as a pleasant companion, a good convivial
singer, and the landlord of a house on the ground now occupied by the
basin of St. Katherine’s Docks, whence the hand of improvement compelled
him to migrate. For several years he was well known as the landlord of
the Shipwrights’ Arms at Northfleet, where the fancy of all grades found
him a civil, pleasant, and obliging host. Owen died at Plumstead in 1843
aged 76 years.
CHAPTER VI.
TOM JONES (KNOWN AS “PADDINGTON JONES”).—1786‒1805.
This well-remembered pugilist, whose career forms a link between the
Second and Third Periods of the History of the Ring, well deserves a
chapter, from his numerous and game contests, his attentive civility
during his protracted connexion with fistic affairs, and yet more from
his identification with the renowned Jem Belcher, for whose first
metropolitan competitor he had the honour to be selected. Tom, including
his numerous “outside” or “bye-battles,” is supposed to have fought more
battles than any other pugilist. The Ring in Hyde Park was the frequent
arena of his contests, which in his noviciate were chiefly with roughs
and commoners.
About the year 1766, Paddington gave birth to this hero, from which
place he derived his pugilistic title. Tom commenced boxer when quite a
youth, and, from the intuitive science which he displayed at that early
period, attracted the notice of the veteran Tom Johnson, who pronounced
him to be a promising pugilist. Jones’s weight was ten stone and a half,
his height five feet eight inches, and his frame of much symmetry and
activity.
Tom’s first regular contest was about the year 1786, with one Jack
Holmes, in Harley Fields, near where Cavendish Square stands, for the
important sum of _half-a-crown_, and it appears it was as well-contested
as if £100 had been the stakes; but Jones being a mere novice, and quite
a stripling, and Holmes a full grown man, the latter proved the
conqueror.
A match was made between a one-eyed sailor, a most determined boxer, and
Tom Jones, for 10 guineas a-side, in February, 1786, which was decided
in the Ring, in Hyde Park. The contest proved a desperate one. The
Sailor was considered as ugly a customer as ever stood up for a mill;
but, in the event, Jones was declared victor. This hardy son of Neptune
was not satisfied with the first broadside, and soon afterwards entered
the lists for another 10 guineas, when he was again vanquished; yet,
like a perfect true blue, he was valiant enough to endure a third
engagement, in which he was also beaten. The Sailor displayed great
bottom, and was punished severely before he gave in.
In the course of the twelvemonth, however, smarting under the
recollection of defeat, Tom challenged Jack Holmes to a second trial
(half-minute time), for a guinea and a half, when Jones obtained an easy
conquest. This was on the 19th of December, 1786.
Aldridge, the Life-guardsman, who had been vaunting of his great deeds
of pugilism at Tom Johnson’s house, near Lincoln’s Inn Fields, was told
by Joe Ward that he would produce a boy who should soon take the conceit
out of him: accordingly, a match was made for two guineas against a
watch, and Paddington Jones was brought forward as the man to accept the
challenge. It was to have been decided in the street, in the first
instance, but was removed to Harley Fields. On stripping, the guardsman
smiled with contempt at his boy-like antagonist, and, from his long
arms, had the advantage at the first part of the battle, dealing out
some sharp punishment; but the science and bottom of Tom soon stopped
his career. After a most desperate conflict, which was witnessed by most
of the celebrated pugilists of that day, who were astonished at the
intrepidity displayed by Jones, the “_boy_” succeeded in milling his
opponent in sixty rounds. Joe Ward seconded Jones.
Shortly after the above circumstance, in the same fields, Jones fought
one Jack Blackwell, a lime-burner, for 10 shillings; and, although the
latter showed complete ruffianism in the battle, he was easily disposed
of by Tom. Tom Burley, a companion of Blackwell, thought he could now
vanquish Jones, and had the temerity to enter the ring, immediately on
the fight being over, and challenged him for the like sum. Tom instantly
accepted the cartel. Burley was also a complete ruffian, and tried what
downright force could effect; but Jones so completely foiled his
attacks, and returned blows with so much science and effect, that Burley
was perfectly satisfied. These contests were rendered somewhat
conspicuous from the celebrated Major Hanger (afterwards Lord Coleraine)
and his black servant performing the office of second and bottle-holder
to Jones.[75]
On May 14, 1792, immediately after the fight of Mendoza and Bill Warr,
at Smitham Bottom, near Croydon, upon the same stage, Jones fought Caleb
Baldwin. The battle was for a purse of £20, but a dispute arising
between the parties, although Caleb claimed the victory, it was declared
a drawn battle.
Soon after the above contest, Jones entered the ring in Hyde Park, with
Dick Horton, a baker, for 20 guineas. The latter was considered to have
some pretensions to pugilism; but Jones dealt out his hits so hard and
fast, that the baker was glad to cry enough.
Jones, in company with Pardo Wilson, anxious to witness the fight
between Hooper and Bunner, at Bentley Green (September 4, 1792) walked
down to Colchester, and was extremely stiff from the effects of his
journey. The following day, a man of the name of Abraham Challice,
standing six feet high, and weighing fourteen stone (a perfect terror to
the inhabitants of that part of the country from his great strength),
observing Tom Jones upon the race-ground, and to show his dexterity, out
of mere wantonness, endeavoured to trip up Jones’s heels, and otherwise
insulted him, also threatening to give him a good hiding. Tom,
notwithstanding the great disparity between them, was not to be insulted
with impunity, and, perhaps with more pluck than prudence, instantly
showed fight. Challice laughed at him with the most sovereign contempt,
bidding him get along for “a boy,” or he would kick his breech for his
impudence. The spectators were alarmed at the youthful appearance of
Jones, who weighed but ten stone five pounds, and begged of him to
desist, as the consequences might prove of the most serious nature; but
Tom was not to be deterred, and soon pulled off his clothes. Upon
setting-to, Challice had the advantage from his superior strength, and
kept it for three rounds; but in the fourth, Jones put in a hit under
Challice’s ear, that knocked him down, when Tom Johnson offered to back
Jones for £100. Challice, on standing up, appeared much confused, and
Tom served him out in the same style, and continued punishing him every
round till he could scarcely move, and he soon acknowledged he had never
received such a complete milling before. The farmers and others who
witnessed the contest were so pleased that this insolent fellow, who had
rendered himself so disgusting about that neighbourhood, had received a
good thrashing, immediately made a subscription purse, which soon
amounted to 30 guineas, and presented it to Jones for his bravery.
The next day a countryman, well known in the neighbourhood of Bentley
Green under the name of “Leather Jacket,” mounted the stage, and, with
considerable vaunting, publicly challenged any Londoner to enter the
lists with him. The words had scarcely escaped from his lips, when up
jumped Tom, without any consideration for his hands, which were bruised
from the effects of the severe punishment he had bestowed upon the nob
of Abraham Challice the preceding day, and instantly began to prepare
for action. The countryman seemed thunderstruck with astonishment, and
with faltering speech exclaimed, “Na! na! you be the man that beat Ab.
Challice yesterday—I mean ony one but thee!” and made a hasty retreat
from the stage, amid the laughter and sneers of the spectators at
Leather Jacket’s vain boasting.
Jones beat Keely Lyons, the Jew, at Blackheath, on the 10th of May,
1794, for a purse of 20 guineas. Tom Johnson was second to Jones. It was
a well-contested battle, in which much science and bottom were displayed
on both sides.
In a second attempt on a stage at Hounslow, June 22, 1795, Jones
disposed of the same boxer in nine rounds, occupying sixteen minutes.
Lyons was a courageous pugilist, and a boxer above mediocrity.
In the August of 1795 Jones was at Bristol, the pugilistic nursery, with
Tom Johnson and other celebrities: a match for a purse with Spaniard
Harris took place. After twenty minutes’ fighting, Harris, during a
wrangle, got hold of the purse, and bolted with it, leaving Jones and
Co. “lamenting.”
On the renowned Jem Belcher’s appearance in the metropolis as a
pugilist, Tom Jones was the man selected to have the trial set-to with
him. This came off at Old Oak Common, Wormwood Scrubs, on April 12,
1799.
Belcher was seconded by Bill Warr, and Bill Gibbons acted as his
bottle-holder. Jones had for his attendants, Joe Ward and Dick Hall.
Belcher was, at this period, only nineteen years of age. The odds were
six to four upon Jem. The spectators were much interested upon the
commencement of the battle, from the very high character which had been
promulgated by Bill Warr, as to the astonishing abilities that his pupil
possessed, and the feats which he had achieved at Bristol. The first
round, considerable science was displayed upon both sides—the experience
and skill of Jones were well displayed; and the dexterity and new mode
of fighting, so exclusively Belcher’s own, were soon exhibited. On the
termination of the first round Belcher was knocked down. The advantages
in the second and third rounds were evenly balanced; but in the fourth
and fifth Jones was levelled. In the sixth and seventh rounds Jones
showed off in most excellent style: skill, manliness, and fortitude, no
shifting, nothing shy, hugging out of the question, and hauling not
resorted to: it was a clean fight throughout, stopping and hitting were
the order of the day, and it might be deemed a model for pugilists in
general to follow. Belcher, with all the gaiety and confidence of youth,
now exhibited a new feature as a boxer. The odds had changed five to
four on Jones. The eighth and ninth were spiritedly contested; but, in
the tenth round, Belcher put in some tremendous hits, with the rapidity
of lightning. This immediately altered the appearance of things, Jem was
looked upon as the favourite, and the odds were laid accordingly. Yet
Jones nobly contested for victory for the space of thirty-three minutes,
before he gave in. Jem weighed twelve stone six pounds, and Tom Jones
but ten stone five pounds. It should not escape the memory, that Jones
stood up to Belcher (before that distinguished pugilist lost his eye)
considerably longer than any other man ever did.
In 1798 Jones was matched in London to fight George Nicholls (the
conqueror of Cribb). Mendoza and Johnson took Tom down to Lansdown, near
Bath, for that purpose; but upon the combatants stripping, and just as
they were about commencing the set-to, the following singular
circumstance occurred:—Nicholls cried out “Stop!” and observing that
Jones was above his height, declared he would not fight him, and, _sans
ceremonie_, immediately left the ring, to the great astonishment and
disappointment of the spectators. After some years had elapsed, upon
Nicholls arriving in London, a match was made for 20 guineas, and they
tried their skill at Norwood, in March, 1802. Three rounds were well
contested, and considerable science was displayed; but in the fourth,
Nicholls ran furiously in, and getting his head between Jones’s legs,
and catching fast hold of both his ankles, threw Tom with considerable
violence. This was deemed an infringement upon the rules of pugilism by
the friends of Jones: a considerable interruption was the consequence,
and the fight was at an end. The stakes were demanded on the part of
Jones; but Bill Warr, who seconded Nicholls, would not suffer them to be
given up. Respecting which was the best man, it was impossible to form
anything like a decision. Jones, on his road home, had a turn up with a
man of the name of Carter, who had insulted him about a challenge from
Simpson. Tom, who was not much hurt from the above contest, set-to with
good pluck, and so soon convinced Carter he was in the wrong, that he
sheered off.
Isaac Bittoon, the Jew, had offered himself to Jones’s notice, when Jem
Belcher, who had beaten Jones, generously undertook to find him backers.
Forty guineas were put down, and they met on Wimbledon Common, July 13,
1801. Jem Belcher seconded Jones. It was a severely-contested fight, but
Bittoon was the heavier and stronger man, and although Tom displayed
great science and courage, he was unable to come to time (half-minute)
at the end of twenty-two minutes, being hit senseless.
Simpson, a pupil of Tom Johnson’s, upon whom considerable expectations
had been raised, was matched against Jones for 10 guineas a-side, which
battle was decided on the Green, near Putney, in June 1804. It was
termed a good fight, and Tom proved the conqueror.
On August 6th, 1805, Tom Jones fought another Lyons, known as “the Yokel
Jew,” at Hounslow, for 10 guineas a-side. This was one of the most
terrible conflicts in which Tom had been engaged. Yokel was a desperate
punisher, and Jones suffered severely in the fight; nevertheless Yokel
gave in.
Notwithstanding the numerous lists of battles which have been mentioned,
it does not appear that Paddington Jones ever made pugilism his peculiar
profession, but industriously followed through life his occupation, much
respected by his friends for his civility and good nature. Jones was a
man of mild and civil behaviour, and for a long series of years was well
known as master of the ceremonies at the Fives and Tennis Courts, as a
second and an attendant upon sparring exhibitions.
As a pugilist, Jones is entitled to honourable mention; to a respectable
amount of skill he united game of the first quality. He turned out
several good pupils. His guard was good and his position ready, with his
left arm firm and extended to protect his body from assault, while his
right was on the alert to give the return. Tom was a hard hitter, used
both his hands with equal facility, stood well upon his legs, and met
his man with fortitude.
Notwithstanding the evident disadvantages that Jones had to contend
against in his battle with Jem Belcher—the disparagement of having been
severely punished in numerous battles, and other hurts from skirmishes,
contrasted with Belcher who had scarcely been pinked, and was blooming
from the country—Tom’s conduct was far above mediocrity.
No man appeared oftener in the character of a second than Tom Jones, and
few understood that duty better than himself. In most of Randall’s
battles Tom performed that office.
It is impossible that we can take our leave of Paddington Jones without
characterising him as a brave pugilist, and well deserving to occupy a
niche in the temple of fame as a straightforward, courageous, and
deserving man. Jones died at his birthplace, Paddington, August 22,
1833, at the age of 67.
APPENDIX TO PERIOD II.
BILL WARR, OF BRISTOL—1787‒1792.
William Warr (incorrectly spelt Ward in many chronologies, etc.) was one
of the many boxers of the Bristol nursery. He was expressly brought to
London to lower the pretensions of Tom Johnson, with what success we
have already seen. He was five feet nine inches in height, strongly
made, with symmetrical breast and arms, robust in appearance, extremely
active, and altogether well framed for a pugilist. As a second, Will
Warr figures in numerous fights of his period, and was of acknowledged
judgment.
After his defeat by Johnson, Warr’s next battle was with Wood, the
coachman, December 31, 1788, at Navestock, Essex. It snowed incessantly
during the combat, “yet,” says the report, “the ardour of the combatants
was not chilled, nor even the curiosity of the spectators damped. The
snow, however, did not fail to have its effects upon the battle; for the
boards of the stage being rendered extremely slippery, the pugilists
were unable to keep their feet, and each in his turn, as well in giving
as receiving blows, was brought to the ground. Warr fought in his usual
style, with much clever shifting, and displayed great agility and
science. Considering this Wood’s first essay, and against one of such
experience in the pugilistic art, he showed great courage and
determination. He fought, however, with too much impetuosity, and by
this means exposed himself to the more deliberate defence of his
opponent. For the first twenty minutes the battle was most admirably
contested on both sides. In five minutes after setting-to Warr succeeded
in closing Wood’s right eye, yet he continued the fight for half an hour
with astonishing firmness, until Warr got some heavy hits in succession
on the other eye, when he was forced to yield the victory.”
His two defeats by Mendoza are reported in the memoir of that pugilist
(pp. 76, 77).
On the 5th of May, 1789, as Bill Warr and Watson were going down to
Stilton to be present at the battle between Mendoza and Humphries, he
met with an unfortunate occurrence. A man of the name of Swaine, a
smith, who was an outside passenger of the same coach, having had some
words with Warr about the merits of Mendoza, challenged Warr to fight.
Accordingly, at the Bell Inn, Enfield, they turned out, when Warr struck
him an unlucky blow in the chest: Swaine fell and instantly expired.
Warr was taken into custody, and the following Sessions, at the Old
Bailey, was convicted of manslaughter. The whole tenour of the evidence
went to show that Warr tried everything short of cowardice to avoid the
encounter.
Stanyard, of Birmingham, who had fought a draw with Andrew Gamble, an
Irishman (one of Pierce Egan’s Irish heroes, renowned for being beaten,
despite the most wondrous qualifications[76]), was liberally backed
against Warr for 100 guineas, and they fought at Colnbrook, October 27,
1792. We may observe that “the fight was fixed to take place at Langley
Broom, but was interrupted by the interference of the magistrates, and a
move took place to Colnbrook.” We give, as shall be our custom, a report
instead of an embellished paraphrase:—“A stage having been erected, at
half-past two Stanyard ascended, accompanied by Tom Johnson as his
second, and Butcher as his bottle-holder. Shortly afterwards Warr made
his appearance, with Watson for his second, and Joe Ward as his
bottle-holder. Captain Halliday and Mr. Sharp were chosen umpires. Mr.
Harvey Aston, Lord Say and Sele, Mr. Dashwood, Sir Thomas Apreece,
Colonel Hamilton, Mr. Bedingfield, and other distinguished persons were
present.”
At forty-six minutes to two, the combatants being prepared, set-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Warr acted on the defensive; some
minutes were lost in sparring, when Stanyard put
in a body blow, but without much effect; they
then exchanged several blows, and Warr was
knocked down.
2.—Stanyard displayed superiority, and Warr
fell.
3.—Warr gave his adversary a severe blow on the
right cheek, which broke his jaw at the angle.
It was generally allowed to be the severest blow
thrown in.
4.—Notwithstanding this misfortune, Stanyard
stood, and never even complained to his second.
In this round Warr was knocked down.
5.—Warr was again knocked down, and at the
conclusion held up his open hand to protect his
face.
6.—In this round Stanyard displayed most
astonishing strength, for he fairly held Warr
up, struck him most severely, and threw him down
on the stage with astonishing violence.
7 and 8.—Both these rounds Stanyard terminated
by giving his antagonist a knock-down blow.
9.—Stanyard gave Warr a severe blow under the
right eye, and he again fell.
10.—This was the last and best round, being the
only one of any continuance, and during which
much hard fighting was displayed; Warr gave his
opponent four severe blows on his broken jaw,
and it finished by both coming down.
At the conclusion of this round, although they
had only fought thirteen minutes, Stanyard gave
in. His appearance was in his favour, but no one
had any idea of the injury he had sustained.
He was immediately conveyed to Colnbrook, and
medical assistance procured, when it was found
his jawbone was fractured near the articulation.
Warr was in prime condition, and never displayed
greater skill and courage. He challenged Tom
Johnson to fight for a guinea; an empty boast,
as we have elsewhere observed.
Will Warr, miscalculating his skill, sought another trial with the
accomplished Mendoza, who disposed of him in fifteen minutes (see
MENDOZA). Warr became a publican at the One Tun, Jermyn Street, in after
life, and seconded Jem Belcher, Tom Belcher, Henry Pearce (the Game
Chicken), Mendoza, Tom Cribb, and others in important battles. In
December, 1808, we find a benefit advertised at the Fives Court, for
Warr, at which John Gully, Tom Cribb, Dutch Sam, Dogherty, Tom Belcher,
and Richmond, set-to for the veteran. Warr died in March, 1809, and was
buried in St. James’s burial ground, St. Pancras.
WILL WOOD, THE COACHMAN—1788‒1804.
Bill Wood, although his defeats were preponderant, deserves honourable
mention at the hands of the historian of pugilism as one of the bravest
and hardiest of boxers. His opponents were the very best men of their
day. Bill Warr, George the brewer, whom he beat, Hooper the tinman, Jack
Bartholomew (beat), and Isaac Bittoon, were his antagonists. Wood was a
fine straight-limbed man of five feet eleven inches in height, and
twelve stone in weight. He fought well with both hands, and possessed
unquestionable courage. His style was impetuous, and his attack
formidable to all but the most skilful of defensive boxers.
Wood’s _coup d’essai_ was at Navestock, Essex, as “Captain Robinson’s
coachman,” on the last day of the year 1788. Although looked upon as a
novice in the art pugilistic, he tried all the skill of Bill Warr before
he surrendered. (See Life of WARR, APPENDIX, p. 120).
So well had our hero acquitted himself that George the brewer
(Ingleston), “renowned as a stand-up fighter,” who had, as we have seen,
beaten John Jackson, and Pickard (twice), having issued a challenge as
Champion, it was accepted by Wood. The stake was 100 guineas, and on the
13th of February, 1793, at Hornchurch, in Essex, the men met on a stage
twenty-four feet square. Wood was seconded by Joe Ward, while Dan
Mendoza attended upon Ingleston. At one o’clock, the combatants, fully
prepared, mounted the stage, and having shaken hands, set-to
immediately. “In the first round Wood knocked down his antagonist with
great violence. George rose immediately, and with inconsiderate
impetuosity attacked his opponent. Wood, taking advantage of his fury
and want of caution, retreated, and put in a tremendous blow on the
point of the jaw, which broke it: every spectator,” says the report in
“Pancratia,” “heard the crush, and immediately perceived the swelling
consequent on the fracture. The battle was supposed to be at an end, but
George, with unsubdued courage, renewed the attack, and in the rally
dealt Wood a blow upon the head which almost stunned him. The odds now
rose to two to one in favour of George. However, after twenty-five
minutes of severe fighting, in which George received many heavy blows
about the head, he, being almost senseless, gave in.” The reporter adds:
“Wood was much beaten, but every one feared George would pay the forfeit
of his life.”
Wood’s fame now stood so high, that in January, 1794, he was matched
with the renowned Ben Brain (Big Ben) the Champion. Ben was now
approaching his last illness, and a forfeit took place.
Our hero was not allowed to stand without a customer. Hooper was in the
height of his fame, having beaten Wright and Watson, made a draw with
Big Ben, and defeated Bunner and George Maddox. Yet Wood was thought by
many good enough to lower his pride. They met at Hounslow, June 22,
1794, as related in the memoir of Hooper (p. 107); and Wood was beaten,
but not ingloriously.
In the first month of 1797, we find Wood matched with the famous Jack
Bartholomew, who had just beaten Firby (the young Ruffian). See
BARTHOLOMEW, Appendix to Period III. The battle came off between Ealing
and Harrow, on a stage, January 30th, 1797.[77] “At two o’clock the men
set-to; but the amateurs were sadly disappointed. Bartholomew was sadly
out of condition, and not only made no good defence against Wood’s
attacks, but shifted, and struck foul; repeating the offence at the end
of fifteen minutes, the battle was given in favour of Wood. The Duke of
Hamilton and other distinguished ring-patrons were present, and Wood
told his Grace he would fight Bartholomew again in a fortnight for £500,
or when he pleased, if the Duke would back him.”
Wood, who was always a steady and industrious man, now retired for a
while, pursuing the then flourishing avocation of a hackney coachman,
and driving his own horses and lumbering leathern convenience. He often,
however, figures in the interval as second or bottle-holder in the
battles of the day. Isaac Bittoon, the Jew, having beaten Paddington
Jones, and fought a drawn battle with George Maddox, was anxious for a
shy at Wood, now a veteran in the field; the match was long talked
about, but at length arranged for the 16th of July, 1804, for a purse of
50 guineas and some bye bets to be received by the winner. The
magistrates were upon the alert, but the secret of the chosen spot was
well kept, Willesden Green being named as the Campus Martius so late as
the evening before the battle, which took place as early as ten o’clock
on the Monday morning. It would have been well had the same secrecy and
promptitude been practised in many more recent fights, which have come
to grief from the publicity given to their probable whereabouts, and
above all, from the abominable delays at the ring side.
The field at Willesden was early filled, and at three quarters past ten
the combatants entered “a roped-ring.” Wood immediately began to strip,
and appeared to be in robust condition. Bittoon followed in high
spirits, and after the usual ceremony, the men set-to. Wood was defeated
in thirty-six rounds, occupying fifty-six minutes; Wood, in the words of
the contemporary report, “being quite worn out.” (See BITTOON, for the
battle).
This was Wood’s last appearance within the ropes. He was for many years
a well-known character among the Jehus at the West End. In May of the
year 1821, we find under the head of “Some Slight Sketches of Boxers,
who have retired from Public Contests, on account of Age or other
Infirmities,” the following: “Bill Wood, the coachman, once the
formidable opponent of Bill Warr, Bartholomew, George the Brewer, and
Bittoon, enjoys a fine green old age, and frequently takes a peep into
the Fives Court to see the young ’uns exhibit.” Wood died in St.
Pancras, in January, 1839, aged 64.
GEORGE INGLESTON, THE BREWER—1789‒1793.
George Ingleston, known as George the Brewer, was a powerful six-foot
man, of somewhat heavy build, undoubted courage, but, like many big
ones, fought slowly in comparison with lighter and more agile men. He
was, however, “acknowledged to be a tremendous hard hitter,” says
“Pancratia.” “He was first introduced to the notice of the amateurs by
the celebrated Tom Johnson,” says the same authority, “who tried to
cultivate his powers, but did not form any high opinion of his skill.
His guard was low, like his renowned master’s; he never shifted, but
unflinchingly met the coming blow, and trusted rather to a return than
the quick and effective method of a counter hit.”
We shall pass the earlier and unimportant battles of George the Brewer
to come to his most important contest, that with John Jackson, which
came off in presence of a distinguished company, in the yard of the Swan
Inn, at Ingatestone, in Essex, on the 12th of May, 1789. Brain (Big Ben)
seconded Jackson, Tom Tring (the Carlton House porter) attended upon
Ingleston.
On setting-to the betting was even, but the superior skill of Jackson
was evident in the first round, when after some skilful stops and
parries, Jackson at the close of the round brought down the brewer. In
the second and third rounds the skill and activity of Jackson brought
the odds to seven to four in his favour. In this round, owing to a heavy
rain which had fallen in the forenoon, the boards of the stage were
extremely slippery, and in breaking ground Jackson slipped, and fell
with such violence that his ankle was dislocated and the small-bone of
his leg broken. There was no alternative but surrender; although the
report of the day states that Jackson “offered to be fastened down to a
chair (after the fashion of sailors on a chest in their boxing matches),
provided the Brewer would do the like, and thus fight it out.” There was
pluck at any rate in the proposition; but George, who saw the stakes
within grasp, was not so green as to let go “the bird in hand.”
On the 23rd of October, 1789, Ingleston met and defeated Pickard, called
“the Birmingham Champion.” The battle took place on a twenty-four foot
stage, at Banbury, in Oxfordshire. It is described in the report as a
desperate stand-up fight, in which, after thirty-four minutes of
“fierce” rallying, Pickard cried “enough!” and Ingleston was hailed the
victor. This was fought the day after the great battle of Johnson and
Perrins. See _ante_, Life of TOM JOHNSON.
Pickard was not, however, satisfied of his inferiority to George, and
again found friends to back him for 50 guineas against his old opponent.
They met at Shipston-upon-Stour, Staffordshire, September 25, 1791, when
the former decision was re-affirmed, and Pickard cleverly defeated.
Ingleston’s last battle was with Bill Wood, the coachman, at Hornchurch,
for 100 guineas, February 13, 1793, which will be found under the
pugilistic doings of WOOD (p. 122). George Ingleston, on his retirement,
resumed his calling of a brewer, and was for years known as a civil and
industrious man in the neighbourhood of Enfield, where one of his old
patrons, Captain Brailsford, held a brewery of some extent.
BOB WATSON, OF BRISTOL—1788‒1791.
Bristol, for more than half a century renowned for its pugilistic
champions, gave birth to Watson, a well-known man in the ring doings of
the last quarter of the eighteenth century. Watson was related by
marriage to the family of the Belchers, having married the sister of Jem
and Tom Belcher, while his daughter was the wife of the late Jem Burn
(see vol. iii., life of Burn). Watson was another sample of a large
heart in a small body. His height was no more than five feet five
inches, his weight nine stone two pounds, yet by courage and science,
Bob went far to compensate these deficiencies. After many provincial
victories, Watson entered the ring, after the victory of Jackson over
Fewterel (June 9, 1788), at Croydon, in presence of the Prince of Wales
and a distinguished company. His opponent was Elisha Crabbe, an
Israelite, who had won fame by defeating old Stephen Oliver, known as
“Death.” “This,” says the reporter, “was by far the best battle of the
three, and lasted three quarters of an hour. Warr seconded Watson; Ryan
(the opponent of the champion) attended upon Crabbe. Watson, though much
the smaller man, displayed great science and activity, and in the end
proved the conqueror.”
The skill and courage exhibited by Watson on this occasion, led to his
being noticed by Jackson, then in high patronage. He was accordingly
selected to contend with Bill Jones, mentioned under TYNE (p. 128).[78]
The battle came off before the Prince, Colonel Hanger, and other guests
at the Pavilion, and residents at Brighton, August 6th, 1788. The battle
was spirited and scientific for about fifteen minutes, but so much to
the advantage of Watson that Jones fell from weakness, and got down
suspiciously more than once. (It must be remembered that only a month
had elapsed since he was defeated by Tyne). At the end of eighteen
minutes, Watson having hit him down heavily with both hands, Jones
surrendered.
A strong outsider, named Anderson, a tinman, from the “land o’ cakes,”
challenged Watson, and the day was fixed for April 25, 1789; accordingly
the men met at Langley Broom, near Colnbrook, on the Windsor Road.
Watson went in so resolutely that Anderson fell in two minutes, and
nothing could induce him again to face his antagonist. The reporter
adds, “the amateurs complained loudly that Anderson had played
_cross_.”[79] A second fight was got up for a purse between Joe Ward and
Townsend, which Joe won in twenty minutes; Townsend being _said_ to have
broken his arm.
Watson’s next encounter was with the formidable Hooper, by whom he was
defeated, after a long fight of 150 minutes and 100 rounds, at Langley
Broom, February 17, 1790. (See HOOPER, p. 105.)
A townsman of Watson’s, and a brother “kill-bull,” of the name of
Davies, proposed a “passage of arms” to our hero, and despite disparity
of weight and size, Bob accepted the cartel. They met at Coalharbour,
Gloucestershire, January 10, 1791. Watson was the favourite at long
odds; but after the first ten minutes they changed rapidly. Bob’s
science and shifting did not avail against the strength and quickness of
Davis, who was by no means destitute of skill. Though at such a
disadvantage, however, Watson never lost heart, and disputed every inch
of ground with firmness and occasional advantage for three quarters of
an hour, despite the remonstrances of his second, Bill Warr, till he
could no longer stand. His second then gave in for him. Bob’s appearance
upon any stage raised his character even in defeat.
Watson now returned to the regular pursuit of his trade, and was in
business as a master butcher in Bristol for more than forty years from
this period. He still took an interest in matters pugilistic, as we
shall see incidentally in these pages, and often seconded, more
especially in the neighbourhood of Bristol. Watson frequently gave
expositions of the art on the stage of the Bristol theatre and in
London. In 1810 he was engaged at Covent Garden with the younger Warr
(son of Will Warr) and demonstrated the art in a scene in the pantomime.
Warr, in an impetuous onset, knocked out one of Watson’s teeth, who
proposed a combat then and there. This would have been an unrehearsed
effect, and was of course prevented. Bob threw up his engagement, but
was pacified by having another boxer to perform with him. He died in
September, 1837, aged 71 years, generally respected.
TOM TYNE, “THE TAILOR”—1788‒1792.
Among the minor pugilists, Tom Tyne deserves a passing notice. The
vulgar proverb of “nine tailors make a man” found its exception in this
small-sized but large-souled boxer, who always fought “up-hill” against
weight and inches, displaying much science, and in those rough days what
was called too much “shiftiness.” Tyne’s first recorded fight came off
at Croydon on the 1st of July, 1788, for 50 guineas. His opponent was
Bill Jones, a powerful boxer, and who had earned a name by defeating
Dunn, a clumsy and game Irishman, in Bloomsbury Fields, in 1786, besides
other bye-battles. On this occasion Jones was seconded by Joe Ward, and
Tyne by the renowned Tom Johnson. As it is our plan nothing to extenuate
nor set down aught in malice, we shall, as is our practice, where
possible, print the contemporary report.
“Tyne evidently possessed the advantage in science, independent of his
great superiority arising from the shy mode of shifting and dropping.
Jones, on the contrary, stood manfully up to his man, and made many
dexterous efforts, which, however, were frustrated by the illusive and
evasive system of his antagonist, who always fell whenever he received
or put in a blow. Jones had in point of beating the worst of the battle,
but still the best prospect of ultimate success, from his superior
strength and bottom; until by following up a blow too far, he struck his
antagonist unfairly, somewhere about the waistband of the breeches, when
Tyne was immediately declared the conqueror.”
Tom’s next display was in the presence of royalty, and proved most
unfortunate in its result. On August 6th, 1788, the Grand Stand on
Brighton Race-course was crowded with nobility and gentry to witness the
decision of three matches on a stage erected for that purpose. The
Prince of Wales and a large party from the Pavilion were present. The
first combatants were Bill Jones, already mentioned, and Watson, of
Bristol (see WATSON); the second, Joe Ward and Reynolds (see WARD); the
third, between our hero and Earl.
This contest, unhappily for Tom, ended in a fatal accident. Earl was a
powerful rustic, far heavier and taller than Tom, whose height was five
feet seven inches, and weight nine stone seven pounds. Earl from his
appearance was the favourite at odds, and “was becoming triumphant very
fast, when Tyne struck him a sharp left-handed blow on the side of the
head, which drove him against the rail of the stage. He fell insensible,
and immediately expired. The Prince of Wales, greatly to his honour,”
adds the reporter, “immediately settled an annuity on the wife and
family of Earl, and took the determination never to be present at
another pugilistic contest.” We hope the first promise was kept better
than the second, otherwise the prince’s annuity was merely another stone
in the pavement of that place where “good intentions” are said to make
the roadway smooth.
Tom was now matched against a clever boxer, Elisha Crabbe, the Jew, who
had earned some fame by beating “Old Oliver,” as he was termed. The
battle took place in a field adjoining Boston Moor, on Monday, March 24,
1790. We copy the report from the _Daily Advertiser_.
“Tyne had Johnson for his second, and James, the waterman, for his
bottle-holder. Lee seconded the Jew, and Joe Ward held the bottle. At
about half-past two the contending bruisers appeared, amidst at least
2,000 spectators, and on stripping, six to four was betted in favour of
the tailor.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—There was some extremely good sparring;
they both closed, and Crabbe fell, but gave
his adversary a severe blow on the nose which
produced great effusion of blood.
8.—The Jew gave his opponent a real knock-down
blow, and fell upon him.
14.—Tyne again fell by his antagonist’s blow.
16.—Tyne received another knock-down blow, but
gave the Jew a most severe cut on the left eye,
and another on the mouth.
18.—Tyne dropped, and it was generally
considered by design; great cry of “foul, foul,”
and the odds sunk five to four on the tailor.
22.—Was the best round during the contest, and
in which science was most admirably displayed by
both combatants; it lasted above a minute, and
afforded some most skilful blows.
32.—Crabbe fell by a severe blow on the eye.
33.—Tyne most adroitly fell, and his antagonist
making a severe blow, flew over him, and falling
on the stage, cut his face dreadfully.
39.—This was the last round; Tyne again fell
by a slight blow, and Crabbe was so exhausted
that he fell on his belly, being utterly
incapable of standing the contest any longer.
In the intermediate rounds there was good
sparring, but no blows of consequence.
“The battle lasted thirty-five minutes. Crabbe sparred the best, but
Tyne never failed to make his blows tell, notwithstanding he frequently
fell himself. The Jew several times attempted to chop, but in this
failed. Johnson on this occasion displayed most excellent qualities as a
second, and the event of the contest depended much on his conduct.”
Tom’s next appearance was in the ring in Hyde Park, on Friday, December
31, 1792. Firby, previously known as “Jack the waiter,” from his being
employed in that capacity, at the London Tavern, though a civil fellow,
had earned the title of “The Young Ruffian,” from his victory over
Symonds, “The Old Ruffian,” in the previous year. Firby made a severe
fight with Tyne, and, despite Tom’s cleverness in shifting and dropping,
managed to force the fighting so cleverly, that he beat him off in
twenty-two minutes.
Tom Tyne has two fights with Mendoza credited to his name in “Fistiana,”
which appear nowhere in “the books.” This was Tyne’s last public
appearance as a principal. He is named once or twice afterwards as a
second. He returned to his trade, and became “_Sartor Resartus_.”
SYMONDS, NICKNAMED “THE RUFFIAN.”—1791‒1795.
The repulsive _sobriquet_ given to this boxer had, we find from
contemporary authority, no relation to his personal appearance, nor to
his ordinary behaviour, but was merely applied in ring slang to his mode
of attacking his opponents in the twenty-four feet square, in defiance
of mathematics called “the ring.” The ugly part of his cognomen
descended to his juvenile conqueror, Firby, the waiter, who was
designated “the Young Ruffian,” and Symonds thereafter was known by the
epithet of “the Old Ruffian.”
Symonds’ first recorded ring fight was with Bill Jackling (called
Ginger, from the colour of his hair), brother to the renowned Tom
Johnson, the champion. This took place at Wrotham in Kent, on January
17, 1791, after his brother had been defeated by Big Ben (see _ante_, p.
68). It was a severe fight for twenty-three minutes, when Symonds was
hit out of time.
His next encounter was at Fenner’s cricket ground, Uxbridge, with
Gowlett, for 10 guineas, on the 22nd June, 1791. The battle was got up
as a sort of compensation for the disappointment of the amateurs who
were about to journey to Stokenchurch, Oxfordshire, to witness the
battle between Dan Mendoza and Bill Warr. The Oxfordshire magistrates,
however, had given notice of their intention to stop the “big” fight,
and it was postponed. (See Life of MENDOZA, _ante_, p. 76.) The men
fought on the turf. The opponent of Symonds, Gowlett, was a big
countrymen of provincial repute. Symonds, who was more practised than
his huge opponent, delivered heavily, and then, _à la_ Bendigo, found
his way cleverly to the ground. In the words of the report, “Symonds
sprung in, struck, and then fell, without being struck in return.” This
is very obscure. However, “Gowlett, being irritated, kicked him as he
lay on the ground. This decided the battle immediately in favour of
Symonds.” We should think so. What follows is curious: “Many bets were
paid; but after a consultation, the amateurs deciding it to be a drawn
battle, the bets were refunded.” Our grandfathers were somewhat at sea
as to betting law. However, as the Duke of Hamilton, Alderman Macauley,
and other “distinguished patrons” were present, we suppose they acted
equitably, according to their view of the case.
A fine young fellow, Jack Firby, a waiter at the London Tavern, met
Symonds for a stake at Wimbledon, on the Ridgway, August 2, 1791, and
defeated him, after a slashing fight of forty-five minutes.
On Saturday, December 4, 1792, Symonds fought a most resolute battle of
two hours with George Maddox at Datchet Sward, Berks, resulting in a
draw. (See MADDOX, _post_, p. 206.)
Symonds’ last appearance in the ring was on the 15th of April, 1795,
when he fought a draw with a Jew, called Ugly Baruk, at Hornchurch; it
lasted half an hour. For some years Symonds was an attendant at the
Fives Court, and elsewhere, and was, like Firby, a good-tempered,
obliging fellow, always ready to lend a hand to a brother pugilist in
distress. Symonds died in 1820.
END OF PERIOD II.
PERIOD III.—1798‒1809.
FROM THE APPEARANCE OF JEM BELCHER TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF TOM CRIBB.
CHAPTER I.
JEM BELCHER (CHAMPION)—1798‒1809.
On the roll of fistic heroes to whom Bristol has given birth, the name
of JEM BELCHER may claim precedence. He came of a good fighting stock,
being descended by the mother’s side from the renowned Jem Slack, the
conqueror of Broughton, the former being the grandsire of the subject of
this memoir.
On his first appearance in the London Ring, he was justly considered a
phenomenon in the pugilistic art. Jem’s height was five feet eleven and
a half inches; his weight under twelve stone. Though graceful and finely
proportioned, he had none of those muscular exaggerations in his form
when stripped, and still less when attired, which go, in the artistic as
well as the popular notion, to make up a Hercules. Jem was formed more
after the sculptor’s Apollo than the not-very-accurate classical idea,
derived from bronze and marble, of a gladiator. In horse, as in man,
this antique blunder is laughed at by those who have read and seen
something more than Greek and Latin books or monuments can teach them.
The horses of the Parthenon might do for Pickford’s vans, “a black job,”
or a man in armour in my Lord Mayor’s show (and they would not carry
_him_ well); while Jem Belcher, Henry Pearce, Tom Spring, Jem Ward, or
Tom Sayers, could thrash all your shoulder-tied, muscle-knotted,
chairman-calved Milos that ever didn’t do the impossibles which ancient
poets and fabulists, called historians, have attributed to them in verse
and prose. But this is digression, and we return.
[Illustration:
JAMES BELCHER, OF BRISTOL (CHAMPION OF ENGLAND), 1798‒1809.
]
James Belcher struggled into the battle of life in St. James’s
Churchyard, Bristol, on the 15th of April, 1781. He there, for some
time, followed the occupation of a butcher, and early signalised himself
by feats of pugilism and activity at Lansdown Fair.[80] At twenty years
of age his skill with the gloves was the talk of the town, and he
baffled the cleverest professors of the old school on their visits to
Bristol, which were then neither few nor far between. His method
appeared so peculiarly his own that it looked like intuition, and some
of the “ould ’uns” who were sceptical as to his prowess, would not
believe in it until they had experienced in their own persons the
irresistibility of his attack and the cleverness of his almost
invulnerable and ever-varying defence. Gaiety and intrepidity were
combined in Jem’s style with curious felicity, and the rapidity with
which he “got in” upon his opponent, the skill with which he retreated,
armed at all points, and the masterly manner in which he “got out of
trouble,” to the surprise of his assailant, were truly astonishing—in
two words, Jem Belcher was a “natural fighter,” perfected by the
practice of his art.
The first recorded fight of Belcher was with Britton, a pugilist of some
notoriety, who afterwards contended with Dutch Sam; the contest took
place near Bristol, on the 6th of March, 1798; it was a sharp and severe
contest, in which Belcher, the boy of seventeen, disposed of his
antagonist in thirty-three minutes, Britton being beaten to a
stand-still, to the utter surprise of the spectators.
Our hero now came up to town, where his reputation accompanied him;
being introduced to old Bill Warr, who then kept a house in Covent
Garden, the “ould ’un” had a mind to judge personally of the merits of
the young aspirant for pugilistic fame, and accordingly put on the
gloves with him for a little “breathing” in his (Warr’s) own
dining-room. The veteran, who in his best days was no Belcher, was so
astounded at Jem’s quickness in hitting and recovering guard, that he
puffed out, as he reeled against one of his tables, impelled thither by
a “Belcherian” tip, “That’ll do; this youngster can go in with any man
in the kingdom!” Jem quietly observed, during the discussion after
dinner, “I could have done better, sir, but I was afraid I might hit you
too hard, and that you would be offended.”—“Oh!” cried the undaunted
veteran, “I was never afraid of a crack, my boy, and am not now; we’ll
have a round, and you may do your best.” So saying, they instantly
set-to, when Jem, almost at the request of his host, quietly hit him
down several times, despite of the “ould ’un’s” attempts at stopping or
countering. Warr was fully satisfied of Belcher’s talents; they sat down
sociably, and Bill offered to back the young Bristolian against anything
on the pugilistic list.
Tom Jones, of Paddington, whose career closed the final chapter of the
Second Period, was selected as the trial-horse of the new competitor in
the race for fame and its more substantial rewards. The battle took
place on Wormwood Scrubbs, on the 12th of April, 1799, for 25 guineas
aside. The peculiar features of Belcher’s science were well displayed;
and although Jones contended for victory with desperate determination,
unflinching courage, and no small amount of skill and readiness, he was
doomed to “pale his ineffective fires” before the rising luminary of
Belcher’s fame. Thirty-three minutes of courageous and determined
fighting placed the future champion’s star in the ascendant.
Jack Bartholomew, a pugilist whose victories over the gluttonous Firby
(known as the “Young Ruffian”), Tom Owen, and others, had placed him
high in the estimation of “the fancy,” was now picked out as a customer
very likely to try the mettle of Belcher. Bartholomew was in high favour
among the ring-goers, his weight between twelve and thirteen stone, his
qualifications considerable, and his game of the first order. The stakes
in the first instance were small, being but £20 a-side, owing to the
affair arising out of a longing desire on the part of Bartholomew to try
his skill with the Bristol “Phenomenon,” he himself feeling no
apprehension as to the result. He accordingly challenged Jem for this
sum, offering to “fight him for love,” rather than lose the opportunity
of a “shy.” The mill came off, almost extemporaneously, August 15, 1799,
at George’s Row, on the Uxbridge Road, and was so severely and evenly
contested (Belcher was declared to be out of condition), that neither
could be declared the conqueror. Towards the end of the fight
Bartholomew was so completely exhausted that he fainted away, and could
not come to time; and Jem so much done up, that it was with difficulty
he was got up to the scratch. In fact, both men were out of time.
Bartholomew, in the interval, recovering a little from his weakness,
insisted upon renewing the combat, when the ring was again made; but he
staggered about without command of himself, and appeared literally
stupid. His game was so good, but his state so pitiable, that
Cullington,[81] feeling for his bravery, exclaimed, “For heaven’s sake,
Jem, don’t hit him!” upon which Belcher merely pushed him down; in fact,
he was himself so exhausted as to be unable to make an effectual hit.
The umpires pronounced it a drawn battle; and the stakes, which were
held by Bill Gibbons’s brother, were drawn the same night at
Cullington’s.
As Bartholomew possessed pluck of the first order, it was not to be
supposed the matter would rest here; accordingly the world pugilistic
was soon on the _qui vive_ for another match, which was arranged for 300
guineas. This was fought upon a stage on Finchley Common, on Thursday,
May 15, 1800. Bartholomew was at this time 37 years of age, Belcher just
turned 20.
The combatants mounted the stage at half-past one o’clock, and little
time was lost in preliminaries. Bartholomew had determined that sparring
should avail Belcher but little, and ding-dong rushes were the game he
had resolved on. Belcher, even in the early rounds of the fight,
exhibited the tactics, afterwards conspicuous in some of Cribb’s
battles, of “milling on the retreat;” but Bartholomew would not be
denied, and seconded by his great strength and weight, he got in,
planted upon Belcher, and hit him clean down with such violence, as to
induce his over-sanguine friends to start off an express, per pigeon, to
London, with the intelligence of their man’s victory. They were,
however, premature, for Jem, taught by experience, did not give
Bartholomew a chance of thus stealing a march on him; after pinking
Bartholomew once or twice, he warded off his lunge, and catching him
cleverly, threw him so dreadful a cross-buttock, that he was never
entirely himself again during the fight. The odds now changed. Yet
Bartholomew bravely contended, disputing every round with unyielding
firmness, till the close of the seventeenth round, and the expiration of
twenty minutes, when Belcher floored him with so terrific a body blow
that all was U-P. The contest, considering the shortness of its
duration, was considered the most desperate which had been witnessed for
many years, and the loser was severely punished. It is erroneously
stated in “Boxiana” (p. 129, vol. i.) that Belcher and Bartholomew
fought again; but no date or place is mentioned, nor did any such battle
ever come off. “Immediately after the fight,” says the report,
“Bartholomew was taken into custody on a judge’s warrant, for breaking
the peace before the expiration of his bond. He was brought to town in a
coach, but bailed out immediately.”
Andrew Gamble, the “Irish champion,” was now backed by several
influential amateurs to enter the lists with Belcher. Accordingly a
match was made for 100 guineas, to be decided on Wimbledon Common, on
Monday, December 22, 1800; and on that day vehicles of all descriptions,
and crowds of pedestrians, flocked to witness this combat.
The journals of the day give on many occasions a sort of _Morning Post_
list of “fashionables” on these occasions. On the present we find
enumerated Lord Say and Sele, Colonels Montgomery and Ogle, Captain
Desmond, Squire Mountain, Messrs. Cullington, Lee, Kelly, Aldridge,
etc.; and among the professionals, John Jackson, Paddington Jones, Bill
Gibbons, Caleb Baldwin, etc.
Belcher entered the ring about twelve o’clock, accompanied by his
second, Joe Ward, with Bill Gibbons as his bottle-holder, and Tom Tring
as an assistant. Mendoza was second to Gamble; his bottle-holder, Coady;
and old Elisha Crabbe as deputy. Messrs. Mountain, Lee, and Cullington
were chosen umpires; the latter also was stakeholder.
Notwithstanding Gamble had beat Noah James, the Cheshire champion, a
pugilist who had been successful in seventeen pitched battles, and whose
game was said to be superior to any man in the kingdom, still the bets
from the first making of the match were six to four in favour of
Belcher; and Bill Warr, before the combatants stripped, offered
twenty-five guineas to twenty. On stripping, Gamble appeared much the
heavier man, and his friends and countrymen offered five to four on him;
but that was by no means the opinion of the London cognoscenti. A few
minutes before one the fight commenced.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—After some sparring, Gamble made play,
but was prettily parried by Belcher, who, with
unequalled celerity, planted in return three
severe facers: they soon closed, and Belcher,
being well aware of the superiority of his
opponent’s strength, dropped. (The Paddies, in
their eagerness to support their countryman,
here offered five to four.)
2.—Belcher, full of spirit, advanced towards
Gamble, who retreated. Jem made a feint with his
right hand, and with his left struck Gamble so
severely over the right eye, as not only to
close it immediately, but knock him down with
uncommon violence. (Two to one on Belcher.)
3.—Gamble again retreated, but put in several
severe blows in the body of his antagonist with
some cleverness. Belcher, by a sharp hit, made
the claret fly copiously; but Gamble,
notwithstanding, threw Belcher with considerable
violence, and fell upon him cross-ways. (The
odds rose four to one upon Jem.)
4.—Belcher, full of coolness and
self-possession, showed first-rate science. His
blows were well directed, and severe,
particularly one in the neck, which brought
Gamble down. (Ten to one Belcher was the
winner.)
5th and last round.—Gamble received two such
blows that struck him all of a heap—one in the
mark, that nearly deprived him of breath, and
the other on the side, which instantly swelled
considerably. Gamble fell almost breathless, and
when “time” was called, gave in. It is reported
that not less than £20,000 changed hands on this
occasion. The Irish were full of murmurings at
Gamble’s conduct, who was beaten in five rounds,
and in the short space of nine minutes! Gamble
fought very badly. From his former experience
much was expected, but he appeared utterly
confused at his opponent’s quickness. Belcher
treated Gamble’s knowledge of the art with the
utmost contempt.
It may be worth noticing that the “Pride of Westminster,” in after years
known as Caleb Baldwin, described in the report as a “dealer in greens,”
polished off a big Irishman, named Kelly, in fifteen minutes, twelve
rounds, for a purse of 20 guineas, in the same ring.
While Belcher was witnessing the battle between Bittoon the Jew and Tom
Jones, on Wimbledon Common, on Monday, July 13, 1801, Joe Berks, who was
excited and quarrelsome, made a disturbance in the outer ring,[82] and
offensively called out, “Where’s young Jem Belcher? where’s your
champion?” Jem went up to him and asked him what he wanted; the reply to
which was a blow, cleverly warded off. A fierce set-to followed, for Jem
was _semper paratus_, when Berks displayed so much courage and strength,
that the spectators did not know what to think about the finish of this
impromptu affair. The combat lasted nineteen minutes, and although Berks
was beaten, an opinion became prevalent that had not Belcher applied all
he knew of the science, and Berks fought, as it was termed, “hand over
hand,” there was great probability of Jem’s falling before the resolute
onslaught of the Shropshire man.
Berks having shown so much game under such evident disadvantages, Lord
Camelford determined to back him for a second combat in a more regular
manner, for 100 guineas. He was accordingly put out to nurse; a teacher
appointed to initiate him into the mysteries of the science; and it was
reported of Berks that he was a promising child—took his food regularly,
minded what his master said to him, and, for the short time that he had
taken to study, great improvement was visible. Berks ultimately turned
out one of the most troublesome customers, and the hardest to be
disposed of, that ever entered the lists with Belcher.
On Saturday, September 12, 1801, Belcher met Berks, at the Cock, in Sun
Street, Spitalfields, when Jem accepted his formal challenge for 100
guineas, and seven days after, on the 19th, they met at the same house,
to proceed to the battle-field—a rare instance of promptitude and
eagerness on both sides; but the police having scent of the affair, a
magistrate’s warrant was issued, and the battle postponed to the 12th of
the next month. As there is no trace of these proceedings in “Boxiana,”
and they are amusing as well as curious to the ring-goer, showing the
disappointments and _modus operandi_ of the ring in the olden times, we
reprint the account from a contemporary newspaper; and as a specimen of
what then was thought smart writing in the fashionable world.
“On Monday (12th October, 1801), as had been agreed upon, the long
expected battle between James Belcher and Joseph Bourkes (Joe Berks) was
to have taken place at Enfield, but much to the chagrin of the amateurs
and lovers of the pugilistic art, it was prevented by the interposition
of Mr. Ford, the magistrate of Bow Street, who, having received
information of the intended combat, issued a warrant against Belcher,
and on the Sunday night previous Townsend took him into limbo. Many
circumstances combined to excite a most extraordinary degree of
expectation, and produced a multitudinous attendance on this attractive
occasion. The late ratification of peace had tended to annihilate
fighting;[83] conversation which had been so lively supported by the
race of two famous horses, Sir Solomon and Cock-fighter, had now become
exhausted in the sporting circle; the combatants being of the highest
renown in the science, could not fail to animate every amateur; and, to
add still greater numbers to the assembly, a violent thunder-storm on
the Saturday night had kept the heroes, who on that evening enjoy
themselves, altogether inactive. All the loose cash, all the turbulence
that had been amassed that night, now prompted by curiosity, broke forth
with increased avidity. The ‘fight’ was the very goal of attraction; it
consolidated every vagrant wish, every undecided mind, and every idle
hope.
“This match first became the subject of contemplation from an accidental
skirmish during the fight between Bittoon and Tom Jones, at Wimbledon,
in which, although Berks seemingly had the worst of it, the amateurs
considered it as a matter of surprise; and no previous training having
taken place on either side, much consequence was not attached to the
defeat, nor was it considered decisive of the merits of the rival
heroes. Many knowing ones indeed conceived that Berks got thrashed in
this contest only through his own rashness, and entertaining flattering
hopes of his powers, took him into private nursing. Raw eggs to improve
his wind, and raw beef to make him savage, were the glorious
non-naturals that composed his regimen, and in all his exercises he
topped even expectation’s self. All this was done in the anxious trust
that Belcher would be backed with great odds, as he was thought to be
the favourite with all, excepting those in the secret. They, however,
did not manage with all that address which experience proves so
requisite to gull the world; it soon spread that Berks had been in
training, and had considerably improved in his sparring. Odds then took
a contrary direction, but when the amateurs who con o’er these sublime
subjects began to consider that Belcher, although not in training, had
lived temperately, was in good condition, and full of stiff meat, he
again became the favorite, and on the ground six to four were the
standing odds.
“The hours appointed in the articles for the decision of the contest
were between twelve and two. At about one o’clock Berks appeared on the
stage, stripped, and began to show play for the amusement of his
friends, who did not forget to make the welkin ring with their plaudits;
however, Belcher not ascending the stage as expected, he dressed himself
again, amidst cries of ‘Where is Belcher?’ Berks immediately assumed the
attitude, not of a fighter, but of an orator, and in the following
eloquent manner addressed the multitude:—
“‘Gemmen, I com’d here, d’ye see, to fight Jim Belcher. I’m here, and he
isn’t. I wish he had; for, on the word of a butcher, I’d have cleaved
his calf’s head, and given him such a chop in the kidneys, as would soon
have brought him on his marrow bones.’
“The cry of ‘Where is Belcher?’ still continued, when Gamble, the Irish
bruiser, came forward—‘Where is he? why at Bow-street, to be sure; he
was grabbed on the road.’ This was not the fact, but something near it.
The suspense, however, was not of long duration: two friends of Jemmy’s
arrived with the sad and melancholy tidings of the ‘queer tip’ he had
met with the last night.
“Bill Warr, Gamble, Lee, Jackson, many amateurs, and the usual number of
pickpockets, were present.”
On Wednesday, November 25th, 1801, this oft postponed contest was
brought to a decision. The greatest secrecy was observed, and “it was
only on the Tuesday afternoon that the field of battle was precisely
determined on. A stage was erected at Hurley Bottom, four and a-half
miles from Maidenhead, between the Henley and Reading roads, thirty-two
miles from Hyde Park turnpike.
“At ten minutes after twelve Belcher made his appearance, accompanied by
his second, Joe Ward, and by a Bristol youth, as his bottle-holder, who
was unknown to the London bruisers. He immediately began to strip, and
when prepared, took the precaution of particularly examining the stage,
lest any roughness or nail might do him an eventual injury. Shortly
after Berks appeared, attended by Harry Lee, as his second, and George
Rhodes, his bottle-holder.
“The combatants shook hands, and immediately set to. Bets, seven to four
and two to one on Belcher.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Several severe blows were exchanged.
Berks showed in better style than usual. He put
in a well directed hit under his antagonist’s
right eye, who staggered. The men closed, and
both fell.
2, 3, and 4.—During these rounds neither
combatant displayed science, notwithstanding
some good blows were reciprocally given and
received.
5.—Belcher made a feint with his left hand, and
with his right put in so sharp a hit on the
nose of his opponent, that he laid it open, and
brought him down with great violence. (Bets ten
to one offered, but refused.)
6.—Much shy fighting, Berks keeping out at
distance. Belcher at length struck Berks over
the forehead, and cut him again severely; the
blood now issued so freely from his wounds, that
Lee could scarcely find handkerchiefs sufficient
to keep him clean.
7 and 8.—Little done; Belcher propped Berks, who
fell.
9.—Berks being the stronger man, rushed in, got
a hold, and threw his antagonist with great
violence.
13.—This was the best contested round throughout
the battle, and was truly desperate fighting.
16.—At the conclusion of this round Berks was
quite exhausted, and it is but justice to his
gallantry and courage to record that, although
in so dreadful a state, he refused to give in,
and the yielding word was uttered by his second.
REMARKS.—“The battle, which undoubtedly was the
most desperately contested of any since that of
Big Ben and Johnson in the year 1791, lasted
twenty-five minutes; but although it displayed
the height of courage on both sides, it was
by no means so gratifying to the scientific
amateur as many battles of the old school; very
few straight blows were struck, but both the
combatants fought round, and made a hugging
fight of it.
“Berks was much cut and dreadfully bruised in
the body. During the fight he displayed
wonderful activity and bottom, but not an equal
portion of skill. At the conclusion he was
immediately put into a post-chaise, but very
cruelly left there until after the decision of
another battle, and then conveyed to town.
“Belcher appeared not the least hurt, and
declared he never felt a blow during the whole
of the battle; he was very highly elated by
having gained the laurel, and still more perhaps
the stake. He challenged Mendoza, who was
present, and offered to fight him in a month for
300 to 200 guineas. To this bravado, Mendoza,
greatly to his commendation, calmly answered,
that he had given up the pugilistic profession;
that he supported by his exertions, as landlord
of the Lord Nelson, in Whitechapel, a family of
six children. There was only one man he would
fight, which was Jackson; his unhandsome and
unfair conduct in a prior contest having excited
his greatest indignation.” Dan ended a wily
speech by declaring he would fight Jackson for
100 guineas, with a proviso that he should not
avail himself of what he called the “base and
cowardly advantage” of holding the hair of his
antagonist. See MENDOZA, _ante_, p. 79.
Caleb Baldwin, on this occasion also, added a second fight to the day’s
proceedings, his antagonist being Lee, the butcher, whom he beat in
twenty-three minutes.—See Life of CALEB BALDWIN, Appendix to Period IV.
Lord Say and Sele, the Hon. Berkeley Craven, Sir Thomas Apreece, Colonel
Montgomery, Captain Taylor, and other distinguished amateurs, were among
the spectators.
We read in the newspapers of the day that “Lord Radnor, as Lord
Lieutenant of the county of Berks., soon after the fight, issued
warrants for the apprehension of James Belcher and Joseph Berks, as
combatants, and Harry Lee and Joe Ward, the seconds, ‘for unlawfully
assembling and publicly fighting at Hurley, in the county of Berkshire.’
They were taken into custody, and on Friday, January 29th, 1802,
Belcher, Lee, and Ward, appeared at Bow Street, before Mr. Bond, and Mr.
Reed, of Chelsea, with their bail (Mr. Brown, and Mr. Evans, an oyster
merchant in Hungerford Market), where they entered into sureties for
their appearance to answer this charge in the county of Berks.,
themselves in £200, and their bail in £100 each. Poor Berks was most
shamefully deserted and neglected by all his friends, in this hour of
need, and not being able to procure bail, remained ‘in durance vile’ at
the common gaol of Reading.”
The then chief magistrate of Bow-street seems to have been particularly
busy in the proceedings of Belcher, for we find, in the interim between
his bail and surrender, that he stopped even a sparring match. “On
Tuesday, April 6th, 1802, Belcher had announced a display of the art of
self-defence, at a public-house called the Peahen, in Gray’s Inn Lane.
Gamble, Belcher, and several pugilists of fame set-to, and highly
diverted an immense concourse of persons until about ten o’clock, when
Mr. Bond having received information, despatched officers, who very
kindly paid them a visit, and took into custody not only the principals
but the whole of the company, and lodged them in the Compter for the
night.” The paragraph writer then becomes clumsily facetious about the
appropriate transfer of the population of the Peahen to the Poultry
Compter.[84]
In May, 1802, “on the last day of the Quarter Sessions at Newbury,
Belcher, Joe Ward, and Harry Lee, appeared with their bail,” and poor
Berks was brought up from the gaol. Jem’s aristocratic patrons had been
busy, for we read, “Mr. Dundas, the Chairman of the Sessions, addressed
them: he said the prosecution was at the instance of the county, but had
been moved by certiorari into the Court of King’s Bench. He admonished
them to leave off the pugilistic profession, and particularly directed
his observations to Belcher, of whose generally peaceable conduct he had
heard so favourable a report. The Court was very highly pleased at the
respectful manner in which they all surrendered themselves to the laws
of their country; and it was understood, that unless they were again
sufficiently atrocious to violate them, they would not be called upon to
answer for their misconduct.”
At the latter end of this month, May, notwithstanding this advice, the
following paragraph appeared in the _Oracle_: “Belcher and Berks have
been matched at Newmarket by Captain Fletcher and Fletcher Reid, Esq.,
for 200 guineas a-side. Belcher has already set off to Yorkshire, to put
himself in training, accompanied by Joe Ward, and Berks remains in the
neighbourhood of Newmarket for the same purpose. The battle is agreed to
take place within six weeks, but where or when will be kept as much a
secret as possible.”
The best accounts of the disappointments these olden gymnasts met with
in their attempts to decide this contest, may be collected from the
following excerpts:—
BELCHER AND BERKS.
_From the_ YORK HERALD.
“The boxing match made some time since, at Newmarket, to be fought
by the above-named, it was agreed by the parties, should be decided
on Thursday, June 17, between the hours of twelve and two, at the
village of Grewelthorpe, about six miles from Ripon. The above
village is in the West Riding; the division of that part of the
county and the North Riding taking place there. Accordingly, on the
morning of Thursday, a stage was erected at the bottom of a close
adjoining the house of Mr. Pickersgill; the money, amounting to
£1,450 a-side, deposited by the parties, and every necessary
preparation made. In consequence of information having been
previously sent to the magistrates, the Very Reverend the Deans of
Ripon and Middleham, with several of the justices for the North and
West Ridings, attended at Grewelthorpe, and signified their
determination to put a stop to all such outrageous proceedings; but
finding that the business was likely to be proceeded with, and that
a number of people were assembling, they ordered the Riot Act to be
read, which was accordingly done about twelve o’clock, by Mr.
Taylors, the Town Clerk. However, between one and two o’clock,
Belcher, with his second, etc., went upon the stage, and was
followed by Berks, upon which Mr. Trapps went down to inform them,
that if they did not instantly quit the stage, and the
neighbourhood, they and their parties would be apprehended. They
immediately obeyed, and left Grewelthorpe soon after.”
_From the_ MORNING POST.
“It appears that on Thursday, June 17, a stage, on which it was
intended that Belcher and Berks should exhibit a fresh trial of
their skill and strength, was erected in a bye place, about twenty
miles distant from Middleham, in Yorkshire, and so conveniently
situated for the purpose, that no persons present could have been
deprived of a full view of the fight. At one o’clock, Fletcher Reid,
Esq., on the part of Belcher, and Captain Fletcher, on behalf of
Berks, met on the appointed spot, to make good the stake of 1,450
guineas a-side, being the sum for which Belcher and Berks were
matched to fight. The conditions having been fulfilled, Belcher
appeared on the stage at a quarter before two o’clock, attended by
Joe Ward as his second, and Bill Gibbons as his bottle-holder; and
shortly after Berks joined them, with Crabbe as his bottle-holder,
but no second. The two bruisers shook hands, and Berks observed,
‘that it would now be determined which was the best man;’ to which
Belcher replied, ‘he was surprised he did not know that already.’
There were several hundred persons present on the tiptoe of
expectation to see the conflict commence; but the combatants could
not set-to, as Harry Lee had not ascended the stage, who was Berks’
promised second. On his name being called out among the crowd, he
answered to it; but when asked why he did not appear in his place,
he gave no other explanation than that he would have nothing to do
with the fight. This circumstance produced general dissatisfaction,
as it was declared that this determination on the part of Lee could
only have been occasioned by a previous understanding between him
and Berks’ friends, who now began to think of the large sums they
had betted, and the little chance they had of success. No bets could
be procured on the ground, without staking considerable odds. As
Berks refused to accept any other second in the room of Lee, all
hopes of a contest now vanished, and the champions retired from the
stage. Belcher, however, unwilling to disappoint the company,
offered to have a few rounds with Berks for pure ‘love,’ but he
declined, and immediately set off in a post-chaise.”
Mr. Fletcher Reid, who backed Belcher, made him a present of £50 for his
trouble, and £5 to bear his expenses to London. He also made a present
to Ward, his second, and to the bottle-holder, with money to bear their
expenses to town.
In the beginning of July, 1802, the following letter from Berks appeared
in the _Oracle_ and _Daily Advertiser_:—
“_To the Editor of the_ DAILY ADVERTISER.
“SIR,—The wager for which I was to have fought with Belcher, at
Grewelthorpe, in Yorkshire, was 1,450 guineas a-side; Captain
Fletcher betting upon me, and Mr. Fletcher Reid upon Belcher; the
match was to be fought between twelve and two.
“Captain Fletcher was on the stage half an hour before Mr. Fletcher
Reid could make up the sum betted. Belcher did not come upon the
stage until half past one, and then appeared in boots, consequently
not very likely with an intention to fight. Immediately on his
coming on the stage, Captain Fletcher came to me at the house, and
desired me to put on my fighting dress, and be ready immediately,
which I directly did. I was then asked by Fletcher Reid, ‘Where is
your second?’ I answered, ‘Let us fight without seconds, for Harry
Lee has refused to be one, on account of the magistrates.’
“I had wished to fight before the hour named, to prevent the
interposition of the magistrates; for though no man can more respect
their authority, which I would not attempt to resist, I thought it
would be fair enough to get a start of them.
“Mr. Bolton, of York, held the bets, to the amount of 2,900 guineas.
“I had been in training seven weeks at Middleham, and was never in
better condition. I ran and leaped with many people, and always beat
them. I was exceedingly well treated by the people there, and must
say that Captain Fletcher behaved amazingly well, and like a
gentleman to me. I told him it was not for the sake of money, but of
my honour, that I wanted to fight.
“Belcher had not been ten minutes on the stage, when two or three
gentlemen came and told him to get off, for that the magistrates had
issued their warrants.
“Belcher on this was directly going off, when I said, ‘Belcher, stop
and fight at all risks, and we shall see who is the best man.’ I
must say it is not true, as stated in some of the papers, that
Belcher made a reply, ‘that he thought I knew already,’ for he made
no answer, but acted the part of ‘Orator Mum.’
“It appears odd to me that Joe Ward was at Grewelthorpe the day
before, but did not appear the day appointed for the fight at all. I
do not wish to impute anything wrong to him, but think it very
strange.
“The above is a true statement, which nobody will deny, and which
Belcher, if he has a regard for truth, dares not contradict.—I am,
sir, yours, etc.,
“JOSEPH BERKS.”
“_London, July 1._”
On the 19th of August, it being Camberwell Fair, those two disappointed
and hitherto considered equal champions accidentally met, never having
seen each other since their proposed match in Yorkshire. “Belcher first
espied his pugilistic rival entertaining a number of people with the
manner in which he would serve out Belcher the first time he met him;
but this seeming to have happened unexpectedly, their first salute was
at least civil. Belcher, however, could not help expressing his regret
that Berks should boast everywhere of his superior prowess, that he
could beat Belcher with ease, that Belcher was afraid to fight, etc.
Berks did not deny these accusations, and offered to fight him
immediately. They then adjourned to the bowling-green belonging to the
house where they met, and Berks attacked Belcher before he could get his
shirt off. However, when they fairly met, Belcher put in a well-directed
hit, knocked out one of Berks’ front teeth, and following it up with a
blow under the ear, brought him down. Berks not being quite sober, and
Belcher indisposed, their friends agreed that they should meet next day
at Oxendon Street, Leicester Square. This being settled, they
separated.”
August 20.—“This day they met according to agreement, and after some
negotiation respecting the order of proceeding, they went, each in a
separate hackney coach, accompanied by their friends.
“At a little before one o’clock the parties arrived at Tyburn Turnpike,
where they immediately fixed on the first open space, a large field
directly behind St. George’s Chapel, which faces Hyde Park. The combat
having been so suddenly determined on, very few amateurs were present,
excepting Mr. Fletcher Reid and Mr. Crook. There not being time to build
a stage, an extensive ring was immediately formed, and the multitude,
which was immense, placed around it. The first row almost lying, the
second sitting, the third kneeling, and the remainder standing; those
behind thinking themselves well favoured if they now and then got a
peep.
“After walking about for a few minutes they began to strip, and when
prepared, Berks asked Mr. Fletcher Reid ‘Whether it should be a fair
stand-up fight.’—‘Certainly, in every way,’ said Mr. R., and immediately
called Belcher to acquaint him with what Berks had asked, when he said
‘Certainly, I can do no otherwise.’ Berks then requested that the pauses
between each round might be three quarters of a minute, but Belcher’s
friends insisted on the old established interval of half a minute.
“A purse of thirty guineas was subscribed for the winner, and five for
the loser, by the amateurs present. A few minutes after one they entered
the ring; Belcher, accompanied by Joe Ward as his second, and Bill
Gibbons as his bottle-holder; and Berks, by Tom Owen as his second, and
Yokel, the Jew, for his bottle-holder. After the accustomed salutation
they set-to.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Berks showed in this round that his
hope of gaining the battle rested upon his
superior strength. He ran in, closed upon
Belcher, and tried to throw him, but failed,
when Belcher dexterously accomplished what his
antagonist was so desirous of doing, and had his
man down on the grass. Some blows were struck,
but no blood drawn.
2.—Berks followed the plan he had commenced
with, ran in, and received a well-aimed blow
from Belcher in the throat, which drew blood.
They closed, and Belcher again threw his
opponent.
3.—Berks once more ran in with great pluck, and
with much adroitness planted a sharp blow on
Belcher’s right cheek bone with his left hand;
he then put in a severe blow between the
shoulder and the breast, which, had it been
lower, would have done execution. While aiming
another blow with his left hand, Belcher
rallied, closed, and a third time brought Berks
down with a hit and a close.
4.—Berks rushed upon his adversary, missed his
blow, and fell. Here some groaned, calling out,
“Berks is at his old tricks,” supposing him to
be shifting, but his subsequent conduct showed
the fallacy of such a charge.
5.—Berks ran in with great force, caught Belcher
by the hams, doubled him up, and threw him in
the style of a cross-buttock; Belcher pitched on
his head with such force it was feared his neck
was broken. A cry of “Foul! foul!” ran round,
but Belcher rose as sprightly as ever, said he
was not hurt, and in answer to the cries of
“Foul,” said “No, never mind.”
6.—This was one of the most severe rounds
that had been fought. Berks ran in as usual:
several severe blows struck on each side.
Belcher tremendously struck Berks on the
side of the head, a second on the neck, and
a third on the throat, all truly severe.
They closed, struggled, changed legs, and
each displayed his utmost skill and strength
in wrestling; at last both fell, neither
being able to claim any advantage.
7.—Berks had lost his gaiety; he seemed less
eager, and his strength evidently began to fail:
when put to the test, he still, however, showed
great spirit. They closed, and Berks was a
fourth time thrown.
8.—Berks during this round fought on the
defensive, but at that he had no chance. Belcher
put in several good blows, and terminated the
round by bringing Berks down the fifth time.
9.—Bets at this time were twenty to one in
favour of Belcher, who did not appear the least
exhausted. While sparring, he was nodding and
talking to his antagonist, at the same time
putting in some most severe and unexpected
blows. Poor Berks was again brought down.
10.—Berks set-to with spirit, and came to close
quarters. Belcher put in some awful hits, and
struck unusually sharp: he cut Berks under the
left eye, then under the right, and thirdly,
planted a most dreadful blow between the throat
and chin, so severe that it lifted Berks off his
feet, and his head came first to the ground.
Belcher fell from the force of his blow, and as
they both lay, the blood gushing up Berks’
throat, he collected it in his mouth, and
squirted it over Belcher. This he did not
relish, and swore he would pay him for it in the
next round. Berks, however, declared he did not
do it intentionally.
11.—Although Berks was evidently beaten, he
still showed fight. Some blows were struck, they
closed, and Belcher threw Berks, at the same
time falling on his own hands, not wishing to
hurt Berks more by falling on him, though the
practice is customary, and considered fair in
fighting.[85]
12.—Berks now showed considerable weakness,
sat longer on the ground, and required greater
assistance from his second than before. This
round ended by Belcher’s throwing him.
13.—Berks again came up; Belcher struck five or
six blows, closed, and again threw him. Berks
was now heard to express a wish to give in,
but his second desiring him to persevere, put
a handkerchief to his mouth, and stopped his
utterance. (This was disgraceful, and opposed to
all rules of the ring.)
14.—Berks showed game, but his strength was
gone; in short, he only stood up to be beat;
every one manifestly saw he had no chance of
success. After a few sharpish blows, Belcher
closed and threw him on the chest, where he
laid for some seconds, and then yielded the
palm. He was several times asked by Joe Ward
if he had given in, and distinctly answered
“Yes.” He could scarcely see or stand, and was
so shockingly cut about the face, that it was
impossible to distinguish a feature. His friends
placed him in a hackney coach, and carried him
to a house in the neighbourhood of Grosvenor
Square.
REMARKS.—Belcher carried no marks of the battle,
excepting the bruise on the cheek bone and his
left shoulder. After the battle was over he
leaped with great agility, and having walked
three times round the field, left it on foot.
His style of fighting in this contest was his
own peculiarly, putting in with astonishing
rapidity his three successive blows, and knowing
Berks’ superiority of strength, avoided closing
whenever he was able. The whole of the bets
depending on the intended Yorkshire battle were
decided by this contest.
Tuesday, August 24th, Mr. Fletcher Reid, the pugilistic amateur, gave a
dinner at the One Tun public-house, in St. James’s Market, to a number
of the professors of boxing. Berks was there, and in the evening Belcher
called in, when Mr. Reid addressed Berks, telling him he must now be
convinced it was impossible for him to beat Belcher, and asked him to
give him his hand, which he immediately consented to do, and the two
champions sat down at the same table, and spent the remainder of the day
in good humour. Berks was astonishingly recovered, and said he felt no
inconvenience now from the fight, but being a little stiff. In the
course of the evening a wager was made between him and Jack Warr, Bill’s
son, to run one hundred yards, for two guineas, which they immediately
decided, and Berks won by five yards.
On Friday, October 8, 1802, James Belcher was carried before his
attentive friend, Nicholas Bond, Esq., and Sir William Parsons, at the
Public Office, Bow Street, being taken into custody on a warrant of Lord
Ellenborough’s, dated the 22nd of July, 1802, in order to give bail for
his appearance next term in the Court of King’s Bench, to answer an
indictment found against him for certain riots and misdemeanours;
alluding to the battle he fought with Berks at Hurley Bottom, in
Berkshire, and which had been removed from the Quarter Sessions to that
Court, where it would have rested, as before understood, had he not
lately fought another battle.
The recognizance was himself in £200, and two sureties in £100 each.
This meddling Midas appears to have been one of those public nuisances
that are occasionally entrusted with in-discretionary power. Belcher had
engaged Sadler’s Wells Theatre for the evening of October 26th, 1802,
for his benefit. But Mr. Bond and his brother magistrates disappointed
hundreds, and robbed Belcher, by “closing the house for the season,”
declaring sparring an “unlawful exhibition!” Such are the fantastic
tricks of men “dressed in a little brief authority.”
John Firby (the Young Ruffian), who at this time, 1803, stood high in
reputation, offered himself, though certainly stale, as a candidate for
“the Bristol youth’s” favors. A purse of 100 guineas was subscribed by
“the dons of Newmarket race-course,” as the prize; and they were to meet
on Tuesday, April 12th, 1803. But the magistrates of Suffolk and
Cambridge getting wind of the meeting, exerted their authority to
prevent it, and on the Monday evening before, sent notices to the men
that a fight would not be permitted. A secret meeting was immediately
held, and it was determined to repair to the nearest spot in the county
of Essex, where they might fight unmolested by the magistrates.
Accordingly, by six o’clock the next morning, every one in the secret
was in bustle, procuring vehicles and horses for their conveyance. “At
seven o’clock Belcher started in a post-chaise, seated between Joe Ward,
his second, and Bill Warr, his bottle-holder. They pursued the London
Road, followed by an immense retinue, until they arrived at Bone Bridge,
where they turned to the left, passed through Linton, instilling awe
into the astonished inhabitants, who could conceive nothing else but
that the French were come. When they had got to the distance of
half-a-mile beyond Linton, and about fifteen from Newmarket, being in
the appointed county, they turned out of the road on to a level piece of
ground, and there resolved to decide the contest. To prevent a
possibility of any interruption it was judged expedient to be as active
as possible. They immediately commenced the formation of a ring, which
was accomplished without much difficulty, there not being many
pedestrians. This being executed, the combatants were called, and
informed that the collection was 100 guineas, but with regard to the
terms on which they contested, they must themselves decide. They
immediately agreed 90 guineas for the winner, and 10 for the loser.
“The combatants without loss of time began to strip, and after the usual
ceremony, at a quarter past nine, began.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Every countenance expressed the
greatest anxiety, while each stood on his guard,
in expectation of his opponent’s blow. The
disparity in size was considerable, Firby
standing six feet one, and weighing fifteen
stone; Belcher five feet eleven, and barely
twelve stone. The combatants remained inactive
for some seconds, when Firby put in a blow at
the head, which Belcher avoided, and immediately
returned by two blows left and right, but
without much effect; they closed, and both fell,
Belcher underneath. Many offers to take two to
one that “the Ruffian” would win, but few
betters.
2.—Belcher immediately struck Firby in the
mouth, from which blood flowed copiously, and
following it up by a right-handed blow on the
side, brought his antagonist down. (Odds were
now three to one in favour of Belcher.)
3.—No harm on either side. This round, Firby at
the commencement aimed a blow at his opponent’s
head, which he caught, and gave a returning
blow, which Firby likewise parried with much
dexterity. Belcher again made a blow which was
also stopped; he, however, made a blow, followed
up his opponent fighting half armed, and Firby
fell.
4.—Both combatants rallied, and both put in some
severe blows. They closed, Belcher fell, and
while on his knees Firby struck him. A cry of
“Foul! foul!” resounded from all sides. Belcher
appealed for a decision of the point, but wished
to go on rather than take advantage of such
a circumstance. At this time a parson and a
constable arrived from Linton, and endeavoured
to prevent the further progress of the battle;
but the combatants not paying much attention to
the sacred cloth, or the legal staff, commenced
the
5th round.—Firby, who now had a black eye, and
spit up blood, shifted, and seemed afraid to
approach his antagonist. Belcher facetiously
beckoned to him, when he came up and struck, but
so slowly, that Belcher avoided it by a jerk of
the head, and while he was making a violent hit
at Firby’s side, he fell. Belcher smiled; his
opponent was evidently distressed.
6.—In this round, which undoubtedly was the best
contested throughout the battle, it became
apparent that Belcher’s strength increased,
whilst that of his adversary was much exhausted.
Firby, with much irritability, made some severe
hits at Belcher, which he, however, either
parried or avoided, so that not one of them
told. Belcher smiled and looked about him with
the greatest composure, even in the heat of the
round, and carefully watching, put in a well
directed blow in the stomach, at the same time
closing, he gave his antagonist a cross buttock
with great violence.
7.—Much hard straight-forward fighting on both
sides, but Firby had the worst of it. (Odds ten
to one on Belcher.)
8.—Firby rallied, made a hit, which Belcher
stopped with great adroitness, and immediately
struck Firby over the mouth, cutting his lip
severely; Firby, however, returned it by a sharp
hit, but did not draw blood. (Odds in this round
sunk from ten to five to one.)
9.—At the first onset Belcher put in a severe
blow over his antagonist’s right eye, and
immediately resuming a defensive attitude, very
cheerfully said, “How do you like that, Johnny?”
Firby made a desperate blow, but over-reached
himself, and fell; Belcher smiled, and while he
was down pointed at him with great irony.
11.—Belcher followed his opponent round the
ring, and put in some severe blows, which Firby
stopped, but not effectually; Belcher at length
gave him a knock-down blow, when his friends
insisted he should give in.
The contest lasted twenty minutes, during which
time Firby never had any chance of success. He
had ever been considered a first-rate pugilist,
and consequently the amateurs expected one of
the best displays of science that ever had been
witnessed; but whether Belcher’s name overawed
him, or he really had fallen off in his style of
fighting, he in this contest fell much short of
what was anticipated. Belcher after the battle
had not the mark of a blow perceivable.
Thursday, May 12, 1803.—“Mr. Garrow this day moved for the judgment of
the Court on four defendants, James Belcher, Joseph (but in the
indictment erroneously called Edmund) Burke, Joe Ward, called also
erroneously James, and Henry Lee, who were described to be labourers.
These defendants had allowed judgment to go by default.”
The indictment charged, that they, being persons of evil and malicious
dispositions, and fighters, duellers, rioters, etc., had, on the 25th of
November, in the county of Berks, conspired and combined together, that
James Belcher and Edmund Burke (!) should fight a duel, and that the
other two defendants should be aiding and assisting in the said fight
and duel; and that in pursuance of the said conspiracy, the said James
Belcher and Edmund Burke unlawfully and riotously assembled together,
with fifty others, to the disturbance of the public peace; and that
Belcher and Burke “fought a duel,” and the other two “were present,
aiding and assisting, together with fifty other persons.” Mr. Garrow,
afterwards a brutal Tory attorney-general and truculent judge, earned
his dirty fee by a more than ordinary amount of hireling abuse of
pugilism. Of course he said little of the deadly weapons with which the
prisoners’ “betters” settled their duels. The celebrated Erskine,
afterwards Lord Chancellor, and Mr. Const defended the prisoners, merely
asking the lenity of the Court. Lord Ellenborough finally bound the
prisoners, each in his own recognizance of £400, to come up when called
on for the judgment of the Court; a nominal judgment, upon which the
defendants were discharged.
An unfortunate accident now struck down the skill of this talented
boxer, and clouded his after life in every sense. While playing at
rackets with Mr. Stuart at the Court in Little St. Martin’s Lane, on the
24th of July, 1803, Belcher received a blow from a ball struck by the
marker, of such extraordinary violence as literally to almost knock his
eyeball from its socket. This distressing accident and the heavy
recognizance on which he was bound, had a most depressing effect on
Jem’s spirits and health, and he announced his retirement from the ring.
His friends rallied round him, and placed him in a public-house, the
Jolly Brewers, in Wardour Street, Soho, where he was well supported. But
Jem’s spirit was active, though prudence dictated entire retirement. A
quarrel between a brother of Jem’s (who soon after died) and Hen.
Pearce, the Game Chicken, his fellow townsman and _protegé_, led to this
unfortunate rencontre. The lavish praises too of Pearce’s friends
excited Belcher’s envy: he declared he had taught Pearce all he knew,
and spoke slightingly of “the Chicken’s” ability and skill; but we are
anticipating.
Joe Berks, upon Belcher’s retirement, claimed the championship; but
Pearce of whom we shall soon give the pugilistic career, was invited to
London by Jem, with a promise to procure him patronage and a match with
Berks. These matters will be found hereafter in our Life of PEARCE, who
had in the interim twice beaten Berks, and subsequently, Elias Spray,
Carte, and lastly John Gully, when Belcher rashly challenged “the
Chicken” for 500 guineas, to fight within two months. Pearce appears to
have been much mortified at this challenge, but his position as champion
forbade him to decline it. Mr. Fletcher Reid, Belcher’s firm friend,
staked for Jem, and Captain Halliday posted the 500 for “the Chicken.”
This, the first defeat of the renowned Jem, will be found fully detailed
under the memoir of his conqueror.
Belcher had materially declined in constitution, independently of the
loss of his eye. Among the serious effects of that accident was a
nervous depression and irrepressible irritability, which, according to
the testimony of many who knew him intimately, he tried in vain to
control. Upwards of two years had passed in retirement from active
pursuits, and in the ease and free living of a publican’s calling, when
Belcher came forward, upon Pearce’s claim to the championship, to
dispute his title. He could not be persuaded of the difficulties of
meeting so skilful and formidable a boxer with the loss of an eye; and
when too late he discovered his inferiority. How he did fight was long
remembered by those who witnessed the lamentable but truly heroic and
honourable combat, in which more unaffected courage, manly forbearance
and true humanity were displayed and applauded, than ever entered into
the narrow soul of craven slanderers of pugilism to conceive. Animosity
was merged in honourable emulation, and the struggle for fair and
unimpeachable victory. Belcher fought in his accustomed style, and tried
his usual hits with adroit rapidity; but it was noticed that they were
often out of distance, and that his defective eyesight was painfully
made evident. When this was aggravated by blows over the good eye, his
aim became utterly confused, and he became a victim to his own fatuity.
Nevertheless, poor Jem endeavoured to make up for deficiency of sight
and aim by an astonishing and unequalled display of courage and gaiety;
and though the skill and science on both sides deserved respect, the
spectators could not avoid seeing that Belcher’s guard was no longer
ready, and his rapid antagonist planted on him so severely and
frequently as to excite the regret of his friends that such a combat
should have been provoked, and that the envious infirmity of human
nature should have thus blinded the mental judgment as well as the
bodily sight of so able a champion. Jem’s spirits, however, never
forsook him during the fight; and at its close he declared, “That his
sorrow was more occasioned by the recollection of the severe loss of a
particular friend, who, in fact, had sported everything he possessed
upon his head, and had been one of his most staunch backers and
supporters through life, than as to any particular consideration
respecting himself!” a generous sentiment and well worthy of record.
Notwithstanding the somewhat ill-natured remark of John Gully, “That had
Jem been in possession of _four eyes_, he never could have beaten
Pearce,” it must be remembered that the future M.P. had been thrashed by
Pearce, and had not even seen Belcher in his prime. Fully conceding the
excellence evinced by the Chicken in science, wind, strength, and game,
we may yet be allowed the supposition, that had this contest taken place
when Jem Belcher possessed his eyesight in full perfection, its
termination would, to say the least, have been very doubtful.
Respecting Belcher’s two battles with Cribb, when the circumstances of
the case are duly appreciated; when it is recollected that his spirits
must have been somewhat damped by previous defeat; and that his powers
were known to be on the decay previous to his fight with the Chicken, it
must be allowed that his heroism and science shone resplendently.
In the first fight with Cribb, as may be traced, Jem’s superiority in
tactics was manifest. The former was severely punished; and not until
Belcher had received a most violent hit over his good eye, and sprained
his right hand, did Cribb appear to have an opening for a lead. In the
seventeenth round the odds were two to one on Belcher, and in the
eighteenth five to one, when Cribb was so much beaten, that considerable
doubts were entertained whether he would be able to come again; and even
at the conclusion of the battle Cribb was in a very exhausted state.
Until Belcher lost his distance, from his confused sight, victory
appeared to hover over him.
In the last battle that Belcher fought his courage was principally
displayed, and he by no means proved an easy conquest to Cribb. Since
the loss of his eye, it was the positive wish of his best friends that
he should fight no more, but he was not to be deterred, obstinately
neglected good advice, and would not believe in the decline of his
physical powers. In this last battle, his disadvantages were great. His
opponent had made rapid improvement in science, was in full vigour, and
a glutton that was not to be satisfied in a common way; still Jem gave
specimens of his former skill; but they were rather showy than
effective, for the strength had departed. His hands, too, failed him,
and for several of the latter rounds he endeavoured fruitlessly to
prolong the contest without the _indispensable_ weapons to bring it to a
successful issue. Youth, weight, courage, freshness, and no mean amount
of skill, were too much for the waning stamina and skill of even a
Belcher to bear up against.
At the end of the report of his fight with Firby, a correspondent of the
_Morning Post_ thus sketches Belcher’s qualifications from personal
acquaintance. “Belcher is a dashing, genteel young fellow, extremely
placid in his behaviour, and agreeable in his address. He is without any
remarkable appearance of superior bodily strength, but strips remarkably
well, displaying much muscle. Considered merely as a bruiser, I should
say he was not so much a man of science according to the rules of the
pugilistic art, as that he possessed a style peculiar or rather natural
to himself, capable of baffling all regular science, and what appeared
self-taught or invented, rather than acquired by practice. He was
remarkably quick, springing backwards and forwards with the rapidity of
lightning. You heard his blows, but did not see them. At the conclusion
of a round his antagonist was struck and bleeding; but he threw in his
hits with such adroitness that you could not discern how the damage was
done. His style was perfectly original, and extremely difficult to avoid
or to withstand.” Again, “His style, like that of the great masters in
every line, was truly ‘his own;’ the spectator was struck with its
neatness and elegance—his opponent confused and terrified by its
effects; while his gravity, coolness, and readiness, utterly
disconcerted the fighting men with whom he was often opposed in mimic as
well as actual combat. Add to this, that a braver boxer never pulled off
a shirt, and we need hardly wonder at his eminent success, until an
accident deprived him of one of the most valuable organs of man’s
complex frame.”
In his social hours, Jem was good-natured in the extreme, and modest and
unassuming to a degree almost bordering upon bashfulness. In the
character of a publican, no man entertained a better sense of propriety
and decorum; and the stranger, in casually mixing with the Fancy in his
house, never felt any danger of being offended or molested. It would be
well if as much could be said of all sporting publicans.
After his last defeat by Cribb, much of Belcher’s fine animal spirits
departed. He was depressed and taciturn, and his health much broken by
twenty-eight days’ imprisonment to which, with a fine, he was condemned
for his breach of the peace by that battle. The old story too, for Jem
was not prudent, is again to be told. His worldly circumstances had
suffered with his health, and
“The summer friends
That ever wing the breeze of fair success,
But fly to sunnier spots when winter frowns,”
forgot to take what old Pierce would have called their nightly “perch,”
or “roost,” at Jem’s “lush-crib.” His last illness approached, and, with
at most two of his firmest friends, the once formidable champion
departed this life on Tuesday, July 30, 1811, at the sign of the Coach
and Horses, in Frith Street, Soho, in the thirty-first year of his age,
and, on the following Sunday, was interred in the burial ground of
Marylebone. The concourse of people to witness the funeral was immense;
and a more general sympathy has rarely been witnessed. The proximate
cause of his death was a family complaint, having its origin in an
enlargement of the liver. The following inscription may be yet read upon
his tombstone:—
IN MEMORY OF
JAMES BELCHER,
Late of St. Anne’s Parish, Soho,
Who died
The 30th of July, 1811,
AGED 30.
Universally regretted by all who knew him.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER II.
TOM BELCHER—1804‒1822.[86]
The third of the Belchers, Tom, remains in the memory of a few old ’uns
as, for many years, “mine host of the Castle,” a jolly, rubicund,
pleasant, and generous fellow, and the worthy predecessor of the
departed Tom Spring, in that ancient head quarters of the Fancy, now
also Pythagorised into a feeding-shop, named after Sir Charles
Napier—another fighting hero. Tom came to London in the year 1803, when
his brother Jem was at the zenith of his fame, having beaten every man
with whom he had fought, and attained the position of undisputed
Champion of England. Although Tom’s ring career was not so brilliant as
his elder brother’s, it had a less striking culmination and fall, and
his thirteen battles, with eight victories and a draw (with the
phenomenon Dutch Sam), tell well for Tom’s descent from the Slacks and
Belchers.
Tom Belcher was born at Bristol, in the same house as his brother Jem,
on the 14th of April, 1783. On his earlier years we need not dwell, and
where there is little or no authentic material, we hold nothing in
deeper contempt than the system of “gagging” a parcel of clumsy
apocryphal battles, some of which there is inherent chronological and
circumstantial evidence could never have taken place.
We have said Tom came to town at twenty years of age, and he was soon
matched. His first salaam in the ring (which on this occasion was forty
feet in diameter, instead of the customary twenty or twenty-four feet)
was on the 26th of June, 1804. His opponent on this occasion was of a
noted fighting stock, being Jack Warr, the son of the celebrated Bill
Warr. The prize contested for was 50 guineas, and—hear it, ye who have
in modern times travelled even to Ireland to see no fight—the
battle-ground was no farther off than Tothill Fields, Westminster; the
day, Tuesday, June 26, 1804.
Warr was much the firmer set and stouter man, though the youthful Tom
had the advantage in the reach, and, upon stripping, the odds were a
trifle in favour of Belcher, from the _prestige_ of his family name, and
the predilection of the amateurs for the school from which he came. We
quote the contemporary report.
“On the Monday night the knowing ones determined that the scene of
action should be Tothill Fields, and on the following day they
accordingly met about two o’clock, attended by their friends. A ring was
immediately formed, not exceeding forty feet in diameter, by driving
stakes and attaching to them the reins lent them by the various hackney
coachmen. On stripping, Warr appeared stouter than Belcher, but the
latter was taller and longer in the reach. After the usual ceremonies
they set-to. Odds six to four in favour of Belcher.
“The set-to was in clever style, both displaying excellent science. Warr
put in the first blow and followed it up with a second, both of which
took effect; no return. Had they taken place as aimed their violence
might have settled the battle. Belcher rallied, and some desperate hits
were exchanged. At the conclusion of the round bets became even. From
this to the eighth round both combatants fought desperately. It was a
scene of thorough hard fighting, each endeavouring to make his hits
tell, without once shrinking from the blow of his opponent. Belcher
evidently imitated his brother in his plan of fighting, putting in his
blows with his left hand, straight, and with the rapidity of a dart.
Odds rose in favour of Belcher six to four again, but not from any
advantage he had as yet gained in the battle. Warr stood up manfully,
and never once gave way.
“For the three following rounds Warr put in his blows so forcibly, and
so well directed, that they were almost irresistible, and he undoubtedly
had the advantage. It being considered, however, that Belcher’s bottom
was good, betting did not go lower than par; he, however, at this time
displayed great weakness, and evidently was greatly exhausted.
“Warr supported the superiority to the sixteenth round, and put in
several desperate body blows. Belcher, on the contrary, fought all at
the head, by which plan Warr’s eyes became greatly affected.
“The seventeenth round was most admirably contested. Belcher seemed to
recruit his strength, changed his mode of fighting, and put in
successfully several severe body blows. Warr persevered with undaunted
fire throughout the round; they closed, and both fell.
“On rising, Warr appeared weak; however, the eighteenth round was
another truly severe trial, both combatants being apparently determined
to exert their greatest strength, and bring into action all their
science. Warr stood his ground, and Belcher put in some severe blows
over his eyes, which, already much cut, were entirely closed at the end
of the round.
[Illustration:
TOM BELCHER.
_From a Portrait published in 1810._
]
“Although in this state, Warr obstinately contested another round, in
which he could not fail to be completely worsted. His friends now
interfered, and insisted on his giving in. But he refused; and then
fainting, was immediately carried off the ground almost lifeless, every
one complimenting him by calling him ‘A chip off the old block.’
“The nineteen rounds were fought in thirty-three minutes.”
The son, emulous of the sire, seems at this time to have found favour
with the pugilistic world as with the turf, on an absurd application of
the “like begets like” principle.[87] Accordingly, Bill Ryan, son of
Michael,[88] was selected to lower the pretensions of “Young Tom.” The
“amateurs” might have done worse, as the event proved, for Bill polished
off the youthful Tom in thirty-eight rounds, November 30, 1804, as we
shall notice in the Appendix to this Period. (See RYAN, BILL, p. 229,
_post_.)
It appears that Tom was not only dissatisfied with this defeat, but
considered it a “snatched battle.” On Saturday, April 27, 1805, Pearce
triumphantly beat Carte, the Birmingham bruiser (see PEARCE), at
Shepperton Common, Surrey, in thirty-five minutes. The “fancy” were
unsatisfied, and a subscription purse being collected of 20 guineas,
O’Donnel,[89] “the celebrated Irish hero,” offered himself. Pierce Egan
says, “O’Donnel showed himself entitled to respectful attention; but who
was completely satisfied in fifteen rounds.” The reporter from whom he
copies says, in better English and with more sense, “Tom displayed his
known dexterity, and showed good science; but O’Donnel, who fought well
at the commencement, at the end of the fifteenth round played _a cross,
and gave in_.” We suspect he was tired of the job.
Tom fretted, it appears, after the lost laurel with Bill Ryan, and
challenged him a second time to the lists. They accordingly met for 25
guineas a-side, at Laleham Burway, near Chertsey, Surrey, June 4, 1805.
Belcher was seconded by Tom Blake (Tom Tough), and was backed by Mr.
Fletcher Reid; Bill Ryan was waited on by George Maddox and a “friend.”
The Hon. Berkeley Craven posted his stake, and laid the odds of seven to
four on Ryan. At one o’clock the men stripped, and two to one was
offered on Ryan. We quote the report.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Both men kept at distance; but after
some little sparring Ryan put in the first blow.
Tom parried it extremely well; Ryan bored in and
both fell, Ryan uppermost.
2.—Some good straight blows exchanged; Belcher
struck, Ryan parried, and Belcher fell from the
force of his own blow.
3.—Excellent fighting; as many as ten blows
passed, when Belcher cleanly knocked down his
opponent.
4.—Some sharp blows; Ryan threw Belcher a cross
buttock with great violence.
5.—A tightly contested round; Belcher fell.
6.—No fighting; they closed and both came down.
7.—In this round Ryan displayed to advantage,
but closing he fell.
8.—Very short; Ryan again fell.
9.—Both having received some desperate blows,
now began to be more cautious, sparred a good
deal, and the round was terminated rather
favourably for Ryan.
10.—Some sharp blows quickly plied. Belcher
fell. (Odds were now generally two to one on
Ryan.)
11.—The men instantly closed, and Ryan fell.
12.—In this round Ryan put in some good hits and
brought down his opponent.
13.—Both closed, struggled, and fell, Belcher
uppermost.
14.—Ryan threw in a severe blow, which Belcher
very scientifically stopped; he rallied, and
both fell with great violence. When down,
Belcher patted Ryan’s cheek, and said, laughing,
“Bill, you’re done over.”
15.—No fighting, and the men closed and fell,
Ryan uppermost.
16.—Both showed fight; Ryan down.
17.—Ryan very adroitly threw his opponent, still
Belcher appeared very gay.
18.—Good fighting. Ryan brought down his
opponent again, but not a clear fall.
19.—After some good hits exchanged, Ryan put in
a severe blow in the kidneys, and threw Belcher.
20.—Ryan now appeared distressed in his wind;
but he made a neat hit, but slipped and fell.
21.—Both fought with great resolution, and each
showed courage. Ryan had the superiority in
strength, and got his opponent down again.
22.—Both appeared fatigued; no fighting, they
closed and both fell.
23.—Well contested; Belcher showed good fight,
and his friends began to have a better opinion
of his chance; he hit his man and got away,
Ryan, however, threw him.
24.—Belcher recruited, stood up boldly, and by
an excellent hit, brought down his opponent.
25.—Both very weak, closed, and fell.
26.—No fighting, at least no impression. Ryan
fell.
27.—Both combatants seemed distressed. Belcher
fell.
28.—Belcher at the end of this round fell, and
laughing, fairly pulled his antagonist after
him.
29.—Belcher immediately on setting to, put in a
blow on the head, and Ryan gave in, not without
a supposition of cross play. The fight lasted
fifty minutes.
“Lord Craven, Lord Albemarle, General
Fitzpatrick, Hon. Berkeley Craven, Mr. Fletcher
Reid, Mr. Mellish, Mendoza, Jackson, Bill Warr,
and others were present.”
On February the 8th, 1806, Tom was defeated by “the phenomenon,” Dutch
Sam (Elias Samuels). See DUTCH SAM, Chapter V. of this Period.
In the interval between this and his next contest he disposed of an
aspirant (who took the name of “Jack in the Green”) for a ten pound
note.
His next was a brave but ineffectual attempt to reverse the verdict in
the case of Dutch Sam. Tom, though not _quite_ beaten, fought a draw,
July 20, 1807. This led to the final appeal, on August 21, 1807, when
Tom’s objections to Sam’s superiority were finally disposed of. See
DUTCH SAM.
After these reverses, Dogherty, who had twice beaten Cribb’s younger
brother, George, now challenged Tom, to fight in a month, and the 5th of
April, 1803, was fixed for the tourney (the same day as Dutch Sam and
Cropley’s fight was appointed); but it was interrupted by the Bow Street
“redbreasts,” and postponed until Thursday, the 14th of April, when it
came off near the Rubbing House on Epsom Downs. A roped ring of
twenty-one feet was formed on the turf, and about twelve o’clock the
combatants entered, Belcher accompanied by Mendoza and Clark, Dogherty
by Cropley and Dick Hall. Without loss of time they set-to. Six to four
on Belcher.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—More than a minute elapsed before any
blows were exchanged, both sparring to obtain
the advantage. Belcher stopped his opponent’s
attempts with great neatness; a rally took
place, when they closed, but broke away. Some
trifling hits took place; they again closed, and
Dogherty threw Belcher. (The odds six to four
were unchanged.)
2.—Belcher stopped a terrible left-hander which
Dogherty aimed at his head; the latter rushed
in, but Belcher knocked him off his legs.
3.—Skill and courage by no means deficient on
either side. Dogherty tried to bustle his man,
but Belcher was cool and prepared; he stopped
his plunges, and put in some severe blows on
Dogherty’s face, who, nevertheless, closed the
round by throwing Tom.
4.—The skill of both men was conspicuous in this
round; but Belcher had the best of it. Dogherty
received a tremendous facer in endeavouring to
plant a hit, and Belcher in settled in fine
style. Dogherty convinced the spectators that he
was no novice, by his dexterity in stopping—yet
Tom, following his opponent round the ring,
punished his head most terribly, and brought him
down by a blow under the jaw. (Three to one on
Belcher.)
5.—Belcher, with uncommon dexterity, broke
through Dogherty’s guard, and with his left hand
planted a most dreadful blow in his throat,
which struck Dogherty so completely abroad, that
he repeated the hit three times before Dogherty
could recover himself, when they closed and
fell.
6.—Belcher upon setting-to dropped his opponent
from the first two blows.
7.—Dogherty’s efforts were completely defensive;
he stopped Belcher’s blows with great neatness;
nevertheless, Belcher rallied him down.
8.—Belcher had enough to do in warding off
the well-aimed hits of his adversary, who
now went in impetuously, yet not without
science; in closing, Tom was thrown upon the
ropes by Dogherty, and to all appearance
without difficulty. The betting fell, for
though Dogherty had been hit heavily, he was
strong and dangerous.
9.—Several good blows were exchanged; but
Belcher was not seen to so much advantage in
this round. In closing, Belcher was underneath.
10.—Belcher sparred cautiously and retreated;
when Dogherty, conceiving something might be
gained by following him, put in two good hits.
In closing the round, Dogherty was thrown.
11.—Belcher put in two facers, when both the
combatants fell out of the ring.
12.—Dogherty was again thrown, previously to
which Belcher planted two good hits.
13.—Dogherty, full of pluck, rattled in, but Tom
threw him with considerable force.
14.—Tom, evidently superior in this round,
rendered the bustling of Dogherty unavailing,
and again threw him violently. (Three and four
to one on Belcher.)
15.—The game of Dogherty claimed admiration,
his appearance commiseration—his head was
terrific, and his strength was nearly exhausted;
nevertheless, he still forced the fighting,
but his blows were of no effect, and he fell
beneath the superiority of his opponent.
Belcher’s half-arm hits were as swift as they
were punishing, till Dogherty fell. (Any odds on
Belcher.)
16 and 17.—In both these rounds the exhaustion
of Dogherty was visible, and, to the honour of
Belcher, be it recorded, he disdained taking any
more advantage than was necessary to insure
his contest: as his opponent fell on the ropes
at his mercy, he walked away from him. Such
humanity ought not to be forgotten.
18 and 19.—Dogherty’s spirits were good, but his
stamina was exhausted; his blows did not tell,
although he still stopped with considerable
science. Belcher kept the lead in fine style; in
closing, both men fell.
24.—Up to this round it was evident that Tom
must win; but his game opponent was determined
to try every effort while the least chance
remained of success. Tom put in three desperate
facers, and followed them by so severe a
body-blow, that Dogherty fell quite bent and
exhausted.
25‒33.—Dogherty, still determined, contended for
eight more rounds, but was nothing more than a
mere object of punishment to his opponent, who
continually hit him down with ease. This could
not last long, and in the thirty-third round, at
the end of forty-five minutes’ sharp fighting,
Belcher was declared the conqueror.
“Belcher was so little hurt,” continues the
reporter, “that upon hearing of his adversary’s
surrender, he immediately threw a somersault,
and ran off to the Rubbing House (nearly half a
mile) without stopping to put on his clothes. In
this battle Belcher fought with greater skill
and science, and more after the manner of his
brother, than in any one he had contested. His
distances were measured with exactness—every
hit told. Dogherty’s only chance against such
superior skill and steadiness was his sheer
strength and game; but in this last Belcher
showed himself his equal.”
Bill Richmond, whose memoir will appear hereafter, thrashed a countryman
in the same ring.
On the 25th of October, 1808, a day memorable as that whereon Gregson
was beaten after his desperate battle with Tom Cribb at Moulsey, Tom
Belcher entered the same thirty-feet ring to fight Cropley for a purse
of 50 guineas. At setting-to the odds were seven to four on Belcher.
Cropley was seconded by Tom Jones; Dick Hall acted as his bottle-holder;
and Belcher was waited on by Mendoza and Dutch Sam. The combatants were
looked upon as well matched, and considerable expectation of a fine
display of the art was entertained. During a contest of thirty-four
rounds, which occupied fifty-six minutes—and it is but justice to
observe that a more scientific fight was rarely seen—Cropley proved
himself an excellent boxer, and possessed of undeniable game. But his
attitude was bad; and his defeat was principally attributed to a knack
of bringing his head too forward when putting in his blows. Belcher saw
this advantage, and accepting the present thus made him, punished his
face so dreadfully, that in the latter part of the battle Cropley was no
longer recognizable. Tom’s blows, however, seem to have been rather more
showy than effective, for it was with the utmost difficulty that Cropley
was persuaded to give in, and he was still steady and strong; though,
says the reporter, “all but blind, he even then felt desirous to try
another round.”
One Farnborough, who rested his pretensions upon weight, strength, and
pluck, three good points certainly, had the temerity to fight Tom
Belcher, on Epsom race-ground, in a thirty-feet ring, on February 1,
1809. He proved a mere pretender; and after the first round Belcher
treated him with the utmost _sang froid_. In the course of twenty
minutes he so completely polished him off that Farnborough was glad to
cry “enough,” while Belcher was scarcely touched. This was a small
consolation for the Belchers, for in the same ring on the same day Tom
Cribb beat Jem Belcher, as detailed in the Life of CRIBB.
Silverthorne, a pugilist of some note and success (see Appendix to
Period IV.), was matched for 100 guineas, and a subscription purse of
£50, against Belcher. This battle was decided upon Crawley Heath, near
Copthall, June 6, 1811. Silverthorne was seconded by the veteran Caleb
Baldwin, and his bottle-holder was Bill Gibbons; Belcher was attended by
Mr. John Gully and Tom Jones. Four to one upon Belcher.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Belcher, upon the alert, stopped a
tremendous body blow, and returned two sharp
hits right and left in Silverthorne’s face,
which immediately produced blood; after
disengaging themselves, Belcher pelted away most
effectually, putting in hits as quick as
lightning. It was declared by several old
ring-goers that such a first round was never
before witnessed. Silverthorne went down during
the hitting from the severe effects of Belcher’s
blows.
2.—Silverthorne came to the scratch with
something more than caution in his attitudes; he
began by retreating from his adversary, who hit
him right and left upon the head. Silverthorne,
in planting a hit upon Belcher’s throat, was
stopped; nevertheless he got in a severe body
blow, which Belcher retaliated by hitting him
down.
3.—Silverthorne, who bled profusely, rattled in,
game as a pebble, but without effect—Belcher put
in several severe blows. Silverthorne showed he
was not without science by stopping several
nasty ones; Belcher losing his distance closed,
and was thrown by Silverthorne.
4.—It was now evident that Silverthorne was much
inferior to his opponent, who frustrated all his
attempts with ease and coolness. Silverthorne
endeavoured to plant a severe body blow, which
Tom stopped, when a rally commenced, which
turned out to Belcher’s advantage, for he put in
a terrible blow, then closed, and threw his
opponent a cross-buttock enough to knock the
breath out of him.
5.—Silverthorne came to the scratch anything but
improved in appearance; he received two facers,
and fell in an attempt to get in. (All betters
but no takers.)
6.—Notwithstanding the chance was against him,
Silverthorne showed play, and stopped very
neatly a right-handed blow which was intended
for his head. Belcher, however, got in one on
the body, and Silverthorne fell in attempting to
return the hit.
7.—It was now bellows to mend with Silverthorne,
who was completely exhausted, but still wished
to try another chance—Belcher did as he liked
with him, and finished the contest by a hit in
the throat, which knocked him down. The game
Silverthorne could come no more, and Belcher was
proclaimed the conqueror. Silverthorne was at
once conveyed to a post-chaise, carried to the
nearest inn, and put to bed. Belcher, as on
a former occasion, threw a somersault, then
mounted the box of a patron’s barouche, and
started for town.
“In this battle Belcher had as fine an
opportunity, despite Silverthorne’s experience,
of showing off his superior science, as with the
slow and unwieldy Farnborough. He fought
cautiously, drawing his opponent, when he never
had any difficulty in getting on to him.
Silverthorne was beaten in spirit in the first
round, though he did not give in till nature
deserted him.”
After this triumph Belcher reposed awhile on his laurels; and in the
early part of 1813 he started on a sparring tour through the provinces,
visiting the northern parts of the island. In Liverpool he was
particularly attractive, and numerous pupils attended his school, who,
from their rapid progress in the science, gave proofs of the excellence
of the master under whom they studied. His engagement being completed at
this seaport, and being so near to the “tight boys of the sod,” he
determined, previous to his return to the metropolis, to take a peep at
“the land that gave Paddy his birth.” Tom’s arrival in Ireland, while it
gave pleasure to the patrons of the science, created jealousy in another
professor of boxing, who had been there some time previous, teaching the
natives the advantages of the complete use of their fives, an art never
properly understood or appreciated by Irishmen. Dogherty resented Tom’s
visit as a sort of intrusion on his domain; added to which his scholars
ran after the newly arrived “Sassenach.” This was unendurable. Dogherty
issued a cartel to his former conqueror, and all other preliminaries
being arranged, the rivals met on the Curragh of Kildare, on Friday, the
23rd of April, 1813, for a subscription purse of 100 guineas, and “the
honour of ould Ireland,” as the “historian” expresses it.
The spot where the fight took place, known to this day as “Belcher’s
Valley,” was particularly convenient for spectators, being in a glen on
the Curragh, surrounded by sloping hills, forming a natural
amphitheatre.
Belcher appeared first in the enclosure, dressed in a great coat, but,
whilst it was completing, retired to a barouche, in which he had
arrived. Dogherty now showed himself to the spectators, wrapped up in a
box-coat of no trifling dimensions, and instantly gave his caster a toss
in the air, loudly vociferating, “Ireland for ever.” This sentence,
which came so directly home to the natives of Paddy’s Land, occasioned
an electric expression of approbation from the surrounding multitude,
accompanied by repeated shouts and huzzas. It might spontaneously have
escaped the lips of Dogherty, from a warmth of feeling to his native
soil, but it certainly was not calculated to place Belcher in a
favourable point of view with the assembled multitude. Tom accordingly
again entered the enclosure, seeming to feel (whatever the intention of
it might be toward him) that, if suffered to pass over without notice,
it might operate to his prejudice. After bowing to the spectators, he
solicited a gentleman who had been chosen the umpire to address the
public, that no improper impression might go forth respecting his
character. This the gentleman did, nearly to the following
effect:—“Gentlemen, Mr. Belcher wishes it to be understood that, if any
aspersions have been levelled at him, stating that he has spoken
disrespectfully of the Irish nation, he begs leave to assure you it is
an absolute falsehood; and, as a proof of the truth of his statement, he
is ready at any time to fight those who may dare assert to the
contrary.” This pithy oration was favourably received; the combatants
immediately stripped, and the ceremony of shaking hands having been gone
through, the seconds took their stations. Isle of Wight Hall seconded
Belcher, and Gamble attended upon Dogherty. Belcher, from his well-known
excellence, was the favourite, two to one, yet, notwithstanding this
great odds, there were scarcely any takers. Both the combatants appeared
to possess confidence in themselves. Belcher having beaten Dogherty in
England, felt that superiority which belongs to experience and practical
knowledge. On the other hand, Dogherty was considerably improved, and
for “the honour of Ireland,” and surrounded by his countrymen, felt an
additional stimulus to win, and was determined not to yield the palm so
long as he could struggle for it. With these feelings they set-to
exactly at one o’clock.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The excellent attitude and neatness of
style exhibited by Belcher, much attracted the
attention of the Irish amateurs. Good science
on both sides, when they both hit together;
Dogherty received a sharp facer, and the blood
issuing from his lip, Belcher exclaimed, “First
blood,” several bets depending upon that event.
Belcher received Dogherty’s return upon the
ear. Some severe hits were exchanged, and, in
closing, both went down, but Belcher undermost.
2.—Both combatants went sharply to work, and
much good fighting was displayed. In closing,
Belcher was thrown, but received no injury from
his fall. Loud shouting occurred, and Dogherty
was so elated with his dexterity, that in the
pride of the moment, he offered 100 to 10, but
it received no attention.
3.—Some excellent sparring opened the round, in
which Dogherty showed that he was much improved
since his former contest at Epsom; it was
followed by the exchange of several severe
blows. Dogherty’s mug was rather pinked, his
temper seemed a little ruffled, and the round
was concluded by his being thrown.
4.—Milling without ceremony was the order of the
day; but the advantage was on the side of
Belcher, from his superior science: he hit much
more rapidly than his opponent, and his
defensive tactics displayed a like superiority;
he punished the face of his opponent terribly,
and finally sent Dogherty down by a one, two,
right and left.
5.—Caution became rather necessary on the part
of Dogherty. Belcher was thrown, but not before
some severe hits had been exchanged.
6.—Belcher punished the nob of his antagonist
throughout this round. They closed and both
down.
7.—The combatants made play, when an opening
appearing, Belcher put in so severe a hit on
Dogherty’s ribs that he reeled down.
8.—The contrast between the styles of the two
pugilists at that early period of the battle was
manifest to all the spectators. Dogherty had
been most terribly punished. His face was
materially altered, one of his eyes being
closed; the claret trickled from his olfactories
and potato trap, and the round was terminated by
Dogherty’s receiving so severe a hit upon the
thorax that he instantly went down. (Belcher a
guinea to a shilling!)
9.—The game of Dogherty deserves peculiar
notice, from the sharp milling he took without
flinching; Belcher serving it out so hard and
fast as to knock him down. In going over him,
Belcher disengaged himself from Dogherty in neat
style.
10.—Belcher full of gaiety showed his leading
superiority by planting several hits;
notwithstanding, in closing, Dogherty threw him.
11.—The combatants were determined to convince
the lookers on there was no trifling between
them; both milling away in every direction. The
left eye of Belcher received an ugly blow, and
Dogherty, still strong, threw him under the
ropes.
12.—Fighting without intermission, and bravery
truly conspicuous on both sides. The round was
terminated by Belcher putting in a tremendous
teaser on Dogherty’s throat, which not only
floored him, but rendered him unable to move for
a few seconds.
13.—Belcher held the advantage by punishing the
face of Dogherty dreadfully, and ended the round
by knocking him down.
14.—No alteration. Dogherty rather groggy, and
Belcher getting second wind; still taking the
lead in milling, and closing the round by
throwing Dogherty, and falling upon him.
15.—The game of the latter was the theme of
every one. He proved himself a perfect trump,
rallying with good spirit, but receiving a
straight hit under the eye, he went down.
16.—On setting-to Dogherty made play, but the
judgment of Belcher foiled him; the latter
putting in several blows in succession, fibbing
him, and ending by throwing his man cleverly.
17.—Dogherty planted some severe body blows;
nevertheless, Belcher closed and threw him.
18.—A smart rally, both men keeping up the game
gaily. Belcher, in endeavouring to throw his
antagonist, went down.
19.—Dogherty sparred with considerable judgment,
to gain time, and put in a sharp blow upon the
body of Belcher, who went down from a slip.
20.—Belcher seemed perfectly at home; as if
he felt convinced how things were going. The
advantage of superior science, enabled him to
serve out Dogherty about the head with such
severity as to occasion the latter to fall at
his feet. (A bet could not be obtained at any
odds.)
21.—Dogherty, still at the scratch, contended
with the utmost bravery to prolong the fight,
but it appeared only to receive additional
punishment. His head and face exhibited a rueful
aspect—he was covered with claret, and in the
event milled to the ground.
22.—To the astonishment of every one present,
the spirit of Dogherty was not broken. He
attempted to put in some good hits upon the body
of Belcher, but the wary guard of Tom stopped
them with ease; in throwing Dogherty, he went
down with him.
23.—Punishment was the lot of Dogherty, and
his face and neck were terribly mauled; but in
closing, he showed his strength by throwing
Tom on his hip.
24.—Manœuvring again resorted to. Dogherty
felt for Belcher’s body; but Tom returned the
favour most liberally on his opponent’s mug.
In closing, Dogherty experienced so severe a
fall, as to remain a short period insensible.
25.—The pluck of Dogherty was not yet taken out
of him, and whilst he entertained the smallest
notion of a chance remaining, he was determined
to stand up, although so dreadfully worsted
every round. A desperate hit from Belcher again
made him measure his length on the ground.
26 and last.—Dogherty, with the most determined
resolution, endeavoured to rise superior to
exhausted nature, and would not cry “enough!”
He made a desperate rally to effect a change
in his favour, evincing that no common caterer
could satisfy his inordinate gluttony. Belcher,
however, hit him almost where he pleased, and
wound up the piece by throwing and falling on
him. Dogherty could not come again; he was
decidedly finished; and some time elapsed before
he could get up. He was bled in both arms upon
the ground, and instantly conveyed home and put
to bed.
This well-contested fight continued thirty-five
minutes, and upon Belcher’s being declared the
conqueror, he threw a somersault, and
immediately got into a barouche and drove off to
Dublin to a dinner provided for him by a party
of gentlemen.
If this distinguished boxer claimed the
admiration of the spectators from the scientific
manner in which he won the battle, and the
superior adroitness he displayed in protecting
himself from scarcely receiving any injury, it
is but justice to observe, that Dan Dogherty
proved himself a milling hero of the first
stamp; and the true courage he displayed ought
not to be forgotten. As a proof that his efforts
made considerable impression, a subscription,
amounting to upwards of £70, was immediately
made for him, the Marquis of Sligo putting down
5 guineas; to this Belcher subscribed a guinea.
Tom continued several months after this battle
in Ireland, exhibiting specimens of his skill,
in company with Hall, with increased reputation
and success. At Cork and Dublin his well-earned
fame produced him numerous respectable scholars,
among whom several persons of rank were
conspicuous.
The advantages of superior science were never
more clearly shown, than in this combat. The
dexterity, ease, and perfect _sang froid_ with
which Belcher defeated Dogherty surprised even
those who were somewhat acquainted with the art,
but, generally speaking, among the mere lookers
on it excited astonishment—to view one man (and
a scientific professor too) hit all to pieces,
his head so transmogrified that few traces of
his former phiz remained, completely doubled
up, and perfectly insensible to his defeat;
while the other combatant was seen retiring from
the contest with barely a scratch, and driving
away from the Curragh with all the gaiety of a
spectator. It was impossible that such a vast
superiority could be passed without remark.
On Belcher’s return to England, he took a benefit at the Fives Court
(May 20, 1814), which was numerously patronised, preparatory to his
commencing tavern keeper, at the Castle, in Holborn, previously in the
occupation of Gregson, afterwards the caravansera of the respected Tom
Spring; and here we must make room for a slight anecdote recorded by
Pierce Egan.
“Tom, in company with Shelton, about a week after he had defeated
Dogherty, upon coming down Highgate Hill, in a chaise, was challenged to
have a trotting match, by a couple of fellows in a gig. Belcher
endeavoured to give them the go-by, but they kept continually crossing
him. At length, one of those heroes, determined upon kicking up a row,
jumped out of his chaise, and without further ceremony, seized Tom by
the leg, in order to pull him out to fight, threatening, at the same
time, to mill both Belcher and Shelton.
“‘Let go,’ said Tom, ‘and as soon as I get upon the ground, we will have
a fair trial, depend upon it.’—One of Belcher’s fingers, at this period,
was in a poultice, and his hand so sore that he could scarcely touch
anything with it; however, this did not prevent the turn up from taking
place. The cove’s nob was metamorphosed in a twinkling, and, by way of a
finisher, he received a blow that sent him rolling down the hill, to the
no small diversion of Shelton and Tom. The latter now mounted his gig
with all the _sang froid_ possible, good-naturedly advising this would
be fighting man never to threaten, in future, beating two persons at
once. Upon the blade’s stopping at the nearest inn to clean his face
from the claret it was deluged with, he learnt, to his great surprise,
he had been engaged with the celebrated Tom Belcher.”
“Belcher, whose desire for punishing his opponents always ceased on
quitting the prize-ring, was attacked one evening, in June, 1817, upon
his entering a genteel parlour in the vicinity of Holborn, in a most
unhandsome manner, by Jack Firby (a fifteen stone man, and six feet
high, but better known by the appellation of the Young Ruffian, and from
his defeat by Jem Belcher). In spite of all his ruffianism and knowledge
of boxing, his nob was instantly placed in chancery—his peepers were
taken measure of for a suit of mourning—and his mug exhibited all the
high vermilion touches of colouring, without the aid of a painter. In a
few minutes he was so completely satisfied, from the celerity of his
expert opponent, as scarcely to be able to retire, covered with shame
and confusion for his insolence. Tom politely expressed himself sorry
for the trifling interruption the company had experienced, without
receiving the slightest scratch from his overgrown bully.”
In conclusion, we may take a glance at Belcher as the “retired
pugilist,” a character which, in our own time, we have seen a
sufficiency of examples to respect, despite the libels and lies of
“Craven” and other calumniators.
Not to cite bygone landlords of “The Castle,” in themselves a tower of
strength, we may mention that one pugilist (Mr. John Gully) whose memoir
will appear in an early chapter, has risen to senatorial honours;
another (Langan, the antagonist of Spring), received a piece of plate
(on his retirement from business with a handsome fortune), as a
testimonial of the high respect of his neighbours and acquaintance in
the town of Liverpool; while the best conducted sporting houses, and
those which least frequently figure before magistrates, are—we
fearlessly assert it—those kept by ex-pugilists of the higher caste.
_Teste_ Belcher’s, Spring’s, Jem Burn’s, Owen Swift’s, in London, and
many sporting houses in the provinces. There are exceptions, of course,
but if the slanderers of pugilists and fair pugilism will insist on
descending to personal or individual libel, to bolster up their cowardly
onslaughts on this manly art, we pledge ourselves for every pugilist of
note, whose name they produce as having come under the lash of the law
for any dishonourable offence, to pick out a parson, a magistrate, or a
doctor to match him; and if the highest criminality be the test of class
profligacy and brutality, we will go higher and find them Quakers,
military officers, aye, even bishops, guilty of capital felony. Truly it
is enough to make one’s blood boil to read such canting drivel, such
impotent spleen vented on bravery and courageous endurance. For
ourselves, some acquaintance with the world has taught us that we had
rather trust to the honour and generosity of a soldier than a priest, or
a pugilist than a professing puritan. But to return to Belcher.
For several years Tom was a frequent exhibitor at the Tennis Court,
where no boxer more decisively established the superiority of art over
strength. The following instance may tend, in some degree, to illustrate
the above opinion. Ikey Pig, the antagonist of Cribb, who possessed a
smattering of the science, was not only knocked about like a child, but
ultimately hit clean off the stage. Shaw, the life-guardsman, a Hercules
in appearance, a man of undeniable courage, and with strength to match
his mighty heart, was dead-beat with the gloves by Tom; although this
son of Mars, but a day or two before, in a bout with Captain Barclay,
had put the captain’s upper works to much confusion, and made his teeth
chatter again. Gully, whose knowledge of boxing was far above
mediocrity, appeared considerably inferior in his sets-to with Tom.
Molineaux, too, when in his prime, was milled in all directions over the
stage, and ultimately floored by Belcher. During the time Tom was in
training at Norwich to fight with Farnborough, in an exhibition of
sparring at the above place, he levelled the Champion Cribb, to the no
small surprise of the spectators. The memorable disposal of Shock Jem (a
lad of most determined spirit, and who had made the art of self-defence
his study, under the tuition of the scientific George Head), was so
complete and satisfactory upon the point in question by Belcher, as to
need no further comment. Shock was “hit to pieces.” In competition with
Cribb or any of the “big ones,” Tom’s excellence as a sparrer was never
in the slightest degree doubtful; and of this a marked demonstration
took place on the occasion of Cribb’s benefit, May 31, 1814. The massive
bulky appearance of the champion standing over the compact elegant form
of Belcher, reminded the spectator not inaptly of the difference between
a small frigate contending with a first-rate man-of-war; and that
however the former might, from its compact size and high state of
discipline, perform its movements with greater celerity, and even create
considerable annoyance by superiority of tactics, yet ultimately, in a
decisive engagement, where there was no room for manœuvring, it must
strike to heavier metal. So with these combatants. The ponderosity of
Cribb, when in close quarters with his opponent, or he bored in upon
him, was manifest; but when at arm’s length, and while there remained
room for a display of adroitness and skill, Belcher appeared the greater
man. The exclamations, which made the court resound again, with “well
done, little Tom,” decided this point. Belcher put in some neat touches
upon the nob of the Champion, on his resolutely boring in, and stopped,
in several instances, the well-meant heavy blows of Cribb in the return,
with considerable dexterity and judgment. True, when the Champion did
get in, he drove Belcher to the corner of the stage, and the strength
and resolution of Cribb prevailed.
In concluding our remarks on Belcher’s sparring, the following
circumstance is worthy of note. It occurred on the 26th of February,
1817, at the benefit of Cribb. Upon Belcher ascending the stage with H.
Lancaster, they were interrupted from all parts of the court, with the
cry of “Scroggins.” Mr. Jackson also requested it, for the satisfaction
of several amateurs of rank present. Upon this, that hardy little hero
appeared, and Lancaster retired. The spectators were uncommonly anxious
to witness this set-to, which might be denominated first-rate science
against the most determined ruffianism. Scroggins, immediately on
shaking hands with his opponent, rushed at him with all the impetuosity
of an English bull-dog, and, for three rounds, it was a downright mill
with the gloves. Belcher, from the fury of his antagonist, was driven
more than once against the rails, and from want of room his science
seemed somewhat at a discount. In the fourth, however, Tom began to feel
his way with more certainty, faced his opponent sharply with his
one-two, on his boring in, and had the best of the round, when Scroggins
bowed and took off the gloves; and, although loudly and repeatedly
solicited by the spectators to have another round, and particularly by
Belcher, he immediately quitted the stage. A slight tint of the claret
appeared on both their mugs, but was first visible from the mouth of
Scroggins.
This little episode, with a man of Scroggins’s character, might
reasonably be expected to result in something like a trial without the
mufflers, and so it eventually proved. For on the 10th April, 1822, a
sporting dinner having taken place at the Castle, Scroggins, who was
bacchi plenis, got into a “skrimmage” with Belcher. The little hero
would not be denied, and Tom feeling his character for courage touched,
cast aside the counsel of discretion, and a mill took place. Twenty
minutes ruffianing, boring in, and hard fighting on one side, and
scientific administration of punishment on the other, settled the
question, and Scroggins was forced to give in. This was a gratuitous and
somewhat ill-advised exhibition on the part of Belcher, who needed no
such triumph, yet it showed the spirit of the “old war-horse ready for
the fray,” was still within him.
Tom Belcher was in height about five feet nine inches, weighing nearly
eleven stone. His appearance was gentlemanly, and his manners and
deportment of the most mild and inoffensive nature, well calculated to
prepossess the stranger in his favour; who also found in his company the
perfection of the pugilist, unmingled with the coarseness which the
ignorant and the prejudiced are too apt to associate with their ideal of
every brave boxer.
Belcher died at Bristol on the 9th of December, 1854, aged 71 years,
universally respected.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER III.
HEN. (OR HENRY) PEARCE, “THE GAME CHICKEN” (CHAMPION)—1803‒1805.
Brilliant as a meteor Hen. Pearce shot across the pugilistic horizon, as
quickly to fall extinguished. When Jem Belcher had reached the zenith of
his fame, he cast his eyes toward Bristol for a successor, and the early
reputation of Pearce pointed him out as a likely holder of the belt of
championship on behalf of his own native city.
We shall not here dilate on the fistic capabilities of Pearce, convinced
that a simple record of his deeds will far outweigh pompous panegyric
and fulsome laudation. Pearce was another among the many scientific sons
of boxing Bristol, and among the many ring recruits which that ancient
city furnished to the metropolitan arena must ever hold a distinguished
place.
The year of Pearce’s birth was 1777, and after serving his
apprenticeship duly to the age of twenty-one, to a tradesman in Bristol,
some of the cognoscenti were attracted by his remarkable skill in
sparring, and in boxing matches, for which that city and its rival,
Bath, were then famous.
After Jem Belcher’s accident, in July, 1803, the champion made a
flattering overture to the young Bristolian[90] to come to London.
Berks, as we have already observed, now asserted his title to the
championship, and Jem soon found Pearce an introduction to that
bumptious personage, who was as much a bully as a bruiser, at the
well-known rendezvous in St. Martin’s Street, Leicester-square. Belcher,
as might be expected, after himself testing Pearce’s qualifications,
readily backed his townsman, and their first serious rencontre is thus
told in “Pancratia,” pp. 182 et seq.:—
“Thursday, August 11, 1803, was a great day out with the sporting
classes of the metropolis, and ‘the Chicken’ was there (at Shooter’s
Hill) with other visitors. Joe Berks also was present. On the road home
these already talked-of rivals for the championship eyed each other with
minute attention, and doubtless with some feelings of envy. In the
course of the evening they met again at the Fives Court, St. Martin’s
Lane, and stories were industriously circulated of the utter contempt
which each had formed for the other’s pugilistic powers. In the course
of the evening Pearce having retired, the gluttonous butcher became
offensively insolent towards Pearce’s friends, boasting his capability
of making it an affair of a few minutes, with such a thread paper. The
challenge was communicated to the Chicken, who rose with alacrity from
his bed (he then lodged in Wardour-street, Soho), and everything was
quickly got ready. A well-lighted room was selected, and notice sent
round to some leading patrons, that a trial of skill was to take place
between the new Bristol youth, and the celebrated glutton Berks; numbers
soon assembled, and between the hours of eleven and twelve the battle
commenced. Berks’ inferiority was soon manifest. His slow and round
method of fighting failed in doing any execution when opposed to the
straight rapid hits of his active adversary, and his pluck only enabled
him to receive uncommon punishment. The Chicken lost no time in
displaying the graces of the science, yet put in his blows so sharply
that Berks soon exhibited signs of weakness. During a desperate contest
of twenty minutes, in which fifteen rounds of tremendous milling took
place, Berks evinced great courage, and endeavoured in the latter round
to fight defensively, and parry the blows of the Chicken, but the latter
followed him up so straight-forward, that it was impossible for Berks to
resist the consequences, and he was twice floored by the Chicken, so
decidedly that he lay stupefied. The two blows were allowed by all
present, to have been the most tremendously effective they had ever
witnessed. Berks was dreadfully milled, yet had the candour to
acknowledge that he had never before met with such a rapid antagonist.”
It should be observed that the cause of this unusual mode of settling an
important fight, was that Berks was at this time under recognizances of
£200, and the conditions of a published prize-fight were supposed to be
hereby evaded.
From the time “the Game Chicken” first appeared in London, the patrons
of the pugilate felt desirous to match him regularly against Berks, but
the latter’s recognizances proved an insurmountable obstacle. Time at
length eradicated all fear of that process, and the match was made.
[Illustration:
HEN. (OR HENRY) PEARCE (CHAMPION), “THE GAME CHICKEN.”
_From a Drawing by_ REEVES, of Bristol, 1805.
]
The sum staked was £100, and the combatants agreed to fight upon the
terms of £90 to the winner, and £10 to be appropriated to the loser.
Accordingly “on Monday, January 23, 1804, the heroes of the fist again
graced the well-known spot on Wimbledon Common, and at eleven o’clock a
ring was formed upon the highest part of the common near Coombe Wood;
but receiving information that they were in a parish wherein they were
liable to be molested, they immediately gave the word to form another
near the telegraph. A race ensued of a curious description, some
thousands of pedestrians and equestrians, with lots of carriages and
carts, all were set in commotion, trying who should obtain the best
situation for seeing the fight.
“A ring being formed, after the bustle had subsided, Berks entered,
accompanied by Tom Owen for his second, and Paddington Jones his
bottle-holder. Shortly afterwards Pearce appeared, attended by Bill
Gibbons and Caleb Baldwin. They immediately began to strip; Berks was
the tallest and displaying immense muscle appeared to possess uncommon
strength. Pearce stood about five feet eight inches and three quarters;
the conformation of his chest and limbs brought to recollection the
athletic form of the noted Tom Johnson, but on a smaller and lighter
scale.
“At precisely at eleven minutes before twelve they set to. Odds seven to
four in favour of Pearce, from the former rencontre.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Pearce showed great caution, opposing
himself indirectly to superior strength; and
Berks had learnt from the brushing he had got at
St. Martin’s Lane, not to rush in. Without any
blows being exchanged, both men closed and fell.
(Two to one on Pearce.)
2.—The Shropshireman upon his mettle, game to
the back-bone, went in desperately, and fought
into a rally like a hero; but the Chicken, awake
to his intent, milled on the retreat, and at
length put in a stopper on Berks’ forehead, that
made him reel again, when the Chicken caught him
staggering, and threw him.
3.—Berks, though bleeding profusely, stood up
well to his man, and a good display of hits was
made on both sides. Berks again thrown.
4, 5.—Ditto repeated, the exchanges in favour of
the Chicken.
6.—Pearce put in a blow, which Berks countered
so heavily as to bring down Pearce on his knee.
(Bravo, Berks!)
7 to 11.—Berks exceedingly shy of his opponent,
always waiting for his antagonist to break
ground, and suffering much from the repetition
of his blows. From this to
15.—The Chicken so much the favourite, that
the odds were four to one upon him. It was
manifest that Berks was not a match for his
man. His style of fighting was considerably
inferior to that of his opponent’s, and he began
to appear much distressed; he occasionally tried
to affect the scientific style of his opponent,
but at a still greater disadvantage than his own
natural mode of fighting. The severe blows he
received from the Chicken made him unruly and
intemperate, and he was becoming fast an easy
conquest up to the
20th round.—Berks’ passion was now exhausting
his strength. His nose bleeding considerably,
and, irritated in mind that no chance offered of
proving successful, he ran in furiously upon
his opponent. His intemperance rendered him a
complete object for punishment, and the Chicken
milled him in every direction. (Twenty to one
the winner is named; and even bets that Berks
don’t come again.)
21.—Passion uppermost; Berks desperate in the
extreme, and by running in headlong, missed
putting in a hit, and fell. Pearce smiling at
his want of prudence, and holding up both his
hands in triumph.
22.—A good rally, but Berks received a most
tremendous floorer.
24 and last.—Berks still insensible to prudence,
and determined to get at his man, received a
severe milling. He was several times advised
by his backers and seconds to give in, but
resolutely refused, soliciting each time to
“fight another round.” However, at the close
of the twenty-fourth bout, he was hit down
stupefied, but suddenly recovering, gave in. The
battle lasted one hour and seventeen minutes,
and Berks, we had almost said as usual, was
severely punished. Pearce fought the last round
as gaily as the first, and when it was over
challenged Isaac Bittoon[91] for 200 guineas,
but this match went off.
After this battle Maddox beat Seabrook in three rounds, and the
afterwards well-known Bill Richmond in three more.
There was a little _désagrément_ arising out of this “field day.” Tom
Owen was indicted at the ensuing Surrey Sessions, for a “riot and
conspiracy,” in seconding Berks, in a pitched battle on Wimbledon
Common, and refusing to depart when warned by a warrant officer, sent by
Mr. Conant, the magistrate, upon information laid. Tom was sentenced to
three months’ imprisonment.
Elias Spray, the coppersmith, a boxer of renown in the neighbourhood of
Bristol, and who had twice beaten Bill Jackling (Ginger), the brother of
Tom Johnson, the champion, was next selected to try the mettle of our
hero.
Monday, March 11, 1805, was the day appointed, and the fixture was
Hampton Court; but fearing an interruption, they agreed to cross the
water, and decide the contest upon Molesworth (Moulsey) Meadow.
Considerable confusion took place in procuring boats to convey the
numerous followers across the river, where several not only experienced
a good ducking, but some narrowly escaped drowning, in their eagerness
to reach the destined spot. At length, everything being completed,
Pearce, attended by Maddox and Hall, as his second and bottle-holder,
entered the ring (twenty feet square) and threw up his hat in defiance.
Spray soon made his appearance, followed by Wood as his second, and
Mountain as bottle-holder. Betting was seven to four on Pearce, even
that the fight did not last twenty-five minutes, and ten to one that
Pearce was not beaten in half an hour.
The combatants lost no time in stripping, and after shaking hands
smilingly set-to at a little before one o’clock.
THE FIGHT.[92]
Round 1.—A little sparring; Spray made a short
hit; the Chicken put in a severe blow and
brought down his opponent.
2.—Good blows exchanged. Spray put in a blow in
his antagonist’s breast. Pearce rallied, and
again knocked Spray down. (Odds nine to four in
favour of the Chicken.)
3.—The Coppersmith showed good courage, and
fought well. The men closed, and both fell.
4.—Spray rather hastily made some hard
blows, but they failed. Pearce gave him a
cross-buttock.
5.—In this round Spray already appeared
distressed. The Chicken showed excellent
science, and a third time completely knocked
down his opponent. As he fell, Pearce smiled.
6.—Both fought well; some sharp blows exchanged.
Spray struck his opponent in the stomach. Pearce
rallied, and threw him very cleverly.
7.—Pearce seemed much affected by Spray’s last
blow in the bread-basket. He made a hit, but
failed, and fell. (Odds fell to two to one.)
11.—No good blows, but Pearce again had the
advantage the whole of these four rounds.
12.—Spray put in some good determined blows,
but they mostly fell short; at length, by a
successful blow on the nose, he brought down
the Chicken.
13.—Pearce bled profusely. Spray evinced
weakness, made a short blow, and fell.
14.—Pearce met his antagonist with determined
resolution, and put in so severe a blow on the
jaw, that every one feared lest he had broken
it; Spray fell. (Odds now rose ten to one on
Pearce.)
15.—Spray stood up to his man boldly, but
quickly received a floorer from the Chicken.
16.—Courage displayed on both sides. Spray put
in some well directed hits; but in closing,
Pearce threw him a cross-buttock.
17.—Spray attempted to rally, but received a
most desperate blow upon his temple that nearly
deprived him of his recollection, and which
spoilt him for the remainder of the fight. The
ensuing five rounds upon the part of Spray were
little better than mere exhibitions of animal
courage.
23.—All in favour of the Chicken. (Twenty to
one, but no takers.)
24.—Spray again showed himself, but his efforts
to turn the tide were futile. The Chicken smiled
at his attempts; yet the Coppersmith showed
considerable skill, and continued the battle to
27.—Hardly to be called fighting. Spray was down
as soon as he appeared.
28.—Spray could scarcely stand, yet could not
bring himself to say “No.” He put up his hands
and endeavoured to face his opponent. It was all
up: the Chicken hit him as he liked, and finally
knocked him off his legs.
29 and last.—Spray stood up, but only to exhibit
the spectacle of a game man struggling against
fate. Pearce put in a thrust rather than a blow,
and poor Spray was persuaded to give in. The
battle lasted thirty-five minutes. Pearce
immediately sprang over the ropes, laid down on
the grass for a few minutes, during which he
accepted a challenge from Carte, the Birmingham
“champion,” for 50 guineas. The money was
immediately staked, and they agreed to fight
within six weeks. The Chicken then started for
town in a chaise, full of spirits.
On Saturday, the 27th April, 1805, the day appointed for Carte to enter
the lists with the Chicken, the parties met at Shepperton Common, near
Chertsey, in Surrey. The superiority of the Chicken was so manifest,
that Carte had not the least chance whatever, although six feet three
and a half inches in height, and weighing upwards of fifteen stone. It
would be a waste of time and paper to give the rounds in the detail.
Suffice it to observe, that after a contest of thirty-five minutes, in
which twenty-five rounds took place, Carte, from his ignorance of the
art, received a most terrible milling; while, on the contrary, the
science of the Chicken so protected him from the attacks of his
adversary, that he scarcely had a mark visible.
A new, young, and formidable rival now sought the notice of Pearce. This
was the afterwards celebrated John Gully,[93] then a young man of
twenty-one years of age: as we prefer the chronicler’s account where his
details are available, we quote a contemporary journalist:—
“Henry Pearce, the Game Chicken, by the unprecedented adroitness and
success with which he has contested every combatant matched against him,
in London, has acquired, with almost universal assent, the proud title
of Champion of England. It has ever been found, throughout the annals of
pugilism, that whenever any hero has, however meritoriously, acquired
such a flattering distinction, some emulous aspirant has sprung up to
dispute his claim, and it has also as generally happened that at last
the hero has been obliged, notwithstanding his accumulated honours, to
acknowledge the triumph of a more youthful rival. Pearce has at this
time conquered three most formidable practisers of the gymnasium, Berks,
Spray, and Carte, and, after a general challenge, no one coming to take
up the gauntlet, he quietly set himself to rest, to enjoy the enviable
honour which no one dared dispute his title to. There was, however, yet
to be produced, in order to keep up the spirit of pugilism, some one who
possessed courage enough to enter the ring against this invincible hero.
This was considered not easy to be accomplished; there happens, however,
to be a man of the name of Gully, a native of Bristol, and fellow
townsman of the Chicken’s, who for some time has followed the avocation
of a butcher, but being unsuccessful, had taken country lodgings in the
neighbourhood of St. George’s Fields,[94] in a fine open situation,
where he found room enough to exert his muscles in the active amusement
of rackets. Here Pearce, through generosity and goodwill, which were
ever two prominent features of his mind, visited his townsman and
acquaintance, to afford condolence. As every don fellow now does not
consider his equipage complete, unless graced with the Broughtonian
mufflers, Gully had a set, and to fill up the chasm in the afternoon’s
amusement the host and guest must have a set-to. Good humour, as it
always should, prevailed, but Gully did not fail to give the Chicken a
few severe hits; in short Gully became fired with his success, and
immediately took it into his head that it was, perhaps, not impossible
to beat the champion. Mr. Fletcher Reid, always actively alive, like a
true sportsman, soon got scent; ‘Gully,’ said he, ‘shall fight the
Chicken:’ his debts were accordingly discharged, and he was taken to
Virginia Water, about two miles beyond Egham, on the western road, to be
put in training. Gully at this time was little known in London, having
never signalized himself as a pugilist. In make he was much such a man
as Jem Belcher, but taller, and longer in the reach. In point of
muscular appearance, a knowing one would not set him down as altogether
built for fighting; however, from the commencement he never funked,
being always sanguine in his hopes of victory. Pearce found some of his
old friends, who backed him 600 guineas to 400, and the day was fixed to
be Saturday, July 20, on which day, in order to keep up the sport, two
other matches were to be decided, between Tom Belcher and Dutch Sam, and
between Ryan and Caleb Baldwin.
“Virginia Water was appointed as rendezvous, where Gully, Tom Belcher,
and Ryan, had been two months in training, under the auspices of Mr.
Fletcher Reid; and it being understood that the first and main battle
would be fought by eight o’clock in the morning, the whole Fancy were in
commotion and arrived there betimes. Hence they all proceeded to
Chobham, three miles further, where a ring was formed, and all was
anxious expectation.
“Whenever John Bull does not see all straight before him,
notwithstanding his being a very drowsy hand at it, he begins to
theorise, and this was the case now. Some said it was ‘all my eye,’ and
others more certainly, ‘there’ll be no fight;’ while others deep in the
secret said it would be a cross. For Mr. Chersey, a knowing one who had
formerly backed Pearce very heavily, had turned round and backed Gully,
‘and by this no one could tell the enormous money he could win.’ So the
sages and chiefs went to council, and first they decided that ‘_all
bets_ should be void.’ But during this awful crisis news arrived that
the Surrey magistrates (_dii minores_) had interfered, that officers
with warrants were abroad, and that _that_ county was no land for them.
Blackwater, beyond Bagshot, was named, and off started the whole
cavalcade. Dutch Sam was mounted in a stylish buggy, but by some
accident the reins broke, the driver jumped out, and left the Jew with a
fast clutch of one rein. Away went the horse, Mishter Shamuels
vociferating to all the heroes of the Pentateuch to save him. He was,
however, soon unshipped, and so severely bruised as to be unable to
fight, and so his match was lost. Blackwater was reached, but the day
was advanced, and disputes went on. Mr. Fletcher Reid declared that if
bets did not stand there should be no fight. Mr. Mellish and the Hon.
Berkeley Craven, offered to back the Chicken to any amount, say 600
guineas to 500. The amateurs having covered thirty-two miles from
London, raised a purse, and for this Tom Cribb (afterwards the renowned
champion of England), entered the lists with George Nicholls, of
Bristol, and was thrashed, for the first and last time.” See NICHOLLS,
in Appendix to Period IV.
Tuesday, October 8th, 1805, was next named as “the great important day
big with the fate” of Gully and of Pearce, and Hailsham, a small village
in Sussex, between Brighton and Lewes, was pitched upon for the Campus
Martius. The number of spectators was immense; the Downs being covered
with equestrians and pedestrians, and the “swells” of royal and
aristocratic Brighton being in unusual force. The Duke of Clarence,
afterwards William IV., often referred to witnessing this fight.
At ten o’clock the combatants met at the place appointed, and, after a
short conference, a 24‒feet rope ring was formed on a green adjoining
the village. At one o’clock the contending champions entered; Gully was
seconded by Tom Jones and Dick Whale; Pearce had Clarke and Joe Ward for
his attendants.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The anxiety round the ring was intense.
Gully made a desperate hit at his opponent, but
fell short, and Pearce immediately knocked him
down. (“Three to one on the Chicken!” cried a
leading amateur.)
2.—Gully put in first blow again. The Chicken
returned sharply, and Gully fell.
3.—Pearce threw in a blow at his opponent’s
head, which fell short. Gully hit out and
dropped.
4.—Pearce stood up with a smile of confidence on
his brow. Both combatants struck at once, and
both hits were well stopped, but Gully fell.
5.—Pearce put in a heavy blow in the neck, and
brought down his opponent.
6.—Pearce put in two good hits right and left,
and brought Gully down once more. (Odds now rose
to ten to two on the Chicken).
7.—Immediately on setting-to Pearce knocked down
his opponent.
8.—Much sparring, Pearce put in a hit; Gully
parried in style, and returned with a knock down
blow; Pearce fell for the first time. Cheers for
Gully, and cries, “They are both Bristol men.”
9.—Pearce appeared touched: he went in and
knocked Gully down, then turning to his backers
smiled in triumph.
10.—Gully struck out with spirit; Pearce
stopped, and with a thump on the breast brought
down Gully.
11.—Gully put in a neat hit, but the round
terminated by the Chicken’s knocking him
completely off his legs.
12.—Gully threw in a most severe blow, struck
Pearce on the mouth, and brought him down.
Cheers for Gully.
13.—In this round Gully displayed both good
science and courage; he put in two good blows,
but fell from the force of the last.
14.—Gully came up in good spirits, but the first
blow of the Chicken’s knocked him off his legs.
15.—Both combatants struck, and both hits went
home. Gully struck again and fell.
16.—Gully appeared rather shy, and fell without
a blow being struck.[95]
17.—The best round during the battle, if not
that ever was contested. Pearce seemed confident
of beating his man, and stood up well. Gully
rallied, and put in several good blows, which
were returned by the Chicken without any
stopping. Gully brought down his opponent, after
having successfully planted two good hits on his
left eye. This round was undoubtedly greatly in
Gully’s favour, and the odds fell, bets being
now six to four on the Chicken.
18.—No fighting. Pearce bled profusely, and
Gully slipped while making play.
19.—Another excellent round. Gully rallied;
Pearce returned; and after some good blows they
closed, and both fell.
20.—Pearce seemed almost blind with his left
eye, and as the blood issued freely, he fought
very shy, and retreated. Gully followed him up
round the ring, and by a good hit brought Pearce
down.
21.—Pearce was very careful, and Gully in
hitting fell.
23.—Some good blows exchanged. Gully fell; while
falling, Pearce struck him a tremendous blow on
the side of the head, and Gully vomited.
24.—Pearce struck, but fell short. Gully put
in a good blow over his opponent’s right eye,
and endeavoured to fall, but only being on his
knees, Pearce struck him. Some cries of “Foul,”
but the fight went on.
25.—Pearce very cautious. Gully stuck to him and
followed him round the ring. Some good blows
were exchanged, and Gully fell again.
29.—Pearce was now every round gaining
advantage.
30.—Gully put in a good hit, and fell. This
irritated Pearce, and he stood over him
apparently much exasperated.
31.—Long sparring. Pearce struck, but fell
short; Gully struck over his guard, and it was
thought almost blinded his right eye.
33.—Pearce very shy. Gully followed him round
the ring, but Pearce knocked him down with a
blow in his throat.
36.—Gully appeared very weak. He made a hit at
the Chicken’s head, which he caught, and Pearce
made a slight return. Gully made a good hit,
which Pearce parried with his left hand, and
with his right knocked down his opponent.
37 to 43.—In all these rounds the Chicken had
the advantage; both were bleeding freely,
particularly Gully, whose ear flowed copiously.
Gully appeared shy of advancing; his head was
dreadfully swollen, and his eyes appeared nearly
closed.
44.—Pearce dexterously put in his favourite hit
in the throat, and his antagonist fell. Gully
had now received so many severe blows, that he
could not face his man; he, however, continued
to protract the fight by making a feint hit, and
falling, until the
64th round, when, by great persuasion, he
yielded the palm, after a contest of one hour
and seventeen minutes.
REMARKS.—Both combatants were dreadfully beaten,
neither being hardly able to see out of either
eye. A subscription was immediately made for the
unfortunate champion. Soon after Gully had given
in, Pearce came up to him, shook hands with him,
and said, “You’re a d——d good fellow; I’m hard
put to it to stand. You are the only man that
ever stood up to me.”
This was, as Pearce afterwards said in private
conversation, the severest battle he ever
fought, and that he was never so near being
deprived of his hard-earned position. As to
Gully’s being “a novice,” as he was termed,
Pearce laughed at the notion. He had all the
tactics of a good general, backed by weight,
strength, youth, and resolution. “He has ‘a
head’ for fighting,” said the Chicken, in his
own rough but figurative language; “he must be a
sharp chap, and get up early, as beats John
Gully, I can tell you.”
To compliment Pearce on this battle would be unnecessary. His success,
however, had an unexpected and unfortunate influence on the fortunes and
fame of his patron and townsman Jem Belcher, who rashly challenged
Pearce to fight for 500 guineas, play or pay, within two months. The
Chicken, who claimed the championship, had no alternative but to resign
the honour, or take up the gage thus ill-advisedly thrown down.
The opinions of the amateurs were, however, much divided. Many, true to
their predilection, stuck to Jem’s irresistibility, and Mr. Fletcher
Reid readily came forward to back Belcher. Captain Halliday covered the
500 on the part of Pearce. To avoid disappointment it was agreed that
the battle should come off not less than 150 miles from the metropolis,
to be decided by a toss between the parties. This Belcher won, and named
a small common three miles from Barnby Moor, and nine miles from
Doncaster. The ground was a short half mile from the seat of Captain
Mellish, at Blythe, and 150 miles from London.
“On Friday, December 6th, 1805, Pearce, who had been staying at the Blue
Bell Inn, Bamby Moor, started about eleven o’clock for Blythe,
accompanied by his father. There they met Captain Mellish, Lord Say and
Sele, Lord Eardley, Captain Halliday, the Hon. Berkeley Craven, and
other gentlemen, who accompanied Pearce across the park to the appointed
spot, where Belcher already awaited them. A ring of twenty feet diameter
was formed within another of forty feet, to prevent interruption from
the ‘outsiders.’ The partisans on this occasion sported ‘colours.’ Those
favouring Pearce sported a blue silk handkerchief with a white spot,
since called ‘bird’s-eye’ and ‘Chicken;’ whilst those adhering to
Belcher, sported, with much pride, the yellow striped flag, known before
by the name of the ‘Belcher,’ in honour of the hero. The combatants
entered the ring, Will Ward seconded Pearce, and Bill Gibbons acted as
bottle-holder; Joe Ward and Dick Whale performing the same offices for
Belcher. On stripping Pearce appeared the stronger man and in best
condition, but Belcher was not in the least daunted, and seemed
confident of success. They performed the well-known salutation, and at
half past twelve they set-to. Betting five to four on the Chicken.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The attitudes of both men were
masterly; and the cleverness in sparring for an
opening excited general admiration. There was
much cautious but active manœuvring. Each seemed
aware that to throw away a chance might lose the
battle. Belcher made several feints, and at
length put in a severe blow on the Chicken’s
eye, over his guard, that drew blood copiously.
The Chicken returned the blow slightly, they
closed, and the Chicken threw his man.
2.—Belcher remarkably active. He again made
several feints, and the Chicken, whose face was
covered with blood, stopped cautiously, then
made a hit. Belcher put in two blows on the
Chicken’s body, and they closed. The men
disengaged themselves. The Chicken aimed a
well-directed hit, which Belcher stopped
dexterously; a rally, when the Chicken hit one,
two, and threw his man. (Six to four on the
Chicken.)
3.—A hard round, rather in favour of the
Chicken. Several blows were exchanged in a rally
made by him. A close, and Belcher was thrown
upon the ropes.
4.—Chicken hit twice at his man, but was out of
distance. Belcher rallied with some success, but
was thrown at the end of the round.
5.—The Chicken continued to bleed freely from
the blow he received in the first round. He
smiled with confidence, however, went in, and
rallied. The struggle closed, in favour of
Belcher, who threw him.
6.—Belcher displayed a good deal of his
accustomed science, and appeared to meet his man
cautiously. In a rally several blows were
exchanged; they closed and fell, Belcher
undermost.
7.—This round was much in favour of Belcher.
The Chicken made a hit, which Belcher stopped
dexterously, and with his right hand hit the
Chicken a severe blow in the face. A rally
followed, in which Belcher had the advantage;
they closed. The Chicken got his opponent’s
head under his left arm, and hit him several
blows with his right hand: both fell.
8.—Belcher went in, rallied courageously, and
displayed his skill in pugilism to perfection.
He struck several blows with his right hand,
whilst he parried those of the Chicken with his
left. He had considerable advantage during the
round, and ultimately succeeded in throwing his
man over the rope out of the ring. (The betting
became level.)
9.—Both on their mettle, and apparently fresh.
Belcher hit the Chicken a sharp blow in the
face, which cut him severely; several other
blows were exchanged before the men closed and
fell.
10.—Somewhat in favour of the Chicken, without
any blows of consequence. Belcher appeared to be
fast growing weak.
11.—The Chicken overreached himself in making
a hit, and the combatants closed. Belcher
disengaged himself by a twist, and hit his
man, who, nevertheless, threw him.
12.—The Chicken went in and rallied furiously,
and it was evident Belcher had fallen off in
strength. He had materially the worst of the
rally. The Chicken closed, and threw him on
the rope, and had a fair opportunity of ending
the fight, for Belcher balanced upon his back,
and had the Chicken given him one of his heavy
blows, might have ended the battle at once.
But just as he raised his hand, the spirit of
a fair fighter rose within him: his foe was
defenceless. He put himself in the attitude for
delivering a blow, to show his advantage, then
looking round the ring, he exclaimed, “No, Jem,
I won’t take advantage of thee! no, lest I hurt
thy other eye!” and raising his hands, went back
to his second. “This honourable step,” says the
reporter drily, “was applauded with shouts from
the spectators.”
13.—Belcher came up slowly. The Chicken went
in for a rally. To the surprise of many, the
men got locked, when Belcher cleverly got
hold of Pearce and sent him over, a severe
cross-buttock.
14.—Tedious sparring. Belcher shy, and bleeding
in the head and body with blows given in the
former round. The Chicken followed him to the
ropes, when he gave him a hard blow under the
blind eye, through his guard, and threw him
easy.
15.—This round left no hopes for Belcher; it
also decided many bets respecting the first
knock-down blow. The Chicken went in very gay,
and gave his opponent two hits; they closed,
and the Chicken hit Belcher a blow underneath,
on the lower rib, which, to use the sporting
phrase, doubled him together, and he fell. The
umpire, for the satisfaction of the sporting
men, declared this to be a knock-down blow.
16.—Belcher hit the Chicken a well-directed
but feeble blow in the face, whilst sparring.
The Chicken smiled, shook his head, and then
went into a rally. Once more he got him on the
ropes, as in the twelfth round, when he repeated
his honourable conduct, and walked away without
hitting him. This round decided the fight,
notwithstanding Belcher fought one more. In
the rally he was first thrown upon one of the
stakes to which the ropes were fastened, and it
was supposed he had broken the lower rib, the
Chicken having hit him in the same place shortly
before. (Ten to one.)
17.—Belcher summoned up all his efforts to put
in a blow, but the Chicken again followed him to
the ropes, and threw him.
18.—Belcher could not move his left arm from his
side; he, however, stood up to fight the
eighteenth round, but finding himself totally
disabled, he resigned the contest, after
fighting thirty-five minutes. The Chicken
immediately leaped over the rope out of the
ring, and entered it again in the same manner,
displaying his agility by a somersault.
“On this day the wreath of victory, which had
so long encircled the brow of Belcher, was torn
off by the powerful grasp of the very man for
whose success Belcher had evinced so much
anxiety. Envy appeared the principal excitement
in the mind of Jem to the contest, and to that
passion he undoubtedly sacrificed his honours,
and fell a pitiable victim. Under a mistaken
impulse, after having successfully triumphed
over such formidable opponents as Paddington
Jones, Bartholomew, Gamble, Berks, and Firby,
his well gained fame expired. It was evident,
independent of the great disadvantage which
Belcher unhappily sustained in the loss of an
eye, that neither his strength nor constitution
at this time could enable him to encounter with
any chance of success, an opponent possessing
such an astonishing degree of skill, agility,
wind, muscular power, and, in short, every
requisite that the most theoretic mind could
suggest for a pugilist. Belcher, in the course
of the combat, put in several of his favourite
blows, and got off in his accustomed happy
manner; but the longer the fight lasted, so much
the greater became his disadvantage, and every
one conversant in boxing allowed, that had he
planted more hits, instead of employing his
time in unavailing and useless sparring, he
would have stood a better chance of gaining a
victory. Pearce, throughout the combat, without
a doubt, aimed the generality of his blows at
Belcher’s good eye, well aware of the result of
closing it, and in closing, Pearce gave him some
tremendous falls.
“Upon the whole, if the combat was not so
obstinately contested as might have been
anticipated, there was in it a display of
science perhaps unprecedented. Those, however,
who had witnessed Belcher in any of his former
battles, could perceive a deficiency in his
fighting in many points, notwithstanding he
displayed all his former courage. After they
had fought a quarter of an hour, Belcher
displayed marks of some violent hits in his
face, and his firm bright eye rolled in the
briny flood. The loss of his eyes was a greater
disadvantage to him than _à priori_ was
supposed; it rendered him unable to judge the
length of his opponent, nor could he perceive
the hits coming towards him until it was too
late to guard against them. With respect to his
own blows, as he himself observed, after the
fight, they were merely casual attempts, for his
sight was not sufficiently quick and strong to
plant them judiciously. Every one who had on
former occasions admired with enthusiasm the
unexampled courage and skill of Belcher, felt
deeply for his unfortunate situation, and in
many an eye was seen the sympathetic tear to
start. His spirits were good to the last; and
after its conclusion he exclaimed, not without
seeming to feel the assertion, ‘I don’t mind for
myself, but I’m sorry for a friend of mine, who
has lost everything he had.’ A subscription
was set on foot by Jackson, and very liberally
supplied. Belcher was taken to a surgeon’s and
bled, where, upon examination, they found the
rib expected to have been broken was perfect.”
The Game Chicken retired to the Blue Bell Inn, at Barnby Moor, and
seriously declared that once or twice he had it in his power to have
killed Belcher. Elated with his victory, he cried out in the
Somersetshire dialect, “Dang it, I’m not hurt, I have only cut my crook
against his teeth;” and pulling out of his pocket a new blue silk
handkerchief, spotted with white, tied it round his neck, and laughing,
said, “Since I’ve won it I’ll wear it; no more Belchers now.” After
taking some refreshment, they set off for Grantham, where Captain
Halliday had ordered dinner for a large party.
The Chicken had now entirely proved himself thorough game; and was
without a competitor for a while. A man of the name of Ford, a stalwart
gamekeeper from Leicestershire, came up to London about this time, and
challenged Pearce for fifty guineas. The Chicken offered to accommodate
him for 200 guineas, as a minimum stake for the champion. Ford came to
town in April, 1807, while Pearce was at Bristol, and vapoured greatly
of his willingness to fight the absent champion for a glass of
Liptrap.[96] It was probably fortunate the Chicken was not there, or Mr.
Ford might have found himself out of his depth. We hear no more of
“Master Ford,” who showed better wisdom in minding “buck-washing.”
Pearce, like too many of his predecessors of pugilistic notoriety,
foundered on the same rock on which they had split. Examples, advice,
and lessons, it should seem, all lose their effect upon persons, who, in
the bloom of youth, health and vigour, laugh at the idea of incurring
any serious consequences from intemperance, till they find it out for
themselves, when, generally it is too late to be remedied. The Chicken
during his residence in the metropolis had made rather too free with his
constitution; yet we have authority for observing that it originated
more from circumstances and place, than sheer inclination. His health
became impaired, and he retired to his native city, to enjoy the
comforts of domesticated life; and by the advice of his friends, he
relinquished the calling of a pugilist for that of a publican.
We have now arrived at an episode in the life of Pearce, which we would
earnestly recommend to the perusal of the calumniators of pugilists and
pugilism; we doubt if a similar deed can be recorded of many of the
canters who decry prize-fighters as “inhuman savages!”
In the month of November, 1807, a fire broke out at Mrs. Denzill’s, a
silk-mercer, in Thomas Street, Bristol, and the flames had made such
rapid progress, that the servant in the house, a poor girl, who had
retired to rest in the attic story, was nearly enveloped in flames
before she awoke to her dreadful situation. Frantic with despair, she
presented herself at the window imploring help—her screams pierced the
hearts of the spectators, who appeared riveted with terror to the spot,
expecting every moment her threatened destruction. But none move; all
are petrified with fear and horror. At length, Pearce (“the
prize-fighter by profession and the savage by nature,” according to
“Craven,”) appears in the crowd; he sees the life of a human being in
danger, and feels prompted to the perilous endeavour of an immediate
rescue. By the aid of the adjoining house, he reaches the parapet, and,
hanging over it, firmly grasps the wrist of the wretched girl—the
multitude are lost in astonishment, and never did a more interesting
moment present itself—hope, fear, and all the stronger emotions are on
the rack at the intrepidity of a man losing every thought of self in the
hope of delivering a fellow-creature from a dreadful death. The
additional weight, added to the height from the parapet, was almost too
much for the nearly exhausted energies of Pearce.
“Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once;”
and so it proved—Pearce’s brave heart leaped within him, and with a
supreme effort he drew his trembling charge from the window, placed her
safe upon the parapet, and in an instant she was out of danger. The
delighted multitude was loud in their plaudits—and the almost lifeless
sufferer clinging round the knees of her deliverer, invoked blessings on
his name. This was the proudest moment of Pearce’s life. The shouts of
victory, and the flattering praises that had so often attended him in
the hour of battle, were mere shadows compared with that of an approving
conscience. Yet this was the act of a pugilist!—one who had entered the
field to obtain a purse of gold as a prize-fighter. Here was no gold to
tempt him to risk his life: the smallest deviation of balance must have
precipitated him headlong to destruction; and no opportunity of
retreating from the consequences. The gallant soldier in mounting the
forlorn hope, and the hardy tar in boarding the ship of the enemy, are
stimulated by a thirst of glory and love of country, but Pearce was
actuated by no other motive than that of humanity; and when that
“recording angel,” who dropped a tear and blotted out for ever the
intemperate expression of my Uncle Toby, shall turn the page of the evil
deeds of this pugilist, let us trust they may be similarly obliterated.
In _Arliss’s Magazine_, and the “Poets’ Corner” of _Farley’s Bristol
Journal_, we find the subjoined lines, more remarkable for their good
feeling than poetic merit:—
“In Bristol city, while a house in flames
Fills the beholders with amazement dire,
A damsel at an upper window claims
Their utmost pity, for th’ approaching fire—
Which every moment seems to gather near,
Nor hope of rescue does there aught appear.
“At length upon the neighb’ring house-top seen,
A gallant youth now hastens to her aid,
And o’er the fearful parapet does lean,
With spirit dauntless, to assist the maid;
Endowed by heaven with more than common might,
He grasps her arms, and draws her to the height.
“Oh, glorious act! Oh, courage well applied!
Oh, strength exerted in its proper cause!
Thy name, O Pearce! be sounded far and wide,
Live, ever honour’d, midst the world’s applause;
Be this thy triumph! know one creature saved,
Is greater glory than a world enslav’d.”
A short time after the noble deed we have narrated the Game Chicken
again distinguished himself in rescuing one of the fair sex from insult
and danger. In his way over Clifton Downs, near Bristol, Pearce
perceived a young woman suffering much from the rude attacks of three
men. Regardless of the consequences Pearce instantly interposed, when
they fell upon him with fury; but the courage and science of Pearce soon
made them repent of their temerity. The Chicken received their onset
with such coolness and intrepidity, and so successfully planted his
levelling hits, that one of them of the name of Hood, was so satisfied,
in seven minutes, that he bolted, and left his companions to the care of
Pearce. In a quarter of an hour, the Chicken so served out Morris and
Francis, the other two, that they declined the strife, and apologised
for their rudeness, while the terrified female could only thank her
gallant defender for his seasonable protection.
It would seem that, however Pearce might have been crowned with honour,
gratified by the enviable title of champion, and admired by his friends
in general—he was not happy. That source of true felicity and real
consolation, to which a man flies to alleviate his troubles or
participate in his honours, was unhappily polluted, and his wife’s
incontinence had rendered home so miserable, that he left his native
place never more to return.
Pearce now went to different country towns exhibiting sparring, and
teaching the art of self-defence, and we need hardly say was much
patronised. The Chicken was in the neighbourhood of Oxford when Jem
Belcher and Cribb fought their last battle, and felt so anxious as to
the issue of the combat, that he set off in a post-chaise overnight lest
he should fail to witness the fight. On Cribb’s proving victorious, he
exclaimed with great earnestness, “he hoped he should get well, that he
might teach Cribb how to fight!”
Pearce took a benefit at the Fives Court, on February 9, 1809, when some
good sparring was exhibited. Every interest was exerted to give him
support. Pearce was now the victim of pulmonary consumption, and in the
last stage of that afflicting disease; he was scarcely able to walk to
the Court to thank his friends.
The appearance of the Chicken was muscular; his height about five feet
nine inches; and the roundness of his chest and limbs denoted
considerable strength, in some degree resembling the contour of the
champion, Tom Johnson. During the time Pearce enjoyed sound health, his
excellence as a pugilist was admitted by all parties; and he stood above
all competitors. In uniting the courage of a lion with true kindness of
heart, Pearce must command our praise. He was a tremendous hard hitter,
and his left-handed blow was so terrible in its effects, that his
opponents have been seen in a complete state of stupor for several
seconds, and often never recovered the proper use of their faculties
during the fight.
As a proof that he was not fond of vainly courting the popularity of the
multitude, or of making a show of himself by figuring upon the box of
some spoilt child of fortune’s four-in-hand—a fashion in full power in
those days; we may state, that immediately upon putting on his clothes,
after his memorable fight with Berks, on Wimbledon Common, he stole away
unobserved. Being missed, a general inquiry took place among his
friends, to know what had become of him. After considerable time lost in
search of the Chicken, some person recollected that they saw a man like
Pearce run and jump up behind a coach; upon which information his
second, Bill Gibbons, endeavoured to trace him along the road, and at
length found the Chicken in a public-house at Chelsea, cooking himself
mutton-chops at the fire, with the most perfect indifference. Pearce
immediately invited Gibbons to partake of them without alluding to his
singularity in leaving the ground, instead of making his return to town
in triumph on some swell-drag, in the style of the days of which we are
writing.
At the Coach and Horses, St. Martin’s Lane,[97] on Sunday, April 30,
1809, the Game Chicken departed this life. His fortitude never forsook
him, and in the most trying moments he displayed calmness and
resignation; he experienced no terrors from his approaching end,
expressing a wish to die in friendship with all mankind. He expressed a
strong desire to be buried by the side of Bill Warr, in St. James’
burying ground, Pancras; and this wish was complied with. Pearce was in
his thirty-second year.
“Strength, too; thou surly, and less gentle boast
Of those that laugh loud at the village ring;
A fit of common sickness pulls thee down
With greater ease than e’er thou didst the strippling
That rashly dared thee to th’ unequal fight.”
CHAPTER IV.
JOHN GULLY—1805‒1808.
When Hen. Pearce, compelled by severe bodily illness to retire from the
fistic arena, seceded from the position of champion, John Gully was
looked to by common consent as his successor. He was one of those who
achieve a high fame by defeat, and we have Pearce’s own recorded opinion
that he was the best man he had ever fought with. Gully’s ambition was
of a high order; like Jackson, second and third-rate pugilists were
beneath his aim, and spurning the better and safer mode of acquiring
greatness step by step, his daring spirit made the essay of
“Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself,
And falls o’ the other side.”
Yet here he showed an exception to the approved rule, for, by at once
attacking the justly renowned Game Chicken, though he fell, he rose
indisputably a greater man, from the excellent qualities he displayed on
this bold but unsuccessful attempt. Gully convinced the sporting world
that he was able to contend with honour, and even with a considerable
chance of success, with the supposed invincibility of that eminent
pugilist, whose generosity of disposition would not permit him to quit
his vanquished adversary without complimenting him upon his uncommon
bravery and fortitude.
In these two years (1805, 1806), Gully does not seem to have publicly
desired the title of champion, which was rather conceded to him. In
September, 1807, by an incidental passage in the daily papers, it would
seem he was so considered. On the 5th of that month (September), Horton
beat George Cribb (brother of Tom the after champion) and offered to
fight either Gully “for the championship,” or Tom Cribb for fifty
guineas, but both declined.
[Illustration:
JOHN GULLY, ESQ., M.R.
_From a Miniature by_ HUDSON, 1815.
]
Gully, by the science and game he displayed, had become a distinguished
favourite with the Fancy in general. His knowledge of the art of boxing
was considered complete, and his courage an able second to his judgment.
His supporters were numerous, and his fame stood so high, that upwards
of two years elapsed, from the time of his battle with the Chicken,
October 8, 1805, before any one had the temerity to call on him to
defend his title to the championship. At length he entered the lists
with the formidable and burly Bob Gregson, a boxer, who had been picked
out by some of his friends in Lancashire, as likely to lower the crest
of the champion. Gregson’s size was considerably in his favour, he being
nearly six feet two inches high, of prodigious strength, and had
signalised himself in several pugilistic contests in that part of the
country; but, notwithstanding such striking advantages, his pretensions
were considered on the score of strength rather than of science.
Gregson’s game was unquestionable, and the amateurs wishing to see him
enter the lists with so distinguished a boxer as Gully, a subscription
was immediately entered into for that purpose.
On the 14th October, 1807, the contest took place in a valley, called
Six Mile Bottom, on the Newmarket Road, on the spot where, in later
days, the writer witnessed the defeat of Jemmy Massey, of Manchester,
and Edwards, of Cheltenham. For miles round this part of the country the
bustle commenced at an early hour, groups of people thronging from every
direction, to witness the battle. Between nine and ten Gully and Gregson
entered the ring, both in excellent spirits and good condition. The
former was seconded by Cribb, Cropley acting as bottle holder. Richmond
was Gregson’s mentor, and Harry Lee was his bottle holder. Bill Warr and
John Jackson were also in the ring; “lest,” says the report, “occasion
might demand their services.” On setting-to the odds were six to four in
favour of Gully.
The combatants shook hands and bowed to the spectators, as if at a
sparring benefit; and at a few minutes after ten o’clock, threw
themselves into position for
THE FIGHT.[98]
Round 1.—The combatants fixed each other with a
steady eye; a pause; some excellent sparring.
Gully put in a well-aimed blow in his opponent’s
face. Gregson returned on the side of the head.
They closed and both fell.
2.—Gully now appeared conscious of his
opponent’s strength, was very careful, and
showed some excellent science; he put in another
severe hit in Gregson’s face, blood ran
profusely, and Gregson fell. (Odds rose 100 to
20 on Gully.)
6.—In every round some excellent hits were
exchanged, and no advantage could be claimed.
7.—After some neat sparring, Gregson broke
through his adversary’s guard, and put in a
straight forward blow on his right eye. This
drew blood; the eye swelled and nearly closed;
Gully fell and lay quite stunned for three
seconds. Among Gully’s friends the greatest
anxiety remained for some moments, and the odds
fell five to one.
8.—Gregson stood up, seemingly inspired with
his success in the last round, summoned all
his strength, and exerted all his science. Gully
rallied; some good sparring, and afterwards
both put in some excellent blows, and great
skill was displayed in stopping; at last
Gregson, by a sudden effort of power, caught
up Gully in his arms, and flung him with
astonishing force upon the ground; every one
expected he would have fallen on him, but this,
with the greatest generosity, he declined, for
which he was cheered by every spectator. By the
amateurs present this was thought to be the
finest round that was ever fought, and now all
felt convinced that it was only Gully’s superior
science that could enable him to stand against
so formidable an opponent. (Odds changed in
favour of Gregson.)
9.—Gully put in another hit in the face, and
Gregson very deliberately laid himself down on
his hands and knees. This was thought to be
something of the cur, but his conduct afterwards
did away with such unfavourable impressions.
11.—Gully struck; Gregson closed, and threw his
opponent.
12.—Gully in this round evinced great weakness,
and the odds continued in Gregson’s favour;
after some feeble hits from Gully, Gregson
knocked him down by a most tremendous blow on
the forehead.
13.—Gully’s science gave him a superiority again
in this round. But he was very weak, and his
deliveries devoid of force.
14.—Gregson struck Gully in the face, right and
left; they rallied severely, and Gregson fell on
his knees, apparently very weak.
15.—After exchanging a few hits, Gregson knocked
Gully down.
16.—Gully carried the most marks in the face,
and his eye was quite closed; they rallied, and
Gully struck his adversary off his legs.
19.—At the end of the last round Gully had a
severe fall, but the advantage throughout the
whole.
20.—Gregson endeavoured to repeat his successful
straight-forward blow, but missed, and while
falling Gully struck him. “Foul!” and “Fair!”
were vociferated, but the latter was correct, as
Gregson was not down.
23.—Gully began to appear more gay, and both
combatants rallied desperately; both appeared
very weak, but Gully’s bottom was known, and
odds were now eight to one in his favour.
25.—Here it was anybody’s battle; the combatants
both appeared beaten and exhausted. They were
dreadfully disfigured, and neither hardly
capable of getting off his second’s knee.
Notwithstanding each from the great loss of
blood had the utmost difficulty in making
fight, the battle lasted eleven more rounds,
each alternately having the advantage, and
betting became even. At length they met like
two inebriated men, helpless, and almost
incapable of holding up their hands either to
stop or hit, and every round finished by both
rolling down together. Still Gully was the
favourite, and by an astonishing effort of
nature, in the thirty-sixth round he put in a
blow, which, although feeble, was sufficiently
strong to prevent Gregson’s rising again in
time. Gregson laid for some minutes, incapable
of either moving or speaking, but Gully, even
now, elated with victory, leaped with joy.
REMARKS.—It would be difficult to say which was
the most beaten, such spectacles were never
before witnessed. The battle was allowed to
excel everything, in point of game and slashing
exchanges, that ever had been displayed. Even
those who had seen Johnson, Big Ben, Jackson,
and Symonds contend, allowed this to exceed all.
Captain Barclay took Gully off the ground in his
carriage, and the next day both combatants
appeared on the race-course, but Gregson could
not remain long, and on returning home was
forced to call in medical aid. Gully in this
contest showed he had become much more expert
than when he contended with the Game Chicken.
He, however, certainly fought at great
disadvantage against a man of such superior
strength and length as Gregson. He could never
make a hit until his opponent chose to begin, as
Gregson sparred with his left arm fully
extended, which was much longer and stronger
than Gully’s. Gregson’s favourite hit is a
desperate lunge with his right hand, which
nothing can resist, and by that means Gully
became so much beaten. Gregson was mostly
abroad, and Gully generally returned with great
adroitness and advantage. His left arm was
severely hurt in the commencement of the battle,
in endeavouring to parry the right-handed hits
of his adversary.
November, 1807. Notwithstanding Gregson was so severely beaten by Gully
in the last month, he still felt some confidence, that in the event of
another battle he should prove victorious. His friends gave him all
encouragement, and he sent Gully the following challenge, which was
forwarded to Norwich, where he was then staying:—
“Mr. GULLY,—It is the wish of myself and friends that I should try
my fortune with you in another battle, for £200 a-side. If you are
inclined to give me the opportunity, I will thank you to say so, and
also to name the time when it will be convenient to meet, to put
down stakes, and arrange particulars.
“R. GREGSON.”
To this Gully immediately returned the following answer:—
“Mr. GREGSON,—I accept your challenge, but wish you would make the
match for £250 instead of £200 a-side. I shall not delay a moment in
returning to town to make the necessary arrangements as to time,
place, etc.
“JOHN GULLY.”
As soon as Gully came to town, the heroes met, and the following
agreement was entered into, which we give as a specimen of how they
managed these matters some “sixty years since:”—
“LONDON, _December 22, 1807_.
“Major Morgan, on the part of Gregson, and Mr. Jackson, on the part
of Gully, agree to deposit 50 guineas each this day, and a further
deposit of 50 guineas on the 1st of March, 1808, or forfeit the
first 50 guineas; and on the Monday following the Craven meeting,
the remainder of the stakes to be made good by the contracting
parties, or the 100 guineas to be also forfeited; and that the Hon.
Berkeley Craven be requested to hold the stakes on the day of
battle.
“CONDITIONS OF THE BATTLE.
“1st.—The battle to take place on the Tuesday following the first
Spring Meeting, between the hours of ten and twelve, a.m.
“2nd.—To fight in a roped square of forty feet.
“3rd.—Neither to fall without a knock-down blow, subject to the
decision of the umpires.
“4th.—Three umpires to be chosen upon the ground, viz., two, and one
in reference.
“Signed “CHARLES MORGAN,
“JOHN JACKSON.”
Gregson went immediately into training under Mendoza, at the Load of
Hay, on the Hampstead Road.
Wednesday, May 10th, 1808, was soon known to be the day fixed for the
“big fight for the championship.” On the previous Saturday it was
understood in the privileged circle that those who repaired to the
confines of the counties of Bedford and Bucks., about a couple of miles
from Woburn, would be handy to the spot. This “tip” it would seem
reached others than those for whom it was intended for. The Marquis of
Buckingham publicly gave notice of his determination to frustrate the
sport, by publishing the following notice in the _County Chronicle_:—
“BUCKINGHAM HOUSE, LONDON, _May 8, 1808_.
“Information having been transmitted to me, His Majesty’s Custos
Rotulorum in and for the county of Bucks., of an intended riotous
assembly, aiding and assisting in a breach of the peace, by a boxing
match, within that part of the county of Bucks which touches or
joins on the counties of Bedford and Herts, near the town of
Dunstable; and that the said illegal and riotous assembly will take
place on Tuesday, the 10th instant, notice is hereby given that
proper steps have been taken for the detection and punishment of all
persons acting as aforesaid, in breach of the peace, by the
attendance of the magistrates, high constables, petty constables,
and other peace officers, entrusted with the execution of the law
within the said county.
“NUGENT BUCKINGHAM,
“Custos Rotulorum of Bucks.”
What follows may give a lively picture of an expedition to “see a fight”
in the days of the “Third George.” We extract from the _Morning
Chronicle_:—
“Some hundreds, whose leisure and disposition prompted them to be in
action, started on the Saturday and Sunday, and secured beds and
stabling in all the villages and hamlets contiguous to Woburn. The town
of Woburn was on Monday in continual motion, all was uproar and
confusion, people of all ranks continually arriving on foot, on
horseback, and in carriages of all description, and all seeking
accommodation which only a few comparatively could find. To add to the
confusion, the Marquis of Buckingham did not fail to exert himself for
the fulfilment of his threat; all the magistracy of Bedfordshire and
Buckinghamshire, at the head of their constables and _posse comitatus_,
with a subsidiary force of volunteers from the surrounding districts,
appeared determined to resist this unlicensed incursion into their
territories, and to stand an insurmountable barrier to the amusement.
The Dunstable volunteers were out very early on the Monday morning, with
drums beating, colours flying, cartouch-boxes doubly provided, bayonets
fixed, and all in awful military array. The peasantry were shaking with
fear, supposing the French had landed, and those who had arrived began
to think they were hoaxed, and that they should return without being
gratified by the fight. Many who itched to be betting, began to sport on
the question whether the fight was ‘to be or not to be,’ and ten to one
was frequently betted, that no fight would take place.
“When Monday night arrived hundreds had flocked into the town, and all
were eagerly enquiring for beds. Nothing could be obtained of this kind,
for the night’s lodging, under 30_s._ a head, and to sit or lie on the
chairs of the public rooms the usual price of a bed was extorted. In one
room at Woburn fifteen gentlemen laid on the floor, and were happy to
pay for this hard fare, and hundreds reposed in their carriages. The
horses, notwithstanding the weather was severe, were obliged to stand
without covering. Tuesday came, and these glorious comforts were yet to
be endured; pay the price asked you must, as the landlord was generally
sharp enough to secure the boots of every traveller, if he had nothing
else to lay hold of for security.
“About five o’clock on the Wednesday morning all was again in commotion,
and notwithstanding the endeavours of the magistrates, a ring was formed
upon Ashley Common, raised with sods about twelve inches from the
ground, and about forty feet in circumference. Between six and seven
o’clock many of the amateurs came dashing direct from London, in their
barouches and four, and in order to direct them to the proper spot, Bill
Richmond was placed at the Magpie. The multitude soon got the hint, and
followed the bang-up leaders. By nine o’clock a number of carriages had
arrived, and were safely penned up. The amateurs viewed the ring, and
were expressing their high approbation at its appearance, when a
messenger arrived with fresh information that the magistrates had seen
the ring in the morning, and were still determined to prevent the
battle. Many of the knowing ones suspected that this was a hoax, and
immediately sent off an express to Hogstale, a public-house about a mile
distant, where Gregson held his head quarters. Before the answer,
however, returned, Mendoza, dressed in green, and mounted in style,
dashed up with two or three well-known amateurs, and gave positive
assurances that the battle would not be fought there. Upon this solemn
assurance every one started for Gregson’s lodgings, where they found the
hero seated in Lord Barrymore’s barouche, with the horses’ heads turned
towards Woburn, and escorted by about 150 noblemen and gentlemen on
horseback, and an immense retinue of gigs, tandems, curricles, and every
species of vehicle. Hundreds not apprised of the change in the seat of
combat, were advancing from Woburn. Soon the two streams met, and
forming one almost irresistible current, returned through Woburn with
accumulated force, the knowing ones leading the way, having been before
apprised, that in case of any unforeseen disappointment at the original
spot, they were to rendezvous at several places in reversion; the first
of which was Sir John Sebright’s, in Hertfordshire, about seventeen
miles distant from Ashley Common, the whole extent of which was covered
by one solid mass of passengers; and although many had sorely repented
their expedition, and returned homewards, the multitude appeared not the
least diminished. Broken down carriages obstructed the road; knocked up
horses fell and could not be got any farther; a guinea a mile was
offered for conveyance, and many hundreds of gentlemen were happy in
being jolted in brick carts for a shilling a mile. By two o’clock they
arrived at Sir John Sebright’s park; a flat spot immediately opposite
the house, but about half-a-mile distant, was pitched upon for the
battle, and upon the whole the uninvited guests behaved with tolerable
decorum. A ring was formed, the exterior circle was nearly an acre,
surrounded by a triple ring of horsemen, and a double row of
pedestrians, who, notwithstanding the wetness of the ground, laid down
with great pleasure, and the forty feet ring was soon completed.
“About three o’clock a torrent of rain poured down, and every one began
to be anxious for the fight; very shortly after Gregson, Gully, Mendoza,
Harry Lee, Joe Ward, Hen. Pearce, Cribb, Horton, Dutch Sam, Cropley,
Gibbons, Richmond, and several other pugilists and amateurs, entered the
ring. It is impossible to describe the pleasure that beamed in the eyes
of every spectator at this moment, and the welkin echoed their repeated
plaudits.
“Cribb and Horton, who, according to their articles, were to fight in
the same ring as Gully and Gregson, directly stripped and set-to, both
in excellent spirits. Odds four to five on Cribb who very easily gained
the conquest.
“Immediately on the conclusion of this combat the champions stripped.
Both fought in silk stockings without shoes, and white breeches. Harry
Lee seconded Gregson, and Joe Word, Gully. Captain Barclay was appointed
deciding umpire. After the usual etiquette they set-to.”
THE FIGHT.[99]
Round 1.—The combatants both sparred about a
minute; the utmost silence prevailing in every
part of the ring, and every one had his eye
fixed stedfastly on the contending champions.
Here Gully displayed one of the most signal
specimens of the art of boxing that perhaps ever
was witnessed, by putting in two most dexterous
hits through his opponent’s guard, at the same
moment, in the mouth and throat. Gregson fell
like a log, and was instantly covered with
blood. The greatest commotion was now excited,
and peal succeeded peal of applause. (The odds
rose six to four on Gully.)
2.—Gregson ineffectually aimed a hit at his
opponent’s head, who shifted, and pointed at
him. Gully now commenced a rally, and some blows
were exchanged to his advantage. Gregson turned
round and put in a back-handed blow in the
loins; both fell.
3.—Gregson successfully planted a right-handed
hit in Gully’s breast, and rallied; but Gully
had the advantage of putting in most blows,
although Gregson threw him. Gregson’s head had
now began to swell, and he continued to bleed
freely. (Odds two to one on Gully.)
4.—Gully made play, and after planting two good
hits on his adversary’s head, slipped up.
5.—Gregson made a determined hit, which Gully
scientifically parried, upon which he ran in,
grasped Gully by the thighs, held him in his
arms, and threw him down. Great disapprobation.
6.—Some good rallying, but in favour of Gully.
Gregson appeared incapable of stopping, and
Gully hit him as he pleased. At the close of the
round Gregson put in a tremendous blow on the
side of his adversary’s head, and both fell out
of the ring.
7.—Gully rallied; put in six successive hits on
Gregson’s head, and at length knocked him off
his legs, without the latter getting home one
blow.
8.—In this round Gregson slightly had the
advantage. They closed, and Gully received a
heavy fall; Gregson’s left eye was now almost
closed, his nose broken, the blood flowed
copiously, and his head was most hideously
disfigured.
9.—Gregson evinced distress, and Gully hit him
again severely in the face. Gregson fell on his
knees.
10.—As early as this round the result of the
battle was considered decided. Gregson fought
shy, both eyes being nearly closed. He struck
Gully, who was down, but it appeared to be with
his own choice.
11.—Gregson excited commiseration; he put his
hand to his left eye, and afterwards looked at
it; but instantly commenced a rally, which ended
again in his discomfiture. Gully knocked him
down, but while falling he put in a back-handed
hit.
12.—Gregson struck Gully on the breast, who
immediately knocked him off his legs by a flush
hit in the mouth.
13.—In making play Gully slipped.
14.—Gully again hit his opponent through his
guard, both right and left, which brought him
down.
15 and 16.—In both rounds Gregson ineffectually
attempted to hold his ground. He seemed
confused; however, he ran in, and completely
bored Gully down.
17.—In this round Gregson became intemperate,
and ran in upon his adversary, who continued
hitting and avoiding him in a most surprising
manner. Gregson twice turned his back upon his
opponent, and made towards the ropes, but Gully
followed him, changed his front, fibbed him, and
kept him from falling, until he had hit him into
an almost senseless state, and then dropped him
quietly between his arms.
18.—Like the former, Gregson was again severely
punished.
25.—In this round Gully put in two tremendous
blows.
27.—Gregson was brought down by a heavy blow
under the ear; and the
28th round decided the contest, Gregson being
too much exhausted to be brought to the mark in
time. The battle lasted one hour and a quarter.
The superiority of Gully in this battle was
evident, and throughout the fight there was no
comparison between the quickness, hitting, and
confidence of the combatants. Several of the
fighting men, and many good judges of pugilism,
had great doubts as to the event, from the
determined manner in which the former battle had
been contested and several entertained a strong
opinion that Gregson, having added science to
his great strength, from the improvement he had
evinced in sparring, had much increased his
chances of success. Gully possessed so much
confidence in his own abilities, that, a few
minutes before he entered the ring, he offered
to back himself for £50 (in addition to what he
had already betted) that he was the winner.
Without offering further comments of our own on this most remarkable
battle, as we do not find any worthy of preservation, in a pugilistic
sense, in the published reports, we may take it as a significant fact of
the excellence of Gully’s condition, that, _before putting on his outer
clothes_, he advanced to the ropes and addressed the referee and leading
patrons of the ring to the effect, that being now in business in a
tavern in Carey Street, he was in hopes that he should have enjoyed
peace unchallenged. That he had not intended to fight again, nor would
he have done so in this instance, had he not considered himself bound in
honour to accept Gregson’s challenge. That he had fought with a
partially disabled left arm, and that Gregson surely would not urge him
to another combat. “Gully then dressed himself, and was brought to town
in Lord Barrymore’s barouche. The following morning he was facetiously
answering questions respecting the fight, and serving his numerous
customers at the Plough, in Carey Street.”[100]
The defeated Gregson was conveyed to the principal inn in Markyate
Street, Herts., where he remained until the following Saturday, by which
time he was well enough to return to Highgate, on the box of one of the
Northampton coaches. Here he remained with a friend at the Bowling Green
tavern for some time. Captain Barclay, the Marquis of Tweeddale, and
other gentlemen and noblemen made a liberal subscription for him; and at
his urgent request he was soon after matched with Tom Cribb, to fight
for 500 guineas, in a thirty foot ring. (See CRIBB, Period IV.)
In the beginning of the following month (June, 1808), Gully and Cribb
took a joint benefit at the Fives Court; Gully and Jem Belcher, Cribb
and Tom Belcher, Tom Jones and Tom Blake, Cropley and Dogherty, George
Cribb and Wood, were among the leading exhibitors. Gully repeated his
declaration of retirement from the ring, and public opinion looked upon
the coming fight of Tom Cribb and Gregson as a sort of test as to
Gully’s successor.
In taking leave of so remarkable a man as the subject of the present
memoir, a man who after many years of intercourse with the most eminent
public men of his time, arrived at fortune, fame, and even senatorial
honours, we may be suspected of panegyric from personal knowledge, and a
desire to dilate on a theme so immediately connected with the history of
British pugilism as the merits of its professors, while it yet had the
name and standing which it has, much through the misconduct of its
members, temporarily lost.
Gully, as a pugilist, has well earned a niche in the temple of pancratic
fame; and if his battles were not so numerous as many other professors
have been, they were contested with a decision of science and game,
rarely equalled, perhaps never excelled, and justly entitle him to
honourable mention in the records of boxing. His practice, it was well
known, had been very confined, and his theoretical knowledge of the
science could not have been very extensive, yet his natural courage and
quickness surmounted these difficulties, and, with a fortitude equal to
any man, he entered the ring a most consummate pugilist. Though his
frame was never a model of symmetry, he had many points of the athletic
build. His height was about six feet.
We cannot conclude this sketch of Mr. Gully without remarking that, with
the knowledge of the world, he united the manners of a well-bred man;
intelligent and quick of observation, he united with those
qualifications, when moving in a less elevated sphere, that proper sense
of his own capabilities, which generally attends intelligence and merit.
After a few years passed in the occupation of a tavern-keeper, in which
he earned general respect, he was so fortunate in turf speculations, and
so well served by sound judgment in racing matters, that he retired and
became the purchaser of Ware Park, Hertfordshire. Here he associated
with the first circles of the county; fortune still smiling on him, he
became a spirited breeder and racehorse proprietor, an owner of
collieries, and lastly, in 1832, attained the proud position of one of
England’s senators; being returned to parliament as representative for
Pontefract, in the first reformed parliament. We recently heard a
blockhead object that Mr. Gully was originally a butcher: his father,
whom he succeeded, was a master butcher of respectability—so was the
father of Cardinal Wolsey. We have had among succeeding occupants of the
woolsack, a Newcastle barber’s son, and the offspring of a grocer; one
prime minister, the son of an actress; another the descendant of a
cotton spinner; the greatest engineering genius of our age, the son of a
pitman, himself a furnace-stoker, and, as we shall presently see, a
pugilist; so that surely such sneers at self-made men by those who have
certainly not made themselves are too snobbish and contemptible to
affect any but their utterers. A paragraph from the pen of a sportsman
must find a place here:
“It was the late Mr. Buckland who, when on a visit to Lord
Fitzwilliam, told me of the impression made upon him by the
appearance of a fine handsome gentleman coming up the staircase with
a beautiful girl in green velvet on either arm—the member for
Pontefract, with two of his daughters. Poor “Sylvanus” thus
portrayed Mr. Gully in the very zenith of his career:—‘He had
permanent lodgings at Newmarket, well and tastily furnished, and
dispensed his hospitality to his friends with no sparing hand. An
excellent cook, claret from Griffiths’, with an entertaining
gentleman-like host, left little to be desired at the dinner
awaiting us. Mr. Gully is justly esteemed, having raised himself
from the lowest paths of life to the position, not merely of wealth,
but to that of intimacy amongst gentlemen, on or off the turf, but
still gentlemen in taste, which nought but the undeviating good
manners, and entertaining, unpresuming deportment of Gully could for
a moment, or rather for any length of time beyond a moment, suffer
them to tolerate. No man ever possessed these qualifications, gained
through innate acuteness, great common sense, and a plastic
disposition to observe and benefit by the chance _rencontres_ with
the courtly patrons of his day to a greater degree, taking the early
disadvantages he had to contend with into consideration, than John
Gully. No man could be more above pretence, or less shy at any
allusions to his early and not very polished career, than himself.
When I dined with him at Newmarket, as well as upon subsequent
occasions, I was most gratified by his manly openness, and lack of
all sensitive false shame, on any occasional appeal being made to
the bygone. He, on the contrary, entered freely into many
entertaining portions of his history, answered all my questions _con
amore_, and with perfect good nature, as to the mode of training,
hitting so as not to injure the hand, wrestling, and other minutiæ
of the ring; passing the claret and slicing the pine, as if foaled
at Knowsley or Bretby. He had a quiet sly way of joking on any turf
affair, on which, bear in mind, he was as _au fait_ as Zamiel making
a book for the Derby. The turbot came from Billingsgate by express,
and the haunch from his own park. Moët purveyed the champagne,
Marjoribanks the port, and, as I have before said, Griffiths the
Lafitte. We had no skulking host be assured, but the most
entertaining and liberal one alive.’ There is a genial tone about
this sketch that tells at once for its truth, and it would be
difficult to give any man a better character. Gully’s position at
every turn and phase of fortune was still a trying one, but no man
more fairly earned the respect he gained. There is a very moral of
good manners in such a man’s history.”
Mr. Gully died at Durham, on Monday, the 9th of March, 1863, in the 80th
year of his age, being born at Bristol, August 21, 1783. He was buried
at Ackworth Hall, near that city, on Saturday, March 14, leaving a
family of five sons and five daughters, moving in the best circles of
society.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V.
DUTCH SAM (SAMUEL ELIAS).—1801‒1814.
One of the most remarkable boxers of his time was the Israelitish
phenomenon whose name heads this fifth chapter. In height about five
feet six inches and a half; in weight nine stone four pounds, never more
than nine stone eight pounds, Samuel Elias conquered some of the best
eleven and twelve stone men of his time. When stripped Sam looked, in
bust and ribs, more like a twelve stone than a nine stone man, showing
he had his muscular power and weight in the right place. His shoulders
were remarkably square, his arms round, long, muscular and hard; his
hands seemed positively of iron, never puffing or knocking up from the
punishing hits inflicted on his antagonist; while the quickness of his
eagle eye, and the fierceness of his rally were unexampled among his
fellow pugilists. A contemporary writer says: “As a hard hitter we
except no pugilist whatever; Gully never struck with more force, nor
Cribb more heavily than Sam, whose blows were truly dreadful to
encounter.” It was the publicly expressed opinion of one of the most
experienced and scientific pugilists of the day, that Sam would be a
complete match for the mighty Cribb himself, if they could agree to give
alternately merely blow for blow. Bill Cropley,[101] who was a burly and
game boxer, declared he would rather stand half-an-hour’s milling from
Tom Belcher (see TOM BELCHER and CROPLEY, _ante_.), than five minutes of
Sam’s punishment.
Samuel Elias was born on the 4th of April, 1775, in Petticoat Lane,
Whitechapel. As we intend this work, so far as research will make it, to
be reliable history, we shall omit the vamped up skirmishes of Pierce
Egan, which he says “would fill a volume,” and come to the first
authentic record of Sam’s fistic prowess.[102]
[Illustration:
SAMUEL ELIAS (“DUTCH SAM”), 1801‒1814.
]
If, as we conjecture, Sam had fought the battle mentioned below, the
claim, urged by Pierce Egan, for Harry Lee of “first introducing Sam to
the circle of boxers,” is mere bosh. We read in “Boxiana” (vol. i. 301):
“Harry Lee, on his return home from Enfield, on the day that Belcher and
Bourke (Joe Berks) were to have fought (October 12, 1801), witnessed Sam
fighting with a man by the roadside, very much his superior as to size
and weight, and from the excellence which he displayed in that contest,
Lee distinguished those peculiar traits in the youthful tyro which have
since proved his judgment correct, and matured by time and practice,
placed Sam as a first-rate boxer, and stamped him a complete pugilistic
hero.”
In “Fistiana” (we know not on what authority), this battle is elevated
to the dignity of a regular affair, and indexed as “beat Baker, five
guineas, Enfield, October 12, 1801.” Possibly Mr. Dowling, who had
access to every source of information, and was quite another sort of
scribe from “the Historian,” found warrant for the stake and for his
chronology.
With the exception of one Shipley, who is represented as the “champion
of the Broadway” (Whitechapel), whom he met for a trifling sum in 1803,
we do not hear of Sam in the doings of the ring. Shipley is stated to
have been fourteen stone, “a scientific fighter, and to have beaten
every one hitherto opposed to him.” He laughed at the presumption of Sam
in offering to box with him—and treated the Jew in the most contemptuous
manner, by making Sam a present of five shillings to stand before him
for only ten minutes. The Jew pocketed the cash with the utmost _sang
froid_, and after a contest of fifteen minutes, Shipley experienced such
severe punishment that he was compelled to acknowledge the vast
superiority of the arm of this iron-like pugilist. Warren, an East End
boxer of some note, was also beaten, with ease, by Dutch Sam.
Despite “Harry Lee’s patronage,” obtained in 1801, the Hebrew
phenomenon’s entrance upon the regular stage seems to have been delayed
till Tuesday, the 7th of August, 1804, when he met the renowned “Pride
of Westminster,” Caleb Baldwin,[103] at Wood Green, near Hornsey, for a
stake of twenty-five guineas a-side. “On the Monday night it had been
resolved that Fairlop, in Essex, should be the battle-field, but late at
night the amateurs were informed that the ‘beaks’ of the county were up
and active to stop the fight. Accordingly a council was held, Wood
Green, near Muswell Hill, agreed upon, and towards there equestrians and
pedestrians made the best of their way. On their arrival a ring was
quickly formed; but owing to the delay occasioned by their being obliged
to change the scene of action, it was past one o’clock before the
combatants entered. Caleb first made his appearance, accompanied by
George Maddox and Bill Gibbons; Dutch Sam following with Wood the
coachman, the unsuccessful opponent of Bittoon, for his second, and Puss
as his bottle-holder; they immediately stripped and set-to. Odds two to
one in favour of Caleb.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—A little sparring. Sam put in the first
blow with his left hand, but without effect;
Caleb returned with his right, and following it
up, put in a desperate left-handed hit over
Sam’s forehead, and brought him down. (Odds rose
three to one in favour of Caleb.)
2.—Sam shifted, but Caleb stuck to him manfully,
put in two well-aimed blows right and left, and
brought his opponent down the second time.
3.—In this round Sam displayed more resolution,
both put in some good hits, and Caleb’s eye
being cut much, bled very freely. Sam
undoubtedly had the best of the round. (Odds
fell two to one on Caleb.)
8.—From the last related round to this was one
continued succession of severe hitting on both
sides. Every amateur allowed that better
fighting never was displayed. Both were cut and
bled profusely, but no one could attribute to
either any advantage. (Betting now became even.)
9.—Caleb put in a successful blow in Sam’s
temple, which completely knocked him down. Sam
putting his hand to his face was considered
ominous of great severity, and odds rose again
on Caleb.
13.—Caleb supported the superiority he had
gained in the last round until this time.
Caleb thought Sam appeared weak, and followed
him up; Sam, however, put in several severe
blows. At the end of this round Caleb showed
great irritability, but Sam appeared perfectly
collected.
20.—Caleb, through his exertions, began to
show symptoms of exhaustion, and to avoid his
antagonist’s blows, frequently endeavoured to
close, and while struggling for the fall, Sam
by a peculiar mode struck his blows upwards,
which told dreadfully in Caleb’s face.[104]
23.—For the last three rounds Caleb evinced
great distress. After making a blow or two,
he was so excessively weak, as scarcely to be
able to keep his hands straight before him; he,
however, still put in his blows, but devoid of
any force. Sam, on the contrary, seemed to gain
fresh vigour from his opponent’s exhaustion, and
gave no quarter.
26.—Sam now began to display imbecility, and
both hit each other blow after blow without
making any impression, and so completely were
both combatants served out, that neither came
to their time. Sam, however appeared least
bruised, and the odds were slightly betted in
his favour. In this round Sam displayed all that
heroism and manly conduct which characterise
the courageous pugilist. Having put in a most
severe blow on his opponent’s head, over his
guard, which stunned him, he was prepared to
follow it by a right-handed hit, but desisted,
drawing back his hand on seeing his adversary
was already falling. Every one present applauded
the generosity of the action.
From this to the 37th round, which closed the
contest, Caleb fell off in strength; and in his
distress several times fell from losing his
balance or missing a blow. He became sick, and
finally the luckless champion of Westminster was
carried off almost insensible. Sam towards the
close fought upon the saving system, husbanding
his strength. The reporter adds, “in this
unequal state of things, it was undoubtedly very
wrong to bring Caleb to face his man, who, poor
fellow, came willingly up to the last, though he
could not hold up his hands, much less hit a
blow.” The ring was broken by Caleb’s friends,
on a claim of “foul,” “but the umpires would not
be imposed upon by so stale a trick, and
declared Sam to be the conqueror.”
Caleb, assigning illness as the cause of his defeat, proposed a second
trial with Sam. Accordingly in September a match was made for twenty
guineas a-side. Sam however assigned “business reasons” for declining,
and forfeited the deposit down.
On Saturday, the 27th April, 1805, there were three battles decided at
Shepperton, Surrey. The first between Pearce, the Game Chicken, and
Carte, of Birmingham; the second between Tom Belcher and O’Donnell; the
third between our hero, and Britton of Bristol. For this battle of
thirty rounds, Sam was, according to the report, totally unprepared;
indeed he was positively inebriated when it began. Britton was
introduced as “a yokel” who was ready to fight for a purse. A spectator
says, “For the first four rounds Britton held a lead, when Sam was given
to understand that his adversary was a _plant_ upon him. Sam nodded his
head, and forcing his man to fight, in a rapid rally dealt out such
severe punishment that Britton went down almost done over. Sam’s conduct
in this fight was most singular. After milling poor Britton down, he
threw himself by his side, and patting him on the back, exclaimed “What,
you are a _plant_ are you? S’elp me Cot, I’ll soon _plant_ you;” and
once during the battle when Britton rushed wildly in, Sam, with the
utmost contempt, threw up both his open hands, calling out to the
spectators, “See the vay this _plant_ is trying to kiss me,” and then
stepping back quickly, he hit Britton clean off his legs!”
Sam’s fame now spread far and wide; but it would be utterly inconsistent
with the character we would wish to impress upon this work, were we to
omit a circumstance which occurred about this time, in which the
pre-eminence of Dutch Sam was successfully disputed.
In the month of June, 1805, Sam was in training at Thames-Ditton, and on
his way to town, over Wimbledon Common, he met one James Brown, a
butcher of Wandsworth. A quarrel, how originating we have no account,
ensued; and after some altercation, Sam, expecting to strike terror into
his opponent, informed him he was “Dutch Sam.” The man very calmly
answered as they stood in attitude, “Be you the devil as well, I’ll bang
you, now I am at it,” and nobly he kept his word, for he brought Sam
down with such terrible arguments every round, that Sam at the close of
a dozen bouts, acknowledged he would have “no more of it”; adding that
he was beaten for the first time in his life.[105] Such a casual turn-up
as this proves surely that Brown was a natural boxer, as well as a
plucky, game, strong, and active fellow; Sam’s reasons for not going on,
need hardly be dwelt on, as he was in training to fight Tom Belcher. He
was, however, very much mortified, and deservedly so, when the affair
got into the newspapers.
After two postponements, Sam’s match with the celebrated Tom Belcher,
was brought to an issue. In our memoir of John Gully, the reader will
find the accident narrated which led to one of the postponements. Sam,
it was thought by many, considered Belcher too clever as well as too big
for him, and wished to shirk the encounter; when unexpectedly, at the
latter end of January, Belcher received a challenge from Sam to fight
for 100 guineas, naming the 8th of the following month, if suitable. Tom
instantly accepted the offer, and his friends covered Sam’s hundred
golden pieces, with the most sanguine hopes of the result.
Virginia Water was settled as the rendezvous, and accordingly, on
Saturday morning, the 8th of February, 1806, all the amateurs attended,
held a short consultation, and decided Sendon Heath, near the village of
Thorpe, as the field of battle.[106] The combatants immediately repaired
there, a rope ring was formed, and Dutch Sam entered, attended by Dan
Mendoza for his second, and Tom Blake, bottle-holder. Tom Belcher soon
followed with John Gully and Dick Whale. Betting was lively, but no odds
offered. At one o’clock the heroes set-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Sam made a feint. Belcher put in a good
hit; Sam returned it, and Belcher, putting in
another blow, overreached himself and fell.
2.—Belcher put in two good hits right and left.
Sam struck in return, but slightly; they closed,
and both fell.
3.—Sam aimed a well-directed blow at his
opponent’s ribs; Belcher parried well, and with
his right put in a tolerably good hit; they
closed and fell. (Odds five to four on Belcher.)
4.—A good round. Sam was very gay, went in and
rallied; but Belcher parried most of his blows
with his left hand, while he advantageously
used his right. Many blows were exchanged, when
Sam, by dint of superior activity, threw his
antagonist. (Betting again even.)
5.—Belcher put in two slight blows, and in the
struggle fell.
6.—An obstinately contested round, but much in
favour of Tom. Sam went in and rallied; Belcher
shifted, and stopped his hits, which were truly
desperate, with great dexterity.
7.—Belcher rallied, and put in a most severe
blow on the temple. Sam, however, stood firmly,
and returned it on the eye; they closed, and
both fell.
8.—Belcher’s eye evidently showed the force with
which Sam’s blow had been struck. Some good
blows exchanged, and Belcher threw his opponent.
(Odds two to one in favour of Tom.)
9.—Belcher appeared fatigued. Sam ran in,
avoided rallying, and by jobbing at his
antagonist’s head and throat, knocked him down.
10.—Belcher made some ineffectual attempts at
his adversary’s head. Sam rallied, and Belcher
fell through weakness. (Odds now changed in
favour of Sam seven to four.)
11.—Sam put in some good hits, which were well
parried by Belcher. They closed and both fell,
Sam uppermost.
12.—Belcher exerted himself, and appeared not so
much distressed in his wind; all Belcher’s blows
were very feeble, and he again fell seemingly
exhausted. (Odds were now two to one on Sam.)
13.—Belcher recruited, and put in two good blows
on his opponent’s head, Sam now appeared rather
shy. Belcher went in and threw him.
14 and 15.—No blows either round. Sam still shy,
and evinced fatigue. Bets level again, Belcher
being known to be game.
16.—A good round. Sam, in a passion, went in and
followed Belcher round the ring, who put in
several good blows.
17.—On this round Tom displayed excellent
science; threw in some good hits, but appeared
very weak. (Odds six to five on Belcher.)
24.—Belcher kept up a slight superiority. Both
combatants very much exhausted, and their hits
made no impression.
25.—Sam very shy; did not face his adversary.
26.—Belcher immediately made play at the face,
and put in a good hit, and terminated the round
by throwing his opponent. (Odds rose in Tom’s
favour.)
29.—Belcher in this round was so much exhausted,
that all hopes of victory on his part were
relinquished.
The contest was, however, spun out to the
fifty-seventh round, when Belcher, severely
punished, was forced to yield, not having
strength enough to keep him on his legs.
REMARKS.—This was, without dispute, one of the
best contested and most skilful battles that
ever had been witnessed. Sam proved himself
a truly desperate hitter, and a very powerful
man; to the latter quality may principally be
attributed his success, for notwithstanding
Tom Belcher was this day unfortunate, he stands
as one of the prettiest fighters of the day;
great allowance also must be made for his
indisposition. Sam fought greatly in the Mendoza
style, and his having that excellent pugilist at
his elbow was no mean advantage.
The friends of Belcher considered this battle by no means decisive of
the men’s merits. Belcher himself urged that he was labouring under a
debilitating disorder, and moreover that the notice was too short for
proper preparation. They proposed to fight for 200 guineas, and named
Tuesday, July 28th, 1807, as the day.[107] Moulsey Hurst was the
fixture, and as early as nine o’clock in the morning a roped ring was
formed, twenty-eight feet in diameter, but before twelve o’clock it was
found that the space allotted to pedestrians would not hold the immense
concourse attending, and two hours were employed in removing to a more
convenient place. As soon as the ring was completed, Belcher entered,
attended by Bill Warr and Watson; Dutch Sam soon followed, with Mendoza
and Bittoon. In a few minutes the combatants set-to, both appearing in
good confidence as to the result.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Not much ceremony in sparring. Sam made
a hit at Tom’s ribs, which fell short, and Tom
put in two desperate blows at his opponent’s
head, and retreated. Both now sparred very
cautiously; Sam rallied, they closed, and both
fell, Sam uppermost.
2.—Sam threw away many hits, at length put in a
good right-hand blow in Belcher’s loins, which
Tom returned by a severe hit in the face.
Cautious sparring again, and Sam put in a
desperate blow in the neck, and brought his
adversary down. (Even betting yet.)
3.—Sam stood up with great courage and
confidence; both put in some good hits, which
were dexterously parried. Sam went in, and
closing threw Belcher again.
4.—Belcher showed some marks of severe blows
in the last rally, and bled profusely at the
nose; Sam was not without a few evidences of
his opponent’s skill, his eye was dreadfully
swelled. Belcher put in a very clean blow over
his opponent’s guard, in the face, when Sam
closed, and threw Tom with great violence.
5.—It would be difficult to describe the courage
and skill displayed in this round. Sam rallied,
some good hits exchanged, and they closed; again
disengaged, and Belcher rallied, but Sam had a
most decided advantage throughout the round,
driving his opponent to all parts of the ring,
and at length brought Belcher down by a very
feeble blow. (Odds five to four on Sam, but
betting shy.)
6.—This was also an excellently contested round.
After some blows had been exchanged, Sam put in
two forcible blows at Belcher’s head, which were
well stopped, but he fell, apparently very weak.
(Odds six to four on Sam.)
7.—Sam appeared to judge his distances very
badly, frequently striking short blows; they
closed very irregularly, but Sam threw Belcher,
and pitched him on his head.
9.—In this round Belcher gained considerable
advantage, hit his antagonist severely in the
face right and left, and after another very
irregular close, threw Sam as heavy a fall as he
had before experienced. Sam, however, still
remained the favourite.
10.—Sam made a long body hit, and threw his
opponent.
11.—Sam made two attempts at Belcher’s head,
both of which were dexterously parried. After
Sam had thrown away several blows they closed,
and Belcher threw him.
12.—Belcher appeared fresher, but was very
cautious; he retreated round the ring; Sam
followed him closely, and ran him down on the
spot.
13.—Sam made two unsuccessful hits, which were
again stopped, and Belcher returned one with
great violence; by a slight hit Sam fell, and
evinced great distress.
14.—On setting to, it was observed Sam had two
black eyes, and Belcher showed severe punishment
on his left side. Sam repeated a hit on this
spot, and Belcher immediately closed and threw
him.
15.—Belcher retreated; Sam followed; no
fighting; a hugging close, and Belcher fell,
seemingly from weakness. (Odds seven to four on
Sam.)
16.—A good rallying round, and some good blows
made. Sam put in a good hit in the throat, and
they closed, and Belcher threw his opponent.
17 and 18.—No blow of importance.
19.—A hard fought round; each exerted himself to
the utmost, and excellent blows were exchanged
in a rally at arm’s length, until both fell, as
though it had been preconcerted.
20.—Sam hit Belcher on the nose, but was thrown
in closing.
21.—A desperate round, all rallying at arm’s
length, each hitting and stopping. Sam had the
advantage, Belcher being very weak.
26.—In this round Belcher exerted his utmost,
followed his opponent with great courage, and
displayed great skill in hitting and stopping.
27.—At the end of this round very faint hopes
were entertained for Belcher’s success. Sam made
play, rallied, and hit three severe blows on
Tom’s left side; Tom, however, threw him. (Odds
three to one on Sam.)
28.—Greatly in favour of Sam, who put in several
severe blows on Belcher’s head, and he fell.
29.—A good round. Sam still kept the
superiority; Belcher’s blows were too feeble to
make any impression. Sam threw him.
30.—Sam appeared in great spirits, and as fresh
as ever, but his eyes were almost closed. He
rallied, and Tom, being almost exhausted, was
knocked down. (Odds four to one on Sam.)
31.—Every one felt commiseration for Tom. His
exertions to maintain the fight received
applause, and were truly courageous; but Sam,
elated at the state to which he had reduced his
opponent, mustering all fire, beat him out of
the ring.
32.—Belcher struck twice, but very feebly, and
in vainly endeavouring to rally, fell.
33.—Tom had no chance whatever, his blows were
perfectly useless. He fell without receiving a
blow.
34.—This was the last round, and it
unfortunately created a dispute. Belcher made a
blow at Sam, and fell on his knees; Sam made a
hit, intending to strike his adversary while on
his legs and before his hands reached the earth;
Sam’s blow reached him while on his knees. A cry
of “Foul” was immediately raised, particularly
by those on the wrong side with their bets, and
the matter was referred to the two umpires. One
of these declared it “fair,” the other “foul.”
Mr. Jackson now stepped forward and explained
that a man was not to be considered down until
his hand had reached the floor, consequently the
blow was fair, and Sam must be acknowledged the
conqueror. “Notwithstanding this flowing
declaration of Jackson’s,” says the reporter,
“the umpires, Captain Barclay and the Hon.
Berkeley Craven, agreed to refer the matter to
Lord Say and Sele. His lordship declined giving
a decision, when Lord Archibald Hamilton was
immediately solicited, and he undertook the
office of judge of appeal. Many meetings of the
amateurs took place, and the subject of this
foul play was warmly discussed. The rules of
Broughton and all the first rate authorities
were adduced, but the only case considered as in
point throughout the annals of pugilism, was
that of Humphries and Mendoza, in the battle
they fought at Stilton, in May, 1789 (see p.
73); but from the irritability of Mendoza, the
battle in that case was renewed. An offer was
now made to Sam to draw stakes, but this was
refused, on the plea that, if even Belcher was
on his knees, he was doing his best still on the
defensive. At length it was agreed on all sides
that there should be a new trial.”
The third meeting accordingly was arranged for the 21st August, 1807.
The men met at Lowfield Common, near Crawley, Sussex, in a thirty feet
ring upon the turf. In the articles it was specified that the following
article of Broughton’s rules should be decisive:—
“7.—That no person is to hit his adversary when down, or seize him
by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist: a man on his
knees to be reckoned down.”
Sam was seconded by Mendoza, and Bittoon was his bottle-holder. Tom
Belcher was attended by Gully and Ward.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Considerable anxiety was manifested
upon the combatants setting to, and the
interested spectators were much agitated with
hopes and fears, upon the decision of this third
contest between two such distinguished
pugilists. Sam made a feint with his left hand,
and endeavoured with his right to hit Tom’s
ribs; but they were stopped, and Belcher
returned feebly with his left hand; in closing,
Sam was underneath.
2.—Sam going in to rally. Tom hit him right
and left, and likewise stopped two blows. In
closing, Belcher was thrown. (Betting now
commenced—five to two on Sam.)
3.—Sam extremely cautious till he had got
his proper distance, when, after making a
left-handed feint, he put in a terrible blow
under Belcher’s left eye that brought the
claret out in abundance, and its effects
were so severe that Tom was confused, and,
upon exchanging a hit, was thrown. (Three to
one on Sam.)
4.—Both rallying, and exchanging hits at arm’s
length; no advantage on either side; but the
strength of Sam was prominent in closing. He
threw his opponent.
5.—A most excellent round, but rather in favour
of Belcher. Sam rallied, but without effect,
as Belcher hit him off. Notwithstanding, Sam
closed, disengaged, and commenced another rally,
when Tom put in a most tremendous blow upon the
left eye of his opponent, and also threw him a
heavy fall.
6.—Desperate fighting; both exhausted, and fell
together.
7.—Belcher put in two slight hits; when they
closed irregularly and fell.
8.—Rallying and good science on both sides;
hitting and stopping in good style, till they
both fell. Belcher manifested first weakness.
9.—Sam incorrect in his distances; Belcher gave
him a severe fall. (Four to one on Sam.)
10.—Belcher hit his opponent slightly, when Sam
threw him.
11.—Sam, full of strength, rallied desperately,
which was followed up by Tom, but in favour
of the Jew. Sam’s blows were dreadful, and
Belcher’s face and body suffered materially. He
fell from weakness.
12.—No blows given. Tom ran himself down. (All
betters, but no one sanguine enough to take
them.)
13.—Sam followed the style of his opponent, and
ran himself down.
14.—Belcher somewhat shy from the severe beating
he had received. He fell from two of Sam’s
right-handed body blows.
15.—Belcher made every effort to put in some
good hits, but they were too feeble to do
execution. He fell from weakness, while
rallying.
16.—Of no importance, except both the
combatants, after closing, appeared to fall from
exhaustion.
17.—Belcher, in attempting to hit his opponent,
was stopped, and, in closing, Tom fell between
his adversary’s arms on his knees. Sam, who was
strongly impressed with the articles, cleverly
held up his hands, to show that no foul blows
should put an end to this contest.
18.—Sam, in closing, got his opponent’s head
under his arm, and fibbed Belcher so severely
that he dropped.
19.—Tom fell on his knees; but Sam was on his
guard, and only smiled.
20.—Sam beat his opponent to the ropes with
considerable ease.
21.—Belcher still giving way under Sam’s
superior strength.
22.—Belcher, rather recovered, obtained some
little advantage.
23.—Belcher, still livelier, contended
spiritedly, till they both fell and lay along on
the ground.
24.—Belcher completely astonished his friends
by his fine game and resolution, and obtained
advantage in a desperate rally, when they both
fell, quite exhausted.
25.—Tom’s excellence in the science of boxing
was truly conspicuous in this round; his blows
were well directed, but not effective.
26.—Sam, to avoid Tom’s favourite right-handed
body blow, threw himself on his face.
27.—Sam received a heavy fall, after some
irregular fighting.
28.—Belcher claimed considerable respect and
attention, from the fine style in which he
gained the superiority over his opponent, and
also in giving Sam a very severe fall.
29 and 30.—Good rallies took place in both these
rounds; rather in favour of Belcher.
From the thirty-first to the thirty-sixth round
it was evident to the spectators that Belcher
could not win. The onslaughts of Sam were
tremendous in the extreme. He followed his
opponent to all parts of the ring, putting in
dreadful facers and body blows, dealing out
punishment till his brave opponent fell, quite
exhausted. His brother Jem took him out of the
ring in the most feeble state, and placed him in
a gentleman’s chariot. It was on the left side,
from the kidneys to the crown of the head, where
Tom was so severely beaten. Sam’s principal
injury was a blow under the left eye, and some
trifling marks. The Dutchman dressed himself
with perfect indifference before he left the
ring. The superiority of Sam’s hitting, and the
severity of his blows, were visible throughout
this battle. Belcher’s skill was apparent, but
there was no comparison in the effectiveness of
the two men’s mode of fighting.
Bill Cropley, as yet unconquered, challenged Dutch Sam for fifty
guineas, and was accepted. The battle was fixed for April 5, 1808, the
same day as that between Belcher and Dogherty, but the officers from Bow
Street, appeared with special warrants, and took Sam and his opponent
into custody; they were then bound over to keep the peace in four
contiguous counties named in the bonds.
A new arrangement was therefore entered into, and on the 10th May, 1808,
after Gully’s memorable defeat of Gregson, Sam and Cropley entered the
enclosure and immediately set-to. Cropley stood over Sam in an alarming
manner, and in the first round caught Sam heavily on the eye. On this
success, however, he never improved; he tried every manœuvre to get at
his head again, but ineffectually; Sam always got away, and punished him
cuttingly for following him up. In twenty-five minutes Cropley was a
piteous spectacle, and by the advice of his seconds, gave in.
Sam’s irregularity of living, and what he called his “gin training,”
began now to tell upon his wonderful constitution; and though his name
is of continual recurrence in affairs of the ring during two years, it
is not until a quarrel again brought him within the ropes in May, 1810,
that Sam publicly doffed his shirt. A series of bickerings and slight
disputes had led to an ill feeling between Sam and a tradesman of the
name of Medley, for many years after known in sporting circles. These at
last came to a crisis in a challenge from Medley, to fight for 200
guineas, Medley putting down his own money. The affair created immense
excitement at the time. The _Daily Advertiser_ thus notices Sam’s
opponent: “Ben Medley, as he is called by his intimates, is a muscular
man, some twenty pounds heavier than Samuels (Elias). He has never
before entered the ring for a stake, but fame records great things of
him in resenting a personal injury, and as a setter-to with the gloves
his excellence is well known at the Fives Court. Sam has regarded this
fame so much, that, to avoid risking a chance, he preferred to forfeit
some time ago, because he did not think himself in good condition at the
appointed time.”
Famed Moulsey Hurst, on the 31st May, 1810, was crowded to excess, and
it was with great difficulty that the ring could be kept clear. At one
o’clock the champions entered, Sam waited on by Harry Lee and Puss; Joe
Ward and Tom Cribb seconded Medley. They were not long in stripping. The
betting varied, but the current price was two to one on Sam.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—After a little sparring Sam put in a
left-handed hit, which Medley stopped cleverly;
they closed, but disengaged themselves. Medley
stopped Sam’s left again, closed, and threw his
opponent.
2.—Medley led off. They closed and broke away.
Sam got in a left-hander on the ribs, and
following it up, forced a rally, in which he
caught Medley a tremendous blow on the temple.
Medley fought hurriedly, and slipt down.
3.—Medley appeared quite confused from the
violence of the blow on his temple. It evidently
had taken much of the fight out of him. He,
however, stood up with courage, and rallied. Sam
stopped with great dexterity, and by a well
planted hit under the chin, knocked Medley off
his legs. (Odds four to one on Sam.)
4.—Medley rallied, but Sam brought him down by a
body blow.
5.—Medley struck; Sam parried, and threw in
right and left; both hits told. They closed, and
Sam threw Medley by dint of superior strength.
6.—Medley’s eye was greatly swollen; he appeared
shy, retreated. Sam, however, waited for his
coming up, and threw in a violent blow on the
face, which re-echoed again; they closed, and
Sam threw Medley again.
7.—Sam quite gay, went in, and putting in a
most tremendous blow in the breast, brought
his opponent down.
8.—Medley bled profusely. Sam was coming in to
rally, when Medley knocked him down and laughed
at him; but his countenance was ghastly, from
the tremendous blows he had received in the
face.
9.—Sam appeared angry, ran in, and missed his
distance. Medley displayed a great deal of
science, but was at last knocked down.
10.—Medley was making play, when Sam knocked him
down.
11.—An excellent round, and the longest in the
battle. Medley showed weakness, yet he put in a
good hit on Sam’s nose, who directly knocked him
down.
12.—It would be impossible to describe the
spectacle Medley’s face and head exhibited, the
blood flowing in all directions. Before any blow
was struck Medley fell from weakness.
13.—Medley was again making play, when Sam put
in a severe blow in the ribs, and Medley again
fell. His side now began to swell.
14.—Sam slipped, but it was thought a trick to
gain wind.
16.—Sam went in and rallied. Medley very weak,
but gamely bored in upon Sam, who continued
plying right and left until Medley fell.
Notwithstanding Medley was in this dreadful
state, he continued the fight for thirty-three
more rounds; but nature being at length
exhausted, and his wounds bleeding beyond the
skill of his second’s stopping, his brother
declared him conquered.
Sam in this battle displayed great science, and
his mercy to his opponent did him still greater
honour. Medley showed game, but his hits were
too light for a fighter, being in fact the taps
of the sparring school.
Sam now resolved to retire from the ring as a principal. He was
thirty-five years of age, and had always fought what is termed
“up-hill;” that is, men of greater weight and size than himself. It
would have been well for him had he adhered to this resolution, as we
shall presently see.
Five years had elapsed during which Sam’s intemperance was the subject
of regret among his acquaintance, when Bill Nosworthy, the baker, a
wrestler and boxer of some repute with the “dead men” of the metropolis,
offered himself to Sam’s notice; by whom, as we have already said, the
poet’s warning was as unheeded as it was probably unknown:—
“Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty;
For, in my youth, I never did apply
Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood:
Nor did I, with unbashful forehead, woo
The means of weakness and debility;
Therefore my age is as a lusty winter,
Frosty, but kindly.”
This, Sam’s final ring encounter, took place at Moulsey, on Tuesday,
December 8th, 1814. Four to one had been betted on Sam previous to this
fight, and he was backed, when fighting, till near the end of the
battle, by the best judges in the pugilistic circles.
This defeat (which will be found detailed in the Appendix to Period IV.,
under NOSWORTHY), ruined him, and he sunk into dejection, misery, and
want. Like many others of the headstrong race of hard drinkers, he was
infatuated with the idea that nothing in the shape of excess could harm
his iron frame. Indeed, Sam had been heard insanely to boast that he
could train on “three glasses of gin, three times a day.” What wonder,
then, that he fell? Excess, pride, and conceit destroyed his vigour and
stamina, and on this occasion he might exclaim,—
“I’ve touched the highest point of all my greatness,
And from that full meridian of my glory,
I haste now to my setting.”
A few anecdotes from contemporary sources may show Sam’s fistic
capabilities even in his decadence. Passing through Wapping, one
evening, when it was almost dark, he observed a poor Jew and a sailor
fighting, and, upon enquiring the cause, he was soon recognized by the
unfortunate Mordecai, who had been several times floored by the rough
son of Neptune. Sam stooped to pick up his Israelitish brother, when the
latter whispered in his ear, “So help my Cot, Sam, I can’t fight any
more.” “Hold your tongue, you fool,” replied Sam, at the same time
falling down by his side: “you get up and pretend to pick me up: I’ll
let fly at him.” This imposition was practised with success, and Sam,
staggering on to his legs with well feigned grogginess, went bang in
with his one-two at the Jack Tar, in such style that he saluted mother
earth in a twinkling. The sailor, upon getting upon his pins, roughly
exclaimed, “D—— my ——, this ain’t the man I was fighting with—it’s
another. Shiver me, but his blows are like the kicks of a horse—I’ll
have no more of this.” He instantly sheered off, while Sam and his
friend dropped into a neighbouring gin-shop to laugh over the trick.
It is impossible correctly to ascertain the number of bye-battles in
which Sam was engaged; but it is certainly within compass to assert,
that he fought above one hundred.
In the vicinity of St. George’s Fields, a stout fellow of the name of
Jones, a painter, and a neighbour of Dutch Sam’s, who valued himself
upon his milling qualities, publicly declared that he was the champion
of that quarter, and frequently had importuned Sam to have a set-to; the
latter always declined. It happened one evening that Sam was regaling
himself at a public-house, and glass succeeding glass of Deady’s
brilliant fluid, had nearly obliterated worldly things from Sam’s
pericranium, when Jones, learning the circumstance, entered the
premises, and endeavoured to provoke him to a combat, but in vain. At
length Jones struck him. This was too much, the staggering Sam returned
it, and inquired “whether he was doing right or wrong to defend
himself?” An adjournment to the street took place, when Sam,
notwithstanding his intoxicated state, appeared to have the advantage,
until Jones, seizing him by the hair of his head, threw him down, and
struck him violently upon the stones. This unmanly act appeared to have
a most unusual and electric effect, for it awoke Sam to a recollection
of what he was about; and, to the surprise of the spectators, the
Israelite started up exclaiming, “Take care, take care, I’m coming now!”
put in such a bodier as nearly deprived Jones of his breath, following
it up by a slashing hit over his eye, which levelled the brute in his
congenial mud. Utterly flabbergasted by the severity and impetuosity of
Sam’s hitting, he fairly bolted. Jones weighed thirteen stone six
pounds; and, though destitute of propriety, was not without pretensions
to science; this lesson taught him summarily the folly of vain boasting,
and the superiority of a master in the art.
We cannot omit one bright trait in Sam’s character, and this was his
honest determination to win his fight if he could. We read in his
obituary notice, “Sam’s integrity was a bright jewel; it was undoubtedly
of the first water; he was once tampered with by a large offer to lose a
fight (Egan says 1000_l._), but he at once disclosed the affair to his
backers. If all our pugilists had displayed the like honesty, the ring
would be in a very different state.”
Sam’s constitution originally was of the finest quality, and his
strength, for his stature and weight, amazing. The day he fought with
Cropley he asserted that he was able to “floor an ox.” The Game Chicken
once affronted Sam, when the latter informed that formidable boxer that
he could not beat him in a quarter of an hour. In private life, Sam
possessed a good deal of comic humour; and he passed much of his latter
time in the service of Saunders, the equestrian circus keeper, of
Bartholomew Fair notoriety.
He suffered considerably in his illness, and died in the London
Hospital, on Wednesday, July 3, 1816, in the forty-second year of his
age. He was buried on the 4th of the same month, in the Jews’ burying
ground, Whitechapel.
As a boxer, “take him for all in all,” while he lived he had no equal;
but latterly his stamina was utterly ruined by excessive indulgence in
ardent spirits.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VI.
GEORGE MADDOX (KNOWN IN HIS LATER BATTLES AS “THE VETERAN”)—1792‒1809.
As a connecting link between the Second and Third Periods, George Maddox
furnishes a career of some interest. He was a civil, facetious,
illiterate man, but possessed of manly courage and forbearance.
“Though,” says one who knew him, “George Maddox fought more battles than
any man I knew of his time, he never had a spark of resentment in his
composition. His hardihood and resolution in the battle were not more
remarkable than the coolness, almost stoical, with which he spoke of
victory or defeat, in his own natural and rough manner. He seemed
satisfied, that having done his best, the best could do no more, and
generally spoke strongly of the ‘goodness’ of the men who had given in
to him.” Maddox was born in Tothill Fields, Westminster, in 1756. In his
fiftieth year he entered the lists with the powerful Tom Cribb, then in
the prime of his youth and freshness, and, after fighting an hour and a
half, the odds were still in his favour. Seventy-six rounds and two
hours and ten minutes of courageous fighting passed before “the Veteran”
cried “enough!” Once more in his fifty-fifth year he met Bill Richmond,
the black (whom he had formerly beaten in three rounds), and after an
hour yielded to exhaustion. The spirit did not surrender, but nature
left him.[108] There can be nothing added to this but the record of
George’s boxing career.
George Maddox was as modest and independent as he was courageous. He
never hung about sporting public-houses or low tap-rooms, and never
sponged upon gentlemen, nor sought the patronage of the great. After a
memorable fight he sunk into his desired obscurity, following his humble
occupation, and content with his moderate earnings, as an industrious
costermonger, a calling much more lucrative and numerous than in our
times. Indeed the “donkey dragoons” of Westminster, as they were then
termed, formed a formidable squadron; and, among the lower classes, the
proprietor of a “neddy and tumbler”—as in the days of slang a donkey and
cart were termed—was often a velveteened fancy-dressed person with gold
as well as silver and copper in his pocket, or “skin,” a taste for “the
Fancy,” an attendant at every sport, the owner of a “tyke” or two, and a
“dealer in curiosities,”—rats, squirrels, ferrets, badgers, an
occasional mongoose, and fancy “pets,” coming particularly within the
range of his tastes and trading.
After many bye-battles, Maddox’s first regular contest was with Symonds
(the Ruffian). This took place at Datchet, near Windsor, on Saturday,
December 4, 1792. See SYMONDS, _ante_, 130.
This battle stands unparalleled for desperation and unflinching
resolution in the annals of pugilism. The spot first named was Langley
Broom, in Buckinghamshire, but magisterial interference preventing the
rencontre, “the wayfarers crossed the Thames carrying their boards and
quartering with them, and in a very few minutes erected a stage,” in the
renowned Shaksperian “Datchet Mead.” We must here remark, that Maddox
was two inches shorter and more than two stone lighter than Symonds, to
appreciate the battle which followed. There is no report worthy of
transcription of this tremendous fight which is described in
generalities. “Columns of our paper would not suffice to detail the
rallies, the knock-down blows, the alternate advantages and the gluttony
which marked this surprising battle. ‘The Ruffian,’ who was nearly two
stone heavier than his antagonist, was by far the most beaten, and
totally blind, from the closing of both his eyes, before he would allow
himself to be carried from off the stage. Maddox, of course, was not
quite in so desperate a condition, as he had the best of the hitting in
the rallies, especially towards the latter rounds. It was stated by an
experienced amateur that Maddox put in two, sometimes three blows to
Symonds’s one throughout the contest,” which lasted two hours, during
which 100 rounds were fought.
On Monday, February 10, 1794, Maddox met Hooper, the tinman, but after a
game fight of nearly an hour, surrendered to that formidable boxer. (See
HOOPER, _ante_, p. 107.)
Isaac Bittoon, a Jew, known for many years after to the visitors of the
Fives Court and sparring saloons of the metropolis, was Maddox’s next
opponent. Bittoon’s qualifications as a boxer will be found noticed
under his name. The battle came off on Monday, December 13th, 1802, on
Wimbledon Common. The ground first named was Wormwood Scrubs, but “on
arriving there a goodly posse of the Bow Street runners, with a number
of special constables, had possession of the ground. A council of war
now directed that each man’s party should separate and meet again at the
five-mile-stone on the Edgware road, to elude the vigilance of the
myrmidons of the law. When George and his friends reached the
rendezvous, no Jew was there, and they waited two hours in anxious
expectation. All hopes of a battle that day were given up, when a
messenger on horseback arrived with the information that Bittoon was
waiting for his opponent at Wimbledon Common, when off went gig, cart,
curricle, carriage, buggy, and tumbler, over Putney Bridge, on a visit
once again to the shrine of Jerry Abbershaw. At a quarter before three
the pilgrims arrived, the ring was formed, and precisely at five minutes
before three they set-to. Bittoon was seconded by Lyons, and Maddox by
Joe Ward.
“For the first three rounds the Jew had a clear advantage, having three
successive times brought down his opponent at the close of the round,
but not without some sharp returns. The combatants manœuvred, then laid
aside science for a display of unflinching courage, forcing the fighting
rapidly, taking and giving heavily; but in this the agility of Maddox
and his superior quickness in advancing and retreating brought the odds
to seven to four in his favour. From the sixty-eighth to the
seventy-third round, Bittoon recovered strength and well supported the
contest. In the seventy-fourth round he threw Maddox heavily, who was
also sadly beaten both in the face and body. It was now getting dark,
and Maddox persevered to make it a ‘draw.’ Maddox’s brother and friends
now entered the ring and stopped the battle, stating that no one could
see fair. A general engagement with sticks and fists ensued, to clear
the ring. A parley ensued, when it was agreed the battle should be
postponed to a future day; the men having been engaged one hour and ten
minutes, and fought seventy-four rounds, the seventy-fifth being
interrupted as above stated.” The reporter adds, “in the fight both men
displayed ‘bottom’ unequalled in the annals of pugilism.” At a further
conference between the backers of the men, they humanely decided, that
two such brave and evenly matched men should not meet again for the same
stake, but each have his backer’s stake-money.
George, now, as on former occasions, like Caleb Baldwin and others of
his time, returned to his humble and laborious calling. He however,
_more majorum_, attended whenever there was a “good thing” on. Thus, on
the 23rd January, 1804, he was present at the celebrated fight of the
Game Chicken and Joe Berks, on Putney Common. The great event disposed
of, a purse was got up, and Maddox, then called “the Veteran,” offered
himself as a candidate. One Seabrook, a dustman, and a bounceable sort
of chap, long known as a second rate pugilist, was induced by the offer
of four pounds to enter the ring with George. The affair was a farce,
Maddox punished Seabrook all over the ring for three rounds, when he
fell out of the ropes and declared his arm was broken. “No sooner,
however, had he nibbed the gull (Anglicè pocketed the money), than he
boastingly swore he was not the least hurt.”[109] “Pancratia,” p. 199.
George’s day’s work was not, however, yet over. Bill Richmond, an
athletic American black, of whom we shall hear more hereafter, who had
served his time to a cabinet maker at York, and was at this time footman
to the well-known Lord Camelford, having expressed himself desirous of a
“shy” with a professed pugilist, was indulged by the deposit of a small
stake. The affair, like that of Seabrook’s, was of three rounds only. In
the last round Maddox caught Richmond an electrifying blow under the
left eye, which in the words of the reporter, “so completely _queered
his ogle_, that he at once gave in.”
George, though now in his fiftieth year, was always ready to try “a
novice.” At a meeting at Wood Green, near Hornsey, on Monday, June 7,
1805, a subscription purse was offered of twenty-five guineas, twenty
for the winner, five for the loser. For this Tom Cribb, “the Black
Diamond,” offered himself. The battle will be detailed under Cribb. His
after-renowned opponent, besides the advantages of youth, was two inches
taller than George. Maddox fought like a hero, and gave in with
reluctance, after two hours and ten minutes’ combat, with a stalwart and
game youngster with stamina fresh and unwasted. Maddox fell gloriously,
and Young Cribb, hitherto unknown, by this contest acquired a pugilistic
fame that soon developed itself, and ultimately led him to the
championship.
On Monday, June 5th, 1806, three boxing matches were decided at Padnal
Corner, Epping Forest. The second of these was between George Maddox,
“the Veteran,” and Coady,[110] an Irish boxer, of great pretence, for
forty guineas. Maddox was considered “gone by,” and Coady made the
favourite. We copy the report from the _Daily Advertiser_: “Maddox
fought in the old style, that of rallying,[111] and in a great measure
giving the first powerful hit in each round. Coady always waited for him
to begin, and generally hit in return successfully in the rallies. His
blows did not, however, seem to tell so much or to be put in so sharply
as his adversary’s. After the combat had lasted half an hour there was
some confusion, and the ring was broken in, but whether by design or
accident could not be discovered. The combatants were, however, taken
away until another ring was formed, when they again set-to. The combat
lasted another three quarters of an hour, when a detachment of the 10th
Light Dragoons appeared, headed by a magistrate, who, being also
headborough, entered the ring, and with all the moderation and
gentlemanly affability becoming his authority addressed the amateurs,
informing them they must disperse in the name of the law, or he should
be under the necessity of calling in military aid to enforce his
mission. Upon this they all retired about a mile further, when the
cavalry disappearing they formed another ring.” The name of this
magisterial specimen of the _suaviter in modo et fortiter re_ has not
been recorded by the admiring reporter, or we would willingly have
perpetuated it. Mr. Coady was now called to appear and face his man; but
in the interval his eyes had nearly closed. “He _refused to enter the
ring_,” says the report, “_so the battle was declared a drawn
one_.”[112] That there was no further interruption is shown by the fact
that there was a third battle, between O’Donnell and Smith. (See
O’DONNELL in Appendix.)
Maddox once more retired to his vocation as a street dealer in fish,
fruit, flowers, and other commodities then generally hawked through the
scattered suburbs, now solidified into the enormous mass of the mighty
metropolis—in plain prose, he followed his vocation of a costermonger,
and was a noted character among the Westminster fraternity. Meantime,
Bill Richmond, his old antagonist, had won himself a name and position
among the list of boxers, and the blot on his ’scutcheon, from his early
and summary defeat by Maddox, so sorely troubled him that he longed to
rub it out by another tourney. He challenged the veteran, who accepted
the defiance. They met August 9, 1809. John Gully seconded the veteran,
and Bill Gibbons, his Westminster “pal,” was his bottle-holder. Yet one
more illustration of the soundness of Captain Godfrey’s axiom, not to
“trust battle to a waning age,” was given. Maddox in his fifty-fourth
year, after fifty-two rounds, reluctantly gave in to his younger,
heavier, and stronger adversary.
In all the numerous contests in which Maddox had been engaged, his
courage was pre-eminent. As a pugilist, he was conspicuous for
determined rallying and quick hitting; and, though well acquainted with
the science, he relied more on his true game than strictly following the
principles of the art. It is but justice to his memory to state,
according to the best information upon the subject, that pugilism was
never disgraced by any of his public encounters, nor his character ever
stained by making a cross.
A short time previous to his death a benefit was got up for “the
veteran” at the One Tun Room, Jermyn Street, which was well attended,
and at which the first pugilists exhibited specimens of self-defence;
among whom several of his old opponents were not backward in assisting
him by their efforts, as Cribb, Bittoon, O’Donnell, Richmond, etc.
The death of this courageous boxer was the consequence of an accident.
The pipes (in those days hollowed trunks of elm trees) which conveyed
water through the Borough Market were under repair, and the dark street
“for in those days we had not got to gas,” left with a yawning chasm.
Into one of these, while repairing to market before dawn, poor George
was precipitated; he received a compound fracture of the thigh,
erysipelas supervened, and our hero, for hero he was though humble,
closed his career in St. Thomas’s Hospital. George was buried, by the
subscriptions of some of his brother boxers in the churchyard of St.
George the Martyr.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VII.
CALEB BALDWIN, “THE PRIDE OF WESTMINSTER.”—1786 (1792)‒1816.
Caleb Stephen Ramsbottom, for such were the registered sponsorial and
patronymic styles of this well-known boxer, was born beneath the shadow
of the venerable abbey church of St. Peter’s, Westminster, in what were
the head-quarters of the costermongery of western London, in the early
days of the third George, to wit, the 22nd of April, 1769. We like to be
particular in the birthdays of remarkable men, for Caleb, in his day,
was a more noted character, and certainly more of an “original,” than
many upon whom biographers have wasted mutton fat, or, more classically,
“the midnight oil.”
The reader will best form a judgment of Caleb’s qualities as a “good
piece of stuff,” from an unvarnished account of his performances within
the ropes. We may premise, however, that Caleb in his later days weighed
but 9st. 11lbs., and therefore may well take his own assertion, that he
was quite four pounds less when in his younger days he met antagonists,
without much distinction of age or height; his own being five feet seven
inches.
We shall pass Caleb’s youthful skirmishes with unknown antagonists,
referring the curious to “Boxiana,” vol. i., pp. 301‒307. The first of
these, we are told, was with “one Gregory,” in 1786, and then follow
flourishing accounts of victories over Jem Jones, Arthur Smith, Jerry
Matthews, Bill Berks, Wadham (a grenadier), Kelly, “one Jones,” a
fourteen stone coal-whipper, Bob Parker, etc., etc., all of which “the
historian,” fancifully embellishes with such characteristic touches as
would induce us to think that he had himself been eye witness and
reporter of the frays.
In 1792, on the 14th of May, we find Caleb’s first recorded battle. It
was with the well-known Tom (Paddington) Jones, at Hurley Bottom, after
the fight between Mendoza and Bill Warr. They fought for a purse of £20,
but after a game and even contest of half an hour, a dispute arose, and
the battle was declared “a draw.” They were each so satisfied with the
other’s goodness, that though they met for many long years afterwards at
sparring benefits, outside the ring as spectators and inside as seconds,
they never again held up naked fists as adversaries.[113]
After the great battle between Jem Belcher and Andrew Gamble, December
22, 1800, at Wimbledon Common, a purse of twenty guineas was contended
for. Kelly, a stalwart Irishman, under the patronage of Coady, “the
bruising publican,” and Burke (not Berks), offered himself. The reporter
says, “Caleb Baldwin, a dealer in greens, well-known among the
Westminster lads as a smart customer with the mufflers, accepted the
contest. Joe Ward and Elisha Crabbe, offered themselves as Caleb’s
seconds, and Tom Tring was his bottle-holder. They fought merrily twelve
rounds in fifteen minutes, when Paddy, who could not latterly get in a
blow, yielded to a hearty drubbing.”
In June, 1801, there is proof that Caleb was _semper paratus_, like
other heroes. He was enjoying himself at the Pewter Platter, in St. John
Street; Jackling, known as “Ginger,” brother of the renowned Tom
Johnson, was there, and spoke contemptuously of Caleb’s capabilities. A
quarrel was the result, and a challenge following, Caleb turned out
there and then. The paragraph writer says, “Jackling, alias Ginger, Tom
Johnson’s brother, having quarrelled with Caleb Baldwin, they fought a
severe battle, in which the pungency of Ginger was completely overcome
by the acrimony of his antagonist’s fist.”[114] This was thought smart
writing in those days.
After Jem Belcher, of whom Caleb was always an admiring follower, had
beaten the resolute Joe Berks, at Hurley Bottom, November 25th, 1801,
Lee, “the butcher,”[115] made his appearance, followed by Caleb Baldwin,
to decide their match for twenty guineas a side. Caleb was attended by
Paddington Jones, his old opponent, and Joe Ward; Lee by Maddox and
Seabrook. We preserve the report.
THE FIGHT.
There was no time lost in setting-to, and for
the first twelve rounds much science was
displayed by the lighter combatant, “the
Westminster Champion,” as he is now styled. He
did not, however, much reduce Lee’s strength,
who fought with determined resolution.
13.—Caleb put in two straight hits through Lee’s
guard; the second brought down the butcher.
14.—Lee rallied manfully. He got in the first
blow; but Caleb stepped in, put on the lock,
and threw him neatly. (Great shouting from the
“Neddy” drivers.)
15.—Caleb gave his adversary a clean cross
buttock.
16.—Lee had the advantage in hitting; he struck
his opponent three severe blows, and brought him
down.
17.—In this round Caleb displayed most excellent
skill, strength, and activity. At the
commencement six hard blows were struck, after
which Caleb, fastening on his antagonist, threw
him completely over his head. Lee’s back
rebounded from the stage with great violence,
and he lay panting on the ground.
18.—Caleb slipped and fell, upon the system of
husbanding his strength.
19.—Caleb gave his antagonist a heavy knock-down
blow.
20.—Lee fought this round with determined
courage and great skill, but still Caleb had the
best of it.
21.—Caleb gave another knock-down blow, and Lee,
who was completely exhausted, gave in.
The contest lasted twenty-three minutes, and
afforded more amusement and a greater display of
science than even the preceding grand affair
between Belcher and Berks.
Lord Say and Sele, The Hon. Berkeley Craven, Sir
Thomas Apreece, Colonel Montgomery, Captain
Taylor, and many other distinguished amateurs
were present.
Jack O’Donnell having beaten Pardo Wilson (Belcher’s brother-in-law),
and Smith, was now the recognised “Irish champion,” and he challenged
Caleb for fifty guineas a-side, who, nothing loth, entered into articles
of agreement. As there was great apprehension that the Bow Street
authorities would interfere, the matter was “kept dark,” and on Friday
morning, October 21st, 1803, the men and their friends started early by
different roads out of town. Wimbledon Common, in the vicinity of that
interesting landmark of civilisation,[116] the gibbet of the notorious
Jerry Abershaw, was the rendezvous, and there at twelve o’clock all had
arrived. Vehicles of every description and thousands of spectators and
equestrians thronged the valley, a ring was quickly formed, and at
half-past twelve O’Donnell entered, followed by the veteran Caleb. The
men immediately threw themselves in attitude. Odds six to four on
Baldwin, readily taken.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—O’Donnell put in the first blow in his
adversary’s side. Caleb returned dexterously
right and left, then closing, threw his
opponent.
2.—O’Donnell fought very shy, but Caleb stood to
his man, followed him round the ring, and put in
several severe blows, which were well parried by
his adversary. It was here thought O’Donnell was
endeavouring to wind Caleb; however, he did not
fall off in putting in his blows, and having got
O’Donnell to the edge of the ring, put in a most
severe body hit, which brought him down.
3.—At the commencement of this round O’Donnell
appeared sick from the effects of the last blow,
which Caleb perceiving, stuck to him closely,
not allowing him even time for breath. O’Donnell
tried to avoid him, but failed. They closed, and
Caleb again threw him. (Odds had now risen as
high as four to one.)
4.—This round was well contested by both
combatants. O’Donnell recovered, came up in
better spirits, and fought more manfully. He put
in several good blows, and cut his opponent over
the right eye; they closed, and O’Donnell for
the first time threw Caleb.
5.—The sun now was extremely troublesome,
particularly to O’Donnell, who shifted and
tried hard to get the shady side; but Caleb’s
cleverness was not to be out done. Some severe
straight-forward blows were given on both
sides; O’Donnell’s last bringing his opponent
down a second time. His friends now again
began to hope for success, and odds triflingly
changed.
6.—O’Donnell came up smiling; Caleb made several
blows tell. A blow from O’Donnell made him
stagger, on which he rushed in, and with great
force knocked down O’Donnell.
7.—This, although not the last, was the decisive
round. O’Donnell set-to with great spirits,
and displayed great courage and excellent
science. Caleb made several feints, which by
many were considered weakness, and the odds fell
back to even betting. Caleb, however, caught
his opponent off his guard, and planted a most
severe blow in his kidneys,[117] which had a
most visible effect. They dosed, and O’Donnell
was thrown.
8.—The effects of the blow, so powerfully put in
by Caleb in the last round, were so great, that
O’Donnell was scarcely able to stand. Caleb
showed as much fight as ever, followed him up,
put in several good blows, and concluded both
the round and the battle by giving his opponent
a violent cross buttock.
O’Donnell was immediately led off the ground
greatly distressed, both by the kidney blow and
the last fall; he was placed in a hackney coach,
but his friends neglected him even more than
Berks’ did; they left him there without any
assistance for nearly two hours, while Caleb was
carried in triumph round the ground, and also
until the termination of another battle, which
consisted of forty rounds.
This match was considered extremely even as to
the skill and strength of the combatants. Both
had fought numerous minor battles, and two or
three regular ring-fights, in which neither of
them had been beaten. Caleb being some years
older than his opponent, O’Donnell’s youth was
considered to be an equivalent for Caleb’s more
practical science.
The fight above alluded to was between one Beckley, known as “Blue
Breeches,” and Clarke, which ended in a draw after fifty minutes’
desperate milling.
In November of the same year, O’Donnell again challenged Caleb for 100
guineas. His friends declared the last fight a mistake, the next they
said would be “the real thing.” This, however, came to nothing, and
Caleb, who had long wished to try his skill with the Jewish phenomenon,
Dutch Sam, was backed by his friends, for fifty guineas; and Tuesday,
August 7th, 1804, fixed for the combat, which took place at Wood Green,
near Hornsey. (See Life of DUTCH SAM, _ante_, Chapter V.)
This first defeat of Caleb was by no means a dishonourable one, and when
in the October following a second match was made, Sam, to the surprise
of the amateurs, declined to go on with it, and forfeited his deposit.
Caleb’s friends maintained that he was out of condition on the first
occasion.
On Tuesday, August 6th, 1805, the long expected battle between Bill Ryan
and Caleb Baldwin crowded the Lewisham side of Blackheath with thousands
of eager spectators. The seat of combat was not determined until very
late on the Monday night, and many who expected it to be at Wilsden
Green, travelled there only to be disappointed. A ring having been
formed, about eleven o’clock the combatants entered, Ryan attended by
Tom Jones and Puss, and Caleb by Pearce, the Game Chicken, and Mountain.
Odds were rather in favour of Caleb, but in general betting was even.
After the usual ceremony they set-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Much sparring; Caleb at last put in two
good blows right and left. They closed, and both
fell.
2.—Caleb made a hit, and while closing, Ryan
threw in a severe blow, and cut his opponent in
the face; closed, and both fell.
3.—Caleb threw in some tolerably clean body
blows. Ryan ran in and threw him.
4.—Caleb put in a blow over Ryan’s eye; it soon
swelled and became black. Caleb terminated the
round by giving Ryan a complete somersault. The
advantage was all with Baldwin.
5.—A good round. Caleb held his lead by several
sharp blows. They closed, and after a sharp
struggle Caleb was uppermost. (Shouts for
Westminster.)
10.—Every move in favour of Caleb, who was the
quicker and more resolute fighter.
11.—Caleb slipped in, hit, and slipped out
again. Ryan followed him, when Caleb hit up,
closed, and threw him another swinging fall.
12.—Slow sparring. Both blowing, and Ryan very
shy of his man. Caleb put in a tremendous blow
upon his opponent’s head, and brought him down.
13.—Caleb with great dexterity repeated his
blow, and Ryan fell again. (Odds were now five
to one in favour of Caleb.)
15.—Ryan very shy. He, however, rallied, and
threw in several very good hits. Caleb now began
to show exhaustion, as was somewhat expected
from his violent exertion.
16.—Ryan began to show to advantage. Caleb was
fatigued, and Ryan’s superior strength appeared
manifest.
21.—Every round now added fresh superiority to
Ryan, who, although much fatigued, threw his
opponent every time.
22.—This was the last round in which there was
any fighting. Caleb summoned all his courage,
put in some well-aimed blows, but was too weak
to withstand his opponent, who again brought him
down.
26.—Caleb fell, almost exhausted, and while
falling Ryan hit him. The ring was instantly
broken in, and a cry of “Foul” raised. It was
clearly a mere dodge to save the stakes. But
while the connoisseurs were debating the
question, a party of dragoons arrived and
dispersed the assemblage. The combatants, both
pretty well thrashed, were put together in a
postchaise and brought to London. The fight had
lasted half an hour, when this wrangle took
place.
At a subsequent meeting it was agreed that the military interference
made it a drawn battle. Ryan declined a renewal of the match.
This may be considered the legitimate wind-up of Caleb’s professional
career as a pugilist, after twenty years of ring practice (1786‒1806),
with one solitary defeat, and that at the hands of the renowned Dutch
Sam. From this time Caleb figures as one of the most active and
interesting characters in “the Fancy,” and the liveliest leader and
councillor of the followers of the ring. For years he was in his sphere
a sort of pugilistic Palmerston in the Westminster purlieus of Downing
Street. His courage was never doubted; his science was unquestionable;
his honesty never impeached, and his fun was perennial. Caleb, though
never quarrelsome, was always ready upon warrantable occasion to “sport
his canvas.” Few harder hitters were to be found, and many first-rate
pupils were turned out by him. In his own dominion, on the downs of
Tothill, his opinions upon sporting matters commanded deference, and
Caleb’s judgment in matters concerning man, dog, badger, or bull, was
almost without appeal.
In May, 1816, a curious day’s “outing” took place, to witness a battle
between a couple of “darkies,” hight Stephenson[118] and Sam Robinson;
“Ethiopian” bruisers, like Ethiopian serenaders, being now in fashion,
from the exploits of such men as Richmond, Kendrick, and Co. To Coombe
Warren, also, one Bristow, known as “Young Massa,” in the service of a
sporting gentleman, had repaired. Caleb as one of the M.C.’s was beating
out the ring, when he applied the thong to Young Massa, who, new to his
freedom and unacquainted with the person and privileges of Caleb as a
public functionary, retorted by a couple of such unexpected facers as
drew “the veteran’s” cork. A row was the immediate consequence, in which
Caleb proposed to cast the question of his ring privilege to the winds,
and then and there vindicate his insulted manhood. He was at length
indulged. The two principals actually quitted the ropes and Caleb was
“indulged” with “a round or two,” as he expressed it. Bill Richmond
hereon offered to pick up Bristow, and Harry Harmer valeted the Veteran.
The affair showed that Young Massa was not to be easily disposed of. The
report is Pierce Egan’s, though it is not even alluded to in his life of
Caleb Baldwin.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Caleb seemed angry, and eager to check
this daring novice for his presumption, set-to
with great courage, and wished to mill off hand
this sprig of colour, but Massa laughed at the
attempt, returned hit for hit, and in closing
brought the veteran down.
2.—Young Massa not only showed pluck, but his
attitudes were imposing, and the champion of
Westminster did not know what to make of him.
Caleb hit out viciously, which the black
returned on the nob of his opponent, and the
veteran, in a close, went down undermost.
3.—On setting-to Massa put in a severe facer,
and followed it up so strongly, that the
champion was fairly hit down.
4.—Young Blacky, full of gaiety, pointed his
finger at the veteran, by way of derision, and
kept moving with great agility that he might not
be smashed by the superior science he had to
contend against. Some blows were exchanged,
and, in closing, this game sprig fibbed Caleb
severely, and brought him again down undermost.
5.—The youth of the Black encouraged him to
proceed, and he hit out rather in a scientific
style, as if he had taken lessons. Caleb seemed
not able to stop him, and the veteran’s sight
appeared somewhat defective, as he generally hit
short. In closing, as before, the Black fibbed
away, and Caleb went down undermost.
6.—Caleb, on his guard, had the best of this
round, and, in closing, turned the novice down.
7.—Young Massa seemed an apt scholar, quite on
the alert, and, under the guidance of such a
second as Richmond he stood more than a chance
to do something. He put in three severe hits,
got away cleverly, and succeeded finally in
bringing down his man.
8.—Caleb’s nob was properly crimsoned, and in
every round he received more than he gave. His
once acknowledged talent for serving out
appeared to be gone by, or else this almost
conqueror of Dutch Sam could never have suffered
so many rounds to have passed over to his
evident disadvantage. The young Black had too
much gaiety for him, and he threw the champion
against his will.
9.—Caleb got a little into work, and gave
Massa a small taste; but he seemed to make no
impression; however, he ultimately brought the
young one down.
10.—This was a sort of scuffling round, but
Caleb had the best of the throw.
11.—Blacky ran in with great velocity, and
gave his opponent a tremendous body blow—a
perfect winder! It was heard at some distance,
and the champion felt not a little surprised.
In closing, they both went down.
12.—Appearances were most certainly against
Caleb; but yet some trifling odds were betted,
from what he had formerly done, that the old
trump would be able to come through the piece.
At Caleb’s age, the Black must have been
considered a dangerous unlucky customer to have
fallen in his way, so unprepared as he then was.
It was altogether an unfortunate turn up for the
veteran; and even the terrors of the ring did
not in the least abate the confidence of the
young adventurer, who hit out and faced his man
more like an experienced boxer than a raw chance
miller. Caleb again found himself on the ground.
13 and last.—Caleb, full of pluck, seemed to
rally all his capabilities into action, and
rushed toward the scratch with all the eagerness
of a Richard, mentally exclaiming—“Perish the
thought; ne’er be it said that Caleb, the
renowned Caleb Baldwin, of milling notoriety,
ever surrendered his hard-earned laurels into
the hands of a mere strippling novice, and that
too a Black!” The champion put in some of his
teasers, and, it is but justice to observe,
that the young one was not a jot behind hand
in returning some good hits. It was a milling
round altogether, but, in closing, Caleb was
again down. Some interference now appeared to
be made, and the darling fame of Caleb was
rescued from the tottering brink of destruction
by Blacky giving in, to the great astonishment
and surprise of the spectators, as the young
one had only a very slight scratch over one
of his eyes. Caleb was thus enabled once more
to return to his dominions as the conquering
hero. Young Blacky, upon being persuaded to
relinquish the contest, received the sum of
30_s._, collected by subscription, as a reward
for the pluck he manifested in daring to enter
the lists with so renowned a punisher as Caleb
Ramsbottom Baldwin.[119]
Caleb henceforth wisely confined himself to seconding and ring-keeping,
in which his services were conspicuous and constant. On May 15, 1817, we
find a joint benefit announced for two veterans, Caleb Baldwin and “Old
Joe Ward,” now in his seventy-second year. Cribb and Tom Oliver sparred
on this occasion. The wind-up was between Caleb and Paddington Jones.
“The first-named old trump prefaced his set-to by informing the company
that twenty-eight years ago he and his friend Jones fought a tough fight
together and had been ‘pals’ ever since. (Applause.) Caleb still retains
considerable energy, and the display of the ‘old school’ was very
creditable. Two sons of Caleb also exhibited their skill with the
gloves, the second with young Perry, who ‘bested’ him. Caleb’s
first-born set-to with Jack Martin, but his pipes were out of order and
he took off the gloves as quickly as he well could. They will not
continue the renown of the father’s name.”
We find Caleb’s name in numerous benefits for his brother pugilists, and
in 1819 (Sept. 16), he advertised a benefit at the “Minor Theatre in the
Strand.” As these announcements occasionally possess a curiosity from
their scarcity, we subjoin one of Caleb’s as a specimen:—
CALEB BALDWIN
Respectfully acquaints his Friends and the Public, he would be proud
to see them at the
MINOR THEATRE, IN THE STRAND,
_On Thursday, 16th September, 1819_,
Where he intends to exhibit with one of the Primest Little
Nonpareils[120] of the Day; and as several of the First-rate
Pugilists have promised to meet him there, he anticipates they will
receive a High Treat.
The Cognoscenti, the Lads of the Turf, and the Fancy in general,
cannot obliterate from memory the amusement they have enjoyed from
the able, spirited, and active manner in which Caleb always kept the
Ring for them on Days of Sport; nor can it be forgotten, he has
fought upwards of Thirty Battles, and was never beat, previous to
that unsuccessful set-to with Dutch Sam.
This true-bottomed Champion of his day once moved in comfort and
prosperity; and we have to deplore that the case is now altered. We
trust a Real-bred Sportsman will never see a Worthy Veteran of the
Turf in Distress, and shut up that spirit which should distinguish
such a character. The single reflection of
A THOROUGH-BRED WESTMINSTER SCHOLAR AT LOW-WATER MARK, AND WANTING A
LIFT,
will require no further invitation, nor suffer exertion to sleep on
the subject.
_The Amusements will commence at Two O’clock._
Tickets, 3_s._ each, to be had at
Tom Oliver’s, Great Peter Street, Westminster; Randall’s, Chancery
Lane; Harmer’s, Plough, Smithfield; T. Cribb’s, Mountain’s, St.
Martin’s Lane; and W. Austin’s, the Black-a-Moor’s Head, Whitcomb
Street.
On the 8th November, 1827, the veteran Caleb received his last “warning
to quit,” and shuffled off this mortal coil, in the spot of his
nativity, and many an “old one” recounted his early deeds, with
disparaging reflections (not always deserved) on the young ’uns who were
likely to succeed him.
APPENDIX TO PERIOD III.
ANDREW GAMBLE—1792‒1800.
Andrew Gamble, another of Pierce Egan’s Irish “champions,” appears to
have been a powerful, game, hard-hitting, clumsy, knock-kneed Hibernian,
of six feet in stature, and a strong fighting instinct. His eulogium may
be read in “Boxiana,” vol. i., pp. 239 et seq. We here give what we can
find in the contemporary prints.
“Andrew Gamble,” says “Pancratia,” (p. 132), “was born in Dublin in
1771, apprenticed to a stonemason, and early displayed a propensity for
the pugilistic art. He is about six feet in height and has contested
many battles, particularly those with Stanyard in 1792;[121] with Jones,
in 1800; and with Jem Belcher.”
Gamble’s first appearance in the English ring was on the 5th September,
1792, at Bentley Green, nine miles from Colchester, which is thus
recorded:
“This day (Friday, September 5), Hooper, the tinman (See HOOPER,
_ante_), having beaten Bunner, of Colchester, the day previous, Ben
Stanyard, a pugilist from Birmingham, mounted the stage to box with
Andrew Gamble, an Irishman. Joe Ward seconded Stanyard, and Hooper was
his bottle-holder, looking little worse for his yesterday’s battle.
Gamble was seconded by one Williams, and had Ryan for his bottle-holder.
The stage was enlarged from eighteen to twenty-one feet square. The spot
was Bentley Green, nine miles from Colchester.
“At first setting-to odds were greatly in favour of Gamble, till after
some few rounds, when they became even, but Gamble’s superiority gained
the bets in his favour five to four, and they again changed to the same
height in favour of Stanyard, during the last six rounds, who then
unfortunately made a foul blow at his adversary, which every one
considered would have terminated the battle. Gamble’s friends, however,
advising him to continue the contest, they fought another round, at the
end of which Stanyard fell and Gamble retired, declaring himself
victorious. Stanyard remained on the ground until his friends
triumphantly carried him away. The umpires, seconds, etc., had many
meetings, and it was at length declared a drawn battle. The contest was
well supported, the combatants having met nineteen times in twenty-five
minutes.
“To make amends for the disappointment, a bye-battle was fought between
two countrymen, and very well contested.”
For eight years we lose sight of Gamble, as a pugilist, until in July,
1800, we find him matched with Noah James,[122] the guardsman. The
battle is thus reported:—
“On Tuesday, July 1 (1800), a boxing match which had long been expected
was fought in a hollow near the foot of Abbershaw’s gibbet, on Wimbledon
Common, for 100 guineas, and bets to the amount of £5000, between Andrew
Gamble the Irish pugilist, and Noah James, formerly belonging to the
horseguards. Ben Stanyard, his old opponent, and now fast friend, was
Gamble’s second, and Jack Bartholomew his bottle-holder; Joe Ward
seconded James, and Hall was his bottle-holder.
“About ten o’clock the combatants set-to, when odds were six to four in
favour of James; they fought with astonishing fierceness and displayed
great science. In the twelfth round Gamble put in a severe blow in the
face of his antagonist, and cut his nose dreadfully; in the twentieth he
broke his collar-bone, and in the twenty-first his jaw bone; but
notwithstanding such a dreadful state of disablement, James fought four
rounds afterwards with determined courage, when he fell almost lifeless
on the stage.
“James was a Cheshire man, and had fought seventeen battles. He was
allowed to display more bottom than any other man. After this battle,
being given over by his medical attendants, and considering himself at
the last extremity, he sent for Gamble, and generously exchanged
forgiveness with the successful champion. Gamble, equally open hearted,
gave Mrs. James a very handsome present for the more comfortable support
of the unfortunate bruiser.”
This was Andrew Gamble’s best fight. His warm-hearted friends, now
overrating his capabilities, determined to match him with the best
English pugilist of the day, the young Bristol champion, Jem Belcher.
December 22nd, 1800, was fixed, and the friends of Gamble, having won
the choice of place, named the old hollow, by Abbershaw’s gibbet, on
Wimbledon Common, as the spot. How triumphantly he was thrashed may be
read in the memoir of Jem Belcher; what disgraceful abuse, and worse, he
received at the hands of “his enraged backers,” may be read in
“Boxiana,” p. 242. We have extracted it as a specimen of “history,”
omitting the small capitals, italics, and emphasised slang.
“Gamble’s being so soon deprived of his laurels, created the most
dreadful murmurings among his countrymen, many of whom were nearly
ruined from Gamble being defeated. St. Giles’s was in a complete uproar
upon this occasion, and the Paddies had not been so neatly cleaned out
since the days of the renowned hero Peter Corcoran! It proved a most
woeful day for the Irish indeed; the dealers in wild ducks had not a
feather left to fly with; the rabbit merchants were so reduced as to be
even without poles, and not a copper to go the next morning to market;
never were men so completely dished and done up. Andrew’s name had
hitherto been a tower of strength, he was the tight Irish boy, and the
darling of his country—but alas! the scene was changed, he was now
called a cur, an overgrown thing, a mere apology, and was in danger of
being tossed in a blanket by his enraged and disappointed backers.
Gamble, from this defeat, lost the warm hearts of the Paddies ever
afterwards. Gamble appeared truly contemptible in this fight, in
comparison with even the worst of his former displays—and it was the
opinion of the amateurs, that the evident superiority of Belcher
completely frightened all Gamble’s courage and science out of him.”
_Sic transit gloria_, etc.; Andrew Gamble appears to have returned to
Ireland, and probably to his laborious calling.
JACK BARTHOLOMEW—1795‒1800.
One of the true breed of old-school British boxers was Jack Bartholomew.
His game was undoubted and his style manly. His opponents, too, were the
very best men of their day, and if his career was not a brilliant one,
Jack was always highly esteemed by his backers, and reckoned a
formidable competitor.
Bartholomew was born at Brentford, Middlesex, in 1770, and early
convinced several of the amateurs in that neighbourhood of his gift of
hitting, activity, and courage. Jack Firby, who had earned the
unenviable cognomen of “the Young Ruffian,” from his conquest of
Symonds, “the Old Ruffian,” on the 2nd August, 1791, was picked out as a
trial-horse for young Jack, in the regular P.R. A stake of ten guineas
seems to have tempted Firby to tackle the youngster. The fight came off
on Hounslow Heath, near Bartholomew’s native spot. Firby, who weighed
fifteen stone, and stood six feet, considered the stakes “a gift.” Jack,
at this time was nearly twelve stone, and stood five feet nine inches
and a half, a height and weight which the best authorities have
considered “big enough for anything on two legs.” Firby seems to have
considered his fame involved, for he fought with unusual desperation,
but the youth was not to be “ruffianised” out of his skill and coolness;
and after a desperate fight of fifty minutes, in which his firmness and
manly intrepidity were finely contrasted with the opponent’s impetuous
assaults, Firby was beaten blind, and his “gluttony perfectly
satisfied.”
Bill Wood, the coachman, then in the height of his fame, was next
matched with Bartholomew. They met on a stage between Ealing and Harrow,
January 30, 1797. Bartholomew had the battle declared against him for a
foul blow. (See WOOD, _ante_, Appendix to Period II.)
Tom Owen’s renown in conquering Hooper, the tinman, induced him to issue
a challenge to Jack; it was accepted, and they met for a stake of fifty
guineas, on Sunbury Common, August 22, 1797. Five and six to four were
the current odds in favour of Owen, who was the bigger and stronger man,
forced the fighting desperately, but he could not break Jack’s guard,
and was so heavily punished that in about half an hour he was all
abroad, and at the end of the twenty-sixth round, fought in thirty
minutes, he was compelled to give in, after a fight of unusual rapidity
and punishment.
Bartholomew now met a master of the art in the person of Jem Belcher,
with whom he had the honour of fighting a drawn battle, on the 15th
August, 1799. His final defeat by the champion, May 15th, 1800, was also
without disgrace. (See memoir of JEM BELCHER.)
During the period of his active life in the ring, scarcely a battle of
note happened without the name of Bartholomew appearing as second or
bottleholder. Shortly after his last defeat by Belcher, however, Jack
seems to have been attacked by liver disease. He died, after a few
weeks’ illness, at his lodgings in the Almonry, Westminster, July 14,
1803. He left a particular request that his body might be opened
(against which practice an ignorant prejudice then prevailed). A _post
mortem_ examination took place, and a considerable scirrhous enlargement
of the liver was found. He further requested that his grave should be
“as near as possible to St. Margaret’s watch-house.” His funeral was
attended by a considerable number of his brother pugilists.
JACK O’DONNELL—1802‒1806.[123]
John O’Donnell, a native of the sister isle, for a short period was much
overrated and unduly puffed by what Pierce Egan calls his “warm-hearted
countrymen.” We know nothing more of him than that shortly after his
appearance in ring circles he was matched with Pardo Wilson, a relative
of the celebrated Belcher’s, on Tuesday, October 26th, 1802. The
extravagant estimate of “the historian” does not seem to have been
shared by the backers and friends of Wilson, as Pardo, whose last and
only other fight fourteen years before, had been with Solly Sodicky, a
Jew, on that occasion suffered defeat (February 11th, 1789). The ground
was Wormwood Scrubbs, on the bank of the Paddington Canal, four miles
from Hyde Park. The stake was twenty guineas aside. We copy the report:—
“Wilson was thirty-five years of age, and O’Donnell, who had the
advantage in height and weight, was said to be only eighteen.
“About one o’clock a ring was attempted to be formed, but such numbers
of people had assembled that it was not without the greatest trouble it
was accomplished by two, when the combatants entered. O’Donnell was
accompanied by two of his own countrymen; Wilson, by Belcher, his
brother-in-law, for his second, and Tom Jones bottle-holder. They began
to strip immediately, both appeared in high spirits and eyed each other
minutely. When ready the seconds proposed that they should toss up for
the side of the ring, each being desirous to avoid the sun. This was
agreed to, and the advantage gained by Wilson, in whose favour, on
account of his freshness, bets appeared to be. At five minutes past two
o’clock, after the usual ceremony, the heroes set-to.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Both displayed good attitude, and kept
a strong guard for some time. O’Donnell put
in the first blow, which Wilson parried and
returned. Both fell, O’Donnell having received a
blow on the lip, which bled a little.
2.—Wilson made a feint but his opponent struck
him at the same time. A few sharp blows passed,
when O’Donnell gave Wilson a cross buttock.
3.—In this round O’Donnell displayed great
strength. Wilson fell back, and with success
chopped at his adversary as he came up to him.
Some hard fighting ensued, and O’Donnell knocked
down his antagonist. (Bets now changed in favour
of the Irishman.)
4.—This round began with some good
straight-forward fighting. O’Donnell aimed
several blows at the body, which Wilson
dexterously stopped and returned. O’Donnell,
however, followed him up until he fell. Wilson’s
strength appeared to be failing.
5.—Wilson seemed afraid of his opponent, and
manœuvred round the ring. O’Donnell, however,
stuck close to him, and put in the first blow,
and Wilson, though apparently not hurt, fell.
(Odds were now three to one in favour of
O’Donnell.)
6.—Wilson at the beginning put in a successful
blow at O’Donnell’s head; after which O’Donnell
gave a body blow, and brought down his
adversary. It now appeared settled, but Wilson’s
friends persisted he had not yet shown any of
his best play.
7.—Wilson now tried to alter his mode of
fighting, by allowing O’Donnell to strike,
stopping the blow, and returning it with the
same arm; but in this he failed, his returns not
being successful. O’Donnell followed up, and
again brought down his opponent.
8.—Immediately they were up, they set-to with
great eagerness, and displayed some excellent
straight-forward fighting. Wilson appeared to
recruit his strength, but it soon failed again,
and he fell.
9.—O’Donnell struck his adversary on the temple;
Wilson reeled, and receiving another blow, fell
again.
10.—This was a very short round, Wilson received
a violent blow on the ribs, reeled, and fell
against the people, when Belcher advised him to
give in, to which he consented.
O’Donnell being declared the conqueror, his
countrymen, of whom there were numbers present,
mounted him on their shoulders, and carried him
out in triumph.
We think the reader will agree that there is nothing in this victory
over an old stale man to call for the epithets of “eminent,”
“distinguished,” etc., used in “Boxiana,” nor that the Irishman, should
“be so raised in the eyes of his countrymen as their future champion,
reminding them of those proud days when Peter Corcoran flourished in all
his greatness!” But let that pass.
On Monday, November 15th, 1802, a match having been made between
O’Donnell, and one Smith, a boot closer, they met at Wormwood Scrubbs,
to decide the contest, for twenty guineas. Lenox seconded O’Donnell, and
one Anderson picked up Smith.
After some trouble, and by the aid of Caleb Baldwin, who had recently
beaten Jack Lee, at Hurley Bottom, a ring was formed, the combatants
entered, and five minutes after two o’clock set-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Much sparring. O’Donnell put in the
first blow, a straight-forward hit with his
right hand, and struck his adversary under the
left eye. Smith aimed a blow at his opponent’s
head, which O’Donnell caught with his hand,
and returned it with a blow on the side of the
head. They closed and fell, O’Donnell having
the advantage, being uppermost.
2.—Much sparring. Smith put in two body blows,
but slight; they closed and fell. Smith under
again.
3.—Smith gave his antagonist a severe knock-down
blow, by which he fell.
4.—Both shifted. O’Donnell displayed good
science. When retreating, and followed up by
Smith, he put in several well planted body
blows, and brought Smith down; but in falling,
Smith struck a tremendous blow in the face of
his opponent.
5.—Smith struck O’Donnell on the jaw. The round
was well contested, several severe blows being
exchanged, by one of which O’Donnell fell.
6.—Smith being off his guard, O’Donnell put in
a severe right-handed blow on the head, but
Smith quickly recovered; they closed and fell.
O’Donnell beginning to appear weak, odds were
five to four in Smith’s favour.
7.—This was a hard round. Smith threw in three
uncommonly clean blows; O’Donnell closed, and
both fell, Smith under.
8.—A great deal of hard fighting, but O’Donnell
shifted. They closed and fell, O’Donnell under.
(Bets still remained five to four on Smith.)
9.—O’Donnell had the best of this round, put in
most blows. Smith, in striking, slipped and
fell.
10.—O’Donnell seemed endeavouring to rally his
courage and irritate his adversary, by pointing
and smiling; Smith, however, put in some severe
blows. They closed, fell, and O’Donnell was
again under. (Bets now rose two to one in favour
of Smith.)
11.—It was some time before any blows were
struck, both shifting. They closed, and
O’Donnell gave his antagonist a cross buttock,
something in the Belcher style.
12.—O’Donnell evidently mended; both fought
well. They closed, and Smith fell under. (Odds
still were six to four in favour of Smith.)
13.—Smith threw in two severe blows with great
dexterity, one in the face and the other in the
pit of the stomach, by which O’Donnell fell;
while going, Smith tried to give him a cross
buttock, but failed.
14.—Both put in some hard blows, but O’Donnell
had the advantage. Smith fell.
15.—In O’Donnell’s favour.
16.—Both shifted; much sparring. Smith fell, but
still had the best of the round.
17.—Smith, in retreating, fell; no blows struck.
18.—This round was very short, but in favour of
O’Donnell. Smith fell by a blow.
19.—After a few tolerably hard blows were
exchanged, Smith struck O’Donnell with great
force on the left side of the head; they then
closed, and Smith fell under.
20.—At the end of this round Smith had a
tremendous fall; O’Donnell also fell on him with
great violence.
21.—Both fought hard, but O’Donnell brought down
his adversary. (Bets now became even.)
22.—O’Donnell put in a severe blow on the side
of the head; Smith slipped and fell. After
fighting these twenty-two rounds, neither
displayed much external injury, excepting the
black eye Smith got in the first round. (This
does not say much for either of the men’s gift
of hitting.)
23.—After much sparring and shifting O’Donnell
brought his opponent down. (Odds had now changed
in favour of O’Donnell.)
24.—Smith had the best of this round. After
several hard blows had been exchanged,
O’Donnell, in making a hit, slipped, fell
forwards, and pitched upon his head.
25.—In this round O’Donnell displayed great
activity, and by a well-directed blow brought
down his opponent.
26.—Smith put in some good body blows, and
O’Donnell fell.
27.—In this round the greatest science was
displayed by both parties. Some blows were well
struck, in which Smith had the advantage. They
closed and fell, Smith under.
28.—This round was equal, if not superior, to
the last in scientific display. Smith aimed all
his blows at the head, and O’Donnell at the
body, by which Smith had the advantage. They
closed and fell, Smith being under again.
29.—Here O’Donnell manifestly obtained great
advantage; Smith fell. (Odds now rose five to
four in favour of O’Donnell.)
33.—In this round O’Donnell showed still greater
superiority. He put in several very severe blows
about the ribs, and as his antagonist was
retreating, he struck him in the face and
brought him down.
34 to 37.—In every round Smith fell. (Odds rose
six to four on O’Donnell.)
38.—O’Donnell struck Smith in the pit of the
stomach, and he fell. This blow thoroughly
winded him, and it was supposed the battle would
have been finished; but Smith by his proper time
came up again.
39 to 43.—All these rounds were very short, and
O’Donnell evidently had the advantage.
44.—O’Donnell, from having continually
throughout the combat used his right hand, had
severely strained it, and it was expected that
this circumstance would have obliged him to give
in, but dexterously putting in a blow with the
left hand, he brought down his adversary.
45.—O’Donnell in this round repeated his winding
dose in the stomach, which undoubtedly decided
the battle, for Smith never afterwards struck
any blow of consequence.
The 48th round decided the contest in favour
of the Hibernian, Smith being almost too much
exhausted to support his guard. O’Donnell by
a dreadful blow brought him down, when he
immediately gave in, after a contest of one hour
and twenty minutes. O’Donnell throughout the
battle had constantly struck his antagonist
on the left ribs, which part, when the battle
ceased, was greatly swelled and bruised.
Coady, Gamble, Berks, Belcher, Wood, and many
professors of the art were present. O’Donnell’s
countrymen carried him home in triumph, exulting
in his glory.
O’Donnell’s game, if not his skill, or his capabilities for punishing,
was fully established by this encounter, and he was backed to fight one
Henigan. The miscarriage of this event may be read in the subjoined
paragraph:—“Tuesday, the 18th of January, 1803, was the day determined
upon for the decision of a pugilistic contest between O’Donnell, who was
now considered by the Irish as their champion, and the restorer of their
fame in the noble science of pugilism, and one Henigan, a new candidate
of bruising celebrity, brought forward and matched by Jackling, the
brother-in-law of the well-known and lamented Tom Johnson. On the night
before, however, both these heroes, notwithstanding they each boasted
strength in the fore paw, felt somewhat confused by a visit from
Armstrong, who without much ceremony conveyed them to Worship Street,
and bound them in sureties of £400 to keep the peace for six months.
O’Donnell on hearing this considered the fight at an end, but Henigan
fearing lest such a restriction might blast his rising genius,
determined to run all risks, and accordingly repaired to Dulwich, the
appointed Campus Martius. His opponent, however, was not there, and the
travellers returned with great chagrin depicted in their countenances.”
O’Donnell’s next opponent was the well-known Caleb Baldwin; but here his
friends had made a mistake. He was polished off triumphantly (October
13th, 1803), by the Westminster hero. (See CALEB BALDWIN, _ante_, p.
213.) Pierce Egan thus pathetically records this defeat:—“O’DONNELL was
matched against _Caleb Baldwin_, but being defeated—MARK THE
DIFFERENCE!!!—_No smiles! no shouts! no shoulders offered to support the
drooping hero!_ but he was placed in a hackney coach, to groan and
reflect upon the reverse of fortune! Any further comment is
unnecessary!!!” With this we fully agree. Where were the “warm-hearted
countrymen?”
O’Donnell having some altercation at Belcher’s about his defeat of Pardo
Wilson, a challenge was the result. On this occasion O’Donnell, who is
styled by Pierce “the celebrated Irish hero,” embraced the opportunity
of meeting Tom for a subscription purse of twenty guineas, at
Shepperton, Surrey, April 17, 1805, when he was thoroughly thrashed in
fifteen rounds.[124]
A big fellow of the name of Emery, who, we learn incidentally, had on a
former occasion beaten O’Donnell, was challenged by him for fifty
guineas, and the challenge accepted. We copy the report:—
“On Tuesday, December 3rd (1805), a battle was fought in the Five
Fields, Chelsea, between O’Donnell, the Irish bruiser, and a man of the
name of Emery, for a subscription purse. The combatants had some time
since quarrelled, when Emery being the bigger man, and O’Donnell out of
health, he had an easy conquest, but the result of this battle proved a
salutary warning to those who under the conceit of superior strength
presume to try conclusions against practised skill.
“A ring having been formed at two o’clock, the combatants entered; Tom
Blake (Tom Tough), and Bill Ryan seconded O’Donnell; Emery was handled
by Paddington Jones and Wight.
“On stripping Emery showed such astonishing muscle that he appeared
capable of seizing his opponent in his arms and carrying him off. He was
not only much taller, but two stone heavier than O’Donnell, and among
the crowd two to one was betted in his favour, despite a partisanship
for the lesser man.
“At setting-to Emery showed great confidence, and stood up in good
style. O’Donnell making a feint with his left hand, put in a severe blow
with his right on the mouth; they closed, and both fell. O’Donnell in
this round displayed all the advantage arising from skill; this he
supported, and at the end of five rounds bets became even. In the ninth
round Emery exerted his greatest powers, and some good blows were
exchanged, but O’Donnell hitting right and left, brought him down. Odds
two to one in favour of O’Donnell. The eleventh round Emery made a false
hit, and completely ran from his man, and in the following round fell
without a blow. O’Donnell continued to support a decided superiority,
and at the end of three quarters of an hour Emery resigned the contest,
carrying with him marks sufficient to deter him from again attempting to
meet a professional boxer.”
O’Donnell, taught by experience, did not fly at the highest game, and
avoided Dutch Sam and such professionals of the first rank. An aspirant
of the name of Wasdell, a weaver from Spitalfields, having acquired
great renown among the East Enders, his friends offered to back him for
twenty guineas a-side against O’Donnell. This was arranged, and Tuesday,
June 3rd, 1806, and Wilsden Green, near Hendon, named as the day and
place. At twelve the combatants entered the ring; O’Donnell was seconded
by John Gully and Bill Ryan; Wasdell by Rhodes and his brother. Seven to
four on O’Donnell.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Much sparring. Wasdell extremely
awkward, hit short twice; in recovering his
position, O’Donnell caught him in the body and
knocked him down cleverly. (Three to one on
O’Donnell.)
2.—Wasdell made play pluckily, but O’Donnell met
him and dropped him again.
3.—Wasdell already was marked about the head. He
made a plunging hit, but O’Donnell parried it,
feinted, followed him, and hit him completely
off his legs, when he set very quietly on his
nether end on the grass for a few seconds, till
taken to his corner.
4.—Wasdell tried to catch hold of his opponent
with his right hand. O’Donnell dropped in two
sharp hits, the left at the head, the right at
the body, which brought him to grief again.
5.—The men closed. O’Donnell hit up in Wasdell’s
face, and he was down again. (Any odds on
O’Donnell.)
6.—Wasdell, game, rushed in furiously, receiving
a severe hit in the face, through his guard. The
round ended by O’Donnell hitting him off his
legs.
7.—O’Donnell well on the body. The men closed,
but broke away. Wasdell made another attempt
to seize his opponent’s hand, but O’Donnell
frustrated his endeavour by a severe blow.
8.—Wasdell was quite done over. O’Donnell fought
him as he liked, showing great good humour. He
forbore hitting him hard, and pushed him down.
9.—Wasdell would not be denied; he rushed
in, when O’Donnell hit him severely right
and left in the face, and he fell stupefied.
On coming to, he acknowledged O’Donnell to
be the conqueror.
In weight and length of arm Wasdell had the
advantage, but in science he was the merest
novice, totally ignorant of the art of boxing,
and scarcely as clever as may often be seen in a
street fight.
On the 5th of June, only two days after the above battle, there was a
grand field day at Padnall Corner, on Epping Forest, wherein Jack Warr
and Quirk, for 100 guineas, and George Maddox and Coady having exhibited
their skill, Smith and O’Donnell entered the ropes for forty guineas
a-side. Of this the reporter simply says: “The third contest between
Smith and O’Donnell was utterly unworthy of detail. O’Donnell proved the
victor in five rounds.”
As upon principle throughout these biographies we have avoided the
_suggestio falsi_ so shall we eschew the _suppressio veri_. Jack
O’Donnell is one of the warning examples of the effects of dishonest
companions. He became connected with a gang of known “putters-up” of
robberies; among them two men named Samuel Carter and John Jose. With
these men he was apprehended for stealing from a public house kept by
Jonathan Kendall, bank notes to the amount of £60. At the September Old
Bailey Sessions, 1806, the three were found guilty of stealing, but “not
in the dwelling house.” The offence, however, was then capital, the
amount being above forty shillings, and they were sentenced to
transportation for life. Berks and another of the gang, James Travers,
who appears to have been Joe’s tempter, were convicted at the same
sessions. (See BERKS.)
BILL RYAN (SON OF MICHAEL RYAN, THE OPPONENT OF TOM JOHNSON)—1804‒1806.
This boxer had a short career, for a reason that will fully develope
itself in the next few paragraphs. He was the son of the “renowned first
champion of the same name.” Pierce Egan also informs us that Bill was “a
much superior fighter to his veteran sire,” which is an opinion worth as
much as you please, recollecting that Pierce was then placing his legs
under Tom Belcher’s mahogany, and Tom had been beaten by Young Ryan. As
the “historian” dismisses him in half a page of large print, we will
preserve what we find of him in contemporaries.
“On Friday, November 30, 1804, Tom Belcher, brother of the nonpareil
Jem, met Bill Ryan, son of Michael Ryan who fought Johnson, at Wilsden
Green, which has become a favourite spot for these encounters. By the
articles, Monday was fixed, but a difficulty having arisen, it was
postponed. At ten o’clock the combatants having arrived a ring was
formed. Belcher first, in high spirits, threw his hat into the ropes in
defiance. Ryan smiled at Tom’s style of bravado, and bowing to some
bystanding patrons, got within the enclosure. Belcher was attended by
George Maddox and Joe Norton, and Ryan seconded by Tom Jones and Dick
Whale. In a few minutes they set-to. Odds six to four in favour of
Belcher.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—No sparring. Several good hits put in
and well stopped on both sides; they closed, and
both fell.
3 and 4.—Both rounds greatly in favour of Ryan.
6.—This round was fought with determined
courage. Belcher threw in a severe blow on his
opponent’s temple, and brought him down. Ryan
appeared a little distressed. (Seven to four on
Belcher.)
18.—No great alteration up to this round, which
was admirably contested on both sides. Belcher
struck his opponent very cleverly over the
mouth. Ryan rallied, and put in a knock-down
blow; Belcher fell and evinced great weakness.
From this to the
30th—Ryan supported his superiority, and the
odds changed in his favour. Belcher’s friends
now began greatly to despair of success, but
still he displayed great science and steadiness.
31‒34.—Every one of these rounds Ryan terminated
by knocking down his opponent(?)
35.—James Belcher came and whispered to his
brother, who seemed to profit by his advice, and
contested the two following rounds with great
skill and determination, but at the end of the
37th—He fell quite exhausted.
38.—Belcher was, however, brought up to stand
another round, and Ryan immediately knocked him
down. At this moment the ring was broken, and
Belcher’s friends declared the last blow was
foul. Bob Watson challenged to fight any man
who should dare to say the blow was not foul,
but his bluster soon evaporated on Joe Ward’s
displaying buff. The affair was left to the
gentleman who held the purse, and he decided
that Ryan had won it, as Belcher was beaten full
a quarter of an hour before. Many of the dons of
the first class were there, as Berks, Mendoza,
Joe Ward, Bill Warr, Jem Belcher, Holmes, etc.
Bill was next matched with Caleb Baldwin, and fought him at Blackheath,
August 6, 1805. The interruption, the chances and changes of the fight,
and the decision, “a draw,” will be found under CALEB BALDWIN, Chapter
VII., Period III.
Tom Belcher, smarting under the sense of defeat, invited Bill to a
second trial, which took place at Laleham Burway, Surrey, June 4, 1806.
Ryan, although so young a man, was so given to drinking ardent spirits,
that he was already internally diseased. He was beaten in fifty minutes,
twenty-nine rounds, but not without much difficulty. (See life of TOM
BELCHER, _ante_.)
Two months afterwards Bill made his last appearance in the ring,
Tuesday, June 17, 1806, at Wilsden Green, where he gained by his
superior skill a victory over Clark, a clumsy boxer, with not a single
pretension beyond strength and pluck.
Ryan’s drunken habits now grew so rapidly upon him, that on June 23rd,
six days afterwards, he was expelled from the Fives Court, on the
occasion of the benefit of Gully and Elias Spray. Bill set-to with
Richmond, and afterwards made himself so offensive as to be formally
excluded. No dependence could be placed upon him for an hour, and
training was out of the question. He died in obscurity and poverty in
the winter of 1807, date not recorded.
ISAAC BITTOON—1801‒1804.
Isaac Bittoon, a Jew of great strength, coolness, some skill in
singlestick, fencing, and with the gloves, and well-known for more than
thirty years to the ring-going world of the last generation, deserves a
place in our Appendix for several reasons. In “Boxiana,” the error of
his having beaten Paddington Jones, July 13, 1801, originated, and has
been copied into all the chronologies.[125] His draw with Maddox and his
great battle with Bill Wood, also deserve preservation, and for these
reasons we have given the ponderous Isaac a niche in our history. The
first-mentioned affair, the draw with George Maddox, will be found in
the life of “the Veteran,” Chapter VI. of this Period. The second, his
game fight with Bill Wood, the coachman, shall be given from the report
of the day.
“A match having been for some time on the carpet, for fifty guineas,
between Isaac Bittoon[126] (the Jew), and Bill Wood, the coachman, the
officers were on the alert to find out the time and place of the
contest, but the amateurs, always awake, kept these points secret until
the night previous, when Wilsden Green, the spot where so much courage
had been displayed by Tom Tough[127] and Jack Holmes, some few months
ago, was settled as the Campus Martius; to prevent interruption it was
agreed the fight should take place at ten o’clock in the morning.
Accordingly on Monday, July 16, 1804, the admirers of pugilism were
active, and the field was filled at an early hour; a ring being formed,
at three quarters past ten the combatants entered. Wood immediately
began to strip, and appeared in excellent condition. Bittoon followed in
high spirits, and after the usual ceremonies they set-to, without any
very sanguine opinion being entertained on either side.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Wood beat down his antagonist’s guard,
and put in two blows without any impression;
Bittoon returned with his right hand, and some
hard hitting followed by both. Wood had greatly
the advantage in strength, beat Bittoon against
the ropes, by which he became entangled. Here
Wood put in some good blows, and Bittoon fell.
2.—Wood put in the first blow again. Bittoon
struck several good straight-forward blows,
rallied, and a second time fell.
3.—This round was very short. Wood fell, Bittoon
gaining advantage.
4.—Bittoon put in several good blows, but Wood
rallied, and by superior strength drove him to
one side of the ring, where he fell.
5.—Much sparring at setting-to; both exchanged
some severe hits. Wood bled freely, but rallied
Bittoon again against the rope, and threw him.
(Odds were now six to four in favour of Bittoon,
for, although he so often fell, his blows did
not disappoint in execution.)
6.—The sun being troublesome to Bittoon, he
manœuvred to change sides, and had somewhat
succeeded, when Wood ran in and threw him.
7.—Wood still kept the shady side, and with
great exertion put in several blows which
Bittoon vainly attempted to stop, and driving
him again to the ropes, Bittoon fell. (Odds
remained, however, in favour of Bittoon, who was
still in good strength, while Wood displayed
signs of fatigue.)
8.—Wood immediately ran in, and closing, threw
his opponent, who when down he patted on the
head in triumph.
9.—Bittoon on rising appeared greatly
exasperated, ran in upon Wood with much fury,
who struck him with his left hand, and brought
him down. Wood for this gained great applause.
10.—In this round Bittoon resumed his former
temperance, rallied, and put in several good
hits. Wood, while making a blow, slipped and
turned round, during which his opponent took
advantage of an opening, and threw in a severe
body blow. Wood fell. (Odds still six to four on
Bittoon.)
11.—Wood showed somewhat fearful of encountering
Bittoon’s hits, but, conscious of his strength,
ran in and threw his opponent.
15.—During the intermediate rounds there was
some severe hitting, and Bittoon, by adopting
the Mendoza style, stopping and returning with
the same hand, was very successful. This round
had nearly proved fatal to the Coachman; while
rallying, Bittoon put in a most severe blow in
the stomach, which brought him down, and he laid
breathless for some time. A cry of “Time, time,”
was vociferated, and he tried to conform to the
rules of pugilism by returning in the half
minute; this, however, he could not do, and the
multitude considering the battle concluded,
rushed in. This caused much confusion, and gave
Wood opportunity for recovery, and the battle
proceeded. (Odds were now ten to one on
Bittoon.)[128]
17.—Wood exhibited symptoms of exhaustion, and
hinted to his second he could not stand it much
longer. Bittoon, on the contrary, was in full
vigour, but did not exert his strength, as he
found it unnecessary.
18.—In this round Wood, greatly to the
surprise of every one, recovered, appeared
re-invigorated, and undoubtedly had the best
of the round. To the
25th.—Wood supported a superiority, and fought
the whole of these rounds with astonishing
resolution, but the impression on his opponent
was very slight.
26.—During this round the conduct of the
spectators seemed to indicate a determination
that the Jew should lose the battle. They rushed
in, broke the ropes, and pulled up the stakes.
To settle this a body of horsemen rode up,
driving the crowd before them, and after much
mischief formed another ring.
32.—A general engagement having been the
consequence of this intrusion, there was great
confusion, and only an imperfect ring was kept
up to this round; the advantage during this time
was alternate. Bittoon fell at the end of every
round, but invariably first cut his opponent by
a severe blow in the face. About this time the
bustle began to subside, and the battle went on
again more regularly.
36.—Wood made a good stand-up fight, and many
supposed that, by Bittoon’s frequently falling,
Wood had the advantage; but he gained more by
his well-aimed hits than his opponent did by the
falls. This round, however, finished the fight,
as Wood was quite worn out.
A number of Bow Street officers had by
this time arrived, and the company retired
homewards, a little disappointed as there
were no bye-battles.
Isaac, who was always a sporting character among the Israelites of the
East End, now retired from challenges, and became a licensed victualler
in Whitechapel. For many years he kept a sparring school and saloon for
fencing, singlestick, and broadsword, in Gulston Street, Whitechapel.
His weight after his retirement so immensely increased, that although
his activity was remarkable for his size (he drew at scale seventeen
stone), his appearances at the Fives Court, Tennis Court, Jackson’s
Rooms, etc., were a standing source of amusement to the visitors. In a
song chanted by the celebrated Robert Emery, the Yorkshire comedian, of
Covent Garden Theatre, we find a verse _apropos_ of this “feature” of
Bittoon’s person and of his “pluck,” then expressed by the word
“bottom;” he is describing the “qualities of the millers,”—
“Bittoon then came, a champion bold,
And dealt some hard and sly knocks;
But yet, when all the truth is told,
Some ranked him with the shy cocks.
Still prate like this we must not mind,
A Dutchman true begot ’um,
Whoe’er has seen Bittoon _behind_,
Will ne’er dispute his _bottom_.”
At length, in the month of February, 1838, “Old Ikey,” after a few
weeks’ illness, breathed his last at the age of sixty, in the eastern
quarter, wherein he was so long known, and lies in the Jewish burial
ground near Bethnal Green.
BILL CROPLEY—1807‒1810.
As the antagonist of Dutch Sam and Tom Belcher, with whom he made good
fights, the name of Bill Cropley has been preserved. As a teacher of
self-defence and an exhibitor at the Fives Court for more than a quarter
of a century, he is also remembered. Cropley’s two defeats, where in
both cases he had the misfortune to “catch a Tartar,” were balanced by
other contests which were more satisfactory in result. He successively
defeated “Jemmy from Town,” Tom Hazel, and George Cribb, brother of the
champion.
The first of these we find thus recorded. “An obstinate battle was this
day contested between Bill Cropley, well known at the ring side, and for
years as a shining light among the stalwart brotherhood of
coal-whippers, as ‘a good bit of stuff,’ and ‘Jemmy from Town,’ whose
game qualities with Morgan and Rolfe have procured him so much
patronage. The day on which this took place was memorable, the 7th of
April, 1807, as that on which Tom Cribb (see _post_) beat Jem Belcher,
and the roped ring was the same (twenty feet square), that had been just
left by those renowned gladiators. Cropley quickly disposed of his
antagonist, twenty-five minutes, eighteen rounds, polishing off the
plucky Jemmy without giving him a chance of turning the tide of battle.”
Cropley’s next ring fight was with an aspirant named Tom Hazel
(misprinted Lazel under Cropley, in “Fistiana”), on the 21st of August,
1807, at Crawley Common, after Dutch Sam had conquered Tom Belcher. A
subscription purse of thirty guineas had been raised by Captain Barclay,
Lord Say and Sele, Lord Archibald Hamilton, and other amateurs, for
Hazel to try his capabilities, much being thought of his pretensions to
the art. Cropley entered the ring, but Hazel proved a mere pretender in
actual combat. Cropley took the lead and kept it, throwing all Hazel’s
cleverness out, and in fifteen rounds proving the difference between
smart and courageous boxing and clever tapping with “the mufflers.”
The year 1808 was unlucky for our hero. His first match was with Dutch
Sam, on April 5, for fifty guineas, but was stopped by the authorities,
as was that of Jem Belcher and Dogherty, calendared for the same day. It
accordingly went off until the 10th of May, 1808, when Gully beat
Gregson a second time at Markyate Street, Herts. The “big battle” over,
Dutch Sam and Cropley mounted the stage at half past six o’clock in the
evening. In the first round Cropley got in heavily, and nearly closed
Sam’s right eye, but this was his only gleam of success. He tried “all
he knew,” but never again effectively spotted the wily Israelite. Sam
was too active, and in twenty-five minutes Cropley’s last chance was
gone. Bill gave in at the general desire of the amateurs, though he
wished to fight on: it was seven o’clock, and all were “homeward bound.”
On Saturday, June 11, after the fight of Dogherty and Pentikin, a talk
about the merits of the recent battle between Bill Cropley and Dutch Sam
led to some difference of opinion, and an amateur posted fifty guineas
for Bill to fight Tom Belcher in the same ring as Gregson and Tom Cribb
(October 28th, 1808). Accordingly, at Moulsey Hurst, the heroes met,
when Cropley fell, but not discreditably, as may be seen in the life of
TOM BELCHER, _ante_, Chapter II., Period III.
Cropley’s last ring fight was with George Cribb, on Friday, August 9th,
1809, at Pope’s Head Watch House, Reinbow, near Margate, after Richmond
the Black had beaten the veteran George Maddox. (See Life of RICHMOND,
Period IV.)
George proved a clumsy and slow fighter, a mere receiver-general. He
fought desperately and heavily for sixteen minutes, but at the end of
that short time was completely “told out,” and taken away by his
friends. “The match was extremely unequal,” says the report, “Cropley
being equal to Dutch Sam in skill, and much quicker than Cribb.”
From this time we hear of Cropley as a second and a sparrer for a number
of years. As late as May 1821, in a kind of supplementary summary of
“Boxers who have retired,” Pierce Egan thus notices the subject of these
lines. “Bill Cropley, in his day an excellent fighter. His contests with
Dutch Sam and Tom Belcher will always preserve his name from obscurity;
but, having no patron [he must have been going on for fifty], he follows
his occupation as a coal-whipper, but also keeps a school for the minor
amateurs. He seldom exhibits now.” “Boxiana,” second edition, vol. iii.,
p. 554.
We have not found the date of Cropley’s death.
TOM BLAKE (TOM TOUGH)—1804‒1810.
Tom Blake, a civil and ready fellow, whose boyish days had been passed
in the navy, deserves a corner in these records of the ring. We shall
pass Tom’s “outside” affairs, which were numerous, to come at once to
his battle with Jack Holmes, the Coachman, long remembered as one of the
most remarkable of the time.
A great company of the patrons of the fistic art having been drawn
together by the great battle of Pearce, the Game Chicken, and Berks,
January 23rd, 1804, a proposition was made, and a purse of 20 guineas
raised, as a prize to be contested for in a few days by two pugilistic
heroes, to be approved as a fair match by the contributors to the stake.
“The candidates, principally second-rate, were very numerous, and from
them were selected two boxers, both well-known in the fighting world,
and possessed of true bottom. These were Tom Blake, better known by the
appellation of ‘Tom Tough,’ and Jack Holmes, a son of Jehu, who in the
year 1794 contested a desperate battle in Harley Fields.[129]
“The cash being properly fixed and arranged, St. George’s-row, near the
Paddington Canal, the spot where Belcher and Berks first contested, was
determined for the battle. Early on the Monday morning, a great crowd
having assembled, the owner of the field sent to give information at Bow
Street. This the combatants heard, and immediately resolved to start for
Wilsden Green, about four miles from town. On their arrival a ring was
formed, and at half past twelve the combatants entered, stripped and
set-to. Odds six to four in favour of Tom Tough.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Holmes put in the first blow on his
opponent’s left side; this rather staggered him,
and following him up, put in a bit with his left
hand and brought him down. (Odds immediately
changed six to four in favour of the coachman.)
2 to 11.—During the whole of the ten rounds
neither of the combatants tried by any manœuvre
to evade the blow of his opponent. At the
commencement of each round there was no
shifting, no attempts at closing, or endeavours
to throw each other down, but immediately on
setting to one put in a blow, which was returned
and manfully supported both right and left,
until a hit brought one or other down. This
having been the coachman’s bad luck for the last
three rounds, odds changed much against him, as
high as four to one.
12 to 17.—Tom for the two first of these rounds
displayed great advantage. In both he brought
down his opponent by the first blow. The four
following rounds were, however, more fairly
contested; neither showed any signs of distress,
and neither could claim any advantage.
19.—This round was contested with as much spirit
as though the battle was really depending on the
issue. Tom, however, had the advantage. Great
applause.
20 to 26.—Both fought with unabated desperation.
The odds incessantly varied, being, during these
rounds, six to four in favour of one or other of
the combatants. Every round brought down great
applause, from their astonishing exertions.
Tom’s side by this time exhibited marks of many
well planted blows, being perfectly raw. (Odds
were, however, three to one in his favour.)
28.—This round had nearly proved fatal to Tom
Tough, as the coachman nearly carried away his
bowsprit. He twisted round, but did not fall,
and tacking about put in a severe blow on the
coachman’s larboard side, but fell from his own
blow. (Odds were now three to one in favour of
the coachman.)
29.—Tom came up quite lame; he had sprained his
knee in the fall, and could only with great pain
point his foot to the earth. His seconds and
friends wished him to give up, but Tom insisted
on another broadside. Tom being lame, waited for
his opponent’s coming up, and throwing out his
left hand, struck him and brought him down.
This, however, was considered as only chance, or
that perhaps Holmes slipped, and odds of ten to
four were offered against Tom. From this to the
34th.—Tom every round stood firmly, waiting for
the attack of his adversary.
35.—In this round Tom greatly recovered of his
lameness, and got in better spirits. During the
round he patted Holmes on the cheek, and said,
“Thou’rt a good fellow, but must be beat.” (Odds
in Tom’s favour again.)
41.—Holmes rallied, knocked down Tom, and
evidently had the best of the round. The
combatants continued the contest up to the
48th.—Both hitting as hard as at first. Holmes’
face was now even worse beat than Joe Berks’
during any of his battles, and Tom’s side was
sad to behold. Tom, however, was now the
favourite.
49 to 51.—The first of these rounds Holmes had
the advantage, brought down his opponent in
style. Tom, however, perceiving Holmes showed
signs of being faint, fought more sprightly, and
having put in a tolerably successful blow, any
odds were offered that “coachee” would not touch
collar again; but greatly to the astonishment
of all, the coachman rallied, and in the last
round made a wonderful effort to beat down his
opponent, and succeeded. This round the one upon
which the coachman depended for the success of
the battle, for though he struggled hard for the
superiority up to the sixtieth round, he failed
in the attempt, and yielded.
Holmes’ defeat was considered so much more
to his credit than several of his “outside”
victories, that the amateurs made a liberal
collection on his behalf before leaving the
ground.
Blake certainly vindicated his popular cognomen, of “Tom Tough,” in this
encounter. His name is “familiar as a household word,” through the ring
combats of Cribb, Maddox, Richmond, etc., etc.
After Tom Cribb, “the novice,” had beaten old Maddox, January 7th, 1805,
Tom Blake seems to have thought himself clever enough to try it on with
the rising “young ’un,” for a purse of 40 guineas, at Blackheath,
February 15, 1806. This proved a sad miscalculation. The embryo champion
had height, reach, weight, and youth on his side, and poor Tom was
finished by a cross-buttock in the last round but one, after an hour’s
gallant but hopeless struggle. “Belcher, Ward, Mendoza, Bittoon, Berks,
Maddox, and Jack Holmes were present, and a leading amateur offered to
back Cribb against any pugilist living, but no one accepted the
challenge.” (See life of TOM CRIBB, Period IV., Chapter 1.)
Five years afterwards, when forty years old, Tom, rough, tough, and
ready, offered himself as a “trial-horse” for the much talked of “young
black,” Tom Molineaux. There is no mistaking the pluck of this offer,
whatever we may think of its discretion. But as Blake is said to have
expressed it, “If he’s ever so good it’ll only be one hiding more, and
at any rate I’ll find out what stuff’s in him,” the match went on. The
battle took place on the coast, a few miles from Margate. Tom Cribb, by
a curious coincidence, seconded Tom Blake, and Richmond—under whose
patronage Molineaux then was—seconded his brother black. The resolution
of Blake upheld his established fame; he was hit completely out of time
by the fresh and powerful young American. The report will be found under
MOLINEAUX, Chapter II., Period IV.
From this period Tom confined himself to the functions of a second or
bottle-holder. In November, 1814, poor Tom, despite his toughness,
caught his death-cold; he was laid up with rheumatic fever, and finally
died of an attack of paralysis, early in 1815. Tom’s battles were always
courageous, and in his earlier day remarkably dexterous and skilful. His
gameness rendered him formidable, and his endurance, _teste_ his battle
with Holmes, and later with Tom Cribb, fully evidenced that his alias,
“Tom Tough,” was a well-bestowed title.
BOB GREGSON—1807‒1809.[130]
Few men were more widely known in the sporting circles of London, for
the few years that he made the metropolis his home, than the burly,
bigboned, gigantic landlord of “Bob’s Chophouse,” better known as the
Castle, Holborn; the head-quarters of pugilism in the great days of the
Belchers, Cribbs, and Tom Spring; the first and last, for a long series
of years, being bonifaces of this well-known hostelry.
Gregson was born July 21st, 1778, at Heskin, three miles from Chorley,
and ten from Preston, Lancashire; and we have Pierce Egan’s word for it,
who doubtless had it from Bob’s own lips, that he commanded the
Liverpool and Wigan Packet, for several years with credit and respect.
What follows is somewhat strange. “For the period of seven years, all
the pugilistic heroes of Lancashire, as well as those from other parts,
that met him in combat, surrendered to his conquering arm, and the name
of Gregson was resounded from one end to the other as the proud champion
of that most populous county. His pitched battles were numerous; but the
skirmishes of Bob were by far too frequent for us to treat upon, and we
have, therefore, slightly touched on those achievements which claim a
prominency of feature.”
The captain of “the Liverpool and Wigan Packet,” must have had his hands
pretty full, for besides “all the pugilistic heroes of Lancashire, as
well as those from other parts,” Bob Gregson is related to have beaten a
rival for the hand and affections of Mrs. G., of the name of Harry
Mandersley; after which one “Ned Waller, a sort of second champion of
the county,” had to be disposed of, which he of course was. James
Ayschire, Ned Prescot, James Benton, “one Tom Dawber,” Robert Fance, Tom
Wright, Bill Hallrop, and other real or phantom boxers, all fall in
succession before Gregson’s “conquering arm,” each under circumstances
minutely manufactured with a detail and diffuseness that may well excite
the envy of the most prolix penny-a-liner that ever stuffed out
emptiness with verbose nothings. Finally Pierce brings down the
“tremendous Joe Berks,” introducing him in the following choice
rhodomontade:—
“The tremendous Joe Berks now made his appearance in Manchester,
threatening destruction to all the pugilists in the county, who should
have the temerity to enter the lists with him, when Gregson was once
more called upon to avenge the honour of his native soil, and to expel,
if possible, this daring invader. It was a truly brave contest, and the
gluttony of this pugilistic cormorant was never more completely
satisfied, and who publicly declared a short time afterwards, that his
appetite had never been good since that period. The battle took place at
Higher Hardwicke, when after forty minutes had elapsed Berks
acknowledged Gregson to be his master.” Need we say, after a perusal of
Berks’ memoir, that the whole of this is pure invention. Gregson and
Berks never met. The historian proceeds, “Soon after this circumstance,”
the imaginary encounter with Joe Berks, “Bob’s prospects in life
experienced a material change, owing to a severe domestic calamity, in
the loss of an amiable and affectionate partner; and he now not only bid
[bade] adieu to Lancashire, but in all probability to pugilism in
future, in being presented with a commission in the army, which
regiment, named after the county, was quartered at Plymouth, to which
place Gregson repaired, to join the standard; but finding that his
finances were not able to support the character of an officer with that
respectability which such a situation required, he relinquished the
project, and entered, rather imprudently, into the gay pursuits of
fashion at that place, that when he arrived in the metropolis, to use a
sporting phrase, he was nearly cleaned out. Bob now experienced some
vicissitudes—facts are stubborn things—and it was from the necessity of
the moment only, that Gregson was induced to enter the ring again as a
pugilist.” Of this we may believe as much or as little as we please. The
Lancashire hero’s first interview with John Gully, seems, however,
somewhat inconsistent with “behaviour becoming an officer and a
gentleman,” as the phrase runs. His eulogist shall tell it in his own
words: “Upon Bob’s first meeting with Gully, at a public house, some
harsh epithets passed between them, when Gregson, to show his strength
took Gully up under his arm, and threw him down on the ground; upon
which a match was the consequence between those heroes.” This is pretty
good. We will not, however, pursue this branch of the subject
further.[131]
[Illustration:
BOB GREGSON.
]
Gregson, who stood six feet one inch and a half in height, and weighed
fifteen stone six pounds, was a Lancashire rough, of undaunted courage,
immense endurance, trusting to brute strength for victory, and falling
before skilful practitioners of the art of self-defence. His battles
with Gully at Newmarket, October 14, 1807; and at Markyate Street,
Herts., May 10, 1808 (for which see life of JOHN GULLY); with Tom Cribb,
at Moulsey, October 25, 1808 (see life of TOM CRIBB), sufficiently
illustrate his strength and courage. As to Gregson’s poetical merits,
whereon Pierce Egan expatiates in several pages of his own marvellous
prose, we may pass them safely to the limbo of lost reputations; lest,
however, we should be thought invidious, we will give the _best_ stanza
we can find among the specimens preserved in “Boxiana,” vol. i., p. 358,
in the Appendix of “Prime Chaunts for the Fancy.”
“The garden of freedom is the British land we live in,
And welcomes every slave from his banish’d isle,
Allows them to impose on a nation good and generous,
To incumber and pollute our native soil.
But John Bull cries out aloud,
We’re neither poor nor proud,
But open to all nations, let them come from where they will;
The British lads that’s here,
Quite strangers are to fear,
Here’s Tom Cribb, with bumpers round, for he can them mill!”[132]
With this specimen of crambo the reader will be satisfied. Some really
clever poetical effusions from the pens of Mr. Hunter, of Southampton,
Mr. Vincent Dowling and others, which from time to time adorned the
columns of _Bell’s Life in London_, will occur among the records of
passing ring events, and these we shall gladly transfer to the
enlivening of the pages of our history.
From 1808 to 1814, when Tom Belcher succeeded him as landlord of the
Castle, “Bob’s Chop-house,” as it was called, was the head quarters of
ring patrons and pugilists. As a business speculation, however, Gregson
did not make it pay. The celebrated Yorkshire actor, Robert Emery, of
Covent Garden, appears to have been a staunch patron of Bob’s, taking
the chair at his opening dinner, and contributing his great vocal and
conversational talents to his service on festive occasions. On one of
these we find a song containing a stanza laudatory of Bob, in which his
early position as the commander of a packet is clearly mentioned:—
“A captain from afar,
Kick’d up such a racket,
Though not a man of war,
He did command a packet:
Wind and weather howl,
Never did appal him,
Let the tempest scowl,
His lads were sure to haul him.”
After enumerating his four defeats the singer concludes:
“Now he’s got a job,
He keeps the Castle Inn, sir,
In Holborn, call on Bob,
There’s wine, and beer, and gin, sir.
“If once you pull his bell,
You’re sure to call again, sir,
For though in fight he fell,
He’s not the worst of men, sir:
No more he’ll fight for stakes,
He’s done with hits and stops, sir,
With Gullys, Cribbs, or Blacks;
In peace he’ll mind his chops, sir.”
After an attempt at establishing a sparring school in London, Gregson
left the metropolis for Dublin, where his peculiar merits were more
likely to be appreciated. He opened the rooms once occupied by the
“Royal Irish Academy,” as a “School for teaching the art of
self-defence,” and is said to have been “well supported by the first
class of amateurs in Dublin.” In April, 1819, Gregson was in London, and
took a benefit at the theatre in Catherine Street, Strand, at which
Donnelly, “the Irish champion,” showed, with an arm lamed by an
accident. In August, 1819, Donnelly, George Cooper and Gregson, were on
a sparring tour in Ireland, and later we find Bob figuring as the
landlord of “the Punch House,” Moor Street, Dublin. In 1824, Gregson,
whose health had been for some time failing, died at Liverpool, in the
month of November, and lies buried in St. Nicholas’ churchyard.
END OF PERIOD III.
PERIOD IV—1805‒1820.
FROM THE APPEARANCE OF TOM CRIBB TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF TOM SPRING.
CHAPTER I.
THOMAS CRIBB, CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.—1805‒1820.
“Advance, brave Broughton!” exclaims Captain Godfrey, with manly
enthusiasm; “thee I pronounce Captain of the Boxers!” Had the worthy and
trueborn writer of “the Characters” lived in the nineteenth century, he
would have bestowed this compliment on “honest and brave Old Tom.” Since
first the honour of champion was a coveted and distinguished prize for
men of bold heart and iron sinew, for men of forbearing coolness and
pain-defying fortitude, down to these evil days of wrangle, chaffing,
bullying, and shifting, a more straightforward, excellent,
simple-hearted, generous, and brave man than Tom Cribb, never held the
hard-won trophy.
There are curious parallels to be traced in pugilistic as well as public
annals, which exemplify the sagacious remark of a philosophic writer,
that history is always repeating itself. Thus renown awakens emulation
in other hearts, and bold adventurers are ready to challenge imputed
superiority. In such competitions with man, horse, or hound, in athletic
exercises, in courage, endurance, and in cool self-reliance even against
odds physical or numerical, England has no cause to blush for her sons.
In the days of Fig, we have seen that a Venetian gondolier, a formidable
fellow, vaunted as “the strongest man in Europe,” proposed to tear the
champion’s wreath from—
“England, that never did nor never shall
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror.”
[Illustration:
THOMAS CRIBB (CHAMPION OF ENGLAND).
_From the Painting by_ DE WILD, 1811.
]
In the time of Cribb, the descendant of an African race, remarkable for
insensibility to pain, a low cerebral development, and immense muscular
powers, challenged the belt, was met by Tom Cribb, defeated, and died a
self-destroyed victim to his mortification and reckless excess. In our
own time an Irish-American of superior stature, weight, and physique,
with the advantages of youth, activity, and unexhausted energy, offered
himself as challenger of the belt, which might well be taken as the
symbol of the championship of the world. Its holder was a middle weight,
whose many hard fought battles had left him outward marks on his person,
and still more told upon his elasticity and lasting powers. Yet Tom
Sayers undauntedly met the defiance, and the result, though
unsatisfactory in the main, showed what lion-hearted courage and a
determination to “do or die” can achieve. The trophy was retained in our
little “nook-shotten isle,” again to be contended for by Englishmen,
though “open to all comers,” without regard to country and colour. But
we are anticipating our history, which has now to do with the honest,
hearty, and gallant Tom Cribb.
Cribb was born July 8th, 1781, at Hanham, in the parish of Bitton,
Gloucester, on the borders of Somerset, situate about five miles from
Bristol, and it is rather a disputed point to which of the counties
contiguous to Hanham this spot belongs.
Pierce Egan, from Cribb’s own lips, has compiled a diffuse account of
his earlier career, to which we are indebted for the following
particulars:—
Our hero left his native place at a very early period, and arrived in
the metropolis, when no more than thirteen years old, to follow the
trade of a bell-hanger, under the guidance of a relative; but the
confined occupation of hanging bells not exactly meeting his ideas, and
being a strong youth, he preferred an out-door calling, and commenced
porter at the wharfs, during which time he met with two accidents that
had nearly deprived him of existence—in stepping from one coal barge to
another, he fell between them, and got jammed in a dreadful manner; and
in carrying a very heavy package of oranges, weighing nearly 500 pounds,
he slipped upon his back, and the load fell upon his chest, which
occasioned him to spit blood for several days afterwards. By the
excellence of his constitution, he was soon enabled to recover his
strength from those severe accidents; and aided by the invigorating air
of the ocean, upon which he had the honour of serving against the
enemies of his country, his fine natural stamina was improved. The
natural good temper and forbearance of this brave man has left his
historian little to record in the way of skirmishes; and the important
contests which it will become our duty and pleasing task to record, were
all conducted on the principles of professional boxing—the very first
elements of which are manliness, forbearance, and fair play. Though
Cribb was generally considered a slow fighter, he was as generally
admired as a sure hitter; his wind was of the first quality, and his
game never excelled. With such sound pugilistic pretensions it will not
appear surprising that Tom quickly scaled his way to fame and fortune,
in which career we shall leave his actions to speak for themselves.
In the beginning of 1805, Cribb fought his first public battle with that
veteran of fistic glory, George Maddox, on Wood Green, near Highgate,
January 7th, 1805, for a subscription purse of twenty-five
guineas—twenty for the winner and five for the loser. The disparity of
years was considerable between the combatants; and Cribb, besides
possessing the advantages of youth, was somewhat taller than Maddox,
and, consequently rather the favourite.
As we find no report, beyond a mere mention of this fight in “Boxiana,”
or elsewhere, we give the brief account we find in the weekly papers:
“On Monday (January 7), at Wood Green, about two miles north of
Highgate, a severe boxing match took place, between the pugilistic
veteran, George Maddox (in his 50th year), and Thomas Cribb, a young
man, who had never entered the lists before, but known in the
neighbourhood of Wapping, where he has been working as a coal-porter, as
‘the Black Diamond.’ Maddox’s second was Tom Jones, and Black Sam
sympathetically seconded the Black Diamond.
“The contest was for an amateur subscription purse of 25 guineas, 20 for
the winner, and five for the loser. A ring having been formed, at about
twelve o’clock the combatants entered. On stripping appearances were
greatly in favour of Cribb; he being a well made man, standing five feet
ten inches, about two inches taller than Maddox. After the usual
ceremonies they set-to.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—This was little more than sparring. The
Diamond put in a blow, but no harm done.
4.—Well contested. Maddox showed considerable
skill, and finished it by closing his opponent’s
eye. (Odds rose two to one in favour of George.)
From this to the
30th.—Nothing of consequence happened; both men
fought desperately, Maddox with great tact as
well as pluck, and each endeavoured to out-do
his opponent. Maddox by this time finding his
antagonist possessed good bottom, exerted his
utmost to blind him, and hit always at his head,
Cribb fighting with undaunted courage.
40.—By this time they had fought exactly an
hour, and Cribb’s eye was severely hurt. (Odds
four to one on Maddox.) To the
52nd.—Was a continued series of hard fighting.
53.—Odds again rose in favour of Maddox, and he
put in a most severe blow a little beneath his
opponent’s left eye, which perfectly closed it.
The fight had now lasted one hour and a half;
but from this to the
60th.—Maddox continued to lose ground, becoming
almost worn out. The friends and partisans of
Maddox perceiving this, got up a row in another
part of the ring, and his seconds led him off,
declaring it a drawn battle. On this Cribb
demanded the purse; but this was refused, and a
general engagement ensued. Caleb Baldwin, Tom
Jones, Black Sam, Dutch Sam, and the spectators
took a very active share. During the scuffle
some ruffian treacherously cut Cribb over the
head with a stick. Order, however, was, after
some time, restored, and Cribb insisted either
on the purse or that his antagonist should
return to the combat. This generous offer was to
Maddox’s friends a perfect poser, but rather
than lose ‘the cole,’ they brought George out of
a hackney coach to renew the fight, and the
combatants again set-to. They supported the
contest for sixteen rounds, making in all
seventy-six, and the time two hours and twelve
minutes, when George, thoroughly exhausted, gave
in. Cribb, having but just come forward, found
but few friends, and consequently was obliged to
put up with much unfair play.
Such is the contemporary report, and one that shows that the “win, tie,
or wrangle” school is not altogether modern, and that ruffians at the
ring side, as elsewhere, were among our grandfathers as in the present
time. Cribb’s reputation rose greatly by the coolness, even temper, and
game he displayed, as a novice contending against one of the best and
most experienced tacticians of his time.
Young Cribb was well in three days, and at the Fives Court, where he was
challenged by Tom Blake (Tom Tough). See Appendix, _ante_, p. 236.
Preliminaries were quickly arranged, and a month’s time given, February
15th, 1805, being appointed, on which day they met on Blackheath. We
quote the report:—
THE FIGHT.
Both parties had been a month in training. All
the patrons and admirers of pugilism having
gained information on the preceding evening of
the seat of combat, early in the morning
Blackheath was thronged. A ring was formed, and
about eleven o’clock Cribb entered, accompanied
by Richmond, the black, and Joe Norton, as his
seconds. Blake soon followed, with Dick Hall and
Webb, for his attendants. They stripped, and
immediately set-to. Bets even, but odds
generally considered in favour of Cribb, from
his known agility and skill. The combatants met
each other with great eagerness, and each put in
some exceedingly good blows. For a quarter of an
hour bets remained stationary, and both
champions in that time had displayed a degree of
science and courage almost unprecedented. Cribb,
however, being longer in the reach than his
opponent, it was seldom Blake could effectively
get home a blow. At the end of an hour Blake
began to show great symptoms of distress, and
odds were now strongly betted in favour of
Cribb. Still Blake stood up manfully, and
displayed a great deal of his usual dexterity.
Until within the two last rounds of the battle,
Cribb astonishingly supported his advantage; but
here Blake brought his utmost, both in strength
and skill, into action. He put in several
excellent straight hits about his opponent’s
head; Cribb rallied most determinedly. Blake
recovered and returned to the rally, but
overreaching himself, Cribb threw him a
cross-buttock.
The next round decided the contest; Blake found
he was fighting at an overpowering disadvantage,
and gave in. Blake was extremely weak; he could
hardly stand; and Cribb showed marks of his
antagonist’s dexterity.
Belcher, Warr, Mendoza, Bittoon, Berks, Maddox,
and Jack Holmes were there. Several amateurs
offered to back Cribb against any pugilist
going, but no one accepted the challenge.
Cribb was not allowed to rest long upon the laurels he had thus acquired
by two victories in two months. A ponderous Jew, known as Ikey Pig, well
known among the sparring schools, fancied he could take the shine out of
the Black Diamond, whom many declared to be “slow as a top.” Fifty
guineas was posted, and Blackheath named as the rendezvous. On May 21st,
1805, the battle came off. Tom Jones seconded Cribb, and Will Wood, the
coachman, picked up the Jew.
For the first quarter of an hour Ikey made good use of his strength. He
closed at the end of each round, and brought Cribb down heavily more
than once. Cribb fought very steadily and cautiously, generally drawing
his man after him. Being, however, down and undermost at the end of
several rounds, superficial observers thought that Cribb had the worst
of it, and betted against him. In the eighth and ninth rounds, however,
though Cribb was down, Ikey’s friends perceived their man had much the
worst of it. He was not only much disfigured but sadly distressed by
some heavy half-arm hits which Cribb had delivered with the right on his
left side. They fought two more rounds, making eleven in all, when Ikey,
who was terribly distressed, refused to fight any more, alleging that he
had sprained his wrist. “This defeat sadly mortified many of the
Israelites, who considered Ikey had shown ‘the white feather.’ It was
afterwards, however, agreed that he had no chance of victory.”
Cribb was unquestionably “going the pace,” and “it is the pace that
kills.” The next month (June), he was matched to fight George Nicholls,
on the 20th July. They met at Broadwater, and here Cribb experienced his
first and last defeat. The details will be found under Nicholls’ memoir
in the Appendix to this Period.
As colour or country made no difference to Tom Cribb, any more than to
his smaller successor Tom Sayers, Cribb entered the ring on the 8th
October, 1805, with Bill Richmond, the black, at Hailsham, Sussex, after
Gully had been defeated by the accomplished Pearce, the Game Chicken.
The purse was 25 guineas, twenty to the winner.
“At any other time,” says the reporter, “a contest between these men
would have demanded the greatest attention, but so highly were the minds
of the amateurs excited by the merit of the first contenders, that
little notice seemed paid to the present battle. To call it a battle,
however, is to disgrace the synonyme of fight. It was a most unequal
match. Richmond, finding he could not get at his steady and formidable
opponent, hopped and danced about the ring, sometimes falling down, at
others jigging round in the style of an Otaheitan dance. Cribb appeared
somewhat puzzled by his opponent’s long black pegs, and could not be
persuaded to go in and lick him off hand, as every one knew was well in
his power. Twenty minutes elapsed without a single blow of any
consequence passing. In this manner they spun it out for one hour and a
half, when Cribb was acknowledged the victor, without being the least
hurt. Among the numerous sporting equestrians present was the Duke of
Clarence.”
Cribb now rose into general notice, and John Jackson having introduced
him to the renowned Captain Barclay, of Ury (of whom more anon), that
excellent judge quickly perceived his natural good qualities; he took
him in hand, trained him under his own eye, and backed him for 200
guineas against the famous Jem Belcher, whose _prestige_ was still so
great, that, despite the loss of an eye, six to four was laid upon him
so soon as the match was made.
On the classic hurst of Moulsey, on the 8th April, 1807, in a twenty
feet roped ring, Tom Cribb and Jem Belcher met. Gully and Bob Watson, of
Bristol, waited upon Belcher; Bill Warr and Bill Richmond (last defeated
by Cribb), waited on the champion.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The science on both sides was shown in
the excellence of their defensive attitudes;
Belcher’s, however, was far the most graceful
and unconstrained. Belcher broke ground, and got
in two light hits left and right on the body of
his opponent, which were returned slightly by
Cribb, who rallied, closed, and was thrown by
Belcher.
2.—Belcher put in two severe blows upon Cribb’s
head and body, when the latter returned a hit,
but slipped down upon his hands in attempting to
follow it up. Cribb showed the first blood.
3.—Several severe blows were exchanged, when
Cribb threw Belcher, who planted a heavy body
blow while in the act of falling. This round
rather in favour of Cribb.
4.—Cribb displayed good science in warding off
two blows of Belcher’s, when they closed and
fell.
5.—Belcher with his right hand put in a dreadful
blow on Cribb’s left eye, and in closing hit his
opponent twice in the body, and threw him. (Five
to two on Belcher.)
6.—Cribb began to show symptoms of weakness.
Belcher put in a hit, warding off which caused
Cribb to fall.
7.—Belcher’s punishment was now visible on
the body of Cribb, who endeavoured to put in
two blows, which were parried by Belcher,
and Jem returned both right and left with
great dexterity, and rallied his man to the
ropes, when Cribb clung to them, and fell
much fatigued; Belcher also went down on his
knees, but seemed in good spirits. (Three to
one on Jem.)
8.—A good supply of home-brewed from Cribb;
hitting and retreating neatly on both sides;
when they closed and both went down.
9.—Belcher hit his adversary right and left, but
only the latter told, when Jem fell from the
force of his own blow.
10.—Belcher commenced this round with great
spirit, and gave Cribb some severe blows,
without letting him have a chance; following and
rallying his opponent to the ropes, when Cribb,
appearing quite fatigued, fell. (The odds now
rose four to one on Jem.)
11.—Belcher planted two hits, which Cribb
skilfully warded off, but Belcher was so rapid
in closing upon his antagonist, that they both
went down.
12.—A small change was now making its appearance
between the combatants—Cribb seemed rather
gaining his strength, while Belcher appeared
rather distressed from his exertions; Cribb
rallied successfully, planted a hit under
Belcher’s perfect eye, closed, and threw him.
13.—Belcher in all his contests never showed
himself to greater advantage than in this round;
his skill was of the finest order, and only
equalled by his courage. In closing, Belcher
threw Cribb.
14.—Both on the alert. Belcher let go both right
and left, which were parried by Cribb, who
returned two blows in the body, when they closed
and fell. (Still four to one on Belcher.)
15.—Belcher, full of gaiety, rallied Cribb to
the extremity of the ring, and, in struggling,
put an end to the round by falling.
16.—Cribb stopped Belcher’s blows with great
skill. The knowing ones were, at this period
of the battle, rather at a stand-still with
regard to sporting their money. Cribb, it was
certain, by his appearance, had received severe
punishment, but not enough to satisfy anything
like his gluttony and Belcher’s stamina had been
considered on the decline previous to the
contest, and it was apprehended that he could
not last.
17.—Belcher, still confident, forced the
fighting, until Cribb fell from fatigue.
18.—Belcher put in some severe blows in the
body, and followed them with a heavy
right-hander on the throat of his opponent, and
Cribb fell violently, and quite exhausted. It
was in this round that Belcher sprained his
wrist, and was almost deprived of the use of his
right hand afterwards.
19.—Belcher slipped in making play.
20.—The combatants closed and fell.
21.—Cribb planted two blows on his opponent’s
head, who slipped in returning them. It was now
perceived that Belcher proved incorrect in his
distances, and that several of his blows were
thrown away, from the bad state of his eye.
23.—Belcher, full of gaiety, put in a good hit,
and threw Cribb a cross-buttock.
24.—Cribb the most conspicuous in the round,
when they closed and fell.
25.—Cribb put in a tremendous blow, and in
attempting to follow it up, Belcher shifted, and
Cribb ran himself down.
26.—The constitution of Belcher was now giving
way; his strength was not able to resist the
heavy punishment of Cribb, who hit Jem from him,
and gave him a leveller. Cribb upon this became
the favourite.
27.—A well-contested round, and, notwithstanding
Belcher gave Cribb a cross-buttock, it was
considered in favour of the latter.
28.—Belcher made a hit, which was warded off by
his opponent and returned, when they closed and
fell.
29.—Without hesitation Cribb closed, and, from
his uncommon strength, threw Belcher over the
ropes.
30.—After slight exchanges, Belcher fell from a
very slight hit.
31.—A good round, without any particular
advantage to either; though Cribb put in the
most blows, yet Belcher gave his adversary a
violent fall.
32.—Both closed and fell.
33.—Belcher, quite game, endeavoured to make the
best of it, but Cribb rallied and threw him.
34, 35, and 36.—In all these rounds Cribb
maintained the superiority.
37.—Belcher had scarcely any strength left to
stand, and his brave opponent was not in a much
better state; and from this period to the
fortieth it was little better than mere hugging,
blows they could not be called, from the
exhausted state of both the combatants.
41 and last.—Thirty-five minutes had now
elapsed, and Cribb proving the stronger man,
put in two weak blows, when Belcher, quite
exhausted, fell upon the ropes, and gave up
the contest.
REMARKS.—Every one present could not but feel
surprised at the astonishing improvement Cribb
had made in the science of pugilism. In all
his preceding contests he had only displayed
the pluck of a novice, but in this he showed
himself equal to his opponent in stopping and
measuring his distances. Had it been generally
known that he had so amply possessed these
qualities, as well as his astonishing game,
the result might have been anticipated.
Notwithstanding this just praise is paid to
Cribb’s merit, he cannot be considered equally
scientific with his unsuccessful opponent. He
was decidedly slow, and until after the hit he
so dexterously put in on Belcher’s perfect
eye, and the latter had sprained his wrist, he
stood a doubtful chance. Belcher fought with
all that vigour and skill which ever were his
characteristics, but seemed incapable of
judging his distances accurately.
From the above somewhat meagre report of this battle, it will be
gathered that notwithstanding the strength of Cribb, who was nearly two
stone heavier than his opponent, he was only just able to pull through
against the wonderful skill and activity of Jem Belcher. Indeed, it is
said in “Boxiana,” that had it not been for the manœuvring of Bill Warr,
the boot would have been on the other leg. It appears that in the
eighteenth round, when Cribb fell exhausted, Gully, who was seconding
Belcher, was so satisfied that Cribb could not come to time, that he
offered five to one to Warr that Belcher had won. Bill accepted the bet,
and then craftily insisted that it should be staked. This ceremony,
although only occupying a minute, gave sufficient time to enable a
glutton like Cribb to recover himself.
George Cribb, who was emulous of his brother’s fame, made his first
unsuccessful effort with Horton, a big provincial boxer, of the Bristol
School. Horton, whose only claim to survive in ring history is the fact
of his having fought Tom Cribb, beat “the young ’un” in twenty-five
minutes. The report, given in “Pancratia,” p. 302, says, “Cribb, like
his more distinguished brother, fights too slow, while Horton, who is a
rare doublehanded fellow, hit him abroad every round. Horton, when the
battle was over, offered to fight either Tom Cribb or John Gully, but
both declined.” Tom, however, merely waited, and Gully had already a
match on with Gregson, and, therefore, Mister Horton’s challenge looks
much like “bounce.” In January, 1808, Cribb accepted the challenge of
Horton; the latter being under the care and tuition of Pearce, the Game
Chicken. The stake was 100 guineas, ten posted as a forfeit, and the
fight to come off in the same ring as Gully and Gregson’s battle. From
the flourishing accounts of Horton’s improvement in sparring while on a
tour with the “Chicken,” all but Captain Barclay, and a few firm friends
of Cribb, declined laying any odds. The combat came off on the 10th May,
1808, at Markyate Street, Herts. The absorbing interest of the Gully and
Gregson contest seems to have prevented the reporters from doing justice
to this battle, which, nevertheless, was a poor one-sided affair. If
young George had no chance with Horton, Horton had less with “brother
Tom.” At the close of the first round six to four was betted upon Cribb,
which increased to two and three to one soon afterwards. Tom’s
steadiness and safe milling qualities made it merely a question of time.
Twenty-five rounds, however, for Cribb was never in a hurry, were
required before Horton gave in utterly beaten.
The sporting world was now divided in opinion as to the pugilistic
merits of the burly host of the Castle, Bob Gregson, and Tom Cribb. It
was maintained by one party that Gregson, though overmatched by the
skill of Gully, who had now formally retired from the championship,
would shine conspicuously from his great strength and pluck, if matched
against such “a slow one” (for on this point Cribb’s opponents, like Tom
Sayers’, always insisted). Accordingly in June, 1808, when Gully and
Cribb had a joint benefit at the Fives Court, a challenge was given, and
Tuesday, October 25th, 1808, fixed as the day of battle. Moulsey Hurst,
in a thirty feet roped ring, was the _locus in quo_, and for the details
we quote the _Daily Advertiser_:—
“The dreadful beating Gregson had received from Gully, so far from
disheartening him, only tended to make him tenfold solicitous for
another chance of acquiring pugilistic fame. Major Morgan, his last
backer, however, declined patronising him; but he soon found another
friend in the Marquis of Tweeddale. Paul Methuen, Esq., backed Cribb in
this contest.”
A thirty feet ring having been formed, at half past twelve the
combatants entered; Cribb attended by Gully and Bill Gibbons, and
Gregson with his seconds, Jem Belcher and Richmond. Odds five to four in
favour of Cribb, more betters than takers. At a quarter before one they
set-to.
THE FIGHT.[133]
Round 1.—The instant Cribb shook hands he stept
back, and assumed his attitude. Short sparring,
each anxious for the first hit. Gregson
attempted to lead with his left hand, but his
distance was ill-judged, and fell short. Cribb
was also ineffectual, as his blow went over his
opponent’s shoulder. They closed, and both fell,
Gregson uppermost.
2.—Cribb put in two body blows, right and left.
Gregson made a courageous attempt to hit Cribb,
who shifted and avoided him dexterously, and
immediately threw in a severe hit in the right
side of the face with his left hand. Blood
issued from the cut profusely, and never ceased
during the combat. Gregson lost his temper, and
threw in some desperate blows in the neck,
which, had Cribb not partially avoided, it was
supposed would have ended the contest. Cribb
rallied, and threw his opponent. (Odds two to
one in Cribb’s favour.)
4.—Gregson rallied, and put in a severe hit
under Cribb’s ear; Cribb retreated, according
to his usual mode of fighting, and Gregson
following him, he at every retreating step put
in a severe hit with his left hand on the right
side of Gregson’s face. Gregson, however,
followed up until he fell, absolutely stunned.
5.—No fighting; Cribb fell in making play.
6.—This round odds fell again. Gregson judged
his distance well, and the first hit threw in so
tremendous a blow on the temple, that Cribb was
glaringly abroad and stupefied. Had Gregson
now possessed science as a pugilist equal to
his strength, he must have beaten Cribb out of
time, but while Cribb was retreating to the
ropes, desirous of finishing the round, Gregson
followed him, and lost this glorious opportunity
of winning the battle, by idly sparring away the
time, instead of repeating his blows. Cribb,
with all his dexterity, was obliged to sustain
another disadvantageous rally before he could
close the round, and then was knocked off his
legs.
7.—Cribb’s head cut a sorry figure, and
Gregson’s mouth and nose continued to bleed
copiously. They rallied, and both exchanged hits
to a stand-still, when Gregson threw Cribb.
8.—Gregson made play, but no dependance could be
placed on his hits, from the bad judgment he
displayed in his distances. Cribb put in his
favourite left-handed hit again over Gregson’s
dreadfully sore mouth. Gregson, almost wild,
closed, and threw Cribb a severe cross-buttock.
Nevertheless, odds rose again two to one on
Cribb.
9.—Gregson showed evident distress. Cribb still
kept up his old game of retreating. Gregson,
impelled by the warmth of his temper, followed
him, and was severely punished by some dreadful
repeats on the right side of his face. He fell
on his knees, and appeared unable to rise again
alone. (Three to one on Cribb.)
10.—Cribb supported his superiority. They fought
until both fell on their knees, and after a
fraternal hug, both laid themselves down,
exhausted with fatigue.
11.—Both appeared distressed in their wind, and
showed great caution; closed, and both fell.
12.—In this round the combatants seemed
recovering, and a display of greater courage
never was seen. Gregson threw in a most
tremendous hit, but it fell short by an inch. He
then rallied, and successfully planted a hit on
the head, and another on the body. Cribb seemed
abroad, and Gregson threw him. (Odds seven to
four on Cribb.)
13.—Language would be incapable of describing
the dreadful appearance of the faces of both
combatants. They, however, obstinately stood
and exchanged hits until Gregson fell, more by
exhaustion than by the force of the hit.
14.—This round was as resolutely contended.
Gregson exerted his utmost to gain the
advantage, but Cribb seemed to have recovered
both his wind and strength. Gregson was so weak
that his knees gave way, and he fell on his
hands, and actually pulled at the grass with
passion.
15.—Cribb beat his opponent in this round
dreadfully. Gregson fell again; then tried to
get on his knees, but in vain.
16.—By chance Gregson struck Cribb on the head
at setting-to, and brought him down.
19.—It appeared to require the greatest
exertions of both combatants to make any
impression, and he who for a minute was favoured
by nature had the advantage.
20.—Both displayed excellent bottom. They
mutually ran in, met, and fell like men
perfectly inebriated.
22.—A rally, and Gregson bored down his
opponent. (Ten to one was offered that Cribb did
not come again.)
23.—Cribb at meeting had just strength enough
to put in two slight hits, and closed. They
wrestled, and Cribb threw Gregson, who fell like
lead. He was, however, put again on his second’s
knee, but on time being called was unable to
come forward, having been seriously hurt in the
last fall. Cribb, on hearing the news might have
considered it the luckiest moment of his life:
he immediately fell into his second’s arms, and
remained apparently exhausted for some minutes.
On recovering, Cribb challenged Richmond, who
had offended him, to fight immediately for 50
guineas, but this was prevented.
REMARKS.—Gregson sustained in this contest as
much injury as he did with Gully, and proved
himself a bad judge of his distances, and, as
every scientific amateur always considered him,
a novice in the art of pugilism. In rallying
he had but one hit, which, if it failed not
only to take effect, but to stun his adversary,
the rally was sure to terminate greatly to his
disadvantage; still Cribb never was secure of
beating him, for although hit several times
to a stand-still, he recovered his wind at
intervals, and certainly stood up with the most
undaunted courage. Cribb fought upon his old
plan of retreating, in order to wind his
adversary, and by this means always fights at
home. He was here particularly successful with
his left-handed hits, as Gregson’s face showed
by its dreadfully bruised state. Cribb’s
principal backer presented him with £150, as
a reward for his undaunted courage; and Mr.
Jackson kindly collected a handsome subscription
purse for the unfortunate Gregson. Gregson was
conveyed to the King’s Head at Hampton, and
Cribb to the Toy Inn at Hampton Court. They were
both bled, and remained quiet until Wednesday
evening, when they returned to town. The Duke of
York, the Marquis of Tweeddale, Lords Yarmouth,
Craven, Brook, Barrymore, and Somerville, with a
large number of military and naval officers and
sporting gentlemen were upon the ground.
This battle, which almost equalled in severity that between Gully and
Gregson, brought Cribb to the elevation of the championship, Mr. Gully
having, as we have seen, formally retired from the position. No sooner
did this come to the ears of Jem Belcher—who was still smarting under
the defeat he had sustained at the hands of Cribb, which he never ceased
maintaining was the result of an accident to his wrist—than he sent
forth a challenge to Cribb, for another trial for the belt and 200
guineas. Cribb readily responded; the preliminaries were arranged, and
Monday, February 1, 1809, fixed for the combat. Captain Barclay again
came forward as Cribb’s backer and trainer, and the odds were seven to
four in Tom’s favour. Belcher went into training at Virginia Water, and
it was stated he was in excellent condition and spirits.
On the Monday above-mentioned, in a thirty feet roped ring, on Epsom
race-course, the men met, Belcher entering the enclosure at half past
twelve, waited upon by Dan Mendoza and Bob Clarke. Soon afterwards Cribb
threw his “castor” into the ring, followed by Joe Ward and Bill Gibbons.
Two and then three to one were offered on Cribb.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Sparring for half a minute, Belcher
made two hits; Cribb parried one, but the other
got home in the body. Cribb returned; Belcher
made a half-armed stop. They closed, and Belcher
fell, but lightly.
2.—Cribb made play, and threw in a body hit.
Belcher rallied. Some good blows exchanged, and
Cribb threw his opponent.
3.—No visible marks of hitting yet. Belcher very
gay, with great skill made two lunging hits
right and left, the last of which Cribb received
in full force under his left ear, and a copious
discharge of blood followed. Some blows well
exchanged at a distance. Cribb threw Belcher
again, but manifestly had the worst of the round
as to hitting.
4.—A good display of science. Every hit stopped
on both sides. Cribb surprised the amateurs by
his steady stops and back-stops. Belcher
attempted to rally, but fell, seemingly
distressed in his wind.
5.—Belcher put in right and left hits; but it
was evident that he had once more lamed his
right hand. Cribb again rallied successfully,
and threw his opponent.
6.—Belcher retreated, seemingly to recruit his
wind, to the ropes, where Cribb planted some
good blows. Belcher now, in order to avoid his
adversary’s superior strength, hit out, and
successfully planted a blow at arm’s length
with his lame hand on the spot he had before
severely struck under the ear, and which was
also the precise place in which Gregson put his
tremendous blow in their last contest. The blood
again issued with increased force; they closed,
and Belcher threw Cribb a cross-buttock. (Great
joy among the Bristol people. Cribb’s gluttony,
however, being well known, odds were even now
four to one in his favour.)
7.—In this round Belcher indisputably had the
advantage, but his well-known infirmities
prevented his becoming the favourite. He
rallied, and hit with astonishing success. The
men closed, and Cribb fell easily.
8.—Belcher appeared winded from his exertions in
the last round. He retreated towards the ropes,
where again he was reduced to a courageous
effort to extricate himself. He rallied, put in
a few hits, but so slight, that Cribb appeared
to be unconscious of them. The men closed,
hugged, and contended for the fall, until both
struggled over the ropes.
9.—The combatants closed, and the seconds
separated them.[134]
10.—Belcher had evidently great disadvantages
to labour under, and this round indicated
strongly in whose favour the contest must
terminate; Cribb had as yet made little play.
He now went in, hit, stopped, and hit again
five or six times successively, and finally
gave his opponent a heavy fall. (Any odds, but
no takers.)
11.—Cribb forced the fighting, as in the
preceding round, and again threw Belcher. Both
Belcher’s hands were now injured, and Cribb kept
the lead he had gained up to the
19th.—Belcher now convinced the spectators of
his fine science. Unable to hit effectively, he
stopped Cribb’s blows with marvellous neatness.
Despite his dexterity, however, Cribb now bored
in and forced him down; nevertheless, Belcher
fought defensively, prolonging the battle to the
31st and final round.—It was piteous to see this
once renowned and brave champion contending
against nature. For the last ten rounds there
was not a chance of success; still his olden
skill made him difficult to beat, and Cribb,
slow and sure, never threw away a chance.
Belcher’s knuckles of his right hand were
swelled immensely, and his right forearm covered
with bruises from stopping Cribb’s left hand. At
the end of forty minutes, at the urgent request
of his backers and friends, Belcher gave in,
never again to enter the field of honour.
REMARKS.—Greatly as this victory adds to the
fame of the champion, as a resolute, cautious,
and truly brave boxer, the best judges were
agreed that had Belcher possessed his once
excellent constitution and both his eyes, Cribb
must have been defeated. There were not wanting
others who maintained that, despite his slow
hitting, Cribb’s retreating and defensive
tactics, with his wonderful stamina, strength,
and never-failing courage, must make it a
doubtful point if Belcher ever could have
thrashed him, as Cribb always seemed to have a
“little left” when his adversary was on the
totter, and he was called upon “to finish.” When
Belcher first came from Bristol, he was justly
considered a phenomenon; under the age of twenty
he adduced a new system of fighting, which
completely baffled the most scientific adepts in
the old school, and to him boxing in a great
measure owed its support, particularly by the
emulation he excited, and the attempts made to
produce a man to contend with him. But at this
period, at the age of only twenty-seven, he was
so far degenerated as to oppose, with very
little chance of success, any pugilist of note;
he was unable to make but very few hits with his
now enfeebled hands, and after a contest of half
an hour nature deserted him; still he retained
some of his former gaiety, which only reminded
those who knew him what he once was, and every
one, with an eye of pity, saw that all powers of
execution had deserted him.
Cribb seemed now to have reached the topmost round of fortune’s ladder
as a pugilist. Like Alexander Selkirk he could exclaim,—
My title there’s none to dispute,
when a rival arose from an unexpected quarter. Tom Molineaux, an
athletic American black, had astonished the amateurs by the wonderful
strength and gluttony he had shown in his conquest of Tom Blake (Tom
Tough); indeed his countryman, Bill Richmond, vaunted loudly that “the
man of colour” must win. Two hundred guineas was posted on behalf of
Molineaux, and a further purse of 100 guineas was subscribed by patrons
of the ring to be presented personally to the conqueror after the
combat. Many persons were astonished at the Nigger’s audacity, while
others, who knew their man, not only exhibited no surprise, but
expressed their confidence that the Darkey would prove the most
formidable antagonist that Cribb had ever encountered. Cribb was among
those who held Molineaux very cheap, and he expressed an opinion that he
should win with ease. We read in a journal of the day, “Some persons
feel alarmed at the bare idea that a black man and a foreigner should
seize the championship of England, and decorate his sable brow with the
hard-earned laurels of Cribb. He must, however, have his fair chance,
though Tom swears that, for the honour of old England, ‘He’ll be d—— if
he will relinquish a single sprig except with his life.’”
The affair excited the most extraordinary sensation, not only in the
pugilistic world, but also among classes who had hitherto considered
boxing as beneath their notice, and who now, thinking the honour of
their country was at stake, took a most lively interest in the affair.
Although Cribb considered that the conquest of such a beginner in the
art as he supposed Molineaux to be, would be mere child’s play, he was
still wise enough not to throw a chance away, and got himself into good
condition, although he was, perhaps, a little too fleshy. The betting
upon the event was heavier than had been known for many years. Odds were
laid that Molineaux would be defeated in fifteen minutes, and it was
considered the excess of fool-hardiness in any one who betted that he
would stand more than half-an-hour.
On the other hand we find Molineaux was in the highest state of
confidence; indeed his vaunting bordered upon insolent braggadocia.
The day selected for this grand milling exhibition was December 18th,
1810, at Copthall Common, in the neighbourhood of East Grimstead,
Sussex, within thirty miles of the metropolis.
Notwithstanding the rain came down in torrents, and the _distance_ from
London (hear this ye railroad travellers of 1879!), the Fancy were not
to be deterred from witnessing the mill, and waded through a clayey
road, nearly knee-deep for five miles, with alacrity and cheerfulness,
so great was the curiosity and interest manifested upon this battle. We
shall, according to our arrangement, where practicable, give the
original report, vice the written-up rhodomontade of “Boxiana,” copied
servilely by later publications.
At twelve o’clock, Mr. Jackson, who generally officiates as master of
the ceremonies, formed an outer circle of the various vehicles which had
transported so many thousands from the metropolis, at the foot of a
hill, in order to shield the combatants as much as possible from the
chilling rain and wind from the eastward. A twenty-four feet ring,
according to preceding arrangement, was constructed within this circle,
with stakes and ropes, and as soon as completed Molineaux came forward,
bowed to all around, hurled up his cap in defiance, and then withdrew to
strip. Cribb followed his example, and both soon returned eager for the
fray, amid the plaudits of the populace, whose animated countenances
seemed to express the passing thought, “What a glorious thing’s a
battle.” Gully and Joe Ward seconded Cribb; and Richmond and Jones
officiated for Molineaux.
On stripping, the appearance of the men was really formidable; Cribb,
who stood five feet ten inches and a half, weighed fourteen stone three
pounds, while Molineaux, who was five feet eight inches and a quarter,
was only a pound lighter, and consequently looked far more muscular. His
arms were of wondrous length and roundness of form. He looked confident
and fierce, rather than smiling, and nodded his head as he shook hands.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The combatants shook hands, retired two
steps, put themselves in attitude, eyeing each
other with the most penetrating looks, and each
highly attentive to his guard. For a moment a
solemn pause ensued. A little sparring, and
Molineaux put in the first hit by a right-handed
body-blow on the left side of his opponent.
Cribb smartly returned right and left on the
head, and one for luck on the body. Molineaux
closed, and Cribb threw him. Thus the round
ended without bloodshed.
2.—Both set-to with great eagerness, apparently
fully determined on a manly stand-up fight,
seeming to exclude sparring and shifting
altogether. A furious rally, heavy blows
exchanged. Cribb’s did most execution, being
thrown in straight forward, while Molineaux
struck hand over head with most astonishing
power, but little judgment, and Cribb either
parried or spoilt the effort, by planting the
first hit. Cribb, although he showed first blood
by a cut on the lip, evidently had the best of
the round.
3.—Molineaux faced his antagonist with great
courage. Cribb met him with equal resolution,
and after a little sparring brought his left
fist in contact with his antagonist’s head at
arm’s length with such tremendous force, that
he laid him to measure his full length on the
earth. (Four to one on Cribb.)
4.—Molineaux immediately jumped on his legs, and
commenced a desperate rally, in which Cribb
again brought him down.
5.—An excellent round, good straight-forward
fighting, and both rallied in great style.
Molineaux tried to bore down his opponent by
main strength; Cribb determined to prevent him
if possible, by repeating some desperate blows
on the head. They closed, and Molineaux fibbed
very dexterously in Dutch Sam’s style, but at
length fell.
6.—Molineaux commenced furiously. Cribb slipped,
but partially recovered, and by a blow brought
down Molineaux.
7.—Molineaux rushed in as before, and Cribb put
in a violent blow on the forehead, by which he
picked up a handsome “rainbow.” His countenance
was, however, not the more clouded, and he was
first to the time.
8.—Both combatants by this time had been taught
discrimination, and had discovered each other’s
physical powers. Cribb found out that his notion
of beating Molineaux off hand was truly
fallacious, as he really was an ugly customer,
and he also became sensible that if Molineaux
could so reduce him as to make his sledge hammer
hits tell, he should not willingly lay his head
for the anvil. He therefore now brought forward
his science, and began to adopt his usual famous
retreating system. The men rallied desperately;
success was alternate. At length Molineaux fell;
but Cribb, from his violent exertion, appeared
weaker than his opponent.
9.—Gallantly contested. Cribb made play.
Molineaux followed courageously, giving no
quarter, put in a severe hit, and Cribb fell,
evidently much exhausted. The knowing ones
looked queer; Cribb had been fighting too fast.
10.—The conceit by this time was tolerably well
taken out of both combatants; their heads and
faces were hideously disfigured. Molineaux again
displayed superiority of strength. For full
two minutes hits were exchanged greatly to the
disadvantage of Cribb; he, however, at length
brought down his opponent.
11.—Courageously contested. Molineaux brought
Cribb down.
12.—Cribb put in a severe hit in the body.
Molineaux returned on the head and fell.
17.—Cribb still continued his shy plan, and
Molineaux evidently had the advantage.[135]
23.—In this round Cribb perceiving Molineaux
falling off, made play and brought him down, the
first time for several rounds.
24 to 28.—Bets considerably reduced. They had
been four to one on Molineaux, but were now
even.
29.—Molineaux ineffectually endeavoured to get
Cribb’s head under his left arm, and also to
throw him, but failed in both. The men rallied,
and Cribb, who now appeared to possess more
confidence than he had for some rounds, knocked
his opponent down.
30.—Cribb now again got the lead, and stuck up
to his opponent until he fairly rallied him
down.
31.—A short rally. Molineaux threw Cribb, but in
the struggle fell over him and pitched upon his
head, which so severely affected him that he
could hardly stand. Richmond, however, prompted
him to go on, in hopes of Cribb being exhausted.
33.—Molineaux fell by an effort to keep his
legs. This by Cribb’s party was called falling
without a blow, and a squabble would have
ensued, had not Molineaux exclaimed, “I can
fight no more.”
Cribb was greatly elated at such a sound, but
was too weak to throw his usual somersault. The
contest lasted fifty-five minutes.
REMARKS.—Molineaux in this contest proved
himself as courageous a man as ever an adversary
contended with, and Cribb’s merits as a pugilist
cannot but be enhanced by a victory over so
tremendous an opponent. The Black astonished
every one, not only by his extraordinary power
of hitting, and his gigantic strength, but also
by his acquaintance with the science, which was
far greater than any one had given him credit
for. In the 28th round, after the men were
carried to their corners, Cribb was so much
exhausted that he could hardly rise from his
second’s knee at the call of “Time,” which was
uttered loudly by Sir Thomas Apreece, one of the
umpires. Joe Ward, his second, by a little
manœuvring, occupied the attention of the
Black’s seconds, and so managed to prolong the
period sufficiently to enable the champion to
recover a little, and thus assisted him to pull
through.
The following appeared in the papers of the ensuing week:—
“SIR,—My friends think that had the weather on last Tuesday, the day
on which I contended with you, not been so unfavourable, I should
have won the battle; I therefore challenge you to a second meeting,
at any time within two months, for such sum as those gentlemen who
place confidence in me may be pleased to arrange.
“As it is possible this letter may meet the public eye, I cannot
omit the opportunity of expressing a confident hope, that the
circumstance of my being of a different colour to that of a people
amongst whom I have sought protection, will not in any way operate
to my prejudice.
“I am, sir,
“Your most obedient humble servant,
“T. MOLINEAUX.”
“Witness, J. SCHOLEFIELD.”
“_To Mr. Thomas Cribb, St. Martin’s Street, Leicester Square,
December 21, 1810._”
On Tuesday, January 29th, Cribb took a benefit at the Fives Court, at
which nearly 3000 persons were present. Cribb and Tom Belcher, Molineaux
and Richmond, Firby, Power, Ben Burn, Cropley, Tom O’Donnell,
Rimmer,[136] a young big one brought forward by Gregson, set-to.
Molineaux’s second fight with Cribb, was postponed by the intervention
of Rimmer’s challenge, as Richmond thought it a safer match. Molineaux,
having disposed of the big Lancashire man’s pretensions, the opinion of
many of the public was evidently shared by Molineaux, who pleaded that,
in addition to the above circumstance, the weather had proved
unpropitious, and had more effect upon his constitution—which was little
acclimated to cold and wet—than upon the more hardy frame of Cribb, the
latter could not decline giving his opponent a chance to retrieve his
laurels. A match was accordingly made for £300 a-side, and on Saturday,
September 28th, 1811, was brought to issue at Thistleton Gap, in the
parish of Wymondham, in the county of Leicester, very near Crown Point,
the spot where the three counties, Lincoln, Leicester, and Rutland
unite. This match created, if possible, more interest than that which
had preceded it, and for twenty miles round the scene of action not a
bed was to be obtained for love or money the previous night, unless
bespoken days beforehand. By six o’clock in the morning, hundreds were
astir in order to get good places near the stage which had been erected,
and by the time the men arrived there were about 20,000 persons present,
including many Corinthians of the highest rank. Neither man on this
occasion weighed so much, by nearly a stone, as in the former fight.
Captain Barclay had trained Cribb on a system peculiar to himself, and
had reduced him to thirteen stone six pounds, and still kept his stamina
unimpaired. The men mounted the stage at twelve o’clock, Cribb being the
first to show, and both were greeted with loud applause. A twenty-five
feet stage was erected in a stubble ground without the slightest
interruption. Cribb’s second was his old friend and intimate companion
Gully, and Joe Ward bottle-holder; Bill Richmond and Bill Gibbons
officiated for Molineaux. At eighteen minutes after twelve they set-to;
betting three to one on Cribb, and six to four in his favour for the
first knock-down blow.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Sparring for about a minute, when Cribb
made play right and left. The right-handed blow
told slightly in the body of Molineaux, who
returned slightly on the head; a rally now
ensued, they exchanged their blows, when
Molineaux fell from a dexterous hit in the
throat; the blows, however, throughout this
round were not at a distance to do very great
execution. Betting unaltered.
2.—Cribb showed first blood at the mouth at
setting-to. A dreadful rally commenced. Cribb
put in a good body hit with the right hand,
which Molineaux returned on the head with the
left flush; both combatants now fought at
half-arm, and exchanged some half dozen hits
with great force. They then closed, and after a
severe trial of strength Molineaux threw his
opponent. Odds six to four on Cribb.
3.—In the last rally Cribb’s right eye was
nearly closed, and now another equally
sanguinary followed. After sparring for wind, in
which essential Molineaux was evidently
deficient, Cribb put in a dreadful “doubler” on
the body of his opponent, who, although hit
away, kept his legs and renewed the rally with
such ferocity, that the backers of the odds
looked blue. The rally lasted a minute and a
half, when the combatants closed, and Molineaux
again threw Cribb with astonishing force. Odds
fell, but Cribb’s tried game still kept him the
favourite.
4.—In the rally Cribb had hit right and left
at the body and head, but Molineaux fought at
the head only. He was so successful with the
left hand, that he planted many flush hits.
Both Cribb’s eyes were now damaged, his face
dreadfully disfigured, and he bled profusely.
Molineaux evidently was in great distress, his
chest and sides heaving fearfully. Cribb smiled
at such a favourable omen, and renewed the rally
with a heroism, perhaps, never excelled, and
in point of judgment most adroitly timed. Hits
in abundance were exchanged, Cribb still
fighting at the “mark,” and Molineaux at the
head; at length Cribb fell, evincing great
exhaustion. Odds however were now seven to four
in his favour.
5.—Molineaux accepted the rally, and the
execution on both sides was truly terrific.
Molineaux had the best of the exchanges, and
Cribb fell from a blow and in falling received
another. This excited some murmurs and applause
from the partisans of the contending heroes, and
on reference to the umpires was decided “fair,”
Cribb’s hands being at liberty, and not having
yet touched the floor.
6.—Molineaux distressed for wind and exhausted,
lunged right and left. Cribb avoided his blows,
and then put in a good hit with his right, which
Molineaux stopped exceedingly well. Cribb now
got in a destructive blow at his “mark,” which
doubled up Molineaux; he got away pitifully cut
up: he, however, returned to begin a rally,
seemingly anxious to go in, but still sensible
of the ugly consequences. He appeared almost
frantic, and no dancing-master could have
performed a pirouette more gratifying to Cribb’s
friends. Molineaux hit short, capered about, and
was quite abroad. Cribb followed him round the
ring, and after some astonishing execution,
floored him by a tremendous hit at full arm’s
length. The odds rose five to one.
7.—Molineaux seemed lost in rage. He ran in, and
undoubtedly did some execution; but Cribb put in
several straight hits about the throat, stepping
back after each. Molineaux bored in till he
fell.
8.—Molineaux again rallied, seemingly as a
forlorn hope, but his distance was ill-judged.
Cribb once and again nobbed him, and getting his
head (his own trick by the bye) under his left
arm, fibbed him until he fell.
9.—Lombard Street to a China orange. Molineaux
was dead beat, and only stood up to encounter
Cribb’s ponderous blows. He ran in, Cribb met
him with his left hand; the blow was tremendous,
being doubled in force by the black’s impetuous
rush, Molineaux’s jaw was fractured, and he fell
like a log. He did not come to time within the
half minute, but Cribb, wishing to show his
superiority, gave away this chance, dancing a
hornpipe about the stage, until—
10.—With great difficulty Molineaux got off his
second’s knee, only for fresh punishment. His
rush was desperate, but equally unsuccessful,
and he fell evidently from distress.
11.—Here ended the contest. Cribb gave away
another chance in the time. Molineaux’s senses,
however, were absolutely hit out of him; he was
perfectly unable to stand, and a Scotch reel by
Gully and Cribb announced the victory, while the
very welkin echoed with applause.
REMARKS.[137]—This battle, which lasted only
nineteen minutes ten seconds, left no doubt as
to the superiority of Cribb. The science of
Molineaux at the opening of the fight was quite
equal to that of the champion, but the condition
of Cribb was far better, his temper more under
restraint, and although there was no question of
Molineaux’s courage, which almost amounted to
ferocity, Cribb was his superior in steadiness
and self-possession. During the battle the
spectators gave applause to both combatants, and
many were surprised that Molineaux should have
found himself necessitated to relinquish the
palm in so short a time, when he so obstinately
contested with the same opponent thrice the
duration so very recently. It is to be
considered, that in the first combat Cribb was
full of flesh, and by no means in prime
condition; and again, that in this battle,
although Molineaux had acquired an increased
degree of science, he had by his own conduct
impaired his stamina. Although it has been
acknowledged that applause was mutually given,
and that Molineaux in every point had fair play
shown him, it cannot but be granted that the
exulting clamour of congratulation, proceeding
from the Champion’s friends, when even the
slightest advantage seemed to favour him, must
have tended to hurt the feelings of the man of
colour, and very probably to have cowed him. It
should have been considered that Molineaux was a
stranger, that he stood indisputably a man of
courage; that he came to the contest unprotected
and unsupported by friends of note; while his
opponent commanded the patronage of the leading
men as well as the natural partiality of his
countrymen in his favour. Much has been said of
Molineaux’s savage denunciations against Cribb;
of his vapouring professions of what he should
like to do to him; and these were thought
sufficiently disgusting to have excited
animosity against him. But granting that
Molineaux was brutish enough to make use of many
of the barbarous expressions imputed to him, we
certainly ought to take into consideration the
circumstances under which they were uttered. The
black could not but be sensible that Cribb was
better supported by his many surrounding friends
than himself. He knew and felt that Cribb was
under the care of the first trainer in the
country, while he was left to the government of
Tom Belcher and Richmond, who made him an
instrument of getting money, by carrying him
round the country to exhibit sparring, and, to
keep him in good temper and pliable to their
wishes, allowing him to drink stout and ale by
gallons. It is said that on the morning of the
fight, he bolted a boiled fowl, an apple pie,
and a tankard of porter for his breakfast. When
all these circumstances are considered, by an
unprejudiced mind, it cannot be denied, that
whatever national pride we may justly feel in
our Champion’s triumph, and admiration of his
pluck and manly prowess, we cannot but admit
that the man of colour was a formidable
antagonist, and one who, but for his own
imprudence, might have won fame and fortune in
the pugilistic arena.[138]
The stage, which was twenty-five feet square,
was erected in a stubble field, surrounded first
by a roped ring, in order to prevent any
interruption by the crowd, and secondly, by as
well framed and supported a circle of
pedestrians as perhaps was ever witnessed,
notwithstanding the great distance from the
metropolis. The first row of these, as usual
upon most occasions, lying down, the second
kneeling, and the rest standing up. Outside
these again were numerous horsemen, some seated,
while others more eager stood, circus-like, upon
their saddle; these were intermixed with every
description of carriage, gig, barouche, buggy,
cart, and waggon. The display of sporting men,
from the peer on the box of his four-in-hand to
the rustic in clouted shoes, but as perfect a
picture as the fancy can well conceive. Every
fighting man of note, every pugilistic amateur
was to be seen, and among those active and
peculiarly interested we noted Lord Yarmouth,
the Hon. Berkeley Craven, Major Mellish, Captain
Barclay (Allardyce of Ury),[139] Sir Francis
Bayntun, General Grosvenor, Thomas Goddard,
Esq., Sir Henry Smith, the Marquis of
Queensberry, Lord Pomfret, Sir Charles Astor,
etc., etc.
On the Sunday after the battle the champion passed through Stamford in a
barouche and four, the horses decorated with blue ribbons (Cribb’s
colours). He called on Molineaux at Grantham, and on the Monday arrived
in London, where he was received with a public ovation, the wide street
at Holborn being almost impassable from the crowds which assembled to
greet the Champion of England. At the Horse and Dolphin,[140] St.
Martin’s Street, Richmond’s house, on the Saturday night, the crowd was
so immense that a posse of officers attended and the house was closed.
Cribb’s passage home to his house, in White Lion Street, Seven Dials,
was through so dense an assemblage of applauding spectators that the
streets were almost impassable. We read in “Boxiana,” that “Cribb gained
£400 by this set-to, and his patron, Captain Barclay, £10,000; a baker,
in the Borough, sported all his blunt, personal property, together with
the lease of his house, etc., amounting to £1,700, upon the Champion. A
curious bet was also made between two sporting characters, the winner to
get a complete suit of clothes, shirt, cravat, etc., etc., with walking
stick, gloves, and a guinea in the trousers pocket. Through the kind
interference of Mr. Jackson, a collection of nearly £50 was made for
Molineaux.” We have already referred to the superior condition of Cribb
in this second battle, and the present appears a fitting place to
narrate a few circumstances relating to this remarkable instance of the
first recorded results of the modern system of training. It is extracted
from a little work on “Pedestrianism and Training,” published in 1816,
“revised” by Captain Barclay himself.
“The Champion arrived at Ury on the 7th of July of that year. He weighed
sixteen stone; and from his mode of living in London, and the
confinement of a crowded city, he had become corpulent, big-bellied,
full of gross humours, and short-breathed; and it was with difficulty he
could walk ten miles. He first went through a course of physic, which
consisted of three doses; but for two weeks he walked about as he
pleased, and generally traversed the woods and plantations with a
fowling-piece in his hand; the reports of his gun resounded every where
through the groves and the hollows of that delightful place, to the
great terror of the magpies and wood pigeons.
“After amusing himself in this way for about a fortnight, he then
commenced his regular walking exercise, which at first was about ten or
twelve miles a day. It was soon after increased to eighteen or twenty;
and he ran regularly, morning and evening, a quarter of a mile at the
top of his speed. In consequence of his physic and exercise, his weight
was reduced, in the course of five weeks, from sixteen stone to fourteen
and nine pounds. At this period he commenced his sweats, and took three
during the month he remained at Ury afterwards; and his weight was
gradually reduced to thirteen stone and five pounds, which was
ascertained to be his pitch of condition, as he would not reduce farther
without weakening.
“During the course of his training, the Champion went twice to the
Highlands, and took strong exercise. He walked to Mar Lodge, which is
about sixty miles distant from Ury, where he arrived to dinner on the
second day, being now able to go thirty miles a day with ease, and
probably he could have walked twice as far if it had been necessary. He
remained in the Highlands about a week each time, and amused himself
with shooting. The principal advantage which he derived from these
expeditions was the severe exercise he was obliged to undergo in
following Captain Barclay. He improved more in strength and wind by his
journeys to the Highlands than by any other part of the training
process.
“His diet and drink were the same as used in the pedestrian regimen, and
in other respects, the rules previously laid down were generally applied
to him. That he was brought to his ultimate pitch of condition was
evident, from the high state of health and strength in which he appeared
when he mounted the stage to contend with Molineaux, who has since
confessed that when he saw his fine condition, he totally despaired of
gaining the battle.
“Cribb was altogether about eleven weeks under training, but he remained
only nine weeks at Ury. Besides his regular exercise, he was
occasionally employed in sparring at Stonehaven, where he gave lessons
in the pugilistic art. He was not allowed much rest, but was constantly
occupied in some active employment. He enjoyed good spirits, being at
the time fully convinced that he should beat his antagonist. He was
managed, however, with great address, and the result corresponded with
the wishes of his friends.
“It would be perhaps improper, while speaking of Cribb, to omit
mentioning that, during his residence in the north of Scotland, he
conducted himself in all respects with much propriety. He showed traits
of a feeling, humane, and charitable disposition, on various occasions.
While walking along Union Street in Aberdeen, he was accosted by a woman
apparently in great distress. Her story affected him, and the emotions
of his heart became evident in the muscles of his face. He gave her all
the silver he had in his pocket. ‘God bless your honour,’ she said,
‘ye’are surely not an or’nary mon!’ This circumstance is mentioned with
the more pleasure, as it affords one instance, at least, in opposition
to the mistaken opinion that professional pugilists are ferocious, and
totally destitute of the better propensities of mankind. The illustrious
Mr. Windham, entertained juster sentiments of the pugilistic art, as
evinced by a print he presented to Mr. Jackson as a mark of his esteem.
In one compartment an Italian, darting his stiletto at his victim, is
represented; and in the other, the combat of two Englishmen in the ring.
For this celebrated genius was always of opinion, that nothing tended
more to preserve among the English peasantry those sentiments of good
faith and honour, which have ever distinguished them from the natives of
Italy and Spain, than the frequent practice of fair and open boxing.”
Shortly after Cribb’s final triumph, in honour of his hard-earned
victories, a splendid dinner was given at Gregson’s (the Castle,
Holborn), by a large party of the Champion’s admirers and patrons. Cribb
was unanimously called to the chair. His conduct as president was
unassuming and pleasant, receiving the approbation of the patrons of
distinction by whom he was surrounded. Harmony prevailed, and several
excellent songs written for the occasion, full of point, were most
rapturously received, particularly one of Bob Gregson’s, which was
applauded to the echo, and loudly encored. The company did not depart
till they unanimously voted the Champion a silver cup, valued 50
guineas, as a memorial of the high opinion which the sporting world held
of his uniform courage in his pugilistic combats; also for his having
voluntarily entered the ring (after positively declining pugilism in
general), on the score of nationality, his own individual fame, and to
prevent a foreigner from triumphing over the heroes of England.
The subscriptions for this purpose proving ample, the sum was increased,
and a silver cup of 80 guineas value was presented to the Champion at
the Castle Tavern, Holborn, on Monday, the 2nd of December, 1811, at a
dinner appointed for that purpose, Tom Cribb in the chair, supported by
one of the most numerous and respectable assemblages of the “fancy” ever
witnessed. After the cloth was removed, and the usual loyal toasts
given, Mr. Emery (of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden), who had at a
previous meeting been unanimously voted to present the plate, was now
called upon to fulfil the wishes of the company. The cup was produced,
the son of Thespis rose, and after drinking to “Cribb, the Champion of
England!” addressed the chairman to the following effect:—
“Thomas Cribb, I have the honour this day of being the representative of
a numerous and respectable body of your friends; and though I am by no
means qualified to attempt the undertaking which has devolved on me by a
vote of the subscribers, yet the cause will, I am confident, prove a
sufficient excuse for my want of ability. You are requested to accept
this cup as a tribute of respect, for the uniform valour and integrity
you have shown in your several combats, but most particularly for the
additional proofs of native skill and manly intrepidity displayed by
your last memorable battle, when the cause rested, not merely upon
individual fame, but for the pugilistic reputation of your country, in
contending with a formidable foreign antagonist. In that combat you gave
proof that the hand of a foreigner, when lifted against a son of
Britannia, must not only be aided by the strength of a lion, but the
heart also.
“The fame you have so well earned has been by manly and upright conduct;
and such conduct, I have no doubt, will ever mark your very creditable
retirement from the ring, or stage of pugilism. However intoxicated the
cup or its contents may at any future period make you, I am sufficiently
persuaded the gentlemen present, and the sons of John Bull in general,
will never consider you have a cup too much.”
The cup, filled with wine, having gone round, the Champion thus briefly
addressed his patrons:—“Gentlemen, for the honour you have done me in
presenting this cup, I most respectfully beg of you to accept my warmest
thanks.”
Harmony reigned throughout, and the Champion, impressed with gratitude
to his leading patrons, Sir Henry Smyth, Bart., Captain Barclay,
Thirlwall Harrison, Esq., etc., drank their healths with marked
animation and respect; and the cup, in being put round, upon its arrival
into the hands of Mr. Jackson, Gully, Gregson, and the veteran Joe Ward
(who acted as vice), the company, as a mark of esteem for their past
services, loudly cheered those heroes of the fist.
After an unsuccessful venture as a coal-merchant, at Hungerford Wharf,
Cribb underwent the usual metamorphosis from a pugilist to a publican,
and opened a house at the Golden Lion in the Borough; but finding his
position too far eastward for his numerous aristocratic patrons, “honest
Tom” moved his quarters to the King’s Arms,[141] the corner of Duke
Street and King Street, St. James’s, and subsequently to the Union Arms,
at the corner of Panton Street and Oxendon Street, Haymarket.
With one interruption, presently to be noticed, our hero’s life was
henceforth of a peaceful character. In 1814, upon the conclusion of the
gigantic European struggle with the first Napoleon, Cribb had the honour
of sparring before the monarchs, princes, and marshals, who visited the
Prince Regent in honour of the pacification of Europe. On Wednesday,
June 15, 1814, the Emperor of Russia, the Hetman Platoff, Marshal
Blucher, and an illustrious party, assembled at the house of Lord
Lowther, in Pall Mall, to an elegant _déjeuner_, when boxing, as a
peculiar trait of the brave nation of England, was introduced. “The
distinguished visitors were so much gratified with this generous mode of
settling quarrels, and the scientific mode of attack and defence
exhibited, that they requested of Lord Lowther that another trial of
skill might take place on the Friday following, when, in addition to the
visitors, the King of Prussia, the Prince Royal of Prussia, Princes
Frederick and William of Prussia, the Prince of Mecklenburg, General
D’Yorck, etc., honoured the meeting with their presence. Some elegant
specimens of the pugilistic art were displayed between Messrs. Jackson,
Belcher, Cribb, Richmond, Painter, Oliver, etc. The set-tos in general
were excellent; but the sparring of Jackson was particularly admired.
The Champion of England (Cribb) occasioned a general stare among the
spectators, and the veteran Blucher eyed him with more than common
attention. The royal guests expressed their satisfaction at the treat
they had experienced; and upon taking their departure, complimented his
lordship as the patron of so manly and characteristic a trait of his
country.”
About this period, and for several years, Tom’s character and doings
seem to have been a favourite theme with “penny-a-liners” and paragraph
writers, and the papers of the time, furnish a crop of anecdotes, good,
bad, and indifferent, many of which are scattered up and down Pierce
Egan’s volumes. We give a few of them on his authority.
TOM CRIBB AND THE PIG.—During the time Tom was in training, previous to
his match with Gregson, as he was taking his morning’s exercise through
a country village, accompanied by his friend Gully, dressed in long
smock frocks, they observed an overgrown fellow beating a pig in a very
cruel manner. Upon inquiry, they found the animal belonged to a
neighbour, and civilly begged him to desist from such cruelty. The
fellow abused them for their interfering, and, relying on his strength,
threatened to give them both a good hiding, assisted by three or four
hawbucks, who had joined the squabble. Without farther ceremony the
fellow put himself in an offensive attitude, and made a violent blow at
Cribb, which the latter stopped with the utmost _sang froid_, not
forgetting to put in his one-two tremendously, the effects of which
floored this unfeeling brute in a twinkling. His nob was materially
shook, and the claret tapped in a masterly style. This small taste of
Cribb’s quality had the desired effect. The fight was instantly taken
out of the chaw-bacon, who went off, growling to himself, from the scene
of his cruelty and impertinence; but not, however, before receiving an
admonition from the Champion to be more temperate in his language and
humane in his conduct in future. Gully, smiling to himself, now wished
another of these Johnny Raws, who had been also very busy and impudent,
to try what he could do with him, observing, that he might have better
luck than his fellow servant. But in vain, the milling specimen
exhibited by Cribb had completely terrified all their boasted valour
into submission. It was soon afterwards learned in the village that the
row in question had been with Gully and Cribb.
CRIBB AND THE NAVVY.—A navigator, from Lancashire, as big and as rough
an article as can be imagined, prompted, it is supposed, by the great
pugilistic success of Carter, took a turn, on Thursday evening, November
7, 1816, in the neighbourhood of Westminster, and suddenly pounced on
the Champion of England and Tom Oliver, in the friendly act of blowing a
cloud together. Without waiting for the formality of an introduction to
those heroes of the fist, he boasted of his milling pretensions, and
_sans cérémonie_, challenged Oliver for a turn-up. The coat of Oliver
was half way off to resent this unprovoked attack upon his prowess, but
Cribb forbade it, observing that the navigator was too heavy, and that
he should be more fitted to accommodate this hasty customer, having no
doubt but that he should quickly alter his opinion of his own
capabilities. The parties retired to a large shed at the back of the
house, when a turn-up commenced without further delay. The navigator run
in like a bull, head foremost, and endeavoured to bring the Champion
down after the Lancashire method, by seizing hold of his thighs; but he
failed in his attempts most wofully, for in five minutes he was so
punished that he cried out, “I yeald.” Cribb left him to reflect on his
folly, but in the course of a few minutes he came in and again insisted
upon having another set-to with “the stout ’un.” This was agreed to, but
the navigator soon adopted his former phrase of “I yeald!” Cribb now
retired, supposing he had given complete satisfaction; but it was not
long before he was compelled to renew the combat for the third time with
this dissatisfied brute. The navigator resorted to purring, and
endeavoured to effect a conquest by hugging; but Cribb clareted him in
all directions, and marked his body so severely, that he now could
scarcely articulate the provincial, “I yeald!” The only regret expressed
by the Champion was that, during an attack of twenty minutes, he could
not put in a straight blow, as the navigator never stood up like a man,
merely attempting by foul means to throw or disable his man. Cribb
returned home without a scratch, while the man of mud received an
important lesson on the advantages of science.
THE CHAMPION AND THE JEW.—The placid and forbearing character of Cribb
is strikingly illustrated in the following incident. Cribb, in passing
through Fore Street, Cripplegate, was most grossly insulted by a Jew of
the name of Simmonds, who, valuing himself upon his manhood, and not
knowing whom he was in contact with, endeavoured to give our hero a
facer. The Champion, with the utmost composure, seized hold of this mere
apology for a boxer (in his hands), yet disdained to inflict that sort
of punishment which, had he given way to passion, from his well-known
strength and science, must in all probability nearly annihilated this
presuming Israelite. Instead of this, however, Tom instantly compelled
Mordecai to go before the Lord Mayor to answer for the assault. His
Lordship, on hearing the case, was struck with the magnanimity displayed
by Cribb on this occasion, and highly praised him for his manliness of
temper, at the same time reprimanding the Jew severely for his improper
behaviour. The Jew was, however, discharged on paying the costs, upon
the Champion good-naturedly interposing to prevent a fine.
CRIBB AND MASSA KENDRICK.—A sable hero, well known in the fancy circles
as Massa Kendrick, was brought before Mr. Birnie, at Bow Street, on a
Bench warrant, for an assault on the Champion of England. The African
kicked most confoundedly at finding himself in the grasp of the law.
When told by the magistrate that he must find good and sufficient bail,
he exclaimed, “Bail! what ‘casion for bail? Massa Cribb the most
quarrelsomest man in all England. He’s a fighting man, and I’m a
fighting man, and if I gibs him punch ob the head, and he gib me
another, what that to anumbody else? What the use ob talking about
bail?” In reply to this tirade the Champion calmly observed, “If I was
not to take such a step as this now and then, I could not carry on my
business, or even live in my own house, for these swaggering
blackguards.” He then explained to the magistrate that the defendant was
noisy and riotous in his house, and in consequence he insisted on his
leaving; but, instead of doing so, he seized the Champion by the cravat,
and attempted to extinguish his glories by strangulation, at the same
time placing his hand under his thigh, apparently with the intention of
throwing him. “But,” said the Champion, “that was all my eye, for I put
him down.” Kendrick was about to retort, but the magistrate stopped his
mouth, by ordering him to find the required bail.
THE CHAMPION AND HIS DWARF.—To these proofs of courage and forbearance
we will append a sample or two of his humanity, an unfailing
accompaniment of true valour.
Our hero made his bow before the magistrate on Wednesday, December 18,
1822, as the friend and protector of the helpless, in the person of a
German dwarf, named John Hauptman. This little fellow, whose extreme
altitude was forty inches, obtained a living during many years by hiring
himself out as an exhibition to itinerant showmen. But his day had gone
by—other and more youthful dwarfs had superseded him in the public
favour, and poverty was pressing heavily on his head, when, in the midst
of his destitution, accident led him to the hospitable fireside of Tom
Cribb. The Champion listened to his tale of poverty; cheered his frame
with the comforts of his bar and his larder, and told him he was welcome
to stay at the Union Arms till he could find a better shelter, and he
resided there as a sort of assistant waiter.
A drunken hackney-coach master, named Beckett, during the champion’s
absence, on the previous Monday, not only insulted the little fellow,
but encouraged his son, a lad of about ten years old, to beat him, and
for this outrage on his protégé, the Champion now sought redress.
The burly-built hero of the ring entered the office, leading his tiny
friend by the hand; and he and the lad having been placed side by side
on a stool before the bench, the Champion stated what he had heard of
the transaction, adding, “The poor little fellow has no friend in the
world but me, your worship, and hang me if I would not rather have been
beat myself.”
“That would not have been so easy a matter, Mr. Cribb,” observed his
worship, and directed the dwarf to be sworn.
The little fellow then gave a very humble and modest account of the
affair. He said, in tolerable English, that he was very sorry anybody
should be troubled on his account, but Mr. Beckett would not be
satisfied unless he would fight with the boy, and because he would not
fight, he urged the boy on, till he knocked him down by “a blow on de
mout, which cut him vor mush, and hurt him a mush deal.”
The lad pulled out his torn shirt-frill in reply, and the father
delivered his defence thus:—“It was the brandy and water that did it,
your worship; I’ll tell the truth: it was the brandy and water sure
enough. I have known Mr. Cribb many years.” “That’s the reason you ought
not to have taken advantage of my absence, to insult a poor little
fellow you know I cared so much for,” observed the kind-hearted
Champion.
The magistrate, after having warmly commended the conduct of the
Champion, directed the hackneyman to find bail for the assault. Upon
retiring to settle the row, the dragsman made it “all right” with Cribb,
by making the dwarf a present of a sovereign.
At the Fives Court, on the occasion of Scroggins’s benefit, March 23,
1817, Jack Carter, who then aspired to the championship, which for
nearly eight years had remained undisputed in the hands of Cribb, made
his appearance upon the stage, and a glove being thrown up as a
defiance, the Champion of England presented himself, to answer the
challenge. However, upon Gregson ascending the platform to spar, Cribb
was about to retire, when “Cribb, Cribb!” was vociferated from all parts
of the court. The anxiety was so great, that the disturbance was hardly
appeased until Cribb appeared ready for the combat. Cribb looked well
and kept his position like a rock. He could neither be drawn nor stepped
in upon, and the skirmishing tactics of the Lancashire hero could make
no impression on the veteran of the ring. At in-fighting Cribb also
decidedly took the lead. Carter put in one or two facers with much
dexterity; but upon the milling system the Black Diamond proved that he
was still a diamond, and instead of losing any of his former brilliancy,
he shone with increased lustre and effect.
“From this period,” says “Boxiana,” “Carter seems to have ‘fancied’ a
shy at Cribb, and on his return from Ireland on Tuesday, February 1,
1820, he challenged the man of colour, Sutton, for 100 guineas a-side.
While this match was on, Carter called in at a sporting house, at the
west end of the town; and, in consequence of his not being admitted into
a private party, then assembled, he intemperately addressed a note to
the chairman as ‘Mr. Swell.’ He was, however, admitted, when he had the
bad taste to begin flourishing about his repeated conquests over the
dark part of the creation. He also sneered at the Champion, saying, he
had left off fighting, because fighting had left him off; but he
(Carter) had come to fight somebody, and indeed he would fight
‘onybody!’ This sort of chaffing was attempted to be checked by a person
present, when the Lancashire brute, _sans ceremonie_, threw the contents
of a glass of wine in his face, part of which alighted on Tom Cribb.
This insult was not to be borne, and the champion of England exclaimed
“it was wrong!” Carter hereon defied him. Little parley ensued, ere the
lion of the ring, although rather worse for the juice of the grape,
grappled his enemy. He held up the Lancashire hero with the utmost ease,
with one hand, in the Randall style, and Carter’s frontispiece received
such repeated quiltings from the fist of Cribb that it was like a
fashionable footman paying away at a knocker. It was close quarters—in
fact, yard-arm to yard-arm; but the heavy shot of the first rate,
although long laid up in ordinary, and nearly invalided, told heavily on
the mug of his opponent. It was an up-and-down contest, and the Champion
made such good use of his time, that his opponent was quite satisfied he
had enough, and begged, in a piteous manner, that some person would take
Cribb away from him, or else he should be killed! This entreaty was at
length complied with; and upon the fallen hero getting upon his pins,
the lads of the Fancy declared, from his altered appearance, that it was
meeting an old friend with a new face. This severe thrashing scarcely
occupied Cribb one minute! He did not receive a hurt in the slightest
degree. Carter upon feeling his mouth, declared that part of his
railings had departed.”
Until his formal retirement, Cribb never allowed his title of Champion
to be questioned; and at the conclusion of the set-to between Harmer and
Lancaster, at the Fives Court, on August 7th, 1820, the Champion rushed
in, almost out of wind, made his way through the audience in a
twinkling, ascended the stage with great rapidity, and threw up his hat.
With his other hand he snatched out his pocket-book, and, with great
animation and good emphasis, spoke to the following effect—keeping in
mind our immortal bard’s advice to the actors, to
“Suit the action to the word.”
“Gentlemen,—I will fight Neate for 1000 guineas, or for 500 a-side
(bravo). I have been just told, while I was taking a few whiffs over
some cold brandy and water, that Neate had publicly challenged me. I
therefore lost no time to show myself before you. Gentlemen, I do not
like this chaffing behind a man’s back. I won’t have it. I am an
Englishman; and I will behave like one. An Englishman never refuses a
challenge (thunders of applause from all parts of the court). Neate is
my countryman, but what of that? If he refuses to meet me, I will fight
any man in Bristol for 1,000 guineas, and stake £100 directly. Here’s
the blunt! My countrymen used me ill when I was last at Bristol; and
Neate behaved rude to me (hear! and ‘Tom’s quite an orator; he must
certainly have taken lessons from Thelwall.’) Perhaps ‘the old fool’ may
be licked; but I will give any of them some trouble first before they do
it (‘There is no one on the list can do it, Tom.’) I will tell you,
gentlemen, they say Neate shall fight my boy, Spring, because they know
he is unwell. This conduct isn’t right; my boy’s in a consumption (loud
laughter), therefore I will fight Neate instead of him (bravo). My boy
Spring has not got belly enough for him, but I have (clapping his hand
upon his rotundity of abdomen.) ‘You have too much of it.’ Never mind,
then, I am right enough about my bottom (great applause and laughter). I
will fight; and blow my dickey (striking his fist very hard on the rails
of the stage), but I will give any of them that fight me pepper
(tumultuous cheering, and ‘To a certainty you will, Tom.’)”
This challenge of Neate, however, soon assumed a palpable form, for on
Thursday evening, January 4, 1821, the Champion having called in at the
Castle Tavern, to take a glass with his friend Tom Belcher, a swell from
Bristol, and an admirer of Neate, without ceremony proposed the battle.
The challenge was immediately taken up by Mr. James Soares, who felt for
the pride of the metropolitan prize ring, and offered to stake £100 if
the champion would consent to fight for the sum mentioned. Cribb
answered, that he had said he would not fight for less than £500 a-side,
in consequence of his business, but there had been so much chaffing
about it, that he would fight Neate for £200 (loud cheers). The articles
were immediately drawn up, and signed by the respective parties:—
“CASTLE TAVERN, HOLBORN, _January 4, 1821_.
“Mr. James Soares, on the part of Thomas Cribb, puts down £10; and
Mr. J. E., on the part of William Neate, also puts down £10; to
fight for £200 a-side, between Bath and London, on Wednesday, the
9th of May, 1821. To be a fair stand-up fight; half a minute time;
in a twenty-four feet ring. The above £20 are placed in the hands of
Mr. Belcher. The whole of the stakes are to be deposited in the
hands of Mr. Belcher, and who is appointed to name the place of
fighting. The sum of £100 a-side to be made good, at the said Mr.
Belcher’s, the Castle Tavern, Holborn, on the 24th of January, 1821.
An umpire to be chosen by each party, and Mr. Jackson to name
referee. The whole of the money to be made good, £200 a-side, on the
9th of April, 1821, at Mr. Cribb’s, the Union Arms, corner of Panton
and Oxendon Streets, Haymarket, between the hours of seven and ten
o’clock in the evening. In case of either party not making the £100
good, the above deposit, £20, to be forfeited.
“Signed, “J. S.
“J. E.”
“Witnessed, P. E.
“Thomas Belcher.”
A screw, it seems, had been loose between Neate and the Champion of
England for some time past, which was now to be decided by the fist.
Several wagers were immediately offered that the stakes were not made
good; more especially as Neate was to be consulted upon the subject. It
was, however, well known that Neate a short time ago offered to fight
Cribb for £200 a-side. The Champion was much too heavy, but the good
effects of training, it was thought, would put that all to rights. The
sporting world were all upon the alert, to see the ‘ould one’ once more
take the field. The Champion’s last memorable contest was with
Molineaux, on September 28, 1811; nearly ten years having elapsed
without receiving a challenge; Cribb ought not to fight—it was giving a
chance away—so said the knowing ones.
At ten o’clock on the night mentioned (24th January), the articles were
called for and read; and the backer of Cribb (the President of the Daffy
Club), said his £100 was ready, but no person appearing on the part of
Neate, the deposit money, £10 a-side, was given up to the Champion. The
chairman then gave the health of Cribb. The Champion in returning thanks
for the honour he had received, said he “was much more capable—nay, he
would sooner fight than make a speech.”
The chairman, in an appropriate speech, thought the sporting world ought
not to permit the Champion to accept any more challenges. It was upwards
of nine years and a half since he had entered the ring. He was growing
old, had young kids to provide for, and the gout now and then paid him a
visit. He had beaten all his opponents in the highest style of courage,
but it could not be expected that he could “get the best” of the
infirmities of human nature. Yet the Champion was too game to say “No”
to any challenge. He thought Cribb ought to retain his championship till
he was floored by Old Time.[142]
Several first-rate amateurs, in short but pithy speeches, addressed the
meeting on the subject, and all of them concurred in the opinion of the
chairman: but, as to fighting, in future the Champion must “tie it up.”
On the day of the Coronation, July 19, 1821, his Majesty, in passing
down the Hall, during the procession to the Abbey, cast a pleasing
glance upon the person of Mr. Jackson, by way of recognition, which
convinced the Commander-in-Chief of the P.R., that he still lived in the
memory of his beloved sovereign and once great patron. Tom Cribb and Tom
Spring were also habited as pages, guarding the entrance of Westminster
Hall. The manly appearance of the two “big ones” attracted the notice of
most of the great folks who were present at the gorgeous ceremony.
The following letters of thanks were individually received by those
pugilists who assisted to keep the peace, and protect the persons of the
visitors at the Coronation:—
“WHITEHALL, _21st July, 1821_.
“MY LORD,—I am commanded by His Majesty, to express to your Lordship
His Majesty’s high approbation of the arrangements made by your
Lordship in the department of the Great Chamberlain of England, for
the august ceremony of His Majesty’s coronation, and of the
correctness and regularity with which they were carried into effect.
“To the exemplary manner in which these duties were performed by
your Lordship, and by those officers who acted under your Lordship’s
authority, His Majesty is graciously pleased to consider that the
order and dignity, which so peculiarly distinguished the ceremony,
are in a great degree to be ascribed; and I have to request that
your Lordship will communicate to the persons referred to the sense
which His Majesty has condescended to express of their services.
“I have the honour to be, my Lord,
“Your Lordship’s most obedient, humble servant,
“SIDMOUTH.”
“_The Lord Gwydyr,
Deputy Great Chamberlain of England,
etc., etc., etc._”
“GREAT CHAMBERLAIN’S OFFICE, _July the 22nd, 1821_.”
SIR,—Having received His Majesty’s commands, through the Secretary
of State for the Home Department, to communicate to you, sir, His
Majesty’s gracious approbation of the manner in which you discharged
your duty on the 19th of July, I know no way so effectual of
executing these most gratifying instructions, as by inclosing you a
copy of the original document. Permit me at the same time to add,
how sensible I am of your attention to the very imperfect directions
I was enabled to furnish you with, and that the arrangements, which
have been with so much condescension noticed by your King, are in a
great degree to be attributed to the loyalty, judgment, and temper,
exhibited by you at His Majesty’s coronation.
“I remain, sir,
“Your faithful and obedient servant,
“GWYDYR.”
“_To Mr. Thomas Cribb, etc._”
Lord Gwydyr, presented one of the gold coronation medals, which he had
received from the hands of his Majesty King George the Fourth, to the
boxers who gave their assistance at Westminster Hall. His lordship also
provided a most excellent dinner for all the pugilists, at Tom Cribb’s,
upon the occasion. After the cloth was removed, and the health of the
king drank with four times four; the gold medal was raffled for, by the
whole of the boxers, when Tom Belcher proved the lucky man, and held the
trophy until his death.
We now come to our hero’s formal retirement; an event which excited
considerable interest throughout the circles of the fancy. On Saturday,
May 18, 1822, the Champion of England made his bow to the amateurs, at
the Fives Court. Tom had to boast of a Corinthian attendance, and St.
Martin’s Street was filled with carriages. The sets-to were generally
good. The champion of England and Spring ascended the stage, amidst loud
approbation. Cribb was decorated with the belt. It was an excellent
combat; and, although Tom had a touch of the gout, he displayed great
activity. But the awful moment had now arrived for poor Tom to say,
farewell! He scratched his nob—looked about him—his heart full of
gratitude—at a loss what to say—and his tongue almost forsook its
office. After a struggle to give vent to his feelings, he at length
delivered himself of the following words:—“Gentlemen, I return you
thanks for your kindness this day. (A short pause.) Indeed, gentlemen, I
sincerely thank you for all the favours you have conferred on me—I do
indeed. (A long pause, as if Tom had stuck fast.) Gentlemen, may your
health and purses never fail you.” Cribb now retired, amid long and loud
plaudits, accompanied with, “It will be a long time before we shall look
upon your like again in the prize ring.”
Spring now mounted the stage, and thus addressed the
spectators:—“Gentlemen, I once more present myself to your notice; but
as my old dad has retired from the stage and the prize ring altogether,
and as I have stood next to him for some time past, I mean now to stand
in his place, till I am beat out of it!” An amateur and Spring went up
to Tom Belcher, and informed him that Spring was ready to fight Neate
for £300. “Very well,” replied the hero of the Castle; “now I know what
you mean, we will talk about it. I shall name it to Neate.” The result
of this challenge will be fully recorded in the Life of TOM SPRING,
opening the next period.
From this time Tom led the life of a retired veteran, but his house was
the rendezvous of sporting men. Cribb, however, occasionally figured in
the public prints, for then, as now, noisy, troublesome, and drunken
fellows annoyed licensed victuallers in their business. The _Morning
Herald_ thus reports a “Morning at Bow Street.”
“CRIBB AND HIS CUSTOMER.—The Champion brought a little shrivelled tailor
before Sir Robert Baker, on Tuesday, December 12, 1820, at Bow Street,
and charged the ninth part of a man with calling him, the said Champion,
‘a great big fighting cove;’ with exclaiming, ‘Oh, that I was but big
enough to whop you!’ and with frequenting his house, the Union Arms
Tavern, Panton Street, for the purpose of abusing him and annoying his
company. In reply to this, the little remnant of shreds and patches
looked up in the champion’s face, and humbly begged his pardon,
promising most solemnly, before his worship, never to offend in the like
manner again. Cribb’s placability is well known; he, who has so often
stood unshaken before the stoutest hearts in the ring, could not stand
this pathetic appeal from a forlorn little tailor, and, relaxing his
features into a smile, he confessed himself appeased, but trusted Master
Snip would get rid of his bad habits in future, and never more measure
his way to the Union Arms: or else if he did, Cribb said he would cut
his cloth in a way that he would not like. The hero of the needle was in
consequence discharged. The magistrate observed that he had heard the
various houses kept by the champion to have always been conducted with
the utmost propriety. Cribb moved his castor and retired.”
Here is another of Tom’s magisterial interviews.
“THE THREE TAILORS.—Three natty tailors were charged, at Marlborough
Street Police Office, in September, 1826, with creating a disturbance,
and assaulting Thomas Cribb, the ex-champion of England. The defendants
went into Cribb’s house, where they partook of some liquor. After a few
minutes they commenced a disturbance, and he requested them to be quiet;
but they swore at him, and challenged him to fight. One of them being
pot-valiant, struck him. The example was followed by the others, who
insisted on his having a turn with them. A person said, “No, Cribb,
don’t strike the three tailors, who are only the third part of a man!”
The astonished tailors, on hearing his name mentioned, took up their
clothes and ran quickly out of the house; but Cribb, determining to
teach them better, pursued and lodged them in the hands of the watchman.
Sir George Farrant: ‘Did they beat you?’ Cribb, smiling: ‘No, their
blows were something like themselves—of little importance.’ Sir George
Farrant: ‘Did you return the blow?’ Cribb: ‘No, sir, I was afraid of
hurting ’em; I should not like to do that.’ The tailors in their
defence, said they were sorry for what had occurred; at the same time,
they were not aware that the person whom they had challenged to fight
was the Champion: on finding their mistake they instantly left his
house. Sir George Farrant: ‘Aye, you thought you had better try the
lightness of your heels than the weight of his fists.’ Cribb declined
making any charge against them, and they were discharged on paying their
fees.”
“CRIBB AND THE COBBLER.—In the same month the ex-champion again made his
bow before the beak; but, on this occasion, Bow Street was honoured with
his portly presence, where he charged a cobbler with causing a
disturbance in his house. Cribb said that the prisoner was, about two
years ago, very annoying, and he ordered him never to enter his house
again. A few days ago he renewed his visit; and on Wednesday night he
was most riotous and abusive. He (Cribb) did not care much for his
abuse; but he could not contain himself when the cobbler had the
impudence to begin abusing the king: he seized him under the arms, and
dropped him gently in the street. The magistrate told Cribb that he had
on this, as on all other occasions, evinced great forbearance, and
directed the warrant to stand over; and, if the prisoner annoyed him
again, he would be committed to prison.”
Cribb’s declining years, however, were disturbed by domestic troubles
and severe pecuniary losses; and after a long struggle against adverse
circumstances, produced by lending money and becoming responsible for a
relative, he was forced to give up the Union Arms to his creditors. His
last appearance was on November 12, 1840, when under the auspices of the
Pugilistic Association, he took a benefit at the National Baths,
Westminster Road. At this time, and for some years previously, Cribb had
resided at the house of his son, a baker, in the High Street, Woolwich,
where he died on the 11th of May, 1848, aged 67.
CRIBB’S MONUMENT.
The editor of _Bell’s Life_ (Vincent G. Dowling, Esq.), and some friends
and admirers of the champion, having resolved to erect a monument to his
memory, the matter was thus spoken of in the columns of the leading
sporting paper of England, in the beginning of 1851.
“Among the interesting incidents connected with the approaching season
of the Great Exhibition, we have much pleasure in announcing the
completion of the long promised monument to the memory of Tom Cribb, one
of the most justly esteemed champions of the pugilistic school of
England. As a professor of his art he was matchless, and as a
demonstrator of fair play, in principle and in practice, he was never
excelled. He had still a higher virtue, displayed in sustaining
throughout his gallant career, independent of indomitable courage—a
reputation for unimpeachable integrity and unquestionable humanity. His
hand was ever open to the distresses of his fellow-creatures, and
whether they befell friend or foe, he promptly, by relieving them,
exhibited the influence of the charitable and kindly impulses of a truly
benevolent heart—an example well worthy of imitation, and justly
entitling him to the present distinction, which, while it cherishes his
memory, will show to others of his class, who follow in his steps, that
their good deeds will live beyond the grave.
“It will be remembered that poor Cribb, after enjoying the sunshine of
good fortune for a series of years, respected by all classes, from the
prince to the peasant, o’erstepped the bounds of prudence and
self-consideration, fell into distress, and retired to the house of his
son, at Woolwich, where after a lingering illness, he died on the 11th
May, 1848. Happily, through the sympathy of those who felt as we felt,
his last moments were soothed by the enjoyment of every comfort, and he
departed in peace, deeply grateful to those whose kindness he had
experienced. The last sad duty of consigning his remains to their final
resting place was performed in Woolwich churchyard, his ashes mingling
with those of naval and military heroes honourably distinguished in
their respective vocations. We took care that every expense connected
with his illness and death was defrayed, but we still felt that such a
man should not depart from among us without some lasting token of the
estimation in which the noble qualities by which he had been
distinguished were held, and therefore suggested the erection of a
monument to his memory—such a monument as would honour and preserve it.
This suggestion received a ready response. Our work is now nearly
accomplished, and we would fain hope it will be found to fulfil our
desire, that of showing to our expected foreign visitors, as well as to
our countrymen, that, however humble our heroes, where valour is
accompanied by sterling honesty and humanity, we have pride in
commemorating their deeds and their virtues....
[Illustration:
CRIBB’S MONUMENT IN WOOLWICH CHURCHYARD.
]
“The grave over which this monument is to be erected has long since been
bricked and covered with a suitable slab. Upon this will be placed a
plinth, also of solid Portland stone, about two feet in height, to
receive the statue. On the edge of the plinth will be engraved this
impressive sentence, ‘Respect the ashes of the brave.’ The grave being
on an elevated bank close to the path leading to the church from the
town of Woolwich, the whole will command the attention of all persons
entering the burial ground from London, or passing along that
thoroughfare immediately in front, which at all hours of the day is
thronged with soldiers, sailors, dockyard men, and civilians.
“We hardly doubt that this monument, from the moral it is calculated to
enforce, will be without its beneficial effects on the minds of all
those by whom it is seen, and we trust it may be gratifying to those
strangers who on their visits to the Arsenal will have an opportunity of
witnessing the veneration in which Englishmen hold the memory of those
who, although not ‘licensed’ warriors, are yet honest types of our
national principles and character.”
On the eve of the first of May, 1854, the monument, of which we here
give an engraving, was placed in the position it now occupies in
Woolwich Churchyard, and its first view by the public was coincident
with the first opening of the first Great Exhibition in Hyde Park. We
again quote _Bell’s Life_:—“Far be it from us to connect this simple
occurrence further than in point of time with the Exhibition in
question; but the coincidence is fortunate, and the object creditable to
those by whom it has been carried out—that object being to testify the
respect entertained for the memory of a man who, in his position,
entitled himself to universal respect for his unimpeachable honesty,
indomitable courage, and unquestionable humanity. Exception may be taken
to the sphere in which those qualities were exhibited, but those
acquainted with English feeling, English character, and English habits
must hold in estimation the memory of a man who, in his own person and
by his own acts, impressed on thousands, we might say millions, those
principles of fair play, combined with gallant bearing, which have been
the distinguishing features of our countrymen, soldiers, sailors, or
civilians, in whatever circumstances placed. From these feelings sprung
a desire to erect the present monument, for the double purpose of
perpetuating the memory of the most distinguished of his class, and of
impressing on those who followed in his footsteps the sense entertained
of the virtues he so prominently displayed. A subscription was
commenced, at the head of which were the names of noblemen and gentlemen
of the highest rank, swollen by more humble contributors. The work has
been accomplished, thanks to the unceasing assiduity and generous
devotion of Mr. Timothy Butler, the sculptor, who has performed his task
in a manner that must increase his reputation, and entitle him to a
distinguished position in the profession of which he is so bright an
ornament. The design is simple yet grand in its conception. It
represents a British lion grieving over the ashes of a British hero;
for, putting aside all prejudice, Cribb was a hero of whom his country
might well be proud. The drawing affords a correct idea of the monument,
but falls short of the effect of the original; for we do not believe
there is in existence a more beautiful specimen of animal sculpture,
whether we regard the exquisite proportions of the figure, or the deep
impression of sorrow expressed on the countenance. The paw of the lion,
it will be seen, rests on an urn supposed to contain the ashes of the
dead, over which is lightly thrown the belt which was presented to Cribb
as ‘the Champion of England.’ For obvious reasons—principally the close
proximity to the House of Peace—all allusion to the circumstances which
have led to this distinction is avoided, and the inscription is simply
this:—‘Sacred to the Memory of Thomas Cribb, born July 8, 1781, died May
11, 1848.’ On the plinth beneath are the words—‘Respect the ashes of the
brave’—an inscription which, it is hoped, will prevent those
encroachments in which idle visitors to a churchyard but too often
indulge. The lion, of colossal size, stands on a rock, and the whole was
sculptured from a solid block of Portland stone weighing twenty tons,
from which some idea may be formed of the labour and perseverance with
which such a _chef d’œuvre_ has been accomplished and removed without
accident from the studio of the artist in Middlesex Place, New Road, to
its present position. The monument stands on a plinth which elevates it
among surrounding tombs, rendering it visible even from the river
Thames; while from the footpath, in front of the churchyard, it invites
immediate attention as well as admiration—a sentiment which has been
unequivocally expressed by thousands.
“It is fit we should state that there are some fastidious persons in
Woolwich, the town in which poor Cribb breathed his last, who find fault
with the erection of such a monument in such a place. It is due to the
rector of Woolwich, to state, that although he may in some respects
participate in the feelings of the parishioners, his objections were
removed by the statement of the fact, that before the monument was
commenced, the drawing of the design was submitted to his predecessor,
by whom it was so heartily approved that he regretted it could not be
surrounded by an iron railing, to protect it from trespassers, who are
but too apt to treat with indifference the most exquisite specimens of
art.[143] There were, however, some words in the inscription to which
the rector did object, and which at his request have been omitted.
Respect for this gentleman’s impressions has induced us to omit the
following not inappropriate epitaph:—
“‘When some proud earl or rich patrician dies,
Unmoved we mark the storied marble rise,
Unmoved we read the praises blazoned forth,
And doubt the meed if giv’n to wealth or worth;
But truth shall guide this record, and proclaim
Who raised himself without a crime to fame;
Whose heart was tender as his arm was strong;
Who still upheld the right, abhorred the wrong;
Who stood unconquered champion in that field,
Where hardy heroes nature’s weapons wield—
’Twas poor Tom Cribb—beneath his ashes lie:
Peace to his spirit’s immortality!’”
[Illustration]
CHAPTER II.
THOMAS MOLINEAUX (THE COLOURED COMPETITOR FOR THE
CHAMPIONSHIP)—1810‒1815.
Thomas Molineaux, the hardy, determined and dangerous opponent of Cribb,
under whose memoir we have already given the details of the two
championship contests, next deserves a niche in the temple of fistic
fame. Unnoticed, unheralded, unfriended, and unknown, this sable
gladiator made his way to London. His skill and strength had been tried
in several combats in his native country, Virginia. Confident in his own
capabilities, no sooner did he arrive in the world’s metropolis, than,
proceeding to the best known sporting houses, he offered himself as a
candidate for pugilistic honours. He was not long before he attracted
the notice of the patrons of those gymnastic sports, which, from their
practice and support, instil the principles of endurance and courage
into the hardy sons of England, and have not only given greatness but
added stability to the national character.
Molineaux deserves credit for his bold challenge of the highest prize of
pugilism; his merits were certainly of no mean order, and his defeat
adds to the honours of the conqueror of such a formidable antagonist.
[Illustration:
THOMAS MOLINEAUX.
_From a Drawing by_ GEORGE SHARPLES.
]
Molineaux’s trial set-to was with an anonymous Bristol man, on Tuesday,
July 14th, 1810. The papers inform us, “the newly come American black is
a formidable fellow; in height five feet nine inches, his weight between
thirteen and fourteen stone, his age twenty-six years. He was introduced
under the auspices of his coloured countryman, Bill Richmond, who
seconded him. Tom Cribb, waiting upon the Bristol man, who was a robust
but rather clumsy fellow of six feet in height, weight not stated. The
scene of action was Tothill Fields. The Bristol boxer was strong and
game; but, beyond these qualities he was a poor specimen of the west
country school. The black kept himself close, but seemed to have little
idea of delivering at distance. He merely ‘flipped’ or hit at half-arm,
and when he struck kept his elbows close to his body. His style of
in-fighting, however, was peculiar, and he caught his big antagonist so
heavily and frequently in the body as to knock the wind out of him, and
then began to practise upon his head so dexterously that at the end of
an hour of desperate up-hill fighting the Bristol man was compelled to
give in, scarcely a feature in his face being distinguishable. The two
seconds, Cribb and Richmond, had a quarrel concerning an alleged foul
blow, and had a short sharp turn-up by way of a second course. There was
but one round, but that quite satisfied Richmond, who is too good a
judge to take a thrashing ‘for love,’ which he might soon have had.
Although not the most expert boxer that ever offered himself for
pugilistic fame, Molineaux was considered a promising ‘Chicken,’ and was
immediately matched for 100 guineas with Tom Blake, better known by the
title of Tom Tough, who was at this time forty years of age, and whose
battles are related in the Appendix, _ante_, p. 236.
“Tuesday, August 21, 1810, was the day fixed, and the spot where
Richmond and Maddox last contended agreed upon, on the coast about four
miles from Margate, and two from Reculvers. At an early hour every
vehicle was in motion to gain the goal of sport, and at one o’clock
Blake came in dashing style, seated in an honourable baronet’s barouche,
with his seconds, Tom Cribb and Bill Gibbons. A ring was formed, and at
half past one Molineaux was modestly introduced by his humble, but
perhaps more firm, supporter Richmond. After the usual ceremony the
combatants set-to.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—There was considerable curiosity among
the “swell” division to see the new specimen
in ebony, on whose merits Massa Richmond was
so eloquent to all visitors to the Horse and
Dolphin. There was some cautious sparring for
about a minute, in which Molineaux showed he
had taken lessons and improved by them. Soon,
however, Blake[144] seized an opening, put in
two smart hits right and left, and stopped
Molineaux’s return. The men closed and fought at
half-arm. Blake slipped from Molineaux, but
while in the act received a tremendous chopping
blow on the back of his neck, which Molineaux
repeated with his right hand over the head, and
brought him down. (Betting even.)
2.—Blake again made play, but soon found that
two or three hits, although well planted, were
not sufficient to throw Molineaux off his
legs. He received the hits with great _sang
froid_, and at length beat down his opponent’s
guard with his left hand, and with a degree of
quickness and dexterity, which in Dutch Sam or
Tom Belcher would have been considered an
astonishing effort of science, brought Blake
down by a most severe blow with the right.
(Six to four on the Black.)
3.—Blake evinced great distress in his wind.
Molineaux run in to take advantage, but was
received with a chattering jaw hit. They
rallied, and both fell, Molineaux uppermost.
4.—A hard round, and such a one as convinced the
judges that Blake had trained off. Molineaux
rendered his guard perfectly useless, as by
strength of hitting he broke through it, and
although Blake planted many good blows, they had
not an equal effect to those of his opponent, as
his face sufficiently exemplified. The round
lasted two minutes, obstinate ruffianing
fighting, and Blake, after putting in a good
body hit, was knocked down. (Odds rose five to
two in favour of Molineaux.)
5.—Blake bled copiously, but with great courage
rushed to a rally, in which Molineaux got his
left arm round his neck, and holding his head
up, fibbed him so dreadfully that Blake fell
exhausted.
6.—Molineaux now thought it time to beat his
man off hand. He rushed in, chopped down his
opponent’s guard with his left hand, and knocked
him completely off his legs with his right,
by a tremendous hit. (Any odds in favour of
Molineaux.)
7.—Blake in this round rallied determinedly; he
exchanged some good hits dexterously, but was
too weak for this work, and fell.
8.—This was the last round. Molineaux began as
furiously as in the sixth. Blake retreated, but
was forced to rally, to extricate himself from
the iron grasp of his adversary. He put in a
successful hit on Molineaux’s cheek, but it was
returned so forcibly on the head, that it laid
him asleep for some time.
The time having expired, Blake was still
insensible, and accordingly Molineaux was
acknowledged the victor.
REMARKS.—In this battle Molineaux evinced
great improvement in the science of pugilism,
particularly in the art of giving, while
nature seemed to have endowed him abundantly
with the gift of taking, his body being almost
callous to fistic punishment. It was generally
considered that should he be able to combine
an equal degree of skill with his gluttony, he
would mill the whole race of modern pugilists.
Encouraged by his friend and countryman Richmond, and patronised by some
leading amateurs, the aspiring nigger now avowed his aim was no less
than the championship. Molineaux, with the vanity so remarkably
characteristic of his race, never ceased amusing his visitors and
patrons with grotesque illustrations of how he would serve out “Massa
Cribb,” for he possessed, mixed with a considerable amount of ferocity,
the _vis comica_ of the negro race. This could not go on long, and a
match was made for 200 guineas, to come off December 18th, 1810. How
this event was decided at Copthorne, near East Grinstead, Essex, may be
read in the Life of CRIBB, _ante_, p. 254.
Notwithstanding this defeat, Molineaux felt that he was entitled to
another chance, and accordingly sent a challenge three days after the
battle, which letter will be found in its proper place, at p. 255, under
Cribb’s second victory.
About this time Bob Gregson, who was fond of match-making, had at his
hostelrie a young Lancashire man of the name of Rimmer, twenty-two years
of age, and considered by his countrymen a second Jem Belcher. His
friends were anxious to get him on with Molineaux, now defeated, and
issued a challenge for 100 guineas, which was directly answered on the
part of Molineaux. The day was fixed for May 21, 1811, and accordingly
at the well-trodden hurst of Moulsey, at one o’clock on the appointed
day, Rimmer threw his hat into a twenty-five feet roped ring, pitched by
the commissary-general Bill Gibbons, who, moreover, in company with
Richmond, performed the duty of second to Molineaux. The like office to
Rimmer was delegated to Power and Tom Jones. The betting on starting was
three to one on Molineaux.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—A couple of minutes were spent in
sparring, in which neither man displayed much
grace, though both looked formidable. Rimmer
then let go both hands, but was short; he got
away without a return. More sparring; at length
Molineaux put in a left-handed blow on his
adversary’s neck with great force; Rimmer
returned, but slightly, and fell. (Four to one
on Molineaux.)
2.—Rimmer again made play, and another effort
to hit right and left, but the distance was
again ill-judged, and he got away. Molineaux
waited very patiently for him; they rallied, and
Molineaux made some excellent stops. They broke
away and got together again, when Molineaux
brought down his opponent by two hits, right and
left, of most astonishing force and quickness.
(Odds four to one in favour of Molineaux.)
3.—Molineaux appeared much elated with his
success, smiled significantly at his opponent,
and sparred low, evidently to show he
disregarded any effort he might attempt. He
waited until Rimmer made play, when he hit him,
and following him up, repeated his blows until
Rimmer fell, but apparently from no other cause
than to avoid a repetition of the tremendous
hits he had received.
4.—Rimmer’s head was covered with blood, and
he was, in fact, stupefied for a time, in
consequence of a blow on the temple in the last
round. Molineaux again put in two successful
hits right and left, over his guard, on the head
and neck, and Rimmer fell as if shot. Every one
now sympathised with the dreadful situation
of the novice, and odds rose to any amount in
favour of Molineaux, but no takers.
5.—Rimmer evinced great alertness, made a long
hit at double distance, and fell.
6.—Rimmer again hit short, and fell, evidently
very weak.
7.—For the first time Rimmer had the best of
fighting in this round; he put in a good blow
with his left hand, and rallied with great
courage, but fell at length over his opponent’s
legs.
8.—Both hit over, and Rimmer fell.
9.—Rimmer exerted every effort to gain the
superiority, rallied well, and threw Molineaux.
10.—Molineaux appeared almost ferocious, and
went in determined to repay him for past
favours. He followed Rimmer, milling him to
every part of the ring, and at length floored
him.
11.—Rimmer rallied, and showed pluck. Some good
hits exchanged, but Rimmer hit widely, without
judging distance, and gave his head doubled in
his chest, which stopped several blows, and he
at length came down.
12.—Rimmer made a body hit, which again fell
short, and almost in a state of frenzy he ran
in, caught Molineaux up by the thighs, and threw
him in the Lancashire style. Many cried “Foul,”
others “Fair,” but the fight went on.
13.—Rimmer struck Molineaux over the mouth, when
the Black ran in and threw him.
14.—A rally. Rimmer closed, and a complete trial
of strength ensued. Both fell, Rimmer bringing
down his man by Lancashire ingenuity.
15.—Rimmer retreated round the ring, Molineaux
following, and at length by a severe blow in the
wind, brought him down, when he was indisputably
“dead beat.”
At this time the ring was broken; peers,
ploughmen, fighting men, chimney-sweepers,
costermongers, were all in one tumultuous
uproar, which continued for at least twenty
minutes, without any reason being assignable.
At length, however, by the exertions of Cribb
and others, the ring was restored, and the
combatants, who had neither left the ring, were
again set-to. Six more rounds were fought, but
greatly to the discomfiture of Rimmer, who could
hardly stand. During this time he received about
ten more tremendous blows and then gave in.
Rimmer displayed great courage; he has an
unfortunate knack of giving his head when he
hits, and appears to be timid of advancing
towards his adversary, by which errors many
blows fall short.
Such is the contemporary report: the slang version may be found in
“Boxiana,” vol. i., pp. 365, 366. Of the formidable powers of Molineaux
at this time, of which some writers who recorded his later career have
expressed themselves sceptical, this battle and that with Blake must be
convincing proof. No pugilist from this time offered a challenge to
Molineaux, nor could he get a battle on until Tom Cribb, who had
publicly announced his retirement from the ring, was called upon to
“prevent the championship of England from being held by a foreigner,” or
as Pierce Egan oddly calls the American nigger ‘a Moor’. Poor Pierce’s
geography was sadly confused, and the term “the Moor” occurs—perhaps
from some jumbled reminiscences of _Othello_, in his stage readings—in a
hundred places in his work as a favourite epithet for the States’ black
whose ring career we are now tracing. Molineaux had now once again to
enter the lists with the Champion, which he did on the 28th September,
1811, at Thistleton Gap, Leicestershire, where, after a desperate battle
of less than twenty minutes, he fell before the conquering arm of Cribb.
See p. 256, _ante_.
The losers who have, according to the proverb, “leave to grumble,” were
loud, in speech and in the press, upon the depressing influences of
prejudice, jealousy, envy, and “apprehension” lest “a black should win
the championship.” Very natural is all this, and would be so again; but
nothing unfair was ever substantiated. Pierce Egan thus sums up (vol.
i., pp. 367‒370), which we condense in quotation.
“It was this prejudice, a disheartening one to bear up against, that
Molineaux, by never even approaching to unfairness, and by the exercise
of a manly forbearance in critical situations, was called on to remove;
he could not help seeing the applause and cheering were decidedly on the
part of the Champion; in fact, the man of colour experienced from the
bulk of the spectators a very different reception, occasioned by the
extreme anxiety of the friends of Cribb for the safety of his honour and
renown; for his sable opponent was truly formidable. These observations,
nevertheless do not pluck a single leaf from his well-merited laurels;
but impartiality must supersede every other consideration. It would be
absurd to say that Molineaux underwent anything like a regular training;
on the contrary, he indulged himself to excess—without a patron, he had
to range from town to town, to support himself by exhibitions of
sparring, and entering into all the glorious confusion of larks and
sprees that might present themselves; while far different was the
position of the Champion. Placed under the immediate direction of
Captain Barclay, and secluded from the world at the estate of that
gentleman in far Scotland, his condition was in the finest possible
tone, his mind cheerful, and he felt confident that every chance was in
favour of his success. Molineaux, in spite of his undoubted high
courage, laboured under considerable depression; wherever he went he was
unpopular; which circumstance was considerably heightened upon his
public appearance to face his antagonist. His constitution, too, was by
no means so good as in the former contest: but his efforts were
tremendous and terrible, and for the first few rounds of the battle the
flash side trembled for the result.”
Molineaux about this period entered upon a downward course: the _facilis
descensus_ was fully exemplified. He quarrelled with all his best
friends, scorned advice, and declared himself on all occasions,
especially when maddened with liquor, an ill-used man. A street fight
with Power, in which Molineaux had the best for seventeen minutes’
roughing, is recorded in “Boxiana.” However his fame and name were a
passport to money-getting, and he started on a provincial tour, to
gather the silver of gaping rustics, who would pay willingly to see the
man who fought the Champion twice.
Molineaux was also a pretty good wrestler, and displayed great activity
and powers at the Exeter meeting of July 27, 1812, where he entered
himself for the public prize of ten guineas, but received a dreadful
fall from John Snow, of Moreton.
We find the following paragraph in the _Leicester Mercury_, of Feb. 3rd,
1813:
“Jay, the pugilist, has challenged Molineaux to fight at any notice he
may please, but Blackee remains both deaf and dumb to this challenge, as
he did to Cribb’s immediate acceptance of a vaunting challenge to him.
The champion promises him a love-dressing for his bounce, if he could be
prevailed on to come to London.”
To which Molineaux replied,—
LEICESTER, _February 10th, 1813_.
“I, the said Molineaux, do declare that I never received any
challenge, but through the medium of your print; but I am ready to
fight Jay at any place within the county of Leicester, for a sum not
exceeding £200, if accepted within one month of the above date. In
opposition to that part of the paragraph which relates to Cribb, I
do declare that I sent him a challenge within two months, but I have
received no answer; my friends being mentioned in the challenge, who
would back me to any amount; and that I have never received any
challenge from Cribb since I last fought him.
“N.B. Letters left at the Post Office, Leicester, will be duly
attended to.
“The mark of X THOS. MOLINEAUX.”
We will now refer back to the all-important and absorbing event of our
hero’s second contest with Cribb, from which eighteen months elapsed
before Molineaux met with a competitor in Carter, a Lancashire man,
though he repeatedly challenged all England. This match, however, went
off for a time, owing to Richmond, his erewhile patron, “guide,
philosopher, and friend,” issuing a writ against him and taking him to a
sponging house upon a _ca. sa._ This is now a bit of antiquated law for
which our fathers smarted, and for which the young “Templars” may refer
to their “Reader,” while we congratulate _our_ reader that John Roe and
Richard Doe are defunct, and no more “seize the body until the debt is
satisfied.”
Richmond was now at war to the knife with Molineaux, and made a match
for Carter to fight his late protégé for 100 guineas, on Friday, the 2nd
April, 1813, when the men met at Remington, Gloucestershire, six miles
from Banbury, at the junction of four counties. That there was a doubt
about the honesty of this fight, the subjoined extracts from
contemporary papers will show:—“Previous to the battle, the articles
were read over to the combatants, in which it was stated that the winner
was to have a purse of 100 guineas—when Carter stepped up, inquiring
what the ‘loser was to have!!!’ Richmond, who was his second, gnashed
his teeth and shrugged up his shoulders; Bob Gregson, his friend and
patron, tremblingly alive as to the event of the contest, and flattering
himself that Lancashire would prove proudly triumphant on this occasion,
animatedly exclaimed, ‘Jack, never talk of losing, boy—thee must win,
the chance is all in thy favour!’”
As we have already said Richmond seconded Carter, with Cooper as his
junior counsel; Joe Ward and Bill Gibbons held briefs for Molineaux. Six
to four, and in some instances three to one, were betted on the black.
We regret to say that the only report we can discover of this battle is
that by Pierce Egan, which, with some necessary pruning of slang and
corrections of ungrammatical phrases must serve, _faute de mieux_:—
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—It was the opinion of the most
experienced pugilists that such a set-to was
never before witnessed; one “was afraid, and
the other dared not,” and two minutes were
trifled away in this sort of caricaturing, when
Carter touched Molineaux on the mouth, who
genteelly returned it. They closed, and the
man of colour was thrown. It would be absurd
to detail by way of rounds any more of this
worst of fights, though we readily admit that
Carter was the best man after the battle began,
and continued so throughout the fight. Molineaux
was wretched in the extreme, and at one time
bolted from his second, and had it not been
for Colonel and Captain Barclay, he would never
have returned to the scratch, he wished so much
to get away. At another period he was down on
one knee, and with both hands laid fast hold
of the ropes, and being hit in this situation,
he roared out lustily “Foul!” but he was given
to understand that, by the laws of boxing, no
one is considered down “without having both
knees on the ground, with either one or both
hands also.” In the fifteenth round he was so
terrified that, upon being driven to one corner
of the ring, he cried out lamentably, “Oh dear!
oh dear! murder!” a little previous to which,
he declared Carter “had bit him in the neck!”
and soon afterwards he repeated, “there, he
has bit me again!” and it was with great
difficulty Joe Ward could persuade him that it
was the knuckles of Carter, and not his mouth.
This the once brave competitor of the champion!
impossible! Could he have thus degenerated?
Twenty-five rounds occurred, in which coaxing,
persuading, dramming, and threatening, were
resorted to, in order to make the man of colour
perform something like fighting. But to the
great astonishment of all the spectators, when
Molineaux was dead beat, Carter fainted, and
dropped his head as he sat on the knee of his
second. With all the exertions of Richmond,
it seems, he could not arouse Carter from his
lethargic state, and he thus lost the battle in
not coming to time. His fame, it is urged, was
not only tarnished from this circumstance, but
even his integrity called into question. The
above battle created universal dissatisfaction.
Poor Bob Gregson, agitated beyond description
at seeing Lancashire (as he considered) thus
trampled on with disgrace, went up to Carter,
exclaiming, “Jack, Jack, what be’est thee at?
get up and fight, man!” But Bob might as well
have sung psalms to a dead horse. Carter, some
little time afterwards raised his head, feebly
observing, “Stop a bit! stop a bit!” And whether
by accident, design, or with an intent to
conclude this farce in style we are not in the
secret to unfold, but a disciple of Esculapius
stepped up, and in the twinkling of an eye
pulled out his lancet, and bled Carter, to the
great astonishment of his friends and the
spectators in general; thus preventing, even had
any inclination remained on the side of Carter
to have renewed the fight. The latter’s clothes
had hitherto been preserved, during the fight,
in the chariot of a man of distinction, but who,
it is said, was so disgusted with the scene
before him, that he instantly ordered them to be
thrown out with disdain and contempt. In once
more taking a slight view of the man of colour,
whatever certainty there might have been of
Molineaux being a sound man at the core, it is
strongly urged that if his heart had been a good
one, he must have won the first battle with the
champion; however, be that as it may, since
that period he has been dissipated to excess,
completely gone off in constitution, and broken
winded. One improvement appeared to have taken
place: he was more temperate in setting-to, but
he did not like to face his man, and it required
no small ingenuity to get him into the ring.
POETIC RETORT
Between a “Town” and “Country Amateur” at Oxford; or, in the phrase
of the day, Between a “Johnny Raw” and a “Knowing One!”
_On witnessing Carter faint away when he had won the battle, but who
contrived to lose the purse, in his contest with Molineaux._
Says Jack to Bob, “Look, poor Carter’s hipp’d!”
“Hipp’d, be d——d!” cries Bob, “the R——’s tipp’d!”
“No, no,” quoth Jack, “they put in too hard pats:”
“Put in,” echoes Bob, “they’ve put in—the flats!”
With this specimen of “the historian’s” style we dismiss the affair of
Carter and Molineaux. We shall hear more of the so-called “Lancashire
hero,” when we come to the life of TOM SPRING in the next Period.
Molineaux once more started on a tour, extending it this time to
Scotland, where he exhibited sparring in the principal towns. The black,
like most of his race, had a childish propensity for gaiety, and a
strong passion for dress, was amorously inclined, and devoted himself by
turns to Bacchus and Venus. Of course the Black Samson met with many
mercenary Dalilahs, and—
“Plung’d
In general riot, melted down his youth
In different beds of lust, and never learn’d
The icy precepts of respect, but follow’d
The sugar’d game before him.”
With dress of the best quality and fashion, the man of colour soon
appeared a swell of the first magnitude. Maintaining, then, the highest
secondary rank as a boxer, he dashed about regardless of future
consequences to his milling fame. Pleasure was the order of the day with
him, and the stews tended not only to ease him of his cash, but soon
undermined that overwhelming power and pluck so conspicuously displayed
in his terrible combats with the mighty Cribb. The consequences of such
a line of conduct need be scarcely dwelt on; the iron frame of the black
soon seriously felt the dilapidating effects of intemperance. Yet,
notwithstanding this visible falling off, Molineaux with all the
drawbacks of enervating excess, was not to be beaten off hand, and none
but a boxer of more than common skill and strength seemed likely to
accomplish this task.
Fuller, a clever and well-informed man, who had beaten Bill Jay, and
whose character for science and game entitled him to every
consideration, fancied he was able to contend with this renowned milling
hero, and the amateurs of Scotland, in order to facilitate a match
between them, entered into a subscription purse of 100 guineas, to be
fought in a forty feet ring. Early in the morning, on the day appointed
for the above trial of skill to be decided, Friday, the 27th May, 1814,
at Bishopstorff, Paisley, Ayrshire, the fancy were in motion. Numerous
vehicles of all descriptions were seen rattling along the road to the
scene of action, and scampering pedestrians out of number, to witness
the novelty of a prize-mill in Scotland. Some thousands of spectators
formed the ring, and upwards of one hundred carriages belonging to
gentlemen were upon the ground. Molineaux was seconded by Carter, and
Fuller had the veteran Joe Ward and George Cooper. Five to four on the
black. At one o’clock the ceremony of shaking hands was performed, and
the men set-to. Both the combatants displayed good science, but the
blows of Fuller, although he put in several with much dexterity,
appeared more showy than effective. However, on Fuller’s planting a
desperate ribber, Joe Ward ironically observed, that “if he continued to
hit his man so hard, they should all be baulked, and the fight be over
too soon.” The battle had continued only eight minutes, when the sheriff
of Renfrewshire, attended by constables, entered the ring, and put a
stop to it in the fourth round. Both the combatants appeared much
chagrined, particularly Molineaux, who vauntingly declared, “had he
foreseen such an interruption, he would have finished off his opponent
before the arrival of the sheriff.” The man of colour, it seems, was so
confident of victory, that previous to the fight, he betted five to two
he drew first blood—this bet he won; and also two to one he floored
Fuller first—the latter was not decided. Fuller expressed himself ready
to settle the matter the next day, but Molineaux insisted the fight
should not take place till the following Tuesday.
The above arrangement was agreed to, and on Tuesday, May 31, they again
met at Auchineux, twelve miles from Glasgow. Fuller was attended by Ward
and Cooper, Molineaux by an Irish sergeant, of the name of Hailward,
assisted by a private. The umpires were Captain Cadogan and Mr. George
Stirling, and in case of any dispute, Mr. Graham, of Guntmaux, as the
referee. This battle is without parallel. There is nothing like it in
the annals of pugilism. It is thus described by the veteran Joe Ward,
from whom the account given in “Boxiana” was gathered, and which we here
reprint:—
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Fuller displayed some good positions,
and convinced the spectators that he was a
scientific boxer. His guard was firm and
imposing, and he seemed confident of success.
They sparred a considerable time, with good
skill, before any punishment was exhibited;
at length Fuller, by a tremendous hit, drew
the cork of his antagonist. Molineaux, upon
the claret making its appearance, became rather
impetuous, and attacked Fuller fiercely; but
the latter stopped with much adroitness, and
gave some heavy nobbing returns. A desperate
rally now took place, during which severe
milling was dealt out on both sides; the men
broke away, and again resorted to sparring.
Fuller’s nose was much peppered, and the crimson
flowed abundantly. In short, this unprecedented
round was filled with rallies, recoveries,
retreating, following each other alternately
round the ring, stopping and hitting with
various success, and both exhausted by turns,
till at length Molineaux was levelled by a
tremendous blow, and the round finished after a
lapse of twenty-eight minutes.
2.—To describe anything like the various changes
which occurred during this set-to would fill the
space of an ordinary report of a whole fight.
Suffice it to observe, that almost every “dodge”
of the milling art was resorted to, from
beginning to end. The skill, practice, and
experience of both the combatants were made use
of to the best advantage. Fuller proved himself
a boxer of more than ordinary science and game.
Molineaux was convinced he had got a troublesome
customer to deal with, who required serving out
in a masterly style before he could be
satisfied. In fact, the strength of the man of
colour seemed materially deteriorated as
compared with his former exhibitions, when he
used to hit his men away from him, and levelled
his opponent with the most perfect _sang froid_.
The severe blows of Fuller, who stuck close to
Molineaux, made him wince again. The Black
appeared much exhausted from the great portion
required to give, and heartily tired of what he
had to take. The claret was liberally tapped on
both sides, and as regarded Fuller, stauncher
game was never displayed by any pugilist
whatever. Upon the whole, it was a truly
singular fight, and the people of Scotland
witnessed the most unique specimen of English
prize-fighting. In sixty-eight minutes two
rounds only had taken place.
The contest terminated in rather a singular
manner. Molineaux asserted that “Joe Ward had
behaved foul, in pulling Fuller down, when he
was much distressed, and had been beaten all
over the ring in a rally; and that this
prevented him from putting in a decisive blow.”
The umpires decided it was so, and the purse was
accordingly awarded to Molineaux. The latter did
not appear anything like the once tremendous
competitor of Cribb; on the contrary, instead of
going boldly up to his man, he was always shy,
and tried to win by tiring out his man.
Molineaux fought at the head, Fuller at the
body. Notwithstanding the supposed falling off
of the man of colour, it was considered great
temerity on the part of Fuller to enter the
lists with Molineaux. The conduct of Fuller in
this fight gave such general satisfaction, that
a purse of 50 guineas, which had been subscribed
for at the match between Cooper and Carter, in
consequence of that battle not taking place, was
presented to Fuller.
Molineaux now attracted great attention in Scotland, and a match was at
length made between him and George Cooper, a boxer of superior talent.
On the 11th of March, 1815, these first-rate heroes of the fist met at
Corset Hill, in Lanarkshire. In twenty minutes Molineaux was defeated.
(See life of GEORGE COOPER, _post_, Chapter IV).
Intemperance was the ruin of Molineaux; and, it would seem, that within
a brief period his fame had become so tarnished, that every strong
commoner entertained an idea that he could serve out the once formidable
man of colour, as the following anecdote will evince. During Molineaux’s
provincial tour of 1813, he visited Derby, to give the natives an
exhibition of his milling accomplishments. The competitor of Cribb was
well attended, and several Johnny Raws had the temerity to have a taste
with the Black; but these, possessing little more than strength and
courage, soon found themselves inadequate to contend against the science
of Molineaux, and therefore wisely laid down the gloves. Not so a
country pugilist of the name of Abraham Denston, possessing Herculean
strength, and the stature of a giant, added to which his fame was well
abroad in these parts for milling, in which none dared to oppose him.
Abraham had rather “crept into favour with himself,” and entertained an
idea that, with the mufflers, he should be able to serve out the nigger
in style, and increase his renown as a miller. Great things were
expected from the countryman; and considerable interest was excited
among the spectators on their setting-to. But, unfortunately for
Abraham, he had calculated somewhat too hastily upon his great size and
strength, and two rallies with the Black were quite enough to convince
him of his error. Molineaux punished the chaw-bacon most severely for
his self-conceit, and, with one of his favourite left-handed lunges,
gave him such a remembrancer under his left eye, that the claret flew in
all directions, and the big ’un found his way to the ground, saluting it
roughly with his seat of honour. The conceit of Abraham now evaporated,
and he hastily retired amidst the laughter of the audience.
From Scotland, Molineaux went on a sparring tour into Ireland; and at
the latter end of the year 1817, he was travelling over the northern
parts of that country, teaching the stick fighting natives the use of
their fists; an accomplishment which might save many a jury the trouble
of a trial ending in a verdict of manslaughter or even of murder. But
the sun of his prosperity was set; and according to an obituary sketch
(given in the _Sporting Magazine_, vol. ii., p. 230, 1818), he was
dependent for bare existence on the humanity of two coloured
compatriots, serving in the 77th regiment then quartered at Galway. He
expired in the band-room of that regiment, on the 4th of August, 1818, a
wasted skeleton, the mere shadow of his former self. For the last four
years he strolled about the country. Intemperance, and its sure follower
disease, brought down the once formidable gladiator to a mere anatomy,
and he latterly declined to fight the oft-defeated and gone-by Dan
Dogherty. Molineaux was illiterate and ostentatious, but good-tempered,
liberal, and generous to a fault. Fond of gay life, fine clothes, and
amorous to the extreme, he deluded himself with the idea that his
strength of constitution was proof against excesses. Alas! poor
Molineaux found out the vanity of his conceited boast, and repented, but
too late, his folly. Peace be to his manes! he was a brave but reckless
and inconsiderate man, on whose integrity and straightforwardness none
who knew him ever cast a slur; nevertheless he was the worst of fools,
inasmuch as he sacrificed fame, fortune, and life; excusing himself by
the absurd plea, that “he was a fool to no one but himself.”
[Illustration]
CHAPTER III.
BILL RICHMOND—1804‒1818.
Quoad the biography of this clever man of colour, we may safely follow
“Boxiana,” seeing that he was a contemporary of Pierce Egan, who took
his accounts, for better or for worse, of what happened outside the
circle of his knowledge from one or other of the men whose memoirs are
scattered fragmentarily up and down the five volumes of his “Sketches.”
Richmond was born at a place called Richmond, otherwise Cockold’s Town,
on Staaten Island,[145] New York, on August 5th, 1763. His mother was
owned by a reverend divine of the name of Charlton, to whose worldly
wealth young Bill was of course an accession. When the English troops,
in 1777, held New York during the War of Independence, General Earl
Percy, afterwards Duke of Northumberland, finding Bill to possess good
capacity took him under his protection, and he served him for some time
till he came to England, whither he brought the sable youth with him,
and considerately put him to school in Yorkshire. Nor did the English
nobleman stop here. He apprenticed him to a cabinet maker in York, where
he worked at his trade with credit to himself and satisfaction to his
employers. Richmond, however, had the childish and nigger propensity for
fine clothes and the service of a “gran’ massa,” and as black servants
were the fashion of the day, he became what in the prevailing slang was
called a “knight of the rainbow,” taking service with that very “fast”
nobleman Lord Camelford, as Pierce Egan incidentally informs us.
The first display in the pugilistic art which brought Bill into notice
was with one George Moore, a soldier in the 19th regiment, known by the
name of Docky Moore, who insulted Richmond upon the course at York,
during the time of the races. This Docky before his enlistment had been
known as “the hero of Sheffield.” He was well proportioned, possessing
considerable strength, and the necessary requisites for milling; in
height five feet nine inches and a half, and weighing fourteen stone.
The friends of Richmond persuaded him from attempting to fight with such
a man, Bill only weighing ten stone twelve pounds; but he was not to be
deterred, and the event proved his judgment, for in the course of
twenty-five minutes, our hero punished Docky so completely that he gave
in, and was taken out of the ring.
On the same course, not long after the above affair, in a quarrel
arising out of the former exploit, Richmond beat two soldiers, one after
the other, belonging to the Inniskillen dragoons.
Richmond’s milling qualities getting noised abroad, a few of the
Yorkshire lads who had a bit of fight in their composition, envied his
success. One in particular, a blacksmith weighing thirteen stone, and in
height about five feet ten inches, took the following method of
provoking Bill to have a brush. Richmond was noticed in York for going
smart, and appearing clean after he had done his work. Bill met this
hammer-man one evening, as he was taking a walk, who openly insulted him
with opprobrious epithets. Our hero remonstrated with him on the
impropriety of his behaviour, and told the blacksmith that if he wanted
to fight him he should be accommodated at the Groves the next morning,
on which they agreed to meet, when the son of Vulcan was quickly
satisfied, and acknowledged Richmond the best man.
Richmond, in passing through the streets of York one evening, with a
female under his protection, was accosted by one Frank Myers, with the
epithets of “black devil,” etc, who otherwise insulted the young woman
for being in company of a man of colour. Bill, with a becoming spirit of
indignation, requested him to desist for the present, but to meet him at
the Groves on the next Monday morning, when they would settle this
difference (this circumstance happening on a Saturday night), to which
Myers agreed. This affair of honour being buzzed about, a great
concourse of people assembled early the next day to witness the
conflict. Richmond was there at the appointed hour, but after a
considerable time, Myers not making his appearance, the spectators
became impatient, and it was judged expedient that Richmond and his
friends should repair to the house of Myers to remind him of his
engagement. Myers returned with them, and the battle commenced, and
raged with fury for some time, Myers getting the worst of it, and
eventually Richmond taught him to acknowledge that it was wrong, and
beneath the character of an Englishman, to insult any individual on
account of his country or his colour. Myers received a complete milling.
Richmond’s first public set-to in London was with a whip-maker of the
name of Green, in the fields near White Conduit House. Phips Medley
seconded Richmond, who got the whip-hand of Green in such good style,
that in ten minutes he cried—enough!
[Illustration:
BILL RICHMOND.
_From a Portrait by_ HILLMAN, 1812.
]
Thus far Pierce Egan, whose apocrypha we will now quit.
After the battle between Pearce (the Game Chicken) and Joe Berks, on
Wimbledon Common, Jan. 23rd, 1804 (see life of PEARCE, _ante_, p. 170),
George Maddox having disposed of Seabrook in three rounds (see the
account of this cross in life of MADDOX, _ante_, p. 208), our sable hero
expressed to his master (Lord Camelford) his opinion that he could
polish off “the veteran.” A stake, amount not mentioned, was immediately
posted. “Old George, nothing loth, declared his readiness. But the new
black turned out a ‘duffer,’ George hitting him down the third time with
a crack under the left eye, which so completely queered his ogle that he
gave out.”[146]
On Tuesday, May 21, 1805, Tom Cribb, having beaten the ponderous
Israelite “Ikey Pig,” the tribes were in desolation and mourning. At
this juncture a Jew known as fighting Youssop (Joseph), came forward,
like another Maccabeus, to do battle in honour of his peoplesh, but not
with the same success, and “See the conquering hero comes,” was not sung
that night by the Israelitish virgins of Rosemary Lane or Duke’s Plashe.
Here is the report: “The ring being cleared, one Youssop, a Jew, who
turned out to be more ready than able, stepped forward to redeem the
valorous character of his fraternity, when a match was proposed for him
in Bill Richmond, the American black, for which a purse of ten guineas
was soon collected. The Jew accepted his opponent; they stripped, shook
hands, and set-to without loss of time.
“The battle was well contested, neither man flinching from his work, or
falling without a knock-down. For the first and second rounds Youssop
showed off his dexterity, and this superiority he particularly displayed
in the third round, when he stopped Richmond neatly and followed him up
till he drove him nearly out of the ring. He did not, however, seem to
mark or hurt his man. In the fourth round Richmond improved, and
following up his opponent in turn gave him several desperate blows in
the face, sadly to the disfigurement of the Mosaic countenance. Youssop
gave way altogether, and at the close of the sixth round declared, like
Ikey Pig, ‘He’d have no more of it.’ Richmond accordingly was proclaimed
the conqueror, and pocketed the stakes.”
This battle raised Richmond’s credit as a pugilist, and he soon received
a challenge from “Jack Holmes,” the coachman,[147] who on the 30th of
January, in the preceding year, had been conquered by Tom Blake (Tom
Tough), see _ante_, p. 235. Here is the report:—
“Mr. Fletcher Reid, the firm supporter of pugilism, backed Richmond for
50 guineas, Mr. Peter Ward patronised old Jack Holmes. They met at
Cricklewood Green, a short distance from Kilburn Wells, where a
twenty-one foot ring had been roped out, on Monday, July 8th [1805].
Paddington Jones seconded the black, and Tom Blake picked up his old
antagonist the coachman. About twelve o’clock the men stripped and began
the set-to.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Holmes stood up well, and appeared
in excellent condition for an old ’un. Much
sparring, no good hits.
2.—Both rallied smartly, but no falling.
3.—Richmond put in a good hit, but fell. (Odds
two to one in favour of Holmes.)
4, 5, and 6.—Nothing interesting in these three
rounds.
7.—An excellent round. Richmond was very gay and
full of fight; some good blows exchanged.
8.—Holmes began to puff, and appeared distressed
in his wind. (Bets, nevertheless, three to two
on Holmes.)
9.—Some sparring. Richmond put in a severe blow,
and cut his opponent under his right eye, and
Holmes fell.
10.—No fighting; the men closed, and both fell.
(Betting had now become even.)
11.—The best round during the battle; both
fought well and rallied. Richmond terminated it
by bringing down his opponent heavily.
15.—Very poorly contested. Holmes could hardly
puff wind enough to support himself, and he also
appeared weak.
16.—No fighting. The men closed and fell,
Richmond uppermost. (Odds had now changed three
to one in favour of Richmond.)
To the 24th—All hugging rounds, Holmes upon the
saving system.
25.—Richmond appeared in high spirits, fought
well, and evidently had the advantage.
26.—Decisive. Richmond stepped in and
immediately knocked Holmes down, and, although
with great reluctance, he was obliged to give
in.
The contest lasted thirty-nine minutes.
Among the amateurs and professors there were Mr.
Fletcher Reid, Hon. Berkeley Craven, Thomas
Sheridan, Esq., Mr. Upton, John Gully, Jem and
Tom Belcher, Bill Ryan, Puss the Jew, Tom Cribb,
Jack Ward, and Dan Mendoza.
On the 8th October, 1805, at Hailsham, Sussex, Richmond met Tom Cribb,
for a stake of 25 guineas. He never dared to face his man, and after a
wretched merry-andrew burlesque of an hour and a half gave in, see TOM
CRIBB, _ante_, p. 246.[148] This affair seems to have taken the conceit
out of Mr. Richmond, for he only appears as a ring attendant and
follower until 1808, a period of nearly three years, when we have an
account (on April 14, 1809),[149] of his beating “a countryman named
Carter from Nuneaton, near Birmingham, on Epsom Downs.” As this is given
on no other authority, that we can discover, than that of Pierce Egan,
we quote him _ipsissimis verbis_:—
“Carter was much the strongest and a heavier man than Richmond; and who
in a turn-up with those heroes of the fist, Jem Belcher and Jack Gully,
had convinced them both that he was no trifler; and now having expressed
his fancy for a mill with Mr. Richmond, Bill without hesitation informed
Carter that he should be accommodated with a trial of skill. Paddington
Jones and Bob Clarke seconded Richmond. Upon setting-to the odds were
seven to one against the man of colour, and in the fourth round the odds
ran so high against Richmond, that twenty to one was sported that Carter
won the battle, and ten to one that Bill did not come again. This great
odds was occasioned by a severe blow that Richmond received on the side
of his head, that rendered him nearly senseless; but Bill soon
recovering from this momentary disadvantage, showed off his science in
such good style, that in the course of twenty-five minutes, Carter was
so punished as to resign the contest. Immediately upon this being
declared, Richmond jumped over the ropes, and caught hold of a man
denominated China-eyed Brown, threatening to serve him out (if he had
not been prevented), as it appeared that Brown had loudly vociferated,
during the time Richmond was suffering from the effects of the above
blow, that Bill had got a white feather in his tail! Richmond was
patronised upon the above occasion by Sir Clement Brigg, Bart.”
We next have upon the same authority, “In seconding a baker a few months
after the above circumstance, near Wilsden Green, a man of the same
trade, weighing close upon seventeen stone, challenged Richmond on the
spot, when a turn-up commenced, and in about two minutes the baker’s
dough was so well kneaded, that he would have no more of it at that
time; offering to fight Richmond for £50 in a month, which was agreed to
by Bill, and two guineas put down to make the bets good before that
period; but the baker, it appeared, preferred losing his two quid than
submitting his overgrown carcass to the punishment of Richmond.
“Bill fought a man of the name of Atkinson, from Banbury, at Golder’s
Green, near Hendon, a bargeman, for a subscription purse; it was a good
fight, but in the course of twenty minutes Atkinson was perfectly
satisfied the chance was against him, and acknowledged that he was
beaten.” “Boxiana,” vol. i. 443‒5.
It does not appear from Richmond’s next legitimate match after his
defeat by Tom Cribb, that our sable friend’s prowess was in very high
esteem, for his next battle, Tuesday, April 11, 1809, was fought for ten
guineas, at Coombe Wood, near Kingston, with “one Isaac Wood, a
waterman,” who has no other chronicle in the chronologies but this black
defeat. However, Pierce answers negatively for his “not being
unacquainted with science,” and his “determined spirit.” The
contemporary report is as follows:—
“At one o’clock the combatants arrived in post-chaises; a twenty-five
feet ring was immediately formed, and at half past one the heroes
entered, and set-to; Richmond seconded by Jones and Bob Clarke, and Wood
by Tom Cribb and Cropley.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—A little sparring. Richmond threw in a
left-handed hit on his opponent’s jaw. Wood
rallied, but was thrown. (Odds seven to four on
Richmond.)
2.—Wood hit; Richmond parried, and returned
right and left. The men closed, and both fell.
3.—A good round. Wood rallied; some good hits
exchanged. Richmond displayed great superiority
in science, and again threw his opponent. (Odds
two to one in his favour.)
4.—Richmond made play, and successfully planted
a right-handed hit. Wood attempted to rally, but
Richmond parried both right and left, when Wood
was so much abroad, that he was milled round the
ring, and thrown over the ropes. (Odds four to
one on Richmond.)
5.—Wood made play, and rallied courageously.
Hits exchanged at half-arm for half a minute, to
the advantage of Richmond, who closed, and threw
Wood again.
6.—Wood’s head now appeared dreadfully
disfigured. Richmond rallied, but Wood evinced
great weakness and fell.
7.—Both rallied, and Richmond threw Wood.
8.—Somewhat in favour of Wood. Richmond made a
false hit. Wood struck twice, and then threw
him.
9.—Richmond, in making play, slipt.
10.—Both stood up manfully, and hit at full
length until both fell.
11.—In this round Wood displayed good bottom,
but no science. An excellent rally. The men
closed, and Richmond fibbed Wood until he was
covered with blood, and both fell weak.
12.—Wood appeared as though he had exerted his
last effort in the last round. Richmond threw in
three successive blows in the face, rallying him
to the ropes, when he gave a somersault over
him.
14.—In this round Richmond threw his opponent.
15.—This round, although not the last, was
decisive. Richmond again put in three successive
hits on the head. Wood attempted, but was
evidently unable to return, and Richmond threw
him. Wood with great courage, but evident
disadvantage, stood up to the
23rd.—When Richmond again brought him down, and
he was unable to come to time. Richmond was very
little hurt.
Another battle was fought between Frere and Power, which in twenty-five
minutes was decided in favour of the latter, who possessed the greatest
science.
Richmond had always suffered in reputation from his first display with
“the veteran” Maddox, and anxious to retrieve his credit, he was
continually carping at the “old ’un,” and proposing matches. George, who
was brave as a lion, at last agreed to risk his established reputation,
and 100 guineas of his backer’s money, to accommodate his old
antagonist, and on the 9th of August, 1809, in his 54th year, was
defeated as hereafter reported. The battle was fought at Pope’s Head
Watchhouse, on the coast between Margate and Reculvers.
“A twenty-seven feet ring was formed with ropes, and the heroes, without
loss of time, entered and set-to; Maddox seconded by Gully and Bill
Gibbons, and Richmond by Bob Clarke and Jack Ward. At setting-to odds
six to four on Maddox.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Maddox went in as usual with great
gaiety; Richmond stopped him, and planting two
successful blows on the neck, brought him down.
2.—Maddox rallied, and threw his opponent over
the ropes.
3.—An excellently contested round, in which
Richmond displayed great superiority, both in
science and strength, and after good fighting
threw his aged adversary with a force which
astonished every spectator.
10.—Maddox evidently fought at great
disadvantage, but stood up courageously. (Odds
were now changed in favour of Richmond four to
one.)
The bravery of Maddox, however, spun out the
battle for fifty-two minutes, and he displayed
as much game as, perhaps, ever was seen. Within
a few minutes of the termination of the contest,
when quite blind, he was on his knees, and by a
sudden effort he sprung up, and holding Richmond
round the neck with one hand, continued to deal
out some tremendous hits with the other, but
nature was at length exhausted, and he fell.
George was liberally rewarded for his prowess by
a subscription. This was the battle which the
Right Hon. William Windham eulogised in a speech
in Parliament, which we have quoted already at
pp. 90, 91.
Richmond, having thus “fed fat his ancient grudge,” appears merely as a
second in several leading events. Having quarrelled with Power, when
seconding “Uncle Ben” (Burn) against Dogherty (see BEN BURN in
Appendix), the following turn-up took place, of which we find the record
in “Pancratia,” p. 334‒5. We extract it as a specimen of the state of
society, which, with all our advocacy of legitimate pugilism and a fight
in its proper time and place, or when necessity and self-defence compel
it, we should be sorry to see restored.
“On May 1st, 1810, a large party of amateurs and pugilists, amongst whom
were Gully, Jackson, Richmond, Dogherty, Cribb, and Tom Belcher, dined
at the Castle (then called Bob’s Chophouse), in Holborn. After the cloth
was cleared, several sporting theatricals being present some capital
songs were sung, and the bottle circled freely. Some excellent sparring
was then exhibited by some of the first professors, and at length it was
agreed that a subscription purse of £20 should be made by the company
present, and immediately fought for by young Cribb and Dogherty. Tom
Cribb seconded his brother, and Richmond, who is handy on all occasions,
seconded Dogherty; betting even. Cribb displayed great gluttony, threw
in some excellent hits successfully, and often rallied and beat away the
superior science of his opponent; but at the end of an hour, being quite
exhausted, gave in, when Dogherty was declared the conqueror. Both
combatants were several times hit off their legs.
“By the termination of this battle, Power, who was originally intended
to have contested with Dogherty, but could no where be found, came in,
and another purse was subscribed to the same amount for him and
Richmond. An honourable baronet and Cribb seconded Richmond, and an
amateur Colonel and Bill Gibbons, Power.
“Richmond having seconded the preceding battle for an hour, set-to with
great disadvantage, and for the first round had the worst of it, but, as
every amateur might have expected, his science gave him the best of the
remainder. Richmond excels in hitting and getting away; and Power, who
is a resolute fighter, was continually boring in upon his opponent, and
this sort of game always gets a man the worst of the battle with such an
opponent as the black. By this system Power was completely beat in a
quarter of an hour. He was frequently hit twice in the face in a second,
and frequently brought down by a favourite left-handed hit of
Richmond’s, who, on the other hand, received no other injury throughout
the battle than a slight blow in the face. Forty shillings out of the
purse consoled Power for his bad fate; and Richmond sat down to his wine
£18 richer, and with the amateurs toasted fighters and fighting till
three o’clock in the morning.”
Richmond now became a publican, at the Horse and Dolphin, in St.
Martin’s Street, and as he was a shrewd fellow, his house was well
frequented.
Richmond acquired considerable notoriety from his patronage of
Molineaux; and, so far as we can learn, his generous behaviour to that
pugilist, who came to him an entire stranger, destitute of friends or
money, received an ungrateful return. It is certain Molineaux was
indebted for that patronage and attention which he afterwards received
from persons of distinction, to his introduction by Richmond.
Richmond, after the contest between Molineaux and Carter, April 2, 1813,
challenged either of them for £100.
Five years had nearly elapsed since Richmond had exhibited in the P.R.,
when, to the astonishment of many, he declared his intention of
contending for the first purse of 50 guineas, given by the Pugilistic
Club, at Coombe Wood, on Tuesday, May 3, 1814. Everything was conducted
with appropriate attention congenial to the patronage bestowed upon the
occasion, which was much more conspicuous than hitherto. The members of
the club were dressed in their uniform (blue and buff); and those
persons who were appointed to clear the outer ring wore dark blue
ribbons in their hats, to designate their appointment, tending to
prevent any sort of confusion, because, at other times, men so acting
have been challenged with officiousness. The stakes and ropes were
entirely new, and upon the former the initials of the club (P.C.) were
painted. Three ropes went round the ring, which was twenty-four feet.
Davis, a fine, tall, powerful, young, athletic navigator, had thumped
his way into notice, by serving seven or eight customers with tolerable
ease; his weight was twelve stone ten pounds, and his age twenty-four
years. The veteran man of colour, who dared him to the conflict was
twelve stone two pounds, and in his fifty-second year! Davis entered
first; he threw up his hat, bowed to the spectators and was well
received. Richmond soon followed, paid the like attention and was
equally applauded. Their seconds now began to perform their office, Joe
Ward and Dick Whale for Davis, and Tom Belcher and Bill Gibbons for
Richmond. It was a sunny day, and the toss for the shady side was won
for Richmond. A few minutes after one the set-to commenced.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—From the well known science of
Richmond, and his peculiar forte of hitting and
getting away, considerable interest was excited.
Davis being under the guidance of the veteran
Joe Ward, it was presumed by the fancy that the
navigator would be made awake to the dangerous
mode of his antagonist, and be on the alert not
to be cut up and spoiled before his powers could
be fairly brought into action. Davis did not
want for confidence; he made a good hit with his
left, which was stopped by Richmond, who also
returned right and left, but without material
effect. Davis, anxious to make a beginning, and
full of vigour, followed up his man, and planted
a smart hit on Richmond’s temple with his right,
which knocked him down instantly. (Betting took
a lift, and seven to four was loudly vociferated
upon Davis.)
2.—Spirited exchanges, and some heavy blows
passed. Richmond drew the cork of his
antagonist; nevertheless, the man of colour was
again levelled. (Two to one was sported upon
Davis, in the exultation of the moment, by his
friends.)
3.—Richmond began to show off the mastery of the
art; milling the nob of his antagonist severely,
and getting away; Davis, with much resolution,
bored in, when, after closing, both went down,
Richmond undermost.
4.—Richmond rallied in fine style, and with
his left hand put in a most tremendous blow,
which irritated Davis so much, that he suffered
his passion to get uppermost, and rushed in
furiously, but, his distance being short,
Richmond went down from a slight touch of the
mouth. Davis bled profusely.
5.—The skill of Richmond in this round burst
forth so conspicuously, that the doubtful were
satisfied of his superiority. Confident in
himself, and with science and courage united,
he nobly opposed a rally, and got away with
uncommon dexterity, punishing the head of Davis
most terribly at every retreating step. The
navigator, in pursuing, threw nearly all his
blows away, when Richmond, quite unexpectedly
stopped short, and planted so severe a teazer on
the mouth of Davis that sent him quickly on the
grass. (Even betting.)
6.—Davis, from the severity of the last hit, was
unable to gain any advantage over Richmond, who
again took the lead in high style, milling and
dropping his antagonist.
7.—The manner of Davis was much altered, and he
appeared distressed. His temper forsook him, and
he still kept boring after Richmond, who milled
him in every direction, and at length put in so
tremendous a blow upon his jaw, that, in his
confusion, he made blows without any sort of
direction, till he hit himself down under the
ropes.
8.—Davis, in a rally, hit Richmond slightly on
the mouth; the latter kept punishing his
adversary severely, and getting away. In
closing, Richmond went down.
9.—The inferiority of Davis was apparent. In
science he was by no means competent, and his
strength was much reduced by the skill of his
opponent. Richmond continued his retreating
system with great success, and put in so weighty
a blow under the ear of Davis, that he was
instantly down.
10.—This round was of little importance; the men
closed and fell, but Richmond undermost.
11.—Richmond completely spoiled his antagonist.
Davis was going in to smash the Black in haste,
but met with such a stopper right in the wind
that completely changed his course: he reeled
again. Davis now closed, and endeavoured to
throw Richmond, which he accomplished, fell upon
his latter end, his head rolling towards the
ground, distressed beyond measure.
12.—Had Davis possessed the strength of a
giant, it must have been exhausted by the mode
in which he fought. Notwithstanding the severe
remembrancers he had received in the preceding
rounds, he had gained no experience from them,
but still kept following Richmond all over the
ring, hitting wide and losing himself. The
Black kept punishing, but received nothing;
retreating, retreating, and retreating again,
and at almost every step made woeful havoc on
the nob of his adversary, completely showing
the spectators what might be accomplished by
scientific movements. At length he suddenly
made a stand, and, his distance proving
correct, with his right hand hit the mouth of
Davis with such uncommon severity, that he
went down like a log of wood. (Numerous
betters, but no takers.)
13.—It was plain that Davis was nearly finished;
he appeared stupid, and his efforts were feeble.
Richmond put an end to the combat by sending him
partly under the ropes. Davis could not come
again.
Upon Richmond’s being declared the conqueror, he
leaped over the ropes, which were nearly five
feet in height, with the agility of a tumbler.
He received little hurt, except a blow on the
temple, and a slight touch on the mouth. On the
contrary, Davis was so dreadfully punished that
he was supported off the ground. The battle
continued twenty minutes. Richmond remained on
the ground during the sports of the day, without
inconvenience from this conflict.
It was scarcely imagined, from the advanced age of Richmond, that he
would ever fight any more prize battles; and upon a battle being
announced between the man of colour and the navigator, Tom Shelton,
great surprise was manifested by the amateurs at the vast disparagement
between them; the latter pugilist being little more than half the age of
Richmond, and possessing all the advantages of youth, strength, and
science. It, however, created so great an interest in the sporting
circles, that on Tuesday, the 1st of August, 1815, upwards of ten
thousand persons assembled on Moulsey Hurst to witness the trial of
skill. Oliver and Painter seconded the veteran nigger, and Cribb and
Clarke waited upon Shelton. It appears this battle originated in a
quarrel between the combatants; and so strongly did it operate on the
feelings of Shelton, that he positively refused to comply with the usual
custom of shaking hands with his opponent previous to their setting-to.
But upon the champion’s declaring he would instantly quit the ring if he
did not, Shelton laid hold of Richmond’s hand, and the fight commenced,
the odds being six and seven to four on the man of colour.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Shelton, from his eagerness to be at
work, missed his adversary in making a blow, and
Richmond also hit short; but the man of colour
soon planted a severe blow with his left hand,
when Shelton, with great readiness, damaged one
of Richmond’s peepers so sharply that the claret
was seen trickling down his face. Shelton, full
of resolution, fought his way into a rally,
which was well contested, and the navigator
was thought to have the best of it. Richmond
went down from a hit. (The betting immediately
changed, and even was the order of the day.)
2.—Richmond, anxious to return the favour he had
received, planted a hit so clean and dexterously
upon Shelton’s mouth, that the claret followed,
like drawing the cork of a bottle. Shelton
positively appeared electrified, and went down
like a log. (Two to one offered upon the man of
colour.)
3.—The right eye of Richmond was terribly
puffed. Shelton had the best of the rally, and
his aged opponent went down.
4.—The veteran was all alive, Shelton showed
good science, but seemed determined that nothing
less than downright milling should go on; he
made a good right-handed blow. Richmond missed a
desperately aimed hit at his adversary’s ear,
which was attributed to the bad state of his own
eye, and in closing, got down in an easy style.
5.—The navigator got into work successfully,
and felt for Richmond’s head and body not
very delicately; but the man of colour again
touched him on the sore place of his mouth.
The advantage of this round was evidently
with Shelton, and he sent his opponent down.
(The odds now rapidly changed, and two to
one was loudly offered upon the navigator.)
6.—Richmond found that no time was to be lost,
and to win in anything like his usual style the
fight must soon be taken out of his adversary.
He, with much judgment, planted a tremendous
blow with his right hand upon Shelton’s nob, who
instantly went down.
7.—Both combatants on their mettle, and
reciprocal punishment. The man of colour went
down. It was altogether a good round, and a
sharp rally took place.
8.—The passion of the navigator at length
prevailed over his judgment, and he went in
furiously, regardless of the consequences. This
conduct rendered victory almost certain to
Richmond, who planted so desperate a blow on his
opponent’s throat that he went down almost
senseless.
9.—Richmond set-to with increased confidence
from the success of the last round, but, after a
short rally, in closing, both down.
10.—Shelton, full of pluck, attacked his
opponent with much gaiety, when Richmond got
down from a slight blow.
11.—Richmond appeared the fresher man of the
two; but little execution on either side. (The
odds, however, were upon Richmond.)
12.—Shelton slipped on setting-to, and went
down.
13.—The man of colour seemed well assured of
his own superiority. He hit Shelton right and
left so tremendously, that he went down in a
twinkling. The partisans of Richmond thought it
quite safe, and offered, without hesitation, two
to one upon him.
14.—The discretion of Shelton was now at an end,
and he was furious in the extreme. He completely
bored Richmond off his legs.
15.—Richmond, in making a hit, over-reached
himself, and went down.
16.—Richmond was again on the grass.
17.—This round was decidedly in favour of
Richmond, who not only milled, but threw his
adversary.
18.—It was distressing to see the punishment
Shelton brought upon himself, from the rushing
system he pursued. The right hand of the man of
colour was at work like a sledge hammer.
19.—The combatants soon fought their way into a
sharp rally, when Richmond made some good hits
and got down.
20.—Richmond went down rather unsatisfactorily,
and some marks of disapprobation were expressed;
but the umpires did not deem it worthy of
attention.
21.—The man of colour now completely satisfied
the spectators of the advantages of hitting
and getting away; and this destructive system,
to an adversary who will suffer himself to be
decoyed by it, was completely exemplified by
the dreadful punishment Shelton received. Some
murmurings occurred about a foul blow; but the
umpires did not stop the battle. (Any odds upon
Richmond.)
22.—It was plain that Shelton could not last
much longer; he went down from a heavy blow upon
one of his eyes.
23 and last.—Richmond now had it all his own
way, and, with the utmost _sang froid_, planted
so tremendous a hit upon Shelton’s temple, that
he went down. The effects were so severe that he
appeared quite stunned, and when “time” was
announced, could not quit the knees of his
second. The battle continued twenty-nine minutes
and a half. Richmond, elated with the success of
victory, jumped out of the ring.
By this victory the man of colour added another
laurel to his wreath; and although he did not
escape without some punishment, he won the
battle in good style. Shelton’s impetuous
passion completely ruined him; and it was
observed by a noble lord that Richmond was “a
most extraordinary man, for the older he grew
the better he fought!”
This was Richmond’s last regular appearance in the P. R., yet his rooms
in Whitcomb Street, Haymarket, were highly patronised by the nobility
and gentry; and about this period Lord Byron became acquainted with him,
as may be seen in his lordship’s Life and Journals edited by Thomas
Moore. His athletic form, though fast approaching threescore years of
age, his civility, self-control, and temperate habits, compelled the
respect of all who knew him; and that “still beneath the snow of age
slept the fire of youth” was well proven by a casual affair, in which
the veteran man of colour was involved by the violent conduct of Jack
Carter, then known as the “Lancashire Hero,” and aspiring to the
championship of England.
The latter pugilist had lately returned from the Continent, intoxicated
by the applause he had received at Aix-la-Chapelle, and he had “crept so
much into favour with himself,” that he annoyed several companies he
went into with his vast prowess, and his challenge to fight any man in
the world. This conduct he carried to such excess on Thursday evening,
November 12, 1818, at a respectable tavern in the neighbourhood of
Chancery Lane, that the company rose in a body and put him out of the
room by force. The degradation of being thus ousted, raised his choler
that he roared out, “Is there any one among you dare face Jack Carter?”
Richmond, who was present, answered that he did not fear him, whereon
Carter defied him to a bout, and a turn-up commenced, _sans ceremonie_,
in the yard belonging to the house, where three bustling rounds took
place. The report is from “Boxiana.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Science was not much in request. A
few random hits, however, were exchanged. In
closing, Carter endeavoured to weave the man
of colour, and, in going down, Richmond had
the worst of the fall. Carter held Richmond so
fast, that his friends were obliged to pull
the man of colour away; in the struggle the
buttons of Richmond’s coat were floored. Upon
the Lancashire hero getting up, the claret was
seen trickling over his mouth.
2.—This round was full of bustle; in fact, it
was pummelling and hugging each other; but
Richmond was not idle, and had the best of it
till they went down.
3 and last.—This was the quietus; and the man of
colour was not long in putting in the _coup de
grace_. Carter seemed confused, when Richmond
planted one of his desperate right-handed hits
(for which he was so distinguished in the ring)
upon Carter’s upper works, that not only
loosened his ivories, but produced the claret,
and floored the late hero of Aix-la-Chapelle
like a shot. He laid stunned for a short period,
when, once more feeling the use of his legs, he
exclaimed, “I’ve been finely served out this
evening.”
Thus ended the skirmish, and Carter retired, weeping over the stupidity
of the fracas and folly of intemperance. “Oh that men should put an
enemy into their mouths to steal away their brains!”
Richmond returned to his company to finish the evening with the utmost
nonchalance over his sober heavy wet, with no other damage but knocking
up his right hand a little.
Richmond was an active, excellent second, and, from his temperate mode
of living, preferring exercise to wasting his time or injuring his
constitution by a too frequent repetition of the charms of the bottle,
obtained the character of being a good and steady trainer, and,
notwithstanding the defect in one of his knees, excelled as a cricketer.
In concluding this sketch, we cannot omit stating of our hero that in
private life Richmond was intelligent, communicative, and well-behaved;
and, however actively engaged in promulgating the principles of milling,
never so completely absorbed with fighting as to be incapable of
discoursing upon any other subject; in fact, he was rather facetious
over a glass of noyeau, his favourite wet with a swell, and endeavoured
to gain his point by attempting to prove that there is more certainty in
his preservation of bodies (in allusion to his method of training) than
either the cobbler or parson have in their taking care of the “soles!”
He had much more to say than many who style themselves “amateurs,” but
was never known to be so deficient in eloquence as when Molineaux
experienced defeat. His experience in life taught him to be awake to the
tricks of it, and there were few subjects upon which Richmond was not
capable of conversing. It could never be denied that he “wore a head;”
and although its colour did not prepossess the million in its favour,
yet the liberal part of mankind will acquiesce with Desdemona, that “the
visage” may be often best “seen in the mind!”
Richmond may be pointed to as one of the men who never lost sight of the
situation in which he was placed in society. In the elevation of the
moment, he always bore in mind that, however the Corinthian fancier may
connect himself with milling, there are times when he has a different
character to support, and must not be intruded upon. Would that many of
our whitefaced boxers would take a hint on this point from Bill
Richmond, the Black.
Thus respected and supported lived Bill Richmond, till the universal
visitor, grim Death, gave him his final summons, on the 28th of
December, 1829, at the house now occupied by Owen Swift (the Horse-shoe
Tavern), Titchbourne Street, Haymarket, in the sixty-sixth year of his
age.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IV.
GEORGE COOPER—1812‒1825.
The pugilistic position of George Cooper at one period placed him in the
very first rank. He was a pupil of Paddington Jones, and afterwards a
particular favourite with Bill Richmond, who declared him “the best
natural fighter” he had ever met with.
Cooper was a native of Stone, in Staffordshire. His height, five feet
ten inches; his weight, twelve stone. On the other hand, his
constitution did not come up to his other qualifications. He trained
badly; and, being a temperate man, seemed really better in his
_physique_ when left alone than when subject to systematic diet and
discipline. In fact, George Cooper, as Captain Barclay most expressively
termed it, “trained off,” instead of “on.”
Cooper’s first appearance in the prize-ring ropes was on the 15th of
December, 1812, at Combe Warren, with Harry Lancaster, for a
subscription purse of 85 guineas. On this occasion George was seconded
by his tutors, Paddington Jones and Bill Richmond; Lancaster was waited
upon by Jack Lancaster and Cropley. From the superior boxing
capabilities of Cooper, the contest was over in seventeen minutes and a
half. Lancaster had, however, not only the length of his opponent, and
equal weight, but possessed the advantage of standing over him.
Lancaster commenced milling with much gaiety, and endeavoured to nob
Cooper in a sharp rally, but the latter stopped his onset with great
neatness, and ultimately floored him. In short, throughout the fight,
Harry had but little chance of success, although he planted several
severe blows on Cooper’s head. The steadiness of Cooper, the excellent
use he made of both hands, the science he portrayed in stopping, and the
quickness and severity of his returns, were the admiration of all
present. Lancaster could not once take the lead, and retired from the
ring with heavy marks of punishment.
[Illustration:
GEORGE COOPER.
]
Cooper derived considerable fame from this first attempt, and he was
next matched as a competent competitor for Tom Oliver, for a
subscription purse, at Moulsey Hurst, on May 15, 1813. It was a truly
determined battle (see life of TOM OLIVER, Period V.), and at one period
of the fight, his superiority was so great, that it was thought almost
impossible for Cooper to lose it; however, one tremendous blow defeated
him. The victory seemed as if stolen from Cooper, so nearly did it
appear within his grasp.
Cooper now entered the lists with Jay, on the termination of the battle
between Painter and Oliver, at Shepperton Range, on Tuesday, the 17th of
May, 1814, for a purse of 25 guineas, given by the Pugilistic Club.
On the first appearance of Jay, at Rickmansworth, when he defeated
Fuller, it was thought that he bade fair to obtain a high position on
the roll of pugilistic fame. His unquestionable strength, firmness of
position, and severity of hitting, were great traits in his favour; and,
even in his second contest with Fuller, when he experienced a reverse of
fortune, and was compelled to yield to superior science, he claimed
respect for his great gameness. In the hands of Cooper, however, Jay
appeared a mere commoner, and few traces of his former milling were
visible. In the short space of eight minutes he was punished out of all
conceit of himself and the purse, declaring he had had enough, while
Cooper retired from the ring with scarcely a scratch on his face. The
spectators were completely astonished at the finishing qualities of
Cooper. It should, however, in fairness, be stated that Jay felt so much
depression at his defeat by Fuller, that he took no care of himself, and
was never afterwards in anything like condition to enter the prize ring.
Shortly after the above battle Cooper went to Scotland, where he opened
a school for teaching the art of self-defence. At Edinburgh, in
particular, his conduct was much praised: it not only gained him many
patrons and backers, but his school was well attended.
A match was proposed between Cooper and Carter for £100 a-side, both
being at Edinburgh; but it went off in consequence of the bad state of
health of the former. It was generally supposed that this would have
proved a fight of great equality.
The patrons of pugilism, anxious to witness a prize battle in Scotland,
entered into a subscription purse for that purpose, to be fought for by
Cooper and Molineaux. This mill took place at Corsethill, Lanarkshire,
March 10, 1815. Early in the morning the fancy were on the alert, and
not a drag or a nag was to be had in Edinburgh by nine o’clock.
Thousands pedestrianised it before daylight, so as to arrive in time,
and numbers, it seems, went on a wrong scent and sailed for Inchkeith.
At half-past twelve Cooper and Molineaux appeared in the ring, and at
fourteen minutes before one, shook hands and set-to. Oliver and a
Yorkshireman seconded Cooper; and Joe Ward and Richmond picked up
Molineaux. Six to four on the black.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Silence prevailed, and the Caledonians
appeared anxiously interested to witness the
opening attack. Considerable sparring took
place, both being aware of the milling talents
possessed by the other. Molineaux commenced
offensive operations right and left, and Cooper,
in return, put in a sharp bodier, but, in
slipping, received a hit which sent him under
the ropes.
2.—Milling without ceremony, and both the
combatants on their mettle. Molineaux planted a
sharp nobber, but received for this favour two
tremendous rib-roasters, that made him wince
again and gasp for breath. Some blows were
exchanged; in closing, both down.
3.—Molineaux, with the most determined spirit,
kept fighting at his opponent’s head; while
Cooper directed most of his blows at the body.
Some heavy hits passed, and, in a desperate
rally against the ropes, the claret was first
observed upon Cooper; however, the round was
finished to his advantage, for he hit the man of
colour through the ropes. (Seven to four upon
Cooper.)
4.—Molineaux appeared at the scratch rather
distressed from the last round. Cooper, full of
gaiety, took the lead, and floored Molineaux in
grand style. (Two to one on Cooper.)
5.—The superiority of Cooper was conspicuous. He
stopped the fury of the Black with skill, nobbed
him at will, and again hit the man of colour
down. (Any odds on Cooper.)
6.—Molineaux was growing weak. Cooper having the
best of him, eventually put in a tremendous
facer, which floored the Black like a shot.
7 to 9.—In all these rounds the best of the
fighting was decidedly on the part of Cooper.
Molineaux was hit down every round.
10.—The Black, still determined, rallied Cooper
against the ropes, and some hard fighting
followed; but Cooper planted so desperate a blow
on his opponent’s body, that he went down quite
rolled up, his head falling against the stake.
11.—Molineaux, despite his defects and falling
off, astonished the ring from the gallant manner
he fought this round. Some terrible exchanges of
blows were witnessed, when the Black again
rallied Cooper to the ropes. In closing,
Molineaux was severely fibbed, but broke from
his antagonist cleverly, and ultimately floored
Cooper by a heavy blow upon his face. From great
exertion, however, Molineaux fell exhausted.
This rather reduced the odds.
12.—Cooper appeared at the scratch eager to
finish the Black, whom he nobbed repeatedly,
and completely hit off his legs. The man of
colour was sick, and brandy was given him to
recruit his declining spirits. (Any odds, but
no takers.)
13.—Molineaux was sent down as soon as he toed
the scratch.
14 and last.—The Black could scarcely leave the
knee of his second, and, upon meeting his man,
he was again floored. The battle was thus at an
end, twenty minutes only having elapsed.
From the superior style of Cooper in this
battle, he rose high in the opinion of the
Scotch fancy, and, on this occasion, he entered
the ring in good condition. Molineaux trusted
principally to his weight and length, neglecting
any preparatory care of his health, so that
the right-handed body blows of Cooper proved
irresistible. The tourney was well conducted,
and afforded a high treat to the northern
admirers of boxing.
A few months after the above battle, while on a sparring tour in
Ireland, a match was made between Cooper and Dan Donnelly, the champion
of Ireland, which took place on the Curragh of Kildare, on the 13th
December, 1815, as noticed in the memoir of Donnelly. Cooper, after a
desperate struggle, was defeated. The advantages of size and weight were
much on the side of Donnelly.
In June, 1816, Cooper returned to England, when it was expected a match
would have been made between him and Harry Harmer, but, in consequence
of not meeting with a customer of any description, he once more directed
his steps towards his patrons in Scotland, where he was again well
received and liberally patronised. He was at length matched with
Robinson (a man of colour) who had gained considerable notoriety from
two contests with the Lancashire hero, Carter—particularly the latter
one, a match against time (half an hour)—although defeated in both
instances. The Caledonian fanciers, like the metropolitan high-bred
swells, were all in motion at an early period to witness this black and
white game, and an unusually strong muster of amateurs of all pedigrees,
from the laird of broad acres to the more humble “bonnie chiel,” were
seen “trotting along the road,” so great was the anxiety to view these
heroes of the “London ring” exhibit their acquirements in self-defence.
Considerable betting took place previous to the fight; but whatever
opinions might have been entertained by the patrons of pugilism in
Scotland respecting the milling qualities of Robinson, it should seem
the more experienced ones in England viewed the match in question as a
certainty, and booked it Cooper must win in style. They asserted that
Robinson had no peculiar boxing trait to rely upon, nor even a shadow of
chance, except from superior strength. Anticipation, in this instance,
was justified by the event; for Robinson was beaten off-hand, with the
same ease that Cooper disposed of Jay.
On Monday, the 24th of February, 1817, the men entered the ring, at one
o’clock, attended by their respective seconds, in a twenty feet ring, at
Costerton Houghhead, about fourteen miles from Edinburgh, for a purse of
fifty guineas.
The style of Cooper proved a perfect treat to the Scotch admirers of
boxing. His superiority was evident upon lifting up his hands, and
putting himself in attitude; before the first round was finished all the
spectators were perfectly satisfied what must be the result of the
battle. It would be superfluous to detail the minutiæ of the rounds,
short even as they proved, being only seven in number. Robinson, in the
hands of Cooper, appeared no more than a fresh-caught novice,—indeed,
George treated the capabilities of the man of colour with the most
mortifying contempt; punished him severely in all directions, put in
hits on every part he aimed at, and concluded every round so finishingly
as to receive loud and repeated applause. Poor Robinson could only stop
his opponent’s blows with his head or carcase, and only in one instance
did he make anything like a successful return. He was floored every
round; and it was universally admitted, that if Cooper had possessed
that primary requisite for a fighting man, sound stamina, he would have
been an equal competitor for anything either upon the Scotch or English
list. From this elegant display of Cooper, the gentlemen composing the
fancy, both south and north of Carlisle, felt anxious to back him
against any one of his weight. It was remarked as somewhat curious, that
Oliver beat Cooper, and Carter defeated Oliver; and again, Cooper
conquered Molineaux, and Molineaux proved the victor in his contest with
Carter.
Cooper, from the union of his superior practical knowledge of the art of
self-defence and civil deportment, rendered himself an object of
attraction in Scotland. As a teacher, he was well patronised; and, in
consequence, fixed his residence for a time in that part of the kingdom.
Cooper, not meeting with any professional adversaries in Scotland or
England, thought he might as well endeavour to pick up a little blunt in
foreign parts; but whether George received his mission from the
Champion, Tom Cribb, who took the chair[150] at the meeting to take into
consideration the propriety of sending representatives of the fancy to
“Congress,” we have not been able to ascertain.
“‘Gemmen,’ says he—Tom’s words you know,
Come, like his hitting, strong but slow—
‘Seeing as how those swells that made
Old Boney quit the hammering trade
(All prime ones in their own conceit),
Will shortly at the Congress meet—
(Some place that’s like the Finish, lads,
Where all your high pedestrian pads
That have been up and out all night,
Running their rigs among the rattlers,
At morning meet, and, honour bright,
Agreed to share the blunt and tatlers!)
Seeing as how, I say, these swells
Are soon to meet, by special summons,
To chime together, like ‘hell bells,’
And laugh at all mankind as rum ones,
I see no reason, when such things
Are going on among these kings,
Why we, who’re of the fancy lay,
As dead hands at a mill as they,
And quite as ready after it,
To share the spoil and grab the bit,
Should not be there to join the chat—
To see at least what fun they’re at—
And help their Majesties to find
New modes of punishing mankind.
What say you, lads, is any spark
Among you ready for a lark
To this same Congress?—Caleb, Joe,
Bill, Bob, what say you?—yes, or no?”
Of course we have a right to suppose that Cooper, Carter, and Gregson,
were among the “Ayes,” on this motion of the Champion’s, as appears from
the following account:—
“In the Great Hall, at Aix-la-Chapelle, Cooper, Carter, and Gregson, in
the month of October, 1818, exhibited before Prince Metternich, Prince
Charles of Prussia, the Prince de Solms, and a number of Russian and
Prussian general officers and foreign noblemen, who repeatedly cheered
the ‘assaults’ between Carter and Cooper, and Gregson and Carter.” These
heroes also went to Liege, in their way to Cambray and Valenciennes, and
thence to Paris.
The following is a literal translation of their advertisement, which
appeared in a French paper, published at Aix-la-Chapelle:—
“MM. Carter (Champion of England), Cooper, and Gregson, the first
English boxers, being now at Aix-la-Chapelle, have the honour of
informing the public that, on Wednesday, the 7th of October, 1818,
at eleven in the morning and three in the afternoon, and on
Thursday, at the same hours, they will exhibit two grand sets-to, in
boxing, in the Hall of Vieille-Redoute, rue Compesbad, in this city.
“They have had the honour of exhibiting themselves before the first
personages in Europe.
“Price of admission 5 francs each.
“N.B.—Messrs. Carter and Gregson at the same time offer their
services to those amateurs who wish to be instructed in their art.
Terms: 5 francs per lesson, 20 francs entrance.”
THE ORIGINAL IN FRENCH.
“MM. Carter (Champion d’Angleterre), Cooper, et Gregson, premiers
boxeurs Anglais, se trouvant à Aix-la-Chapelle, ont l’honneur
d’informer le public qu’ils donneront, le Mercredi, 7 Octobre, 1818,
a 11 heures du matin et à 3 de l’aprèsmidi, et Jeudi, aux mêmes
heures,
“Deux grands Assauts de Boxe,
dans la salle de la Vieille-Redoute, rue Compesbad, en cette ville.
“Ils ont eu l’honneur de représenter devant les premiers personnages
de l’Europe.
“Prix d’entrée cinq francs personne.
“N.B.—Messieurs Carter et Gregson offrent en même temps leurs
services aux amateurs qui voudraient se faire instruire dans leur
art, à raison de cinq francs par leçon, sauf à payer 20 francs
l’entrée.”
The editors of continental papers, then, as now, knew very little of the
principles on which British pugilistic contests are conducted. In one of
the Paris journals the following description of the pugilists at
Aix-la-Chapelle, is given:—
“AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, Oct. 8.—Yesterday there was a grand exhibition made by
the English boxers. This hideous spectacle attracted but few spectators.
The two champions, built like Hercules, and naked to their waists,
entered the lists, their hands guarded by huge wadded gloves. One might
imagine that he beheld the ancient athletic games of Greece and Rome.
After a severe contest, one of the boxers, more adroit than his rival,
struck him so violent a blow on the breast that he fell, and victory was
thus decided.”
On Cooper’s return to London, a benefit was given him at the Fives
Court, but no customer offering to enter the lists with him, he left the
metropolis for Edinburgh. The heroes of the ring viewed Cooper with
considerable jealousy, and murmured much at his having the court granted
to him, observing that he went about sparring, and such a privilege as a
benefit at the Fives Court should only be granted to fighting men. In
reply to this ill-natured assertion, Cooper urged that no one would
fight him.
A few months after the above-named benefit Cooper again visited the
metropolis, when he quite unexpectedly had a tremendous turn-up with a
new black, under the following circumstances, to which the remarks
already made on the affair between Richmond and Power are equally
applicable. “We condense from “Boxiana:””
For the purpose of making a match between Oliver and Dan Donnelly, a
sporting dinner was got up, among a select few, at Tom Oliver’s house,
in Peter Street, Westminster, on Tuesday May 11, 1819. The head of the
table was graced by warriors, both naval and military, whose country had
felt and has acknowledged their services. At the bottom, the gay little
Scroggins was placed in the chair, supported on his right by Spring,
Donnelly, and Cooper; on his left appeared Turner, Oliver, and Carter.
The latter was in mourning for his recent defeat by Tom Spring, at
Crawley Down. On the removal of the cloth, the “gaily circling glass”
was passed round with bumpers; and the patrons of pugilism and
pugilists, were toasted with due spirit. Things were going on in this
pleasant manner, when Oliver entered, and informed the chairman that a
gemman of colour was below, and wished to be introduced to the company;
but having “no card,” to send up in due form, he begged it might be
announced that “Massa Kendrick, of St. Kitt’s, by way of dessert,
offered his services to any of the milling heroes present.” The
chairman, with the concurrence of his friends, agreed he should be
accommodated, and ordered him to wait, and hold himself in readiness.
Donnelly was asked if he would take the job in hand for ten guineas, but
he seemed to think that the first essay of the Champion of Ireland ought
not to be hid in a room, and that the prize ring only would satisfy the
amateurs at large, and prove suitable to his own character. This
objection was considered valid. Carter said he could “lick all the
blacks,” and was anxious to put the blunt into his pocket, but it was
thought somewhat too early for him to have another combat. A noble lord
requested Cooper to give them a “taste of his high quality,” but the
latter did not wish to soil his mawleys for less than a purse of 25
guineas. Scroggins now begged to be heard, saying “as how, if Cooper
fought this here black, he being such a good fighter, it would not last
five minutes; whereas he would do it for the ten quid, and with him and
Massa it must prove a sporting fight” (bravo! and laughter). In the true
sportsmen’s style, a handicap purse was made, and the £26 5_s._ of soft,
etc., was produced on the table in a twinkling. The purse being ready,
tables, glasses, decanters, and the good things of this life, were
removed with the celerity of a pantomime transformation, and a clear
stage and fair play announced. Everything being ready, Massa Kendrick
was introduced. He grinned with delight at the thought of the 25 guinea
prize. He was a tall, bony, athletic chap, possessed a furious nob,
young and strong, about 13 stone weight, and by no means deficient in
pluck. He proved to be the same man who threatened, at Randall’s
benefit, to mill all the “big ones,” at the door of the Fives Court, and
attacked Richmond in the street. He was told if he won he would have 21
guineas, and if he lost, four. “Berry well,” replied the sable champion,
“see how him’ll win it.” The man of colour was seconded by Carter and
West Country Dick; Oliver and Donnelly attended upon Cooper. Betting now
commenced in this little circle of first-rates, and ten to five was
offered upon Cooper. A gentleman, whose conduct upon all sporting
occasions has been the theme of panegyric, held the watch. The fight
commenced about eleven o’clock, p.m.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On setting to the Black looked
formidable; but, in the opinion of the amateurs,
from the well known excellence and finishing
qualities of Cooper, it was thought a few rounds
would completely satisfy the ambitious spirit of
Massa. The Black, however, rushed in and hit
Cooper, and in closing, had the latter down, and
undermost.
2.—Massa made play, and hit Cooper bang in the
head. In closing, some slight milling occurred,
and both down, Massa undermost.
3 to 8.—The Black got some ugly props, but he
would not be denied, and rushed in; both down
every round.
9 to 11.—In the last named round, Cooper put
in a rare stopper on the head, and had Massa
undermost.
12 to 14.—Massa hit Cooper down in the first
and last of these rounds. “It’s not so safe,”
was the cry; the courage of Massa excited some
interest, and procured him friends.
15 to 26.—In all these rounds the Black appeared
a troublesome customer, and the narrowness of
the room gave him the advantages of rushing in
and getting Cooper down. The latter put in some
good hits, but the courage and fighting of the
Black were not reduced; in fact, six to five was
offered upon Massa.
27 to 30.—It was evident the powers of Cooper
were under the influence of wine. His fine
science was not seen; his heretofore desperate
hitting not witnessed; and the rushing blows of
the Black, at times nobbing him, Cooper went
down very weak.
31 to 34.—The right hand of Massa was
continually at work, and he punished Cooper
considerably about the head. This last round was
severely contested. Cooper could not get his
distance to make a hit, the Black bored so much
upon him. The claret was now running down
Cooper’s face; he, however, got a turn, and sent
Massa down.
35.—Cooper made some hits; but the Black sent
him down.
36 to 40.—In some of these rounds Cooper planted
a few hits, but they were not effective. The
Black disregarded them and took the bottle to
drink. Cooper fell from a blow much exhausted.
Some long faces were to be seen; indeed, so
confident were some of the amateurs present,
that Cooper was backed at odds that he won it in
a quarter of an hour, but these bets had long
been decided. The Black was now taken, that
Cooper did not beat him in fifty minutes.
41.—The Black put in a tremendous smasher on
Cooper’s nose, the claret appeared, and he went
down distressed.
42 to 50.—Massa was yet strong; and the
encouragement of “Bravo!” and “The Black must
win it,” and “I’ll have the Black for £100,”
gave him greater confidence; and he not only
continued rushing, but had the best of it. He
hit Cooper down severely.
51 to 53.—These were sharp rounds, but Cooper
could not turn the chance against him, and great
alarm was felt by his friends that the man of
colour would, ultimately triumph. Both down.
54.—The Black was severely thrown.
55.—Massa confidently went up to his opponent
and paid away with his right hand. Some sharp
exchanges followed: but Cooper received so
severe a nobber, that he fell down and turned
on his face. The Black was now decidedly the
favourite.
56.—Cooper had scarcely been seated on the knee
of his bottle-holder ten seconds, when a
gentleman who had backed Massa, called out,
“Time, time.” The umpire, with much animation,
demanded to know his reason for so doing, as
well as pointing out to him the impropriety of
such conduct. It caused no further interruption.
In closing, Cooper was down.
57 to 60.—In one of these rounds Cooper was
heavily hit down. The cognoscenti were utterly
astonished; and the pugilists present could
scarcely believe that the scientific Cooper was
fighting. A novice, completely unknown to the
ring, was positively getting the best of him,
and, to all appearance, winning the fight. “What
are you about, Cooper?” was the cry.
61.—Cooper, it appeared, could not get away; but
he now drew back, and with his right arm met
Massa right in the middle of his canister as
he was furiously coming in, and the Black was
floored. “That’s the way to win it, Cooper!”
62.—The fumes of the wine were slowly
evaporating, and the film removing from Cooper’s
eyes. In fact, he appeared to recollect himself,
and mentally to exclaim, “Cooper’s himself
again!” The last nobber seemed rather to have
spoilt the Black’s distance, and he now hit
short. Cooper again canistered him, and the
ogles of Massa rolled with astonishment. It was
a small touch of electricity, and the Black was
not proof against the shock. In closing, both
down.
63 to 65.—Cooper’s quality now began to peep
out a little; and Massa appeared not quite so
lively, from the severe hits he had received
in these rounds. The Black did not relish this
change in his fortune; and he indicated to his
seconds something like “enough!” Both down.
66.—The Black made a miss, and napped a facer;
he missed again and again, and his nob paid for
it. The campaign had now changed, and “Cooper
for £100,” was the cry.
67.—Massa was hit down.
68.—Cooper began now to recover the use of his
arms, and he exerted them to some purpose. The
Black was met at every point, and finally sent
down.
69 and last.—The Black still showed fight; but
got such a bodier, besides punishment upon his
upper works, that when time was called he did
not answer the sound, and victory was declared
in favour of Cooper. Massa tried to leave his
second’s knee, but dropped exhausted. The Black
did not show much punishment, except one of his
eyes, which was rather damaged; but Cooper was
heavily damaged about the head. It occupied an
hour and five minutes.
REMARKS.—The Black was certainly a troublesome
customer, and weighed above a stone heavier than
his opponent. Indeed, the event was doubtful for
a long time; but, in all probability, had the
combat taken place in the ring, and with the
advantages of training, Cooper would have made a
short reckoning of it. It should be recollected,
Massa came prepared, and Cooper was taken by
surprise from the table, late in the evening,
and primed with wine. Massa put on his clothes,
received the four guineas, and walked home. The
Black hit well with his right, and it was
thought this turn up might have led to a regular
match, Massa being rather fancied by some of the
amateurs present, who urged that if he was sent
out to nurse, his victualling office put into
commission, with the advantages of patronage,
and the improved effects resulting from
training, he might then be capable of making a
good stand against any one of his weight. The
previous fame acquired by Cooper suffered
considerably by this hasty combat.
The Black, although defeated, gained a few friends; and a purse of £50
was offered to be given to Cooper and Kendrick to have a ring fight; but
the former, much to the surprise of the sporting world, declined it,
observing, “It would be of no use to him; it being his wish and
intention to fight a boxer of some note, defeating Kendrick would not
add to his reputation.” This answer was not well received, it being
thought by the amateurs, that the £50 would be like a gift to George
Cooper. At Shelton’s benefit at the Fives Court, on Tuesday, June 22,
1819, the set-to between Cooper and the Gas Man, claimed universal
attention. It was fine science against confidence and boring, or, in
other words, sparring versus fighting. Cooper stopped almost every hit,
and gave Gas some severe nobbers in return. His attitude and mode of
setting-to were pronounced beautiful. The man of Gas gave in in
consequence of “hurting his hand.”
From the superior abilities displayed by Cooper in this glove bout, the
minds of the amateurs were made up decidedly in his favour. It was
however, afterwards asserted that the Gas Man “gammoned it.”
At the Minor theatre, on Tuesday, May 25, 1819, when Donnelly, Carter,
and Cooper, took a benefit, the following circumstance tended to raise
the scientific acquirements of the latter still more highly in the
estimation of the public.
Upon Randall’s appearing on the stage as a spectator, there was a
general cry of “Randall, Randall;” and the Nonpareil immediately
gratified the wishes of the audience by entering the lists with the
accomplished scientific Cooper. From the well-known excellence of both
the men, a great treat was expected, and most certainly an extraordinary
trial of skill was exhibited. Cooper was extremely unwell; nevertheless,
the elegance of his manner, the admirable stops he made, the peculiar
style of bobbing his head aside to avoid the coming blow, his fine
position, either to protect himself or to give the assault, and his
formidable hitting at out-fighting, claimed the admiration and praise of
every one present; and much astonishment was expressed how a novice (the
Black) could have mauled him so much in their recent turn-up, without he
had been “how came you so,” indeed. This set-to was also a fine
opportunity for Randall to show his pugilistic perfection. He was here
opposed to first-rate talents, and he proved himself a Nonpareil indeed.
In addition to the superior skill of Cooper, Randall had also weight and
length against him. Randall, though not so showy and elegant as his
opponent, proved equally effective; he stopped with much adroitness, hit
with his antagonist, and put in a little one now and then with a nicety
of eye that showed he suffered not the slightest opening to escape him.
In the last round, Randall exhibited the severity of his peculiar style
of in-fighting, with which the combat closed. Thunders of applause
compensated the combatants for their exertions. Such an exhibition of
the art of self-defence is not often witnessed; for it is only in
placing men of similar talent against each other that interesting
exhibitions can be made.
In July, 1819, Cooper, in his cards of address, informed the public that
in consequence of his not being able to get a customer, to fill up his
time he was giving practical illustrations on the art of self-defence,
at his rooms, in Cateaton Street, for a short time, previous to his
return to Edinburgh.
A match was now proposed, for £100 a-side, between Shelton and Cooper,
but owing to some trifling obstacles it went off for that year, when
Cooper, in company with Donnelly, set out on a sparring tour to
Manchester, Liverpool, Ireland, Edinburgh, etc.
Early in the spring of 1820, George returned to London, and lost no time
in communicating his intentions to the amateurs of once more entering
the prize ring. Therefore, on Tuesday, March 7, Cooper appeared at the
Fives Court, at Shelton’s benefit, when he mounted the stage and thus
addressed the audience:—“Gentlemen, I have come from Edinburgh to
London, not for the sake of sparring, for I mean fighting, and nothing
else (bravo!) I will fight Shelton for from £100 to £200, and give him
his own time; and I will also fight any man of my own weight in the
kingdom for £50 a-side in three weeks.” Shelton immediately accepted the
challenge.
This public declaration of Cooper’s put him “all right” with the
amateurs: and betting commenced briskly upon the event. The match for
£100 a-side was made on the Friday evening following, at Shelton’s
house, the Bull’s Head in Cow Lane, Smithfield, to come off on Tuesday,
June 27, 1820, in a twenty-four feet ring; a deposit of £20 a-side being
put down.
In consequence of Cooper’s also giving a challenge to any man of his
weight in the kingdom, to fight for £50 a-side in three weeks, a match
was proposed to Hickman (the Gas Light Man) to enter the lists with
Cooper. Both the combatants meeting at the Royal Tennis Court, at Cy.
Davis’s benefit, on Tuesday, March 14, Hickman said he had no objection
to it, provided Cooper did not weigh more than he did. Upon reference to
the scales, it appeared that the Gas Light Man was the heavier by a
quarter of a pound. Mr. Jackson guaranteed a purse, the contest was
decided upon, and both men went into training.
On Tuesday, the 28th of March, 1820, Hickman and Cooper fought at
Farnham Royal, near Dawney Common, contiguous to Stowe House,
Buckinghamshire, twenty-four miles from London, immediately after Martin
and Cabbage had left the ring. The current betting was two to one upon
Cooper on setting-to; but, to the astonishment of the good judges,
Hickman proved the conqueror in the short space of fifteen minutes. This
surprising contest will be found detailed in the memoir of HICKMAN, in
Period V.
Notwithstanding this unexpected defeat Cooper satisfied the amateurs
that his game was as good as his science; and, as a proof that he had
not lost the patronage of the sporting world, his benefit at the Fives
Court, only two days after the battle, was well attended. Cooper took
the money at the door, his head tied up with a handkerchief, and
exhibiting marks of tremendous punishment.
It was whispered about, that in consequence of this defeat the match
would be off between Cooper and Shelton, and the £20 down forfeited; but
as another proof that George had not lost the confidence of his backers,
his money, £100, was made good with the greatest alacrity. Shelton,
however, was the favourite, at six and five to four, and unusual
interest was excited throughout the sporting world.
On Tuesday, June 27, 1820, an intensely hot day, the ring-goers, great
and small, again had a sporting day. The attraction to that delightful
spot, Moulsey Hurst, to witness two such pugilistic stars as George
Cooper and Tom Shelton was indeed great. The weather, it is well known,
can never deter the thorough-bred admirers of pugilism and life; who
among the fancy in those palmy days of the ring, could miss such a
treat? or who could deny himself the sight of the bustling scene of life
so graphically described in the lines appended?
“To see the Hurst with tents encamp’d on,
Look around Lawrence’s at Hampton,
Join the flash crowd (the horse being led
Into the yard, and clean’d and fed);
Talk to Dav. Hudson and Cy. Davis,
(The last a fighting _rara avis_),
And, half in secret, scheme and plan
A trial for Gas Light Man.
“’Tis life to cross the laden ferry,
With boon companions, wild and merry,
And see the ring upon the Hurst,
With carts encircled—hear the burst,
At distance, of the eager crowd—
Oh, it is life to see a proud
And dauntless man step, full of hopes,
Up to the P. R. stakes and ropes,
Throw in his hat, and, with a spring,
Get gallantly within the ring;
Eye the wide crowd, and walk awhile,
Taking all cheerings with a smile:
To see him strip—his well train’d form,
White, glowing, muscular, and warm,
All beautiful, in conscious power
Relaxed and quiet, till the hour;
His glossy and transparent frame,
In radiant plight to strive for fame.
To look upon the clean shaped limb
In silk and flannel clothed trim;—
While round the waist the ’kerchief tied
Makes the flesh glow in richer pride.
’Tis more than life—to watch him hold
His hand forth, tremulous yet bold,
Over his second’s, and so clasp
His rival’s in a quiet grasp;
To watch the noble attitude
He takes—the crowd in breathless mood;
And then to see, with adamant start
The muscles set—and the great heart
Hurl a courageous splendid light
Into the eye—and then—the Fight!”[151]
Cooper, since his defeat by the Gas Light Man, had rather lost ground in
the estimation of the amateurs; and Shelton was decidedly the favourite,
at six and five to four. But the odds were reduced on the night previous
to the battle, and the takers had the majority. The Hurst displayed a
fine show of the Corinthians. At five minutes after one, Cooper, dressed
in a smock frock, entered the ring, and threw up his hat, followed by
his seconds Belcher and Harmer. Shortly afterwards Shelton also threw up
his hat, he was attended by Randall and Spring. The betting was guineas
to pounds.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, Shelton appeared in the
highest condition; so careful and attentive had
he been to the rules of training, that it was
asserted a glass of spirits had not passed his
lips for the previous four months. Cooper looked
pale, and his backers wished that he had had the
advantage of one more week’s training; still it
was observed that George was never in better
fighting trim. On setting-to both combatants
appeared equally confident. After eyeing each
other for about a half minute, and dodging to
obtain a good opportunity to plant the first
hit; Shelton tried to put in one, two, but
without effect. He then followed Cooper close
into the corner of the ring (in the style of the
Gas Light Man, but without his execution), and
after some exchanges, in appearance rather to
the advantage of Shelton, both went down in a
close, Cooper undermost. (Loud shouting, and “Go
along Shelton; that’s the way, my boy!”)
2.—Cooper, with the utmost dexterity, put in a
tremendous hit with his right hand on the ribs
of his opponent, and broke away without getting
any return. This blow was so terrific as to
make Shelton bend like a bow. Cooper repeated
the dose, and got away. Shelton now pursued
Cooper, and made a hit; but in return received a
flooring blow under his left eye, that not only
produced the claret, but he turned and fell on
one knee. (Cooper’s partizans were roaring with
delight, “You’re sure to win it, George.”)
3.—The fine science of Cooper now burst forth,
and another ribber was the result, the agony of
which was seen in Shelton’s face. The latter,
however, administered some severe punishment
when in-fighting till both went down.
4.—Caution on both sides marked the commencement
of this round. The hits were tremendous; but
Shelton at in-fighting had the best of it; he
also gave Cooper so severe a nobber, that he in
turn went round and fell. (“Bravo, Shelton; it’s
all right.”)
5.—Shelton could not protect his ribs, and
another dreadful hit upon them was the
consequence; he was again screwed up, as it
were, and Cooper got away. Shelton, however, in
most courageous style, returned to the attack,
and planted a tremendous blow on Cooper’s face.
Cooper staggered and went down. (Five to three
on Shelton, and tumultuous applause.)
6.—The fighting on both sides was excellent,
till the men got to the ropes in a close, when
fibbing was resorted to by both in turn. Shelton
kept punishing his opponent’s nob; while Cooper
was giving pepper to the body and ribs of
Shelton. Cooper, by a desperate effort, jumped
up and hit Shelton in the face. Both went down,
their nobs exhibiting severe punishment.
7.—The superior fighting of Cooper in this round
claimed the admiration, and obtained cheers from
all parts of the ring. He not only ribbed his
opponent heavily, and broke ground, but stopped
Shelton (excellent fighter as the latter showed
himself) in a style that astonished the oldest
amateur. In closing, both down.
8.—To say that Shelton did not show game of the
first quality, or that the bottom displayed by
Cooper was not equal to anything ever exhibited
in the prize ring, would not be doing these
brave fellows common justice. The latter again
hit, stopped, and got away cleverly; still
Shelton stuck close to his opponent, and made
many good stops. At the ropes more fibbing was
attempted, when Cooper held Shelton’s hands,
till both went down. (Well done, both sides.)
9.—This round was truly singular. The counter
hits were so dreadful and effective, that both
of the combatants were beaten to a stand-still.
They hit each other away for about two yards,
and were so distressed that they kept their
situations, looking at each other, without being
able to move forward, or to make a blow. They at
length recovered a little, being too manly to go
down, and scrambled towards each other to the
ropes, when both went down. (Great applause, and
“They’re out-and-outers,” was the general cry.)
10.—This was also a fine manly round. Hit
for hit was exchanged till both were quite
exhausted, when Cooper went down. Shelton
fell upon the latter, with his knees on his
chest.
11.—Shelton, as if determined to spoil the fine
science of his opponent, set-to so sharply that
he completely out-fought himself, and fell
exhausted. (“He’s going, George; you’ve got
him.” Fifteen minutes had now elapsed.)
12.—Cooper put in a tremendous facer, and got
away. Shelton, anxious to lose no opportunity,
followed his man, and exchanged some hard blows.
Cooper slipped down, but in losing his balance,
he gave Shelton a severe nobber. (The odds had
now completely shifted, and Cooper was so
decidedly the favourite, that two and three to
one were offered with confidence.)
13.—It must be confessed that Shelton was a fine
fighter; a good hitter with both his hands, and
parried in a masterly style; and in this round
he showed great knowledge of the pugilistic art.
Cooper received a dreadful stomacher, that
almost vociferated “Bellows to mend.” The
latter, however, sparred till he recovered
himself. Shelton cleverly stopped a mischievous
nobber, and a terrific rally ensued at the
ropes; Shelton was so much exhausted, that he
almost laid himself down. (Great applause, and
“Cooper must win it.”)
14.—This round was short, but decisive. Shelton
went down like a shot from a blow on the head.
The best judge in the fancy, and whose opinion
is nearly law, concurred in the general
sentiment, that “it was all over.” (Three to one
a begging, and no customers to be met with.)
15.—Shelton, in the most tottering, pitiable
state, reached the scratch. “His face bespoke a
heart full sore.” The heat was at this time 90
degrees in the shade, and Sol’s burning rays
seemed positively to pour down liquid heat. Many
of the spectators were compelled to quit the
ring, to avoid fainting. Let the reader, then,
picture to his imagination what must have been
the distressed state of the combatants. Cooper
was too languid to follow up his success, and
the energies of Shelton were spent. A sort of
pushing took place, when Cooper slipped down.
16.—Cooper came up to the scratch improved in
strength, and had the best of the hitting; in
going down, he fell with his whole weight upon
his opponent. (The partizans of Cooper opened
their mouths, and loudly offered four, and some
six, to one, with nearly as much confidence as
if the battle had been won.)
17.—Shelton, all but gone, went down quite
exhausted.
18.—Cooper’s nob exhibited severe punishment,
and Shelton, upon commencing this round,
appeared a little better. Two heavy counter hits
on the head followed, and it was altogether a
sharp round. Cooper was completely turned by a
hit. In struggling, both down.
19.—After some sharp exchanges at the ropes, on
which Shelton was hanging, Cooper might have
finished the battle, but he held up his hands
and walked away, and Shelton went down. (“Bravo!
that’s noble. Who would not respect true
courage, and admire the English character?” were
the general observations of the ring.)
20.—Shelton recovering; both down in the corner
of the ring, and Cooper undermost.
21.—This was a truly desperate round. The men
again hit each other away—stood still for a few
seconds, but could not proceed; both were too
game to go down. Severe fibbing at the ropes
finished the round, till both fell. Cooper had
the worst of it.
22.—The nob of Cooper was clareted in profusion.
He came to the scratch feeble; and, after two or
three blows, nearly laid himself down. (“Here’s
a change!” was the cry, and Shelton again the
favourite.)
23.—Cooper was soon down. Shelton, from the lead
he had taken in the last three rounds, seemed
quite an altered man. He took the bottle out of
his second’s hand, and drank some water, and, in
a scrutinizing manner, turned round to look at
the distressed situation of Cooper; he seemed,
from the smiling state of his countenance, to
think that “it was all right.”
24.—Sharp work; but Cooper down.
25.—The latter made some good hits, but was sent
down.
26.—Cooper getting extremely weak, but his
science never deserted him, and he made some
hits tell before he got down upon the turf.
(Four to one on Shelton.)
27.—This round was completely Shelton’s own.
Cooper received all the hits, one of which, in
the mug, was enough to finish any man in such a
languid state; he went down exhausted in the
extreme. In consequence of Shelton’s commencing
this round rather quickly, in the Gas style,
Belcher called out to the umpires to observe
that both of the men set-to from the scratch.
The umpires immediately attended to the request,
and cautioned Shelton. (Shelton for almost any
odds, but five and six to one might be had in
any part of the ring.)
28.—This round showed the advantages of science
in perfection. Cooper was so far gone that he
seemed not to have a hit in him. Shelton, like a
good fighter, perceiving that the _coup de
grace_ was necessary, and no danger to be
apprehended, from giving it, went boldly in to
pepper his opponent, and put an end to his
troubles; when, strange to say, the guard of
Cooper was so fine, that he parried off all the
force of his opponent’s blows, till he fell from
mere exhaustion. (“Bravo! Cooper; you’re an
excellent man.”)
29.—Shelton made some good hits, but Cooper
stopped “beautifully,” till he again felt the
turf. (Seven to one.)
30.—It was expected another round would finish
it, from the exhausted state of Cooper. The
latter fought like a hero, but received a facer,
staggered, and fell. (“It’s all up—he can’t come
again.” Ten to one.)
31.—The intense heat of the sun still
continuing, so added to the languor of Cooper,
that it seemed almost impossible he could appear
at the scratch. George, nevertheless, made some
hits, and stopped with great skill; yet he got
the worst of it, and was sent out of the ropes.
(Any odds on Shelton, and “Take him away, he
can’t win it!”)
32.—How fallible is often the judgment of the
multitude! Cooper, to the astonishment of every
one present, lifted up the ropes with his hand,
and came into the ring with but little
assistance; while on the knee of his second the
“water of life” was administered to him, and
produced the desired effect. This was a good
round, and Cooper still showed fight and
science. Shelton, however, made a right-handed
hit on Cooper’s face, and immediately afterwards
repeated it with the back of the same hand.
Cooper went down very weak. Ten pounds to
half-a-crown was offered. While Cooper was lying
on the ground, and he was ordered to remain in
that state by Belcher, Oliver came to the
latter, and begged of him to take Cooper away,
as he had no chance whatever to win. “Blow my
Dickey,” replies Tom; “very pretty advice,
indeed! What! take a winning man away? Oh, no!
we’ll leave it all to the cook!”
33.—Cooper showed fight, till both went down.
(£100 to £5, and £100 to £3, were offered upon
Shelton, so strongly did it appear to some old
betting men that Shelton must win it.)
34 and last.—The conclusion of this round
operated upon the spectators like a well
executed conjuring trick. On setting-to, some
little pushing took place, when Cooper appeared
as if in the act of going down. Catching the
upper rope with his right, he gathered himself
well up, and making a firm stand, let fly with
his left hand so dreadfully upon Shelton’s
mouth, that he instantly fell (slightly touching
the stake with his head) upon his side, like a
lump of lead. The fight was all out of him. His
seconds, Spring and Randall, with the greatest
alacrity, dragged him up, as it were, for he had
no movement in him. This was a most interesting
moment. Cooper sat on Harmer’s knee, and as
Belcher was wiping him with the handkerchief,
half turned round, watching the appearance of
Shelton, and with a part of his eye directed
towards the umpires and referee, who had all
their stop-watches in their hands, waiting for
the decisive moment to arrive. The anxiety of
Belcher’s face was a perfect study, and his
fingers had almost involuntarily reached his
topper, when “Time” was called; but the game,
the gallant, and unfortunate Shelton heard not
the sound, and victory was proclaimed for
Cooper. It was indeed a proud moment for him. He
lifted up his hands and waved one over his head,
and left the ring, amidst the cheers of the
spectators. The battle was over in thirty-four
minutes.
REMARKS.—Cooper proved himself not only one of
the finest fighters on the list, but as game a
man as is to be found throughout the annals of
pugilism. The intense heat of the sun was enough
to annihilate the strength of a giant. Shelton
also proved himself a first-rate pugilist, with
courage of the highest quality. It was remarked
that Shelton’s two last fights were in the
extremes—upon the coldest and hottest days in
the season. Further comment is unnecessary, as
it was admitted by all persons present to have
been one of the greatest pugilistic treats
witnessed for the previous twenty years. The
amateurs were delighted beyond measure, and
before Cooper left the ring, a gentleman offered
to back him against the Gas Light Man for 100
guineas.
Cooper was severely punished; he, however, did not remain longer in
London than was actually necessary to reinstate him in his health, when
he returned to Edinburgh to take possession of the Britannia Tavern, in
Leith Street.
Cooper’s triumph over Shelton so far restored him in the esteem of his
friends, that a second match with the tremendous Gas was loudly talked
of in the sporting circles; and in the month of October, 1820, at a
sporting dinner at the Castle, Tom Belcher posted a £5 note for a second
battle, against the like amount of Hickman’s, to fight for £100 a-side.
Cooper at this time was in Edinburgh; but the money was forfeited on
Cooper returning the following answer, per post:—“Owing to the distance
of 400 miles, which must of necessity be traversed at an inclement
season of the year” (less then a week would not then suffice, be it
remembered), “his friends in the North had advised him to decline the
offer at present; nevertheless, he wished it to be understood that he
would increase the sum to £200 a-side, and meet Hickman in April, 1821.
If, however, his English backers desired him absolutely to come without
delay, he would comply with their wishes, and travel southward
immediately.”
An amateur who was present at the reading of this letter observed, with
very bad taste, “that Cooper did not dare to fight Hickman;” and
Hickman, following suit, said, “that he would sooner have given 20
guineas himself, than such a disappointment should have occurred in the
sporting world.” Hickman made sure, according to his own expressions,
that he could “beat Cooper in a canter.”
In consequence of the backers of Cooper having forfeited to Hickman upon
the second match, as above stated, the interest in the sporting world
was much increased when the third match was made for 100 guineas a-side,
in December, 1820, and the battle announced to take place on the ensuing
11th of April.
Cooper arrived in London, from Edinburgh (riding the whole of the 400
miles on horseback), on the 1st of March. From the circumstance of a man
like Cooper, who had been defeated in the short space of fourteen
minutes and a half, leaving a good business at the Britannia Tavern,
Leith Street, Edinburgh, again to meet his opponent, subject to the
general opinion of the fancy against him, he was justly pronounced to be
one of the gamest men alive. The odds were six and seven to four against
him. It was, however, thought by several of his friends, that his “fine
fighting” would enable him to win it; and Cooper was confident in the
extreme. During his training, at Riddlesdown, where he was taken great
care of, he had a severe attack of illness, dyspepsia supervening, and
boils breaking out upon his legs; a sufficient warning, we should think,
that he was unfit for the hardy exercise imposed by training. The battle
lasted but two rounds, and in three minutes our hero bit the dust a
second time, from literally a chance shot under the ear! (See the
details in the Life of HICKMAN, _post_.) The following remarks from a
contemporary magazine, will show that there was more misfortune than
disgrace in this second defeat:—
“It has created considerable surprise among the fancy, that no mark was
left from a blow which effected such terrible execution; but that
surprise must immediately cease, when it is explained anatomically. Had
the blow come in contact with the angle of the jaw, a bruise might have
been perceived; but even a slight hit on the jugular vein is capable of
shaking the brain, suspending the circulation of the blood to and from
the heart, and creating a sort of apoplexy. In like manner a heavy hit
on the fleshy part of the neck may not leave a mark. Had Cooper been in
proper condition, in all probability it would not have taken so severe
an effect. During his training, ten boils came out on one of his legs,
which so crippled him for a week, that he was compelled to rest it on a
chair; and when that leg got well, boils broke out on the other; in
consequence of which an old trainer (old Joe Ward), advised Cooper to
take ‘three sweats’—the doctor also physicked him on the evening
previous to the battle. If his leg had not been lanced he could not have
walked to the ring; and on the morning of the battle his leg was also
dressed half an hour before the fight.” Cooper was anxious for another
trial, and several gentlemen promised to back him. “If he did not fight
Hickman,” he said, “he would not fight any other person,” as he did not
feel himself satisfied, as Pat observed, until he got “the value of a
good bating.”
After the unexpected termination of this second encounter, Cooper seated
himself beside the ring to witness the following battle between Collier
and Evans. He was evidently more hurt in mind than body.
Cooper now lay by for nearly four years; he repaired to London in the
spring of 1825, where, after a sparring bout, at the Fives Court, with
Bill Eales, at Scroggins’s benefit, on Tuesday, April 26th, he was
challenged by White-headed Bob (Ned Baldwin), and £50 was deposited, to
be made £200 a-side, and to fight the first week in July. The
constitutional warnings above noticed should have deterred Cooper from
this contest with a game, fresh young man, but his spirit said no, and
on the 5th of July, 1825, the scientific George Cooper closed his career
in defeat. In this battle nature deserted him, and he broke the small
bone of his right leg, in the 18th round, by a mere twist of the foot,
consequent on the length of the spikes in his shoes; nevertheless, he
came up three more rounds ere he surrendered.
This was Cooper’s last appearance; he deserved and retained the respect
of those who knew him best, until his death, which took place at
Laughton Gate, near Liverpool, February 14, 1834, in the 43rd year of
his age.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V.
TOM SHELTON, “THE NAVIGATOR”—1812‒1825.
This stalwart “navigator,”[152] at one period bid fair for a higher
position on the pugilistic roll than his latter contests assigned to
him. He was born at Wrotham, in Kent, on the 1st of May, 1787, where,
when Tom was in the fourth year of his age, the memorable battle of Tom
Johnson and Big Ben (Brain), took place for the championship. Tom used
to say that in his boyhood this great fight, with its incidents, and the
appearance of the champions, was the frequent theme of rustic talk, and
deeply interested his youthful mind; the spot, often pointed out, being
a short half mile from the cottage in which Shelton first saw the light.
At the age of three and twenty Tom found himself in London, and aspired
to boxing fame. In height five feet ten inches, in weight twelve stone
seven pounds, and inured to hard labour by his calling, Tom was “big
enough and heavy enough” for anything. In August, 1812, having made the
acquaintance of Caleb Baldwin, he was matched with Fitzgerald, an
Irishman, of sixteen stone, and six feet and an inch. It was a sharp
contest for the space of fifty-four minutes, when Shelton was declared
the conqueror. The spectators who witnessed the efforts of the Navigator
upon this occasion were astonished at the boxing requisites he
displayed.
Two years, however, elapsed, during which Tom followed his calling,
occasionally looking in at the Fives Court, where on the 31st May, 1814,
at Cribb’s benefit, he put on the gloves as a “novice,” with Harry
Harmer. In this affair Shelton showed so much courage and strength that
many fancied him a match for that skilful professor. He was accordingly
backed, after a long palaver of a twelvemonth, for 100 guineas, and on
the 18th April, 1815, on Hounslow Heath, was cleverly defeated, after a
most heroic battle of thirty-five minutes, fighting from beginning to
end. (See Life of HARMER, Appendix to Period IV).
A Suffolk farmer, of the name of Studd, of superior weight and strength,
anxious to obtain the honours of the ring, was matched with Shelton, for
a subscription purse of twenty-five guineas. The mill took place on
Tuesday, the 27th of June, 1815, at Moulsey Hurst. Harmer and Oliver
seconded Shelton; Studd was waited upon by Richmond and Painter. Shelton
was the favourite, two to one.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The superiority of science was soon
discovered to be on the side of Shelton. The
farmer endeavoured to thrash his opponent
straight forward, and succeeded in planting two
hits, but was awkwardness itself. A rally took
place, in which Studd got the worst of it, and
went down from a severe blow upon one of his
peepers. (The odds all upon Shelton.)
2.—The farmer had no pretensions to scientific
boxing, and bored in without the slightest
judgment. Shelton nobbed him with the utmost
ease, and at length hit him down. (Four to one
on Shelton.)
3.—The farmer could not tell what to make of it.
The claret was trickling down his mug, from the
repeated facers he had experienced, and he was
floored from a right-handed blow.
4.—Studd was quite abroad, and was sent down
with the utmost ease. (Twenty to one upon
Shelton.)
5.—Shelton’s work was all done, and victory was
now certain. Studd, without discretion, rushed
head foremost in; but the left hand of Shelton
paid him dearly for his temerity, and he was
again sent down.
6.—Studd, rather desperate, fought his way into
a rally, and made one or two hits at random; but
Shelton, with the utmost ease, milled him down.
(All betters, but no takers.)
7.—Shelton hit his opponent all over the ring,
and sent him down as heretofore.
8.—On coming to the scratch, it was evident
the countryman could not last long. He appeared
to be much better acquainted with thrashing
corn than entering the prize ring. This Johnny
Raw, it would seem, had flattered himself that
the possession of strength was the main
qualification for making a win, but he paid
dearly for his erroneous notions. The science of
Shelton rendered him so much at ease, that he
treated the attempts of Studd with the utmost
contempt—he hit him all round the ropes, and
then finished the round by planting a floorer.
9 and last.—The farmer was completely satisfied
that he had no chance whatever, and resigned
the contest. Shelton retired from the ring
without a mark upon his face, or a blow of any
consequence. Studd was much punished, and his
optics in a damaged state. This combat did not
exceed thirteen minutes and a half.
Owing to some private pique, a match was made between Shelton and
Richmond, which was decided at Moulsey Hurst, on Tuesday, the 1st of
August, 1815, in which Shelton was defeated. Shelton, it seems, had
received some instructions from Richmond. See page 298, _ante_.
Soon after this encounter, Shelton was visited by a severe illness, and
so reduced in weight and strength that it was supposed he would never
again enter the ring. He became a publican, by the aid of his friends,
at the Bull’s Head, Cow Lane (since West Street), Smithfield, but his
gambling propensities caused his failure in this line. In March, 1819,
however, the following battle, which took place on the spur of the
moment, tended to raise Shelton’s fame highly in the esteem of the
amateurs. Shelton (who had been seconding Hickman) was induced to fight
a nephew of Ben Burn, the pugilist, a giant by comparison, weighing
nearly, if not quite, sixteen stone, for a subscription purse of twenty
guineas. Shelton was much out of condition, but on the match being
proposed to him, he instantly accepted it; he however advised his
friends to be careful about backing him. Spring and Richmond seconded
Burn, and Oliver and Harmer picked up Shelton.
[Illustration:
TOM SHELTON.
_From a Drawing by_ G. SHARPLES, 1821.
]
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, the Yorkshireman proved
indeed a giant; the comparison between Shelton
and his opponent was nearly similar to the
memorable contest between Perrins and
Johnson.[153] Although the face of Burn had no
terrific aspect, his bulk was truly formidable.
The spectators expressed their fears for the
result, and the general opinion was that Shelton
had shown more pluck than judgment, and that he
must soon be disposed of. Upon setting-to, this
opinion was, in a great degree, strengthened.
Burn bored in upon Shelton with confidence, and
the former seemed quite overwhelmed by this mode
of attack, and had no room to make a hit. The
length of arm possessed by Burn gave him every
advantage; he aimed a dreadful chopper at
Shelton’s nob, which told but slightly. The
latter, in a most singular manner, in getting
away turned round twice. He, however, planted a
facer, but slipped down. (“It’s all up,” was the
cry; and seven to four was offered upon the “big
one,” without hesitation.)
2.—Shelton’s left cheek was slightly tinged. The
Giant went to work, and his long arms did severe
execution. Shelton put in two belliers with
great science, and got away. Burn was awkward,
but his length enabled him to plant a facer that
seemed to stagger Shelton. At length hit for hit
took place, and both went staggering away from
the force of each other’s blows. In closing, the
struggle to obtain the throw was desperate; but
Shelton got the “big one” undermost. The roar
of applause was like the report of artillery;
but still it was thought he could not stand up
against such weight, and must ultimately be
defeated.
3.—This was a terrific round; it was downright
slaughtering. Shelton put in two bodiers, that
seemed to puff the Giant’s wind out of his
mouth. Hit for hit again occurred, without
intermission; and Shelton received such a
teazer on his left eye, that his nob was like
a spinning top. Burn was almost beat to a
stand-still, and Shelton in no better plight.
The friends of Shelton, however, now ventured
upon even betting, and took him for choice.
4.—Shelton took the lead in good fighting. He
hit on the body again, and gave Burn such a rum
one on the mouth as nearly deprived the latter
of all his masticators. The Giant, however, gave
Shelton a chopper on the top of his sconce, that
made chaos of his upper works. Still Shelton,
undismayed, fought like a hero, and ultimately
threw his opponent. By way of encouragement to
the Navigator, it was loudly vociferated,
“Shelton for £100.” If staking had proved
necessary, it might have turned out a mere
flourish.
5.—The mugs of both the combatants bespoke their
handywork. This was a ding-ong round, and the
men fought till they both fell.
6.—The strength of Shelton did not keep pace
with his good milling; he was much distressed,
and got to the ropes, Brobdignag following him
with his long chopper; the punishment was
terrific. One of the Giant’s peepers was almost
in darkness; he was also piping like a worn-out
pair of bellows; but he kept fighting till they
both went down.
7.—This round exceeded all that had gone before
it in severity. The reciprocal facers were
terrific, both of the combatants frequently
going back from the effect of the blows. Shelton
put in most hits, but was at length sent down.
8.—Shelton commenced with good science, and
nearly floored his opponent’s teeth. Brobdignag,
however, was not idle in returning nobbers;
Shelton, with much dexterity, after making a
heavy hit, instantly gave a back-hander, that
spoiled the shape of his opponent’s nose. The
applause was loud; but Shelton was sent down:
the work he had to perform before victory was
certain appeared too heavy for him to execute.
9.—Sparring and feints were out of the question;
it was nothing but execution upon both sides.
This round was equal to the seventh. Both the
men stood up and hit till their strength was
gone, when they closed and went down. Shelton
appeared distressed, but Brobdignag was also
very queer.
10.—Shelton, however, left his second’s knee
first, and appeared at the scratch. He put in
two facers without return, and also a bodier
near the mark; but the Giant, furious at such
treatment, ran in and got Shelton down. It was
thought he hit the latter unfairly, but it was
purely accidental. “Foul!” “Fair!” etc., were
loudly bawled on all sides; but the umpires did
not notice it. Oliver, with much confidence, now
offered £10 to £2 upon Shelton.
11.—It was by no means safe to Shelton, although
he came gaily up to fight. Some sharp work
occurred, and Shelton was hit down.
12 and last.—Little Gulliver seemed the giant
in this round, for Brobdignag was hit to a
stand-still. He was quite sick. He, however,
milled as long as he was able, and Shelton
received some heavy blows. In closing, both
went down; but when time was called, the Giant
could not answer the sound of the trumpet, and
victory was declared for Shelton. It occupied
about sixteen minutes. Shelton gave a dreadful
back-handed facer in this round.
REMARKS.—Shelton never took so much, nor fought
better, if so well, throughout his pugilistic
career. To say the least of it, if calculation
or comparison can be admitted, it was a sort
of “nothing venture, nothing win.” It proved
successful, and, with the many-headed, that is
the only touchstone of all exploits. Shelton not
only gained the purse by the event, but raised
himself highly in public opinion. He won by
nothing else but his good fighting. Burn knew
little about scientific boxing, but acted like a
determined man. Both men were heavily punished.
It ought not to be forgotten that Shelton had
been acting as second to the Gas man, drinking
porter, etc., and was called into action without
any training, and under every disadvantage. A
subscription was made upon the ground for Burn.
“Uncle Ben,” was much disgusted at this defeat of “cousin Bob,” and
found a dozen excellent reasons why he ought not to have lost the fight,
so that Bob was indulged with another “shy,” the money staked, and the
day fixed for Tuesday, June 1st, 1819. Moulsey Hurst was once more the
campus martius, and early on the Tuesday morning aforesaid “the lads wot
love to see a fight” were in motion. Scarcely, however, had the
cavalcade reached Hampton when it was clear from the whisperings of
groups, and the ghastly smile on the face of more than one publican,
that a screw was loose. The only anxiety now was where the mill was
likely to take place. The circumstance of the removal was in consequence
of the person who rented the ferry refusing the London watermen
permission to exercise their occupation in ferrying the passengers over
at the last fight, and also in having several of them fined for so
doing; they, in turn, vowed revenge, went to the magistrates, and laid
an information respecting the fight between Burn and Shelton. This
conduct spoiled Moulsey, and Hounslow Heath was immediately substituted.
Considerable betting occurred at all the sporting houses the preceding
evening, and the Giant was decidedly the favourite, 6 and 7 to 4. The
ring being formed at a little after one o’clock, Shelton appeared,
followed by Cribb and Randall, and threw up his hat; and Burn, with his
relative Ben Burn, and Donnelly, entered the ring. Burn threw his topper
into the roped square to answer the challenge, but the wind blew it out
to some distance. This trifling event was considered an unfavourable
omen to “Hercules.” The odds now changed, and Shelton was the favourite,
or rather it was even betting.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, Burn appeared in fine
condition. Some sparring took place, and Shelton
was rather cautious. The Giant at length let
fly with his right on Shelton’s body, but it
was slight. The latter returned a bodier with
his left sharply, and immediately planted a
tremendous facer that was heard over the ring,
repeated it still harder, and the Giant went
down like a log. (Great shouting.)
2.—The big one appeared a little confused, and
he received another nobber. He now became
furious, and made some hits; but Shelton
repeated the dose severely, and Burn fell upon
his face. (Greater shouting than before, and
five to one on Shelton was offered.)
3.—The Giant made a desperate hit on the
body, and otherwise stuck to Shelton; but
the nobbing system was again adopted by the
latter with success. In closing, both down,
Shelton uppermost.
4.—This was a tremendous round, and the hitting
upon both sides was terrific. Shelton undermost.
5.—The superior two-handed fighting of Shelton
astonished the ring. He put in five facers so
sharply, that Burn ran in after his adversary,
and, in falling, hung by the ropes till down.
6.—Sharp exchanges, till Shelton hit down Burn.
It was nothing but downright milling.
7.—Shelton hit the big one staggering away; he
would not be denied, but returned furiously to
the attack, and sent Shelton down. (“Well done,
Burn; Shelton will soon be on the go.”)
8.—Shelton broke away in fine style, but in
closing, the Giant fell upon him heavily.
9.—Shelton seemed at work at an anvil, and
closed the left eye of his opponent. He was,
however, undermost.
10.—Burn was hit almost to a stand-still; but he
recovered, and hit Shelton down. It appeared
almost impossible for Shelton to take the fight
out of his opponent.
11.—Shelton had worked so hard that he seemed
rather weak, and went down from a slight hit.
12.—The fine science of Shelton made the Giant
quite foam again. He nobbed him and broke away
with the utmost dexterity, while Gog kept
passionately following Shelton, receiving at
every step: the latter ultimately went down.
13.—This round rather alarmed the friends of
Shelton; for, although the latter kept pegging
away, he could not keep the Giant out. He seemed
to defy punishment, and resolutely ran in;
indeed, in closing, he not only fibbed Shelton
severely, but, in struggling for the throw,
positively lifted him half a foot from the
ground, when, quite exhausted, both fell.
(“Bravo! bravo!” from all parts of the ring; and
“This is something like fighting.”)
14.—Gog plunged in to work, and Shelton was
impelled forward and hung on the ropes; he,
however, extricated himself, and the big one was
undermost.
15 to 17.—The fighting was desperate in all
these rounds; but Shelton, although getting
weaker from his great exertions, kept the lead.
18.—The Giant ran in at Shelton, when the latter
stopped him with such a nobber that he went down
on his face.
19.—Burn was drunk from the nobbing he received,
still he returned manfully to the charge, till
both went down.
20.—Shelton’s face exhibited heavy punishment,
but Burn’s head was terrific—it had been in
chancery for the last ten minutes. The former
ran himself down.
21.—The Giant went down from a hit like a shot.
This blow was given in the body; the big one’s
ogles rolled again, and his tongue lolled out of
his mouth.
22.—It was astonishing to see the Giant recover
and come to the scratch. Shelton had the worst
of this round, and received some dreadful
punishment. The odds wavering a little as
Shelton went down.
23.—Shelton again down. (Even betting; some
fears expressed for Shelton’s weakness.)
24 to 26.—Not safe to Shelton in all these
rounds.
27.—A singular round. Both turned round and went
down. (Two to one on Shelton.) In this round the
latter was again lifted off his legs like a
doll.
28.—This round was so well fought by Shelton,
that Cribb roared out, “One hundred guineas to a
farthing—it’s all right.”
29 and 30.—In favour of Shelton, but both
distressed.
31.—Burn so hit that he dragged Shelton after
him as he was falling.
32.—This was a well fought round; and
notwithstanding the Giant was nobbed right away
from his opponent, he recovered, and ran after
Shelton, swinging his arms quite abroad, as it
were, and accidentally hit his man down.
33.—Shelton got up angry, and was losing his
temper, but his seconds warned him of his
danger. He at length grew cool, became himself,
fought scientifically, and by a tremendous facer
floored his big opponent. (Great shouting; and
“He’ll not fight another round.”)
34.—Notwithstanding the punishment the Giant
had received, his peepers nearly darkened, his
wind did not appear to be bad; and as for his
game, he proved himself a glutton of the first
mould. This was a sharp round and Shelton, to
the astonishment of the ring, was hit down,
although the Giant appeared quite done up the
round before.
35.—The good fighting of Shelton now made it
quite safe. He put in one, two, three so sharply
on the mug of Burn, that he went down on his
face in a state of stupor.
36.—The strength of Burn’s seconds could
scarcely drag him up to place him on their
knees. It was now Eclipse to a lame donkey; Gog
was floored in a twinkling.
37 and last.—Burn was hit down like a shot, and
could not come again. It occupied thirty-two
minutes and ten seconds. Burn was so dreadfully
beaten that it was some minutes before he was
made sensible, and carried out of the ring.
REMARKS.—Shelton proved himself this day a
superior fighter. He hit with both hands with a
facility that astonished all the amateurs; and
it was thought that not one on the list, of his
weight, could cope with him. He evinced great
game, and was in fine condition. Burn, too,
behaved manfully in the extreme; more real
courage was never witnessed.
Shelton was now matched against Benniworth, the Essex Champion, for
fifty guineas a-side, at Southend, on Friday, June 25, 1819, to fight on
that day six weeks. A deposit of £20 a-side was also put down. In
consequence of an accident, which Shelton met with at a dinner given to
Bob Gregson, at the Maid and Magpie, St. Catherine’s, on Tuesday, June
29, it was thought he must not only have forfeited to Benniworth, but
that he never would have been able to enter the Prize Ring again. The
artery of his right arm was cut across with a rummer. Two surgeons
immediately dressed the wound, and he recovered in a very short time;
but the friends of Benniworth preferred forfeiting the deposit of £20,
to risking the event of a contest.
A match of much interest was now made between Shelton and Tom Oliver
(see OLIVER, Period V.), and Thursday, December 23, 1819, named for the
battle, Copthorne, twenty-eight miles from London, being the rendezvous.
The day proved a deluge, and when the half-drowned wayfarers had reached
Blindlow Heath, twenty-three miles from town, they found that the ring
had been made there. The backers of Shelton protested against the fight
taking place on this spot, to Gibbons, the ring-maker, as being not only
contrary to the order given, but that it was swampy, and surrounded with
puddles of water; that they should proceed to Copthorne, where Shelton
had been moved the day preceding, and they left a communication for the
commander-in-chief to that effect.
On the arrival of the latter gentleman at Blindlow Heath, he sent an
express to Copthorne (which, however, did not arrive till twenty minutes
before two o’clock), for Shelton to return and meet Oliver at the former
place. Shelton declared he was ready to fight anywhere; but his backers
firmly insisted that Copthorne was the place named, and only at
Copthorne should he fight. Upon the return of the messenger to Blindlow,
Oliver threw up his hat in the ring for Shelton to come forward; a ring
was also formed at Copthorne, where Shelton waited till three o’clock
for the arrival of Oliver, but without effect. Thus, singularly enough,
there were two rings, but no fight. Kendrick and Sutton, a pair of
“niggers,” however, sported their sable skins, and Sutton was the
victor.
To return to Oliver and Shelton. The men and their friends met at
Riddlesdown, and it was formally agreed to meet at Sawbridgeworth, which
they did on the 13th January, 1820, when, after a desperate battle, full
of fluctuations, Shelton was defeated in fifty-one minutes (See OLIVER,
_post_).
The particulars of Tom’s match with George Cooper, and his defeat at
Moulsey, June 27, 1820, will be found in the memoir of GEORGE COOPER,
_ante_, p. 314.
On Tuesday, August 18, 1820, at a place called Kit’s Cotty House, about
three miles and a half from Maidstone, a purse of £20 was subscribed for
a match between Shelton and a big navigator; but in consequence of the
latter not appearing in the ring to “show fight” at the appointed time,
£10 were given to Shelton.
Carter had been for a few months in Ireland, on a sparring tour, but, on
his return, he did not seem much improved in purse or person by the
trip. Finding himself in company with Shelton, at a sporting dinner,
held at the Brown Bear, Bow Street, the Lancashire Champion spoke
disparagingly of Shelton’s capabilities; some discussion followed, and
twenty pounds being posted, Shelton replied to the boasting challenge by
accepting it instanter. The affair was short, but by no means sweet to
Carter, for Shelton beat him to a stand-still in three rounds only. This
was on the 10th of July, 1821.
The renowned Josh. Hudson was next matched with our hero, for £100
a-side; the battle was decided at Harpenden Common, near St. Alban’s, on
the 10th of December, 1822.
About a quarter before one, Josh. Hudson, stylishly dressed, with white
silk hose, and his drawers on ready for action, threw his white topper
into the ring with the confidence of a winning man, followed by his
seconds, Randall and Tom Owen. He paced up and down the ring for a
considerable time, when Shelton was called for, but he did not appear.
At length Randall, rather out of temper, said, “It was an unmanly action
to keep his man waiting so long in the cold; and if it was for his money
he would take Hudson out of the ring.” Tom Cribb soon after showed
himself, when Shelton was discovered crossing a wagon, followed by Tom
Belcher as his second. Shelton, in a very cool manner, threw his hat
into the ring, and immediately went up and shook hands with his
opponent. The colours, blue for Shelton, were tied to the stakes by
Belcher; and green, for Hudson, were tied over Shelton’s by Tom Owen.
The odds had changed since the fight was made, and Hudson was decidedly
the favourite.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, Hudson never appeared in
finer condition; but the judges of training
observed he was at least a stone heavier than he
ought to be. Shelton was a complete star; in
fact, he could not be better. His attitude on
setting-to was equal to any boxer ever seen in
the prize ring. Hudson did not, as was expected,
“go to work” _sans ceremonie_, but viewed his
opponent with much caution, and Shelton was
equally circumspect. The latter, however, made a
feint with his right hand, which fell short; but
this was merely a _ruse de guerre_ for Josh to
commence fighting. Hudson slightly touched
Shelton’s ear, when he went in—a scramble
occurred, but no blows took place. Both went
down, and Shelton undermost. (Loud shouting from
the East-enders, and six to four on Josh.)
2.—Shelton smiled, scratched his nob, and made
himself well up for mischief; the result was, a
little pepper on both sides on each other’s
mugs, till Josh, by a severe hit on the top
of Shelton’s nose, sent him off his balance,
and he fell down on his left knee; but, with
considerable game, he instantly jumped up to
renew the charge. Hudson, however, thought he
had done enough, and sat down on Randall’s knee.
(“It’s safe as the bank,” said Owen; and the
East-enders offered to back their hero to any
amount.)
3.—Hudson was endeavouring to come ditto, but
Shelton’s right hand stopped him. It was a
severe round on both sides, till both went down,
Hudson undermost.
4.—Shelton’s lip bleeding, showed the first
blood, and Josh’s face was beginning to swell.
The fine fighting of Shelton was conspicuous;
but the youth and true courage of Hudson would
not be denied; and although the latter napped
dreadfully at every turn, he hit Shelton down.
(There was a roar of roars from the Towerites,
and two to one on Josh.)
5.—The fighting now was truly desperate on both
sides; Shelton well-timed his opponent, and sent
him staggering away by three repeated facers
without any return; yet the goodness of Josh was
so high that he finished the round in great
style, and had Shelton again down.
6.—Josh’s face was now cut to pieces, and
Shelton’s in a bad plight; both piping. The
latter turned round from the severity of the
hitting, but once more resumed fighting like a
game cock till both down. (Shouting for Hudson.)
7.—Both terribly distressed, but Shelton down.
8.—This was a short round, but terrific from the
execution done. Shelton nobbed Josh at every
turn, and milled him down.
9.—Josh, like a game cock, disputed every inch
of ground till he went down distressed beyond
representation. (Still his sanguine friends
considered him winning, and offered two to one.)
10.—In this round it might be termed “anybody’s
battle;” but the courage on the one side, and
the manliness on the other, exceeded all praise.
Both down. (Five and six to one on Hudson.)
11.—Josh commenced fighting; but his terrific
points were gone, and he began to hit round.
Shelton planted three or four tremendous facers,
the claret following every hit. Still Josh was
dangerous. Shelton going down, quite exhausted,
had the worst of the ending of the round. (The
friends of Josh were sanguine enough to offer
ten to one.)
12.—Both in the greatest distress till down.
13.—Shelton had the best of the fighting, but
fell on his face exhausted, and Josh went down
quite as bad. Still Josh was the favourite.
14 and last.—The fine fighting of Shelton rather
gave him the lead; and as Josh was going down in
a distressed state, so as to make it doubtful
whether he might come again to the scratch,
Shelton put in a tremendous blow under Josh’s
ear, that rendered him insensible to the call of
time. It was very doubtful if Shelton could have
fought two more rounds. On the latter being
placed on his second’s knee, he fell on the
ground. It was over in rather less than fifteen
minutes.
REMARKS.—Such a manly battle had not been seen
for several years. Hudson never fought half so
well before. Had Hudson proved the conqueror, it
was the intention of his friends to have backed
him against the Gas Man for £500 a-side.
A second match with the John Bull Fighter ended in a forfeit, Hudson
receiving £30.
It was declared by Shelton that he should never again appear in the P.
R., and it would have been well for his pugilistic fame had he adhered
to his resolution. Misfortunes, however, in business, had involved him,
and at a meeting at the Ship, in Turnstile, a “big countryman” was
mentioned, who could be backed for a cool hundred against anything in
London. Shelton immediately declared his readiness to try the metal of
the stranger, and hence his match with Brown, of Bridgnorth, wherein he
was defeated, though not disgraced, as will be seen when we come to the
memoir of that boxer.
Shelton had, during the whole of his career, been observed to be
occasionally something more than eccentric; indeed, in 1812, he was
indicted for assaulting a police-officer, who attempted to prevent him
from committing suicide. On this occasion his defence was, that “Any man
had a perfect right to hang himself!” His gambling propensities were
also uncontrollable, and to this his misery may be traced. His
propensity to self-destruction received a final and melancholy
illustration, in the fact of his destroying himself, on the 21st of
June, 1830, at the Ship, in Montague Court, Bishopsgate Street, by
taking a dose of prussic acid. He was in his 43rd year.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VI.
JACK RANDALL, “THE NONPAREIL.”—1809‒1821.
Perhaps the prize ring in its palmiest day never exhibited a more
accomplished boxer than Randall. Though claimed (_after_ his signal
successes), by the Hibernian portion of the ring press, it appears that
his birthplace was the now-desolated “Holy Land,” and that the 25th of
the month of November, 1794, ushered Jack into the semi-darkness of the
then foggy region of smoke, dirt, drabs, and drunkenness, hight “St.
Giles’s.” Jack, who was always called by Pierce Egan and Co., the “prime
Irish lad,” himself laughed, when primed with gin—he would not touch
whisky—at his imputed Irish descent.
The Archery Ground, in the Long Fields, near where now stands Russell
Square, was the scene of action whereon the youthful Randall exhibited
his prowess. According to the authority of “Boxiana,” young “Snuff,”
well known in boxing circles, was conquered three times by Randall in
the above place; and at the age of fourteen, he fought a man of the name
of Leonard in this ground, who was a stone heavier than himself, for
three-quarters of an hour. Leonard was, at length, so terribly punished,
that he was obliged to be led off the field. Size or weight, it seems,
rarely operated as any drawback to the readiness of Randall; possessing
courage of the first order, his pluck rose superior to the obstacles he
had to encounter. Jack was unavoidably involved, in Marylebone Lane,
with a man of the name of Henshaw; the latter was not only taller, but
had the advantage of three stone in weight. Twenty-five minutes of hard
fighting had occurred when the friends of both parties interfered and
made a drawn battle of it. Notwithstanding the great difference between
the combatants, from the superior style of fighting displayed by
Randall, it was thought he must ultimately have proved the conqueror.
[Illustration:
JACK RANDALL, “THE NONPAREIL.”
_From a Miniature by_ G. SHARPLES.
]
One Murphy, an Irish labourer, an athletic young man, attacked Randall
in Bainbridge-street, St. Giles’s; but the latter, undismayed by his
gigantic appearance, milled Murphy severely in the course of a few
rounds. Randall’s height was five feet six inches, his weight ten stone
six pounds. His appearance when stripped indicated great bodily
strength; his shoulders athletic, inclined to roundness, and his frame,
altogether capable of great exertion, very compact.
The first recorded battle in which Randall is noticed was with Jack the
butcher, in the Regent’s Park, Marylebone. It originated in a dispute
respecting some improper conduct in a fight, in which these heroes had
acted in the capacity of seconds, and, being a point of honour, it was
decided instantly. In the course of twenty minutes Randall was declared
the conqueror.
Randall now aspired to higher honours among the pugilistic corps, and,
in the same ring in which Scroggins and Eales had contended, at Coombe
Wood, on August 26, 1815, he made his debut with Walton, denominated the
Twickenham Youth, for a purse of five guineas. Randall astonished the
amateurs with the gaiety of his style, and the decisive action he
exhibited. Paddington Jones and Whale were his seconds upon this
occasion; and, in the short space of ten minutes, the Twickenham Youth,
who in other battles had showed some talent for milling, was so peppered
that he left the ring.
After Carter and Robinson had exhibited at Moulsey Hurst the first time,
Wednesday, April 24, 1816, Randall entered the ring with George Dodd,
for a purse of five guineas. It was a well-contested battle, and
twenty-five minutes elapsed before victory was decided in favour of our
hero. West-Country Dick and Clark were his seconds.
On Wednesday, May 28, 1816, at Coombe Wood, Randall entered the lists
with a Jew, denominated “Ugly Baruk,” for a subscription purse of ten
guineas, collected on the ground, towards a second fight. The amateurs
were completely astonished at the milling capabilities displayed by
Randall; more especially as his figure appeared so meagre and lank, that
an opinion was generally entertained that “Young Paddy” must in the
course of a few minutes be finished by this determined Israelite. But so
opposite was the result that Baruk, “ugly” as his index had hitherto
been declared, was now, owing to the sudden painting it underwent, not
only rendered more “unlikely,” but so utterly metamorphosed as scarcely
to be recognizable. The decisive qualities of Randall were so
conspicuous as to elicit the unqualified praise of the best judges of
scientific pugilism. Randall did not give the Jew a single chance
throughout the fight—he one-two’d him with surprising celerity, and
floored him in almost every round. The battle only continued twelve
minutes; Randall was seconded by Tom Oliver and Clark. The abilities of
Randall were now the theme of conversation among the amateurs; but,
owing to a bad finger, and want of necessary time to generally improve
his frame, he was not matched till Thursday, April 3, 1817, when he
entered the lists with West-Country Dick, for twenty-five guineas a
side.
A roped ring was prepared for the occasion, about a mile and a half from
Twickenham, on the Common, and numerous vehicles of all sorts were
placed round it, forming a capacious amphitheatre. Several marquees were
also erected on the ground, filled with the good things of this life, to
render the sports of the day pleasant and attractive to those lads who
were “well breeched;” but such is the uncertain chance of war, that a
gentleman who rode into the ring, having all the appearance of an
amateur, unfortunately turned out to be a county magistrate. He very
politely requested the official characters to remove the ring, and to
disperse as soon as possible—a good deal of persuasion was tried to
prevail on him to let the manly sport proceed; but he was good-naturedly
inflexible, and observed, that he had been upon his horse ever since
seven in the morning on the look-out, and that it was impossible the
battle could take place in the county of Middlesex. This was enough;
and, in less than half-an-hour, not a drag was left behind. Bill
Gibbons, Richmond, Harmer, Scroggins, Cribb, etc., repaired to Hayes,
followed by a great party of horsemen and carriages, and formed a ring,
but this ultimately proved a hoax, to the no small chagrin of thousands.
The better informed proceeded to Twickenham, where the subject was again
discussed; and on a signal being given the carriage wheels went round
like lightning, the water was crossed in a twinkling, and on the plains
of Moulsey, in Surrey, about two o’clock, Randall entered the ring and
threw up his hat, followed by Dick. Paddington Jones and Dick Whale
seconded Randall; and Oliver and Clark were counsel for Dick. Two to one
on Randall. Though both combatants were known to the ring, Randall was
considered the better fighter. The spectators were of the first
respectability, but not very numerous. A small delay occurred, owing, it
is said, to Dick refusing to fight out of a roped ring.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On setting-to much caution was observed
on both sides to obtain the first advantage;
Randall, with great dexterity, put in a sharp
facer. In returning, Dick hit short. Some few
blows were exchanged in favour of Randall, who
fought his way in to a close, and fibbed his
adversary till both went down. (Three to one on
Randall, who had drawn Dick’s cork.)
2.—Randall, full of fire, immediately took the
lead, and nobbed Dick so successfully, that he
turned round from his opponent. In closing, as
before, he held Dick up and faced him till he
went down. (Loud applause.)
3.—Dick set to with much gaiety, and put in
a body hit, but he could make no successful
impression upon Randall. The latter not only
out-fought him, but again fibbed him down.
4.—The superiority of milling was decidedly on
the side of Randall, who drove Dick from him. In
closing, Dick went down rather rapidly from the
numerous blows he had received in this round,
and it was thought a foul blow had been given
him; much vociferation took place of “Foul!”
“Fair!” etc.
5.—Randall’s distances were well measured, and
Dick’s nob was again in contact with Jack’s
fist. At the ropes Dick made an ineffectual
struggle to escape from the severe fibbing which
Randall was so liberally bestowing upon him.
(Five to one; but no takers.)
6.—Randall commenced work after the manner of a
hammer-man at a forge, and although Dick kept
plunging with his favourite right-handed hits,
yet in closing Randall held him up with the
tightness of a vice, beating a tattoo upon his
mug, till he felt disposed to send him down.
(Loud shouting.)
7.—The left hand of Dick seemed of no use to
him, and his right did not perform the severe
execution it had displayed on former occasions.
Randall, indeed, got away from it with much
adroitness. Dick was again fibbed down.
8.—Randall now satisfied the ring that he must
win; he showed himself a scientific fighter; he
worked well with both hands, and not only hit
Dick away from him, but ultimately milled him
down.
9.—Dick put in a facer. Randall, in returning,
hit short and went round, but recovered himself;
in closing, fibbed Dick severely at the ropes,
and then dropped him in style. (Six to one on
Randall.)
10.—The nob of Dick was fast losing its shape
from the severe hammering of Randall, who
applied his fist rapidly on his opponent’s mug.
In closing, both down.
11.—A short round, which terminated in favour of
Randall, as did also the 12th, 13th, and 14th
rounds.
15.—Dick was desperately endeavouring to effect
a change in his favour: he hit Randall on the
face, put in a hard blow on his shoulder, and
had the best of this round. (Both down.)
16 to 20.—Randall seemed rather blown in these
rounds, and at times got away from Dick’s right
hand. In fact he had not been idle for a moment,
and the face of his opponent gave a strong
specimen of his capabilities; he was fibbed down
upon every set-to. (Five to one.)
21.—A good deal of sparring occurred before a
blow was exchanged, when Randall put in four
facers without any return. Both down. (Any
odds.)
22.—The arm of Randall appeared to have the
activity of a fiddler playing a country dance;
his hand was never out of his opponent’s face.
23.—This round claimed much attention from its
singularity. Dick put in two severe body hits,
but in closing Randall fibbed him severely with
his left hand, then changed it with the most
apparent ease, and punished Dick down. (Great
applause.)
24 to 27.—In these rounds the spectators were
surprised to see the successful manner that
Randall held up Dick with one arm, and punished
him with the other. His head was now completely
in chancery, his left eye quite puffed up, and
he had been down so often, as to get the
appellation of “Tumble-down Dick.”
28.—The battle was fast drawing to a close; the
excellence of Randall was now acknowledged by
all. Dick endeavoured to make some desperate
hits; but Randall nobbed him at arm’s length
with the utmost coolness, and in closing did as
he liked with him.
29 and last.—On setting-to, Randall, with much
severity, put in a blow on the breadbasket, that
not only puffed the wind out of Dick, but he
went down and instantly rolled up like a bale of
cloth. Such a blow is rarely witnessed. Time was
called, and upon Dick’s getting up to come to
the scratch, he shook hands with Randall, and
resigned the contest. Time thirty-three minutes
and a half.
Randall, in the above contest, proved himself
a good two-handed hitter, but was unusually
successful with his left hand. Dick had not
the slightest chance. Randall left the ring
without a scratch upon his face.
The scientific qualities displayed by Harry Holt (See HOLT, in
Appendix), in a battle of an hour and a half’s duration with Parish, the
waterman, and in his more recent conquest of O’Donnell, at Arlington
Corner, had much prepossessed the amateurs in his favour; and,
notwithstanding the excellence of Randall, it was generally thought that
Holt would turn out a worthy competitor. In consequence of this opinion,
a match for twenty-five guineas a-side was made between the above
pugilists. Considerable interest was felt by the sporting world
respecting its decision, which took place at Coombe Warren, on Tuesday,
May 20, 1817, in a twenty-four feet roped ring.
The wet state of the weather in the early part of the morning prevented
great numbers of the fancy from quitting the metropolis, and although it
was extremely fine in the neighbourhood of Coombe Wood, there were not
above six hundred persons present, among whom were Colonel Berkeley,
Captain Barclay, Messrs. Jackson and Gully, Cribb, Carter, Oliver,
Scroggins, Crockey, Ballard, Gibbons, etc. The combatants were nearly
alike in weight, both under eleven stone.
It was upon the whole one of the most orderly conducted matches ever
witnessed, excepting a slight fracas which occurred between Caleb
Baldwin and the keepers of the gate. The latter, not immediately
recognizing the veteran of the ring, refused his vehicle admittance,
without the usual tip; but Caleb, finding argufying the topic would not
do—instead of paying them in sterling coin, dealt out another sort of
currency, which, although without the Mint impress, had such an effect
upon the Johnny Raws that the gate flew open and Caleb rode through in
triumph. At a little after one, Holt appeared in the ring and threw up
his hat; Randall immediately followed. Paddington Jones and Whale
seconded the latter, and Painter and Clark for Holt.
The usual ceremony of shaking hands having been performed, every eye was
on the stretch, looking out for the first advantage. Seven to four
generally on Randall, but two to one in many instances.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The combatants had scarcely placed
themselves in attitude, when Randall’s left
hand, with much severity, caught Holt on his
mouth. He repeated it as quick as lightning,
and was endeavouring to plant a third, but
Holt stopped him. Randall again put in another
desperate facer; a few blows were exchanged,
when Randall went in with his usual sort of
hook to fib, but Holt caught hold of his arm,
and a sharp struggle took place for the throw.
Randall showed the most strength, and Holt was
undermost. (Three to one upon Randall.)
2.—On coming to the scratch in this very early
stage of the fight Holt’s mug showed the painter
had been busy. Randall’s left hand again
successfully nobbed his adversary. Considerable
science was now displayed on both sides; Holt
stopped many blows in good style, and also
planted a sharp blow on Randall’s cheek. Several
hits were exchanged, but materially to the
advantage of Randall, who, in finishing this
round of three minutes, caught hold of Holt’s
ribs in rather a singular manner, and threw him.
(Three and four to one loudly offered upon
Randall.)
3.—Randall, with the utmost coolness, again beat
the tattoo upon Holt’s nob. It was altogether a
long round; but the science exhibited by Holt
was that of stopping instead of giving, and the
spectators were astonished at the little
execution he performed. Randall put in upwards
of six facers, damaging the peepers of his
opponent, and clareting his face all over, and
sent him down from a tremendous hit on the side
of his head. (Five to one.)
4.—Holt came to the scratch undismayed, but he
had no sooner set-to than the left hand of
Randall dealt out tremendous punishment. It was
never out of his opponent’s face. Holt, it was
now evident, had been deceived respecting the
quality of his adversary; yet he contended in
the most manly style, and planted so desperate a
hit under the left ear of Randall that the
latter bled prodigiously. The science of Randall
was pre-eminent; he put in six facers almost
successively; and when Holt at length stopped
him on this boring suit, he used his right hand
with nearly equal success till Holt went down.
5.—Randall was compelled to fight extremely
different from the mode he had adopted with West
Country Dick. Holt was not to be fibbed, and
Randall convinced the admirers of scientific
pugilism that he was a most effective
out-fighter. His hits were tremendous, and
Holt’s face was completely vermilioned. In this
round, notwithstanding the damaged peepers of
Holt, he put in so sharp a blow on the bridge of
Randall’s nose that it pinked his index in an
instant. The quickest eye could scarcely keep
pace with the execution performed by Randall’s
left hand in this round, and he repeatedly hit
Holt from him till he went down. (All betters,
and no offers accepted.)
6.—Randall appeared to suffer much inconvenience
from the violent bleeding of his ear; his mouth
was so overcharged that he could scarcely get
rid of it. Had not Holt possessed excellent
science, he must have been smashed in the very
outset of the battle. He stopped a great number
of blows; but it may be truly said that he only
stood up as a mark to be hit at. It was curious
to observe that, whenever the left hand of
Randall was denied, he used his right with great
facility, and put in some terrible ribbers.
Randall closed this round by a terrible blow in
the middle piece, that sent his adversary down
in a twinkling. (Ten to one was offered upon
Randall.)
7.—It was useless for Holt to contend; but his
game and courageous nature prompted him, if
possible, to rise superior to defeat. It was all
up: Randall did as he pleased, and Holt was
again down. (Any odds.)
8 and last.—Holt was emulous for conquest; the
blunt, it seems, he did not value, but the fame
of victory was dear to him; nothing else could
have induced him again to meet his opponent.
Randall worked sharply with both his hands, and
with his right planted a tremendous hit on
Holt’s nob, that instantly floored him. He was
beaten out of time, but was anxious to renew the
combat. He observed, “I am ready to fight;” but,
in endeavouring to rise from his second’s knee,
fell down from exhaustion. Holt’s friends were
perfectly satisfied he could not win, and he was
instantly carried out of the ring by Parish and
Painter, put into a chaise, and proper attention
paid to him. The battle lasted twenty-five
minutes.
REMARKS.—This contest firmly established
Randall’s character as a first-rate scientific
pugilist. He possesses the mastery of the art
in an eminent degree, divests his actions of
sameness with the most perfect ease, and
promptly changes his mode of fighting as the
necessity of the attack requires. In his former
battles with Baruk, the Jew, and West Country
Dick, his superior fibbing traits proved
successful. With Holt a different system was
required, and as an out-fighter he completely
astonished the ring by the terrible punishing
capabilities he exhibited. With his left hand
Randall planted uncounted hits on Holt’s face,
and several with his right. He threw little
time away in sparring; and, like a good artist,
his workmanship soon spoke for itself. As a
finisher there seemed a great similarity between
Randall and the late Dutch Sam, and as a
two-handed hitter, the decisive mode of Tom
Belcher. It was urged by the partisans of Holt,
that he displayed no fight at all in contending
against Randall. This complaint, upon a slight
examination, will not only soon be removed, but
the assertion proved unjust. Randall was the
offensive fighter throughout the battle, and
his punishment was so rapid and severe, that
he never gave Holt an opportunity of showing
himself, except on the defensive. The latter,
notwithstanding his science, but in very few
instances stopped his opponent’s left hand. The
true statement of the case is, that “the fight”
was hit out of him as early as the third round.
In fact, if Holt had not been truly a game man,
he could never have stood before Randall for
twenty-five minutes, after the heavy milling he
received at the onset. In consequence of this
opinion being entertained by the few amateurs
present, £10 were collected for his bravery.
Four months had scarcely elapsed when Randall again appeared in the
prize-ring, in competition with Belasco, the Jew. This match produced
one of the most interesting battles upon record. Since the boxing days
of the scientific Tom Belcher and the renowned Dutch Sam, the amateurs
and patrons of pugilism had not been more animatedly interested
respecting the termination of any combat than the one which took place
on Tuesday, September 30, 1817, at Shepperton Range, in a twenty-four
feet ring, for fifty guineas a-side, between these heroes. The milling
reputation of both the combatants was of the first order throughout the
circles of the fancy. Randall was considered the best finisher of the
light weights; the Jews, in Belasco, hoped to find another Dutch Sam. He
was the rising star of their pugilistic hemisphere, and an awkward man
to get at—a desperate in-fighter; one that would not be denied, and able
to rally his opponent to the end of the chapter. Duke’s Place was all
alive in the praise of the capabilities of Belasco, and, notwithstanding
the love of monish by the tribes, it is said, in some instances, the
odds were sported on the promising young Israelite. But if Petticoat
Lane resounded with the strains of the Children of Judah, on the other
hand the back settlements of the Holy Land were equally full of spirits
upon the occasion, and from the turf cutter to the knight of the hod,
all sported all their loose blunt from a sovereign down to a glass of
whiskey, in honour of their “darling Jack Randall.” The Corinthians of
St. James’ too were highly interested in the event; and the flash side
(as they were termed), although they sported five and six to four on
Randall, did not view it with anything like the safety of receiving a
bank dividend. The men appeared in good condition—Belasco weighing a few
pounds more than his opponent, and looking uncommonly fresh. The time
having arrived, five minutes before one, the combatants commenced the
attack. Randall was seconded by Paddington Jones and Dick Whale; Belasco
was waited upon by Little Puss and Aby Swartscher.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Randall, who in all his former
battles generally hit first, displayed unusual
caution. The same care was manifested in the
Jew. It was a complete system of tactics. The
spectators were lost in amazement; and their
optics were completely tired in watching the
feints, viewing the steps, contrasting the
manœuvres, stratagems, and snares resorted to
by Randall and Belasco to get the best of each
other, until nine minutes had elapsed before
the first round was terminated, during which
only four blows had been exchanged. In
closing, Belasco went down.
2.—The same system of generalship occurred, and
this round occupied eight minutes and a half.
Belasco put in a sharp hit on Randall’s mouth,
which brought forth the claret in a twinkling.
Here the coolness of the Nonpareil was seen to
great advantage; his steadiness was as if no
blow had been struck. A rally occurred, in which
some sharp hits were exchanged, and Randall
received rather an unwelcome touch upon his eye.
They separated and rallied again, when, in a
close, the Jew went down.
3.—From this mode of fighting a long battle
was anticipated. In this round the knowledge
of the art was portrayed on both sides. Randall
was rather unfortunate in his distances, for
although his left hand bodied his opponent
repeatedly, it did not touch the mark. It was
not a _coup de grace_. Belasco down. Twenty-four
minutes had elapsed.
4.—The conduct of the Jew was much to be
admired. He fought like a hero, and followed his
opponent with all the confidence of true game.
He was, however, floored with the celerity of a
shot, from a desperate left-handed hit of
Randall. The latter put up his hand to his eye
as if it was troublesome.
5.—It was now clearly seen that Randall was the
great captain; he out-generalled his opponent
with all the accomplishment of the art of war.
If Randall was bored at any time to a corner of
the ring, he fought his way out with such ease
and safety that description falls short in
conveying its excellence. It was also curious to
observe, that the Jew at one period had got
Randall in a position to fib him, when the
latter, from his tact and courage, not only
extricated himself from this perilous situation,
but he returned the compliment upon Belasco with
unparalleled adroitness, and fibbed the Jew till
he went down. (Two to one upon Randall.)
6.—A most excellent round in point of science,
but Belasco was again floored.
7 and last.—Belasco not only appeared a better,
but a superior boxer in every respect than in
his contest with Reynolds; and if he could not
rank with Randall, he proved himself a difficult
customer to be served. After some scientific
movements, Randall put in such a tremendous hit
on Belasco’s eye, that the latter instantly put
up his hand to feel if it was there. The pain
appeared so excruciating, that he staggered,
fell, and fainted. Randall might have put in
another hit before he went down, but his conduct
was too noble to add the slightest punishment to
a fallen rival. Upon Belasco’s recovering from
his trance, he rubbed his body, as if suffering
from severe punishment. The battle thus
terminated in fifty-four and a half minutes.
REMARKS.—The most experienced judges of boxing
agreed that throughout the annals of pugilism
such a display of scientific excellence as the
above battle is not to be paralleled. It was a
perfect picture of the art, and Randall justly
acquired the appellation of “The Nonpareil.” His
agility was surprising. Dutch Sam, in the best
of his days, it was said, never fought with
anything like the precision exhibited by
Randall; and, in competition with the latter,
the Jew phenomenon must have fallen beneath his
superiority. This contest, it is true, did not
altogether please, if we are to go with the
crowd who are partial to downright milling; but
by the admirers of scientific efforts, by those
patrons who value the intent more than the
effect, those amateurs who appreciate the
advantages of hitting and getting away, of
giving instead of receiving, and of seeing a
fight won without ferocity and gluttony, the
fight between Randall and Belasco may be
pronounced one of the most perfect specimens of
pugilism ever witnessed. The attitudes of the
men were fine in every point of view, and their
movements conducted on the true principles of
science. The athletic beauty of the human frame
was never more prominent. Randall retired from
the ring scarcely scratched. This is the grand
art of fighting—to give, and not to receive.
At a sporting dinner, given to the lads of the fancy at Tom Oliver’s, a
few days after the above fight, by one of the highest amateurs in the
scientific circles, no want of “game,” it appears, was discovered to
render the table complete. When the cloth was removed, the cigars
lighted, the lively glass replenished, and the merits and capabilities
of various milling heroes became the animated subject of discussion
among the company present, a set-to was proposed, by way of practical
illustration, between Randall and young Burke, of Woolwich. The heroes
immediately acquiesced in this request: the gloves were produced, and
the men soon appeared in battle array. Burke, who is five feet ten
inches in height, and wanting neither gluttony nor science, contended
for the honour of having the best of it with much determination; but
some doubts having arisen among the learned judges upon this precise
point, a regular glove match was entered into, and a sum deposited on
both sides accordingly. The first clean floorer was to decide the event!
The contest was truly spirited, and after some tidy milling, Burke went
down; but it not being exactly the thing meant, the point was reserved
till another round. Thirteen minutes had now elapsed, and
notwithstanding the advantages Burke possessed from standing over
Randall, the latter at length measured his distance so correctly, that
Burke was floored as if he had been shot! The point being now
satisfactorily decided—the glasses went merrily round—mirth and harmony
prevailed throughout the evening, and the company separated in the
utmost good humour. It is said, that the amateur before alluded to
observed that Randall should not want, if necessary, from 500 to 1000
guineas to complete any match, so high an opinion did he entertain of
his milling talents. Randall was presented by his backer with the amount
of the stakes.
Randall had made such rapid strides towards perfection in pugilism that
some difficulty was experienced in finding a customer for him. However,
the long-talked-of match between Parish, the waterman, and Randall was
at length made for 100 guineas a-side. These boxing heroes met on
Thursday, November 27, 1817, at Hayes Common. Parish, it seems, although
not highly appreciated as a boxer, was well-known as a staunch man; he
had also acquired first-rate science, under the tuition of George Head,
a teacher of deserved celebrity. Nevertheless, so little was the
Waterman esteemed in comparison with his opponent, that three to one was
the current betting against him. True, Parish’s battle with Holt was
highly spoken of, although it took him one hour and a half to win it;
while Randall, on the other hand, beat Holt in twenty-five minutes.
Wallingham Common, in Surrey, about six miles beyond Croydon, was the
spot selected for this grand trial of skill. Thither the amateurs
repaired at an early hour, but the clergyman of the parish (also a
magistrate) saw the cavalcade pass his window, and hastening to the
ring, declared that the battle must not take place in Surrey. A little
persuasion was tried to divert the rev. gent. from his intention,—but he
observed, “it was loss of time to remonstrate, as he was as inflexible
as a rock.” In this dilemma, Hayes Common, in Kent, about seven miles
distant, was suggested as an eligible place. The stakes were instantly
removed, and the motley group followed like lightning, over a
cross-country road, that had not been visited for months by anything but
dung carts or wagons. It was almost impassable, but the game of the
fancy was not to be beaten by trifling obstacles, and the scene that
followed beggars description. Postchaises were floored in the deep ruts
in the road—the springs of curricles and gigs were broken—the Rosinantes
dead beat—the Eatoners puffing and blowing from top to toe, anxious to
arrive in time—boots were dragged off the feet by the strength of the
clay, and many of the light-shod coves stuck fast in the mud. The
magistrate, very politely, saw the patrons of science to the extremity
of the county before he took his leave. At length Hayes Common appeared
in sight, and the ring, after some little time, was again formed. At ten
minutes past three o’clock, Randall appeared and threw up his hat in the
ring, attended by Paddington Jones and Whale, as his seconds; Parish
shortly followed, and repeated the same token of defiance, followed by
George Head and Spring. Several amateurs of rank were in the ring; and
Colonel Barton, the patron of Randall, sat close to the stakes. After
shaking hands the men set-to and began.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The positions of the combatants were
extremely elegant; both appeared in good
condition, but, if anything, Parish seemed the
heavier man. Neither seemed eager to strike;
and, notwithstanding the acknowledged excellence
of Randall, considerable time elapsed before
the attack commenced. At length the Nonpareil
got his distance, planted a body hit with much
dexterity, and got away. He was not long in
giving his adversary another, when Parish
returned, but not effectively. Considerable
time again occurred in sparring, till a
favourable opportunity occurred for Randall,
when he let fly at the Waterman’s nob, producing
the claret in a twinkling, and got away with
the agility of a dancing master. The Nonpareil
stopped in a masterly style, and showed his
superiority by finishing the round in a winning
manner. Using both hands equally, the left being
applied to the body of his opponent, while the
right hand put in so tremendous a hit on the
head of Parish, that he fell forwards on his
face. (Great applause. Eight minutes and
three-quarters had elapsed, and four to one was
offered with as much readiness as if the blunt
was of no value.)
2.—Randall, notwithstanding the decided
advantages he had obtained, like a skilful
general, seemed to think discretion the better
part of valour. He was as cautious as if no
blows had passed, and again waited for a good
opening. The attempts of Parish were frustrated,
and Randall, with the most smiling confidence,
again bodied his opponent. The already damaged
mug of the Waterman was again peppered, and the
crimson flowed copiously. In closing, the
Nonpareil showed himself completely entitled to
his appellation; he got Parish’s head under his
arm, and fibbed him severely till both went
down.
3.—The admirers of science were completely tired
before any work was attempted, so much time
elapsed; and the downright partisans of the
old school of fighting, when milling was the
order of the day, began to treat this sort of
boxing contemptuously. In fact, Parish was so
fatigued that he put down his hands. At length
the combatants became more in earnest, and
Randall finished the round most successfully.
He planted a severe throttler, when Parish
returned, but not heavily. Some blows were
exchanged, and the Waterman so cleanly hit one
of Randall’s peepers that he made him wink
again. The Nonpareil soon returned this favour
with compound interest, and made the Waterman
bite the dust. (Uproarious applause.) In this
round Randall cut the knuckles of his left hand
against the Waterman’s teeth.
4.—The head of Parish, from the profuse
colouring it exhibited, showed the handy works
of the limner, but his confidence was not in the
least abated. On setting-to he was nobbed
without ceremony; he also received in the course
of the round a body hit that sent him staggering
away from his opponent. The returns of Parish
were ineffective; and, in closing, Randall
showed the amateurs the practical advantages of
fibbing; for he here portrayed a feature
peculiar to himself in this respect: when tired
with one hand he changed it, then worked with
the other, till Parish was thrown undermost. The
gluttony of the Waterman was acknowledged by all
present, and science was allowed him. Betting,
nevertheless, was at a stand-still, so certain
did the event appear to be.
5.—This was a sharp round; Parish appeared to
more advantage than heretofore. The left hand of
Randall was much lacerated; nevertheless, in
this painful state, it did not prevent him from
doing execution. In closing, Parish met with a
heavy fall, and was undermost.
6.—The Waterman scarcely ever attempted to
strike first; had he done so, in all probability
a greater chance might have presented itself.
In one or two instances he lost nothing by
commencing the attack. In closing, a desperate
struggle took place to obtain the throw, after
fibbing had been administered; Randall got
Parish down and rolled over him.
7.—It was evident Randall was the stronger man,
the better fighter, superior on his legs, knew
how to shape himself for every situation he had
to encounter; in short, he appeared a complete
master of the art of war. Some hard milling
occurred in this round, and Parish made some
good hits; but he could not turn the scale.
Randall put in a bellier, and got away. The
Waterman followed him in the gamest manner, and
never showed anything like flinching throughout
the fight. Randall put in a desperate hit in the
Waterman’s neck, then laughed and nodded at him.
In closing, both down. The friends of Randall
were under some alarm, from the quantity of
blood he had lost from his left hand; and a
medical man of some eminence, who was among the
spectators, was rather apprehensive it might
produce fainting.
8.—Randall was not to be got at, and he
distinctly took the lead in this round. Parish
gave him a sort of half-arm hit in the mouth.
Both down.
9.—On setting-to Randall drew on one side to
void the claret from his mouth; but this was
the most effective round in the fight. It was
singular to view Randall hit, hit, and hit again
till the Waterman went down on his back. (A
guinea to a shilling was laughed at.)
10.—In this round the Waterman appeared
conspicuous. He got Randall into the corner of
the ring, and put in a body blow that made the
Nonpareil wince again; in fact, he reeled a
little, and had it been heavier it is likely he
must have gone down. But the recovery of Randall
was excellent, he got out of his perilous
situation in the masterly style of a consummate
tactician, and the marks of his left were seen
imprinted on the body of his opponent. After
some little traversing in the ring, Randall was
again in the corner, when it was curious to
observe the mode he took to obtain distance: he
leaned his body back quite through the ropes,
and planted, by this means, a heavy hit on the
Waterman’s mouth, which soon gave him an
opening, when he came lashing out. Some blows
were exchanged, and Parish with much dexterity
hit Randall under the ear, marking him. The
Nonpareil now gave his man no quarter, and, in
closing, he threw the Waterman so desperately
that his shoulder was nearly dislocated. This
was the most effective round in the fight, and
Parish received considerable applause.
11 and last.—The Waterman was entitled to every
consideration from the manly manner in which he
contested every round. Although he did not gain
much by in-fighting, he should have tried it
at an earlier part of the fight; he could not
have been worse off. In out-fighting in this
round he was fairly beat to a stand-still; and
although he endeavoured to stop scientifically
his altered face was again punished. In closing,
he received the usual severity; and, on going
down with his brave competitor was not able to
meet him any more at the scratch. The shouts of
victory were loud and lasting, and the Nonpareil
was carried out of the ring in triumph. The
battle lasted fifty-three minutes.
REMARKS.—The capabilities of Randall in the ring
were so evident that comment is scarcely
necessary. What the most skilful master of the
sword exhibits with his weapon, Randall
displayed with the fist. His mode of fighting
did not appear to originate from the common
advantages of teaching: it seemed completely
intuitive, and looked more like a natural gift
than resulting from the minutiæ of art. Randall
gained nothing from chance blows; and rarely
ever made a hit without its proving effective.
If his blows were not stopped, his distances
were so well measured they were sure of arriving
at their destination. It was asserted he never
hit past the head of his opponent; and though
considerable time was lost in the caution
observed before he struck, it was amply repaid
in his coming off victorious without punishment.
However unpleasing it may be to state, the
positive fact is, Parish had no opportunity of
turning the battle in his favour: it was all on
the side of Randall from beginning to end; but,
notwithstanding this remark, Parish must be
allowed to have sustained the character of a
brave man, and a good fighter. Although his face
received such tremendous punishment, his peepers
were never closed, and he showed himself on the
same evening at the White Hart, on the Bromley
Road, quite chuffy, refusing to be put to bed.
The absence of Mr. Jackson was a severe loss to
the combatants, particularly to the losing man,
who, in this instance, had not one single
farthing collected for him.
To conquer Randall seemed the enviable object of all the light weights;
a new customer accordingly offered himself, of the name of Burke, from
Woolwich, for 100 guineas a-side. He was a fine, strong young man,
taller than Randall, and possessing great confidence in his own
abilities. Burke was also thought highly of by the officers at Woolwich,
from the capabilities he had displayed in two or three bouts, and he was
backed without any hesitation; indeed, his friends had quite made up
their minds as to his success. Equally confident were the partizans of
Randall. As to himself, he viewed this contest with perfect
indifference; in fact, victory appeared so easy to him, that he scarcely
underwent the usual preparation of training. The day arrived, Tuesday,
June 16, 1818, when the battle was to have been fought at Moulsey Hurst,
but the magistrates interfered. Combe Wood was the next bit of turf
selected for the contest, when a second interruption occurred from the
presence of the beaks. However, this dilemma was soon got rid of, and
the parties made the best of their way towards Wimbledon Common,
followed by the anxious cavalcade. The ring was made in a twinkling, and
Burke followed, by Oliver and Clarke, as his seconds, entered the ropes
and threw up his hat. Randall immediately after repeated the token of
defiance, waited on by Paddington Jones and Dick Whale. Seven to four on
Randall.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Burke appeared an active, fine young
man, and in good condition. He was anxious to go
to work, and soon let fly. Randall also set-to.
In closing the Nonpareil got his opponent’s
canister under his arm, and served it out as a
clown in a fair operates on a salt box; when
tired, he threw Burke. (Rare chaffing from the
Randallites; two to one.)
2.—Burke was not quite so eager; he found more
caution and a little sparring necessary. Randall
again felt for his nob, when the claret peeped,
and first blood was declared for the Nonpareil.
In closing, both down.
3.—This was a short round, Burke falling from a
slight hit.
4.—Burke could not protect his nob; in fact, it
was in complete chancery, and he had no idea of
getting it out. His head was quite altered; in a
close, both down. Burke undermost.
5.—More chancery practice on the part of
Randall, and played off upon his opponent’s nob,
without any return. Randall again got Burke
down.
6.—This was a severe milling round. Burke
showed Randall that he must not be treated
with careless contempt lest he might prove a
dangerous customer. Burke again went down in a
close, undermost.
7.—Randall stopped well, but did not display
himself to so much advantage as in his previous
contests; he appeared more bent upon running in,
and pulling his opponent down, than decisive
hitting. Both down, but Burke undermost.
8.—All fighting: and Burke it was thought had
rather the best of it.
9.—Burke, very cautious, tried to make the most
of his science, but went down.
10.—This was a sort of scrambling round,
catching hold of each other, and Randall had not
only the worst of it, but in closing, was down
and undermost. The Woolwich boys were all alive,
and gave Burke a lift, by singing out, “Burke
for ever, and you’ll win it now, if you mind
what you’re arter.”
11.—This round consisted principally in sparring
and hugging, till Burke was thrown.
12.—Confidence, in a boxer, is a most essential
requisite, but he ought always to be prepared
for his enemy. No strange pugilist ought to be
looked upon indifferently, as he may, in the
trial, turn out a good one. Burke was rather a
difficult man to be got at, from his length and
height; which, it seems, accounts for so much
hugging. Burke was thrown.
13.—Similar to the last; disapprobation
expressed by the spectators.
14.—Randall, in closing, got his opponent’s nob
upon the fibbing system, but Burke gained the
throw, and Randall was undermost.
15.—Randall did not make a hit, but rushed in,
and got Burke down undermost.
16.—Of a similar description.
17.—After a few exchanges of no importance,
Randall put in a tremendous hit on the neck of
Burke, and he went down. (Applause.)
18.—In this round, if Burke did not absolutely
frighten the friends of Randall, he convinced
them he was a better man than they took him to
be. The Nonpareil put in a heavy hit on his
opponent’s nob, which Burke tremendously
returned with interest upon Randall. The former
also put in four heavy hits on Randall’s head
without receiving any return. In closing, a
sharp struggle occurred, till both went down.
(This altered the face of things a little, and
the betting dropped. The Woolwich boys were all
shouting at the success of their hero.)
19.—Quite unexpected, Burke had also the best of
this round. In a sort of hugging close, both
went down. (Great shouting for Burke.)
20.—Randall now went to work sharply, and gave
his opponent a tremendous facer; but Burke
returned the compliment with interest. Some
sharp hits also occurred, till both went down.
(Seven to four, and two to one on Randall.)
21.—Burke resorted to science, but his nob was
again in chancery, and the punishment it
exhibited was terrific. In closing, both down.
22.—It was evident now that Burke was going: he
appeared extremely weak, and went down from a
slight hit. (“It’s all your own, Jack;” and four
to one, but no takers.)
23 and last.—Randall seemed as if he was
determined to wind up the contest with a grand
climax. The already punished head of Burke again
received three additional tremendous hits upon
it which gave it the rolypoly; and, in closing,
Randall threw his opponent with the utmost ease.
When time was called, Burke could not come, on
account, it was said, of his having dislocated
his shoulder. It was over in three-quarters of
an hour.
This contest did not exactly please the friends
of Randall. It was thought he had been too
careless, or that he entertained too light an
opinion of his opponent. He, however made some
skilful stops, which were much admired; but
it was said he won the fight more from throwing,
in the first instance, than from his usual
method of hitting. It should be taken into
consideration, that Randall had something to
do in getting at his opponent, who possessed
the superiority of length of arm and height
of stature; and, in all probability, he would
have fought for several rounds more if his
collar-bone had not been dislocated. Randall, as
usual, retired from the ring with scarcely a
scratch about his face.
The Nonpareil had disposed of all his opponents with so much ease and
certainty, that the sporting world appeared extremely anxious that
Turner should enter the lists with him; an opinion being entertained
that the latter was the only boxer of the light weights that would have
any chance of defeating Randall. The superior tactics and other
pugilistic qualities displayed by Turner in his victories over
Scroggins, had rendered him an object of great attraction among the
fancy in general. Randall was also anxious to fight Turner, by way of a
finish to his efforts; in fact, the Nonpareil delayed commencing
publican on that account alone; and two or three good houses had in
consequence slipped through his hands. Randall was confident as to the
result. Victory, and nothing else, appeared certain to him. This,
however, was by no means the general opinion; but when the following
meeting was announced between the above parties, the fancy were all
alive:—
“Articles of agreement. October 13, 1818, entered into at Mr.
Franklin’s, the Lion and Goat, Lower Grosvenor Street, Grosvenor
Square, between John Randall and Edward Turner, to fight for the sum
of £100 a-side, on Tuesday, the 1st of December. The above battle to
be a fair stand up fight—half minute time, in a twenty-four foot
ring. The place to be named by Mr. Jackson; but the distance from
London not to be less than twenty-five, nor to exceed thirty miles.
Randall, on the one side, to choose his own umpire, as to a time
keeper, and Turner also to appoint a time-keeper, on his part; but
to prevent any disputes, Mr. Jackson to appoint a third umpire as a
referee, whose decision shall be final. The whole of the stakes to
be made good on Tuesday, the 10th of November, at Mr. Franklin’s,
between the hours of seven and nine in the evening; but if either
Randall or Turner wish to increase the sum to £200 a-side, this
latter sum to be made good on Tuesday, the 24th of November. Mr.
Jackson to hold the stakes, or any person whom he may appoint. A
deposit of £20 a-side was placed in the hands of Mr. Franklin; but
if the whole of the stakes of £100 a-side are not made good on the
10th of November, the above deposit to be forfeited accordingly.
“(Signed) “BAXTER,
“FRANKLIN.”
“Witness, P. E.”
Randall was generally the favourite; yet Turner was by no means in the
back ground, for the Taffies swore, “Cot splutter her nails, hur’s sure
to win it.” The cool knowing ones, who put national feelings out of the
case, and who only looked to winning the blunt, declared it was a
puzzling problem.
This great match made, Randall went into training on his favourite spot,
Hampstead Heath; where he was rather under the eye and superintendence
of a gallant Colonel, his patron, it being contiguous to that officer’s
residence. He took up his abode at Bob Pilch’s, the Horse and Groom,
Hampstead, which was a centre of attraction for the fancy, it being only
a toddling distance from the town.
On the side of Turner, his friends were equally attentive and alert, and
a “game” dinner was given to the amateurs on Tuesday, November 24, 1818,
at the Chequers Inn, Brentwood, Essex, preparatory to the grand combat.
It was a numerous and most respectable meeting. A livelier dinner was
never witnessed; the cloth was covered from one end to the other with
hares, pheasants, partridges, and venison, served in the highest style
of culinary perfection; the table was also surrounded by live game, of
the true British breed, not to be equalled in any other part of the
world: Oliver and Purcell on one side, Turner and Richmond upon the
other. The harmony was of the richest quality, and “the heroes of the
ring” were toasted by the company. Turner returned thanks for the
mention that had been made of his former exertions, and observed, with
much modesty and candour, “that he would win if he could; but if he lost
the match, he trusted that the amateurs would not have to complain that
he had not done everything to give them satisfaction.”
In consequence of the death of Queen Charlotte, this great match was put
off, by the consent of all parties, till Saturday, December 5. This
circumstance tended, if possible, to increase the sporting anxiety upon
the event. The day being altered, it was thought expedient by the
backers, to prevent any misunderstanding, to give publicity to the
following:—“It may be necessary to inform those who are not thoroughly
acquainted with the rules of betting, that, on account of the above day
being altered, all bets that have been laid since the match was made are
off, unless agreed by the parties to be on; but all those bets which
were laid before the match was made, stand good.” It was even betting at
Tattersall’s on the Monday previous to the fight. This circumstance was
attributed to the Welsh feeling upon the subject: five to four was
difficult to be got at. The contest being a “war” question, the Stock
Exchange dabbled considerably upon the event. When the challenge was
first given by Randall, and received by Turner, the odds were seven to
four and two to one on Randall; but this seemed rather to arise from the
impetuosity and confidence of his friends, than from a due estimate of
his merits. Consideration soon reduced the odds to five to four, then
twenty-one to twenty, and at length only Randall for choice.
Even betting followed; and at last Turner’s friends, who had been upon
the reserve, began to show out, and actually offered five to four the
other way. This change was attributed to a report that Randall had got a
cold in his neck, and was under the necessity of having leeches applied
to reduce the tumour which arose in consequence. Turner’s father, it
appears, had offered to take the odds against his son to any amount, and
actually produced the blunt for a few hundreds, in order to prove his
sincerity. The spirit of the Ancient Briton was up, and we understand
that he was instructed by his friends in Wales to support the national
glory. Tom Belcher had £200 sent up to him from Wales, to bet as he
thought proper upon Turner.
The little hero on his leaving Brentwood, dined at Belcher’s, in
Holborn, on Thursday, and in the course of the evening set off for
Croydon, where he slept that night. He seemed in high condition and good
spirits, and expressed a perfect confidence of success. Randall also
shifted his quarters from Hampstead, and approached the scene of action.
He was equally sanguine.
On Friday morning the bustle among the fancy was great. Post-chaises,
gigs, carts, buggies, wagons, and every description of vehicle, were
called into requisition; and, in the course of the day the road towards
Croydon presented a motley assemblage of persons of all ranks. Many,
too, who could not muster the means of other conveyance, depended upon
their pedestrian abilities, and set out on foot. Every horse on the road
was engaged, and hundreds were forced to take up their lodgings under
circumstances of no ordinary privation; indeed it was considered but a
trifling sacrifice, when compared with the pleasure to be derived from
being present at the fight.
On entering the ring, which was pitched on Crawley Downs, Turner was
waited on by Tom Owen and Bill Richmond, Randall by Tom Oliver and
Blake. Odds six to four on Randall. Little time was lost, and at one
o’clock they shook hands, and threw themselves in position for
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—It is impossible to describe the
anxiety impressed upon the countenances of the
spectators on the combatants shaking hands. The
attitudes of both men were interesting to the
admirers of pugilism, and neither of them seemed
wanting in condition. They eyed each other with
the acute precision of fencing masters, and
seemed positively almost to look into each
other’s hearts. It was dodging, dodging, and
dodging again; and five minutes had elapsed
before a blow had been made, touching the toes
of each other all the time. At length, after
some feints, Turner hit first, when the prime
Irish boy laughed and got away. The latter,
however, was not long in making a return, and he
gave Turner a jawer and a ribber, but not
heavily. More feints and dodging. Turner hit
short with his right hand, when Randall rushed
in and went to work. He tried to fib his
opponent upon his old favourite system, and a
severe struggle took place for the throw. Both
down, but Turner undermost.
2.—The same caution was manifest on both sides
on commencing this round, and long sparring
again occurred. Randall gave a bellier, and got
away; he was not long in repeating it, and
adding a facer. Long sparring. Turner
endeavoured to give a tremendous hit with his
left hand, but Jack was wary, and jumped back
two yards. Very long sparring; in fact, it
appeared so tedious to those who are admirers of
downright milling, that many persons called out,
“When shall we get home?” Turner, with much
dexterity, put in a good hit between Randall’s
guard. (Great applause. “Go it, Neddy.”) The
latter gave two facers, and plunged his way to
work. The finish of this round was truly severe,
fibbing and struggling till both went down.
Twenty minutes had elapsed.
3.—The mouth of Turner seemed to show some tinge
of the claret, but there was doubt about it.
He, however, appeared to breathe very quick,
and rather distressed. The tactics of both the
men were of the first order of science, and
it was viewed as astonishing by most of the
old amateurs. Both of the men were so well
prepared, that if the slightest mistake was made
it was not overlooked; and this may account for
the extreme caution on both sides. Randall had
never anything like such a customer to deal
with before; and Turner had no borer-in to beat
off-hand. This round took thirteen minutes, and
the pauses were so unusually long that some of
the jokers advised Tom Owen to have a pipe.
Cribb wished for his nightcap, and talked of
supper. Old Caleb advised them to go to work,
and hit each other’s nobs off. After numerous
feints, the round was finished well, Turner
undermost, and Randall fell over him rather
awkwardly upon his neck.
4.—From the style of fighting displayed by both
of the combatants, it was evident it must prove
a long fight. Both anxious, and on the look out
not to give half a chance away. Randall put in
two body blows. Turner’s left hand also told on
his opponent’s mouth. The hitting and stopping
on both sides was masterly. Turner’s nose was
now bleeding copiously, and Randall’s face was
pinked. Both down.
5.—In this round Randall took the lead; he
fibbed his opponent severely, and then fell upon
him heavily in going down.
6.—To attempt to describe minutely the feints,
the pauses, dodgings, etc., would fill a volume,
and therefore we must confine ourselves to an
explicit and short epitome. Randall spat blood,
when Turner’s left hand caught his opponent’s
nose, and the claret ran down into his mouth. A
very long pause ensued, and it almost seemed
that neither of the combatants wished to make a
hit, so much caution was used. Fifty minutes had
elapsed. Turner made a tremendous hit with his
left hand, but Randall stopped its effect with
fine skill. An exchange of blows. Turner aimed
to do something with his right and left hands,
but the blows were slight. Randall got away; the
blood from his nose appeared rather troublesome
to him. Trifling exchanges. Turner seemed tired,
and put down his hands, but they were soon up
again on Randall’s offering to hit. Turner threw
two blows away, when Randall put in a severe
body blow. Another long pause. Randall now put
down his hands, just for a moment’s ease, when
Turner run in, not to lose an opportunity, but
Randall laughed, and was prepared for him in an
instant. Long pause. Several feints, but no
hitting. Randall put in a heavy blow in the
body, but got a sharp header in return. The
Nonpareil seemed to be changing his mode of
attack, and trying all for the body. Turner was
so extremely awkward and dangerous to be got
at, that Randall displayed more than his usual
caution. Turner stopped a heavy hit, and then
hit Randall on the head; and he also endeavoured
again to use his left hand with success, but
Randall stopped him. Some fine science was again
displayed, and in struggling for the throw,
Randall was undermost. Turner was now bleeding
copiously, and the claret was also running down
from Randall’s nose.
7.—This was a tremendous round, and Turner
seemed much distressed in coming to the scratch.
After a few exchanges, Randall closed, and went
sharply to work on the weaving system, till they
both were down.
8.—This was also a fighting round, and Turner’s
left hand got into his opponent’s face; but
Randall, in turn, put in a sharp bodier. In
closing, Turner was thrown.
9.—When time was called, Turner was about to
commence play on Randall’s side of the ring,
when the latter said, “Keep your own side.” This
was a gallant round, and both fibbed each other
in turn. In going down Randall had the best of
the fall.
10.—This round was full of science; the hitting
and stopping on both sides were of the finest
order of the art. Turner complained that Randall
had trod heavily upon his toe, and said, “Do
you call that fair, Jack?” Randall, in reply,
answered, “I did not.” In struggling for the
throw, Turner threw Randall over him.
11.—The best judges were still between hopes and
fears upon the subject. Randall seemed to have
the best of it, but the goodness of Turner was
so well known, that he did not even now want for
plenty of backers. Randall got Turner into the
sun, and put in a tremendous hit on his left
eye, that made him wink again. He, however,
recovered himself, and gave his opponent a
severe one in the bread-basket. In going down
Turner received a hit which Owen said was foul,
and called out to the umpires respecting it but
no notice was taken by the authorities, and it
went off.
12.—Turner hit his opponent right and left, but
they did not appear heavy enough to alter the
position of Randall, or reduce his strength.
However, it was a desperate round. (Seven to
four on Randall.) Both down, and hard milling.
13.—Randall put in a desperate snorter, that
sent Turner’s nob back, and the claret followed
in torrents; he repeated it, and Turner went
down. Randall had now got upon the head-work,
and left pinking at the body. This was the first
knock-down blow, and great shouting followed it.
14.—It was really astonishing to witness the
coolness with which Turner came up to the
scratch after the tremendous punishment he had
experienced in the last round. He also hit out
right and left, and some severe exchanges
occurred between them. In closing, Turner fibbed
Randall with some effect, but the former went
down. (Randall for £100.)
15.—A very sharp round. Good fighting on both
sides. In closing, Turner got Randall down, and
also undermost.
16.—A considerable pause before a blow was made.
Turner at length let fly with his left hand on
the body; but Randall put in so heavy a blow in
Turner’s mouth as nearly to dislodge his ivory,
and the claret flowed profusely. In closing,
Turner fibbed his opponent, but he fell rather
weak.
17.—In this round, in struggling for the throw,
Turner threw Randall out of the ring, and stood
up, leaning over the ropes.
18.—Turner tried to use his left hand
desperately, but was stopped. Randall rushed in
to finish his man in style, but he missed his
object. At length they both got into work, till
Turner went down exhausted.
19.—In this round Turner put in a sharp bodier,
when Randall’s old forte broke out with fresh
energy. In closing, he peppered the face of his
opponent; it was ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto,
till Turner went down. One hour and thirty-five
minutes.
20.—Turner came to his time undismayed, and hit
left and right, which Randall not only stopped,
but again planted a severe facer that brought
forth the claret in torrents. In closing, both
down.
21.—Turner hit with his left hand on Randall’s
nose, and he also went down from the force of
his own blow. Randall seemed a little exhausted
from the work he had to perform, and was also
bleeding at the mouth. In fact, this blow seemed
to have had more effect than any he had received
during the fight.
22.—Randall run Turner down, after an exchange
of a few blows.
23.—Fibbing and Turner a bad fall. The latter
appeared getting weak, but still full of
courage.
24.—Turner came first to the scratch, with
undiminished confidence, and put in a smart
right-handed hit on Randall’s mug. In the
struggle Turner also surprised the spectators
with the strength that he possessed, throwing
Randall with great violence. Two hours had now
elapsed.
25.—Turner astonished the ring by coming up
so cheerful, and some of the good judges did
not know what to think of it; they said it was
not altogether so safe as many might imagine.
Randall planted a slight hit, and slipped down.
26.—Turner was first at the scratch, and hit
Randall right and left, but the blows were not
heavy. Randall gave a second knock-down blow.
27.—Randall looked at his fallen foe, and
stooped down, winking to his friends, as it
were, that he thought it all right. This was a
well fought round, and Turner put in some good
hits. In going down, Randall was undermost. The
water of life was here given to Randall. At this
stage of the battle, upwards of two hours having
elapsed, it was truly extraordinary to witness
such exertions on both sides. Turner hit Randall
right away from him, but the latter followed
Turner up till a terrible struggle took place in
closing. Turner also stopped a severe blow aimed
at him by Randall, and in return he planted a
sharp hit on the Nonpareil’s jaw.
28.—Turner again nobbed his opponent with his
left hand, but he was floored from a tremendous
body hit.
29.—Notwithstanding the heavy flooring hit
Turner experienced in the last round, he came
up to the scratch as cool as a cucumber. He
commenced fighting, and endeavoured to do some
execution with his left hand, but Randall
stopped him. In a close, both down.
30.—Turner left the knee of his second first,
and quite satisfied the ring that that fight was
not out of him. He made some good exchanges,
till both went down.
31.—The face of Turner was severely punished,
but his eyes were open, and he fought as coolly
as if he had only commenced the fight. (“Take
him away—he’s too game,” was the cry.) Turner
was again floored from a severe hit in the body.
In this round a circumstance occurred which
might have proved the overthrow of Randall,
if it had not been prevented. Baxter offered
to bet £5 upon Turner, when Oliver warmly
observed, that he would lay him £10 to £5 three
times over, and was leaving his man to come
and stake, but he was called upon by Randall’s
patron not to quit him for an instant. Jem
Belcher lost the fight with Cribb, it was
asserted, in consequence of his second staking
the money, thus giving time for Cribb to recover
his wind.
32.—The brave Turner undismayed again met his
man; but went down from a blow. While on his
second’s knee, he was advised to give in, but
his manly heart would not suffer him to say
“No;” his tongue refused its utterance.
33.—The state of Turner now appeared so piteous,
and his bravery so much the praise of the
spectators, that several persons cried out, “Do
not let him fight any more.”—“Don’t say that,
gentlemen,” replied Owen, “he’s worth twenty
beaten men!” Turner, however, went down from a
facer.
34 and last.—The admiration of all present was
expressed at Turner again coming to the scratch;
and although in a state of exhaustion, he was
cool, collected, and as game as a pebble. After
some other hits, a blow on the left side of
Turner’s head floored him, that he could not
come to time. Two hours, nineteen minutes, and
thirty seconds had elapsed.
REMARKS.—The first act of Randall, on being
pronounced the victor, was to push the crowd
away from him, and to clasp the hand of his
brave fallen foe with much zeal and friendship;
while Turner, nobly disdaining animosity, gently
patted Randall on the back, in token that he was
the best man, and had won the battle nobly and
in gallant style. The amateurs applauded both of
them, and pronounced them the two best bits
of stuff, of their weight, in this country.
Turner, it seems, on being repeatedly solicited
to give in, indignantly spurned such advice,
asserting that he could yet win the battle. His
brother, Mr. Baxter, at length insisted that he
should fight no longer, which put an end to the
contest.
On victory being declared in favour of Randall, Turner was immediately
carried from the ground by Sutton, in a distressed state, to a
neighbouring farmhouse, put to bed, and every attention and assistance
administered to his wants that humanity could suggest. It is well known
that, heavy as the blows were, added to the extremity of pain he must
have felt from the severity of punishment he had received, these were
“trifles light as air,” compared to the anguish which his mind suffered
at the recollection, afflicting to a brave man, of defeat. He was very
ill, but complained most of the body blows. Randall, in the course of
the Saturday evening, arrived in town, anxious to meet his better half
and son; the latter was about two years old.
The public interest was so great upon this occasion that hundreds
surrounded the turnpike gates to learn the name of the winner.
Randall at this time announced his retirement from the ring, and his
intention to serve the public as a publican. We find in Monday morning’s
_Morning Chronicle_, after the fight, the following paragraphs headed:—
“REMNANTS OF THE FIGHT.—Daylight on Sunday morning discovered the
remains of several gigs lying along the wayside, which had been floored
by coming in contact with each other from the narrowness and badness of
the roads. Beds could not be procured at any of the inns; and, in
consequence, hundreds were compelled to travel in the dark. The horses
were all dead beat, the long faces not to be described, and the cleaning
out immense. Near the dwelling of Randall, the Cock, in Tottenham Court
road, hundreds were waiting for the result of the event; and, upon the
arrival of Jack, the applause he received rent the air. The mob round
Belcher’s door was beyond all precedent. In the Borough Market, Cribb’s
house was equally besieged, and those of Harmer, Oliver, and Burn,
crowded and surrounded. The sale of newspapers was as great as if some
important victory had been achieved on the continent, so much anxiety
was felt upon this battle. The first news which arrived in London was
that Turner had gained the day. Numerous bets were made upon the
information, and the hoax was not dispelled till ten o’clock on Saturday
night.
“Turner arrived in town last (Sunday) night; and notwithstanding the
numerous blows he has received upon his face, it was astonishing to see
how quickly the appearance of punishment had left it.”
At a sporting dinner at Franklin’s,[154] on December 22, 1818, to
celebrate Randall’s victory, a noble lord, a staunch patron of boxing,
proposed to back Martin against the Nonpareil. Martin, who had just
defeated “the invincible” Jack Scroggins (as Pierce Egan calls him after
four defeats), in the previous week (December 18th), was then in the
height of his fame; yet a backer of Randall not only accepted the
proposal but offered, lest Martin’s friends should draw back, to fight
£150 to £100; so good a thing did he think it; though Martin was a stone
heavier, touching 11st. 5lbs. In a little row with the ponderous Burn,
Randall displayed his skill upon the “big ’un,” and offered to fight him
for £100, before his match with Martin. These were of course mere “wild
and wandering words, my lord.” For the match with Martin, £50 on the
part of Martin, and £75 for Randall, were posted on the last day of the
year 1818, at Burn’s, and the 4th of May was fixed for the meeting, that
it might not interfere with Newmarket.
Randall went into training at Hampstead, and in March, in consequence of
some difference of opinion between his trainer and Martin’s, a foot-race
of 100 yards was proposed for £5 a-side. The men agreed to run, and came
together, when Martin beat Randall cleverly by seven yards. The reporter
adds: “This was the first time Randall’s name was coupled with _defeat_,
but then it was his _feet_ that betrayed him, his _fists_ had no _hand_
in it.” “This was thought,” as “Elia” says in his “Essays,” “smart
writing for newspapers thirty years ago.”
Randall generously volunteered to attend and set-to at Martin’s benefit
at the Fives Court, which took place only a week before their fight, and
did so. This is a little trait that speaks volumes for the manly
character of the Nonpareil. We copy the contemporary report, as a
specimen of the “road to the fight” some sixty years ago.
“The fancy were upon the alert soon after breakfast, on Monday, May 4,
1819, to ascertain the seat of action, and as soon as the important
whisper had gone forth, that Crawley Downs was the place, ‘the toddlers’
were off in a twinkling. Gigs were brushed up, the prads harnessed, and
the ‘boys’ who intended to enjoy themselves on the road were in motion.
Heavy drags and wagons were also to be witnessed creeping along full of
people, with plenty of grub. Between the hours of two and three o’clock
in the afternoon, upwards of 100 gigs were counted passing through
Croydon. The bonifaces chuckled with delight, and screwing was the order
of the day. Long before eight o’clock in the evening, every bed
belonging to the inns and public-houses in Godstone, East Grinstead,
Reigate, Bletchingly, etc., etc., were doubly and some trebly engaged.
The country folks also came in for a snack of the thing, and the simple
Johnny Raws, who felt no hesitation in sitting up all night if they
could turn their beds to account, with much modesty only asked £1 and
15_s._ each for an hour or two’s sleep. The private houses were thus
filled. Five and seven shillings were charged for the stand of a horse
in any wretched hut. But those customers who were ‘fly’ to all the
tricks and fancies of life, and who would not be nailed at any price,
preferred going to roost in a barn; while others, possessing rather more
gaiety, and who set sleep at defiance, blew a cloud over some heavy wet;
devouring the rich points of a flash chaunt, and thought no more of time
hanging heavily than they did of the classics, chaunting and swiping
till many of the young sprigs dropped off their perches; the ould ones
who felt the influence of ‘the Dustman,’ were glad to drop their nobs to
obtain forty winks. Those persons whose blunt enabled them to procure
beds, could not obtain any sleep, for carriages of every description
were passing through the town all night. Things passed in this manner
till daylight began to peep. Then the swells in their barouches and
four, the swift trotting fanciers, hurried from the metropolis; and the
road exhibited the bustle of the great day of Epsom Races. The
‘brilliants’ also left Brighton, Worthing, etc., about the same period,
and thus were the roads thronged in every direction. The ‘pitiless
pelting shower’ commenced furiously at six o’clock on the Tuesday
morning, but it damped nothing but the dust. The ‘fancy’ are too game to
prevent anything like weather interrupting their sports. The ogles of
the turnpike men let not half a chance slip through their fingers, and
those persons who, either from carelessness or accident, had not
preserved their tickets, were physicked by paying twice at the same
gate. The weather at length cleared up, and by twelve o’clock the
amphitheatre on Crawley Downs had a noble effect, thousands of persons
being assembled. It is supposed if the carriages had all been placed in
one line they would have reached from London to Crawley. The amateurs
were of the highest distinction, and several noblemen and foreigners of
rank were upon the ground. The short time previous to the combat taking
place was occupied in betting and descanting upon the merits of the
pugilists. The high condition and strength of Martin made a considerable
impression upon the waverers, and some little hedging occurred, though
seven to four was the current price with Randall’s friends.” Martin
first appeared in the ring, and threw up his hat, accompanied by his
seconds, Burn and Harmer. Randall immediately followed, attended by
Oliver and Jones. The combatants, upon meeting, shook hands with each
other in the most friendly manner. The signal was given for stripping,
and a most extensive ring was immediately beat out. At thirteen minutes
to one the men set-to:—
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Upon the combatants meeting at the
scratch, the fine condition of Martin claimed
the peculiar attention of the amateurs. The
human frame could not possibly have attained a
higher degree of perfection. He wore elastic
drawers, and, from his hips downwards, the
symmetry was so complete, that a sculptor could
not have wished for a finer model. Randall was
equally prime; but from comparison of height and
weight the chance appeared against him, if it
had rested upon these points. Reports had gone
abroad that Martin meant to risk his fortune in
the first two or three rounds; also that Randall
could not bear punishment, and the baker was
determined to smash him on the outset. The
confidence of Martin rather alarmed a few of the
amateurs; but the steady calculators were not to
be moved; and the recollection that Randall had
won eleven battles in succession—that he had
never been defeated—and had likewise gained a
victory over the skilful Turner, heightened
their opinion, and induced them to lay it on
thicker. The vast multitude seemed in breathless
suspense on the men making their attitudes.
Martin was cautious, and some time occurred in
sparring for an opportunity to make a hit, when
he at length let fly with his right hand, which
reached his opponent’s body slightly. Randall
made a hit, but the baker’s length of arm
stopped it, when the latter in endeavouring to
make a return, received a one-two on the right
and left side of his face, which instantly
created a pinky appearance. Long sparring
occurred, and both on the look out to obtain a
favourable opportunity. Martin made a hit, but
Randall got away in style, when the latter was
not long in planting a blow on the body. Counter
hits took place, and Martin, rather encouraged
from this circumstance, pursued Randall to the
corner of the ropes. The Nonpareil, as
heretofore, when placed in this perilous
situation, extricated himself with promptness.
He put in two facers; Martin went staggering
away, and the claret was seen issuing from his
mouth. He now raised himself upon his toes, when
Randall, finding that the length of the baker’s
“peel” was not yet practicable to get over,
planted a severe bodier. Martin went a little to
work, and in closing some sharp blows passed,
and both went down, Martin uppermost. (Loud
shouting, and “Well done, Martin.”)
2.—Randall’s left ear was slightly bleeding
from the last encounter. Martin made a hit on
Randall’s shoulder; and he also stopped the
latter in making a return. Randall, however, was
not long in putting in a bodier, that left the
marks of his fingers as strongly imprinted as if
they had been painted with vermilion. In closing
the Nonpareil fibbed Martin severely, but the
baker obtained the throw and was uppermost. (Two
to one was now current upon Randall; and several
took it, relying upon the length and strength of
the baker.)
3.—Martin made a good nobber, and smiled at
the event; but it was only temporary. Randall
put in some bodiers with great dexterity,
these affected the wind of Martin, and, in
closing, Randall not only fibbed his opponent
tremendously, but fell upon him.
4.—Martin’s face was bleeding and flushed all
over; distress was coming fast upon him. He,
however, made a hit which was stopped, when
Randall, like lightning, put in so severe a
facer that Martin’s head went with great force
against the stakes. He appeared quite stunned,
but did not go down, and came up tottering to
fight with his opponent. In closing he again
received terribly, and was undermost.
5.—The “upper crust” of the baker was now
cracked, and Randall went in sharply to gain
another point, adding more punishment, but in
closing he was undermost. (Four to one).
6.—Martin got away from a tremendous hit; and
some long sparring occurred. This was a severe
round; but Martin was punished down, and Randall
fell heavily upon him.
7.—The Nonpareil had now commenced his work, and
satisfied the amateurs that he meant to finish
it at his leisure; he had “got him,” as it is
termed; but yet this safe hero to back thinks
the battle is not over till it is positively
won, and never gives the slightest chance away.
This was a short round; when Randall again
spoiled the upper crust, and got his opponent
down.
8.—The face of Martin was not only red, but his
mouth appeared full of blood. He made a hit, but
Randall got away; he, however, again pursued him
to the ropes, when Randall hit him on the right
eye, and he went staggering away. Some struggle
took place for the throw, but Randall got Martin
down.
9.—Martin sparred a short time, seemed tired,
and endeavoured to pull up his drawers, when
Randall was going in to mill, the baker smiled
and soon prepared for action. In closing Randall
threw his opponent.
10.—Martin slipped from a hit, but he received
such nobbers, and appeared so bothered, that it
was observed, the “Master of the Rolls” had
mistaken his place, and got into the “Court of
Chancery.” Randall fell very heavy upon his
opponent.
11.—It was evident that Martin could not gain
a point to change the tide of battle towards
victory. He received a dreadful blow in the
wind; and Randall got away from nearly all his
blows. The fibbing system was also again renewed
with severity, and Martin was thrown.
12.—Randall put in such tremendous hits, that in
struggling Martin fell down exhausted.
13.—This was a short round, and Martin was hit
as he was going down in the struggle for the
throw. “Foul! foul!” was loudly vociferated; and
it might perhaps have appeared so to those
persons at a distance from the ring; but the
umpires, who were close to the ropes, and
watched every movement, declared it to be fair.
14.—Another dreadful bodier was put in by
Randall, and Martin went in rather furious, but
he was punished down.
15.—The talents for serving out and improving
the chance exhibited by Randall in this round,
electrified the spectators, and astonished the
most experienced and accomplished pugilists on
the ground. In the very short space of time
that Martin was falling to the ground from
struggling, Randall planted three tremendous
blows. (“It’s astonishing,” was the cry; “he
is a phenomenon indeed!”)
16.—Martin still kept fighting, and this was a
sharp round; but he was hit both on the head and
body staggering away. In going down the coolness
of Randall induced him to put up his arm to show
that he did not mean to hit his opponent on the
ground.
17.—Martin determined to try it on, and broke
away from a close. Some exchanges took place,
but he was hit down severely.
18.—It was all up. Martin was hit so severely
that he fell upon his face. (A guinea to a
shilling was offered, but no takers.)
19 and last.—It was doubtful whether Martin
could come again. He did, however, appear at the
scratch, in a terrible state, but it was only to
be floored _sans ceremonie_. The battle occupied
forty-nine minutes and ten seconds.
REMARKS.—Randall never won a battle with more
comparative ease; and, excepting a slight shade
under his left eye, and a scratch upon his ear,
he had no appearance of having been engaged in a
contest. He is a complete master of the art of
war, and his judgment truly conspicuous. He
found the length of arm possessed by the baker
was not to be got over at first; he then, with
great promptitude, found out the vulnerable
part of the body, till the head of his opponent
became at his service, and then he won with all
the coolness and science of playing a game of
draughts.
It was the opinion of the best judges, that Randall ultimately must be
cried down, like the famous “Eclipse,” as regarded fighting any man of
his own weight. Martin was a very game man, and a hard hitter; but he
had no chance with Randall, although it is said he weighed above twelve
stone, and Randall only ten stone ten pounds. In point of civility,
decorous behaviour, and quiet conduct in life, Martin yielded to no
pugilist on the list; and these circumstances were not forgotten by the
amateurs, who made a collection for him of £30 on the ground. He was
taken to a farmhouse and humanely attended upon; while Randall put on
his clothes, and sat down to view the fight between Carter (who styled
himself the Champion of England), and Spring, which took place in the
same ring.
Randall, it appears, received foul play early in the morning of the
above fight; or, in other words, he was “hocussed.”[155] This infamous
scheme, however, had not the desired effect; but the dose operated as a
purgative.
A silly Monday disturbance in Battersea Fields, which led to a not very
creditable turn-up between Randall, who had been dining out, and a
fighting tailor named Jem Wood or Hood, in October, 1819, is seized upon
by Pierce Egan for seven octavo pages of slang and ungrammatical
“patter;” “Fistiana,” too, has booked it as a victory, “four rounds for
love,” to Randall.
Randall was now so popular that the manager of the Regency Theatre
engaged him at a salary to exhibit his milling acquirements in a
pantomime. Turner was his friendly opponent upon this occasion, and
crowded houses were the result.
In June, 1819, Randall being then about to open in business at the Hole
in the Wall, in Chancery Lane, was challenged by the dread-nought Jack
Scroggins, and a backer of Randall put down a £10 note on his behalf,
for a fight for 100 guineas to come off in August. Randall, not having
been consulted, refused to meet Scroggins, and forfeited the £10.
On Tuesday, August 17th, 1819, Randall’s opening dinner was celebrated.
As a specimen we reprint the advertisement from the weekly papers:—
“TO THE PATRONS OF THE NOBLE ART.
“A most interesting match will take place on Tuesday, August 17,
1819, at five o’clock in the afternoon, in which THE NONPAREIL will
exhibit in a new character. The Commander-in-Chief will preside. It
will be a game set-to, and cutting up will prevail, while the claret
will be in full supply. The visitors, if they do not find themselves
in Chancery, will be in the lane that leads to it. The
Hole-in-the-Wall will be the rendezvous on this occasion, where
friendship and harmony will do their best to crown Jack Randall’s
latest hit.”
From this period we do not hear of Jack in the ring, though he
constantly put on the gloves at benefits at the Fives Court, often
donning the mufflers with the scientific Tom Belcher, his brother
boniface and neighbour at the Castle. The following anecdote, headed
“Gallantry of the Nonpareil,” is given on the authority of “Boxiana:”—
“On Thursday evening, June 28, 1821, as the Nonpareil was taking one of
his ‘training’ walks, in company with Josh. Hudson and two amateurs,
near White Conduit Fields, a lady and gentlemen were passing, when some
very indecent and unmanly allusions were made to them by four fellows.
The gentleman endeavoured to turn away from these blackguards, when they
assailed him and the lady more rudely than ever. The Nonpareil
immediately put in a small taste on one of the fellow’s nobs, that
floored him. On his getting up, the Nonpareil took him up to the lady,
and insisted upon his begging her pardon, which the fellow did upon his
knees: the other three refusing to do so, were so severely caned that
they could scarcely walk afterwards. Some brick-makers, who observed the
circumstance, immediately left their work, and came to the assistance of
the blackguards, when Randall floored two of them. Josh. Hudson also
made some play with the ‘men of clay,’ and on some person crying ‘go it,
Jack Randall,’ the name was quite sufficient, and the astonished
brick-makers begged his pardon and bolted, _sans ceremonie_.”
During the two years of Randall’s retirement, Martin had shone as a
bright star in the pugilistic sphere. He had conquered the renowned
Josh. Hudson, the John Bull Fighter; beaten the “hard-hitting” Bristol
hero, Cabbage; disposed of the pretensions of the “slashing” Phil.
Sampson, the Birmingham youth; floored the pretentious Gipsy Cooper at
Lewes races; and finally disposed of Josh. Hudson’s brother David at
Moulsey. This led to a second match with Ned Turner, by whom in his
early career Martin had been defeated. In this affair Randall backed
Turner, and with Tom Belcher seconded him in the battle. Turner’s defeat
at the hands of Martin so vexed Randall that in a moment of irritation
he declared his readiness to fight Martin for £300. This was foolish and
in bad taste, as Randall had formally taken leave of the ring two years
previously, with a public challenge to all England at eleven stone, for
500 guineas. This sudden challenge was not immediately accepted, as the
backers of Martin hesitated at the largeness of the sum; but the friends
of Martin, upon weighing the facts of Randall’s recent illness, his life
as a publican, and the supposed inroads of “blue ruin” upon his
constitution, screwed up their courage and signed articles for the £300.
It is stated in contemporary papers that upwards of £200,000 were
dependent upon the issue of this fight, and that one gentleman had a
book of £5,000, at six and seven to four on Randall.
On Tuesday morning, September 16, 1821, long before daylight, and all
the preceding night, the roads leading to Crawley Downs, Sussex, were
covered with vehicles of every description, so great was the interest
excited throughout the sporting world to witness the Nonpareil once more
display his skill in the art of self-defence. The ring was made in a
field, within a mile of East Grinstead, in which Martin threw up his
hat; but, owing to some misunderstanding between the persons conducting
this business in the absence of the Commander-in-chief, the fight was
removed to Crawley Downs, but not till hundreds had paid a heavy toll
for passing through a gate, which sums of money of course were not
refunded on changing the scene of action. For a long time it was thought
no fight would take place. By this time the multitude had so increased
that it was deemed necessary to enlarge the ring; and about three
o’clock, Randall, in a white “upper Benjamin,” arm-in-arm with his
backers, appeared, and, with much coolness threw his hat into the ropes.
Shortly afterwards, Martin, accompanied by his backers, displaying their
white toppers, also approached the ring, and answered the token of
defiance by sending his castor into the ring. Martin was loudly
applauded by the spectators. Tom Spring and an amateur were seconds for
“the Master of the Rolls;” Paddington Jones and “Cicero” Holt officiated
for Randall. The combatants on meeting each other shook hands in the
most friendly manner. Current betting six to four on Randall.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, the frame of Randall was
a perfect picture for the anatomist, and every
person was astonished at the very fine condition
he exhibited. The confidence he displayed was
remarkable. His face had no trait of ferocity
about it, but, on the contrary, cheerfulness and
true courage. Martin was lighter in person than
heretofore, but his condition was said to be, by
his backers, equal to the finest racehorse. His
legs, which were covered with striped silk
stockings, were round and elegant, and the _tout
ensemble_ was that of a boxer capable of
performing great execution. He smiled and
appeared confident. On placing themselves in
attitude, Randall was the object of attraction
all over the ring; he stood as firm as a rock.
The position of Martin was good, but he did not
appear to stand so steady as his opponent. A
minute elapsed in looking at each other, but the
eyes of Randall seemed almost to penetrate his
opponent. Both anxious for an opportunity to
make a hit. Martin smiled. Randall made a sort
of feint with his left hand, which was well
stopped by Martin. Manœuvring and dodging each
other for a few steps, which was succeeded by a
pause. Randall endeavoured to put in a
tremendous right-handed blow, but missed his
object. Martin now ventured to take the lead,
and exerted himself to make his right and left
hand tell, but Randall with the utmost dexterity
stopped them both. Martin felt tired and dropped
his arms; but, on perceiving Randall ready to
take advantage of this opening, he hastily
resumed a defensive attitude, when the Nonpareil
immediately went to work, and planted a severe
right-handed hit just above the wind, which made
the Master of the Rolls bite his lips. Another
pause succeeded; but the attitudes of the men
were uncommonly fine. The action of the muscles
was beautiful; and the arms of Martin, and the
shoulders of Randall, were studies for the
artist. The combatants closed on Randall’s
decoying Martin to follow him to his favourite
corner of the ring, and in this situation, often
as the Nonpareil had astonished the amateurs
with his forte for fibbing, he now put forth
such a “bit of good truth” as positively to
terrify the spectators with the terrible
execution he was capable of administering. He
fibbed Martin with his left hand in the most
rapid manner, and then changed him on his arm
like a baby, and repeated four or five blows on
his face and neck, operating so decisively on
the jugular vein that the eyes of Martin turned
up, and he foamed at the mouth. A few drops of
claret followed, which appeared to have been
drawn from his ear, and Randall did not leave
him till he was within four inches of the
ground. Martin was now so stupid that the back
part of his head fell against the stake; but the
mischief had been done before this period. “It’s
all up,” was the cry; and to describe the
consternation of the ring, or to depict the
countenances of the spectators, would defy the
talents of a Lavater. Martin was picked up in a
state of stupor, and remained insensible for a
long period after time was called. He was
carried out of the ring; but in the course of
half an hour, when in bed, and attended by the
P. C. doctor, Mr. Hughes, a gentleman possessing
superior talents as a medical man, he recognized
Spring, and, on opening his eyes, with the
utmost astonishment inquired where he was, and
if he had lost it? Randall had only a slight
mark on the tip of his nose and under his right
eye.
REMARKS.—This fight is without a parallel, it
having been won in one round, occupying nearly
eight minutes. Although so short, yet the
excellence of Randall was so great that no one
could have complained to go fifty miles at any
time to witness such a display of the art. So
finished a boxer as Randall was never seen in
the prize ring. The attitude of Martin attracted
great attention and praise; and the extreme
caution evinced on both sides established the
advantages of coolness and a knowledge of
tactics. Till the closing occurred, the general
opinion seemed to be that Martin had none the
worst of it at out-fighting; but when the
Nonpareil got in (and right truly is Randall
named a Nonpareil, for where is his fellow to be
found among the milling coves of his weight?) he
held Martin as tight in his grasp as if he had
been screwed in a vice. After the fight it was
ascertained that Martin did not weigh more than
two pounds heavier than Randall. The character
of the Master of the Rolls had hitherto stood
very high in the opinion of the sporting world
for his scrupulous attention to training, and
it is true he was never attached to wetting
his neck; but, poor fellow, like our common
ancestor, Adam, it is certain he was not proof
against another temptation.
“Dear creatures, we can’t do without them,
They are all that is sweet and seducing to man;”
and “true ’tis pity,” and “pity ’tis, ’tis
true!” Martin might have lost the fight on the
above account, had the battle come to a long
contest, and stamina been required; but in the
present instance the repeated blows he received
on the jugular vein must have finished him off
hand.
As to Martin he attributed the loss of the fight to an accident, and
issued a challenge for a third contest. Randall replied that he had
declared beforehand that, win or lose, this should be his last battle,
and moreover that his challenge was the result of a promise to Turner,
that if Martin beat that boxer he would fight him himself.
We shall make no apology for transferring a letter from an eyewitness,
who came up from Cambridge, to a university friend, as the best report
of this eventful fight and its accompanying incidents.
“LONDON, _September 12, 1821_.
“DEAR ——
“Agreeably to promise, I sit down to write you some account of the
great pugilistic events of yesterday, such as they appeared to my
inexperienced eyes, and such probably as they would have done to
yours. The intense interest excited in our minds by the sporting
intelligence conveyed by the London press, and the difficulty of
discriminating the plain, simple, unvarnished fact, amidst the
eloquence and metaphorical colouring in which battles are narrated,
renders it necessary that we ourselves should, once at least, see a
prize-fight, in order perfectly to understand the events of the day,
and be able to converse rationally on matters which are the subject
of discussion in every body’s mouth. I was accordingly determined to
see this fight, but it was a matter of tenfold more difficulty than
I had anticipated.
“I had expected that our sporting friend’s letter of introduction to
—— would have made everything easy, as that gentleman is supposed to
be in the secret of all the sporting world. Nothing farther,
however, could be learned, except that it was supposed that it would
be on Crawley Downs, and a reason was given for this selection, that
it would be an accommodation to the Brighton amateurs, who would in
that case contribute £40 or £50 towards the reward of the
performers. Nothing, however, was decided, and the amateurs, who
were determined at all events to see the sports of the day, were
written to by their friends to come up to London to head quarters,
as the only means of making sure of not being disappointed. In fact,
numerous amateurs arrived from Norwich, Canterbury, Cheltenham,
Bristol, and other country towns, and at a tavern kept by Mr. Thomas
Belcher, of fighting notoriety, friends from all these different
places, attracted by kindred feelings, renewed their acquaintance.
“By-the-bye, you would be surprised how successful the fighting men
are when they set up a place of public resort. In the country
places, ale and strong liquors are best sold under the patronage of
the Duke of Wellington; and his head being hung up over the door is
a strong inducement for a genuine Englishman to enter, quench his
thirst, and promote the revenue of his country. In Paris, at their
coffee-houses, we observed they always had an elegant, young, and
handsome female seated in a conspicuous place, as an object of
attraction to the house; but the best painted head of the Duke of
Wellington in the country, or the finest woman in Paris, never drew
so respectable an assemblage as is brought together by the intense
admiration felt for the heroism and manhood of Tom Cribb, Jack
Randall, or Tom Belcher. The other sporting publicans all do well,
and have their coteries of friends who patronise them, and find the
liquors nowhere so genuine and constitutional as in the houses of
these hardy supporters of English glory. It would have astonished
you had you seen what an assemblage was at Belcher’s for some nights
before the battle. You might have stood an hour before you could
have got a seat, and barmaids and waiters were as much fatigued in
serving out the liquors as the combatants after serving out to each
other in the prize ring. The money was all alive. Five, ten, twenty,
and fifty pound notes were common as waste paper, and were staked as
freely on the event. It is wonderful how much the revenue must have
benefited by the stimulus given to business before and after a great
battle. One thing, however, I detest, and that is, that British
amateurs should drink brandy, as many of them do. It is a suspicious
liquor, and tastes of contraband. Let us stick to true brown, or
real British dew; they accord best with the constitution. At
Belcher’s there is a ‘Daffy Club,’ which makes this observance their
leading rule. But to return to the history of the fights.
“A Council of War, as I was told, was held, at which were present a
gallant general and three other amateurs, who had backed the men,
and the historian of the prize ring; and, on comparing intelligence,
and considering the letters from the various parts of the country,
Crawley Downs was decided to be the place least likely to be subject
to interruption. This was known at the sporting houses on Monday
evening; and as it was upwards of thirty miles from town, and only
known that night, it was put out of the power of the walking
amateurs to attend. Here I cannot help regretting that the
interruption given to sports occasionally by parsons and other
ill-advised magistrates, should render it a matter of prudence to
adopt such a course to prevent a numerous assemblage on such
national occasions. It is depriving an immense mass of the lower
orders of the benefits of the lessons of valour, forbearance,
perseverance, and manly spirit, to be learned around the prize ring,
and nowhere else. It is, I conceive, a most aristocratic proceeding,
trenching on the liberties and pleasures of the people, and ought
not to be continued. If we did not know our ‘patriots,’ as they call
themselves, to be often mere humbugs, and to love nothing but what
brings forward themselves in conspicuous characters, they would come
forth and assert in Parliament and public meetings the people’s
rights on such occasions. But, like the methodist and methodistical
parsons, they hate all sport that withdraws attention from
themselves. However, I do allow the assemblage was, in consequence
of the absence of the pedestrian fancy, very select. Nine out of ten
of the men on the ground had the dress and appearance of gentlemen,
and the vehicles and cattle were certainly a show worth coming all
the way from London to see.
“It was long before the business of the day commenced, and the
amateurs walked about and friends from all parts of England met and
exchanged salutations, and communicated intelligence of the state of
science in their respective neighbourhoods.
“The carriages, waggons, and stands erected for viewing the fight,
were arranged in some places three or four behind each other, in an
oval of 200 feet by 250 feet, and were covered with spectators. The
ring was at first of smaller dimensions, but it was necessary to
enlarge it. There was immense trouble to the pugilistic characters
on the ground with their whips in forcing back the multitude, who
were within the enclosure, to the carriages. At last the men
stripped and set-to. They stood before one another, with their eyes
directed forward, watching every move. They changed their ground,
but still their arms kept in parallel, marching and countermarching
to prevent surprise. It reminded military amateurs of the parallel
movements of Wellington and Marmont before the glorious ‘mill’ at
Salamanca. At last they exchanged hits. Randall put in a blow on the
breast, which made it appear red; he had a blow under the eye and on
the nose, but made a most dreadful return, and came in on his man,
caught him in one arm, and his other went to work so fast, it seemed
like the motion of a mill wheel in full speed. Both fell, and were
picked up; but Martin’s head hung down like an apple on its stalk.
The seconds put it in its proper place, but it dropped again. They
moved it backwards and forwards, like a baker rolling about a loaf
in flour; they threw water on him, waved their hats to cool him, but
all was not enough; and when thirty seconds had elapsed, time was
called, but his senses were gone. Thus was the battle lost. The
amateurs were sadly disappointed as to their hopes of a long and
beautiful fight: and from the attitudes of the men, and their known
science and game qualities, it was fairly to be expected. It was
reported Martin was killed; but the feelings of the spectators were
relieved by word that, on being bled he became sensible, and in a
fair way of soon doing well.
“The conqueror walked about on the ground, and enjoyed the
admiration in which he was held by the spectators, and a flight of
pigeons was let off to convey the intelligence to town.
“After the first fight, the multitude inundated the ground, and
there was no order observed afterwards. The commander-in-chief was
absent, and republican government will never do. It was attempted to
clear the ground, but the multitude was not forced half so far back
as the carriages. If the circle had been larger, they might all have
seen; but one half of them saw nothing, and attempted to push
forward, and they partly hid the view from the spectators on the
carriages. Individuals exerted themselves to keep a wider ring, laid
on the whip, but there was no system of acting in concert, and if
such were usually the case, few people would be induced to go to see
a fight. The men hit away well; some beautiful stops of blows were
made, but many told home. Their bodies, which were white at the
commencement, exhibited patches of scarlet at a distance. They often
closed and hugged, and their arms were in motion like two mill
wheels. They threw each other down, and frequently over the ropes.
The seconds applied the water, and rubbed them like the grooms do
horses in the stable, put their men in condition, and made them
respectable in their appearance. The contest was well supported to
the last, and both men were very much punished.
“On a moderate calculation, I presume £10,000 or £12,000 would not
cover the travelling expenses of the amateurs assembled. What a pity
we do not enjoy the glorious liberty of the days of King George II.
We might have had all the sport in a theatre in Oxford Street, or in
Tottenham Court Road; and a fraction of the money now spent in
travelling would reward the men for their exertions. Much valuable
time might also be saved for business. But it is a matter of
infinite regret, that the pretended friends of liberty abandon the
interests of the people, and never defend public meetings, except
those at which they themselves may exhibit. But let us hope for
better times, and there are some promising symptoms, and we may have
sports at once commodious, agreeable, and at a moderate expense. I
shall tell you more when I return, and meanwhile,
“I am, dear sir, etc.
“* * * * *.”
A voluminous correspondence, some of it very angry and vulgar, appeared
in Pierce Egan’s newspaper, in relation to a third fight between Randall
and Martin, together with some “Lines to John Randall,” in the _Morning
Chronicle_, from the pen of Tom Moore, which we must preserve. Of course
the author of “Cash, Corn, and Catholics” adopted Pierce’s Irish origin
for Randall.
“LINES TO JOHN RANDALL,
_On the Subject of Mr. Martin’s Letter in the “Weekly Dispatch” of
November 18_.”
“Come, Randall, my dear! Come, the hodmen entreat thee
To idle no longer in Chancery Lane!
Shall the Baker out-write thee, who never could beat thee!
Come, up with thy beaver, my jewel, again!
The green turf of Crawley is soft to receive thee—
The voice of thy Patlanders never will leave thee,
And Martin, the divil, can’t ‘fib’ thee or ‘weave’ thee
So answer the troublesome cretur, and train!
“Oh! answer the letter, Jack, (Goneril nor Regan
Could ne’er use more hard-hearted words to ould Lear);
And I wonder, I must say I do, that Pierce Egan
Should let the word ‘cur’ be applied to thee, dear!
But answer the letter, in little; thou writest
A good fist at times, Jack—the best when thou fightest,
And settest thy mark on the bravest and brightest;
Write, write!—Mrs. Randall will look to the beer!
“Write, write, Jack! with fist quite as cool and as steady
As when it is raised at the ‘General’s’ call,
That the Randall is willing, the money is ready,
And both of them wait at the Hole in the Wall
For the love of the Holy Land, check this Drawcansir,
For thou art our footguard, our hero, our lancer,
In the _Weekly Dispatch_ of next week print thy answer—
Oh! print it, my jewel, and silence them all.
“AN IRISH GENTLEMAN, BRED AND BORN
“_Somewhere in St. Giles’s, November 23, 1821._
“P.S.—If the money runs short, we will aise us
Of all our spare linen to help thee a bit;
Our stockings will fetch us but little, by Jasus!
But then we can raise a small sum by our wit!
Only say, my dear boy, if the ‘nonsense’ is wanted,
And soon shalt thou have all thy wishes supplanted;
The stuff will drop in these parts, when ’tis chaunted
That Randall is short—Oh! the lad that hath _fit_!”
To this brilliant squib poor Pierce innocently puts it upon record that
he “wrote a poetical reply,” which he forwarded to the editor of the
_Morning Chronicle_, “who did not publish it.” We should have wondered
if John Perry had done so. Accordingly Pierce resolved to “print it, and
shame the fools.” Those who delight in doggrel will find this “rejected
address” at pp. 112 and 113 of the fourth volume of “Boxiana.”
A third match was, however, hastily made on March 11, 1822, after a
dispute; it ended in a wrangle, and a forfeit of Randall’s backers’
money, owing to failure in a deposit, fixed to be made good at Spring’s;
Martin received the £200 down.
“More last words” appear from time to time in the papers, in the shape
of challenges, acceptances, replies, and rejoinders, signed by Randall,
Martin, and a host of pseudonymous friends, backers, “Impartial
Observers,” “Justitias,” and the like, till the public became sick of
this vamped up “literature of the ring,” as the historian innocently
calls it. Pages of this rubbish are stuffed into the volumes of
“Boxiana.” The “third great match between Randall and Martin,” was made
for 1,000 guineas, and “the money all made good over a sporting dinner
at Randall’s, November 5, 1822.” On the 15th of the same month, however
(we condense from “Boxiana”), at Jackson’s rooms, Bond Street, it was
announced that Mr. J. had received a letter from Mr. Elliot, the backer
of Martin, requesting that he would send him a cheque for the £500,
stating that his man should not fight against nothing, as Martin would
be sued for the £200 forfeit he had received from the backers of
Randall. Randall expressed himself warmly on the subject, declaring he
had been ill-treated. He had lost his time, left his business to go into
training, and spent a considerable sum of money. A benefit was
accordingly organised for Randall, which took place at the Fives Court,
on the 4th of December, 1822, and was overflowingly attended.
In January, 1823, Randall and Josh Hudson wishing to give Jack’s old
Hampstead trainer, the well-known Bob Pilch, a turn, were enjoying
themselves at the Horse and Groom. It is and always has been a penalty
of celebrity in any line of life to be intruded upon by the impertinent,
the curious, and the conceited. Jack Randall and his friend Josh. were
soon objects of vulgar attention, when they went out to take the air in
the village. An elderly man among their followers, who ought to have
known better, and who had been indulging too freely, several times
touched Randall in the back with an umbrella as he was ascending the
steep hill, when the Nonpareil forbearingly asked him to desist; no
further notice would have been taken of the rudeness had it not been for
a brewer’s servant and his companions. This fellow, known as “The Cock
of Hampstead,” six feet in height, and about thirteen stone, had, it
seems, a hankering for a “shy at Randall,” and thought this a fine
opportunity for the experiment. We quote from “Boxiana.” “He put out his
tongue by way of derision, saying, ‘Who cares for Randall or Josh.
Hudson, I wonder? They would be afraid to talk to a younger man so!’
and, without further notice, gave Randall a flip on his nose, by way of
notice of his intentions. Jack returned the compliment with interest,
not wishing to remain long in debt to the man of grains. During the
first and second rounds nothing but sharp work was displayed, the
fighting being all on the side of Randall, and the strength on that of
the Cock. In the third round Jack received so severe a blow on the tip
of his shoulder, added to the tightness of his coat, that he could not
lift up his arm, and immediately tore off his Benjamin. The little
trump, being disencumbered from his togs, then went to work with the big
one in terrific style (something like the slaughtering mill in which he
so dreadfully served out Baruk, the Jew); and in two more rounds the man
of grains was so punished about his nob, that it was pitiable to behold.
Randall, in going down with the Cock, never left him, but tremendously
fibbed his opponent. On Josh picking up Randall, he felt a little
surprised on viewing the face of the latter, which, to all appearance,
looked as bad as his adversary’s; but, on wiping of it, Hudson
laughingly exclaimed, ‘Oh, I perceive you have only fell into the
paint-pot, you are not hurt; but you should not have robbed your
opponent of any of his colour. A novice serve you so, very likely
indeed!’ The sixth round put an end to the crowing of the Cock; he was
quite done up, and was so altered in complexion, as scarcely to be
recognized by his friends. His pal, another big one, also fell foul of
Jack, when Josh was about to tackle him. ‘Never mind,’ said Randall, ‘I
have got a little one for him presently.’ One round completely satisfied
the second hero of the grain fraternity, who received in that small
space of time pepper enough to last him for a twelvemonth. Randall and
Josh now reached the Horse and Groom without any further molestation;
but as they were blowing a cloud, and laughing over the various scenes
which had crossed their career, a third hero of the grain department put
in his appearance, with £100 to fight Randall. On Hudson chaffing this
chap, that ‘he believed Jack could wap the brewery all round,’ he took
fire, and thought he could punish Josh. ‘Well,’ replied Hudson, ‘perhaps
you may; but if you will take a little bit of amusement with me on the
heath, as I would not on any account create a riot in honest Bob’s
house, you will then know a little more about the matter.’ The grain
cove entertained an opinion, ‘the weather was rather too cold for the
sport,’ fobbed up his blunt, and on his ‘better half’ looking into the
room after him, he retired in a whole skin. The Nonpareil and John Bull
fighter then spent the evening pleasantly, returned to London
comfortably, and reached their places of roost in perfect safety.
“The name of Randall was now known in the religious world, for it is
said one of the lower order of ranting preachers, not a hundred miles
from Bolton-in-the-Moors, addressed his auditors in the following
metaphorical language:—‘I dare say you’d all pay to see a boxing-match
between Turner and Randall, and yet you don’t like to pay to see a
pitched battle between me and Beelzebub. Oh, my friends, many a hard
knock, and many a cross-buttock have I given the black bruiser for your
sakes! Pull, do pull off these gay garments of Mammon; strike the devil
a straight blow, and darken his spiritual day-lights! At him manfully,
and I’ll be your bottle-holder. I ask nothing but the money, which I
hope you’ll not forget before you go.’” “Boxiana,” vol. iv., pp.
120‒122.
At Dick Curtis’s benefit (March 27, 1823), Randall asked Gipsy Cooper if
he had challenged him for £200 a-side as was reported. Cooper replied,
“No, I did not, you are too good a fighter for me, Jack.” At Spring’s
benefit, however (May 5th, 1823), the Gipsy challenged Randall for £200
a-side, authorised by Mr. Elliott, his backer, so to do. Randall replied
he would fight for £300 a-side; he was settled in business, and had a
wife and three children to provide for, less would not suit him; indeed
he did not mean to fight any more prize battles. Randall’s challenger
did not persevere, and from this time Randall attended to his business
at the Hole-in-the-Wall, which is frequently named in the progress of
pugilistic matches and deposits for sporting events. One little episode
of Jack’s publican’s life, as we find it reported in the papers for
January, 1826, we will find room for, as it gives us a glimpse of the
character for forbearance which has always marked, in our experience,
the true-bred and courageous pugilist.
“HATTON GARDEN, JANUARY 24TH.—A fashionably dressed man about the middle
age was brought up from the Eagle Street Watchhouse, where he had passed
the previous night, on the introduction of Mr. John Randall, mine host
of the Hole-in-the-Wall, Chancery Lane, the unvanquished hero of the P.
R. Jack’s science, every one knows, does not consist in sophistry,
though his arguments have often been considered forcible, nay,
irresistible. In his own straightforward way, he told Sergeant Sellon a
round unvarnished tale, about ‘this ere bit of business,’ as he called
it. On Monday night, about a quarter after eleven, the Hole-in-the-Wall
was closed up, and Jack was settling the accounts of the day in the bar,
as was his wonted custom, when a loud knocking announced the arrival of
late visitors. ‘You can’t come in,’ cried Jack, ‘I wish to keep my house
regular, and no man comes in here to-night, for it’s after hours, d’ye
see.’ This, however, did not satisfy the thirsty party without, and a
voice demanded instant admittance, in a rather peremptory tone. ‘You
don’t know who I am, Randall,’ quoth the speaker. ‘No, nor I does’nt
care,’ responded the Nonpareil. ‘Why, I am Cooper, the mayor of
Canterbury; don’t you remember meeting me at the races at Doncaster?’
Randall’s reminiscences are often pleasing, but, at all events, without
designing to admit his old acquaintance, he resolved to have the ‘ocular
proof;’ he straightway opened the door, when in bolted the pretended
mayor and his satellites. ‘Do you know me now?’ ‘No, I don’t,’ said
Jack, ‘not a bit of it, neither now nor then; so you’ll please to bundle
off, Mr. Mayor.’ This was not intended, and the latter replied, that as
he was a ‘flash man,’ he had an undoubted right to accommodation in a
‘flash house,’ and stay there he would; and if Jack pleased, he would
have a ‘turn-up’ for it. Jack very good-humouredly hinted, that he would
rather see a ‘turn-out;’ whereupon the Canterbury Mayor struck him in
the face. The hero of the fistic art, though accustomed to return
compliments of this sort with cent. per cent. acknowledgments, very
prudently held back, and calling in the watch to his aid, the mayor was
put _hors de combat_, and found himself eventually in the watch-house.
The defendant pleaded hard that he never did assume the character which
Mr. Randall described. His name was simply John Samuel Powell, that he
was a plain country gentleman, and never had the honour of filling the
civic chair of Canterbury, though he certainly had met Mr. Randall in
company with Mr. Cooper, who held that distinguished station, at the
aforesaid races. With respect to the assault complained of, he would not
deny the charge, though he had no recollection of it, his senses being
steeped in forgetfulness. Having the highest respect for the talents of
Mr. Randall, he was anxious to make the _amende honorable_, if it would
be accepted. ‘There now,’ exclaimed Jack, extending his hand, ‘that’s
enough, man; but if I had treated you as you treated me, you wouldn’t be
standing afore his worship just now.’ The complaint was then dismissed
at Randall’s request.”
Randall’s constitution—he was a persistent drinker of ardent
spirits—gave way under the irregularities of a licensed victualler’s
life; Jack never possessed the moral courage to say “No” to a drop with
every customer who proposed to “wet an eye,” and but rarely with those
who suggested to “wet the other.” He was a martyr to gout, complicated
with a disorganisation of the liver and a fatty degeneration of the
heart. These disorders prostrated him, and finally carried him off at
the early age of 34 years. He died March 12th, 1828, at the Hole-in-the
Wall, Chancery Lane.
A leash of sonnets, from an accomplished pen, which appeared in
_Blackwood’s Magazine_, with a few passages from an obituary notice,
will form an appropriate _finale_ to the biography of Jack Randall, the
Nonpareil
“SONNET.
“‘_None but himself can be his parallel!_’
“With marble coloured shoulders—and keen eyes
Protected by a forehead broad and white,—
And hair cut close, lest it impede the sight,
And clenched hands, firm and of punishing size,
Steadily held, or motion’d wary-wise,
To hit or stop,—and ‘kerchief too drawn tight
O’er the unyielding loins, to keep from flight
The inconstant wind, that all too often flies—
The Nonpareil stands! Fame, whose bright eyes run o’er
With joy to see a chicken of her own:
Dips her rich pen in ‘claret,’ and writes down
Under the letter R, first on the score,
‘Randall, John—Irish parents—age not known—
Good with both hands, and only ten stone four!’”
“TO JOHN RANDALL, THE FAMOUS PUGILIST.”
(_In imitation of Milton’s celebrated Sonnet._)
“Randall, whom now the envious ‘millers’ own
Fighter indeed, cautious, and quick, and true,
Fit to stand up with those who science knew,
The master-spirits ‘grassed’ by death alone;
Big Ben, who made the great Tom Johnson groan,
And Pearce, who dext’rous Belcher overthrew,
Aye, and with him who turns black eyes to blue,
Cribb, negro conqueror,[156] famous champion;
Well hast thou fought thy way to wealth and fame,
Jack Randall; and although there be who think
(For some are careless of the laurell’d brow,)
But little of thy glory or thy game,
Yet when they learn that thou hast touch’d the ‘chink,’
Some value to thy labours must allow.”
“RANDALL’S FAREWELL TO THE RING.
“Farewell to the ring, where my claret-stained glory
Arose and obscured the ‘prime dons’ with my fame,
I abandon her now, but ‘Pancratia’ thy story
Shall render quite fadeless the ‘Nonpareil’s’ name.
Oh, sad is the heart that can say the ‘deuce take her,’
To Fame when she’s backing a blade of the fist;
But Turner I’ve cleaned out, and Martin the baker
I’d very near put on the bankruptcy list.
“Then blame me not kids, swells, or lads of the fancy,
For opening a ‘lush crib’ in Chancery Lane,
An appropriate spot ’tis, you doubtless all can see,
Since ‘heads’ I have placed there, and let out again.
Farewell then, thou ring, whence I first drew my glory,
Farewell to Bill Gibbons—Tom Owen farewell;
And when to green-horns you’re telling some tight milling story,
Then think of Jack Randall, the prime ‘Nonpareil!’”
The “Laureate” of _Bell’s Life_, too, the facetious poetic illustrator
of the Gallery of Comicalities, who so much extended the popularity of
the ablest of sporting journals, penned a “warning” under the title of
“JACK RANDALL’S GHOST.
“‘_I can call spirits from the vasty deep._‘
“When all in midnight gloom was lost,
All silent in the street,
In stalked Jack Randall’s slender ghost,
And stood at Fogo’s feet.
“Pale, wan, and wasted, was his frame,
So muscular of yore,
And thrice he called on Fogo’s name,
Thrice bade him cease to snore.
“‘Wake, Laureate, wake!’ exclaimed the sprite,
‘Start from thy peaceful rug—
Though ’tis an awkward time of night
To sport my dismal mug.
“‘With friendly feeling fraught I come,
For well I know thy merits—
Perhaps you’ll think a visit _rum_
Paid from the land of _spirits_.
“‘Look at this lean and wither’d shape,
These cheeks as white as paper—
Alas! ’twas drinking too much _tape_
That made my system _taper_.
“‘When the past follies I review,
Which hasten’d my undoing—
I often _rue_ with visage _blue_,
My fondness for _blue ruin_.
“‘O Laureate! warning take in time.
And let a ghost exhort,
Think of Jack Randall in his prime
Subdued at _length_ by _short_.
“‘Peace might have reign’d within my breast,
And Time his honours shed—
Alack! from swallowing _Deady’s best_,
I’m number’d with the _dead_.
“‘My pugilistic deeds recal—
His men whoe’er beat quicker?
Successively I floor’d them all,
Till I was _lick’d_ by _liquor_.
“‘Bard of the fancy, seize your lyre,
In solemn warning strike it!’
‘I wish,’ growl’d Fogo, ‘you’d retire;
For blow me if I like it.
“‘To your last home vy can’t you keep,
I do not vant your varning—
I’d like to have a nap of sleep,
For now it’s nearly morning.
“‘Indeed, I vish you’d say farewell,
And hasten under hatches—
I judges by your brimstone smell,
That you’ve been _making matches_.
“‘And can you find no soul but me
To tease about your noggins—
Suppose you go, by vay of spree,
And vorry ould Jack Scroggins.’
“‘Cease,’ cried the ghost, ‘at once desist,
And hold your idle jaw,
Or straightway with my phantom fist
Your frosty face I’ll thaw.
“‘To you I came with kind intent,
Such was my purpose here;
But if on _max_ and _swipes_ you’re bent,
You’ll soon be on your _bier_.
“‘Henceforth you’ll see this mug no more!
A long adieu, my Fogo!’
He said, and vanish’d through the floor,
In clouds of Oronoko.”
Randall’s pugilistic and personal merits are thus summed up by a
contemporary:—In a twenty-four feet ring a better general or a more
consummate tactician was never seen: judgment and decision were manifest
in all his movements. His heart is in the right place; his head cool and
collected, to take advantage in the most prompt style of the disorder of
the opponent before him; his mind looking confidently forward to nothing
but victory. In short, as a pugilist, he is the Nonpareil. Randall’s
style seems the _ne plus ultra_ of the art of self-defence. Out of the
ropes, however, he is one of the most simple of human beings. Yet
Lavater, with all his knowledge of physiognomy, might have looked at his
mug, and looked at it again and again, and not have discovered his real
character from the lineaments of his face. If Randall cannot express
himself in the sentimental manner of Sterne, gammon the tender path of
society with the Platonic taste of a Rousseau, or wind up a tale with
the speciousness of a Joseph Surfage, he can be backed against them all
for the possession of genuine feeling. A common observer might say he
was a rough, illiterate fellow, for he does not attempt to conceal his
deficiencies. He has no affectation about his composition—deception does
not belong to him, and bluntness is his forte. He is indignant at what
he thinks wrong; and is not over nice in his expressions, whenever such
a subject is the theme of argument. He admires truth; and his honesty,
if not Brutus-like, is as staunch and incorruptible. A liar will be sure
to hear of his faults from him. Though education has done little for
him, experience has given him “the time of day.” But, kind reader, if
thou hadst seen him relieve an ould Irish woman, at “peep of day,” with
the only half-crown he was master of, as she was going to market with an
empty pocket and basket, anxious to support two of her orphan
grandchildren to prevent their going to the parish, when she had
solicited him for only two-pence to aid her charitable design;—if you
had seen the effect of her plaintive tale, and the blessings she invoked
upon his head for this real act of benevolence; his turning aside to
weep; and the jeers he experienced from his companions upon the weakness
he had displayed;—if you had also witnessed him pushing the crowd aside
the instant he was proclaimed the conqueror over Turner, to grapple with
the hand of his great rival in friendship, and seen the big tear
stealing down his cheek, in admiration of the bravery of his
opponent;—if you had known, as the writer did, of his refusal to
prosecute a man and his wife, whom he had trusted in the bosom of his
family, and who, under the mask of friendship, had robbed him at various
periods of £300—I don’t know what you might have said of him, but Burns
would have told us, despite his defects, “a man’s a man for a’ that.”
And such a man was Jack Randall.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VII.
NED TURNER—1814‒1824.
Ned Turner, who was born in Crucifix Lane, in the borough of Southwark,
November 8th, 1791, was of Welsh extraction, his parents being natives
of the Principality, and his kith and kin very respectable people at New
Town, Montgomeryshire. Hence the “ancient Britons” of the metropolis
proudly claimed Turner as their countryman, and, as we shall see, he was
heartily backed and supported by the brave sons of the Cymry in his
pugilistic ventures. Turner’s calling was that of a skin-dresser, and he
was duly apprenticed to that ancient craft and mystery, at a yard in
Bermondsey, where a very large number of men were employed. Here there
was a sparring club, or school for glove practice, in which young Turner
greatly distinguished himself, by the quickness, natural grace, and
intuitive steadiness of his style of sparring.
“Envy doth merit as its shade pursue,
And by her presence proves the substance true,”
and this was exemplified in the circumstances of Turner’s first battle.
The foreman of the yard, one John Balch, a Bristol man, not only fancied
himself, by birth-place and judgment, an oracle in matters pugilistic,
but the champion of the yard. It appears he often spoke disparagingly of
the Welsh, as “border” men are apt to do: indeed he forgot himself so
far as to sneer at young Turner’s sparring pretensions, and intimated
his ability to “snuff” the young Welshman out. Turner modestly doubted
the boaster’s ability, and a meeting “for love” ended in nearly an
hour’s hard fight on the side of John Balch, when Turner, though the
younger (he was only in his twentieth year), lighter, and shorter man,
had beaten Balch so completely blind that he was led helpless from the
ring. Turner, it may well be supposed, was soon famous in the dominions
of “Simon the Tanner,” yet we may here note, on the authority of a
contemporary, “that never, from his earliest days to the present period
of his pugilistic celebrity, did a challenge first proceed from Ned
Turner to any man.”[157] By him the ancient sage’s precept, albeit
unknown in its didactic form, was felt and adopted as a rule of life:—
[Illustration:
NED TURNER
_From a Portrait by_ WYVILL.
]
“Let us
Act with cool prudence and with manly temper,
As well as manly firmness.
’Tis godlike magnanimity to keep,
When most provok’d, our reason calm and clear,
And execute her will, from a strong sense
Of what is right, without the vulgar aid
Of heat and passion, which, though honest, bear us
Often too far.”
For the minor battles of Turner, which form the prefatory matter to his
ring doings, we are entirely indebted to Pierce Egan, as the journals of
the period contain no trace of these by-affairs of a boxer as yet
without public fame.
“A publican, of the name of Keating, landlord of the Black Horse, in the
vicinity of St. Giles’s, brought forward a big Irishman, whom he had
patronised, to fight Turner in the cockpit at the Huntsman and Hounds,
in Lock’s Fields, for five guineas a side (1813). For the first three
rounds Paddy bored in upon Ned with the utmost fury, and the latter in
going down fell with his back upon the short stakes which formed the
pit. The contusion was so severe and painful that Turner did not recover
from its effects for the course of several rounds. At length Ned got
into work, and before twenty-five minutes had elapsed, Paddy was so
bothered, beaten, and blind, that he could not tell whether he was
living at that moment either in England or Ireland.
“Turner, soon after the above circumstance (1814), in company with three
of his fellow-workmen, left London to fulfil an engagement he had made
at a skin-yard in Glasgow. A man of the name of M’Neil, a spirit dealer,
and a pupil of Carter’s, had threatened, previous to the arrival of
Turner, to mill all the Englishmen in Glasgow. In fact, M’Neil was the
champion of that place, and was in height five feet eleven inches, and
weighing thirteen stone. Turner was soon singled out after his arrival
in Glasgow by M’Neil for a trial of skill. A match was accordingly made
for five guineas a side, and the contest was decided in a room. In the
course of half an hour M’Neil was completely defeated. Some time
afterwards he wished to have another trial allowed, and £5 a side was
deposited to make it for a larger sum; but M’Neil preferred forfeiting
the deposit to entering the ring again with Turner.
“Ned, upon quitting Glasgow, went to Newcastle (1816). At this place
Turner was challenged by one Blacket, a slater, well known for the
pugilistic feats he had performed in this part of the country. A finer
proportioned young man was not to be seen than Blacket. He was symmetry
itself, of prodigious strength, and not deficient in bottom. He was in
height six feet and one inch, weighing rather more than fourteen stone.
The battle was fought on the race-course, in the presence of thousands
of spectators. In the course of forty-five minutes Blacket received so
much severe punishment, without being able to return any milling upon
Turner, that he swore in the utmost rage, ‘he would not fight any more,
as Turner was not a fair fighter, and that he did nothing but make hits,
and then jump away!’ Turner was much applauded for the skill he
displayed in conquering a man so much above his weight, and a liberal
subscription entered into by the amateurs as a reward for his bravery.
“Soon after Turner had returned to the metropolis, in a turn up with
Youler (Davenport’s Jew), a ruffianing sort of fighter, in St. George’s
Fields, in the course of thirty-five minutes he so completely satisfied
this boring Israelite, that he retired from the conflict with terrible
body punishment.
“At the Cottage of Content, in Lock’s Fields, Turner was one evening set
upon by five watermen, who, it seems, had made up their minds to give
our hero a milling. The manly conduct of the sculler gentry, however,
was soon placed to its proper account. Turner disposed of the first four
with as much nonchalance as if they had been sacks, and the fifth, who,
it appears, had some pretensions to boxing, and who endeavoured to make
something like a regular stand against Ned, paid dearly for his
temerity, by leaving off under numerous marks of severe punishment.
“These conquests, although they display every trait of courage and
science, yet, in the opinion of the amateurs, amount to little until a
boxer makes his _debût_ in the London ring. In fact, a pugilist is not
recognized till he has made this appearance, when, if successful, he
becomes a leading star of the fancy—friends flow fast in upon him, and
backers are never wanting to support his pretensions. The fame of Turner
had now made progress in the milling circles, especially in the
neighbourhood of Bermondsey, where the capabilities of Turner were best
known and appreciated. Curtis, a boxer also well known in the same
quarter, it seems, felt envy at the growing reputation of Ned, and
repeatedly challenged the latter before he agreed to meet him in combat.
Curtis was of importance to the admirers of pugilism from the laurels he
had acquired in the ring. Tom Roe, West Country Dick, and Lazarus, the
Jew, had all been defeated by him. As a game boxer his character was
firmly established; in short, of the ‘light weights,’ a better bit of
stuff was not thought to exist upon the list. A match was at length made
between Turner and Curtis for 100 guineas; but the betting was current
seven to four, and, in many instances, two to one upon the latter.
Indeed, so sanguine were the partizans of Curtis, that they roundly
asserted Turner could not stand half an hour before him. In a twenty
feet ring, at Moulsey Hurst, on Tuesday, October 22, 1816, the above
heroes met. The morning proving wet, the spectators were not so numerous
as usual. At half past one o’clock Curtis entered the ring, attended by
Oliver, who came on purpose from Carlisle to second his friend, assisted
by Clark. Curtis threw up his hat. Turner soon followed, attended by Tom
Owen and Jacobs.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The combatants, upon setting-to,
exhibited great caution, and each appeared
anxious to obtain the first advantage. Turner at
length got an opening, and with much dexterity
planted a severe hit in Curtis’s face, without
receiving a return. The former made another
successful hit, when they fought their way up to
the ropes, and Curtis was sent down. The three
and two to one betters seemed rather astonished
at the novice (as Turner had been termed)
commencing in such a milling style. It augured
much mischief, and the safety of the thing was
not now looked upon as quite so certain.
2.—The lead was again on the side of Turner. He
nobbed Curtis with evident superiority, when the
latter slipped and fell down. (The odds began to
shake, even at this early period of the battle.)
3.—Some good blows were exchanged, but
materially to the advantage of Turner. The
claret was seen trickling down the face of
Curtis, who was ultimately thrown.
4.—Turner commenced offensive operations with
a severe blow from the right. He appeared a
troublesome customer for Curtis to get at, and
some long sparring occurred. A good round, but
Curtis was thrown.
5.—Curtis could not make any impression upon his
adversary, when he retreated to the ropes, where
he received severe fibbing punishment; but he
succeeded in throwing Turner.
6.—Turner put in so heavy a facer that the
claret flowed in torrents, and with the rapidity
of lightning he put in another successful blow,
which sent Curtis out of the ring. (Even
betting.)
7.—By this time Turner had done sufficient work
to convince the spectators that he was the
leading boxer. He was compelled to follow his
opponent to get a hit, which he never failed to
do when the ropes stopped Curtis from retreating
farther. In struggling to obtain the throw the
latter got Turner down.
8.—It seemed to be the aim of Curtis to plant
body blows, but he frequently hit short. Curtis
was thrown.
9.—Curtis, in point of science, did not appear
anything equal to his opponent, except in
throwing; he now sent Turner under the ropes.
10.—On the part of Turner much coolness and
judgment prevailed. He threw Curtis in great
style, and did not go down himself.
11.—The left hand of Turner, upon setting-to,
reached over the guard of Curtis with such
severity that the latter was floored.
12.—This was a short round. Turner went round
from a slip, and fell to the ground.
13.—Curtis put in a body blow, but in so doing
he received a severe facer. A few hits were
exchanged, and both down.
14.—The decided superiority of Turner in
this round was evident. He hit Curtis in all
directions, till he went away staggering
like a man intoxicated, and fell.
15.—Curtis could not protect his nob from the
left hand of his opponent. In closing, both
down.
16.—Curtis, with much resolution, fought his way
into a sort of scuffle, when they both got upon
the ropes. In this situation Turner had the
superiority of hitting, till they both went
down. (Turner was now decidedly the favourite,
and six to four was offered upon him.)
17.—Curtis missed his aim and turned round. In
closing, both down.
18.—The left hand of Turner was continually in
Curtis’s face; and the latter, in going down,
unfortunately fell forward upon the ropes,
hanging by his chin.
19.—The nob of Curtis was again the object of
punishment. In closing, both fell on the ground.
20.—The milling Turner administered to his
opponent in this round was truly terrific.
Curtis did nothing but receive; and in closing,
he was severely fibbed till he went down.
21.—Curtis was so closely pursued, that he
turned round and was hit out of the ring.
22.—This was a good round. Curtis changed his
mode of attack. In making play he slipped down,
but instantly got upon his legs, and put in two
sharp blows. Both down.
23.—Curtis hit short; but, in closing, he seized
hold of the hands of Turner. The latter was
ultimately thrown.
24.—The nob of Curtis appeared much damaged. The
latter, in retreating from his antagonist, fell,
and knocked Oliver also down, who was resting
upon one knee.
25.—Some blows were exchanged, when Turner put
in a right-handed hit that floored Curtis.
26.—A close soon took place, but the combatants
disengaged themselves, when some severe fighting
passed between them, till both went down.
27.—Turner got Curtis on the ropes and fibbed
severely till he went down.
28.—Curtis, it was evident, could not stop the
mischief which the left hand of Turner was
continually doing him, and he went down from a
sharp hit.
29.—In this round Curtis threw his opponent,
but he received much punishment before he
accomplished it.
30.—There was nothing attractive about Curtis
in this fight, except his taking qualities,
which he exhibited in a very eminent degree.
He returned well, but was at length hit down.
31.—Curtis had the best of this round. He gave
Turner so severe a facer that sent him down.
32.—Sparring for advantage. Curtis hit short. In
closing, both down, but the latter undermost.
The length of Turner prevented Curtis from going
in with any success.
33.—Turner put in three successive hits, without
any return, and Curtis went down. The latter
could not make a hit without boring in, and then
he paid for his temerity.
34.—Curtis bled copiously on appearing at the
scratch. Some exchanges took place, and both
down.
35.—This was an excellent round, and both the
combatants upon the alert. The advantage was
most completely on the side of Turner, who used
both hands so successfully that Curtis was
milled down.
36.—Merely struggling to obtain the throw, and
both down.
37.—Curtis hit short at the body, when they
fought their way to the ropes, and the latter
held Turner’s hands. They broke away, exchanged
a few blows, and both went down. Curtis threw
away a great number of hits.
38.—Of no consequence. Both down.
39.—Turner put in two severe facers, without any
return. Some exchanges occurred till both went
down. During this round Owen gave directions to
Turner respecting his mode of fighting, and told
him to “hit out.”
40.—Turner followed Curtis all over the ring,
nobbed him with the most perfect ease, put in
four successive blows with his left hand, and
finished the round by flooring his antagonist.
41.—This was a truly singular round. Curtis ran
in furiously and seized so fast hold of the
wrists of Turner that he could not disengage
himself from this awkward situation. He at
length slung Curtis completely round, when the
latter lost his hold.
42.—In closing, Turner fibbed his opponent down.
Curtis could not resist the overwhelming length
of his adversary; and, although things seemed so
much against him, still he did not want for
resolution.
43.—Curtis, from the repeated punishment he had
received, seemed quite abroad, and totally at a
loss how to make a hit. He kept continually
retreating from his adversary, till he was sent
down.
44.—Curtis again seized hold of his opponent’s
hands; when Turner released himself he floored
his antagonist. Every person seemed surprised
at the conduct of Curtis—it was desperation
personified.
45.—It was all up with Curtis as to fighting. He
had not the slightest chance of winning. In
struggling, both down.
46.—Curtis came to the scratch boldly, and put
in a casual hit, but he was soon sent down.
47.—Turner hit Curtis with such severity upon
his face that he staggered and fell. Turner
stepped over him, and looked at his prostrate
antagonist.
48.—The gameness of Curtis prompted him to
go on, and he endeavoured to tire out his
adversary. It was a sharp struggle to obtain
the throw.
49.—A short round, and both down.
50.—It was mere protraction on the part of
Curtis, and his friends requested him to resign
the contest; but he would not listen to anything
like defeat. Turner made some successful hits.
In struggling, both down.
51.—On setting to Curtis slipped down.
52.—The left hand of Turner by a slight hit sent
Curtis off his legs.
53.—The head of Curtis was bleeding copiously.
His sight was growing defective, and the blows
he attempted to make were out of distance.
However, in closing, Curtis got Turner down.
54 to 57.—In these four rounds Curtis scarcely
set-to before he was either sent or went down.
(Any odds on Turner.)
58.—Curtis seemed to think it was not all over
with him and desperately bored in to punish
his adversary; but this only occasioned extra
milling. In closing, both down.
59.—Curtis on the same tack, but he was soon
stopped and thrown.
60.—Curtis was all desperation, but sent down
almost upon setting to.
61.—The left hand of Turner was again punishing
his opponent’s face; but, in closing, Turner
dropped him with such ease and forbearance, as
to obtain applause from all parts of the ring.
62.—It was evident from the strange manner in
which Curtis attacked his adversary that he
was nearly in a state of darkness. In running
at Turner he passed by him, turned round
confusedly, and was floored. Many of Curtis’s
friends were sanguine enough to think that he
might be enabled to tire out his adversary by
his determined resolution.
63.—It was astonishing to view what a bottom
man could effect. Notwithstanding the dreadful
state Curtis was reduced to, and distressed
beyond imagination, he struggled with Turner,
and ultimately threw him; but still no change
appeared.
64.—This desperate mode of going in was acted
upon too late. The strength of Curtis was fast
leaving him, and he could now scarcely make
a push at his opponent with any degree of
certainty; while Turner was so much at his ease,
that he administered scarcely any additional
punishment, and behaved to his brave adversary
with much consideration and humanity.
65.—Curtis, with great desperation, again tried
to hold Turner’s hands; but he was hit down.
66.—In this round a trifling demur was nearly
taking place. In closing, a struggle occurred,
when Turner, to disengage himself, caught Curtis
by the thighs and threw him. A cry of “foul!”
“fair!” was loudly vociferated; but the umpire
did not pay any attention to it. Curtis was
literally in a state of stupor.
67.—Curtis on setting to was instantly sent
down.
68 and last.—It was piteous to view this little
game cock of the true English breed endeavour to
fight another round. He immediately went down.
On being placed upon his second’s knee his head
dropped on one side. He was insensible when the
“time” was called; while, on the contrary, his
brave opponent, excepting two heavy hits on
the ear, was not materially injured. The fight
continued one hour and twenty-five minutes, and
finished five minutes before three o’clock.
REMARKS.—In this conflict Turner proved himself
a steady scientific boxer: there was nothing
hurried in his manner, and he used his left
hand with celerity and decision. Instead of
appearing a novice, he showed himself a superior
up-hill boxer to Curtis. He took the lead and
kept it; supported not only by length and
strength, but was by far the best fighter. His
position was so formidable, and his mode of
setting to so different from pugilists in
general, that Curtis could not get at him with
anything like safety to make a hit. The knowing
ones were completely outwitted upon this event,
which ought to operate as a useful lesson, by
inducing them to calculate the capabilities of
the combatants, instead of being led astray by
the mere greatness of names. Three to one is
dangerous betting at all times.
Notwithstanding the greatest exertion and humane care were taken in
speedily removing Curtis from the ring, after the battle had
terminated—in fact, but a few minutes had elapsed before he was put to
bed at the Red Lion Inn, Hampton, and medical assistance procured—yet
this brave, but unfortunate boxer, in the course of a few hours breathed
his last. The subject of his death having come under the cognizance of
the laws of the country, an inquisition was taken on the body at the
above inn, on Friday, October 25, 1816, before Thomas Stirling, Esq.,
Coroner for Middlesex.
John Griffinhoof, surgeon, of Hampton, deposed to being sent for on
Tuesday evening to attend upon the deceased, who, when he arrived, was
in a state of insensibility. There were no blows upon the body which, in
his opinion, could have caused a man’s death. There was a general
discoloration from the waist upwards. He bled him in the arm, and
applied leeches to his temples, and also endeavoured to administer to
him a draught. He was of opinion that the blows which he received on the
head were the cause of his death. The deceased lived until twelve
o’clock at night.
Mr. Morris Jones, surgeon, of Hampton, gave similar evidence. He
believed that a blood-vessel had broken in his head, and the only hopes
he had of his recovery was by his bleeding profusely.
Richard Coombe, fishmonger, of Hampton, was present at the fight between
the deceased and Turner. It was a pitched battle. He never heard of
there being any quarrel between Curtis and Turner; saw Curtis enter the
ring at half past one o’clock; Turner entered directly after. They
stripped, shook hands, and then commenced fighting. When they had fought
more than an hour, witness went up to Curtis and advised him to give in;
but he observed that he could see, and should beat his opponent yet. He
said his seconds advised Curtis not to fight any longer, and forced him
to the ropes, but he broke from them and faced Turner again. The third
round after he forced himself from his seconds, Turner gave him a heavy
blow, which threw him, and fell upon him. He was raised up by his
seconds, and the battle ended. Turner was declared the conqueror. He was
informed that Curtis had been, previous to the fight about a month,
unwell with a certain disease, and had been under the care of two
physicians of St. Thomas’s Hospital. His friends, thinking him not in a
sound state, advised him not to fight; but Curtis was determined. He
never saw a fairer fight. Turner could have struck him several times
between the fiftieth and sixty-eighth (last) rounds, when he would not,
on account of his having such an advantage over his opponent. At one
time he stood over Curtis as he leaned against the ropes, and might have
given him a violent blow, having him wholly in his power; instead of
doing so he lifted up his hands and walked away.
Another witness, also sworn, observed, that for about twelve rounds
before the termination of the contest, he told Curtis he had no chance
to win, and that it was a pity he should suffer himself to be beaten to
pieces. The reply of the deceased was, that he could not lose the
battle, and he maintained this assertion against every remonstrance,
until he fell in the last round, and never recovered from a state of
stupor. Oliver, his second, advised him also, in vain, to resign long
before the battle was decided, and the umpire refused to hold the watch
any longer; but the deceased entertained a notion that he could win
until the moment he fell. The evidence of this witness went to explain
on the subject of the fall. He stated that, in the struggle for
superiority, both men were down, and that Turner had an opportunity of
doing mischief to his adversary, by falling upon him, but he broke from
him and behaved in a manly manner, as he had done in other instances
during the fight. After this fall, Curtis never recovered from the
stupor, and witness believed him to be in a dying state before he
reached the inn at Hampton.
It was further sworn that Turner had forborne to take advantage of his
adversary when he had him upon the ropes, and that he showed much fair
play during the combat.
The Coroner summed up:—Gentlemen of the jury, I have read over the whole
of the evidence which has been adduced, and it is now my duty to point
out to you what is the chief point for you to consider with regard to
your verdict. It is proved there was no previous quarrel between Turner
and the unfortunate deceased before their contest at Moulsey Hurst; but,
notwithstanding, it is my duty to tell you that the meeting was
unlawful, for Turner had no right to beat Curtis until he died because
he had his consent, although they did not agree to fight till one had
killed the other: yet such was the fact in evidence, that the
extremities of Curtis were dead before he left the ring. There are
certainly several points in favour of Turner. It appears that he could
several times, when he did not, have not only disabled the deceased, but
that he had him at one time so much in his power that he could have put
an end to the contest, but that he avoided the opportunity of an
advantage: still the deceased died in consequence of the wounds he
received from Turner. I have stated what appears in favour of Turner;
and, on the other side, that he acted unlawfully, and you cannot
discharge your duty, in my opinion, unless you find him guilty in some
degree—to what degree it is for you to determine. The jury were in
consultation for twenty minutes, when they returned a verdict of
manslaughter.
Upon the issuing of the warrant, Turner at once surrendered himself.
On Friday, November 1, 1816, at the Old Bailey Sessions, Edward Turner
was indicted for the wilful murder of John Curtis, by inflicting with
both his hands divers blows, on the 22nd of October, whereof he died.
The witnesses gave the same evidence as that before the coroner. Turner
being called upon for his defence, read from a written paper as
follows:—
“MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY
“Deeply impressed with the great peril to which I am exposed by the
present charge made against me, and with the difficulty I
necessarily experience in substantiating my innocence, owing to the
danger to which most competent witnesses of the transaction would be
exposed, were they to be examined, I must solicit your serious
attention to such facts as I shall be enabled to lay before you, by
which I trust not only my natural disposition will appear, but that
on the occasion of the sad catastrophe imputed to me I was goaded
into a consent to fight the deceased, who was himself a
prize-fighter, and with the greatest reluctance I entered the ring,
after being assaulted; and when I did so, as soon as I ascertained
my superiority over my antagonist, I forbore on very many occasions,
to avail myself of the advantages that presented themselves to me,
and with the greatest reluctance continued the contest until the
circumstance occurred which led to the unfortunate event which I
must ever deplore, and which has placed me in my present awful
situation. I beg to state that my pursuits in life are honest, my
aversion to prize-fighting great, never having before fought a
pitched battle; nor should I on this occasion, but for the great
aggravation which will be proved I received. I assure your Lordships
and gentlemen of the Jury, that I am totally innocent of any
intention to seriously injure the deceased, and that there never
existed in my mind the smallest particle of malice towards him. I
trust, therefore, that my character for humanity and forbearance
will have its due weight on this occasion.”
During the time the clerk of the arraigns was reading the defence, the
feelings of Turner were so oppressed that he was observed to shed tears.
His counsel, Mr. Andrews (who had scarcely time to look over his brief,
in consequence of Mr. Adolphus not being in court, although retained
some days previous to the trial for Turner) then proceeded to call a
multitude of witnesses, all of whom gave him an excellent character for
humanity and mildness of disposition. Some of them stated that he had
never fought a prize battle before, and that he was urged to the contest
by the frequent importunities of the deceased, who was not easy until he
obtained his promise to fight him.
Baron Graham, in charging the jury, said this was not a case accompanied
by any circumstances that indicated previous malice on the part of the
prisoner. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was not one of
those men who devoted themselves to the dangerous profession of
prize-fighting. He was, it seemed, considered to be a young man of
boxing skill and prowess, a victory over whom would increase the fame of
his opponent, and therefore he was urged, nay, goaded, to fight the
battle which ended so lamentably. There was certainly premeditation
enough on his part to make the crime murder, provided the parties had
fought with dangerous weapons, which were likely to produce death. The
law was quite certain and decided on this point. For if people met (a
smaller period even than a day having expired between their quarrel and
their meeting) to fight with deadly weapons, and death ensued, then that
was murder, because what the law called malice was apparent—the act was
done in cold blood. The present appeared to have been a display of
manhood and courage; and whilst they disapproved of such a rencontre
between two young men, they could not feel that horror (this being a
trial of natural courage and manhood) which, under other circumstances,
they might entertain. Under the circumstances stated, the prisoner and
the deceased met to fight on the 22nd of October; but they met to fight
with those natural arms which, certainly, when strong men were opposed
to each other, might produce fatal effects, yet were not in general
likely to occasion dreadful consequences, and the contemplation of which
could not excite those feelings which deadly and dangerous weapons were
calculated to produce. It seemed evident that nothing like malice
existed in the mind of the prisoner. It was, as he had before observed,
a trial of prowess: no malice appeared, at least on the part of the
prisoner. He did not wish to cast any reflection on the memory of a dead
man; but, looking strictly to the circumstances, perhaps the imputation
of an angry feeling might rest on the deceased. It was in evidence that,
during the contest of nearly an hour and a half, the prisoner had
cautiously and humanely avoided using, to the extent he might have done,
the decided advantage and superiority which he had over the deceased.
There was nothing in his conduct like deliberate cruelty, or a desire to
injure his adversary, farther than the result occasioned by his efforts
to show himself the better man. Water, it appeared, had frequently been
thrown upon the deceased in the course of the fight, he having
previously taken large quantities of a very powerful medicine (mercury).
But a medical gentleman had stated that such ablutions could not have
materially affected him at that time; and perhaps, considering the
exertions he was making, they might have refreshed him. The prisoner
evidently showed that humanity which did him credit and honour. It
appeared that he greatly regretted being obliged to continue the fight,
in consequence of the determination of the deceased. The principal part
of the charge, therefore, that of murder, was quite out of the question;
but there could be no doubt of the killing and slaying, which the law
considered a very high offence. The consequence had indeed been fatal to
that unhappy young man; but it would be extremely unjust to say Turner
was responsible for those consequences, as being the cause of them. It
was a fact, unquestionably true, that Turner had no hostility whatever
to the deceased, for, on the contrary, he had shown himself actuated by
the purest motives of humanity during the whole contest; and, likewise,
the numerous previous insults the deceased had offered to Turner, were
long and painfully endured without any retaliation. This was honourable
to his patience. The taking away the life of the young man by the
prisoner was clearly proved; for the surgeon had stated that death had
ensued, as he had expected, in consequence of the injuries he had
received.
The jury, after a short consideration, returned a verdict of
Manslaughter against the prisoner, but earnestly recommended him to the
merciful consideration of the court, on account of his humanity and
forbearance.
Mr. Baron Graham observed that the court participated in the feelings of
the jury.
At the end of the Sessions Turner was sentenced to two months’
imprisonment in Newgate.
During the confinement of Turner he conducted himself with so much
propriety and decorum as to merit the attention of the head keeper, who
granted him every indulgence consistent with the rules of the place. He
was also visited by many of the highest patrons of pugilism.
Shortly after his liberation, Turner, by the advice of his friends, took
a benefit at the Minerva Rooms, Leadenhall Street, as a means of
contributing towards the heavy expenses he had sustained from his trial
and imprisonment. The amateurs rallied round him upon this occasion in
gratifying numbers.
The sporting circles of this period were extremely anxious to bring
about a match between the all-conquering Scroggins and Turner; but the
friends of Turner insisting that Scroggins should not exceed ten stone
seven pounds on coming into the ring, the match was for a long time off,
until the following accidental circumstance produced a battle, after the
previous regular propositions of bringing them together had failed.
At a sporting dinner which took place at the Castle Tavern, Holborn, on
Wednesday, February 26, 1817, Mr. Emery, of Covent Garden Theatre, in
the chair, Turner and Scroggins were among the visitors. In consequence
of the deputy chairman being absent, Scroggins was requested to fill up
the vacancy. This little hero had just returned from the Fives Court,
after setting to with Tom Belcher, in which display with the gloves he
had been much applauded; being somewhat warmed, and not standing upon
the punctilio of waiting for the toasts, he rallied his bottle in such
quick succession that he was completely floored. Shortly afterwards the
effects of exertion and the glass combined operated so somniferously on
the upper works of Scroggy, that he laid down his head and went to
sleep. The company were rather amused than offended with this inactive
state of their deputy, and he was permitted to enjoy the benefit of his
slumbers. On waking, he quitted the chair and introduced himself to the
company below stairs in the coffee-room. Turner soon afterwards took his
leave of the dinner party, and on his way home through the house he took
a peep, _en passant_, at the room below stairs. It is fair to observe
that Scroggins was in a state of inebriation. The company remonstrated
upon the impropriety of Scroggins’ behaviour, who was quarrelling with
and threatening to mill ould Joe Norton. Turner civilly remarked that
Norton was an old man, his time was gone by, and as to his fighting it
was quite out of the question. Scroggins, with much asperity, abused
Turner for his observation, called him everything but a good one, and
sneeringly told Ned that he had never defeated any body; indeed, only
“licked a man that was half dead with disease before he entered the
ring.” This produced a sharp retort from Turner, when Scroggins gave the
former a slap in the face. A turn-up was the immediate consequence, but
scarcely a blow passed before they were both down, and Turner undermost.
Sutton instantly got between them; the company also interfered, and
peace was restored. The account of this fracas flew up stairs like
lightning, and the amateurs immediately discussed the subject.
Scroggins, with derision, offered to fight Turner £100 to £50; but the
latter felt all this was empty boasting. It was the general opinion of
those present that Turner had been unhandsomely treated by Scroggins;
and, in consequence, Mr. Soares, on the part of Turner, immediately made
a deposit of five guineas towards making a match in a month from that
time, although Mr. S. had, in every previous instance, supported
Scroggins. On Wednesday, the 12th of March, the partisans of both heroes
met at Belcher’s, and the stakes were made good. But Scroggins was the
“idol” of the sporting world, and it was a censure upon any one’s
judgment to name Turner as having anything like a chance; indeed,
infatuation was carried to such a pitch of extravagance, respecting the
overwhelming capabilities of Scroggins, that the Jew Phenomenon never
stood upon higher ground in the best of his days.
It is impossible to describe the sensation this fight occasioned in the
sporting circles; the fame of Scroggins, from his having conquered
Boots, Dolly Smith, Nosworthy, Eales, Whittaker, and Church, in
succession, had made such a strong impression on the minds of the fancy
in general, that he was thought almost invulnerable. Even Scroggins
himself felt impressed with the same idea, and fought £100 against
Turner’s £50. It is true the match was first made when Scroggins was not
exactly _compos mentis_; but, in his soberest moments, he boldly
asserted he would win it with ease. The capabilities of Turner he
positively ridiculed, treated him as a mere upstart pugilistic
pretender, and flattered himself that the prowess of Turner would vanish
before his punishing arm, like snow before the sun. For three nights
previous to the battle taking place, the sporting houses were crowded to
excess, and so very high did this modern Dutch Sam stand in the
estimation of the knowing ones, that nothing less than three to one
would be accepted, and that only from an idea that a chance hit or
accident might operate against his usual success. On Wednesday, March
26, 1817, as soon as it was light, groups of pedestrians were seen on
the Uxbridge Road; and by eight o’clock carriages of all descriptions
were rattling along, from the splendid barouche and four down to the
donkey and hampers. By eleven twenty thousand persons had collected on
the ground, a field near Hayes, between the bridge and the turnpike, not
far from the present line of the Great Western Railroad, about ten miles
on the Uxbridge Road from Tyburn turnpike. At eighteen minutes to one
Turner appeared in the ring, dressed in a fashionable great coat, and
threw up his hat, and Scroggins immediately followed. Cribb tied the
yellow handkerchief belonging to Turner to the stake, and Oliver
immediately placed the blue fogle of Scroggins beside it. The combatants
shook hands before they stripped. Oliver and Clarke appeared as seconds
to Scroggins; the Champion of England and Harry Harmer attended upon
Turner. Three to one was the current betting against the latter, and
many thousands depended on the event. Turner was an object of great
curiosity, from his late unfortunate battle with Curtis; but viewed as
the antagonist of Scroggins, the idea was sneered at. The ring measured
twenty-four feet, and the numerous carriages round it formed an elegant
amphitheatre. Lord Yarmouth and Colonel Barton acted as timekeepers.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—It was expected, on the combatants
setting-to, that Scroggins would adopt his usual
method of boring in to his adversary, or, to use
his own words, “take the fight out of him;” but
he was more cautious than usual, and a good
deal of sparring took place. He made a feint
at Turner, and instantly got away again. At
length Scroggins put in a hit—some trifling
blows passed between them, and ultimately Turner
went down lightly, when Scroggins held up his
hands, by way of showing how little he thought
of him.
2.—Scroggins now appeared a little more on the
alert to follow up his success; he gave Turner a
sharp nobber, but he failed in doing his usual
punishing execution. The customer before him was
not of that easy description he had flattered
himself, and though Turner went down, it was not
from effective hitting. (Many persons exclaimed,
“Now where’s your three to one?”)
3.—Turner, on setting-to, fought with his
opponent manfully, and planted a severe facer
under his left eye; and though, at the close of
the round, he was again down, his capabilities
as a boxer were manifest. He also met with great
encouragement from the spectators.
4.—This was a sharply contested round; both were
at work in right earnest, and in a close Turner
gave his opponent a severe cross-buttock. The
concourse of persons was so great, and their
eager curiosity not keeping pace with the
etiquette usual upon these occasions, pressed
forward to the ropes—the outer ring was broken,
and all traces of the fight lost sight of,
excepting to a few, who, at the hazard of their
lives, kept in front.
The men continued to fight for several rounds
under this disadvantage, when the inner and
smaller ring was broken into, the stakes knocked
down, and the ropes trodden under foot. It was
now more like a street row than a prize fight,
and the combatants had scarcely a yard of space.
Scroggins, notwithstanding being so close to
Turner, had by no means the best of him, and
it was the general opinion, that had no
interruption occurred Turner would have won.
To attempt to describe any of these rounds with
accuracy would be a deviation from the truth;
and Mr. Jackson afterwards declared it was
totally out of his power to give an opinion
upon them. Carter, Painter, Dolly Smith,
Richmond, etc., exerted themselves with their
horsewhips to beat out the ring, but in vain;
nothing less than a troop of horse or a company
of soldiers with fixed bayonets could have
attempted it with success. Both men were
accordingly taken from the ring, and Mr. Jackson
went round, declaring all the bets to be null
and void. At this period not less than thirty
thousand persons were present, and the carriages
on the spot and along the road were estimated
at eight thousand. A suspense of two hours
occurred, and thousands of inquiries took place
to ascertain how the day was to be finished.
During this interval, the costermongers wishing
to clear their carts, but not being able to
persuade the customers (who had paid 3s. a-piece
to see the sports of the day) to retire from
their situations, actually took out their horses
and lifted up their vehicles, after the manner
of shooting rubbish. This mode of ousting the
tenants occasioned much laughter, and a little
extra boxing. At length Mr. Jackson appeared,
when it was announced that the contest was
adjourned to a future day.
Turner proved himself a much more competent
boxer than was expected, and Scroggins was
equally deceived. Turner convinced Scroggins
that his furious onslaught was to be stopped.
He hit him once so tremendously on the jaw,
that the latter held up his head afterwards,
and did not go boring in so furiously as
heretofore. They were both fresh on leaving
the ring, but neither of them were considered
in good condition. Scroggins had a black eye,
and one of Turner’s peepers was a little out
of repair. It is but fair to state that much
difference of opinion existed on the subject,
many persons contending that Scroggins was not
in the slightest degree punished, and that
Turner showed evident symptoms of weakness on
leaving the ring. Several noblemen were present,
and many first-rate theatricals. It proved a
rare day for the inn-keepers and pike-men, and
it was impossible to move a step, where the
pocket was concerned, without dearly paying for
curiosity.
On the Monday evening after the fight every room to the top of Belcher’s
house was crowded to excess by the “Fancy,” so anxious were the amateurs
to learn the decision as regarded the coming battle. The following
articles were agreed to:—
“_Castle Tavern, Holborn, March 31, 1817._
“John Scroggins engages to fight Edward Turner, 120 guineas to 80,
on the 27th of May. Ten pounds on each side are deposited; to fight
in a twenty-four feet ring, half-minute time; one half of the
remainder of the money to be deposited at Scroggins’s on the 15th of
April. The whole to be made good on the 20th of May, at Tom
Belcher’s. The fight to take place not within twenty-five miles from
London. To be a fair stand-up fight. Mr. Jackson to name the place
of fighting, and to receive the money, till all is made good. The
money, upon the first failure of deposit, to be forfeited, and the
other half if not made good. To meet in the ring between twelve and
one.
“J. SCROGGINS, his + mark.
“E. TURNER.
“Witness, J. W.”
So confident, it appears, were the partisans of Scroggins that victory
would again crown his exertions, that no fall whatever in the betting
took place from his unexpected battle in a room with Fisher, when in a
state of inebriation; in fact, it operated materially in his favour.
This rencontre will be found under the memoir of SCROGGINS, Chapter IX.,
_post_.
In consequence of the Ascot race week falling at the time appointed in
the articles (May 27), the battle was, by mutual consent, postponed to
the 10th of June. Notwithstanding the secrecy observed, the magistrates
of Essex got hint enough not to permit Matching Green to be the spot, as
fixed upon for this trial of skill to be decided. The attraction in the
sporting circles was so great that vehicles of all descriptions were on
the road the whole of Monday night; and as soon as daylight began to
peep on Tuesday morning the amateurs were in motion. Upon their arrival
at Harlow, the interruption was found out, and after a short
deliberation it was decided that the battle should take place in the
adjoining county, Hertfordshire, in a paddock contiguous to
Sawbridgeworth. Thither the cavalcade posted without delay, and the
inhabitants of that quiet village were not a little astonished at this
sudden visit from galloping horsemen, rattling post-chaises, barouches,
tilburys, carts, etc., till the important cause was learned. It was a
profound secret here, notwithstanding Turner slept at Mr. Parsons’, the
White Lion Inn, Sawbridgeworth, the preceding evening. He arrived from
New Town in Wales, where he had been in training under the care of his
uncle, Mr. Turner, and reached Barnet on Friday evening _incog._ He
scarcely saw five persons before he entered the ring, being under the
immediate care of his cousin, Mr. Baxter. He was in much better
condition than when he stripped at Hayes; but it is certain he still
might have been brought to a finer pitch. He weighed ten stone five
pounds. On meeting with his opponent, Scroggins, they shook hands in the
most friendly manner together. The stakes, as before stated, were £120
on the part of Scroggins, against Turner’s £80. At half past twelve
Turner appeared in the twenty-four feet roped ring, and threw up his
hat. Scroggins soon followed his example. Tom Owen and Jacobs were the
seconds of Turner; and Harmer and Clark attended upon Scroggins. Owen
tied the yellow colour of his man upon the post, and Harmer covered it
with the true blue belonging to Scroggins. It is curious to remark that
this same blue handkerchief belonging to the latter he had won all his
seven battles in, but now he sported a new one round him. The ring was
unusually respectable and select, not being above one deep, few, if any,
pedestrians being able to go the distance of thirty miles in time. One
o’clock having arrived, the parties shook hands, and the battle
commenced. Two to one on Scroggins.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Two minutes elapsed in sparring and
dodging each other round the ring, both anxious
to obtain the first advantage. The firm and
erect attitude of Turner, who appeared armed
at all points, seemed to puzzle Scroggins so
much that he was at a loss how to commence the
attack with any degree of certainty, and that
formidable resolution of going in furiously,
which gave him the lead in the commencement of
all his other fights, in the present instance
had visibly abated. Scroggins at length, neck or
nothing, made a sort of rush in, and after a
short scuffling close, Turner went down from
a slight hit on the side of his head. (Loud
shouting, and three to one on Scroggins.)
2.—The little hero seemed pleased with his
success, and was going in with much gaiety to
reduce the confidence of Turner, when the latter
put in a sharp teazer on Scroggins’s mug with
his right hand, that rather stopped his career;
in the course of the round he planted another
desperate facer, and added a severe hit on the
ribs. In closing, the strength of Scroggy
prevailed, and Turner was undermost.
3.—Scroggins seemed, in this early stage of the
fight, to anticipate that he had a very ugly
customer before him, and appeared unusually
cautious. Several good hits passed, but in
closing, Turner was again undermost.
4.—Turner was not long before he planted a
desperate hit on the throat of his opponent,
that gave him a sort of hiccup. Scroggins
endeavoured to make some rushing hits, but he
lost his distance, and no execution was done.
In closing, both went down, but Turner was
undermost, having experienced a cross-buttock.
5.—This round was well contested, and Scroggins,
quite determined, went in, but Turner milled his
nob sharply, and the claret was seen trickling
down his face. In closing, Turner was again
undermost. At this instant a troop of Yeomanry
Cavalry made their appearance, galloping down
the lane towards the scene of action, creating
some alarm that the fight would again be
interrupted; but, on being interrogated, it
appeared they were admirers of native courage,
and only anxious to witness the mill.
6.—This was a short round. Scroggins missed a
desperately aimed blow at Turner’s body; he,
nevertheless, rushed in and hit Turner down.
7.—Scroggins came bleeding to the scratch, and
a good milling round occurred. Several sharp
blows were exchanged, but in closing, Turner
was undermost.
8.—The little tar, without ceremony, rushed
headlong in, and scuffled with his antagonist
till both went down. (“Well done, Scroggins!
he’ll tire out Turner,” was the cry.)
9.—On setting-to, Turner put in a tremendous
facer with his right hand, and got away with
much dexterity. Scroggins endeavoured to return,
but lost his distance, and Turner again nobbed
him. The former appeared confused, and dropped
his hands, but at length rushed in. In closing,
Turner was undermost.
10.—This was a sharp round, but the coolness of
Turner was manifest, and he hit with much
judgment. He was perfectly aware of his
opponent’s mode of fighting, and always prepared
to give him a warm reception. In closing, Turner
undermost.
11.—Scroggins commenced this round with
considerable caution, and nearly a minute
occurred before a blow was struck. Turner’s left
hand claimed an acquaintance with Scroggy’s
cheek. Scroggins in return endeavoured to plant
a hit at Turner’s mark, that, had it proved
successful, might have materially changed the
face of the battle. He, nevertheless, in
closing, again sent Turner over the ropes.
12.—This was a tremendous round; the combatants
rallied in grand style. In closing, Turner
fibbed his man terribly, and for the first time
the little hero was undermost.
13.—From the severe fibbing Scroggins had
received after setting-to he hastily retreated;
loud hissing arose from all parts of the ring.
But he soon recovered from his panic, and it was
as sharp a round as any in the fight. Turner
gave his opponent a hit that sent him quite
round; but Scroggins again opposed him with the
most determined spirit, and followed him till,
in closing, both went down. (Turner was now
evidently the favourite.)
14.—Turner immediately planted a facer on
setting-to. (Applause.) Scroggins also made a
hit, and Turner went down from it, as if he had
slipped.
15.—Smashing hits on both sides, but many of
them out of distance. Scroggins was again
fibbed, but he stopped this sort of punishment
by holding the hands of Turner. He also obtained
the throw, and Turner was undermost.
16.—On setting-to, Scroggins got back, and
Turner put down his hands, convincing his
opponent he had leisure enough to wait for him.
Turner at length planted a desperate ribber, and
Scroggins furiously bored in. In closing, the
latter again obtained his usual advantage.
17.—This was a curious round. Scroggins, on
receiving a hit, turned round, but furiously
renewed the combat. Turner, in closing, had the
advantage materially in fibbing his opponent,
yet Scroggins got him down.
18.—Turner, with much coolness, nobbed Scroggins
and got away. The latter seemed quite at fault:
he was at sea without a rudder—no sight of land
appeared in view, and desperation seemed his
only resource. Scroggy rushed in again on the
bull-dog system, and ultimately succeeded in
getting Turner undermost. During this round
Clark, Scroggins’ second, fell down in a fit,
and was succeeded by Ned Painter.
19.—Scroggins made a good body hit, and smashed
away with much spirit. He was manfully opposed
by Turner, but the latter ultimately went down,
and almost a second had elapsed when Scroggy
fell with all his weight upon him. Some marks of
disapprobation, but it might have been accident.
20.—Turner, with considerable ease, planted a
right-handed hit on the already chanceried nob
of Scroggins, and got away; but the latter, to
revenge this attack, rushed in with uncommon
ardour to make a change, if possible, and while
endeavouring to put in some tremendous blows,
received a slight hit that caused him to fall
and slip out of the ring.
21.—Some heavy hits were dealt out on both
sides, and Turner, in particular, received one
so severe on the right side of his nob, that for
a second it was almost upon his shoulder. In
closing, both down.
22.—This was positively the best round in the
fight; the blows were heard all round the ring.
A desperate rally occurred, and the men broke
away; but Scroggins, not satisfied that he had
done enough, endeavoured to go in head foremost
to take the fight out of his opponent. Turner,
prepared for his impetuosity, hit upwards as
he was coming in, upon his throat, with great
effect. In closing, both down, Turner undermost.
Scroggins, on his second’s knee, hemmed for
wind, and he also discharged a considerable
quantity of the crimson fluid from his mouth.
23.—Scroggins rushed in, and both down.
24.—Things had now materially changed, and five
and six to one were freely offered on Turner.
On Scroggins reaching the scratch his knees
trembled under him, and he appeared like a man
intoxicated. He endeavoured to plant a hit, and
fell.
25.—Turner gave him a left handed facer, and
also a severe ribber with his right. Scroggins
was quite abroad; he could make no hit with any
degree of certainty, and once more resorted to
boring in, till both went down. The combatants
were close together while sitting on the knees
of their seconds, when Turner laid hold of his
opponent’s hand and gave it a friendly shake.
26.—On setting-to Turner planted a dreadful
facer, and soon after hit Scroggins clean down.
(Seven to one was offered.) Brandy was now
called for to renovate the little hero, but it
was of no avail.
27.—On coming to the scratch, after a slight
hit from Turner, Scroggins turned round and
retreated till he got to a corner of the ring.
Turner stood still, pointing his finger at him
and beckoning him to come up and fight, but it
would not do. Turner was compelled to follow
Scroggins, when they closed. Severe fibbing was
again dealt out to him, till both went down.
28.—Turner left the knee of his second in a most
lively manner, but Scroggins seemed to come very
reluctantly to the point of war. Scroggins threw
away his blows, and he received some dreadful
up-hits in his throat that electrified him.
29.—Scroggins was brought to the mark, and he
had scarcely lifted up his hands when he was hit
down. (Ten to one offered freely.)
30.—The nob of Scroggins now appeared much
damaged, and his ribs exhibited a token of
severe punishment. But though the little hero
was prevented from doing any mischief, he
nevertheless contended for the throw, and
obtained it.
31.—The superiority of Turner astonished all
present. He made a successful hit with his right
hand on the face of Scroggins, and instantly
made another good one upon his ribs. The little
hero turned round in a state of confusion, and
was sent down. (Great applause. Five to three
offered that Scroggins did not fight three more
rounds.)
32.—Scroggins had been literally stupid for the
last half hour, from the heavy blows he had
received on his head, and in not being able to
stop the upper-cuts of Turner. At out fighting
in this round he was much punished, and severely
fibbed, till Turner dropped him. (“Well done,
Turner.”)
33 and last.—It was all up with the sailor,
who had made so much noise in the fighting
circles for the last three years. He had been
pronounced to be almost invincible, and he had
flattered himself into the belief. In the last
ten rounds, in point of fighting, he had no
chance whatever; nevertheless he fought with
much bravery. Scroggins endeavoured to do
something in this round, put in some hits, but
turned away from his opponent from the severity
of punishment, and fell. On being placed upon
his second’s knee, he gave in. Upon Harry Harmer
hoisting the handkerchief as a token of defeat,
it is impossible to describe the appearance
of the ring. They seemed lost in reverie, till
giving vent to their surprise, they exclaimed,
“What, Scroggins given in? Impossible!” The
battle lasted one hour and twelve minutes.
Scroggins was carried out of the ring, and put
into a post-chaise, Turner having won almost
without a scratch.
REMARKS.—The “Napoleon of the ring” has at
length been defeated, but not disgraced; and,
like other mighty fighting heroes, has been
taught what it is to drink of the bitter cup of
disappointment. He is now blamed for his
confidence and temerity by those very admirers
who supported him; but it may be asked, what is
a hero without feeling confident of victory?
Scroggins entered the ring under these feelings,
and endeavoured to come out a conqueror. He did
all that a man could do; and the hero, who
defeated in succession, Boots, Dolly Smith,
Nosworthy, Eales, Whittaker, Church, and Fisher,
ought not to be forgotten in an honourable
defeat with a superior man. Scroggins was never
considered a boxer in a scientific point of
view, and this day he completely proved the
truth of the assertion. The judgment and science
were completely on the side of Turner; he never
struggled to lose his strength in throwing, but
went down with scarcely any resistance. He never
hit first, but only when the opportunity was
undeniable. His guard was so firm that Scroggins
could never get at him without being exposed to
great danger. His coolness was equally
admirable; and, in opposition to Scroggins, he
made the ferocity of the latter subservient to
his skill. The desperation of Scroggins, which
had so terrified his opponents hitherto, was
reduced to confusion; and the ease with which he
was conquered, astonished the most knowing
amateurs, and many of them paid dearly for their
confidence. At best, he was only a resolute
smashing fighter, and none of his opponents,
except Turner, could get away from his severe
punishment. He lost by out-fighting with Turner,
and was worse off from going in. In the fight at
Hayes, Turner has since acknowledged, he
received so violent a blow from Scroggins that
he could not for a month afterwards open his
mouth without considerable pain.
Turner was so fresh that he was able to have fought another battle, and
walked round the ring during the next fight. He drove himself to London,
and appeared so little hurt from his conflict that he returned with all
the gaiety of a spectator. The house kept by Scroggins, in Westminster,
was surrounded by hundreds of people waiting for the intelligence; and
so much confidence were the crowd inspired with in behalf of the naval
hero, that his defeat was not believed till he arrived at home about one
in the morning.
The backers of Turner met on the Friday evening following at Belcher’s,
the Castle Tavern, Holborn, and presented him with the whole of the
stakes, amounting to £120, as a reward for his courage. Turner also paid
his fallen opponent a friendly visit the preceding evening, when
Scroggins said he wished to retrieve his lost laurels in a new contest
for £100 a side. Turner, who had no wish to fight again, but merely as a
matter of accommodation, said he could not meet him for less than £200 a
side. Scroggins attributed his defeat to a chance blow in the throat,
accompanied with getting one of his feet into a small hole in the
ground, which threw him off his balance; and it was at that precise
instant, he said, that he received the above hit, which deprived him of
his wind throughout the conflict.
A short time after the above conquest Turner made a visit to New Town,
where he had recently been in training, and which is the birth-place of
his parents and relatives. He was hailed with all the respect due to a
hero in a more important cause. The companions of his youth, and the
admirers of pugilism among the Ancient Britons, caused a congratulatory
peal to be rung upon the bells in honour of his victory. A feast was
held at the first inn in the place, and two roasted fat sheep, with
gilded horns, were served up with the _et ceteras_, including plenty of
game. The evening was conducted with the utmost conviviality, and the
Welsh bards mustered upon this occasion composed and sung extemporaneous
verses in praise of the brave and of the exploits of their countryman.
Upon the return of Turner to London the stakes were made good, for 300
guineas, and Scroggins, it seems, so much fancied this third trial of
skill, that, in order to train correctly, he relinquished his character
as a publican, and disposed of his house. But the opinion of the
sporting world had changed, and seven to four was the current betting
upon Turner. The charm of the invincibility of Scroggins was broken, and
the great interest this little hero once sustained in the milling
circles was materially injured by his defeat.
From some apparently careless conduct of Scroggins after the stakes were
made good, much doubt prevailed through the fancy respecting the battle,
and a strong opinion was maintained “that no fight would take place.”
Even three to one was betted on this particular point. This circumstance
operated as a great drawback upon the interest of the contest, and until
the evening preceding the battle very few sums were risked upon the
event. Both the combatants, however, had publicly declared it should not
be their fault if any disappointment occurred, as they were very anxious
to come to a decision upon the subject. Notwithstanding this mystery,
Scroggins had not lost his interest with the sporting world, and early
on the morning appointed for the battle the roads leading to the scene
of action gave proof of it. The ring was made at an early hour, at
Shepperton; and, whether owing to accident or intention, upon the
arrival of numerous spectators at the above spot, it was given out “the
fight will take place at Moulsey.” Thither the motley cavalcade
repaired, and the confusion that now occurred beggars description. The
flight from Shepperton through Walton was like the retreat of an army.
Those, too, who were galloping from Hampton to Shepperton turned
suddenly round upon hearing the news; the road in consequence was
blocked, the scent for a time lost, and all doubt and glorious
confusion. A strong group was at length seen forming across the water at
Moulsey, and the boats were actively employed in conveying over the
anxious spectators to be in time. It was now booked by many that no
fight would take place; and, if it did, that hundreds would not be able
to see it. The hoax, however, was dispelled, and “Shepperton” was again
the signal. The keeper of the Walton Bridge toll, anxious to come in for
a slice of the profits, put up a board at the end of a lane, “This is
the road to the fight,” and from this stratagem came in for a tolerable
good share of copper; it was, however, considerably out of the way. At
length all was right, the ring was formed, and the spectators took their
stations. But another dilemma arose—the principal actor had not arrived,
and the audience waited in the most anxious suspense. Turner had been in
the ring, and thrown up his hat without being answered. Two to one was
offered it was no fight. To prevent total disappointment, the after
piece was about to be performed first, and two youths appeared stripped.
But the cry of “Scroggins, Scroggins,” was now heard; the lads instantly
made their exit, and the little hero was greeted with welcome. Upon
being asked by a friend if he meant to fight, he answered, “Yes, and win
it.” The combatants soon prepared for action, and seven to four was laid
against Scroggins, although he appeared in the best condition. Tom Owen
and Painter were for Turner, and Paddington Jones and Spring waited upon
Scroggins. The colours of the combatants were tied to the stakes of the
ring, and at two o’clock the men set-to. The articles stipulated to meet
between twelve and one, but Turner said he did not wish to avail himself
of this advantage.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—This first round was very similar
to the two last battles at Hayes and
Sawbridgeworth, but with an increase of
caution on both sides. Scroggins, it seemed,
did not like the idea of going in to smash
his opponent at the onset, after his usual
decided manner, when victory crowned his
efforts in seven successive contests, but
exhibited a total change in his tactics—a
complete new feature. This once tremendous
rushing boxer now adopted the system of
getting away of scientific pugilists.
Turner, equally on the alert, and wishing to
do everything but receive, lengthened out
this round to five minutes and a half,
during which time they dodged each other to
obtain the first advantage. Turner at last
hit short; Scroggins also made a feint
without effect. Turner was tired of his
position and put down his hands. They,
however, finished the round by both hitting
together, closed, went down, but Turner
undermost. Only four blows were exchanged.
2.—Turner planted two clean hits without
experiencing any return. A good rally followed,
during which the mug of Scroggins was clareted.
In closing, both down, but Turner again
undermost.
3.—The little hero, anxious to punish his
adversary, rushed in and planted a severe hit
under the jaws of Turner and got away. In
rallying, however, Scroggins slipped down, and
received a slight hit in falling.
4.—Nearly a minute elapsed before a hit was
made. Turner gave two sharp blows, and Scroggins
put in a desperate nobber just passing the ear
of Turner. It was a good round altogether. In
closing, the strength of Scroggins prevailed,
and Turner was thrown.
5.—The great advantage Turner derived from his
height and length over his adversary was evident
to every one. Turner, with much _sang froid_,
planted two nobbers and got away. Some sharp
blows were exchanged, when the men separated. In
finishing the round a smart rally occurred, and,
in going down, Scroggins was undermost. (Five to
two on Turner; but little betting occurred.)
6.—Scroggins appeared earnestly to wish for
in-fighting, but the difficulty and danger of
the attempt operated as a drawback. He, however,
made two punishing hits. In closing, Turner
caught hold of his nob and coloured it with
the quickness of a painter with his brush. In
struggling for the throw Turner was undermost,
but he gave his opponent rather an ugly hoist.
7.—In this round Scroggy appeared to advantage.
He fought after his usual method, regardless of
the consequences. He stopped Turner as he was
coming in with a tremendous hit in his face,
that made his head bob again. Scroggins also
planted two more severe blows that seemed rather
to confuse the tactics of Turner. The latter
returned heavily, and made an up-hit at his
opponent’s throat, but missed it. In closing,
both down, but Turner undermost.
8.—The little hero, full of gaiety, rushed in,
planted two successful hits, and bored Turner
down.
9.—After an exchange Turner went down from a
blow on the side of the head.
10.—The length of Turner again prevailed.
Scroggins was desperate in action, but not
effective in execution; while, on the contrary,
Turner planted three hits in succession on the
face of his opponent, and the claret followed at
every touch. In closing, Turner was undermost.
11.—This round was contested in a most manly
style. Scroggins, with uncommon severity, hit
Turner away from him in three successive
attempts, when considerable sparring occurred.
Turner then took the lead, and the execution
he performed on the head of Scroggins was
tremendous. He also finished the round in high
style; Scroggins was undermost.
12.—Turner was much applauded in this round
for his manly conduct. In a short close he let
Scroggins down without a blow, throwing up his
hands and walking away.
13.—This was a grand round, and Scroggins
never displayed anything like such a knowledge
of the pugilistic art in any of his previous
contests. He stopped with considerable skill,
and reciprocal fighting occurred. Scroggins
got rather impetuous, and threw his blows
away; and Turner was also incorrect in some of
his distances. The latter again hit up at his
head, but without effect. Scroggins went down.
14.—Considerable execution was done. Scroggins
planted two good hits upon his opponent’s nob,
but Turner returned upon him so hard and fast
that Scroggins turned round rather confusedly.
He, however, rallied with great spirit till he
slipped down.
15.—Well contested and both down, but Scroggins
undermost.
16.—Turner commenced by planting a successful
blow on the head of Scroggins; but the latter
returned in a spirited manner, and hit, hit, and
hit again, till Turner went down.
17.—Some sharp blows occurred between the
combatants in this round. Scroggins made a hit
over the left eye of Turner, and he also touched
his body; but Turner sent his adversary down.
18.—After some sparring, Turner put down his
hands and rubbed them against his body. Some
blows were exchanged. In struggling to obtain
the throw, Turner neatly tripped up his
antagonist.
19.—The hands of Turner were covered with the
claret of his opponent. In closing, Scroggins
was undermost.
20.—Some good hits were exchanged, but
materially in favour of Turner, who planted four
blows in succession, without having any return,
but he (Turner) went down rather weak.
21.—Scroggins planted a sharp blow on the side
of Turner’s head, when he dropped down on one
knee, but instantly rose again and went on his
second’s knee.
22.—Good exchanges. In closing, Turner was down,
and Scroggins fell upon him.
23.—On setting-to Turner sighed loudly, as if in
want of wind, and, after some little sparring,
he dropped his hands, as did also his opponent.
Scroggins let several opportunities slip of
going in, and when he did it was more of the
“forlorn hope” sort of attack, than from the
cool judgment of the tactician.
24.—The little hero went in with much
resolution, and ultimately sent down Turner upon
his latter end.
25.—On coming to the scratch Turner displayed
considerable weakness; his knees trembled
violently. In the course of this round Turner
turned from his antagonist, but Scroggins
ultimately went down.
26.—Some sparring occurred, and Turner put down
his hands; after this the men fought their way
into a close. They broke away and closed again,
and dealt out to each other some heavy blows,
and Turner received so severely on his kidneys,
that he appeared to go down from weakness.
27.—One hour and three minutes had now elapsed,
and Scroggins appeared to stand the firmest on
his legs; but the betting did not change in his
favour. The position of Turner rendered him so
formidable that it was dangerous to attack him.
Scroggins displayed some of his old antics, and
in going in slipped down from a slight hit.
28.—Some blows were exchanged, and Turner went
down.
29.—Scroggins even now appeared well upon his
legs, and he followed Turner all round the ring,
and, in closing, Turner was undermost.
30.—Scroggins felt determined to win if
possible. Turner was hit away from his intention
of going in. It was a good round, and both down.
31.—Notwithstanding Scroggins showed himself off
in good style, the chance was completely against
him. He went down from a slight hit. Turner in
general finished most of the rounds decidedly in
his favour.
32.—Scroggins went down from a severe hit in the
body.
33.—This was a good round. Scroggins followed
his opponent in a desperate manner all over the
ring, and Turner went down from a slip or a
slight hit.
34.—The chancery suit was fast coming on
Scroggins, and his nob was completely at the
service of his opponent. The little hardy hero
nevertheless contended for victory till he fell
in an exhausted state.
35.—If Scroggins was not satisfied with the
superiority of his opponent, the spectators had
long previous to this period been convinced that
he had no chance of winning. He went down from a
slight hit almost upon setting-to.
36.—Turner sent down Scroggins in a twinkling,
and his legs doubled up.
37.—The head of Scroggins was in a terrible
state; but, notwithstanding, he stood at the
scratch in a more firm state than might have
been expected. He was shortly hit down, and the
general cry was, “Take him away.”
38.—The desperation of Scroggins was not quite
exhausted, and he endeavoured to contend up to
the last moment. He was so weak that he went
down from a mere touch.
39 and last.—His friends were now perfectly
satisfied that Scroggins had done everything
that a brave man could attempt. The idea of
losing seemed terrible to his feelings, and
he again endeavoured to meet his opponent. On
setting-to the punishment of his adversary was
so severe that he turned, in a confused state,
and fell forward upon the ropes. Turner patted
him upon the back, implying, “you are a brave
fellow.” The battle was now at an end. Scroggins
could not come again, and Turner immediately
went up to him and shook him by the hand before
he quitted the ring. It lasted one hour and
thirty-one minutes and a half.
REMARKS.—Scroggins, from the brave conduct he
displayed in this third battle, completely
removed the insinuations which were levelled at
him respecting his defeat at Sawbridgeworth, and
re-established his character as a determined
game boxer. Though defeated, he has not been
disgraced, but compelled to yield to superior
skill, height, and length. Turner, from his
distinguished conquests over a hero like
Scroggins, who had gained such an ascendancy,
has placed himself at the top of the tree. It
should also be recollected that he has fought
four prize battles, and experienced eight weeks’
close confinement, added to the agitation of his
mind during his trial, within twelve months. His
qualities are rare and valuable, and his
position, though not showy, is formidable in the
extreme. Cool and collected in the heat of
battle, with game of the first quality, Turner
retired from the ring with merely a slight mark
upon his ear. He was well seconded by Owen and
Painter.
Turner’s backers presented him with the whole of the battle-money. He
returned to London the same evening, and appeared among the company at
Belcher’s as if nothing had happened. Scroggins showed himself in town
the next morning; his head exhibited terrible marks of punishment.
Turner by this second victory attained high pugilistic eminence, yet he
was literally dragged into milling popularity, by the sovereign contempt
with which his capabilities were treated by Scroggins and not a few of
his admirers: however, Turner wore his “blushing honours” with becoming
moderation.
About this period a boxer, well known in after years to Londoners, young
Cy. Davis, of Bristol, attracted much attention, and he was thought in
every respect an excellent match for Turner. Davis, as we have said, was
not only an object of considerable attraction at Bristol, but had
recently given the Londoners a specimen of his quality. A match was
therefore made, by Tom Belcher, on the part of his fellow townsman,
Davis, for 100 guineas a side; and Turner, from his well-known tried
qualities, did not want for friends to support him upon this occasion.
Davis stood so well with the sporting people that it was even betting,
the former for choice. Wallingham Common, in Surrey, seventeen miles
from London, was the spot selected for this combat to take place, and
the torrents of rain which prevailed for some hours on Friday morning,
June 18, 1819, did not in the least deter the amateurs. Most of the
fancy scorned even to sport an umbrella, and it should seem that the
recollection of the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo gave them
fresh vigour. At length all difficulties were at an end, the rain
ceased, the ring appeared in view, and preparation was made for the
combat to commence. Turner threw up his hat first in the ring, attended
by Cribb and Randall, when, after waiting a considerable time, Davis was
loudly called for by the Champion. Some minutes elapsed, when Davis
appeared with Tom Belcher and Harmer, and repeated the token of
defiance. At a quarter before two the men set-to, the colours having
been previously tied to the stakes; the true blue was placed by Randall,
and the original yellow-man (which has ever since the period of the late
Jem Belcher, out of compliment to his pugilistic fame, been denominated
“a Belcher”[158]) was tied over the blue by Tom Belcher. Even betting
was about the thing.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Davis looked in fine condition, and
appeared to be able to win it off hand; his
opponent, however, showed better than was
expected. But the contrast was great. Davis,
from his fine and elegant form, was the _beau
ideal_ of the ring-goers, while Turner looked
more like a weatherbeaten Greenwich pensioner.
It was thought the gay Bristol Boy would go to
work without ceremony, and nob Turner in
style, from the manner he disposed of Belasco
the Jew; but whether the high fame of Turner
had made any impression upon his feelings, or
the Dutch-Sam-like countenance of his opponent
checked him, it is certain that he was
particularly cautious, and Turner hit first
slightly with his left hand. Long sparring,
and Davis kept retreating. Turner put in five
light hits on the body and head, when Davis
smiled. Another long pause of sparring
occurred, and Randall was seen sitting on the
ropes minutely eyeing the tactics of both the
combatants. Some exchanges took place; the
right cheek of Davis appeared red, and Turner
planted a blow on the body that sent Davis
staggering. He went down. (Loud shouting. Six
to four.)
2.—Turner had scarcely planted a hit, when Davis
went down. (Great murmurings, and “Turner, my
boy, you’ll win it without a scratch.” Two to
one.)
3.—Great astonishment was excited at the conduct
of Davis, and he seemed as if afraid to face his
man with any confidence. After some cautious
sparring, Turner made a hit, but it was so much
a question whether it touched Davis or not, that
the umpires advised his seconds that he should
be more careful in future in his going down,
as, if such conduct was pursued, the battle
must immediately have an end. (Disapprobation
expressed.)
4.—Turner made play, and used both hands with
success. Davis smiled, and with a tremendous
right-handed hit on the head knocked Turner
down. This decided the first knock-down blow;
Turner also showed the first blood. (“Go along,
Davis,” from the Bristolians; “you can do it if
you like. Another such hit, and it will be all
right.”)
5.—Instead of Davis going in to follow up his
success, he again went down from a slight hit;
in fact, it was thought almost without a blow.
6.—Turner followed Davis, and planted some hits.
The latter, it should seem, had no inclination
to go in, or he might have stood upon even terms
with his opponent. He was no novice at fighting;
he could also hit hard and stop well. He,
however, again went down, when the Bristol men
appeared quite angry with him, crying out,
“Davis, what are you at?” (Four to one).
7.—Davis appeared as if he felt these
reproaches, and went to work in earnest. “Look,
look,” observed several amateurs, “this chap may
win it now, if he will but go in and fight. He
can do something if he likes.” It was a good
round; but Davis was now really hit down.
“Bravo, Turner!” and “Give him a little one for
me.” Also, “Well done, Davis.”
8.—Davis positively seemed afraid to hit home.
Turner got away from a flooring right-handed
hit; but the latter was now the most punished,
and bleeding. Davis had the best of the hitting,
and gave Turner a hard blow on the side of the
head. Davis might have showed himself off in
good style, but it was urged he wanted pluck.
Both down.
9.—Davis went down with a slight hit.
10.—Notwithstanding the shy fighting of Davis,
he hit Turner on the jaw so tremendously with
his right hand, that he went down like a shot,
and seemed almost in a state of stupor. “Go
it, Davis,” from his partisans; “that’s the
way to mill; you’ll win.” Turner was quite
abroad; another such a hit, had it been quickly
repeated, must have proved a _quietus_. This
dreadful hit operated seriously on Turner’s
backers. Long faces were seen in all directions,
and even Randall shook his head, scarcely
knowing what to think of it. Indeed, it was all
but over with Turner. Great applause was here
given to Davis, and the Bristolians were all as
gay as larks.
11.—Davis did not follow up his success. Some
sharp exchanges took place, and Turner’s face
was clareted. Davis turned round from the
hitting, and it was thought that Turner hit him
when he was down. “Foul, foul,” was cried.
“Never mind; they’re only even,” said a sly old
sportsman.
12.—Turner stopped most of his opponent’s blows,
and sent him down. This almost jaw-breaker waked
Turner to the dangerous intent of his opponent’s
right hand. However singular it may appear,
it might almost be urged, that this blow gave
victory to Turner. He now became down to it, and
stopped it with great judgment.
13.—This was a good round; and Davis showed
like a boxer till he was hit down. If he had
possessed any sort of fear, it seemed now
removed; and his conduct at this juncture
claimed praise. An excellent judge exclaimed,
“Davis may win it now.” The Bristol Boy here
received a great deal of applause from various
parts of the ring.
14.—The right hand of Davis was very dangerous,
and he nobbed Turner staggering away; but the
latter, game-cock like, returned to the attack,
and sent Davis down.
15.—In this round Turner beat Davis to a
complete stand-still. “What’s o’clock now?”
cried Cribb. “It’s all up, I believe.”
16 to 19.—Turner stopped with great skill most
of Davis’s blows; but Turner received a dreadful
hit over his right eye, that made him almost go
down from its severity. The claret flowed again;
but Turner, undismayed, followed his opponent,
who again got down in the quickest manner he
could, seemingly to escape hitting.
20.—In this round Turner got Davis in a corner,
when Randall said, “Ned, do as I do; keep that
in your eye, my boy, and you’ll soon fetch him
out.” Davis turned aside from the severity of
the hitting, and went down.
21, 22.—This was a singular round, from the
following circumstance:—Belcher stooped down
and picked up a piece of paper, and put it in
Davis’s left hand, to keep it close. Turner
thought it was a stone, and said, if that was
the way he was to be used, he would not fight.
Randall rushed in to see what it was, anxious to
do his duty as a second, and almost tore the
paper out of Belcher’s hand, who had now got
hold of it, openly showing it, that nothing
unfair was meant, and that it had been used
merely for the purpose described. Some words
ensued. The umpires inquired the cause of the
disturbance. Belcher explained. It caused some
little agitation round the ring, many of the
amateurs thinking it was a bank note, and that a
wager had been proposed, and that staking was
attempted as a sort of _ruse de guerre_, to give
Davis time. The umpires appeared satisfied that
nothing “unfair” had been attempted. This was
a sharp, well-fought, short round, and both
the men went down. Davis had now retrieved his
character in a great degree with the spectators,
who asserted that when he was at work he did not
mind it, but that it appeared he did not like to
begin to hit.
23 to 26.—Some good rounds, Davis fighting
better than he had done; but in the latter he
received a body hit that made quite a dent
upon his frame. Turner, in closing, slung him
round like a cat. This wisty-castor on the
body occasioned a complete revolution, and
“bellows to mend” was the true feature.
27.—Turner put in a dreadful blow under the ear
of Davis, or rather at the back part of his
head. It occasioned a large gash, and he went
down in a pitiable state.
28 and 29.—Good rounds and sharp hitting. Davis
determined to let the amateurs see that he could
fight a bit. Both the eyes of Davis had now been
measured for a suit of mourning; and, on his
forehead, he had got a lump like an egg. It
was evident that after all he did not want for
bottom in regard to taking.
30.—Davis, it was asserted, fell without a blow,
and Turner fell heavily on him.
31.—This round might be termed the finisher.
Davis was so stupid that he stood quite still,
while Turner hit him down. He could not lift his
hands. Nature had deserted him—his eyes had lost
their fire, and he was viewed by the amateurs
as an object of pity rather than ill-natured
remarks.
32 and last.—It is true Davis made his
appearance at the scratch, but he turned away
from the blow and fell down. The contest was
over in forty-five minutes.
REMARKS.—If any observations can be made a
nut-shell might contain them. In a word, too
much praise had been previously bestowed on
the prime qualities said to be possessed by
Davis. Owing to his decisive fight with Belasco,
senior, anticipation was on tiptoe to behold
another pugilist from Bristol—a soil that had
given birth to Big Ben, Jem and Tom Belcher,
the Game Chicken, Tom Cribb, Gulley, Nicholls,
Bob Watson, etc.; names familiar whenever
comparisons are made respecting the goodness
of a boxer. Davis’s right hand was very
dangerous. From his youth, weight, freshness,
and strength, he ought to have won it. It was
urged by his friends that his going down so
often was owing to a weakness in his knees—a
rheumatic affection, which had seized him a few
days previous to the battle. It is only common
justice to Davis to state that he was terribly
beaten about the head, and one of his hands,
arms, and shoulders exhibited heavy punishment;
more experience, and another trial, perhaps, may
recover him his lost laurel. It is no new case
that some men are “half beat” before they enter
the ring; and that young soldiers wink on first
smelling powder. It should also be remembered
that only one Randall and one Turner at present
stand upon the list. The talents of the latter
are so well known that it would be superfluous
to state them. Upon this occasion, however, he
became the offensive instead of the defensive
pugilist. He might have been better in condition
had longer time been allowed him; at all events,
it must be a second Randall to defeat Turner.
Such was the opinion of some of the best judges of the time, and it
certainly was not prudent at any rate to match young Cy. against so good
a tactician as Turner for a first trial.
The sporting world now looked forward to a match between Turner and
Martin, more especially as Turner, after his defeat by Randall, had been
challenged by Martin, who had about the same time disposed of the hardy
Scroggins; both men too had succumbed to Randall, and the different
styles of their defeats had been the topic of much critical discussion.
The match was at length made, neither man being loth, at Tom Spring’s
(Tom then kept the Catherine Wheel, Little St. James’s Street, Pall
Mall). Five to four on Turner was the first offer, but these odds were
thought too small. Master Scroggins, who was an original in his way,
being present, submitted the following remarks for the consideration of
the amateurs: “He would not give tuppence for choice—he had tried both
the men: Turner was the awkwardest man alive to get at; but Martin was
the hardest hitter. Two gamer coves never entered the ring, and when
either of the men said ‘No,’ the other would be very glad of it.” The
opinion of Randall was diametrically opposite. He had also entered the
lists with Martin and Turner. Scroggins was defeated by the latter in
one hour and twelve minutes in good style; while, on the contrary,
Martin, after a desperate contest, with Scroggins, of two hours and two
minutes, only gained it, as it were, by the toss up of a halfpenny.
Calculations were made accordingly, and Turner rose to seven to four,
with evens offered that the fight lasted over an hour, and two to one
that Turner was not beaten in one hour and a quarter.
This battle took place on Tuesday, October 26, 1819, for 100 guineas a
side, at Wallingham Common, Surrey. Little betting occurred on the day
of fighting, as it was booked to a certainty that Turner must win. The
road, however, on the morning of fighting, exhibited the usual features
of fun, frolic, and disaster. At one o’clock Turner threw his hat within
the ropes, followed by Tom Belcher and Randall; Martin quickly replied,
having the assistance and advice of Tom Cribb and Tom Spring.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, both combatants appeared
in the highest condition. Martin was as fine as
the human frame could be trained; true, he
looked big, but there was nothing gross about
him; his form, however, seemed more calculated
for a successful pedestrian than a pugilist, in
consequence of the heavier half of him being
from his hips to his feet. Turner was all that
could be wished; indeed, he was never in such
good trim before, and, excepting the weakness of
his knee, there was not the slightest uneasiness
by his friends as to the result. Much cautious
sparring for an opening occurred before a blow
was struck. Martin kept retreating a little, but
at length he made a hit, which was stopped
cleanly by Turner. Another pause, when Turner
made a slight hit, and Martin kept getting away.
Turner cool, and on the look-out, with his left
hand felt for the body of his opponent, and, in
returning, Martin threw his blow away. The
latter seemed rather tired with holding up his
hands, and on his looking down to the ground,
the good generalship of Turner was visible to
all the ring, as he immediately let fly on
Martin’s nob. The baker, however, disengaged
himself from a short rally, but in this spirt
one of his ogles got severely damaged, and the
claret was oozing out of the corner. Martin
retreated from the attacks of his opponent to
the corner of the ring, when some blows were
exchanged, and, on Martin’s going down, he
thought he had been hit improperly, as he
exclaimed, “Isn’t that foul?”
2.—Turner soon put in a bodier, and repeated
it without any return, but on attempting it a
third time Martin stopped him. Turner, with much
dexterity, put in a severe facer with his left
hand, and also a winder, but Martin made some of
his blows tell, and, in a severe struggle for
the throw, both went down.
3.—Martin did not attempt to hit first, or to
smash, as was anticipated, but kept retreating
till he was compelled to hit as it were in his
own defence. He again got into the corner of the
ring, pursued by his opponent; but, unlike the
Nonpareil, when in this perilous situation, he
did not appear to know how to extricate himself,
and went down from a hit.
4.—This was a manly round, and Martin made an
exchange of hits, and also endeavoured to fib
Turner. It was a sharp struggle, and both down,
but Turner undermost. “Well done, Martin;” and
the floury coves took a little courage, and
sported a dead man or two, as they thought upon
the improved suit.
5.—This round was a most mischievous one to
Martin, and materially reduced his strength. He
received a dreadful jobber right on his nose,
and some other ugly hits, and, after a severe
struggle, in going down Turner fell heavily upon
him.
6.—Martin came up to the scratch distressed, but
he commenced fighting, and hit Turner on the
nob. The latter received it with the most
perfect _sang froid_, and soon after put in a
throttler that almost deprived the baker of
breath. Turner followed it up by a bodier.
Martin tried to make a return but without
effect; and, in getting away from his opponent,
he staggered and fell from weakness.
7.—Martin made a good stop, but he soon went
down quite exhausted.
8.—The baker, with much courage, endeavoured to
plant two good hits, but Turner stopped them
with scientific excellence. Martin was very
weak, and kept getting away, till he got a facer
that sent him down, and his head rolled about
like a top. Twenty to five was now offered.
9.—Martin came staggering to the scratch, and it
was not long before he again found himself upon
the ground.
10.—The fine stopping of Turner put all the
well-meant efforts of Martin at defiance. This
was a good round, and Martin fought manfully
till he was fibbed down by Turner, who walked
away.
11 to 15.—Martin was getting better in the last
round, and threw his opponent.
16.—Turner not only had the best of the hitting,
but fell heavily upon Martin.
17 and 18.—Turner put in a severe blow on the
chest, and, in struggling for the throw, he
slung Martin round and round till he went down.
19.—The science of Turner, in stopping nearly
all the blows of Martin, convinced the good
judges that, without an accident, he was winning
cleverly. Martin, however, got Turner down in
this round, and it was a bad fall for the
latter.
20.—This was a sharp round, but nothing could
keep Martin from retreating to the corner of
the ring. Randall ordered the bottles to be
moved, and both of them went down from a sharp
struggle.
21 to 23.—It is true Martin was much better, but
he could not take the lead. Turner, however,
showed symptoms of weakness, and a little brandy
was given him to recruit. Both down in all these
rounds.
24 to 26.—The friends of Martin thought his
chance improved; and in the last round, in
throwing Turner, the bad knee of the latter
narrowly escaped the post as his leg came in
contact with it.
27 to 30.—Turner still fought cautiously, put in
a good one now and then, reducing the strength
of his opponent with ease to himself, and
certainty as to the event. The majority of these
rounds were in favour of Turner.
31.—Martin put in a sharp nobber, and also a
body blow, and had altogether the best of this
round, till they both went down.
32.—The baker felt elated with his success, and
went sharply to work, and put in another heavy
facer, and also some hits, till Turner went down
weak.
33.—Turner let fly on setting-to, and a dreadful
blow under the ear seemed almost to deprive
Martin of his recollection. He, however, got
away, and, upon endeavouring to make a stand, he
fell down exhausted.
34.—This round might be termed the _quietus_.
Some blows were exchanged, when Turner hooked
his opponent round the neck and hit him in the
body, ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto, and ditto, and
in struggling for the throw, while going down,
Martin received another heavy body blow. “Well
done, Turner,” and loud applause.
35.—The excellence displayed by Turner was of
the highest order. He was never seen to such
advantage before; and Angelo, in the best of his
days, could not have shown greater skill in
fencing than Turner did in parrying off the
attacks of his opponent. The knee of Turner
failed him in this round, and he slipped down
from a slight hit.
36.—This was a good round, and the hitting was
sharp on both sides. Martin exerted his last
effort, and put in some heavy blows, till Turner
slipped and went down.
37.—It was all up with Martin, and he was so
exhausted, that, in endeavouring to get away
from the punishment of Turner, it was said he
fell without a blow.
38.—This was a similar round, when Turner said,
“Jack, if I am to be beat, stand up and win
it like a man.” Martin was in such a state of
stupor as not to be able to reply.
39.—Martin was here so dead-beat that he again
fell down without a blow. Some murmurings
occurred, when the umpire said, “Martin,
recollect this is to be a stand-up fight.”
40 and last.—Martin endeavoured to put in a
blow, and went down from a slight hit. On the
baker being put upon his second’s knee, and time
called, Cribb said, “I believe we may say it’s
all over.”
REMARKS.—Martin was very much punished about the
throat, but particularly about his chest and
body, yet scarcely any claret was spilt on this
occasion. It was urged by some persons present
that it was not a good fight, and that Martin
did not show any pretensions to pugilism. It
should, however, be recollected that Martin was
opposed to one of the first boxers of the day,
and that all his efforts were stopped by the
superior skill of his opponent. Turner also
exhibited great improvement, and fought well
with his right hand. He showed himself a
complete general, for although he lost the toss,
he seldom failed by his manœuvres in the round
to place his adversary with his face to the sun.
The coolness of Turner was also greatly in his
favour; he can receive without being put out of
his course. The Nonpareil has now left the Ring,
but it may be said that Turner is also a
Nonpareil. It was urged that could Turner have
trusted to his knee, the fight would have been
over in fifty minutes instead of one hour and
seven (the time it lasted). He retired from the
contest almost without a scratch upon his face,
and it should be taken into the scale of
calculation that Martin is not to be got at so
very easy, as he is tall, and leans very
backward on setting-to. Turner was considerably
under eleven stone, and Martin eleven stone four
pounds.
Martin, it appears, was by no means satisfied with his defeat at the
hands of Turner, but he resolved to have a little more experience in the
prize ring before he essayed another match with that clever boxer.
Tom Belcher, when _Bacchi plenis_, at Cy. Davis’s opening dinner at the
Bear and Ragged Staff, Smithfield, Wednesday, August 9, 1820, made a
foolish challenge to Turner, and also Randall, to fight each for £500 a
side, and articles were drawn and a deposit made. On the following
Saturday, the fumes of the wine having evaporated, all parties shook
hands in friendship, Belcher acknowledging it was the liquor that was
speaking, and the affair, exaggerated into importance by “the historian”
ended in smoke.
In the interim Martin had defeated, as we have already noted in the Life
of RANDALL, _ante_, p. 351, Josh. Hudson, Cabbage, Phil. Simpson, and
Dav. Hudson, and now challenged Turner to a second contest for £100
a-side. Ned could not in honour refuse, and on the 5th of June, 1821,
our hero was defeated, as will be seen at length in the Life of MARTIN
in the next chapter.
The success of Martin brought forward another old opponent. Cy. Davis,
having beaten J. Bushell at Moulsey, and feeling mortified at his defeat
by Turner, addressed a letter to Turner, and shortly after they met. Six
to four was betted upon Davis, and the result justified the odds. The
gallant Ned was out of condition, and fell before the strength and
freshness of his youthful antagonist. See CY. DAVIS, in Appendix to this
Period.
A new candidate for fistic honours, Peace Inglis, having beaten one
Hamilton, a waterman, at Moulsey (in 1822), then Deaf Davis at Harpenden
(in February, 1823), and lastly George Curtis, brother of the Pet (in
August of the same year), was matched against Turner for £100. The
battle took place, April 20, 1824, and the brave Ned again succumbed to
youth and stamina.
Before the curtain finally falls upon the pugilistic career of Turner,
we have a closing scene of triumph to redeem by a bright ray his setting
sun. Challenged by Inglis, Ned at first declined to fight for less than
£200, but was at last prevailed upon to make it £100, and Tuesday,
November 9, 1824, being appointed, the former antagonists met at
Colnbrook. The counter attraction of Lord Mayor’s Day, for it was then a
pageant and a general city festival, thinned the road a little; but the
regular ring-goers were there, and the old fanciers evinced high
interest that the once glorious veteran should repair his recent
reverses. His veteran daddy, “the sage of the East” (Tom Owen), who had
been his companion for the last fortnight, keeping a watchful eye over
Turner’s training at Walton, unfortunately met with an accident, and
sprained his ankle, which prevented him from filling the position of
second to his “darling boy.” Inglis looked well, and was confident of
success, and, from his known bravery, was a fancy article, although the
odds were against him. Turner first showed, attended by Tom Shelton and
Harry Holt, and threw his hat into the ring. Inglis soon followed, but
his castor (_absit omen_) fell outside of the ropes. Jem Ward and Ned
Neale were his seconds. A brave fight was anticipated.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On peeling, the ould one looked like
a new man. The renovating air of the Welsh
mountains appeared to have had the desired
effect upon the frame of Turner. He looked
steadily at his opponent, and made himself up
to do mischief, but Inglis avoided close
quarters. After some little dodging, an exchange
of blows, but nothing the matter. Inglis got
out of the corner well, but, in the middle of
the ring, he napped a hit, which gave him the
staggers. “Beautiful!” exclaimed the boys from
Bermondsey. Turner, on going in, received a
heavy right-handed blow between the ogles that
made him wink again, filling his eyes with
water, but no tears! This blow rather alarmed
his backers, and the face of Jack Randall
betrayed a serious aspect for the safety of
his friend. Turner missed an upper-cut blow,
which, in all probability, might have shortened
the battle. Inglis was very quick upon his legs,
but, although he made several motions to do
summut, the position of Turner was so difficult
that he could not get at him. Turner at length
planted a nobber, and Inglis fell on one knee.
(Huzzas, roars, and clapping of hands,
expressive of the joy felt by the Bermondseyites
at the success of Turner.)
2.—Turner was determined not to give another
chance away; and the hint, “He’s coming with
his right hand,” roared out by the eloquent
Holt, kept Turner awake. Inglis bobbed his
head once or twice; and it was lucky he did
so, as a chancery slice was in readiness for
him. Some heavy blows were exchanged, with
this difference, Turner stopped them, while
Inglis received. The latter got a severe
nose-ender, which not only uncorked the
claret, but left a stupefying quality behind
it. “Bravo, Turner; the ould one is a little
bit stronger than he was last time.” In a
scuffle, two little drops of blood appeared on
Turner’s cheek. In closing, both down.
3.—This was a short round. Ned was the hero
of the tale at this early part of the fight;
but “hopes and fears” were expressed as to his
strength. “If he can but last,” said a knowing
one, “it is as safe as the Bank.” The stops of
Turner were truly excellent; but Inglis bored
him to the ropes, and fell on him.
4.—Inglis got away from several rum ones; but he
never took the lead to do any mischief. Turner
planted in succession two heavy hits—stupefiers;
Inglis never flinched. Turner got Inglis down,
amidst most uproarious thunders of applause.
5.—This round added considerably to the odds in
favour of Turner. After two or three movements
of no effect, the ould one caught Inglis with a
cutting-up, or rather a cutting-down, blow, and
Inglis was floored. An artillery salute, and
seven to four offered freely.
6.—Inglis again napped a staggering blow, and
twirled round in a confused state; nevertheless,
he recovered himself, and fought like a good
one, till both went down, Inglis undermost.
7.—The goodness of Inglis was never doubted,
but there was nothing like winning about his
exertions, provided Turner’s strength did not
leave him. Inglis napped it on the mouth,
succeeded by two severe facers. This was a
long round. Inglis planted a slight body blow,
but he received three blows for one, till Ned
slipped accidentally down.
8.—The young one was piping a little, and the
ould one was none the worse for a pause.
Sparring for wind. In a struggle both went down,
but the feather-bed maker was undermost.
9.—This round booked it almost to a certainty
for Bermondsey. Two facers once more put
Inglis’s nob into chancery. The young one,
however, as good as gold, not only stopped, but
countered well. The nose of Inglis, however, was
at the service of Ned, and the claret followed
as pure as any sample from the bins of Charley
Wright, of the Haymarket. The eyes of Inglis
lost their fire, and his countenance bore the
marks of his mind being abroad. The latter hit
anyhow, till he was floored by a nobber.
(Cheers, noise, and applause. Two and three to
one offered on Turner.)
10.—The chancery suit had performed the task for
Ned, and Inglis was done almost brown. He,
however, endeavoured to rally, but another
cutting-up hit, added to his, already shakey
state, produced extreme grogginess. His game was
so good that he stood up like bricks, till a
hit, almost severe enough to have knocked a
stone out of a wall, again floored the brave but
unfortunate feather-bed maker. (“Take him away,
he has no chance!”)
11.—It was evident to every spectator that
Inglis could not win. He staggered like a
drunken man; but his goodness enabled him to
show fight, and he made blows with the most
determined spirit. The ould one again caught him
with an upper-cut, and, as he went down, Ned
might have added more punishment, but he nobly
disdained taking an advantage, held up his
hands, and walked away, amidst loud shouts of
approbation. (“Bravo! Ned; that is like an
Englishman.” “True courage is always backed by
feeling and generosity—first the lion and then
the lamb,” said a cove in a rusty black suit,
something like a schoolmaster. “Never mind,”
said one of the Partiality Club, “it is good
doctrine, come from whom it may.”)
12.—Short, but terribly severe. Inglis was
floored _sans ceremonie_ by Turner. (“Take the
brave fellow away.”)
13.—When time was called, his seconds bustled
him up; but Inglis was in a doldrum till they
shook him, and, on roaring out in his ear,
“Ned’s coming,” he opened his eyes wildly, and,
as if by instinct, prepared himself to fight. He
rushed towards his opponent, but Turner sent him
down.
14.—“His youth will bring him round,” observed a
few of his friends. “Not this fight,” said a
costermonger; “he’s done brown twice over.”
Inglis again down. A hat was thrown up—
15th and last.—But he came again to the scratch.
Inglis staggered about for a second or two, when
he fell stupefied, Turner merely looking at him.
It was over in forty-six minutes.
REMARKS.—Science must win, if supported by
moderate strength; science will win if a man
is out of condition—that is to say, science
will get a man out of trouble; it enables a
boxer to wait for his man, time him, meet his
opponent, bring him down to his weight, and
ultimately prove the conqueror. It is not
necessary for a long yarn to describe the
beauties of the “ould one” in the ring; suffice
it to observe, Ned is a master of the art; his
stops were interesting to the spectator; his
hits were decisive, and he finished off his
man like a first-rate artist. Excepting a
tremendous right-handed lunge which Ned received
between his eyes in the first round, all the
other hits did little execution. The method
adopted by Turner to lead his opponent into
trouble, and then punishing him for his
temerity, evinced skill and tactics of the
highest order of milling. Inglis proved himself
a game man in every point of view; but, valuable
a quality as endurance must always be considered
in boxing, it is of little use when a man’s
head gets into chancery. Inglis was beaten to a
stand-still, and ought to have been taken away
three rounds before the fight was over. Inglis
was a brave, worthy, honest, well-conditioned
creature. Turner must have won the battle much
sooner had not one of the small bones in his
left hand been broken in the early part of the
fight.
Poor Ned was highly pleased to take leave of the prize ring in the
character of a winner, and dined with his friends at Bill Moss’s, the
Crown, in the Borough, on Monday, November 15, 1824. He was surrounded
by some capital sporting patrons. On his health being drunk, he said,
“It was very likely that he should not fight any more; but if he did
alter his mind, he would always behave like a man.”
Turner gradually began to decline in health: he became lame, and,
labouring under the effects of an asthma, announced his farewell benefit
to take place in April, 1826. His last appearance on any public
occasion, was at Hudson’s dinner, on Thursday, March 31, 1826.
Out of respect to an old favourite in the prize ring, the amateurs
mustered strongly at the Tennis Court, on Tuesday, April 18, but it was
not made known to the visitors that poor Ned had departed this life on
Monday (the preceding day) at two minutes before five in the afternoon.
The sets-to, generally, were well contested.
Randall and Scroggins mounted the stage, and having made their bows, the
former came forward, and spoke as follows:—“Gentlemen, I am requested by
the friends of poor Turner to come forward and express their thanks in
his behalf, for the kind and liberal manner in which you have this day
manifested an interest in his fate. Gentlemen, Ned and I have been
opponents in the ring, but we have always been friends in private, and
no man feels more for his situation than I do. That we shall be able to
see him here at any future time, I think is more than doubtful; but let
us hope we may all see him hereafter” (loud applause). Randall appeared
much affected. Jack Scroggins followed. “Gemmen,” said he, “Ned was
always a gentlemanly sort of a man—he is now gone to his long home, and
I hope God will forgive him, as well as everybody else. Let us all live
while we can, and when we can’t live no longer, why, I suppose we must
die; and I don’t see why a fighting man shouldn’t see eternity as well
as anybody else.”
“Well! so I’ve floor’d these ‘fancy’ fighting cocks,
And finish’d them in style! Presumptuous fellows!
They chaff’d of science—and, forsooth, would box
With one whose ‘hits’ are sure to touch ‘the bellows!’
Conceited mortals! thus to ‘spar’ with Death!
The greatest champions that the world e’er saw
By turns have bow’d obedient to my law.
Look back at history’s page,
In every clime and every age,
You’ll find I ‘mill’d’ the mightiest of them all.
No matter how they sparr’d,
My blows were sure and hard,
And, when I threw them, fatal was their fall.
From Alexander down to Emperor Nap,
Whene’er I chose to give the rogues a slap,
Not one could parry off a single rap.
No, no! nor had they each a thousand lives,
Could they have stood against my rattling bunch of fives!”[159]
Turner’s remains were removed on Sunday, April 23, 1826, between the
hours of one and two, from the house of his cousin, Mr. Baxter, hat
maker, in East Smithfield, and deposited in a deep grave in Aldgate
Churchyard. The funeral was of the most respectable description. The
hearse was followed by two mourning coaches. In the first coach were Mr.
Turner (father of the deceased), Mr. Baxter (a cousin of Ned’s), Mr.
Leslie, Tom Owen, and Pierce Egan. In the second mourning coach were Tom
Cribb, Josh. Hudson, Jack Randall, Harry Holt, Harry Harmer, and Mr.
Price Morris.
“From an early hour in the morning,” says the report, “the house of Mr.
Baxter was surrounded by numbers of persons anxious to pay respect to
the remains of a man who once stood so high amongst the admirers of the
art of self-defence. The church and churchyard also were crowded. We
noticed many of the _corps pugilistique_. Scroggins, for the feeling and
respect he paid to the deceased, deserves the highest praise. Forgetting
all former differences; nay, more, following the side of the hearse, and
dropping a tear over the grave of the man who had proved his conqueror,
speaks a volume in his favour, as a generous-minded English boxer. Every
person present appeared sorry for the loss of Turner. In all his battles
he behaved like an honest, honourable man; in fact, throughout his life
he was never known to have committed a dishonourable action—his conduct
was always upon the square. His last moments were marked by resignation
and Christian-like behaviour; and he expired without a sigh in the arms
of his cousin, Mr. Baxter. Turner was in the thirty-fourth year of his
age.”
The reporter adds, “Turner was a most difficult boxer to be got at;
standing with his right leg first, he proved at all times a truly
awkward and dangerous customer. In a set-to with the gloves with Tom
Spring, at a benefit in the city of Norwich, previous to the fight
between Painter and Oliver, the science of Ned Turner was so much
admired, and his blows were so effective, as to produce thunders of
applause.
“In point of true courage, Turner was never excelled in or out of the
ring. He was a most modest, unassuming fellow, and, notwithstanding his
intercourse with various grades of society, he was a ‘bashful’ man. In
company he was cheerful and good-natured, always anxious to serve his
brethren in the prize ring, and throughout the sporting world he was as
much respected for his civility as his high courage.”
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VIII.
JACK MARTIN (THE “MASTER OF THE ROLLS”)—1813‒1828.[160]
Jack Martin, on whom the ring reporters conferred the punning title of
“Master of the Rolls,” from his calling as a baker, was born on the 10th
of July, 1796, near Kennington Church.
“Boxiana” contains the usual preliminary narrative of a “big
coal-heaver,” “a sheriff’s officer, a well-known good man,” “a butcher,”
etc., whom Martin disposed of while “a boy.” We shall pass these, and
come to young Doughey’s first reported battle, which was with Tom
Oliver’s brother George, at Ilford, in Essex, for 20 guineas, on
Thursday, July 18, 1816, in a twenty-four feet ring, after the fight
between Ford and Harry Lancaster. George Oliver was seconded by his
brother Tom and Jack Clark, Martin by Harry Harmer and Bill Richmond.
Five to four on Oliver.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The attitude of Martin was free and
good; it spoke more of the sparring school than
that of his opponent, which was by no means
that of a scientific boxer. Martin immediately
went to work and nobbed his opponent without
ceremony, till they got into a close, when,
after hugging and pummelling each other for a
few seconds, they broke away, and some hits were
exchanged at arm’s length. They again closed and
a violent struggle took place against the ropes,
when they both went down. This round occupied
one minute and a half.
2.—Both full of activity, but the flurried
manner of Oliver was evident to every one, and
his fists crossed each other with the celerity
of a smoke-jack. He presented no security from
attack, and his mug got pinked in style. In
closing, they both went down.
3.—The Master of the Rolls put in two severe
facers, and beat his opponent down against the
stakes. On commencing this round Oliver tried to
trip up his adversary, but his brother told him
it was wrong.
4.—Oliver, although brought into the ring by his
brother, really seemed to have no notion of
fighting. He hit at random, and did but little
execution. The baker again milled his face, and
ultimately threw him.
5.—This was a dreadful round for punishment. In
closing, some heavy hits passed between them,
and they broke away. The blood was running down
Oliver’s face; notwithstanding, he fought his
way into a desperate rally, in which his nob
received a couple of desperate blows. In
closing, they both got suspended on the ropes,
and a violent struggle took place before they
went down.
6.—Some sharp milling; and, in closing, both
fell out of the ring.
7.—Oliver displayed no science whatever; his
chief aim seemed to be struggling with his
opponent; but even in closing he failed, as
Martin generally brought Oliver down.
8.—The right hand of Martin again punished
Oliver’s nob, and the claret flowed in
abundance. In closing, both down.
9.—The hugging system again prevailed. Both
down, but Oliver fell completely over the ropes.
10.—Martin went in with great spirit and bored
his adversary to the ropes. In closing, both
down.
11.—Oliver appeared rather distressed, and came
slowly up to the mark. The right hand of the
baker was again at work, and Oliver’s mug was
getting fast out of shape. Both down.
12.—In this round Martin showed he possessed
scientific knowledge, had completely the best of
it, and sent his opponent down.
13.—Oliver seemed anxious to do something, and
went sharply up to his man, when they closed. In
struggling they broke away, and several heavy
blows were exchanged. They again closed, and
both went down, Oliver bleeding profusely.
14.—The movements, in general, of Martin were
scientific, but they were soon lost sight of in
the overpowering close of Oliver, who always
endeavoured to force his adversary to the ropes,
and tire him out by struggling. Both down, and
their backs and loins were much marked by their
suspension on the ropes.
15.—Martin, upon setting-to, nobbed Oliver with
effect, when they again closed, and both fell
out of the ring. Oliver required the assistance
of his second to get him off the ground.
16.—The strength of Oliver was leaving him fast,
and in this round he got dreadfully punished.
The baker hit him in every direction; Oliver was
thrown completely over the ropes. (Seven to four
upon Martin.)
17.—No chance for Oliver, except closing; he
caught hold of Martin, and both went down.
18.—More hugging, and both on the ground.
19.—It was all up with Oliver; the fight was
taken out of him, and he had not strength to
close with his opponent. In fact, he only stood
up as a mark for punishment; and the baker put
in some severe hits till Oliver dropped like a
log.
20.—Oliver could scarcely stagger to the
scratch. He immediately went down from a
punishing hit.
21 and last.—Oliver had had quite enough of
milling, and turned away from his adversary to
avoid. The baker lost no time, he saw victory
was certain, and with two hits completely
finished his opponent. Twenty-nine minutes had
elapsed.
REMARKS.—Oliver, as a scientific boxer, had no
resemblance to his brother except his name. In
fact, he was a complete novice in every sense of
the word; relied entirely upon main strength for
victory, and pulled and hauled his opponent
about. It was widely different on the part of
Martin: he exhibited those promising traits
of science that appear only to want practice
to improve, and which, at some future period,
may develop themselves in a more conspicuous
manner. Martin is in height about five feet
nine inches, and eleven stone in weight. He is
extremely active, and possesses a decisive mode
of hitting.
This promising _debut_ inspirited Martin to issue a challenge at eleven
stone, but two years elapsed before he got suited with a customer in
“Paddington Johnson,” for 50 guineas a side. The battle came off at
Coventry Farm, the Hale, Middlesex, on Tuesday, September 15, 1818.
Johnson was well known to the ring, from his conquests over Roe, Harry
Lancaster, and Purcell, also as a right-handed hitter, and an
acknowledged game man. Martin was better known for theory than in
practice, and more as a sparrer than a pugilist. In consequence Johnson
was the favourite, six to four. The latter first showed, and threw his
hat in the ring, and Martin soon followed the example in a very modest
unassuming manner. Johnson was seconded by the veteran Joe Ward and
Paddington Jones; Martin was waited upon by Ben Burn and Spring. The
Baker, it seems, disdained the ordinary mode of milling in drawers, and
appeared in a loose fashionable pair of white trowsers. This change was
generally considered an improvement. Five minutes to one o’clock the men
set-to.
[Illustration:
JACK MARTIN (THE “MASTER OF THE ROLLS”).
_From a Drawing by_ A. WYVILL, 1824.
]
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, Johnson appeared the
rounder and bigger man. His face was full of
colour, and he looked well; but the judges of
training thought him too bulky; however, he
was considered generally to be in excellent
condition. Martin, on the contrary, looked pale;
but in other respects his canvass was as sleek
and as smooth as a thorough-bred greyhound.
Upon the combatants taking their attitudes,
Johnson exhibited the highest confidence, and
made a sort of springing run to mill his
opponent in his usual rushing style; but the
leariness of Martin stopped him by a slight
muzzler. The latter almost instantly surprised
Johnson with another header, that not only
operated on his vision, but tapped the claret.
Johnson endeavoured to feel for the alimentary
reservoir of the baker, when a close took place,
and Johnson tried to fib his crusty foe without
effect. In struggling, Martin appeared the
stronger man, as Johnson was undermost on the
ground. The “dead men” smiled at this favourable
commencement of their hero, but the six to four
blades did not half like it.
2.—Martin seemed perfectly prepared for his
enemy, with the skill and caution of an
experienced tactician. He planted his hits upon
the nob of Johnson with as much _sang froid_ as
if he had been aiming at a sack of flour. The
“Paddington boy,” rather enraged at this sort of
treatment, tried again to rush into doughey’s
victualling office, but the latter got away, and
in return mugged him so severely, that Johnson
went half round in a singular style, and in a
struggle Johnson was again undermost. The odds
were now completely turned, and the Baker was
the favourite; in some parts of the ring two to
one.
3.—The handywork of Martin upon his opponent’s
title-page was now apparent; one of his peepers
was already in mourning, and the other had been
taken measure of for black drapery, added to the
claret trickling down his face. The rushing of
Johnson was also stayed, and some long sparring
occurred before any work was attempted; the
latter, however, tried to body the Baker, but
the science of Martin prevented any serious
effect; and in return he gave him one, two,
severely. In closing, Johnson also napt upon the
fibbing system, and, in struggling to obtain the
throw, he was compelled to yield to the superior
strength of the “Master of the Rolls.” The batch
lads were roaring with delight, and “Bravo!” was
echoed through the fraternity at the talent
displayed by Martin.
4.—This round decided the fight; the execution
done by Martin positively made the odds the
monument to a bodkin. On setting-to, the Baker
gave his opponent three staggering facers.
Johnson turned round from the force of the last
hit, but his game never deserted him, and he
returned to the attack like a trump. Johnson’s
right hand told slightly on Martin’s side, but
as to anything like punishment he could not
administer any. It was a long round, occupying
five minutes, without any closing, during which
time, notwithstanding Martin hit frequently
short, he planted twelve facers with ease and
dexterity. Martin followed Johnson so closely
up, that he was at length hit down on his knees,
and measured his length on the grass quite
exhausted. The “dead men” were all upon the
_qui vive_, and, in the pride of the moment,
offered to the hitherto confident Westminster
and Paddington costermongers, a peck loaf to a
halfpenny roll; but the donkey proprietors shied
it.
5.—Johnson’s nob now exhibited a Fuseli
aspect—it was so changed, as to call forth the
observation of “an old friend with a new face.”
Martin went to work with both hands so quickly,
that his opponent’s sensitive plant rolled about
like a humming-top, and he fell out of the ring.
(Great shouting, and any odds offered.)
6.—Johnson was quite abroad, gasping for breath.
He could not get at Martin; but was compelled to
act as receiver-general till he could no longer
stand to take it.
7.—Johnson only came up to take, and one, two,
and three, were put in so terribly upon his
already damaged mug, that he reeled in all
directions. He was also punished round the ring,
and Martin lost his balance in hitting Johnson
as they were both going down. Loud cries of
“Foul” and “Fair” took place; but this attempt
to create a diversion would not do, and the
fight proceeded.
8.—Martin missed several hits, although he
nobbed his opponent grievously; Johnson, from
a desperate effort, got Martin down. Hats were
now thrown up, “Well done, Johnson; now you’ll
see him go to work,” etc., and loud applause
followed.
9.—This was but a momentary triumph for poor
Johnson, who commenced the round with much
spirit, and fought away like a truly game man.
Martin, however, cautious and collected, put in
one, two, straight shoulder-hits upon Johnson’s
distracted upper works that must have operated
stunningly upon his senses. The Baker broke away
from his opponent with surprising agility, and
ultimately gave Johnson so tremendous a nobber,
that he went down as if shot, and rolled over
upon his face. (Twenty to one, but scarcely any
person would take it.)
10.—It was all up with Johnson, and he again
received so much nobbing that he laid himself
down.
11.—Martin, eager to finish the contest, gave
Johnson no chance of recovering from his puzzled
state, but ran in to him, and floored him _sans
ceremonie_.
12.—Johnson, who had hitherto been cheered with
the smiles of conquest, still endeavoured to
protract the contest. Martin again nobbed him
with scarcely any return, and Johnson went down.
13th and last.—It was expected Johnson would
not again show at the scratch; but it appeared
that while he could lift up his hands he was
determined to fight. He was, however, soon
milled down; and, upon being placed upon his
second’s knee, it was communicated to Martin
he had no longer any foe to contend against.
Johnson, with true manliness, shook hands with
Martin; when he became so exhausted that he
was carried out of the ring, and put into a
coach. Martin immediately ran and got into a
postchaise, and drove off the ground. It was
over in thirty minutes.
REMARKS.—No pugilist ever left the ring less
punished than did Martin; and, except a trifling
mark on the side of his head, there was not the
slightest trace that he had been engaged in a
prize contest. He won the battle with ease,
science, and execution, equal to any boxer upon
the list. Johnson had not a shadow of chance
with Martin; and, however the admirers of the
former may urge that his constitution was broken
up, yet in his prime he could never have
defeated the baker. It is two to one against any
puddling fighter, however game he may be, when
opposed to a real scientific two-handed boxer.
To judge impartially of Martin’s talents, it was
thought that he must be tried with a real good
one, where science is opposed to skill, wariness
contrasted with caution, and when in the pinch
of the game bottom is exhibited to make up the
grand climax. The attitude of Martin, in one or
two instances, resembled Spring’s; he leant his
body too much upon his loins.
The above contest and two others proved a rare day’s sport, and,
notwithstanding the torrents of rain, which never ceased during the
fights, the amateurs proved themselves game as pebbles, and kept their
ground with indifference. Some funning took place amongst a few swell
pedestrians, who were induced to marrow bone it, in consequence of the
fineness of the weather, chaffing that they were transformed into
clodhoppers from the heavy pieces of clay clinging to their feet.
As Martin, it appears, could not get any immediate employment for his
fists, he felt determined that his legs should not stand idle, and
therefore backed himself in a pugilistic foot race, a few days after
this battle. On Monday, September 28, 1818, in Hyde Park, at eight
o’clock in the morning, a muster of amateurs assembled to witness a race
for a rump and a dozen, between Spring, Ben Burn, Martin, and a novice.
The distance 200 yards. The latter declined previous to the time of
starting. The race was spiritedly contested, but Martin took the lead,
kept it, and came in first. Spring was second at the winning post; Ben
Burn, though last, ran in good style, and was but a little distance
behind Spring. The 200 yards were run in 25 seconds.
The Master of the Rolls having now made progress towards celebrity in
the prize ring, was, from the following unexpected circumstance, again
brought before the judgment of the amateurs, in opposition to a boxer
who, notwithstanding his defeats by Turner, still stood high in the
opinion of the fancy in general. At Parish’s benefit, held in a large
room at the Coal Exchange, near Billingsgate, the principal feature of
the evening was the bout between Martin and Scroggins, which was
interesting as a test of the capabilities of the crusty hero. The length
and height of the Master of the Rolls over his opponent was evident to
all. Scroggins in this combat proved himself a tragi-comic performer of
talent; and, under the mask of fun, he not only produced roars of
laughter, made his audience frequently look serious, and worked upon his
adversary’s feelings, but concluded by exciting their utmost
astonishment. In short, if the conqueror of Johnson did not gammon it,
and it was a real thing, the fact then is that neither the length nor
the science of the Baker could prevent the boring qualities of Scroggins
from doing heavy execution (so well known and felt by all his opponents,
except Turner), and ultimately sending Martin down. Upon Scroggins
quitting the room, with the best of the bout, “another round” was loudly
called for by the partizans of the Baker. Scroggins immediately
returned, went to work again without delay, and, as the grand climax,
hit Martin down with the celerity of a shot, then turning round, said,
with much naiveté, “Gentlemen, are you now satisfied?” “Quite, quite,”
were the replies; and the little tar left the room overwhelmed with
peals of applause.
Several amateurs were so decidedly in favour of Scroggins, that a
deposit was immediately put down to make it a match for £100 a side, and
a purse of £50 for the winner. But in consequence of the amateurs
withdrawing the purse of £50, this match was off, and the friends of
Scroggins forfeited their deposit of £5. However, a few days afterwards
a new match was made, and the following articles agreed to:—
“_Castle Tavern, November 3, 1818._
“T. Belcher on behalf of Scroggins, and B. Burn on the part of
Martin, have deposited £20 a side for the above men to fight on
Tuesday, the 8th of December, within thirty miles of London, in a
twenty-four feet ring, for £100 a side. To be a fair stand-up fight;
half minute time. £50 a side to be made good at Belcher’s on
Tuesday, November 24; and the whole of the stakes to be completed at
B. Burn’s, the Sun, in Windmill Street, Haymarket, on Thursday,
December 3. If not, the above deposit to be forfeited. The £200 to
be placed in the hands of Mr. Jackson, who will name the place of
fighting. The above deposit of £40 to be lodged in the hands of Mr.
Franklin. One umpire to be chosen by each party, and the referee by
Mr. Jackson.
“(Signed) “T. BELCHER.
“B. BURN.
“Witness, T. CRIBB.”
The odds were immediately five to four on Martin, and in some instances
higher.
This mill took place at Moulsey Hurst, on Tuesday, the 8th of December,
1818, where the amateurs met more numerously than could be expected,
considering this battle was only two days after that of Randall and
Turner. The name of Scroggins still made some impression on the fancy;
but the odds were six to four and two to one against him. It was four
years previous (December 8, 1814), on the same spot of ground that the
celebrated Dutch Sam lost his laurels with Nosworthy; and it was also on
the same piece of turf that Scroggins conquered Nosworthy, in the short
space of eighteen minutes. The little hero seemed as if animated by the
recollection of this affair, and looked more than cheerful. Martin
appeared in the ring first, and threw up his hat, attended by Oliver and
Ben Burn as his seconds; Scroggins, attended by Belcher and Richmond,
soon followed. Both men were in good condition, particularly Martin.
Randall was present, and frequently encouraged Scroggins by offering to
bet upon him. At one o’clock the men shook hands, and the battle
commenced. Mr. Gully was the umpire.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Scroggins with smiling confidence
set-to, but Martin did not seem eager to go
to work. Some long sparring occurred, when
Scroggins hit first, which was returned by
Martin. Some exchanges; the men closed, and
Scroggy got Martin down. (Shouts of applause,
and “Bravo Scroggins!”)
2.—The forehead of the Baker appeared rather
raised, and Scroggy gave him another nobber with
his right hand. The latter endeavoured to make a
rush, but was stopped by a facer. The round was
finished by some sharp fighting; both went down,
Martin undermost.
3.—The Baker did not take the lead in that high
style which had been anticipated. Scroggins,
with much dexterity, planted a desperate hit on
the side of the Baker’s right ear. Martin
returned upon him, and they fought sharply at
the ropes till both went down, and Martin
undermost.
4.—Martin endeavoured to put in a sharp nobber,
but Scroggy, smiling at his efforts, stopped
it cleverly. In closing, both down, when
Scroggins again got his opponent undermost.
(Loud shouting, and “Go it, Scroggy.”)
5.—Martin put in some good hits, and followed
Scroggins to the ropes, when the little one,
with lion-hearted resolution, returned upon
him and drove him back, planting some sharp
blows. In struggling for the throw, Scroggins
was undermost. (The high odds on the Baker had
changed, and in many parts of the ring it was
even betting.)
6.—Scroggins showed good science, and appeared
not so easy to be got at as Martin had
anticipated. The latter paused a good deal
before he attempted to hit. After some milling
on both sides, Scroggins got Martin down in the
close, and undermost.
7.—Scroggins hit Martin twice, and sent him out
of the ring. (Thunders of approbation, and “The
little hero is as good as ever,” was the cry.)
8.—Although Martin did not perform what was
expected, or smash his opponent off hand,
yet ultimately it was thought he would be
victorious. Scroggins hit and got away in
good style. Martin again paused. At length
they commenced fighting, and Scroggins’ nose
was severely pinked. Both down, Scroggins
undermost.
9 to 12.—Displayed no particular points,
reciprocal in most instances; the youth and
strength of Martin the principal advantages.
13 to 16.—The former three rounds displayed
little variation; but the latter was excellent.
Scroggins got Martin at the ropes in such a
peculiar situation that he might have severely
punished him with ease and effect, but disdained
to take any advantage, holding up his hands
and walking away. (Tumultuous applause from
all parts of the ring at his manly conduct.
But it was observed by the judges of pugilism
that Scroggins had given a chance away, and
this generosity might eventually lose him the
battle.)
17 to 24.—In all these rounds it would be
difficult to assign the “best” to either.
Scroggins was rushing in to make a hit, when
Martin stopped him, but the latter fell from
weakness.
25.—This was a good round. Martin hit and got
away; and Scroggy also stopped with judgment. In
closing, Scroggins threw Martin out of the ring.
(Shouts of applause.)
26 to 28.—Scroggins laughed at Martin, when the
latter ran in and gave him a nobber for it. Both
down.
29 to 32.—These were milling rounds, and good on
both sides. Counter hits passed. The nose of
Scroggy looked rather queer, but he made some
excellent stops. Martin’s right eye was damaged.
In closing, Scroggins acted again with much
manliness, disdaining to fall upon the Baker,
which he might have done. (Applause, and two to
one was offered in some places by the friends of
Scroggins.)
33, 34.—The amateurs felt rather astonished that
nothing decisive had as yet been effected.
Scroggins showed good science, good pluck, full
of laughter, and proved an ugly customer for the
Baker. Martin in this round met Scroggins well
as he was coming in by a facer; but the latter
returned, and in closing, fell upon him heavily.
He said to his second. “It is as right as the
day,” meaning he should win it.
35 to 37.—Martin bled in the latter round from
severe facers. Both down, but Martin undermost.
38.—Cautious sparring, during which time
Scroggins smilingly observed to Martin, “I am
not so easy a customer, Jack, as you expected.”
“Never mind,” replied Martin; “how are you to
win it?” Both down.
39.—Scroggins hit down just above the mark.
40 to 45.—Scroggins began playing some antics
with his feet, not unlike his displays of fun
at the Fives Court. He seemed quite at ease,
and some parts of the ring took him for choice
as an old favourite. One hour and thirty-two
minutes had elapsed, and nothing decisive done,
excepting that the youth of Martin was likely to
serve longest.
46.—The face of Scroggins was the worse for the
fight; Martin was piping—his mug, too, rather
changed, but he scarcely bled.
47 to 50.—They both got weak, and Martin went
down from some hits, each frequently gave a
“hem” for wind. Scroggins received a dreadful
floorer on the nob that appeared to make him
so groggy that he did not know where he was,
and the cry was, “It is all up.” Oliver took
off his hat—the spectators run from the outer
ring towards the ropes; some confusion ensued,
and the horsewhips went to work to clear the
ground; the time-keeper found himself pressed
upon by the crowd, and for safety got into the
roped ring; order was at length restored; but it
is thought a minute and a half elapsed before
“Time” could be or was called. Great murmurings
occurred from the friends of Martin. Belcher
here showed his excellent qualities as a second.
51.—Scroggy recovered, to the astonishment of
the ring; the 51st, 52nd, 53rd, and 54th rounds
were downright milling, and Scroggins was as
good as his opponent.
55.—Scroggins floored Martin, and took the
bottle to drink himself.
56 to 66.—To describe these rounds would be
impossible; both men fought in the most
distressed state, yet more execution was done in
them than in the whole fight put together. The
men continued fighting till they absolutely
rolled against each other; in fact, till the
hitting had left them both, and it was thought
once Martin had lost it, it being difficult to
get him off the ground, but he revived a little
and sent Scroggy down, when he could not come
again. It was anybody’s battle at last—the toss
up of a halfpenny. As a proof of the nicety of
the thing, in the 63rd round Martin was hit
down. 64th, Scroggins down. 65th, both down. Two
hours and two minutes had elapsed, Scroggy in a
state of stupor, and Martin little better. The
latter, however, walked to a post-chaise, and
received loud cheers from the spectators.
REMARKS.—In point of fame, Scroggins did not
lose one inch of ground, although the decision
of the fight was against him. He was, however,
more punished than in any other of his battles;
he also showed more science, and evinced game
of the first quality. Martin is nothing else
but a good and a game man; but in taking two
hours to beat a stale one, and that too merely
from chance (excepting the 50th round, when
the ring was broken, which, in point of truth,
was in his favour), operates as a considerable
drawback towards establishing a character as
a first-rate finishing fighter. It was the
constitution of Martin that won it. With a man
of fine science it becomes a question as to what
place on the list he might claim. The amateurs
expected much more from him. Martin also was
severely punished.
Scroggins showed in town on the Friday following, but not in an exact
state to sit for his likeness, when the little hero observed, “that
Martin was the best man he had ever been opposed to.” Martin was very
ill, and did not arrive in town for several days.
The success of Martin now prompted him to obtain a higher situation
among the milling heroes; he therefore entered the lists with Randall.
(See RANDALL, _ante_, p. 346.) In this contest his enterprising spirit
received a check, and he was doomed to experience defeat.
Martin, it seems, was not dismayed at the above reverse of fortune, but
endeavoured to recover his lost laurel with the game and scientific
Turner. (See TURNER, _ante_, p. 387.) In this battle Martin also
experienced defeat. To use his own words upon this occasion, Martin
observed, “he should not have been satisfied in his own mind if he had
not fought with Randall and Turner.” He also, with great candour, stated
“that these heroes were too good fighters for him, and he therefore
acknowledged, with the utmost sincerity, they were his superiors.”
Martin, in addition to his milling capabilities, was also a good
pedestrian. Previous to his battle with Scroggins, he offered to make
the best of his way to Brighton, a distance of fifty miles, in eight
hours, for a wager of fifty guineas.
The Master of the Rolls, always ready to fight, accepted a challenge
from Joshua Hudson for fifty guineas a-side. This affair took place on
Tuesday, December 14, 1819, at Colnbrook, in Buckinghamshire, eighteen
miles from Hyde Park Corner. Hounslow Heath originally was the appointed
place, but the beadle of the parish gave the hint it would be stopped,
and “a beak” shortly afterwards confirmed the injunction. The motley
group then pushed forwards to Colnbrook, where a field was soon
procured, and at three o’clock Martin, followed by Spring and Randall,
threw up his hat. Hudson shortly afterwards appeared, accompanied by Tom
Belcher and Clarke. The parties soon shook hands and set to. Six to four
on Hudson.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Hudson appeared in the highest
condition—good humour, manliness, and confidence
seemed smiling on his brow. Martin looked
equally well, and there was a steady composure
about him, as if victory was his sole intention.
It was generally expected that a slashing fight
would be the result, from the well-known
bull-dog qualities of Hudson; but, upon the
combatants placing themselves in attitudes,
a minute elapsed in manœuvring, both anxious
to obtain the first advantage. At length Martin
let fly, hit Hudson’s left shoulder, and also
got away. The latter endeavoured to plant a
severe right-handed blow, which Martin stopped
cleverly. Sparring was again resorted to, and
caution used on both sides. Some trifling
exchanges took place, when Hudson put in a
tremendous hit under Martin’s left ogle, that
not only measured it for a suit of mourning,
but the claret instantly followed. This conduct
rather surprised Martin, but he endeavoured
to return with his left hand. More sparring.
The combatants now made counter hits on the
mouth, but the blow from Hudson seemed most
effective. Martin tried to make one of his
severe right-handed hits, which was stopped,
when Hudson, in return, put in so severe a
facer, that Martin went staggering away two
yards towards the ropes, and it was expected he
must have gone down. The blood was now seen
trickling from his nose. Some more cautious
manœuvring occurred, when the men fought their
way into a close, and both went down, Martin
undermost. Loud shouting, “Bravo, Hudson—£100 on
Josh.”—Six and seven to four were currently
offered. This round occupied upwards of seven
minutes and a half.
2.—The appearance of Martin was much against
him; in fact, he looked rather exhausted. The
blow he had received on his eye was on the same
that Randall and Turner had so severely
peppered. Martin got away from a well-directed
facer meant by Hudson, and, in return, put in
a severe blow on the ribs of his opponent. Some
little sparring, but fighting was the order
of this round. Martin soon received a severe
“snorter” that produced the “pink” instantly;
but after this blow he had it all his own way.
With his right hand he planted a blow just above
the temple of Hudson, which looked red, and
also put in a sharp hit under the left ear of
his opponent. Josh seemed rather staggered,
but he returned manfully to the charge, and
some exchanges took place in a partial close,
till they got out of it, when Martin made
himself up, and a tremendous hit, which he put
in upon the point of Hudson’s left shoulder,
operated so powerfully that, he turned pale,
and staggered towards the ropes in a confused
state, and Randall bid Martin follow up his
success. The accident was not known at this
period, and Hudson was too good to fall. Martin
now approached him, and, with a slight
left-handed blow on Hudson’s head the latter
went down.—“Well done, Martin; that’s the time
of day to win.” During the time Hudson sat on
his second’s knee he communicated to them that
his shoulder was dislocated; and on “Time” being
called victory of course was declared in favour
of Martin. The fight was over in nine minutes.
REMARKS.—There is scarcely room for observation,
in consequence of the shortness of the contest,
but the general opinion of the ring was that
Hudson would ultimately have proved the
conqueror. Fortunately, a medical man was upon
the spot, and Hudson’s shoulder was set in less
than five minutes afterwards. The accident he
thought little about; but he shed tears on
losing the victory. Hudson walked about the ring
afterwards, and appeared at the Castle Tavern in
the evening with his arm in a sling.
Martin, it seems, determined to keep the game alive, made no hesitation
in entering the ring against the “iron-hitting Cabbage,” as the latter
was termed. This battle was for one hundred guineas a-side, and took
place on Tuesday, March 28, 1820, at Farnham Royal, near Dawney Common,
contiguous to Stoke House, near Stowe, Buckinghamshire, twenty-four
miles from London. Maidenhead Thicket, in Berkshire, a distance of
twenty-nine miles from the Metropolis, was the spot fixed upon for the
day’s play, and the length of road made it necessary for the amateurs to
start as soon as daylight peeped. The “toddlers” were quite out of it,
as nothing but good “prads” could attempt a distance of sixty miles. The
stage-coaches made out well upon the occasion; and, notwithstanding the
numerous vehicles of this sort upon this great road, many amateurs were
disappointed. There was considerable attraction about the contest, and a
greater sprinkling of Corinthians than usual adorned the ring with their
presence. Cabbage had derived great notoriety from being the champion of
the light weights in Bristol, and also for being one of the most
determined boxers on the list. A large company mustered at an early hour
in the town of Maidenhead; but one of the beaks, it seems, got hold of
the scent, and a warrant was issued against Cabbage. This circumstance
alarmed the milling coves; it was soon communicated to the motley throng
that “it wouldn’t do;” so Gibbons brushed off with the stakes, and
formed the ring at Farnham Royal, in a field of private property,
without delay; and thither he was followed by horse and foot in rapid
confusion.
At thirty-seven minutes past one o’clock Martin appeared and threw his
hat in the ring, followed by Oliver and Randall as his seconds; Cabbage
soon appeared, attended by Cribb and Clarke. Randall tied the blue
colours to the stakes, and Cribb covered them with the yellow-man
belonging to Cabbage. It was seven to four current betting in favour of
the latter—in many places two to one.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The condition of Cabbage was tiptop; he
was as fine as a star, and his frame compact and
firm as an oak. Not so Martin, he did not look
well, was not fit to fight, and had also had a
recent attack of rheumatism. Some trifling
sparring, when Martin made a hit, which was well
stopped by Cabbage. The Master of the Rolls
appeared clever compared with the rough customer
before him, availed himself of the science he
possessed, and put in two nobbers, but not
heavily, when Cabbage rushed in, and both went
down. Two to one on Martin.
2.—Both combatants made offers, but retreated
sparring. The right hand of Martin again nobbed
his opponent, and Cabbage in return attempted to
be busy. Both down, but Martin undermost.
3.—Although Cabbage was decidedly the favourite,
it was evident he was no fighter, but showed
amazing strength and resolution. Martin got away
from him, and attempted to put in a severe
bodier, and also one on the head; but the
rushing qualities of the latter bored Martin to
the ropes, where, after a severe struggle, both
went down.
4, 5.—Martin showed science, still the odds were
getting up against him, and Richmond observed he
would not take ten to one and stand it.
6 to 10.—A slight tinge of the claret was seen
on Martin’s face, and he appeared weak. It was
almost booked that he would be tired out, as his
strength seemed fast leaving him.
11 to 24.—In all these rounds, notwithstanding
Martin put in repeated facers, little impression
appeared to have been made on the iron mug of
Cabbage until this round, when his right eye
received a severe hit upon an already damaged
place, and bled.
25 to 41.—The amateurs expressed themselves
much disappointed in Cabbage, and the
Commander-in-chief[161] declared “he saw no
choice between them.”
42 to 48.—Cabbage was now so much the favourite
that three to one was laid upon him.
49 to 60.—Martin still kept nobbing his
opponent, but he could not reduce his strength.
The Master of the Rolls was also getting very
weak, and fell down at times exhausted. It was a
manly, good-natured contest, and the combatants
behaved to each other fairly in the extreme.
61 to 70.—It was thought by a few that Martin
was now getting the best of it, and Randall said
it was all right. But this was not the general
opinion.
71 to 73.—Martin, encouraged, took the lead, and
Randall again assured him “It was as safe as the
Bank.”
74.—Martin stopped Cabbage, gave him a facer,
and ran him down.
75th and last.—In this round, in struggling
together, Cabbage got a sudden jerk or twist on
the neck, that totally disabled him from showing
at the scratch when time was called. A medical
man immediately rendered him his assistance, and
he was taken from the ring. The fight lasted one
hour eleven minutes and a half. Great danger
appeared, and it was thought Cabbage would not
recover.
REMARKS.—Few, if any, remarks are needed upon
the above contest. Cabbage belonged to the same
school as Scroggins, depending upon rushing
forwards, and was positively a chance hitter.
His left hand was always open, and he
continually hit round the neck of Martin. It was
thought that Cabbage would never be able to cut
any figure amongst the London boxers, and it was
also urged, from the above specimen, that he was
the worst pugilist from the renowned Bristol
nursery. Martin, in winning this fight, raised
himself considerably in the estimation of the
fancy. He was extremely ill, very weak, and not
fit to fight.
One evening, in the month of June, 1820, it appears that six
well-dressed blackguards were returning from the Coburg Theatre,[162]
about eleven o’clock, and for a “bit of a lark” endeavoured to take a
respectable young woman from her husband, when the latter in the most
manly way resented the insult, but was overpowered by numbers. The
Master of the Rolls was accidentally passing at the time with a friend.
The latter immediately remonstrated with the “dandies” upon the
impropriety of their conduct, but he received a facer for his
interference, and one or two of the party also struck at the Master of
the Rolls. This was enough, or rather too much, for Martin. He let fly
his right on the nob of the first that approached him, and the dandy
went down as if he had been shot; the second shared the same fate; the
third was no better off; the fourth came in for “pepper;” the fifth got
a severe “quilting;” and the sixth received for his insolence so severe
a blow on his mouth as to dislodge some of his ivory. It was truly
laughable to see the ridiculous pickle these bullies were in, the claret
trickling down their cheeks, and holding their hands up to their heads.
When Martin’s friend exclaimed, “Go it, Martin, give it them,” the name
operated like a thunder-clap upon their nerves, and they bolted like
race-horses in a _sauve qui peut_. Martin lost part of his coat in the
scuffle, but did not receive a scratch upon his person.
The charms of a purse of £50, given by the Pugilistic Club, at Norwich,
and also £25 a-side, induced Martin to enter the ring with Sampson
(denominated the Birmingham Youth), at North Walsham, sixteen miles from
the above city, on Monday, July 17, 1820, immediately after the battle
between Oliver and Painter. Sampson was seconded by Turner, and Paul
from Manchester. Martin was attended by the Champion of England and
Spring. The odds were six to four on Martin; in fact, it was almost
booked that he must win.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, Martin appeared in prime
condition, and his legs being decorated in
ribbed silk stockings, gave him an attractive
appearance. Sampson was also well, but had too
much of the greyhound about his loins, to
indicate the possession of strength. Sampson did
not appear so eager to go to work as had been
anticipated, and a considerable pause occurred
before any blows were attempted to be made. At
length Martin made an offer with his left hand,
but Sampson got away. Another long pause, when
Sampson put down his hands as if tired. Martin
made another attempt to hit, but Sampson again
retreated. A sort of rush took place between the
combatants; some sharp hits were exchanged, and,
in closing at the ropes, Martin fibbed his
opponent, and also put in a heavy blow on
Sampson’s neck, when both went down. (Loud
shouting, and seven to four on Martin.)
2.—Martin now stood to no repairs, but rushed in
upon Sampson. Some exchanges occurred, when, in
closing, Martin pulled down his opponent, and
fell heavily upon him.
3.—This was a sharp round, and something like
pepper occurred on both sides. Severe fibbing at
the ropes, and, in struggling for the throw,
Sampson was undermost.
4.—The claret was now trickling down both
their faces, and one of Martin’s peepers
appeared rather damaged. The latter run in,
and endeavoured to put in a most tremendous
facer, but missed his aim, and had nearly
slipped down. Martin, however, caught hold of
Sampson, and ran him down. (Two to one on
Martin; but some marks of disapprobation were
expressed by the Johnny Raws.)
5.—Sampson missed a hit, and went round. Martin
slipped down in running after him, but got up
again, when some sharp blows were exchanged,
till both of them went down. Thirteen minutes
had elapsed.
6.—Sampson had been very busy, and Martin’s face
exhibited some severe punishment. His left eye
was bleeding. Both down.
7.—Sampson, with considerable dexterity, broke
away from the weaving system. It was altogether
a good round, till both measured their lengths
on the ground.
8.—Martin missed a hit, and ran himself down.
9.—The Master of the Rolls slipped about all
over the ring, as if he had been sliding on a
pond, and at length went down.
10.—Martin run Sampson out of the ropes. Both
down.
11.—It was complete pully-haully on the part of
Martin, and he fell heavily on his opponent.
(Disapprobation.)
12.—Sampson fought well, and with great spirit,
but he could not resist the strength of Martin.
Sampson was severely fibbed at the ropes, till
both down.
13, 14.—From superior strength, Martin had the
best of these rounds.
15.—Sampson went to work in great style. He
nobbed his opponent, fibbed him terribly at the
ropes, and ultimately fell upon Martin. (A great
burst of applause from all parts of the ring,
and to Sampson the cry was, “Another such a
round and you may win it.”)
16.—Sampson commenced this round well, and again
sharply nobbed his opponent; but Martin run in
upon him, and by main strength pulled Sampson
down by his thighs at the ropes. “Foul, foul.”
“Fair, fair.” But the umpire did not notice it.
17.—At the ropes Sampson was so weak that he
could not hit Martin, when the latter kept
administering pepper severely, till his opponent
went down. It was evident Martin’s strength
could now win it.
18.—Martin went down after a few exchanges.
(Great shouting for Sampson; and the expressions
were, “We wish he may win it, because he has
fought so well.”)
19.—Martin now had got his opponent to his
wishes; he began to fight well, and nobbed
Sampson all over the ring. The claret was
running down his face in profusion. The rain too
was coming down in torrents. (Two and three to
one, but no takers.) Thirty minutes.
20.—Sampson went down from a severe blow in the
wind market. He could hardly be got up.
21.—Sampson was much distressed, and soon went
down. (“Take him away, he can’t win it.”)
22.—Sampson again down, but he would not give
in.
23.—Sampson was going very fast: he had not a
shadow of chance.
24 to 27.—All but gone; and a guinea to a
shilling was offered.
28, 29, and last.—Sampson, after being hit down,
could not come to the scratch when “Time” was
called; and Martin of course was pronounced the
victor.
REMARKS.—This fight did not add to the
reputation of Martin; on the contrary, it tended
to reduce him in the estimation of the amateurs
as a scientific boxer. He defeated Sampson more
from pulling and hauling than from severity of
hitting.
Martin, who was on a sparring tour, met with a little job on the second
day of the Lewes races, Friday, August 11, 1820, in consequence of a
Gipsy having boldly offered to fight any man on the ground. A purse of
twenty-five guineas was made up, and so confident was the Gipsy of
victory, that he begged the money (£6 or £7), collected for the loser,
might be added to the fund for the winner, which was accordingly done.
Clarke seconded Martin, and Davis the Gipsy. The battle was in a roped
ring, and lasted seventeen minutes. It is unnecessary to give the
details of the ten rounds. The Gipsy’s strength was foiled by the
Baker’s science, and Martin gained an easy conquest. The Gipsy was
severely punished. Martin scarcely received a scratch, and afterwards
walked to Brighton. Oliver was time-keeper. The greatest order
prevailed, and it was quite a treat to many of the fashionable visitors
at Brighton, and to the country joskins.
The above fight also, it seems, rather tended to reduce than raise
Martin’s character as a pugilist. Indeed, so much so that David Hudson
was matched against Martin with the utmost confidence for fifty guineas
a side. This match took place at Moulsey Hurst, on Tuesday, October 24,
1820.
Bright Sol put the fanciers all in high spirits, and the swells and kids
left their beds with the expectation of having a gay milling day.
Moulsey Hurst, that delightful spot for a scientific contest, was again
the appointed place to muster, and the Bonifaces along the road, as soon
as the office was given, were seen rubbing their hands, their mugs
smiling with glee, and upon the look-out to welcome the old faces once
more to their houses. The Daffy Club, with its president, gave Bill Just
a turn, at the Half-way House, the Waggon and Horses, Kew Bridge, and
Bob Lawrence’s, at Hampton, were overflowing with company in every part.
The road, at an early period, exhibited lots of vehicles, and when the
rain came on the lads were too game even to mention it, except observing
one to another, “Push along, keep moving.” In a heavy shower of rain, at
half-past one, Martin appeared, and threw his hat in the ring, but the
high wind blew it out. Martin did not like this omen; he went and picked
it up, and again threw it in the ring. Dav. Hudson appeared soon
afterwards, and threw his hat also in the ring. Both the combatants were
loudly applauded. Owen and Belcher were the seconds for David Hudson;
and Randall and Spring officiated for Martin. The odds were in favour of
Hudson; in fact, it was booked to a certainty that the latter must win,
and nothing else. Five and six to four against Martin. Hudson tied his
colours, the yellow-man, to the stakes, Tom Owen, observing, at the same
time, he was the best little man in England; and Spring tied the blue
handkerchief for Martin over them.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, both men appeared in the
highest condition. Numerous as prize-fights have
been, one of the greatest novelties occurred in
the first round that had been witnessed. The men
stood before each other for upwards of seven
minutes in attitude, without making an attempt
to hit. The steadiness of Martin was beautiful,
and his length was so impressive that Hudson
was all caution, and did not like to give the
first blow. The latter was at length tired, and
put down his hands, saying, “Martin, if you do
not give a hit, I shall wait all day.” Hudson,
however, made an offer, and Martin got away.
Hudson again made a hit, which Martin stopped,
and, in return, with his left hand he gave the
latter a facer. The combatants closed, but broke
away, when Martin nobbed his opponent in style.
Another close took place, and, in breaking away,
Martin had again the best of his opponent. Some
blows were exchanged, and, in closing, both
down. The shouting was loud on both sides; but
Martin was the favourite ten to seven. This
round occupied ten minutes.
2.—The superiority of Martin not only astonished
the ring, but Hudson could not reach him; his
right hand, in all his former fights, was
dreadful, but he now used his left hand with
equal facility. He drew the first blood on
Hudson’s right cheek; but, in closing, both
down. (“Martin for £100.”)
3.—The goodness of Hudson was the praise of the
ring, but he was overmatched. Martin was nearly
a stone heavier than his opponent. The length of
Martin enabled him to put in facers with ease,
but Hudson returned, and got Martin down. (Loud
shouting.)
4.—This was a short round, and ultimately in
favour of Martin. Both down.
5.—Hudson showed he was not deficient in
strength, and, in closing this round, he threw
Martin with considerable dexterity.
6, 7.—The confidence of the amateurs began to
forsake them, and Martin was the hero of the
tale; his steadiness and fine fighting quite
astonished all present; in fact, he was quite a
general, till both down.
8.—Hudson received a dreadful blow on the top of
his nose, which produced the claret instantly;
but he attacked Martin with all the gameness of
a man determined to obtain victory, till the
round finished. Both down. (Seven to four on
Martin.)
9.—From the situation in which the men were
placed, it was evident that Martin must prove
the conqueror. Hudson was too short to commence
the attack: he could not plant a hit with any
degree of safety; in fact, he was beaten at both
points—at in and out fighting. Martin went down
from a slip.
10, 11.—In straggling for the throws, also,
Martin showed improved qualities.
12.—After considerable difficulty at the ropes,
Martin went down; but Hudson was severely fibbed
by Martin.
13.—This was altogether a fine round on both
sides. The courage of Hudson was of the highest
quality; but there was a mastery about the
science of Martin that astonished the ring, on
reflection, that ever Randall or Turner should
have defeated him. Martin hit Hudson terribly in
the body, and also nobbed him till he went down.
14.—Hudson’s left eye was nearly closed, and he
had been much distressed for wind in several of
the preceding rounds, but Martin was a little
weak, and went down.
15.—Every round was now closing to the
disadvantage of Hudson. The length of Martin
enabled him to hit his opponent in all
directions, till he went down exhausted.
16.—Hudson now appeared like a drunken man, and
came staggering to the scratch, when Martin hit
Hudson away from him three times, with severe
facers and also punished him down. (“It’s all
up,” was the general cry.) Martin slipped down.
17.—It was only the goodness of Hudson that
could have induced him to continue the contest.
His hits were short; in fact, he could not get
at Martin, the guard of the latter was so
lengthy and firm. Hudson again received some
tremendous nobbers on the right side of his
head, till he went down.
18 and last.—Hudson was punished in all
directions till he went down. He was lifted up
by his seconds, but when time was called he
could not answer the sound, and victory was of
course declared in favour of Martin, in
thirty-nine minutes and ten seconds.
REMARKS.—Martin, it seems, was held much too
cheap. It was expected by the amateurs in
general that he would have been beaten off hand.
He has, however, raised himself by his superior
fighting in this battle to the top of the tree.
He has conquered one of the best little men
of the day, with a heart like a lion, and
considered also a first-rate boxer. This
circumstance alone is saying a great deal for
him in the sporting world; but he has also
conquered in succession, Josh. Hudson, Cabbage,
the Birmingham youth, a big Johnny Raw, at the
Lewes Races, and, lastly, Dav. Hudson. Martin
has only been defeated by Randall and Turner;
and the former has also beaten Oliver’s brother,
Paddington Johnson, and the hardy Scroggins.
Hudson did not hit Martin heavily, while the
blows of the latter operated with the severity
of a horse’s kick, and he retired from the ring
little the worse for blows. Martin could have
beaten another Dav. Hudson in the same ring. The
latter was severely punished. Martin weighed
eleven stone six pounds on this occasion.
We have already noticed Martin’s pedestrian capabilities. On Thursday,
March 11, 1819, at Brixton Causeway, Martin cleverly defeated a well
known runner, “the Chicken Butcher,” in a half mile race for £10, the
professional giving Martin a start of twenty-five yards.
Martin now considered that experience and success in the ring would
justify him in calling upon Turner for a second trial of skill.
Preliminaries were arranged and Tuesday, June 5, 1821, appointed as the
day of battle. The rendezvous was Crawley Hurst. The cognoscenti booked
this affair as a “gift” of 100 guineas to Turner; and as he had beaten
Martin so cleverly in 1819, in one hour and seven minutes, with a bad
knee, it was now betted evens that he won the battle within an hour.
Turner was first in the ring, attended by Tom Belcher and Randall;
Martin soon after him, waited upon by Tom Spring and a Norwich amateur.
Colours—light blue for Martin, and dark blue for Turner, were tied to
the stakes by their respective seconds, and the men stood up for
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The Master of the Rolls commenced
practice without delay, but hit short with
the right hand, Turner getting away. Martin,
not dismayed, followed Turner so quickly,
endeavouring to plant some hits, that the
latter was nearly falling, but he recovered
his balance, when an exchange of blows
occurred. Martin appeared so impetuous in
his attack, that Turner sung out, “Hollo!
hollo! Go it, my lad!” The Master of the
Rolls planted a heavy blow on Turner’s
throat. A pause. Turner got away from some
blows, and, with his left hand put in a
severe hit on Martin’s eye, which almost
closed it. Martin, with his left hand, gave
a heavy body blow; he also put in a facer.
Ned now went to work, sharp blows passed
between them, and, in closing, the weaving
system was resorted to, till both went down.
2.—Turner hit Martin’s guard down. A pause.
Ned’s left hand again told on the nob of his
opponent, and he got away. In closing at the
ropes, some sharp milling took place, when
Turner was down, and undermost.
3.—It was evident that Martin meant nothing but
fighting, and they alternately followed each
other over the ring. In closing, Martin held
Turner fast, and punished him till he slipped or
went down from a slight blow.
4.—Martin confidently put in another body blow,
and also a facer, when Turner was nearly
falling, but he recovered his position. This was
a good round; both men fought till they were
distressed, and the knees of Turner trembled
considerably. Martin bored in, and got Turner
down.
5, 6, and 7.—These rounds were well contested,
and although Turner fought at points he did not
do that execution which had been so decidedly
witnessed in his former battles. Martin,
however, showed the first blood.
8 to 11.—Turner stood well in the opinion of the
amateurs. He had proved himself a game man, a
dangerous fighter, and one that would not go
away for a trifle; but if Turner put in a hit,
he got a blow in return for it. Martin fell very
heavy on Turner. Randall cried out to Martin
he would bet seven to four. “I’ll take it,”
answered Martin, and went to work to win it.
12 to 15.—Martin put in several severe blows
about the lower ribs of his opponent, and also
some facers. In fact, Martin was now getting the
best of it; but the friends of Turner were so
much attached to him they could not perceive the
fact.
16.—The Master of the Rolls put in a batch of
hits—three facers without a return. Turner
endeavoured to turn this round in his favour,
but, on the contrary, Martin put in a severe
body blow, and Turner fell.
17.—A long pause. At in-fighting Martin proved
himself the best man; he also put in a blow
on the nose of his opponent that produced the
claret. In closing, Turner went down, undermost.
The odds were all used up, and even betting, but
Martin for choice.
18, 19.—Turner went down awkwardly. Murmurings,
and an appeal to the umpires. Several amateurs
insisted Turner went down without a blow, but
the fight went on.
20 to 25.—Martin, in the whole of these rounds,
if he did not show off in style, had the best of
them.
26 to 30.—In the last round, on Turner’s going
down, an appeal was made to the umpires.
31 to 36.—Turner could not stop the body blows
of his opponent; in fact, he was getting weak,
and also getting the worst of it. (“One hour,”
said the time-keeper, “has passed away.” Martin
answered, “I can fight for six hours.”)
37 to 40.—Two to one in favour of Martin. An
appeal was made to the umpires that Turner had
again gone down without a blow. “You are
mistaken,” said one of the umpires, “I should
not like to have had it.” The other umpire
appeared to have doubts on the subject, when the
referee observed he saw nothing foul.
41.—Martin put in another body blow without any
return being made. Some blows were exchanged as
Martin followed Turner over the ring, when the
latter went down.
42.—Both down after an exchange of blows.
43.—Turner seemed getting second wind, and put
in a severe left-handed hit on Martin’s
forehead that made the claret follow
profusely. “It’s all right now,” said a few of
the over-the-water-boys; “give him the
Bermondsey screw, Ned.” Martin, although
getting the worst of this round, followed up
his opponent till he went down.
44, 45.—Turner made some sharp hits, but was
down in both these rounds.
46.—Turner hit Martin bang in the head, and got
away. Some exchanges were made, and when Martin
followed Turner, the latter once more dropped;
the former again remarked “That Ned went down
without a blow,” and immediately went up to the
umpires to complain. “Foul, foul,” and “Fair,
fair,” resounded from all parts of the ring. In
consequence of so much scandalous dereliction of
duty, Martin, in a violent passion, said “he was
not used well,” and endeavoured to get over the
ropes: in fact, one of his legs was half out,
and he would have bolted if Spring had not, with
great presence of mind, held him fast, and thus
saved him from losing the battle. Mr. Jackson
here interfered, and observed to the pugilists
in the ring, that neither the fighting men nor
their seconds had any right to interfere; nor,
indeed, any other person but the umpires, who
were appointed to watch the motions of the men,
and if they disagreed, then a final appeal must
be made to the referee.
47.—Martin still appeared very angry, and it was
thought that he was giving a chance away, from
the effects of passion. But he cooled upon it,
a good round was the result, and Martin sent
Turner down. (Loud shouting from the “dead men”
party, and exclaiming, “It’s all right again,
and Jack’s alive.”) Turner, while sitting on his
second’s knee, however, seemed to think he was
winning the battle, as he gave the office with a
smile to some of his friends, by putting one of
his fingers to his tongue.
48 to 50.—Some fighting on both sides, but
Turner went down in all these rounds.
51.—Turner put in a sharp facer. Martin followed
him and exchanged blows. A trifling pause.
Martin, in following Turner till down, again
complained that he went down without a hit. “I
shall decide fairly, depend upon it,” said Mr.
Jackson; “he not only received a hit, but his
foot caught in a hole,” pointing to the place.
52 to 54.—The two first rounds were well fought.
In the last, Martin again made an appeal to the
umpires. Mr. Jackson repeated, that if anything
unfair occurred, the umpires would notice it.
55.—Exchanges. Martin put in a severe facer.
During a short pause Martin said, “You are a
game man, Ned but you must lose it.” Ultimately
Turner went down. The latter appeared to hit
round, and it seemed as if one of his hands had
gone. Martin’s right hand was also in a bad
state.
56.—Turner was getting quite weak, but he seemed
to have no idea of losing. Martin hit Turner on
the head, and he went down terribly distressed.
57.—Both down, Martin uppermost.
58.—Few, if any, persons round the ring had an
idea that the battle was so near over. This
was a severe round to Ned; in fact, it was the
tie-up of the fight. He received a severe blow
on the body, and also a sharp one upon his head,
when he went down.
59.—Turner endeavoured to make play, but it was
all up. Martin fibbed him severely at the ropes,
got Turner down, and fell on him with his knee
nearly on his throat.
60 and last.—In a struggle Martin fell with all
his weight on Turner. Turner was placed on his
second’s knee. Martin, who was most anxiously
viewing the state of his brave but fallen
opponent with one eye, was with the other
looking anxiously for the umpires to call
“time.” The game Turner did not hear it, and
Martin gave a jump on being proclaimed the
victor, and ran out of the ring towards his
vehicle. After Turner had been taken care of,
and led out of the ring, Randall (apparently in
great rage) threw up his hat and offered to
fight Martin for £300 a-side, in three months.
“I’ll bet five to one,” said an amateur, “no one
dares to make it.”
The amateur, in offering the above bet, had miscalculated, for Martin,
having turned the tables upon one adversary, appeared to think it would
be an easy task to do so with another, and very shortly after the above
fight reminded Randall of his offer, and declared his readiness to
accept it. This was just the proposition that suited Randall, and the
match being made, came off, as we have already stated (_ante_, p. 351),
on the 11th of September, ending in the defeat of Martin, in one round
and eight minutes and a half.
Martin was matched for £100 a side with Aby Belasco, but the Jew’s
friends paid forfeit.
The following matrimonial announcement may serve as a specimen of
sporting paragraphs half a century ago.
“GREAT RING MATCH.—None but the brave deserve the fair! A celebrated
pugilist, who has twice entered the lists with Randall, made a tie with
Turner, disposed of Oliver the second, conquered Paddington Johnson,
floored the hardy Scroggins, got the best of Josh. Hudson, polished off
a big Gipsy, caused Dav. Hudson to blink and Cabbage to wink, and
finally lowered the leek of the gallant Ned Turner—who has lately
moreover become known as a first-rate ‘turf-man,’ and at all times as an
upright and well-behaved man—appeared a few days since at the hymeneal
scratch, at Lambeth, where he duly signed articles (for a match of
£2,500 down) with a young lady, no time specified, but understood to be
for life.
“Of his feats and his battles he surely may sing,
Whose first and last prizes were gained by the ring.”
Martin, from this period, was well known and universally respected. He
became a boniface, and it would have been well had he not been tempted
to return to the ring he had quitted as a conqueror.
After a lapse of seven years, diversified only by a match with Jem Burn,
to fight in October 20, 1824, which ended in a “draw” of the stakes,
Martin was induced by irritated feelings to challenge young Dutch Sam
(Samuel Evans). The circumstances of his defeat, which took place
November 4, 1828, at Knowle Hill, Berks, will be found under the memoir
of the victor in Period VI.
Martin for many years was the landlord of the Crown at Croydon; he
subsequently removed to the Horns Tavern, Kennington. He finally
retired, first to St. Alban’s, and afterwards to a rural retreat in
Devon, where he long resided. He died in the year 1871, aged 75, having
become a convert for many years to the doctrines and practice of total
abstinence from liquor, and a strict vegetarian.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IX.
JOHN PALMER, KNOWN IN THE P. R. AS “JACK SCROGGINS”—1803‒1822.
To whom this hardy little hero, who so long performed “clown to the
ring,” was indebted for his grotesque _sobriquet_, is a point upon which
history is silent, nor can its elucidation be expected, even from the
editor of “Notes and Queries,” assisted by his staff of contributors.
There was, however, a popular comic song by George Colman the Younger,
in which the loves of Giles Scroggins and Molly Brown were involved with
“a horrible” ghost story, and possibly the mere oddity of the name
suggested itself as an _alias_ for this eccentric pugilist.
John Palmer was born, December 31, 1787, near New Cross, Deptford. It
should seem that as Hercules in his cradle betook himself to serpent
strangling, by way of prefiguring his future monster-destroying
propensities, so Jack was pugilistic from his cradle; and, although not
an ill-natured lad, was continually fighting the boys of New Cross, till
his victories were so numerous, that he was considered as the cock of
the walk. At a more advanced age he went to live as a servant on the
farm of Mr. Giblett (the great butcher of Bond Street), at Kilburn. Here
he had frequent turns-up with the hardy race of navigators belonging to
the Paddington Canal, and here he first received the name of
“Scroggins,” which continued with him throughout his services in the
navy, and stuck to him to the end of his boxing career. The oddity of
this nickname was merited by a corresponding _grotesquerie_ of personal
gesture and appearance. In height only five feet four inches, in weight
hard upon eleven stone, “his appearance when stripped,” says Boxiana,
“is not unlike the stump of a large tree, and from his loins upwards he
looks like a man of fourteen stone.” Add to this, much native humour,
the antics of a merryman, undaunted courage, and a love of riotous fun,
and the reader will admit that the comic lyric poet of _Bell’s Life in
London_ could not have chosen a better known or more comic public
character than “Ould Jack”—or, after his departure for another world of
spirits beyond the grave, “Ould Jack’s Ghost”—for the vehicle of his
fancy facetiæ. What follows here is a _resumé_ of the introductory pages
of the memoir of Scroggins in “Boxiana.”
[Illustration:
JOHN PALMER (“JACK SCROGGINS”).
_From a Portrait by_ G. SHARPLES, 1819.
]
In May, 1803, when sixteen years old, he was ill-treated by one Bill
Walters, at the sign of the Waggon and Horses, at Brentford. Walters was
a full grown man, possessing strength and some knowledge of milling, but
Jack was not easily to be intimidated, and an immediate turn-up was the
result, in a field near the above inn. The battle continued upwards of
an hour, when Scroggy was proclaimed the victor. Jem Belcher witnessed
the mill, and praised Scroggy for the hardy courage he displayed.
Not long after this occurrence, Scroggins dined at a club-feast, at the
sign of the Swan, Sunbury Common. The harmony of the company experienced
great interruption from the improper conduct of a fellow named Sam Beak,
better known as the “Bully of Harrow.” His name was a sort of terror to
all present, and the company would have been compelled to endure his
insolence for the remainder of the evening, had it not been for the
pluck of little Scroggy, who insisted upon his quitting the room. The
threat produced a regular fight out of doors, and after a severe battle
for nearly an hour, Beak was glad to give in.
Scroggins also fought a brick-maker, weighing thirteen stone, near the
sign of the Fox and Goose, at Appleton, near Harrow-on-the-Hill. It was
thought by the spectators, from the great disproportion between the
combatants, that little Scroggy must ultimately be annihilated; but the
smashing activity of Jack reduced the brick-maker to his own pitch, when
he finished him off in quick time.
A navigator, known by the appellation of Long Will, fought with
Scroggins near Harrow. It was a desperate battle, and contested with
alternate success for a long time, till victory crowned the exertions of
our little hero.
At Cowley, near Uxbridge, Scroggins entered the lists with Burke Smith,
denominated the second Robin Hood, from his attachment to deer, a man of
great activity, and distinguished for his great jumps over the canal. In
the hands of Scroggins he was soon glad to acknowledge he was defeated.
Billy Lee, the gipsy, had a desperate set-to with Scroggins, at Kilburn,
in the year 1804. The bruising qualities of the gipsy were well known in
the neighbourhood of Paddington; but Scroggins not only nobbed him
severely, but punished his body in such a hammering style that he
hastily relinquished the contest, acknowledging the superiority and
goodness of our hero.
By moonlight, at Kilburn, between twelve and one o’clock on a Friday
night, a chap of the name of Blinko, otherwise designated as “No Nose!”
had a turn-up with Scroggins, but the severity “No Nose” met with, in
the course of a few rounds, induced him to give in. Upon being shown
Scroggins the next day, he said he was not the same he fought with, but
would fight him for the whole of his week’s wages on the next Sunday
morning; but, when the time arrived, “No Nose” was not to be found.
A strong athletic farmer’s man, of the name of Bill King, was also
beaten by Scroggins, at Sandford Green, near Harrow.
At Appleton, after a very severe battle, Jack Matney surrendered to the
conquering arm of Scroggins.
It was owing to the following circumstance that our hero was compelled
to leave milling on land, to fight the battles of his country at sea, by
entering into the navy. In a row with one Ellis, a constable, at
Sandford Green, the representative of the law, it appears, felt rather
heavily the indignation of Scroggins. In consequence of which turn-up,
an application was made to the magistrate (Dr. Glasse), when our hero
was depicted in such terrible colours, that a press-gang of seventeen
was considered necessary to convey him in safety out of the
neighbourhood.
On the Point Beach at Portsmouth, Happy Jack, the terror of that then
uproarious seaport (so termed from the numerous conquests he had
obtained over various Jack-tars), was, in the presence of some
thousands, wofully cut down from the severe punishment he received in
combat with Scroggins; Happy Jack, for once in his life, being made
miserable by defeat.
During the time Scroggins was on board the Argo, the ship was a scene of
milling adventures, and, it should seem, when off duty, his leisure was
filled up in boxing.
Before our hero was suffered to realise the title of the Champion of the
Argo, the best men in the ship were pitted against him; but it would be
beneath the dignity of our history to record the undistinguished names
of the mere commoners who fell beneath the conquering arm of Scroggy,
who, notwithstanding his pugilistic _penchant_, was the life and soul of
the ship, and as remarkable for his readiness to assist a weaker
messmate as to promote the general mirth of the crew. His practical
jokes and general good humour were long the standing talk of the Argo’s
galley. Toogood, a man of colour, of first-rate weight, and possessing
prodigious strength, had a regular battle with our hero on board the
Argo. Notwithstanding his athletic powers, Scroggins compelled him to
strike his colours.
A caulker, a tall, strong, bony man, who came on board the Argo to make
some repairs, presuming on his strength, took off the boiler and placed
his frying-pan on the fire, in defiance of the whole mess. Scroggins at
length appeared, and took the fellow’s frying-pan from off the fire. A
fight was the immediate consequence; but the caulker was so often
floored, met with such severe punishment, and was so chaffed by the
whole ship’s crew, that out of revenge he complained to the captain of
Scroggins, and our hero was compelled to stand and take two dozen
lashes, or, what is called in the old sea phrase, a “dry holy-stoning.”
Scroggins had scarcely set his foot on terra firma, when he had a turn
up with two dragoons, before the door of the Prince of Wales, at
Woolwich. Notwithstanding the heavy force Scroggins had to contend
against, our little hero bustled through it with so much true courage,
that in the course of a few minutes he came off triumphant, having
floored both the soldiers with ease.
Scroggins’ first battle in the ring, after his return from sea, was with
Jack Boots (whose real name was Wilford), at Wilsden Green, in 1814, for
one guinea a-side. It was a fight without training, and took place
entirely from accident. Boots, it seems, had previously talked about
fighting our hero, and both of them meeting at the above place to
partake of the diversion afforded by Caleb Baldwin’s Bull, they
instantly agreed to decide the dispute in question, upon Scroggins
observing to Boots, “that he thought they were as capable of amusing the
amateurs as the bull had done.” In consequence of this agreement the
sports of the day closed, unexpectedly, with a regular mill. Upon the
bull’s quitting the ground a ring was immediately formed, and Scroggins
and Boots, without further preface, set-to. The latter was well known,
from having fought several battles; but Scroggins was a complete
stranger to the fighting circles. It was a punishing mill for sixty
minutes, during which period the pantomimic tricks exhibited by
Scroggins occasioned roars of laughter; he, however, displayed all the
fortitude of a sailor bent on obtaining victory. Anything like a regular
system of tactics he appeared to despise, and scrambled his way in to
mill his adversary; but, notwithstanding this nondescript boxing, his
hits were so tremendously sent home, that Boots could not resist their
desperate effects. The friends of Boots perceiving that he must
eventually lose, were about to resort to some manœuvres to prevent
Scroggy from being proclaimed the conqueror. This conduct was observed
by old Joe Ward, who was standing in a cart viewing the battle; and
although he was severely afflicted with the rheumatism in both knees, he
hastily jumped out and made for the ring, where he insisted upon fair
play being observed between the combatants. Scroggins was ultimately
declared the victor. The spirited conduct of the latter so pleased the
amateurs that £4 were collected for him as a reward for his exertions.
The friends of Scroggins, not without reason, thought, from this
specimen, that there was good stuff in him. Accordingly, Dolly Smith was
selected as a game active boxer, and a good trial man for the hardy
little tar. The battle was contested at Coombe Warren, on Wednesday,
January 11, 1815, in a twenty feet roped ring, for 20 guineas a-side.
Smith was seconded by Bill Cropley; Scroggins was attended by Richmond
and Oliver.
Smith was well known as a boxer, and considered a good man, from his
game battle with Dick Hares the previous year, on the same ground, while
Scroggins was scarcely known to any person connected with the ring. He
was viewed by the amateurs as an ambitious adventurer, a rough and
daring commoner, opposed to science and experience; the betting was, in
consequence, five to four upon Smith. The combatants in point of weight
were nearly equal. The first round proved a good specimen of the whole
fight; but the impetuosity of the “hardy tar” was so overwhelming, that
the science of Smith, however well applied, could not prevent its
conquering effects. Scroggins’ singular mode of attack astonished the
spectators. Immediately on receiving a hit from his opponent, he went
resolutely in to mill, protecting his head with his left hand over it,
like a ship running in to attack a fort or shore battery, dealing out
terrible punishment with his right hand, and thus took the lead and kept
it, although he was opposed in the most manly and skilful style by
Smith, who was not long in darkening one of the peepers of the sailor.
Scroggins fought at the body with dogged determination, and had the
advantage in a striking degree in throwing, Smith experiencing some
severe cross-buttocks and desperate falls. Smith, too, was frequently
out of distance, and hit over instead of punishing his adversary’s nob.
It was a determined battle on both sides, and Smith did not disgrace his
character in defeat. The blows of Scroggins were terrible, and he was
never off his pins but once during the battle. For three quarters of an
hour it was rattling hard fighting, at the end of which time Smith was
so severely beaten, that he was compelled to cry “enough.”
The milling fame which Nosworthy had acquired by his conquest of the
renowned but worn-out Dutch Sam, at Moulsey, on the 8th of December,
1814, rendered him an object of no small attraction in the milling
sphere. Scroggins, it seems, was eager to make a dash; his ambition
soared above commoners, and he viewed the victorious baker as a
competitor worthy of his aspirings. Some little time, however, elapsed
before he was accommodated; at last they met on the 6th of June, 1815,
at Moulsey Hurst, for £50 a-side. Belcher and Gibbons seconded
Scroggins; Cribb and Clark picked up Nosworthy. The patrons of pugilism
mustered very strongly upon this occasion, and the “crusty coves” of the
metropolis felt so confident the Master of the Rolls would gain the
cause, that, the evening previous to the fight, they laid the odds of
five to four with cheerfulness and alacrity. Nosworthy had won his late
battle with such seeming ease, that no doubt was entertained by his
admirers as to the issue. At one the men set-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The notoriety Nosworthy had obtained in
conquering the Jew phenomenon created intense
interest, and every eye was on the combatants
setting to. A short time elapsed in sparring,
when Scroggins made a good hit; the Baker, in
return, missed his aim. Some heavy milling
occurred, when they closed, and both went down;
Nosworthy undermost, Scroggins heavily on him.
(Five to four on Scroggins already.)
2.—Nosworthy appeared bleeding at the scratch.
Determined fighting was the order of this round;
and both the men seemed bent upon proving each
other’s courage. Hit for hit was returned with
as much indifference as if their bodies were
insensible to feeling; and, although both of
them were frequently hit away, they returned
to the attack. The rally was dreadful, and
Nosworthy was, at length, sent down.
3.—It was evident to the spectators that
Nosworthy had got enough to do to make a win of
it. No flinching on either side. They stood up
to each other like a couple of bull-dogs.
Scroggins took the lead in gallant style, and
punished his opponent in the most terrific
manner, by planting a hit under Nosworthy’s ear,
so powerfully, that he went down in a twinkling.
Nosworthy’s importance was now all at an end;
and two to one was offered on Scroggins, without
the least hesitation.
4.—The game displayed by Nosworthy was
admirable, but he had received so plentifully
that his strength was somewhat reduced.
Another terrific rally occurred, in which the
superiority of Scroggins was manifest. He
never left his adversary till he went down.
(Three to one on Scroggins.)
5.—Nosworthy fought like a man, but the chance
was decidedly against him. Scroggins had it all
his own way in this round, and planted his hits
with all the success of a first-rate fighter.
6.—Upon setting-to, Scroggins, with much
severity, floored his antagonist.
7.—Nosworthy, notwithstanding the punishment he
had sustained, came to the scratch full of
pluck, and made a desperate effort to effect a
change in his favour. He with much dexterity put
in a tremendous blow upon one of Scroggins’s
eye-lids; but the latter returned upon him
severely, and had the best of the round.
8.—The head of Nosworthy seemed an easy mark
for Scroggins, who peppered it with the utmost
sang-froid. The baker was again floored.
9 to 15 and last.—The courage of Nosworthy was
the admiration of the ring; he continued to
fight till not a shadow of chance remained. He
was so severely beaten in the fifteenth round,
that, on time being called, he was unable to
quit the knee of his second. The battle was over
in eighteen minutes.
From this triumph Scroggins rose rapidly in the esteem of the best
patrons of the ring, and was considered one of the best “little men” of
the day. Scroggins was scarcely known up to this time to the scientific
circles, and his rambling mode of fighting, so peculiar to himself, was
rather the subject of mirth than serious discussion; still it was
thought, in some instances, that he exhibited the prominent traits of
the once terrific Hooper, a method that would not be denied from boring
in, and, when once in, must triumph from its close and heavy half-arm
deliveries, except in very rare instances. Although Nosworthy was
defeated, it was viewed as a determined and skilful battle on his side.
The springing hits of Scroggins were truly tremendous; and covering his
head with his left hand, not only prevented him from receiving much
punishment at going in, but gave him additional vigour in “smashing” his
adversary.
Scroggins, it was urged, had offended several of his patrons, in
consequence of his insisting on the whole of the battle-money of the
late fight being given to him; and many of them felt determined, if
possible, to select a scientific boxer who should take the fight out of
our hero. Bill Eales was therefore chosen, and backed for this special
purpose; but the knowing ones were much divided in opinion respecting
their merits. Two of the most complete adepts in the ring took them
under their care and training. The sporting knowledge of Gully rendered
him at all times, in the ring or on the turf, no mean judge how to
select his object, or to lay out his money; and Tom Belcher’s experience
had taught him too well to know the value of success to give half a
chance away: therefore when Gully selected Scroggins as his favourite,
and Belcher preferred Eales as the most competent pugilist, it might not
be inaptly observed that, “when Greek joins Greek, then comes the tug of
war!” The backers, as well as boxers, it was certain, meant to win if
possible. Eales was remarkable for his complete knowledge of the tactics
of the milling art, and possessed the important advantages of height and
length; while Scroggins was a nondescript, who disdained copying the
mode of any pugilist, and fought after his own method, if method it
could be termed.
On Saturday, August 26, 1815, near the George, at Kingston Hill,
contiguous to Coombe Warren, this interesting and singular match was
decided. At an early period in the morning the various roads leading to
the scene of action were crowded beyond description. All sorts of
vehicles were so close upon each other as to defy enumeration, and
pedestrians were numerous beyond precedent. A great many high personages
mustered on the turf, among whom Earl Yarmouth, Lord Fife, the Hon.
Berkeley Craven, etc., were observed. A few minutes before one the men
entered the ring, attended by their seconds. Tom Belcher and Harmer for
Eales, Joe Ward and Oliver for Scroggins. The spectators were struck
with the great contrast between the size of the combatants. Joe Ward
tied the colours of the sailor, “true blue,” to the stakes, as a token
of defiance; and Belcher knotted over it the “yellow-man,” as the
colours of Eales. Both men looked well and confident. The ceremony of
shaking hands being gone through, the set-to immediately commenced.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—From the scientific pretensions of
Eales, it was generally expected the first round
would clearly evince his superiority over his
short and sturdy opponent. Scroggy, however,
with the heroism of a British tar, boldly bore
down to the assault. The display of Eales,
although more scientific than effective, was
much admired. Scroggins, equally anxious to
commence the fight favourably, exhibited some
degree of caution. Eales let go once or twice,
but beyond effective distance; at length
Scroggins put in a well directed blow under
the left ear of his opponent, and, in closing,
threw him. (The odds looked rather queer, and
Scroggins was pronounced the favourite.)
2.—This round was decisively in favour of
Scroggins, who exchanged blows with his opponent
in the most gallant style of courage, till Eales
was at length floored.
3.—Both the combatants were now alive to the
interest of the scene in which they were
engaged. A good rally occurred, and they
returned and exchanged liberally; in the rally
Eales went down.
4.—This was altogether a severe round. If
Scroggins planted some severe blows, Eales
returned punishment with equal courage. Strength
was evidently on the side of Scroggins, who
appeared merely getting into work; while Eales,
on the contrary, showed symptoms of weak
constitution, and fought till he again went
down.
5.—Eales, notwithstanding his superior science,
could not make that impression upon his opponent
which was expected by his friends. He succeeded,
it is true, in dexterously putting in some heavy
blows, which the hardy tar was not a degree
behind hand in returning, keeping up a battering
rally, till his opponent went down.
6.—The strength of Eales did not keep pace with
his judgment; he, nevertheless, evinced good
pluck. This was a pantomimic round; altogether a
piece of harlequin and clown antics all round
the ring. Eales exerted his best skill to obtain
a favourable turn, and a terrific rally ensued;
but, in closing, the singularity of Scroggins
excited roars of laughter. In throwing Eales
he went down, then rolled over and over from
his adversary till he rose upon his legs with
all the comicality of a merry-andrew. Eales
displayed weakness, and the odds were five to
one on Scroggins.
7.—The combatants soon fought their way into a
sharp rally, and the science of Eales prevailed
to a certain extent, till Scroggins went down.
(Applause.)
8.—A little discretion seemed necessary on both
sides; some sparring occurred before a hit was
made. Scroggins bobbed his head to avoid the
threatened blows of his opponent, but returned
fighting hand over head. The punishment was
severe in this round, but reciprocal; however,
Scroggins went down.
9.—The combatants attacked each other with the
most determined resolution; anything like
stopping was out of the question, till they both
found themselves upon the ground. Eales could
not lay claim to any advantage; neither had
Scroggins the worst of it.
10.—Another equally desperate round followed,
and a tremendous rally took place. The blows
on both sides did great execution—punishment
without stopping was the order of the day.
11.—Eales, notwithstanding the exertion of
the last round, came to the scratch with
considerable spirit, and showed off in such
good style upon his opponent, that Scroggins
again dropped his nob to escape the intended
milling.
12.—The science of Eales was exhibited to great
advantage, and Scroggins’ upper works seemed
under the direction of a chancery practitioner,
till he was sent under the ropes. The round was
contested with much resolution on both sides.
13.—Eales again tried it on with some
success by planting three severe hits on the
nob of Scroggins; but the latter, determined
not to be deficient in this part of the
practice, liberally returned the favours
which had been bestowed, and concluded the
round by cross-buttocking his antagonist.
14.—The spectators now perceived that Scroggins
was too much for Eales, as the strength of the
latter was evidently on the decline every round.
Scroggins punished Eales in all directions, and
gave him three heavy hits on his nob, stomach,
and neck. In closing, both down, but Scroggins
fell upon Eales with a plunge enough to send the
wind out of his body.
15.—The advantage of strength was completely
on the side of Scroggins, who came up to the
scratch smiling with confidence. Eales, although
weak, fought with much spirit, and contested
every inch of ground in a sharp rally, till
Scroggins again threw and fell upon him.
16.—Eales endeavoured to gain time by cautious
sparring, but Scroggins fought his way pell-mell
into a sharp rally, and adopted the same mode as
in the two preceding rounds, by tripping up his
adversary, then falling upon him, depriving
Eales of what little wind he had left.
17.—From the terrible heat of the sun, and the
severe punishment both the combatants had
experienced, it did not excite any degree of
surprise to see them both at the scratch in an
exhausted state. The little hardy tar, who had
so often braved the changes of climate, seemed
of the two least affected by the scorching rays
that now poured so heavily upon their persons,
and commenced fighting with great spirit. In
closing, he peppered Eales considerably, and
then cross-buttocked him. From this severe touch
it was expected Eales would not be able to meet
his man again.
18.—Eales, though much exhausted, again opposed
his man, but the chance was decidedly against
him; Scroggins threw him as before. (Any odds,
but no takers.)
19.—The fight was nearly taken out of Eales; he
was at the mercy of his antagonist. He was again
thrown.
20.—Eales tottered to the scratch; but Scroggins
gave him another cross-buttock as if a child had
been opposed to his strength.
21.—The strength of Eales was quite reduced as
to effective punishment; he, nevertheless,
evinced good bottom, and did more than might
have been expected from one so nearly beaten.
Scroggins laid himself open, but Eales was too
weak to turn it to account. In falling,
Scroggins went down on him.
22.—It was now a horse to a hen, and Scroggins
threw his man with apparent ease.
23.—Eales, to the astonishment of the
spectators, once more appeared at the mark; but
it was all up with him, and, by way of a
quietus, Scroggins put in so tremendous a hit
under his right ear that he was floored like a
shot. He could not come again. The battle lasted
twenty-two minutes.
REMARKS.—Scroggins, in defeating a scientific
boxer like Eales, completely astonished every
amateur present. It was singular to observe
the severity of his blows, and the punishment
he administered to his opponent, though a man
four inches taller than himself. Indeed our
little hero was confidence itself. He assured
his friends previous to the battle, that he
would win it and nothing else. As an in-fighter,
Eales had decidedly the best of his opponent;
but his distances were so incorrect at times in
out-fighting that numerous blows were thrown
away. Some of the partizans of Eales attributed
his loss to a severe hurt received on the back
part of his head, in falling violently against
the stakes; but the general opinion was that he
lacked stamina to resist the finishing qualities
of his antagonist. Eales was the heavier man,
weighing eleven stone and half a pound. The bets
never varied from the commencement of the fight;
Scroggins was the favourite throughout. It was
altogether a sharp contest, but a great deal
of time was consumed in struggling to obtain
the advantage in throwing. Notwithstanding the
great superiority Eales had in standing over his
opponent, united with his first-rate skill, he
could not prevent Scroggins from going in. The
admirers of science were much disappointed at
the defeat of Eales.
From the success Scroggins had met with in his boxing career, and the
numerous patrons of the art who rallied round him, he was enabled to
commence publican. He accordingly opened the Waterman’s Arms, at
Stangate, Lambeth, for the entertainment of the sporting world. His
house in summer time was then pleasantly and attractively situated,
commanding a view across the Thames, a part of the venerable Abbey, and
Westminster Hall, with the old St. Stephen’s, and the Houses of
Parliament, destroyed by fire in 1836. The name of John Scroggins, in
large letters, at the top of the premises, might be seen from the other
side of the river, operating as an inducement, not only to sporting
characters, but to many an old shipmate of the Argo to call and give our
hero a friendly turn. He did not want for company of every description.
Peers and costermongers all contributed to make the pot boil; and,
though Scroggy could not boast of the eloquence of a Cicero, yet he
never suffered any of his customers to depart without receiving a ready
answer. Life, in a variety of shapes, was to be seen under the roof of
this little caterer for the public. In another part of his dwelling, the
“saloon” was not the least importance in the picture. In ruder hands it
was merely a skittle ground, but, under the taste and judgment displayed
by “Scroggy,” it assumed a new and prominent feature. A gallery was now
added to it, in addition to its being boarded over for the accommodation
of spectators, and embellished with chandeliers. Every Tuesday night it
was opened as a school for the art of self-defence; and here this
remnant of the Olympic games was conducted with characteristic spirit to
overflowing audiences. Scroggins himself usually appeared as a
first-rate actor, assisted by several professionals, in most of these
performances, to explain and render the art attainable. Here many a
novice was floored for his temerity, by way of initiation, and as a sort
of preparatory step to a better acquaintance with the practice and use
of the gloves. The “tip” for admission was upon a reasonable scale, a
single sixpence, and liquor to its estimated value was allowed. The
sporting dinners given by Scroggins were excellent; and the Waterman’s
Arms generally afforded amusement to those persons who were disposed to
take a peep at the fun and frolic there exhibited, under the management
of this comic hero of the ring.
Four months had scarcely elapsed when Scroggins again made his
appearance in the prize-ring, but under very different circumstances.
Having in his last combat defeated one of the most scientific boxers of
the day, he was now called to enter the lists with a complete stranger,
and a mere novice. It appears that Whittaker, from Denbigh in Yorkshire,
an oilman by trade, had criticised the milling talents of Scroggins
rather freely in company; which criticism resulted in a battle between
them. The sum contended for was fifty guineas a side, and so much
confidence did the Oilman feel upon entering the ring with Scroggins
(notwithstanding his name was a sort of terror to pugilists in general),
that he put down thirty-two guineas of the stakes out of his own pocket.
Scroggins viewed Whittaker with so much indifference that he thought he
had merely to take off his coat and win the fight. On Tuesday, the 9th
of January, 1816, the fistic heroes met to decide this trial of skill at
Moulsey Hurst. The Oilman was understood to be a clever and determined
boxer, and so much interest was excited in the sporting circles that
upwards of ten thousand persons witnessed the battle. The odds were two
to one upon Scroggins, who was seconded by Oliver and Clark; Whittaker
was attended by Cribb and Richmond. The men shook hands, and at one
o’clock the set-to commenced:—
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The amateurs expected more of a
smashing than a scientific fight; Scroggins
thought so little of his adversary, that he
went to work _sans ceremonie_, but hit short
with his left hand; the Oilman, in return,
planted a slight nobber. The combatants fought
their way into a rally, and some sharp blows
were exchanged, at the end of which the claret
was seen trickling down Whittaker’s face (no
variation in the betting).
2.—The Oilman seemed full of pluck and eager
for battle. Scroggins again hit short, but
Whittaker improved on the opening, and made a
sharp left-handed blow. Some desperate milling
occurred; no want of spirit on either side. In
closing much struggling took place, when the
Oilman got away, but was ultimately sent down.
3.—This was altogether a well-fought round. If
the Oilman did not show superlative science, he
evinced qualities that convinced the spectators
he was not to be beaten off hand. Scroggins
attacked his adversary with much determination,
and Whittaker showed equal resolution in a sharp
rally, till he went down.
4.—Science was not the forte of the combatants;
downright milling was the order of this round.
Scroggins missed several hits, and did not
appear to such advantage as was expected. The
Oilman fought with much steadiness and
composure, and his left hand, in some instances,
was successful. The men rattled in a close, when
the Oilman, with much dexterity, threw his
adversary. The odds nevertheless were still high
upon Scroggins.
5.—It was evident that Scroggins had paid little
attention to training; and, at this early stage
of the fight, his wind appeared rather
treacherous. The Oilman attacked his adversary
in good style, and had the superiority of
hitting. Scroggins slipped in making a hit, but
soon recovered himself upon one knee, and with
much force levelled his man.
6.—Both combatants on their mettle; reciprocal
fighting took place. The Oilman proved himself a
much better man than he was thought to be. The
odds fell to six to four.
7.—Scroggins came to the scratch much distressed
and out of wind. The Oilman improved upon this
circumstance and made several telling blows,
ultimately finishing the round in his favour.
(Applause.)
8.—Scroggins could not recover his wind; and,
to avoid receiving punishment, resorted to
some strange manœuvres to amuse his adversary.
Whittaker was not to be deluded, and stuck to
Scroggy hard and fast till he was thrown.
9.—Scroggins came up fresher, and attacked his
opponent with unshrinking courage. A rally took
place, which was desperately contested; but
finished to the advantage of Scroggins, who
darkened the Oilman’s left peeper.
10 and 11.—Both of these rounds were fought with
manliness and resolution. It was plain Scroggins
had considerable work to get through before
victory would crown his efforts.
12.—Whittaker seemed more conspicuous for
high game and wrestling capabilities than a
sound acquaintance with the principles of
the pugilistic art; he threw Scroggins in
great style.
13 and 14.—Rather in favour of Scroggins.
15.—Here the Oilman showed to much advantage. He
put in several blows, both down.
16 to 30.—Several trifling changes occurred
during these rounds; in one of which Scroggins
met with an accident in falling, which might
have terminated the battle; but his fortitude
as well as policy was so great, that,
notwithstanding the excruciating pain he
suffered, he did not even communicate the
circumstance to his second, but fought on
under considerable disadvantage. From the
numerous antics and manœuvres he played off,
he recovered himself in some degree, and
succeeded in damaging his opponent’s remaining
eye.
31 to 49 and last.—It is unnecessary to detail
the whole of these rounds; suffice it to
observe the Oilman contested the whole of them
with resolution and true game. He fought till
without the power of directing his blows. He
resigned the contest with reluctance; urging
his not being reduced in bodily strength. In
fact, he was humanely persuaded by Mr. Jackson
and his friends, to retire, as he had no
chance whatever, from his defective vision. In
other respects there is no doubt but he might
have protracted the battle.
REMARKS.-Scroggins had nearly given the chance
away on this occasion by overweening
self-conceit, and the contempt with which he
viewed the pretensions of Whittaker. The
victory indeed was more owing to his good
fortune than to judgment. He laughed at the
idea of training to beat a novice, and never
left his home for a single night. In
consequence of this neglect, he took an hour
and sixteen minutes to beat Whittaker, which,
had he been in good condition, it is presumed
he might have accomplished in half an hour.
Scroggins (almost too late) found out the
fault he had committed from neglect of
training. It was a fortunate moment for our
hero when the Oilman was taken from the
ground. The memorable defeat and ruin of
Broughton ought always to operate as a useful
lesson to all pugilists—more especially to
conquerors—respecting their preparatory
conduct. Scroggins had nearly fallen a victim
to this blind confidence. His fame was
tottering on a precipice. Scroggins too was
extremely incorrect in his distances, but
neither of the combatants fought upon the
defensive. Whittaker was evidently the better
wrestler, and Scroggy appeared more punished
about his nob than in any other battle. Had
not Scroggins succeeded in closing the
remaining peeper of Whittaker, the termination
might have been rather doubtful, as the latter
was not seriously disabled in body nor
distressed in wind. Though he retired from the
ring a defeated man, it is but common justice
to state that a gamer pugilist than Whittaker
never quitted the field. Thirty pounds was
collected on the ground by Mr. Jackson, as a
reward for the bravery the loser had
displayed. Notwithstanding the latter resigned
the contest, he still entertained an opinion
that Scroggins was not the best man, and
attributed the chance going against him to his
being a stranger to the tactics of the
prize-ring.
From the rapid conquests he had obtained, Scroggins was at this period
the envy of the boxing circles. His house was numerously attended; he
was enjoying the fruits of peace and the reward of his victories;
smoking his pipe with ease and pleasure, and laid up as it were in
ordinary, resting from the fatigues of war. But peace was not the
element in which Jack was seen to advantage; therefore, out of numerous
challenges offered to him, he accepted one from a countryman of the name
of Church, a native of Gloucester, who, it seems, “had heard of
battles,” and thirsting to obtain fighting glory, had determined to lead
“a dull inglorious life” no longer. He left Gloucester for the avowed
purpose of challenging our hero; and Colonel (afterwards the Earl of)
Berkeley, his patron, had so high an opinion of his qualifications, that
he backed him for 100 guineas.
Church, it appears, had milled all the best men in Gloucestershire, was
well known as a staunch man, was taller than his adversary, and
possessed a hardy and erect frame. Upon the match being made he went
into training near Enfield; during which period he gave proof that he
was capable of performing no little in the milling way. Three countrymen
called at the house where he resided, and rudely challenged him to
fight. Church, shamefully careless about the engagement he was under,
with more rashness than judgment, accepted their offer; fortune favoured
him, for in a very short time, it was reported, he disposed of the whole
three, and public rumour ran that he was likely to turn out a
troublesome customer for Scroggins.
On Tuesday, August 20th, 1816, the men met, and Moulsey Hurst was once
more the theatre of pugilistic display. Myriads of persons left the
metropolis, in all directions, to view the renowned Scroggins, among
whom were Lord Yarmouth, Colonel Berkeley, Captain Barclay, etc.
Vehicles of all descriptions, from the barouche and four to the
scavenger’s mud-cart, were in requisition at an early hour, to reach the
destined spot; the blood-horse, in all the pride of high breeding, was
galloping by all, and the more humble donkey and the spare nacker
trotting and snorting along the road, to be up in time. Pedestrians of
all ranks formed a moving scene, and by twelve o’clock many thousand
persons crowded the Hurst. Church appeared first, and threw his hat into
the ring; Scroggins shortly following his example. The former was
seconded by Tom Belcher and Bill Gibbons, the latter by Cribb and Clark.
At a quarter past one the men shook hands. Three to one on Scroggins.
The battle lasted fifty-eight minutes, and fifty rounds took place, as
follow:—
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Scroggins, on setting-to, seemed
anxious to be at work, but hit short. He,
however, soon made up for this deficiency by
giving his opponent two desperate facers,
which produced the claret in a twinkling.
Church seemed electrified by the severity of
his hits, exchanged a few blows, turned round
in confusion, and was ultimately sent down.
(Three to one on Scroggins.)
2.—Church appeared at the scratch bleeding.
Scroggins set-to determinedly, and soon showed
his opponent the severe punishment he was likely
to encounter, by putting in two severe blows,
right and left, on his nob. Church again turned
round confusedly, but drew the cork of his
antagonist. Scroggins evinced his superiority,
and finished this round decidedly in his favour,
by sending his man down. In this early stage of
the fight, the spectators made up their minds to
the ultimate event, and four to one was offered.
3.—Church did not know what to do with his
antagonist; he was quickly sent down by
Scroggins, who held up both his hands.
4.—The position of Church was good, but there
was nothing of the scientific boxer about him;
nevertheless, he put in some good hits, and, in
closing, both went down. Scroggins rolled over
like a tumbler.
5.—This was rather a severe round, and, in
closing, Church endeavoured to fib his opponent;
both down.
6.—Scroggins went furiously in to mill his
opponent, which he did most effectually, and
sent Church down. Both their mugs began to show
the effects of punishment.
7.—Scroggins seemed determined to finish his
opponent, but twice hit short: he rushed in and
took great liberties with his nob. Church again
went down.
8.—Church appeared to have no notion of
protecting his head from the attacks of his
opponent. He not only received two desperate
facers, but was punished severely at the ropes,
and milled down.
9.—In this round Scroggins had it all his own
way; he hit Church quite out of the ring. (Great
applause.)
10.—Some good exchanges. In closing, both down,
Church undermost.
11.—Church broke away from a close, and got
into a rally, but he was at length sent to the
ground.
12.—In favour of Church; he put in two good
blows, but, in closing, both went down.
13.—Scroggins hit him quite round against the
ropes, and Church was sent down.
14.—Scroggins put in a facer, and Church went
down.
15.—Church made a hit and fell down. (Nineteen
minutes.)
16.—Scroggins put in two facers, turned suddenly
round with all the agility of a dancing master,
and ended by flooring Church.
17.—Scroggins broke from a close, and exchanged
some blows; but Church ultimately threw him.
18.—Church made one or two good stops, but was
sent down.
19.—Scroggins milled his opponent in all
directions without receiving any return, till
Church went off his legs.
20.—Scroggins was the principal receiver in this
round. In a close, both down.
21.—Scroggins, with the utmost _sang froid_, on
setting-to floored his man, and stood over him
with the utmost contempt.
22.—Scroggins measured his distance again well,
put in a tremendous facer, and ultimately threw
his opponent.
23.—Church felt for Scroggins’ nob twice, and
threw him.
24.—Scroggins received a hit at going in, but,
in closing, both went down.
25.—Church put in a facer, but Scroggins soon
floored him.
26.—Church, with much severity, hit his opponent
quite away from him, and had the best of the
round. In closing, both went down.
27.—Church seemed in this round totally off his
guard. Scroggins put in seven severe facers in
rapid succession, till he sent Church down.
(Twenty to one.)
28.—Scroggins determined to lose no time,
pursued his advantage with the utmost spirit,
dealing out punishment at every step. His rush
was not to be resisted, and Church again went
down.
29.—Church gave his opponent a check upon
his nob as he was going in, but it did not
ultimately prevent Scroggins from boring him
to the ropes, and getting him down. (Any
odds.)
30.—Church was completely on the taking system;
the knowledge of giving he seemed totally
ignorant of. A greater glutton was never seen,
no common caterer could serve his inordinate
appetite. Scroggins hit his adversary off his
legs.
31.—Church only appeared as a mark to hit at.
Stopping his adversary was out of the question;
he again measured his length on the grass.
32.—Scroggins was truly conspicuous in this
round. He did as he liked with his antagonist,
till he sent him down.
33.—It was astonishing to see Church,
considering the severe milling he had received,
continue to face his man with such confidence.
Ho had no chance whatever, except being knocked
down.
34.—Church exchanged some blows in this round
rather to his advantage, but almost laid himself
down from exhaustion at the conclusion of it.
35.—Scroggins, in making a hit, literally pushed
down his opponent.
36.—Church was hit down almost upon setting-to.
37.—Scroggins, eager to put a finishing stroke
to this game article, rushed in furiously and
sent him down.
38.—Church’s face looked deplorable; he received
three tremendous blows. Scroggins put in also a
severe body blow with his left hand, when Church
as usual went down.
39.—The battle might be said to be at an end,
but Church’s game was not yet exhausted.
Scroggins again sent his man down.
40.—Scroggins ran in to his adversary like a
bull, head foremost, at his body, and caught
hold of the waistband of his breeches, but
instantly recollecting, as it were, that he had
committed an error, he slid his hands upwards.
It might have been accidental, but the seconds
of Church considering such an attack contrary to
the established rules of fighting, thought that
to fulfil their duty they ought to take their
man out of the ring. The umpires, however,
passed it over, and thus, fortunately for
Scroggins, saved him from the disagreeable
circumstance of a wrangle, or perhaps making a
drawn battle of it.
41.—Though Church could not win, yet he now and
then felt for his antagonist’s nob sharply, and
in this round he put in a severe facer, but
Scroggins sent him down.
42.—Nothing. Church went down upon setting-to.
43.—Scroggins again nobbed his opponent, and, to
add to the severity of the punishment, Church
received a severe body blow before he found his
way to the grass.
44.—Scroggins hit his adversary cleanly down,
and it was apprehended that he would not be
able to come again; indeed, his backer wished
him to desist from the contest. The seconds of
Scroggins took the hint, and threw up their
hats in the air as the token of victory. The
outer ring immediately gave way, but Church
insisted upon fighting longer, and the
45th round commenced during this confusion. The
spirit of Church was good, but his strength
could not keep pace with his wishes. Scroggins
was awake that victory was certain, and sent his
adversary down in quick time.
46.—Church was now going very fast, and was sent
down upon setting-to.
47.—The mortification of surrender urged Church
to continue the battle while he was able to
stand upon his legs; but it was all up, and he
was only receiving unnecessary punishment, being
sent down every round.
48.—Church went down completely exhausted.
49.—Notwithstanding the reduced state of Church,
he made a couple of hits, but it was only to be
sent down.
50 and last.—On coming to the scratch he was
floored, _sans ceremonie_, and not able to meet
his man any more. He was led out of the ring
dreadfully beaten.
REMARKS.—A gamer man never entered the ring than
Church; he proved himself a complete taker, but
as to the winning consequences of giving he had
much to learn. Scroggins was completely at home;
cautious of himself, his judgment was excellent
in perceiving when his antagonist was exhausted,
and going in promptly to finish him off. He,
however, gave a chance away, by running head
foremost at his opponent’s body, a proceeding
which at the present day would have lost him the
battle. Scroggins, however, did not win this
fight without considerable punishment about
the nob, one of his eyes being nearly closed,
and his face much beaten. He never exhibited
anything like such marks before. Church sprained
his ankle severely in the third round; and had
not this accident occurred, he might have stood
up much better, perhaps with more chance of
ultimate success. His confidence never deserted
him throughout the battle; and he talked to his
second between every round of his capabilities
to continue the contest. After the great success
of Scroggins in the two first rounds, when he in
fact reduced winning almost to a certainty, many
of the fancy expressed some little astonishment
that fifty-eight minutes should elapse before
Scroggins was able to send his man out of the
ring. Mr. Jackson collected £20 to reward the
bravery of Church.
The friends of Tom Hall (known as the Isle of Wight Hall), were
extremely anxious to match him with Scroggins for 200 guineas a-side;
but, after four meetings upon the subject, the last of which was held at
the Mansion House Coffee House, February, 1817, the partizans of Hall
offered to pay half the deposit between Scroggins and Turner, in order
to induce the former to relinquish that match. Hall also proposed to add
ten pounds which had been forfeited to him in a previous instance, to
the battle-money; but the offers were declined. Scroggins had no
objection to fight Hall, provided he weighed no more than eleven stone.
However, it was the general opinion among the best judges of pugilism
that Hall was too heavy for our hero.
After six months’ interval, Scroggins again entered the prize ring. His
antagonist on this occasion was the afterwards celebrated Ned Turner.
The affair came off in a field near Hayes Turnpike, Middlesex, on
Wednesday, March 26, 1817; Scroggins fighting Turner £100 against £50.
This contest ended in a draw, the particulars of which will be found in
the memoir of Ned Turner, _ante_, p. 374.
A second match was afterwards made on the 10th of June, 1817, Scroggins
fighting Turner £120 against £80.
Upon a review of the merits of the drawn battle above mentioned, some
doubts appeared to exist in the minds of the backers of Scroggins
respecting the result of the coming fight. The following contest,
however, which took place _ad interim_, not only tended to remove the
doubts in question, but operated so strongly towards increasing their
former confidence in Scroggins as to raise the odds to three to one that
he was the victor.
A meeting was held at Tom Oliver’s house in Peter Street, Westminster,
on Friday, May 2, 1817, to complete the stakes for the match between
Sutton and Ned Painter. Several pugilists were present upon this
occasion, among whom were Scroggins, Carter, West Country Dick, Ballard,
Purcell, etc. Scroggy having drank freely during the evening above
stairs, descended into the parlour and ridiculed Dick upon his defeat by
Randall. He also offered to bet two to one upon himself against Turner,
which was immediately accepted by Richmond; and, upon the latter’s
taking up the money to deposit in some person’s hands, Scroggins seized
hold of the man of colour. Scroggins now gave some ludicrous imitations
of Richmond’s mode of milling, calling him everything but a good one,
and offered to fight the man of colour in the room for any sum. The
latter was much pressed to give Scroggins a thrashing for his improper
conduct, but Richmond kept his temper, although called a cur for
suffering such a little fellow to insult and triumph over him. Richmond
was not to be moved from his resolution, and very properly observed,
“That as Scroggins was under an engagement to fight Turner, the sporting
world should not experience a disappointment from his disabling the man
from fulfilling his agreement.” This conduct on the part of Richmond was
admitted to be handsome and manly by all present. Scroggins, however,
would not be denied—fight he would with somebody, and to accommodate his
penchant, a match was proposed between him and young Fisher for twenty
guineas a-side, to be decided instantly, the latter having gallantly
beaten the rough and hardy Crockey, before the Grand Duke of Russia, at
Coombe Warren. Previously, however, the opinion of Mr. Jackson was taken
respecting the propriety of Scroggins fighting, considering his
engagement with Turner. Mr. J. thought he ought not. Scroggins overruled
this objection, by declaring that nothing should hinder him from having
a mill, provided Mr. Farmer would make the match. Shelton, in
conjunction with some other persons, then put down the money for Fisher.
The large room at the back of the premises was lighted up, the scratch
made, bottles, lemons, etc., produced; the spectators retired to each
end of the room, and the door was locked. Mr. Jackson acted as umpire.
Carter and Clark attended Scroggins; Richmond and a novice waited upon
Fisher. Three to two on Scroggins. The parties shook hands—half minute
time was allowed, and sixteen minutes before twelve o’clock at night the
battle commenced. More spirited betting or greater order never was
observed at Moulsey, Shepperton, or Coombe Wood.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On setting-to mischief being meant,
little science was displayed between the
combatants; Fisher put in a slight body hit.
Scroggins reeled in after his usual mode, and
both went to work slap bang—some sharp nobbers
were exchanged, and, in closing, both down,
Scroggy undermost. (“Well done, Fisher!”)
2.—Fisher, full of gaiety, again hit, first on
the body, and seemed resolutely determined upon
following up his success. They both nobbed each
other smartly; and in struggling to obtain the
throw, Scroggy, as before, was undermost.
3.—Scroggins, from the effects of lushing, came
quite noisy to the scratch, and laughing at
Fisher, told him if he could hit no harder than
he had done, he must lose it, and he (Scroggins)
would soon convince him of that fact. Fisher,
not dismayed by this threat, not only fought
with his opponent manfully, but threw him
completely on his face. (“Go it, Fisher!”)
4.—This was a good round, and Fisher pelted
away so sharply, that Scroggy seemed rather
sobered by the contact. Ceremony was out of the
question, hit for hit was reciprocally given,
till Fisher slipped and went down. (Two to one
on Scroggy was vociferated by his partisans.)
5.—Fisher came to the scratch in the most lively
style, and set-to with as much coolness as if he
had been fighting a mere commoner. They soon
closed, Fisher undermost.
6.—Nothing but milling was the order of this
round; both down.
7.—Scroggins rushed at his opponent with the
impetuosity of a bull-dog, and made his one-two
tell upon Fisher’s mug: the latter stood to him
like bricks, and contended gamely till he found
himself undermost in the throw. (This change on
the part of Scroggy brought offers forward of
four to one in his favour.)
8.—Fisher went to work manfully, and Scroggins
slipped down from a hit, but, instantly
recovering himself, instead of finishing the
round, he rushed at Fisher, when some sharp
blows were exchanged till both went down.
9.—Fisher with the utmost ease sent Scroggy
down. (“Bravo, Fisher—stick to him, my lad!”)
10.—One of Scroggins’s peepers seemed a little
damaged, but his canvas appeared so impenetrable
that the claret scorned to make its appearance.
Both again down; but Scroggins, while on the
knee of his second, gave two or three loud hems,
as if to improve his wind.
11.—This was a truly punishing round. Fisher hit
Scroggins slightly down—he was up again in a
twinkling, and most furiously went in to mill
his opponent; he was, however, ultimately sent
down.
12.—Fisher put in a good facer; but, in closing,
both down.
13.—As yet, nothing was the matter with Fisher,
and considering Scroggins was three parts groggy
upon commencing the fight, he convinced those
around him what a fine constitution he
possessed. Fisher was also viewed with
admiration—and making allowance for his
“greenness” in contending with a pugilist at the
top of the tree, he proved himself an ugly
customer for this modern Dutch Sam. in this
round Fisher had the best decidedly.
14.—Scroggins went down in closing, but the
advantage was on his side. When on his second’s
knee, he sneeringly observed to Fisher, that “he
could not hit hard enough; he had better give it
in, as a few more of _his_ hits must finish
him.”
15 to 17.—Nothing material on either side.
18.—In this round Scroggy was floored. Great
applause to Fisher.
19 to 23.—Though Scroggins was the favourite,
yet many present considered the event at this
stage of the fight doubtful. (Upon several
offers being made, Scroggy observed, “Aye, bet
away, gentlemen, I can win it like fun. I lay
two to one on myself.”)
24 to 29.—Fisher appeared still fresh, and
notwithstanding the desperate rushing forward
of Scroggins to take the fight out of him, he
never flinched from his man, but fought with
Scroggins like a game-cock. At the conclusion
of this round, which was in favour of the cove
of Stangate, he exclaimed with the utmost
confidence, “Who can beat me, alive? I can
mill any of ’em!”
30 to 32.—Scroggins had the worst of these
rounds. He appeared rather distressed, and from
the effects of the grog reeled about. Fisher
exchanged many blows to his advantage.
33.—This round was complete hammering. Scroggins
wanted to put an end to the fight, and fought
his way in with all the determination of a lion.
His blows were terrific—and although he went
down from a sharp hit, he instantly jumped up
again and milled Fisher furiously till he got
him down. Carter now offered a guinea to
half-a-crown. “Bravo, Scroggy—he is an
astonishing fellow!” was the general cry.
34 to 36.—Well contested on both sides: but in
the latter round Fisher missed putting in a
blow, that might have materially turned the
fight in his favour. He had hit Scroggins away
from him twice, near the corner of the room,
that laid him open, and instead of following up
the chance, he retreated and got sent down.
Scroggins again loudly hemmed, upon his second’s
knee, for wind.
37.—Scroggins sent down Fisher in a twinkling.
This blow was on the face, and from its
tremendous severity, his countenance changed.
Scroggins shouted with glee, and offered to bet
anything.
38.—Fisher again went down from a slight hit.
Scroggins, with much contempt and confidence,
“What do you think of that? I’ll bet a hundred
to one, I’ll win it.”
39 to 42.—Fisher fought manfully, but a change
had taken place; he showed signs of weakness,
and went down in all these rounds. (£250 to
£100 on Scroggy, and his partisans roared with
delight.)
43.—Scroggins now began to finish in high style,
and dealt out some tremendous punishment.
(Guinea to a shilling was offered, but not
taken.)
44 and last.—Fisher came to the scratch much
distressed, and Scroggins again milled him down.
On time being called, Fisher could not rise from
his second’s knee, being very faint and rather
sick, upon which Scroggins was declared the
conqueror. The battle lasted forty-one minutes.
REMARKS.—Fisher must be pronounced a good man,
and had he fought more at the head he might
have been able to have given a better account
of the battle. His mug was a little battered,
but in other respects he did not exhibit severe
marks of punishment. He attributed his loss
to the very heavy falls he experienced more
than to the blows he encountered, and walked
from the scene of action without any help.
Scroggins fought under disadvantage; but the
confidence he possessed was truly astonishing.
He urged that he could beat all the light
weights, and entertained an idea that six men
in the whole kingdom did not exist who could
conquer him. He was much inebriated, and the
danger he was likely to experience by losing a
chance in his ensuing fight with Turner, seemed
not in the least to operate on his mind. Though
the above conquest was not an easy fight, he
was as anxious to bet upon himself as the most
interested looker-on, offering terms almost on
every round. He was more beaten about the face
than his antagonist.
It was now decidedly two to one, and in many instances the odds were
still higher throughout the sporting, that Scroggins would add another
laurel to his wreath, in his second combat with Turner, on the 10th of
June, 1817, at Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, but the smiles of fortune
abandoned our hero, and, for the first time in his life, he found
himself in defeat. (See p. 377.)
The only consolation Scroggins experienced, after his mind had overcome
the shock was attributing his loss to an accidental blow he received
upon the throat in the third round, and which swelled so rapidly as
almost to deprive him of the power of breathing; nothing could satisfy
his wounded feelings but another opportunity to retrieve his lost
laurels. Turner, without hesitation, agreed to accommodate him, and
Scroggins was so confident of victory, that he put down the principal
part of the money himself, to make the stakes £150 a-side, the combat to
take place on Tuesday, October 7, 1817. But the charm was broken—the
invincibility of Scroggins, in the sporting world, was at an end—no
longer a winning man his defects were too prominent to be overlooked. A
material falling off was observed at his benefit and he was altogether
so much reduced that the odds on the third contest were seven to four
against him.
During the time allowed for training, Scroggins, as on a former
instance, unmindful of the necessity of paying attention to his health,
in an inebriated moment had an accidental turn up with Bob Gregson at
Belcher’s. In this skirmish he went down, and sprained one of his legs
so severely that he did not recover from its effects for upwards of a
month; but, to make amends for this indiscretion, so much did he fancy
this match, that he sold his house, quitted the character of a publican,
and became a private individual, “in order,” as he observed, “to be more
able to keep to his training.”
His third battle with Turner was fought at Shepperton October 7, 1818
(which, as well as the former, will be found under the Memoir of TURNER,
p. 382). Notwithstanding his professed contempt for regular training,
Scroggins appeared in the ring in better condition than his opponent. It
was evident to every one present that Scroggy strained every point to
win; and it is but common justice to remark, that his character as a
boxer rose higher, in every point of view, on that day than in any of
his previous battles.
Poor Scroggy’s course was now a downward one. He had survived his fame;
and, never heeding the cautions of prudence, he paid the penalty, which
men in every profession, pugilism by no means excepted, must pay for
disregarding her dictates.
He was successively defeated by Jack Martin, the opponent of Randall,
(see p. 398), at Moulsey, on the 18th of December, 1818, after a game
fight of sixty-five rounds, in two hours and two minutes; by Josh.
Hudson, at the same place, August 24, 1819, in eleven rounds, occupying
eighteen minutes; and twice by David Hudson, the first time in May, the
second in July, 1820.
Scroggy, however, was still game, and ready for anything. Determined as
he himself said, “to lick somebody afore the year was out, pervising he
could get backers,” Jack looked in on the 30th of November, 1820, at a
“spread” given at Randall’s in Chancery Lane, by sundry patrons of the
fistic art. Spring, Purcell, Randall, Turner, Martin, Phil. Sampson,
Harry Holt, and others, were among the guests, and the patter turned on
battles past and matches to come. A swell observed, that “if he could be
got into condition, he should like to see a mill between Holt and the
Old Tar, on account of the contrast of their styles.” Holt expressed his
approbation of the proposal, and six weeks was mooted as the period.
Jack, always rough and ready, replied, “Why, as to that there matter,
’tain’t no match between me and Holt; I can lick him like a babby. I
never was so ill with a cold in all my born days; but as to time, why
I’ll fight him any time you like, even now, bad as I am.” Holt returned
Scroggins thanks for his candour; but, in return, thought Scroggins
would have no chance; “however,” concluded Cicero, “far be it from me to
aggravate the gentlemanly sort of man’s impatience: I too think, if it
can be managed, there’s no time like time present.” “I’m ready,”
retorted Scroggins; “but the winner shall have the whole of the purse.”
“And I am agreeable,” replied Holt. Ten guineas were quickly posted, and
the usual preparations were made for the contest. Turner and Martin
seconded Scroggins; Purcell and Sampson were for Holt. Spring was
time-keeper. Five to four on Scroggins on one side of the room, and five
to four on Holt among the other party.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The attitude of Holt was elegant, and
he appeared also difficult to be got at.
Scroggins was not long in commencing his
favourite rush, and he bored in upon his
opponent till he absolutely ran down Holt in the
corner, and fell upon him.
2.—This round was all fighting; and the
wisty-castors flew about till both went down,
but Holt undermost.
3.—The fine science of Holt here told; and he
planted two nobbers with his left hand without
any return. Scroggins, however, went in upon the
old tack when, after some exchanges, Holt got
him down.
4.—After some exchanges of blows upon their
nobs, the combatants closed, and Holt weaved his
opponent in the Randall style. Scroggins got the
throw, and Holt was undermost.
5.—The left hand of Holt told severely, and
Scroggins went away with the force of the hits.
Both down.
6.—Scroggins rushed in on Holt, but in making
a hit he missed his opponent, and fell. He
immediately got up, and said, “Gentlemen, I
beg your pardon; I could not help it.”
7 and 8.—Nothing else but fighting—giving and
taking without flinching, till both went down.
“Bravo!” from the Pinks, “it’s an excellent
fight. Both are good men; and Jack’s as good as
his master.” Scroggins seemed rather touched in
the wind, and he gave a loud hem.
9.—Holt, in this round, was everything. He gave
Scroggy three facers without any return, and
also hit him down. “Scroggy, he’ll spoil your
beautiful mug, if you don’t take care.”
10 and 11.—Two slashing rounds. In the last,
Scroggy went down from a slip. Ten minutes had
elapsed.
12.—Holt, after making a slight blow, slipped
down. Six to four on Holt.
13 to 15.—The blows of Holt were not effective
enough to take the fight out of Scroggins. It
was hard milling in all these rounds. Scroggins
said to his seconds, “Don’t water me so much;
it’s all right; I can’t lose it.”
16.—Holt’s left eye was rather damaged, and the
claret had made its appearance on his mug. This
was a tremendous round, and Scroggins threw
Holt; but he behaved handsomely to his fallen
opponent,—instead of falling upon him, as he
might have done, he walked away. “Bravo; you are
a good little fellow.”
17.—Scroggins’s nob was a little changed, and he
again received two facers. Scroggins also went
down.
18.—After an exchange of blows, Scroggins
laughingly observed to Holt, “If you don’t hit
harder, my boy, you can never win it.” Both
down.—Twenty minutes.
19.—Sharp fighting; but Scroggins went down.
Here Randall took some brandy to Holt, and gave
him advice. “How many seconds are there to be?”
said an amateur. “If there are forty it will
make no odds,” observed Scroggins.
20.—In this round, Scroggins received a severe
hit on his throat; two facers were also added to
it; but he would not be denied, and scrambled
his way in, till they both went down.
21.—Scroggins now began to wink, and he was as
much distressed as an old, worn out, broken
winded post prad; he, however, got Holt down.
22 and 23.—“Go along, Harry, it’s all your own;
he’ll not come above two more rounds.” The left
hand of Holt did some execution, and Scroggins
had now the worst of it.
24.—This was a tremendous round. Scroggins went
to work like a blacksmith hammering at a forge,
and bored Holt into a corner. Hit for hit was
exchanged, till they both went down; but Holt
was undermost, and the back part of his head
came in contact with the window-seat. “It’s all
up;” and Martin offered fifteen to ten.
25.—Holt was quite an altered man, and he seemed
stupefied from the effects of the fall. The
whole of the falls throughout the fight were
heavy indeed. When time was called, Holt came to
the scratch with great difficulty. Scroggins
down and undermost.
26.—The science of Holt was much admired; and,
although terribly distressed, he put in two
facers before he went down. “He’s nothing else
but a game man,” from all the swells.
27.—Holt got better, and Scroggins, in going
down, was undermost.
28.—It was not yet safe to Scroggins. Both down.
29.—This round was severely contested; but
the heavy fall Holt received shook him all
to pieces. Ten to five on Scroggins.
30.—Holt was game to the last; he exerted
himself, and got Scroggins down.
31.—Scroggins was very much exhausted, but the
fight was not out of him, and he came up first
to the scratch. Both down. Ten to three.
32.—It was evident Holt could not win, and he
was sent down in an instant. Ten to one.
33 and last.—Holt was sent down, and his second
could scarcely get him on his knee. When time
was called, the Birmingham Youth said he should
not fight any more. Scroggins immediately came
up to Holt, and said, “Harry, give us your hand;
you are a good fellow, and here’s a guinea for
you!” Great applause from the swells, and “Jack,
you shall lose nothing by your generosity and
feeling.”
REMARKS.—For two men out of condition, nay, both
unwell, particularly Scroggins, it was a much
better fight than has frequently been seen when
boxers have been in regular training. Scroggins
had still some tremendous points about him, and
the old tar’s rumbling, hardy mode of boring
in, told severely at close quarters. It was a
gallant battle on both sides; but the blows
of Holt were not hard enough to stop the rush
of Scroggins. The accident Holt received in
the twenty-fourth round perhaps lost him the
fight; he also complained of a sprained thumb
before he commenced the battle. In a ring some
of the amateurs thought Holt might have stood a
better chance. The smiles of victory, which had
not been familiar to Scroggins in his last six
battles, seemed to give him new life. It was an
out-and-out concern altogether; and the patrons
of the science, manliness, and true game had a
treat.
This flush of success was followed by another gleam of sunshine.
Scroggins found backers, and was pitted against Joe Parish, the
Waterman, who having beaten Davis, Harry Holt, and Lashbrook, was
thought a promising plant, in spite of his having fallen beneath the
all-conquering arm of the Nonpareil, Jack Randall. Banstead Downs, in
Surrey, on Saturday, March 3, 1831, were the spot and time, and fifty
guineas the sum; it was the second fight on the above day. The rain was
pouring down in torrents when Scroggins appeared and threw his hat into
the ring, attended by Randall and Paddington Jones as his seconds.
Parish showed soon afterwards, followed by Spring and Harmer. Both men
appeared in excellent condition. For one hour and a quarter, the rival
pugilists exerted themselves in the highest style of courage to obtain
the victory. The changes were frequent indeed; two to one on
Scroggins—three to one on Parish—three to one again on Scroggins—then
other changes. In the fifty-second round, from the distressed state of
Parish, Randall threw up his hat, as it did not appear that Parish would
be again able to appear at the scratch. He, however, recovered, and
fought till the sixty-ninth round; but in the last three rounds, it was
a hundred pounds to a farthing in favour of Scroggins. The latter
behaved extremely well, was remarkably steady, and reminded the
spectator of his best days. He was, however, terribly punished. The
greatest anxiety prevailed among the old fanciers, who were more than
friendly in their good wishes towards their old favourite. In the second
round, Scroggins fell with his shoulder against one of the stakes (which
circumstance was not known to the spectators, and operated as a great
drawback to his exertions). Had not this accident happened, Scroggins
thought he could have won it in much less time. Parish was punished but
little about the head; yet he remained in a state of stupor a short time
after the fight was over; and Spring carried him in his arms out of the
ring. Parish displayed a great deal of game, and suffered very severely
from heavy falls. If Parish had gone in to fight first, he might have
given a better account of the battle. Spring this day convinced the
amateurs he was entitled to their praise, not only as a most attentive
second, but as a most active one; and it would not be doing common
justice to the anxiety and exertions he displayed to make “ould Jack”
win, to pass them over without notice.
On the Thursday after the above fight, at Josh. Hudson’s benefit, Parish
addressed the Court, observing, “that although he had been defeated by
Scroggins, he was not satisfied, and was ready to have another trial.”
Scroggins, in reply, said, “from the advice of his friends, he had not
intended to have fought any more; but as how he was too much of a
gentleman not to accommodate Mr. Parish, who was also a gentlemanly sort
of a man; so he would give him another trial.” A guinea a-side was
deposited; but on the arrival of the night to make the stakes good,
Parish did not make his appearance, and the guinea, of course, was
forfeited.
This sunshine, however, was evanescent, and the course of Scroggins’s
history tends henceforth downwards. In April, 1822, as related in the
life of TOM BELCHER, p. 165 _ante_, the hardy hero came in contact with
the scientific Tom; on this occasion if Tom was stale Scroggy assuredly
was but a shadow of his former self, and he was moreover in that state
of lush which had now become almost habitual to him. Still, however,
“ould Jack,” as he was already called, haunted the ring at every mill of
note, unable to quit the arena of his many triumphs. The milling “spirit
strong within him,” was shown on the 12th of June, 1822, at Moulsey
Hurst. On that occasion the fights between Ward and Acton, and Burke and
Marshall, having gone off unsatisfactorily to the patrons of boxing
there and then present, a brace of countrymen offered themselves for a
purse, and had actually “peeled,” when Scroggy roared out, “Gentlemen,
as you’ve had but little fun to-day, suppose I fight the Gipsy, that
will produce sport?” Cooper instantly replied that he was ready; and the
extemporaneous mill quickly commenced. Scroggins was seconded by Harry
Harmer and Bill Eales; Abbot and Turner picked up the Gipsy. In this
battle the rash and hardy little Tar showed the folly of entering the
ring out of condition. He was full of oranges, ginger beer, and heavy
wet, taken as antidotes to the heat of the day, and as unfit to fight as
a stall-fed ox; nevertheless he came up to be set down for twenty-five
minutes, during which seventeen rounds were fought; Scroggins was at
length persuaded to leave off. He afterwards observed, “he could not
win, but he wasn’t half-licked.” This was our hero’s last appearance in
the P. R.
Poor Scroggins now became a mere hanger-on of pothouses: a droll,
diverting vagabond, occasionally picking up a few shillings as a second,
or receiving precarious assistance from those who had known him in more
prosperous days. Among these Cribb was long his friend, and “wittles”
(for which Jack had an inordinate penchant, until brilliant Juniper
utterly destroyed his digestion) were often set before him from the
larder of the generous host of the Union Arms. Occasionally too, Jack
would get in office as a waiter at one or other of the Sporting Houses;
but his invincible love of liquor soon lost him these temporary asylums.
The editor of _Bell’s Life in London_ (V. G. Dowling, Esq.), by frequent
generous appeals, and taking Jack’s name as the comic pseudonyme for
innumerable admirable burlesque poems on public affairs, political and
pugilistic, kept the once formidable pugilist, now the poor pothouse
buffoon, from actual starvation.
May the example of John Palmer have its proper weight with every man
whose physical capabilities lead him to adopt pugilism as a profession;
and enforce the truth, that no constitution, however good, no strength,
however superior to that of ordinary men, no amount of courage no degree
of determination, can supply the want of caution, of attention to
training, of prudence, of moderation; in short, of steadiness of conduct
and becoming behaviour in and out of the ring. This is the deduction
which every attentive reader of this history cannot fail to draw from a
perusal of the lives of our most eminent boxers—that in the ring, as in
every other pursuit, honesty of purpose, self-denial, and sobriety are
indispensable—at least while engaged in struggles to attain distinction.
Scroggins departed this life on the 1st of November, 1836, in extreme
poverty, having not quite completed his 49th year.
In _Bell’s Life in London_ of November 6, appeared a “monody” of great
length, and on the 13th the subjoined—
“EPITAPH ON OLD JACK SCROGGINS, P.P.
BY SIR FROSTY-FACED FOGO, BART., P.L.F.[163]
“Beneath this turf, and number’d with the dead,
Poor old Jack Scroggins rests his weary head.
His form grotesque departed, never more
To set the Castle parlour in a roar.
His spirit now unconscious of distress—
His active limbs all stiff and motionless—
Proof against pain, or poverty’s attack.
Here lies a Nonpareil—alas, poor Jack!
’Twas in the proud and palmy days of fight,
That first his wond’rous prowess came to light;
And long the annals of the ring shall tell,
Floor’d by his fives, how many a prime one fell;
How many a gallant miller, tried and tough,
As victor hail’d him, crying, ‘Hold, enough!’
How from his lips this language oft hath dropp’d,
‘I bears no malice to the man I’ve whopp’d!’
But his last fight is fought—the Champion grim,
To whom we all must yield, hath vanquish’d him
His allies sure—pale sickness, max, and age—
Have fairly driven old Scroggins off the stage;
Stretch’d the tough veteran on his lowly bier,
With none to comfort, and with nought to cheer.
Fogo’s salt tears, since thou art gone, old blade,
Shall oft bedew the spot where thou art laid;
And to thy memory in thy place of rest,
He oft will take a drop of Seager’s best.
A long farewell, from care and sorrow free,
Neglect and kindness are alike to thee;
Yet a poor brother bard, to friendship true,
Weeps o’er thy grave, and sighs a last adieu.”
APPENDIX TO PERIOD IV.
CAPTAIN ROBERT BARCLAY, ALLARDYCE OF URY.[164]
A History of Boxing without mention of Captain Barclay would be
incomplete. As a thoroughbred sportsman, who practised what he studied,
and achieved what he attempted, his name will be long preserved. Whether
following the hounds after fox or deer, labouring to improve the system
of agriculture, displaying his extraordinary feats of pedestrianism,
exercising his judgment in training men for foot races and pugilistic
combats, or in his encouragement of Highland sports and pastimes,
Captain Barclay was always foremost. His knowledge of the capabilities
of the human frame was complete, and his researches and practical
experiments to ascertain the physical powers of man would have reflected
credit on our most enlightened and persevering physiologists. The
sporting pursuits of Captain Barclay were scientific, and his plans so
well matured that his judgment generally proved successful.
Robert Barclay, Allardyce of Ury, succeeded his father in the eighteenth
year of his age. He was born in August, 1779; and, at eight years of
age, was sent to England to receive his education. He remained four
years at Richmond School, and three years at Brixton Causeway. His
academical studies were completed at Cambridge.
The Captain’s favourite pursuits were, the art of agriculture as the
serious business of his life, and manly sports as his amusement. The
improvement of his estates occupied much of his attention, and, by
pursuing the plan adopted by his immediate predecessor, the value of his
property was greatly augmented. His love of athletic exercises was
seconded by the strong conformation of his body and great muscular
strength. His usual rate of travelling on foot was six miles an hour,
and to walk from twenty to thirty miles before breakfast was a favourite
amusement. His style of walking was to bend forward the body, and throw
its weight on the knees; his step short, and his feet raised only a few
inches from the ground. Any person trying this plan will find his pace
quickened, and he will walk with more ease to himself, and be better
able to endure the fatigue of a long journey than by walking perfectly
erect, which throws too much weight of the body on the ankle joints.
With sound sense Captain Barclay tells us he always wore thick shoes and
lambs’-wool stockings, to preserve the feet from injury, and impart a
lightness and activity when for a time a lighter shoe is adopted. The
Captain possessed uncommon strength in his arms. In April, 1806, while
in Suffolk with the 23rd regiment, he offered a bet of 1,000 guineas
that he would lift from the ground the weight of half a ton. He tried
the experiment, and lifted twenty-one half hundred weights. He
afterwards, with a straight arm, threw a half hundred weight the
distance of eight yards, and over his head the same weight a distance of
five yards.
The following list contains the most prominent public and private
pedestrian exploits performed by Captain Barclay.
The Captain, when seventeen years of age, entered into a match with a
gentleman in London, in the month of August, 1796, to walk six miles
within an hour, fair toe and heel, for 100 guineas, which he
accomplished on the Croydon Road.
In 1798 he performed the distance of seventy miles in fourteen hours,
beating Fergusson, the celebrated walking clerk, by several miles.
In December, 1799, he accomplished one hundred and fifty miles in two
days, having walked from Fenchurch Street in London, to Birmingham,
round by Cambridge.
The Captain walked sixty-four miles in twelve hours, including the time
for refreshment, in November, 1800, as a sort of preparatory trial to a
match of walking ninety miles in twenty-one hours and a half, for a bet
of 500 guineas, with Mr. Fletcher, of Ballingshoe. In training, the
Captain caught cold and gave up the bet. In 1801 he renewed the above
match for 2,000 guineas. He accomplished sixty-seven miles in thirteen
hours, but, having drank some brandy, he became instantly sick, and
unable to proceed. He consequently gave up the bet, and the umpire
retired; but, after two hours’ rest, he was so far recovered that he had
time enough left to have performed his task.
[Illustration:
CAPTAIN ROBERT BARCLAY (ALLARDYCE OF URY).
_From a Miniature_, 1798. _Ætatis_ 19.
]
Captain Barclay felt so confident that he could walk ninety miles in
twenty-one hours and a half, that he again matched himself for 5,000
guineas. In his training to perform this feat he went one hundred and
ten miles in nineteen hours, notwithstanding it rained nearly the whole
of the time. This performance may be deemed the greatest on record,
being at the rate of upwards of one hundred and thirty-five miles in
twenty-four hours.
On the 10th of November, 1801, he started to perform the above match,
between York and Hull. The space of ground was a measured mile, and on
each side of the road a number of lamps were placed. The Captain was
dressed in a flannel shirt, flannel trowsers, and nightcap, lambs’-wool
stockings, and thick soled leather shoes. He proceeded till he had gone
seventy miles, scarcely varying in regularly performing each round of
two miles in twenty-five minutes and a half, taking refreshment at
different periods. He commenced at twelve o’clock at night, and
performed the whole distance by twenty-two minutes four seconds past
eight o’clock on Tuesday evening, being one hour, seven minutes, and
fifty-six seconds within the specified time. He could have continued for
several hours longer if necessary.
In December the Captain did one hundred miles in nineteen hours, over
the worst road in the kingdom. Exclusive of stoppages, the distance was
performed in seventeen hours and a half, or at the rate of about five
miles and three-quarters each hour on the average.
As an additional instance of the Captain’s strength, he performed a most
laborious undertaking, merely for his amusement, in August, 1808.
Visiting at Colonel Murray Farquharson’s house in Aberdeenshire, he went
out at five in the morning to enjoy the sport of grouse shooting, when
he travelled at least thirty miles. He returned to the Colonel’s house
by five in the afternoon, and after dinner set off for Ury, a distance
of sixty miles, which he walked in eleven hours, without stopping once
to refresh. He attended to his ordinary business at home, and in the
afternoon walked to Laurencekirk, sixteen miles, where he danced at a
ball during the night, and returned to Ury by seven in the morning. He
did not yet return to bed, but occupied the day in partridge shooting.
He had thus travelled not less than one hundred and thirty miles,
supposing him to have gone only eight miles in the course of the day’s
shooting at home, and also danced at Laurencekirk, without sleeping, or
having been in bed for two nights and nearly three days.
In October, 1808, Captain Barclay made a match with Mr. Webster, a
gentleman of great celebrity in the sporting world, by which Captain
Barclay engaged himself to go on foot a thousand miles in a thousand
successive hours, at the rate of a mile in each and every hour, for a
bet of 1,000 guineas, to be performed at Newmarket Heath, and to start
on the following 1st of June. In the intermediate time the Captain was
in training by Mr. Smith, of Owston, in Yorkshire. To enter into a
detail of his matchless performance would be tiresome; suffice to say,
he started at twelve o’clock at night on Thursday, the 1st of June,
1809, in good health and high spirits. His dress from the commencement
varied with the weather. Sometimes he wore a flannel jacket, sometimes a
loose great coat, with strong shoes, and two pairs of coarse stockings,
the outer pair boot stockings without feet, to keep his legs dry. He
walked in a sort of lounging gait, without any apparent extraordinary
exertion, scarcely raising his feet two inches above the ground. During
a great part of the time the weather was very rainy, but he felt no
inconvenience from it. Indeed, wet weather was favourable to his
exertions, as, during dry weather, he found it necessary to have a
water-cart to go over the ground to keep it cool, and prevent it
becoming too hard. Towards the conclusion of the performance, it was
said, Captain Barclay suffered much from a spasmodic affection of his
legs, so that he could not walk a mile in less than twenty minutes; he,
however, ate and drank well, and bets were two to one and five to two on
his completing his journey within the time prescribed. About eight days
before he finished, the sinews of his right leg became much better, and
he continued to pursue his task in high spirits; consequently bets were
ten to one in his favour, in London, at Tattersall’s, and other sporting
circles.
On Wednesday, July the 12th, Captain Barclay completed his arduous
undertaking. He had till four p.m. to finish his task, but he performed
the last mile by a quarter of an hour after three in perfect ease and
great spirits, amidst an immense crowd of spectators. The influx of
company had so much increased on Sunday, it was recommended that the
ground should be roped in. To this, however, Captain Barclay objected,
saying he did not like such parade. The crowd, however, became so great
on Monday, and he had experienced so much interruption, that he was
prevailed upon to allow this precaution to be taken. For the last two
days he appeared in higher spirits, and performed his last mile with
apparently more ease and in a shorter time than he had done for some
days past.
With the change of weather he had thrown off his loose great coat, which
he wore during the rainy period, and walked in a flannel jacket. He also
put on shoes thicker than any which he had used in any previous part of
his performance. When asked how he meant to act after he had finished
his feat, he said he should that night take a good sound sleep, but that
he must have himself awaked twice or thrice in the night to avoid the
danger of a too sudden transition from almost constant exertion to a
state of long repose. One hundred guineas to one, and indeed any odds
whatever, were offered on Wednesday morning; but so strong was the
confidence in his success that no bets could be obtained. The multitude
who resorted to the scene of action in the course of the concluding days
was unprecedented. Not a bed could be procured on Tuesday night at
Newmarket, Cambridge, Bury, or any of the towns or villages in the
vicinity, and every horse and vehicle were engaged. Among the nobility
and gentry who witnessed the conclusion of this extraordinary
performance were the Dukes of Argyle and St. Alban’s; Earls Grosvenor,
Besborough, and Jersey; Lords Foley, and Somerville; Sir John Lade, Sir
F. Standish, etc. The aggregate of the bets is supposed to have amounted
to £100,000.
Captain Barclay, as noticed in our memoir of Cribb, gave his training
experience to the world in a modest publication. His papers upon
agriculture in various magazines published in England and Scotland, were
remarkable for their sound sense, plainness, and practical knowledge.
That the severity of his athletic feats did not prematurely wear out the
animal machine may be inferred from the fact that he enjoyed a green and
active old age at Ury, near Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, his patrimonial
estate, until his 79th year, respected as strongly in private circles
for his kind and gentlemanly demeanour as celebrated for his public
exploits, sporting and athletic.
GEORGE STEPHENSON, M.P.—1801.
It would indeed be the ignorance which casts away pearls were we to pass
unnoticed an illustration of manhood identified with the practice of
pugilism, wherein the honoured name of the greatest engineering genius
of an engineering age was the prime actor. George Stephenson, therefore,
the practical originator of the locomotive, the creator of railways as
we now see them, the constructor of the most complete, permanent, and
stupendous works on mainland, coast, and sea, that an age of wonders has
seen, finds a place in PUGILISTICA. The facts and text of the narrative
of this episode in the early life of George Stephenson are from Smiles’s
“Lives of George and Robert Stephenson,” p. 80, edit. 1864. We may
observe that George Stephenson (born June 9, 1781) would be twenty years
of age in 1801.
“Not long after Stephenson began to work as brakesman at Black Callerton
(near Newcastle), he had a quarrel with a pitman named Ned Nelson, a
roystering bully, who was the terror of the village. Nelson was a great
fighter, and it was therefore considered dangerous to quarrel with him.
Stephenson was so unfortunate as not to be able to please this pitman by
the way in which he landed him when drawing him out of the pit; and
Nelson swore at him grossly for the alleged clumsiness of his
‘brakeing.’ George defended himself, and appealed to the testimony of
his fellow-workmen. But Nelson had not been accustomed to George’s style
of self-assertion, and, after a torrent of abuse, he threatened to kick
the brakesman, who defied him to do so. Nelson ended by challenging
Stephenson to fight a pitched battle. The latter coolly accepted the
challenge, and a day was fixed on which the fight was to come off.
“Great was the excitement in Black Callerton when it was known that
Geordie Stephenson had accepted Nelson’s challenge. Everybody said
Nelson would ‘kill him.’ The villagers, the young men, and especially
the boys of the village, with whom George was a great favourite, all
wished he might beat Nelson, but they scarcely dared to say so. They
came about him while he was at work in the engine-house to inquire if it
was really true that he was going to fight Nelson? ‘Ay, ay; never fear
for me, I’ll fight him,’ replied George coolly. And fight him he did.
For some days previous to the appointed day, Nelson went entirely off
work for the purpose of training, whereas Stephenson attended to his
daily work as usual, for he was always temperate and in good condition,
and did not seem in the least disconcerted by the prospect of the
battle. So, on the day appointed George went into the Dolly Field, where
his already exulting opponent was ready to meet him. George stripped,
and went in like a practised pugilist, though it was his first and his
last pitched battle. After a few rounds, George’s wiry muscles, sound
wind, cool self-possession, and practised strength enabled him so
severely to punish his opponent as to secure an easy victory. This
circumstance,” concludes Mr. Smiles, “is related in illustration of
Stephenson’s pluck and courage; and it was thoroughly characteristic of
the man. Yet he was the very reverse of quarrelsome. But he would not be
put down by the bully of the colliery, and he fought him. There his
pugilism ended. They shook hands, and continued good friends. In after
life Stephenson’s mettle was hardly tried, but in a different way; and
he did not fail to exhibit the same resolute courage in contending with
the bullies of the railway world that he showed in his encounter with
Ned Nelson, the ‘fighting pitman,’ of Callerton.”
JOHN SHAW, THE LIFE-GUARDSMAN.
ONE OF THE HEROES WHO FELL ON THE FIELD OF WATERLOO.
This stalwart soldier, whose martial exploits and honourable death are
recorded in the pages of Sir Walter Scott, Sir W. Napier, and the
military annals of his country, bade fair to become a bright star in the
pugilistic sphere, had not his career been so speedily terminated in the
field of glory.
John Shaw was a native of Woolaston, in Nottinghamshire, and brought up
as a farmer until eighteen years of age, when, tired of leading a dull,
inglorious life, he enlisted, on the 16th of October, 1807, as a private
in the Life-guards. Europe, we need hardly tell the reader, was then
involved in the flames of war by the martial spirit and aggressive
designs of the French nation and its military Emperor, and young Shaw—
“Had heard of battles, and had long’d
To follow to the field some warlike lord.”
When Shaw was a mere stripling, during the time he was fighting with a
man three stone heavier than himself, at Woolaston, and in danger of
being defeated, Jem Belcher, who was at Nottingham, suddenly made his
appearance in the ring. That experienced hero went up to Shaw, and
advised him how to alter his tactics so as to secure success. Shaw,
learning that it was the renowned Jem Belcher who thus stepped forward
to direct his efforts, felt inspired with fresh courage, acted promptly
on the advice given him, and, in the course of a round or two, so turned
the battle in his favour that he ultimately gained the victory in great
style, and earned the praise of Jem Belcher. From this incident he
attached himself to scientific pugilism.
Shaw possessed, in an eminent degree, many requisites for a first-rate
pugilist. He was in height six feet and half an inch, weighing, when
stripped, close upon fifteen stone; and he derived great advantages from
repeated exercise with the dumb-bells, as a part of his military
discipline; his continual practice of the broadsword also gave increased
strength and elasticity to his wrists and shoulders. Discipline, too,
had taught him coolness, in addition to a most excellent natural temper.
He was introduced to the Fives Court under the patronage of Colonel
Barton. In his first exhibitions he was considered rather slow; but from
the frequent use of the gloves, in competition with the most experienced
and scientific boxers, he rapidly improved. His height, length, weight,
and strength, united with a heart which knew no fear, rendered Shaw a
truly formidable antagonist. His public displays were considered far
above mediocrity, and he felt great pride in getting the best of the
then terrific Molineaux. In a trial set-to at Mr. Jackson’s rooms with
Captain Barclay—who never shrunk from punishment, or hesitated in
milling his adversary, scorning anything like the delicacy of “light
play,”—the latter received such a convincing blow, that a dentist was
called in to replace matters in _statu quo_. The best critics were
satisfied he was a thorough-bred one, and it was proved to be very
difficult to hit him without being returned on. In retreating he made
use of his left hand with much effect, and was thought to fight
something after the deliberate manner of Cribb.
In the neighbourhood of Portman Square our hero milled three big fellows
in the course of a few minutes with comparative ease, for insulting him
on the “stay at home” character of his regiment, at that time a
favourite taunt of the vulgar. They were compelled to acknowledge their
misconduct, and glad to cry for quarter.
Shaw’s first appearance in the P. R. was on Saturday, July 12, 1812, at
Coombe Warren, with Burrows, a sturdy West-countryman, who had fought a
good battle of an hour’s length with the tremendous Molineaux, when the
athletic powers of the latter hero were undebauched and in full vigour;
but, in the hands of Shaw, the West-countryman had not the slightest
chance. In the short space of seventeen minutes, in which thirteen
rounds were fought, the superior science of Shaw had so nobbed Burrows
that he could not see his way, and he was led out of the ring. Burrows
never once drew blood from Shaw, who quitted the field without a
scratch.
Nearly three years elapsed before Shaw made a second appearance, during
which period, it seems, from the considerable practice he had with the
gloves, he was materially improved in science. On April 18, 1815, at
Hounslow Heath, for a purse of fifty guineas, he entered the lists with
one of the bravest of the brave, namely, Ned Painter. Victory again
crowned his efforts in twenty-eight minutes, and he retired from the
contest little, if any, the worse for wear. See PAINTER, Vol. II.,
Chapter III., p. 77.
It is certain Shaw had an eye upon the championship, for he now formally
challenged all England. The amateurs were divided in opinion, but Shaw
felt confident, in his own mind, that no boxer existed who could conquer
him. Six weeks had scarcely elapsed after the above battle, and no time
allowed for either Cribb or Oliver (who would not have suffered such a
challenge to pass over unnoticed) to have an opportunity of entering the
lists with Shaw to decide the point, when the Life-guards were ordered
abroad, and Shaw soon found himself, with his comrades, on the plains of
Waterloo. His heroism on that memorable occasion has been handed down to
posterity in those glowing colours which real courage and love of
country merit. Sir Walter Scott has thus sung the fame of Shaw:—
“The work of Death is done, yet still her song
In Britons’ praise the muse would fain prolong,
Would, were her power but equal to her will,
Swell to a mighty stream her slender rill,
Exalt her voice to praise each gallant son,
But chiefest thee, O godlike Wellington!
But who can count the sands? then might he name
The lengthen’d numbers of the sons of fame:
Nor ‘mongst her humbler sons shall SHAW e’er die,
Immortal deeds defy mortality.
Posterity shall read the glowing page
That paints the glories of a former age,
Then shall their bosoms burn with patriot fires,
And, if their country calls, they’ll emulate their sires.”
In “Paul’s Letters to his Kinsfolk,” Sir Walter, writing from Paris of
the Battle of Waterloo, observes:—“Amid the confusion presented by the
fiercest and closest cavalry fight which had ever been seen, many
individuals distinguished themselves by feats of personal strength and
valour. Among these should not be forgotten Shaw, a corporal of the
Life-guards, well known as a pugilistic champion, and equally formidable
as a swordsman. He is supposed to have slain or disabled ten Frenchmen
with his own hand, before he was killed by a musket or pistol shot.”
The “science of the sword” was possessed by Shaw in a superior degree,
which, backed by British strength and resolution, tended to secure the
fortune of the day, in reducing the confidence of Napoleon’s hitherto
invincible cuirassiers:—
“A desperate charge the cuirassiers oppose,
And thrust for thrust, and blows return for blows.
But still in vain the British sabres fall,
Whose strokes rebounded from a brazen wall.
At length more wary, with experience stor’d,
They now apply the science of the sword:
Just at the juncture of the arm and chest,
Where meet the mail-plates of the back and breast;
In gentle curve, they leave an opening way,
To fit the shape and give the shoulder play;
Some watch the moment while the uplifted arm,
Urg’d by a feint, protects the head from harm,
To reach, with lightning speed, the unguarded part
And through the opening penetrate the heart;
Some, skill’d with dext’rous art, deceive their foe,
Cut through the face and lay the opponent low;
Some at the breast-plate thrust with upward glides
Pierces the jaw, or else the neck divides;
And some, more quick, the unguarded throat observe,
Drive to the spine, and cut the dorsal nerve.”
It appears, on the first day, previous to the Battle of Waterloo, Shaw
was wounded in the breast, and was ordered by his commanding officer to
remain in the rear; but after the wound was dressed, and feeling little
inconvenience from it, he nobly disdained to shrink from the post of
honour, and on the 18th took part in the grand decisive charge. After
having performed his duty towards his country in a giant-like manner,
and exalting his character as a man and a soldier, he fell on the 18th
of June, 1815, covered with glory.
It would appear, from the statement of the author of “Anecdotes of
Waterloo,” that Shaw, though prostrated by a pistol shot, was yet alive
on the morning of the 19th, but in _articulo mortis_, having received an
immense number of lance-wounds after his fall from the French
light-cavalry, armed Polish fashion, who galloped over the ground. A
soldier of the 73rd gave the expiring hero a draught of water; but he
was “past all surgery,” and soon afterwards expired without the
possibility of removal to hospital.
“While martial pomps rise on the view,
And loud acclaim exalts the brave,
The tears of beauty shall bedew
The fallen victor’s laurell’d grave;
Flow, mournful flow, and sacred be the tear,
To grace the hero’s fall, whose bright career
Is clos’d in victory.”
“DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI.”
GEORGE NICHOLLS, THE CONQUEROR OF CRIBB.
George Nicholls finds a niche here, principally from the circumstance of
his early victory over the renowned Tom Cribb; his other fistic
exploits, though numerous, not being of celebrity sufficient to entitle
him to this distinction. Nicholls was one of the numerous offshoots of
the Bristol school, and was born in that city in the year 1795. In the
third volume of “Boxiana” Pierce Egan has given an account of
twenty-five pugilistic engagements, but, like the exploits of heroes
before Agamemnon, they find no record, save in his pages. The most
remarkable of those are thus narrated.
At seventeen years of age George entered the ring with a man of the name
of Hocky Harding. It was only for a guinea a-side, and it took place on
Durdham Downs. Nicholls had for his seconds Applebee and George Davis.
In forty minutes Harding was defeated, and the punishment he received
was terrific. This latter boxer had gained considerable notoriety in
having made a drawn battle, after a desperate fight with the celebrated
Bill Warr.
[Illustration:
GEORGE NICHOLLS.
_From a Drawing by_ G. SHARPLES.
]
A week after the above battle, the brother of Harding, anxious to have a
turn with Nicholls, fought him on Durdham Downs for a guinea and a half
a-side, but, in the second round, Harding, receiving an ugly knock,
exclaimed, “I’ve had enough; George shall not serve me as he did my
brother.” Applebee and Davis were also seconds to Nicholls on this
occasion.
A sailor, who weighed thirteen stone, challenged Nicholls for a guinea
a-side. This battle took place in the Back Fields, near Lawford’s Gate.
The man of war was a troublesome customer, and did not give in till one
hour had expired.
Bill Thomas, a butcher, of Chepstow, had so good an opinion of his
milling qualities, that he sent a public challenge to Bristol to fight
the best man in that city. Nicholls accepted the challenge without
delay, and he also won it off-hand.
Leonard, the champion of Bath, was matched against Nicholls for five
guineas a-side. Bob Watson and Tom Davis acted as seconds to our hero.
This battle took place on Lansdown, the same day that Spaniard Harris
and Bill Cox fought. The Bath champion was dreadfully beaten, and both
his peepers were soon closed; while Nicholls received but a slight
injury.
It is stated by Pierce Egan that Nicholls was victor in forty-nine
battles out of fifty.
We will now quit these dateless records of Nicholls’s triumphs over the
“illustrious obscure,” to come to his crowning achievement, the exploit
which has preserved his name. It has been repeatedly urged that this
overthrow occurred during the brave Tom’s noviciate; but he had
previously beaten that renowned pugilistic veteran, George Maddox, Tom
Blake, and Ikey Pig, all of them men of notoriety as pugilists. The
success of these contests had rendered Cribb somewhat conspicuous, and
he was rising fast into eminence and fame, when he entered the lists
with Nicholls, for a subscription purse of £25, at Blackwater,
thirty-two miles from London, on Saturday, July 20, 1805, made up by the
amateurs, to compensate them for being deprived of witnessing the
intended fight between the Game Chicken and Gully. Tom Jones waited upon
Nicholls, and Dick Hall was second to Cribb. The odds on setting-to were
greatly on the side of Cribb, who was the favourite; but Nicholls, aware
of Cribb’s method of fighting, fought him after the style of Big Ben in
his contest with Tom Johnson. Nicholls, like a skilful general, armed at
all points, was not to be deluded by the feints of the enemy. The system
of milling on the retreat, which Cribb had hitherto practised with so
much success, in this instance failed. The coolness and good temper of
Nicholls appeared so eminently throughout the fight, that not only did
he preserve his fortitude, but added vigour to his judgment. Hence, both
in attack and defence, the future champion found in Nicholls a steady
and decisive fighter. Cribb became perplexed at finding his tactics
foiled. The advantage he had derived in former contests by drawing his
opponents, and then punishing and irritating them in their pursuit, so
as to make them throw their blows out of distance, and consequently
render them feeble, ineffective, and uncertain, was rendered entirely
unavailing. George would not suffer Cribb to play round him, but, with a
guard like Ben’s, firm in the extreme, his attitude was impregnable.
Nicholls could never be induced to quit his position without putting in
a tremendous hit, waiting with the utmost skill for the attack of his
opponent, and then giving the counter with stinging severity. George
scarcely ever failed in breaking through the defence of his adversary,
and ultimately concluded the round with a knock-down blow. Nicholls was
a tremendous hitter; and his one, two, rendered him truly formidable.
The science and ability displayed by Nicholls in this contest completely
astonished the sporting world, many of whom, in obtaining such
knowledge, found that they had procured it at no trifling expense.
We have not met with any good or detailed account of this remarkable
battle, and shall therefore add another report, which we find in
“Pancratia,” pp. 237‒238.
“As so many amateurs had collected and come from town, a distance of
thirty-two miles, to be present at this famous match, they were
determined to knock up a fight, and Tom Cribb, the Black Diamond, who
ranked very high as a pugilist, was matched against a man of the name of
Nicholls, a Bristol man, and who, like Gully, had never fought on a
London stage. The former was seconded by Dick Hall, and the latter by
Tom Jones. At setting-to Cribb was the favourite, and odds were greatly
in his favour. In the first round Nicholls, however, brought him down;
but this was thought nothing of, as it was well known Cribb frequently
threw himself back to avoid a blow. In the fourth round Cribb put in a
most severe blow, and cut his opponent under the right eye. Nicholls
still fought with great spirit, and perfectly cool and good-tempered. By
the end of the twentieth round Nicholls had perfectly closed one of his
antagonist’s eyes, notwithstanding he fought with great dexterity, and
made several good rallies. At the end of the fortieth round Cribb
appeared distressed in his wind; he, however, had somewhat recovered the
sight of his eye, but began to fight very shyly, and shift: his blows
were frequently short, and he several times fell back from his own hits.
At the end of the fifty-second round he gave in, and the knowing ones
were done, as they were sanguine of Cribb, even to the last. Nicholls
was by all acknowledged a prime fellow: his superiority consisted of
very expertly breaking on his adversary, in the style of Slack, by
projecting his arm suddenly against his antagonist’s face when he swung
forward to put in a blow. It has been asserted in the public prints that
Cribb never has been unsuccessful throughout his pugilistic career; but
this must be the consequence of ignorance on the subject.”
Nicholls now retired from the ring, and, returning to his native city,
invested the money he had gained, and which had been somewhat augmented
by the subscriptions of several patrons of manly courage, in a butcher’s
shop, in Gloucester Lane, Bristol. Here he added another to the
innumerable contradictions to those maligners of pugilism, who would
identify it with ruffianism, by earning in a long life the character of
a quiet, inoffensive, nay, a retiring man. In fact, all who remember him
describe him as “shunning general company, rarely visiting a public
house, and of a somewhat religious turn of mind;” the leisure time his
business afforded him being occupied in angling, his favourite
recreation. He died at his native place, June 6, 1832, in the
fifty-eighth year of his age.
DAN DOGHERTY—1806‒1811.
As the name of Dogherty is continually found scattered up and down the
reports of ring affairs for many years, and also in the pages of
“Pancratia” and “Boxiana,” we shall devote a few paragraphs to a sketch
of his ring career, chiefly from the latter work.
Dogherty’s first set-to was early in June, 1806, with a Jew, at Wilsden
Green, where he proved the conqueror; and shortly afterwards, at the
same place, on the 17th, he easily beat one Wall.
On Lowfield Common, near Crawley, Sussex, August 21, 1807, he conquered
Dick Hall; and on his return home that day had a turn-up in the road
with Jack Warr, whom he milled.
George Cribb he defeated twice. See GEORGE CRIBB.
On Epsom Downs, Tom Belcher conquered Dogherty. See _ante_, p. 156.
Dogherty fought one Pentikin, a Scotch Baker, at Golder’s Green, Hendon,
June 11, 1808, for forty-five minutes, when Pentikin gave in. Dogherty
fought him forty guineas to twenty.
At Moulsey Hurst, October 25, 1808, Dogherty fought with Jack Power for
an hour and a quarter. It has been considered rather a disputed point,
but Dogherty claimed it, and got the money. It should be remembered that
Power was but a mere strippling at that period.
On Epsom Downs, February 1, 1809, Dogherty beat a turnpike man.
On the 18th of January, 1811, he met with a reverse of fortune in being
defeated by Silverthorne, at Coombe Wood, but he was then considered in
bad condition.
In November, 1811, he beat with considerable ease, at Chichester, Ben
Burn.
Dogherty for a long time was engaged on a sparring excursion, not only
in various parts of the kingdom, but also in the sister country. On Tom
Belcher’s arrival in Ireland, the superior science of that pugilist
having, it is said, taken from Dogherty a number of his pupils, a battle
took place between them. On the 23rd of April, 1813, for 100 guineas,
they decided the contest on the Curragh of Kildare, when Dogherty again
fell beneath the conquering arm of Belcher. See _ante_, p. 160. This
great battle is omitted from “Fistiana,” under Dogherty, though indexed
under Belcher.
Dogherty, from this period, remained in his native land, where he taught
sparring, and was known as a civil and active fellow: he was thus
engaged as late as 1827. Pierce Egan tells an anecdote of him which we
preserve.
DOGHERTY’S DUEL.—Notwithstanding Dan’s penchant for the arbitrement of
the fist, he accepted a challenge to fight with pistols, in order to
place his opponent upon equal terms, he, it was urged, having no
pretensions to boxing. It appears the meeting was a sort of hoax upon
the combatants, as planned by the friends of both parties. The seconds,
unknown to Dogherty and his opponent, merely put powder into the
pistols. The adversary of Dogherty fired first, when the latter,
forgetful of the “honourable” situation in which he stood, resorted to
the scientific practice of the ring, by putting up his right arm as a
natural stop to prevent the ball hitting his face, producing much fun to
those who witnessed and contrived the duel.
GEORGE CRIBB,
BROTHER TO THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
Cribb and victory have so often been coupled, that in attaching defeat
to the name we almost pause; but such is the case. While the champion,
Tom Cribb, enjoyed the smiles of victory, and the patronage annexed to
it, the junior hero, panting to emulate the heroic deeds of his warlike
brother, encountered nothing but defeat.
George first entered the lists with Horton, near Bristol, for a purse of
50 guineas, on September 5, 1807, and notwithstanding the assistance of
his brother Tom for a second, was beaten in twenty-five minutes.
On February 9, 1808, he was defeated by Dogherty on Highgate Common.
On the coast, near Margate, August 9, 1809, he entered the ring with
Cropley, and was conquered in sixteen minutes. George did not let his
opponent win without punishing him a good deal. It was considered an
unequal match.
At a meeting of amateurs, May 1, 1810, at Bob’s Chop-House, after a
sporting dinner, he again fought Dogherty, when Tom Cribb also seconded
his brother. In this contest George proved himself a game man, and at
times overcame the superior science of his adversary; but, at the end of
an hour, Dogherty was the conqueror, and had the £20 purse. It was a
severe battle.
George fought with Isle of Wight Hall, on November 15, 1810, on Old Oak
Common, near Uxbridge, when the odds were six to four in his favour at
setting-to; but, after a contest of one hour and nine minutes, he was
reluctantly compelled to give in. He fought like a hero, and, although
defeated, reflected credit on the name of Cribb.
After his brother Tom had beaten Molineaux, on September 21, 1811, at
Thistleton Gap, he entered the ring, for a subscription purse of £20,
with Ned Maltby, a Nottinghamshire lad. It was a determined battle for
the time it lasted, thirteen rounds; but George was again not only
conquered but severely punished. Maltby was not much the worse.
George, like his brother, was a slow fighter, but sparred tolerably
well. In height, five feet eight inches and a half, and nearly eleven
stone in weight.
SILVERTHORNE.
From his contests with Tom Belcher, Dogherty, and Burn, we are induced
to mention Silverthorne. It appears that this boxer, who came out under
the patronage of Caleb Baldwin, was a native of the county of Somerset,
but not a Bristolian. From his style of setting-to, Caleb, no mean judge
of such matters, formed a high opinion of his capabilities, and procured
him patronage for a battle for 100 guineas, with Dan Dogherty, then in
high repute. The battle came off at Coombe Warren, near Kingston, June
11, 1811, Caleb Baldwin seconding his _protegé_, assisted by Bill
Gibbons. Dogherty was waited upon by Dick Hall and Power. We copy the
report from “Pancratia,” pp. 353‒355. There is none in “Boxiana.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—At half past twelve the men stood up.
Silverthorne stood five feet eight inches, and
weighed eleven stone two pounds; Dogherty,
eleven stone eight pounds, five feet nine
inches, so that there was not a great disparity.
Both sparred with great caution. Dogherty tried
a right-handed hit, but was short. Silverthorne
returned sharply with the left. They rallied
courageously, and exchanged hit for hit, until
Dogherty went down on the saving suit. (Six to
four on Silverthorne.)
2.—Dogherty was touched under the eye, but
smiled and put in a blow on Silverthorne’s ribs
that left a red mark. The latter returned at the
nob, but hit round; another rally, and no best
on either side. Silverthorne got Dogherty down.
3.—Both men went to work rather hurriedly, and
were soon engaged in a desperate rally.
Silverthorne stuck up, and though he threw away
many blows by his round method of fighting,
bored his opponent to every part of the ring.
Dogherty exerted all his skill, and not
unsuccessfully, on his adversary’s head, but
being at length very weak, fell by a slight hit.
(Seven to two on Silverthorne.)
4.—Dogherty bled freely; but he commenced a
sharp rally, and put in a good body blow, which
somewhat staggered his opponent. In endeavouring
to repeat, Silverthorne dexterously struck him
on the head and brought him down.
5.—Exactly as in the last round. Dogherty put in
a body blow, and Silverthorne returned on the
head. A rally, and Dogherty brought down his
opponent for the first time by a severe blow on
the head.
6.—A rally; Dogherty soon laid low.
7.—Dogherty, very gay, appeared first to his
time, and successfully planted a good hit over
the head. Silverthorne made play, seemed
distressed, hit awkwardly, and received a severe
right-handed facer. He still, however, bored in,
and commenced another rally. Hits were exchanged
for a minute and a half, each appearing totally
regardless of blows. Dogherty’s superior science
gave him the advantage, and Silverthorne at
length fell through weakness.
8.—Silverthorne rallied. Dogherty threw in a
good hit over his opponent’s mouth, but was
afterwards knocked down.
9.—Both seemed distressed for wind, and sparred
for some time. Dogherty put in a more forcible
body blow than could have been expected.
Silverthorne returned on the head and fell.
10.—Dogherty commenced a rally, and
Silverthorne, by a tremendous blow, knocked him
down.
11.—It was with difficulty Dogherty could be got
off his second’s knee; he, however, went in with
courage, and fought until knocked down.
12.—Dogherty was again brought to the scratch,
and made play, although almost in a doubled
state. The combatants managed a rally, but in a
state of weakness perhaps unparalleled; they
could stand, but although within arm’s length
were incapable of hitting. Silverthorne,
however, recovered, and knocked down his
opponent for the last time.
The contest lasted twenty-two minutes. A pigeon
was immediately despatched to Jem Belcher’s, but
in passing over Wimbledon Common it fell a prey
to the gun of some cockney spoil-sport. Both
combatants were dreadfully beaten, and were
immediately put to bed and bled. Silverthorne
proved himself a worthy disciple of Caleb, and
possesses that degree of strength which cannot
fail to make him formidable to men of his own
weight. Dogherty’s strength failed somewhat
sooner than usual, which was attributed to
indisposition.
This remarkable success so elated Caleb and his friends that they at
once proposed a match with Tom Belcher for 100 guineas. What came of
this may be seen at pages 158, 159, _ante_.
Silverthorne, who bore the character of a steady, temperate, and
well-conducted man, now publicly announced his retirement from the ring,
in reply to a challenge from Dogherty, adding, he was resolved not to
fight, “except when the necessity of the moment forced it upon him, when
he hoped he should never be found backward to defend himself.” However,
in 1812, at Coombe Warren, being provoked by Ben Burn, he departed from
his resolution, and gave that boxer a thorough thrashing. From this time
forth, though his name is sometimes mentioned, we hear no more of
Silverthorne in the ring. In 1821 (May), we find the following in
“Notices of Boxers who have retired from the P. R.”
“SILVERTHORNE, once distinguished for his contests with Dogherty and
Belcher. He is a teacher in a Sunday school, highly respected, and
follows his business as a master fishmonger.”
JACK POWER.
With by no means first-rate qualifications, Jack Power is one of the
examples of what personal popularity will do in exaggerating mediocrity
into the foremost position. In the first volume of “Boxiana” many pages
are given to Power, and in the second an obituary eulogium, from which
we extract the salient points.
Power was born in London on the 8th of August, 1790, and descended from
Irish parents. His father apprenticed him to a plumber, and Pierce Egan
gives us the usual number of six-feet-two men, butchers, etc., who
surrendered to “our hero” while yet a stripling.
Power’s first regular ring battle was with Dogherty, on the 25th of
October, 1808, at Moulsey Hurst. This was the third battle on that day:
the first being Tom Cribb’s victory over Gregson; the second, Tom
Belcher’s conquest of Bill Cropley. The reporter simply says, “After a
game battle of one hour and a quarter, Dogherty was triumphant.” Egan
says, “Dogherty gave in three times during the fight; but Power being a
new one, and Dogherty more experienced, it was managed in that sort of
way, that the latter was pronounced the victor.” What this may mean we
cannot tell, with “the Duke of York, the Marquis of Tweeddale, Lords
Yarmouth, Craven, Barrymore, Brook, and Somerville, and Paul Methuen on
the ground” (“Pancratia,” p. 322), and with Fletcher Reid as umpire.
Power’s next battle was with one Frere, April 1, 1809, which he won in
twenty-one minutes.
Some ridiculous “turns-up” follow (“Boxiana,” pp. 458‒460), which we
shall omit, to come to Power’s best fight, that with Joel King, for 50
guineas a-side, July 16, 1811, at Moulsey Hurst. The report is from
“Pancratia,” pp. 360, _et seq._ “At twelve o’clock the combatants
appeared. King, who was a new candidate for pugilistic honours, was
accompanied by Richmond and Hall; Power attended by Bob Clarke and
Paddington Jones. Odds, five to four on Power.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—King attempted to plant a forcible
right-hander; Power stopped him, and hit one
two, left and right, well planted on the head
and body. King fell. (First knock-down bets
decided.)
2.—King did not appear intimidated; he again
made play, and planted a good right-handed hit
on his opponent’s throat; his left-hand fell
short. Power with great quickness threw in a
severe left-handed facer, and brought him down.
3.—A good rally, several blows well exchanged.
Power scientifically planted one with the left
hand. King returned with the right. They closed
and both fell. (Two to one in favour of Power.)
4.—Power hit left and right, and King returned
very forcibly in the throat. They closed, and
Power threw his opponent again. (Betting two
points more in favour of King than at setting
to.)
5.—King planted a left-handed hit, but out of
distance. He followed quickly with his right,
which Power cleverly avoided. They closed, and
Power threw King a cross-buttock.
6.—Both made play, King with his right, Power
with the left, at the same instant; the former
told on the head. Some good trying hits
followed, and, upon the whole, the round was in
favour of King: notwithstanding Power again
threw him a cross-buttock. In doing this, with
too much eagerness Power received a hurt on the
right shoulder against a stake, which, if it did
not disable him, proved a severe hindrance.
7.—In this round Power changed his mode of
fighting, endeavouring to avert the punishing
right-handed blows of his adversary, and getting
away to hit.
8.—Power put in a good blow on the mouth, got
away, repeated it, and gave an excellent
specimen of science by repeating his blows, and
avoiding his adversary’s, until King fell,
bleeding copiously.
9.—King commenced a rally, in which he evidently
had the advantage, throwing in straight
right-handed hits with great dexterity. His
superior strength gave him the advantage, but at
length he received a violent cross-buttock.
10.—King’s face was much disfigured. Power put
in a severe one two in the mouth, followed by a
scientific hit on the throat, which brought King
down.
11.—A good rally, and both fell.
12.—Another rally. Power hit his opponent,
staggering away, with the right. King
courageously renewed the rally, and returned his
adversary’s hits with the gluttony of a Cribb,
and at length succeeded in throwing him.
13.—Power, by another blow in the mouth, brought
King again on the floor. Power continued
fighting at points until he was scarcely able to
administer the beating his adversary seemed to
require to satisfy him. In the
26th.—Betting came to six to four; and although
the left side of King’s head was a sorry sight
for any feeling spectator to view, he still
fought with such determined bravery as never
can be forgotten by his enemies or too highly
appreciated by his friends. At the expiration of
the
46th.—When every one evidently saw he had no
chance of success, he was urged, particularly by
his backers, to resign, but still expressing
anxiety for the continuation of the conflict,
even in opposition to advice, he was allowed to
go up, but merely to be sent down by a push. The
token of surrender was made, and Power hailed
the victor, after a game battle of fifty-seven
minutes.
In October, 1801, Power’s friends proposed a match with Tom Belcher, a
deposit was made, but they thought better of it and forfeited.
Power now travelled through the provinces as a teacher of boxing. During
this tour he ruptured a blood-vessel, and had a severe attack of
pleurisy. Before his entire restoration to health, he imprudently
suffered himself to be matched with Jack Carter for 100 guineas. The
battle took place at Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, November 16, 1812.
Power was seconded on this occasion by the Champion, Tom Cribb; Carter
by Bittoon and Tom Jones.
Pierce Egan says, “It would be superfluous to detail the rounds of this
battle, which continued one hour and twenty-five minutes; suffice it to
say that the conduct of Power this day was worthy all praise. Passing
previously a restless night, afflicted with a cough, and somewhat
nervous in his habit, he entered the ring under these disadvantages to
contend against an adversary, his superior in height, strength,
constitution, perfectly in health, and not deficient in pugilistic
acquirements. It was a tremendous task, a daring attempt; and
superlative science, and that alone, gave the victory to Power. It
required something more than fortitude to act thus in opposition to
nature, as well as considerable ingenuity in husbanding his strength to
reduce his opponent to his own level. This Power effected, when he
grappled with his opponent upon superior terms; his strength gone, and
his science inferior, Carter was conquered with elegance and certainty.
Upon no occasion whatever were the knowing ones so completely ‘out of
their know.’ Carter, although defeated, showed that he was not without
game; but Power completely astonished the most experienced of the
Fancy.”
Power had a set-to with Richmond (see _ante_) at a sparring match at the
Fives Court, on Dutch Sam’s benefit, soon after the above contest.
Something about a white feather being mentioned, Power instantly mounted
the stage, and addressed the spectators thus:—“Upon the day previous to
the night when I fought Richmond I was following my business as a
plumber, in making paint. The fumes of white lead are of so strong and
poisonous a quality, that, to prevent any serious effects operating upon
the constitution, we are necessitated to drink a quantity of castor oil;
in addition to which I had been drinking, which rendered me then
unprepared; but now,” said Power, “if Richmond can take out the white
feather, as he pleases to term it, that I possess (stripping off his
clothes), let him come up here, and I will fight him instantly for £50.”
At his own benefit he again offered to fight Richmond.
Power’s excesses are thus leniently touched upon in “Boxiana:”—“In
concluding this sketch, the most painful part remains to be performed.
No boxer commenced his milling career with a fairer prospect to arrive
at the top of the tree, or become a fixed star in the pugilistic
hemisphere, than Jack Power; but, possessing a gaiety of disposition
which could brook no restraint, the fascinating charms of company and
the enlivening glass proving too powerful for his youth and inexperience
to withstand, he plunged into excesses which induced premature debility.
In this last battle, although gaining the victory, he endangered his
existence. From being stripped in the open air for nearly an hour and a
half, the severity of the weather afflicted him so seriously, that for
several hours his frame did not experience the least warmth whatever,
notwithstanding the best medical treatment was resorted to. His
sufferings were acute, and he observed, ‘All the milling that he had
received in the whole course of his pugilistic career was trifling in
comparison with the pain he sustained on his return to a state of
convalescence.’ He, however, was not long in returning to the metropolis
to receive those congratulations which his noble courage had so justly
entitled him to. The supporters of pugilism gave him a most flattering
reception, so that Power’s time was principally occupied with the
pleasures of society, and the enlivening charms of the bottle. Power was
no churl, full of good humour in company, and his song was always ready
when called for to support the cause of harmony.”
At a sparring exhibition which took place at the Fives Court soon after,
when Jack merely looked in as a visitor, and Carter was present, several
of the amateurs expressed a wish to witness a set-to between them. It
proved a sharp contest; but the superiority was decidedly, in point of
science, as in the fight, in favour of Power.
A public dinner, in honour of Power’s victory over Carter, took place at
Mr. Davenport’s, the Three Pigeons, Houndsditch, when Jack presided,
supported by Tom Cribb. Conviviality was the order of the day; and, upon
the introduction of Carter, the behaviour of Power to his fallen
adversary was attentive, generous, and manly, and he strongly
recommended him to the attention of the fancy in general. Soon after
this period he rapidly declined, and endeavoured to recruit his health
by a journey to Oxford. It proved too late, and the last stage of
consumption was reducing him daily. He witnessed the memorable set-to of
Molineaux and Carter, and expressed himself astonished to hear it termed
“fighting!” He returned to his dwelling in Plough Court, Fetter Lane,
not only exhausted in person, but, to add to his afflictions, one of his
children took ill and died. Mr. Jackson, ever attentive to the wants of
brother pugilists, on being made acquainted with his peculiar situation,
instantly made a collection for him among the patrons of the science.
His disorder was so flattering that, at times when his spirits were
good, he would observe, “Let me get but a little better, and I’ll show
the lads how to fight; many of those that pretend to teach it scarcely
know anything about the sound principles of milling—they are only
sparrers.”
Power departed this life June 2, 1813, at the early age of twenty-three,
and lies interred in the burial ground of St. Giles’s-in-the-Fields. He
was in height about five feet nine inches and a half, and in weight
twelve stone. He turned out several good pupils.
WILLIAM NOSWORTHY, THE BAKER.
As the conqueror of the renowned Dutch Sam, albeit in the day of his
decadence, the name of Nosworthy is preserved from oblivion.
In his boyish days, Nosworthy, it appears, was not altogether unknown in
Devonshire, both as a wrestler and pugilist. He was born at Kenn, a
parish in the hundred of Exminster, of respectable connections, on the
1st of May, 1786. He was of an athletic, prepossessing appearance, and
extremely well made. In height five feet six inches, and weighing about
eleven stone. In disposition he was cheerful, good-natured, and
inoffensive; but in the ring Nosworthy was a glutton of the first mould.
Several sporting characters denominated him the “Young Chicken,” from
some likeness he bore to the celebrated Hen. Pearce.
“The historian” having given us the usual “servings out,” “polishings
off,” etc., of unknown opponents, judiciously omitted by the compiler of
“Fistiana,” brings Nosworthy to town. Here it appears that “the Baker”
attended a Devon and Cornwall gathering of wrestlers, and was matched
against one Pentikin, whom he threw.[165] The defeated wrestler offered
to post a guinea and thrash Nosworthy for the stake. The contest took
place on the 3rd of May, 1808, in Pancras Fields. Nosworthy was seconded
by Tom Jones and Bill Ryan. The superiority was evidently on the part of
Nosworthy for the first twenty minutes, Pentikin being milled in all
directions. It was presumed that, had the fight continued without any
interruption victory was by no means doubtful on the side of Nosworthy,
who had, at this period of the battle, considerably reduced the strength
of his opponent. But Nosworthy was here representing a county
partisanship of Devon _versus_ Cornwall, and was moreover unknown in
comparison to Pentikin. The ring, it is said, was broken in consequence,
much confusion ensued, and some delay occurred before the combatants
could appear in a new ring. The contest was renewed with increased
ardour, and Pentikin appeared more fresh from the delay. Reciprocal
fighting continued for one hour and twenty-five minutes, when Nosworthy
was reduced to insensibility, and carried off the ground by his brother.
The game he displayed was highly praised. Pentikin, although the
conqueror, could not be induced again to face his fallen adversary, and
forfeited three times to Nosworthy.[166]
After some irregular battles the bakers of the metropolis, looking upon
Nosworthy as a leader in their sporting circle, a match for ten guineas
a-side was made between him and Barnard Levy, a Jew, which took place at
Golder’s Green. Levy was known to be a good man, and proved himself
deserving of that character throughout the fight. Nosworthy was not in
condition, and the Jew maintained an evident superiority for the long
space of two hours. The game displayed by the Baker astonished every one
present—he fought undismayed, and showed himself a “taker” of no common
mould. Notwithstanding the punishment the Jew had administered, he could
not take the fight out of him, and at length became exhausted.
Nosworthy, contrary to all expectation, appeared refreshed, and finished
the Jew in high style during the last twenty-five minutes. From this
conquest the Baker gained ground. The fight lasted two hours and
twenty-five minutes.
Martin, an active lively boxer, and much fancied by his own people, the
Jews, was now pitted against Nosworthy for a purse of 25 guineas, at
Moulsey Hurst, on the 29th of March, 1814. High expectations were formed
of the pugilistic talents of Martin, but the Baker soon put his skill
and manœuvres at defiance. Joe Ward and Paddington Jones seconded
Nosworthy, and Little Puss and Jacobs attended upon Martin. It was two
to one in favour of the Jew previous to the battle, betting brisk.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On setting-to considerable expectation
was formed as to the talents of the Jew, who
commenced with much gaiety; but Nosworthy
planted a tremendous hit on Martin’s mouth,
which not only drew a profusion of claret, but
he went down.
2.—The Jew, more cautious than heretofore,
sparred for advantage, but ultimately he was
again floored. (The two to one had now all
vanished, and even betting was the truth of the
matter.)
3.—Nosworthy began to serve the Jew in style,
and his hits told tremendously. Martin made a
good round of it, but fell rather distressed.
The dead men now opened their mouths wide, and
loudly offered six to four on the Master of the
Rolls.
4.—Martin, with much activity, planted a good
facer; but Nosworthy again finished the round in
high style.
5.—The Israelite’s nob was peppered, and his
body also much punished; and Nosworthy, with
great severity, hit him right through the ropes.
(Seven to four on Nosworthy.)
6.—It would be superfluous to detail the
remaining rounds. Nosworthy had it all his own
way, notwithstanding Martin resorted to his old
method of falling, to tire out his opponent. In
thirty-six minutes the Jew was completely
defeated, and Nosworthy increased his fame as a
boxer.
After some minor affairs, we come to Nosworthy’s great match with the
Phenomenon, Dutch Sam. Pierce Egan expends pages of wonderment,
conjecture, and exclamation on the fact that a strong, young, resolute
man, and a good boxer withal, should have beaten a gin-drinking stale
pugilist, who would not even train for the battle. We now come to the
report.
Five years had nearly elapsed since Sam had exhibited in the prize-ring.
The curiosity to see him once more display his great pugilistic skill
drew together an unusual number of spectators. Neither bad roads nor
torrents of rain could check the interest excited by this battle.
Vehicles of all descriptions for weeks before were put in requisition to
reach the destined spot, and pedestrians out of number were not dismayed
in tramping through thick and thin for sixteen miles. The vast
collection of carriages on the Hurst excited the astonishment of every
one, and some hundreds were on the spot who did not even see the battle.
Several marquees were erected for accommodation. The sum to be contended
for, in a twenty feet ring, was £50 a-side and a purse given by the
Pugilistic Club of 25 guineas. At a few minutes before one Nosworthy
entered the ring, attended by his seconds, Bill Cropley and
Silverthorne, and was loudly cheered for his confidence, in daring to
face so acknowledged a boxer as the Jew. Sam soon followed, and received
every mark of gratifying attention from the surrounding multitude. Ben
Medley and Puss were his attendants. A heavy shower of rain could not
delay their thirst for fame.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On the combatants approaching each
other, and shaking hands in the usual way, the
difference of person was so manifest that an
ordinary spectator must have given the
preference to the Baker, from the roundness of
his frame, the firmness of his step, and the
cheerfulness of his countenance. He must have
been a novice, indeed, not to have discovered
the wretched condition of Sam upon his throwing
off his clothes. His ribs were spare in the
extreme; his face, which hitherto had assumed
such a formidable aspect, and his fierce eyes
that seemed upon similar occasions to have
penetrated into the very souls of his opponents,
appeared clouded with doubt and anxiety. It was
altogether a different frontispiece. Dejection,
arising from dissipation, was marked strongly on
his features. As for his legs, as if Sam had
anticipated that they might tell against him,
he, for the first time in his life, preferred
fighting in gaiters and breeches. The _tout
ensemble_ portrayed, a worn-out man rather than
a boxer entering the prize-ring, prepared to
vanquish youth, health, and strength. But all
these objections were as a feather in the scale
against the Jew. Weather could not affect him;
no one could punish him; he hit as hard as
Cribb; he was no mannerist; he set-to a hundred
different ways; he altered his mode of fighting
as circumstances required. Many seemed really to
think, and plenty were forward enough to urge,
that Sam was as well, if not better, without
training, than undergoing the systematic
precaution of invigorating the _stamina_. In
short, he was the phenomenon of the fighting
world; everything but a losing man. The
recollection that he had beaten all the best men
for a series of years that had been pitted
against him, gave a double confidence to these
sanguine opinions; and what was Sam now called
upon to perform at the top of his glory? Why, to
enter the lists with a boxer, who, to say the
best, was but of considerable obscurity. Who for
a moment would listen to a comparison made
between Nosworthy and the hardy and brave
Champion of Westminster, who had fallen beneath
the conquering arm of Sam? or with that truly
elegant scientific pugilist, Tom Belcher, who
had twice surrendered up his laurels to this
distinguished Jew. Cropley too, who ought never
to be mentioned without praise, ranking as a
superior scientific boxer, was tremendously
beaten by him; and his last antagonist, Ben
Medley, possessing sound fighting pretensions,
true game, and science, was reluctantly
compelled to acknowledge his vast superiority.
The renowned Dutch Sam was once more before his
friends; and his fanciers were so confident of
his adding another laurel to his brow, that bets
to an extravagant amount were loudly offered. To
have named the Baker as having anything like a
chance, was out of the question; but, at this
period, to have proposed an even bet that
Nosworthy won, would have been laughed at, as
betraying a total ignorance in matters of sport.
Such was the state of things upon the combatants
facing each other; and the great superiority of
the Jew was expected to be witnessed every
instant. The decision was near at hand, and the
Baker, eager to commence the attack, displayed
more of valorous spirit than scientific
precision. In making play, his distances proved
incorrect, and two blows fell short. Sam gained
nothing by this opening. Nosworthy, full of
resolution, followed up the Jew, appearing
rather too rapid in his manner to take any
particular aim, and seemed to prefer going in,
to trusting to those advantages that are
sometimes obtained in sparring. Sam made a
slight hit upon the Baker’s nob, but ultimately
went down.
2.—The eagerness of the Baker appeared to
supersede every other consideration. He
again hit short; but Sam did not miss this
opportunity, and returned right and left,
drawing the cork of the Master of the Rolls.
Nosworthy, it seemed, had made up his mind
to smash the Jew, and, in his haste to get
at Sam, slipped and fell.
3.—The Baker, determined in his mode of warfare,
resolutely made up to Sam, but the Jew warded
off the force of the blows with much adroitness.
Nosworthy received a hit from Sam, and went
down, but his fall was attributed more to the
slippery state of the turf than to the severity
of the blow.
4.—This round commenced with severe fighting,
and much activity was displayed on both sides.
Some good hits were exchanged. The Baker drove
Sam before him to the ropes, and here it was
that Nosworthy showed his superiority by putting
in three tremendous blows. Sam fell, evidently
distressed, and his breath was nearly hit out of
his body, by a terrible blow he received upon
his breast. His friends, however, thought that
his conduct was a mere _ruse de guerre_. In
fact, nothing could shake their opinion that the
Jew was playing a sure game, by letting the
Baker make the most of his strength, in order
that, at a more advanced stage of the battle,
he would become exhausted, when he might be
easily “kneaded” to answer the purpose of the
Israelite.
5.—It was in this round that Sam found out what
sort of a customer he had to deal with. He was
also convinced, too late, that the chance was
against him: he could not resist the hardy blows
of the Baker, nor had he room enough to get
away from him. Sam’s hits produced no effect
upon the courage of Nosworthy, who went in in
such an unusual manner to anything the Jew had
experienced with any of his other competitors,
that he was confounded. His wonted fortitude
seemed to have deserted him, and dismay taken
possession of his mind: he went down quite
exhausted. But however Sam might feel that he
was sent down against his will, it did not
appear in that light to his backers, who
generally looked upon this as nothing more than
artifice of the Jew to weaken and tire out his
adversary. A few persons who were not quite so
infatuated with the appearance of things, hedged
off a little of their four to one. Some others
ventured upon even betting; but this latter
circumstance was by no means general.
6.—Sam was scarcely upon his legs and set-to,
when Nosworthy put in a blow that sent him down.
7.—The Baker, always ready, proved himself a
resolute and skilful boxer. He did not wish to
lose time by any useless display of scientific
attitudes. The proud name of Sam proved no
terror or drawback to his exertions: he went in
with as much gaiety as if he had been only
contending with a novice, instead of fighting
with a boxer who had performed such wonders in
the pugilistic annals. Nosworthy planted some
good blows, and the Jew was again down on the
turf.
8.—The science of Sam was conspicuous in this
round, but the strength of his opponent was not
to be reduced. The Jew put in some good hits in
a smart rally, but he could not divert the Baker
from his purpose, and Sam went down again much
exhausted.
9.—Nosworthy commenced this round with his
usual spirit, by driving Sam again to the
ropes, where he punished him severely. Sam,
notwithstanding, planted some hard blows, but
the impetuosity of the Baker carried all
before him. The best efforts of the Jew,
however well directed, seemed as useless as if
he had been trying to stem a torrent. At this
period the deeply-interested ones perceived
something in the Baker they had not expected.
That a chance must not be thrown away when
four to one had been betted. A bustle now
commenced, and the outer ring was broken. The
populace pressed heavily against the roped
ring, bearing down all opposition to keep them
off, and many persons crossed the ropes, to
the confusion of the combatants. However we
might be disposed to attribute this disorder
of the ring as the effect of accident, owing
to the great concourse of spectators, to what
account can we place the conduct of a strong
man endeavouring to force out of the ground
one of the stakes which supported the ring,
and which attempt was only prevented by the
manly interference of the Champion of England?
Nosworthy appeared at the mark, and called out
to Sam to observe he was ready, but the Jew
declined setting-to till the ring was cleared
out. It may not be improper here to remark
that, if Sam had decidedly felt in his own
person he was, or must be eventually beaten,
if he continued the contest, it is natural to
infer that he would have saved the money of
his friends by taking the advantage of this
interruption in making at least a drawn
battle; but the Jew wished to fight it out. In
clearing out the ring, the confusion beggared
all description. The whips and sticks were
laid on heavily. In the course of about twelve
minutes the desired object was attained, when
the combatants once more commenced operations.
It would be superfluous to detail the remainder
of the rounds, in number thirty-eight. Complete
sameness pervaded the whole of them; and Sam,
who had hitherto portrayed the hero, now
scarcely exhibited the traits of a second-rate
pugilist. The ferocity which had so terrified
his opponents was no longer visible; indeed he
exhibited weakness and distress early in the
fight. It is curious to remark that he never
once knocked down Nosworthy; but, on the
contrary, was either floored or went down every
round, with the exception of about three. Still
the friends of Sam, and particularly those
denominated “the flash side,” relying on his
experience and judgment, flattered themselves it
was all right, that he was aiming to bring down
Nosworthy to his own pitch, to obtain any
conquest, and give a good opportunity of
betting. But they wofully deceived themselves;
the wished for change never arrived.
REMARKS.—Nosworthy proved himself a confident
boxer. If his movements were not equal to the
scientific precision of Tom Belcher, his
undaunted resolution and courage, from the
commencement to the termination of the fight,
reminded many of the spectators of that peculiar
forte of Bill Hooper. The Baker was a two-handed
hitter, and seemed perfectly awake to the
business before him. From this mode of attack
the debilitated Jew stood no chance whatever.
The strength of Sam, once so much the theme of
his backers, was missing, and he appeared a mere
shadow of his former self. He could not knock
down Nosworthy, or even hit him away. This
defeat of a great favourite may operate as a
useful lesson: youth and strength must be
served; and never was the position more clearly
and decisively shown than in this instance. Sam
was turned of forty-one years of age, and his
irregularities of life must have dilapidated as
fine a constitution as was ever possessed by
man. His opponent, a young man of twenty-eight,
was in good health, of great strength, and
weighed a stone and a half more than the Jew;
besides, we are to take into the scale that
Nosworthy was not destitute of skill, and
possessed unimpeachable bottom, which had shown
itself in all the battles he had fought. But
calculation was out of the question. The game of
chance, even, was completely lost sight of. “To
a certainty, to a certainty,” was the cry of
nearly the whole of the fancy; and any opinion
expressed in favour of the Baker was instantly
silenced by four to one, treated as a want of
judgment, and laughed at with derision and
contempt. Upon Sam’s resigning the contest, a
general consternation took place among the
backers of the hero. If the Jews were weighed
down with grief, the Christians were equally
miserable and chapfallen at this unexpected
defeat. So complete a cleaning out, it is
supposed, had not taken place in the boxing
world, since the conquest obtained by Slack. It
is computed that, in different parts of the
kingdom, £100,000 at least were lost upon this
battle. In the dismay of the moment, the
exclamations of the losers were loud and
vehement. “’Tis impossible!” said many. “It must
be a cross!” The combatants did not appear to be
so much punished as might have been expected.
But the case was altered; instead of giving, as
heretofore, Sam now received punishment. Sam
must have suffered terribly from the repeated
knock-down blows he experienced; but his frame
was of so close a texture that it did not
exhibit marks of punishment like most other men.
This was an important point towards victory on
his side, by disheartening his antagonists, who,
however they might mill him, could not see the
result of their efforts, from Sam’s appearing
fresh and unhurt. Had Sam properly attended to
his training, had he viewed the consequences of
the battle in the light of an experienced
veteran, bearing in mind that he had everything
to lose, and but little to gain, the sequel
might have proved different. His experience and
judgment should also have pointed to him, that
youth, strength, science, and determined
resolution were not to be disposed of as matters
of course; that it was not a mere sporting
article he had to pink for his amusement—one who
had presumptuously dared to enter the lists
against so mighty and renowned a chief. Some
caution, it might be presumed, was necessary
when it was also known to him his antagonist was
above a novice; that Nosworthy was an energetic
boxer, aspiring to reach the top of the tree.
But the conquests of Sam had made him forget
himself. Fame and flattery had cheated him. The
whole race of pugilists viewed him as a
phenomenon, and impressed with this character,
it should seem, latterly, that poor Sam “had
crept so much into favour with himself,” that he
vainly imagined he had only to appear in the
ring, and his name alone was sufficient to
vanquish any pugilist who might have the
temerity to oppose him. He at length fell a
victim to “self-conceit” and ill-timed flattery.
The fame which Nosworthy earned on this occasion led to several
challenges, among others to one from the renowned and hardy Scroggins,
which he accepted, and they met on June 16, 1815, at Moulsey Hurst. The
details of this battle will be found in the Life of SCROGGINS, p. 416,
who was on this, as on many other hard fought fields, the conqueror. His
friends attributed this defeat to bad condition; but the truth seems to
be that in Scroggins, Bill Nosworthy met a miller of his own stamp.
Bill was afterwards matched to fight George Curtis, but the latter paid
forfeit from ill-health.
Nosworthy felt his defeat by the hardy little tar, and never recovered
his usual spirits. Dissipation and excessive drinking hurried him into a
consumption, and in the last stage of this frightful disease, he, with
the assistance of a few friends, left London for Lympstor, in
Devonshire; but, in October 26, 1816, while resting at Exeter, he
received his final knock-down, scarcely surviving the Jew three months.
His connections in Devon were very respectable, and his manners, until
depraved by excessive drink, pleasing, while his appearance was
prepossessing.
BEN BURN (“UNCLE BEN”)—1810‒1834.
There was nothing in the pugilistic exploits of the first of the Burn
family (“Uncle Ben,” as he was afterwards termed, on account of the
higher merits of his “nevvy”) to deserve particular record. He was well
known as a sparrer with the “big ’uns” at the Fives Court, a
match-maker, a second, a ring attendant, and a sporting publican. He
beat J. Christie on Highgate Common, January 1, 1810, for 40 guineas.
Fought Flanagan for 100 guineas, March 27, 1814, whom he also defeated.
His after fights were with Dogherty, Silverthorne, Palmer Jones, Tom
Spring, and Tom Oliver, by all of whom he was beaten. He also had a
set-to with “Gibletts” (Charles Grantham), whom he beat in twenty
minutes in a room fight in Bow Street, June 13, 1821. His last
appearance (which is omitted under his name in “Fistiana”) was with Old
Tom Oliver, in 1834, who defeated him at Hampton in six rounds,
twenty-four minutes, for £25 a-side, as will be seen under the Memoir of
OLIVER.
HARRY HARMER, THE COPPERSMITH—1812‒1815.
This scientific pugilist was allied to the family of the Belchers, and
was born in the place known as the Horse Fair, Bristol, in 1784. His
sparring was for many years the theme of admiration. His height, five
feet eight inches and a half; his weight, eleven stone and a few pounds.
It does not appear that Harmer, although reared in the hot-bed of
pugilists, exhibited in any public scientific contest previous to his
arrival in the metropolis.
The superior style he displayed in his first battle with Maltby, the
latter having vanquished George Cribb and Cope, brought Harmer into
notice with the admirers of pugilism. With Jack Ford, in his second
contest, he also rose a step higher; and in his third and last battle,
with Shelton, he established his reputation as a game and first-rate
boxer.
Harmer entered the lists with Maltby on Thursday, June 12, 1812, at
Wilsden Green, for a purse of £25 guineas. Maltby was the favourite six
to four, and nearly a stone heavier than Harmer, who was a stranger to
the ring. Tom Jones and Cropley seconded Maltby, and Belcher and
Richmond attended upon Harmer. At one o’clock the men set-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Both the combatants seemed intent on
fighting, and began without ceremony; they,
however, soon disengaged from a close, and
Harmer, with great dexterity, planted a severe
right-handed hit on one of Maltby’s peepers
without receiving any return. Maltby, with much
determination, fought his way into a close, and,
in a trial of strength to obtain the throw, they
both fell, Harmer uppermost. (The odds rather
lowered, and Harmer became attractive.)
2.—Harmer commenced in grand style, and planted
a left-handed blow upon Maltby’s nose, which,
added to his already damaged eye, changed the
appearance of his face. A desperate rally
occurred, and hit for hit took place, when
Maltby was floored from a severe blow on his
forehead. (The partizans of Harmer began loudly
to applaud, and offered five to four upon his
winning.)
3.—The men were both on their mettle, and
considerable execution was done on both sides.
Maltby stood up like a hero, and satisfied the
spectators he had not a particle of flinching
in his composition. A rally ensued, and much
reciprocal hitting occurred. The right hand of
Maltby punished Harmer’s body so severely
that, from one tremendous hit, he went
staggering away like a drunken man; but the
latter, to the astonishment of the ring,
returned hastily upon his opponent, and, in a
finishing style of execution, Maltby went
down. It was now seen that the reach of Harmer
gave him the superiority, and his friends
sported the odds without hesitation.
4 to 15 and last.—At this early stage of the
fight Maltby was reduced. Harmer made play in
every round, and kept the lead in gallant style.
From the quickness of Harry, he literally beat
his man stupid. Maltby contended, in the most
determined manner, for thirty-seven minutes,
when nature was so exhausted, that he was
carried out of the ring by his seconds.
From this manly specimen Harmer became the object of considerable
conversation in the pugilistic circles; his length, quickness, and
punishing hitting deterred a few of the fighting men from entering the
lists with him, till Jack Ford was matched with him for a purse of 25
guineas.
This battle took place on the 23rd of August, 1813, a mile to the
eastward of St. Nicholas, in Kent, upon the land of Mr. Neale, a Kentish
yeoman, a short distance from Margate. The veteran Joe Ward and Hall
seconded Harmer; Paddington Jones and Clark attended upon Ford.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Harry commenced fighting with great
confidence by making play right and left, but
without much effect, Ford having stopped and
returned. In closing, they both went down. The
betting, which had been previously rather high
upon Harmer, was now rather reduced, it
appearing that Ford would not let his nob
receive that severe punishment which Harmer had
dealt out so liberally upon Maltby. (Five to
four upon Harmer.)
2.—A good rally, and both the combatants upon
their mettle. Ford most conspicuous, but did
not like the right hand of Harmer. Strength on
both sides was resorted to in falling; but the
advantages in this round appeared on the side
of Ford.
3.—The right hand of Harmer got into work, and
the forehead of Ford received a severe taste of
his quality. The game of the latter, however,
was not so soon frightened as to deter him from
attempting to adopt his favourite mode of
in-fighting; and several teasers did not
frustrate Ford from boring in upon his
adversary, yet he still lost by comparison, and
was thrown.
4.—The truth must be told: the bad training of
Ford could no longer be concealed. His wind was
treacherous, and he was sparring to gain time;
but he guarded himself so scientifically, that a
short time elapsed before any opening occurred
whereby Harmer could derive any advantage, when
he at length put in a heavy body blow on his
opponent, and Ford, with considerable dexterity,
returned a “sender” on the head of Harmer.
Equality was preserved in this round; but Ford
went down from a terrible blow. (Brisk betting
upon Harmer two to one.)
5.—Ford, full of pluck, rallied with spirit,
slashing away without any care respecting
himself; and Harmer was no ways behind hand in
hammering his opponent. Their hitting told,
and the round was not terminated without
considerable execution being manifest. Harmer
threw Ford. Weakness now appeared on both
sides.
6.—Harmer received a severe hit in the body and
went down.
7.—In going in to rally, Harmer was repulsed by
Ford, when the latter for a short period had
the best of the milling. On getting near the
ropes, Harmer got Ford’s nob under his left arm
and fibbed him so terribly that he was glad to
put an end to it by falling through his hands.
Harmer was now the favourite in every point of
view.
8.—Ford, always brave, showed he was determined
not to lose his character, and the fortitude he
exhibited in this round claimed universal
praise. Punishing without ceremony took place
upon both sides; and the right hand of Harry,
from a terrible hit he planted upon Ford’s eye,
was much injured. The combatants stuck to each
other hard and fast, pelting away in all
directions; but the strength of Ford was leaving
him, and he held by the ropes, where the mastery
of Harmer was evident, by holding up his
opponent with his left hand and with his right
putting in some weighty blows. The betting
amateurs were now satisfied it was all their own
way, and offered to lay any odds upon Harmer.
9.—Ford had now received so much severe
punishment that it was evident he was losing
ground rapidly. He had given such decided
specimens of game in his other contests, that it
was well known he would not relinquish fighting
while anything like a chance remained. He
therefore summoned all his courage to get a turn
in his favour, but was reduced to that state
where superior science and strength must be
served. Ford, from one leg being shorter than
the other, fought under peculiar disadvantages
in this respect, and when retreating, it
appeared very conspicuously. It now appeared
that he fell without a blow, but it was owing to
this defect.
10.—Humanity of character should never be
forgotten, and it ought always to be recorded as
an example to other pugilists. Ford was in an
unfortunate situation against the ropes, where a
blow must have finished him; but Harmer nobly
disdained to take any advantage of a brave
competitor while a more manly path presented
itself; and he never could show manhood in a
finer style than in walking away and leaving
Ford to go down himself.
11.—Harmer now punished his antagonist with ease
and address till he went down, and Ford was more
enfeebled every round; but, notwithstanding the
milling he met with, he could not be prevailed
upon to give in until the twenty-third round,
when he was completely told out.
REMARKS.—Ford, although defeated, showed that
his pretensions to boxing were good and
scientific, and that he was not to be got at
without some difficulty. The importance of
training does not seem to operate on pugilists
in general; or, if they do understand its value,
it should seem that, in too many instances, they
do not strictly comply with its regulations to
obtain those essential requisites toward
victory—sound wind and good condition. It was
evident that Ford suffered considerably from
this neglect. As an in-fighter he was able to do
considerable execution, but the length of Harmer
was too much for him. With Oliver, Ford
contended for two hours and ten minutes; and,
notwithstanding it was thought that he had
generally improved, yet with Harmer he was
disposed of in thirty-five minutes. Ford’s body
exhibited some severe marks of punishment, and
he was bled before he left the ground.
Harmer, after a year and a half had elapsed, was matched with Tom
Shelton, the navigator. It may not be improper to premise the occasion
of this battle. Shelton was introduced at the Fives Court, and ascended
the stage with Harmer, at Cribb’s benefit, on May 31, 1814, as a
complete novice. Shelton appeared determined for a downright mill, and
attacked Harmer furiously, endeavouring to show his abilities. Harry,
with skill and dexterity, parried off his strength, and put in some
touches that drew forth the claret. To call it sparring would be
erroneous, it was complete roughing. The impetuosity of Shelton was
astonishing, and it was also curious to observe the decided mode in
which Harmer drove the former away from him. During the contest Shelton
was so sharply met by his antagonist, that he turned completely round
twice, and recommenced his attack. The science of Harmer, however
pre-eminent, was not enough to convince Shelton of his superiority, and
it at length became necessary for Harry to add strength to his efforts
to abate the rushing of his opponent. Harmer, at arms’ length, gloved
him severely, but, upon Shelton rushing in to mill, Harry got his nob
under his left arm, and with his right hand fibbed him so tightly that,
to prevent its proceeding to an actual fight, it was deemed prudent that
no more such sparring should take place between them in the Court. This
was Shelton’s first appearance; and, from the spirit he displayed, he
was much fancied by several of the amateurs. An opinion was entertained
that he only wanted a better knowledge of boxing, in addition to his
other requisites, to make him a dangerous customer for any of his
weight. In the course of a twelvemonth he acquired considerable science;
and, notwithstanding the character Harmer maintained as a first-rate
boxer, the capabilities of Shelton were not viewed with indifference by
many of Harry’s friends. The match at length being made for 100 guineas,
it created considerable interest in the sporting circles, and on
Tuesday, April 18, 1815, they met, in a twenty-four feet roped ring, on
Hounslow Heath, near the rivulet which divides the heath from Twickenham
Common. Shelton was the heavier man by some pounds. Seven to four on
Harmer eagerly taken by the friends of Shelton. The spectators were
exceedingly numerous. Richmond and Oliver were for Shelton, and Tom
Belcher and Bill Gibbons with Harmer. At one o’clock the men shook hands
and set-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The determined quality of Shelton was
well known to the amateurs, and great anxiety
was manifested. The navigator, eager to commence
fighting, endeavoured to plant two left-handed
blows, but his distance proving incorrect,
Harmer floored him in a twinkling, and the
claret was visible upon his face. (Loud
shouting, and two to one freely offered against
Shelton.)
2.—The Navigator, from his eagerness to do
something, again hit short, as did Harmer in
returning. The men now got into a sharp rally,
when Harmer, from a slip, fell down upon his
knees, and received an accidental blow from the
suddenness of his situation. “Foul!” “Fair!” was
vociferated, but the umpires knowing the real
state of the case, the battle did not suffer the
slightest interruption.
3.—This round was resolutely contested on both
sides, and the combatants, in a tremendous
rally, exchanged hit for hit with a firmness
that claimed applause from all parts of the
ring. Harmer, in point of quickness, put in the
most blows, and finished the round by sending
his man down. (It was current betting five to
two upon Harmer.)
4.—Good reciprocal boxing, when, in closing,
Harmer was thrown.
5.—Shelton, full of gaiety, made play, and
Harmer, from a slight hit, was again on the
ground.
6.—The science of Harmer was seen to much
advantage in this round. From the Navigator’s
hitting short, he received tremendously left and
right from Harmer, and was ultimately floored.
(This changed the betting again, and seven to
four was sported upon Harry.)
7.—The blows upon both sides were so hard and
fast as not to be described. It was a long
round, and Harmer went down rather distressed.
8.—The time appeared to be called rather too
quick for both men, as both showed symptoms of
distress. Some sparring occurred, when Shelton
was missing in an instant: he received a blow
under his left ear, and he appeared stunned,
lying on the ground.
9.—It was astonishing to see with what pluck
Shelton again met his man. Another desperate
rally took place, at the end of which Shelton
went down.
10.—Some good blows exchanged, and both down.
11.—The Navigator was on the grass from a slight
hit.
12.—A short round, and Shelton thrown cleanly by
his adversary.
13.—Both the combatants were no strangers to
the hammering they had received. However, they
got into work, and desperation seemed the
order of the round. Harmer manfully strove to
take out the fight of his opponent, while the
latter seemed to have that precise object in
view. It was hard work on both sides; but the
round closed to the advantage of Shelton, who
sent Harmer down. The head of the latter
unfortunately, in falling, came in contact
with a stake.
14.—The appearance of Harmer was against him
on coming to the scratch; and none but an
extraordinary man could have returned so quickly
to have commenced the round. His right hand
appeared also to have given way, and some alarm
was felt from this circumstance. Harmer went
down from a slight hit. The backers of Harry
were rather puzzled, and the partizans of
Shelton now boldly offered six to four upon him.
15.—Affairs were materially changed. Shelton
was now decidedly the favourite; he again sent
Harmer down.
16.—Harmer was still in the back ground,
notwithstanding he exerted himself to change
this unfortunate aspect. Shelton again had it
his own way, and Harry went down from a slight
blow. The friends of Shelton looked upon victory
as a matter of course, and betted seven to four
without hesitation; many still greater odds.
17.—This round, to all appearance, seemed to
have decided the fight. A rally took place, but
Shelton was quite a hero in it; he planted blows
in all directions, and, from a dreadful one that
Harmer received on his nob, he was floored in a
twinkling. (Five to one upon Shelton.)
18.—Harmer came up to the scratch in a tottering
state. He merely placed himself in a fighting
position, but was soon sent down.
19 to 21.—The game exhibited by Harmer under
these circumstances astonished every one
present. In all these rounds he seemed
bewildered, and the advice of his seconds lost
upon him. It was all against him, and in the
twenty-first round Shelton was so much the
superior man, that Harmer was hit out of the
ring. (The odds were now so great, and the
termination of the battle considered so certain
in favour of Shelton, that no takers were to be
found.)
22.—Harmer came almost reeling to meet his man.
It was desperation in the extreme, or, in the
bold language of the hero of Bosworth Field,
“I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die.”
It was thought next to an impossibility
that Harmer could last a round longer; but
such is the uncertainty of battle, that he
made a tolerable bout of it, and also had
the good fortune to hit his opponent down.
The surprise this circumstance occasioned
cannot be described; even betting was the
fact.
23.—Harmer appeared first upon his legs, and,
strange to state, so sudden was the falling off
of the Navigator that, on being brought to face
his man, he seemed insensible to every object
around him. Harmer hit him down.
24.—Considering the exhausted state of both
the combatants, this might be considered a
good round. The Navigator seemed to recollect
himself, and ultimately sent down Harmer.
(Shelton was again the favourite, and seven to
four against his opponent was viewed as safe
betting.)
25.—Harmer still persevered, in spite of all
obstacles, and from the advantage of giving
Shelton a dreadful cross-buttock, victory turned
in his favour. The fall was so heavy that the
breath seemed to be all shaken out of the
Navigator, and one of his shoulders received a
violent contusion.
26.—Shelton was completely stupefied from the
effects of the last round, and Harry merely
pushed him down. (The odds now rapidly changed
again, and Harmer for anything.)
27, 28, and last.—The Navigator was all but
done, and a blow from Harmer on the side of his
head put a period to the contest, which was
decidedly finished in thirty-five minutes.
REMARKS.—It was impossible for superior courage
to have been shown in any battle whatever than
in this between Harmer and Shelton; a more truly
sporting fight was never witnessed. It is true
the amateurs felt some degree of surprise at the
sudden falling off of the Navigator; but Harmer
raised his fame from his manly conduct, and
only won the battle from his unbounded game and
perseverance.
Harmer, shortly after the above combat, in company with Fuller, crossed
the water, in order to give the natives of France some practical ideas
on the national sport of English boxing, and were liberally received.
Their efforts were thus delicately announced in the French papers:—“Two
English boxers have already given several representations in the Rue
Neuve des Petits Champs. Persons of the most refined sensibility may be
present, for these boxers do not strike so as to do each other any
injury. In England, after every battle, one or two of the assailants
must be declared _hors de combat_, and when they are obliged to carry
him off the field in a wheel-barrow or on a shutter the pleasure is
complete. At Paris we are not so greedy: we content ourselves with a few
blows, and the demonstration of them is enough.”
Harmer set-to with Fuller upon a stage erected on the race-course, near
Montmartre, between the heats. The Duke of Wellington was one of the
spectators upon this occasion, and ordered five Napoleons to be put into
the hat. This was shortly after the occupation of Paris by the allied
sovereigns, and a number of distinguished characters belonging to
various nations attended. At some of the minor theatres in Paris the
sparring of these boxers not only contributed to fill up the ballet of
action, but was loudly applauded. The liberality of Monsieur, however,
was far behind the contributions of the amateurs at Moulsey. One lively
instance presents itself. An English officer, a Captain of the Guards,
went round to the spectators on the race-course with a hat, to collect
subscriptions for Harmer and Fuller, and upon coming up to a fashionably
dressed Frenchman, he generously threw in a single sous. The officer, by
way of a set-off for the liberal donation, immediately held it up in his
hand and, walking round the stage, exclaimed, “Behold this very handsome
present given by a French gentleman!” This _nouvelle_ mode of ridicule
had the desired effect, and the Frenchman, not possessing nerve enough
to encounter such an _exposé_, instantly took the hint and galloped off
the ground, amidst the shouts and laughter of the assemblage, which was
a complete mixture of English, French, Austrians, Prussians, Russians,
etc.
From the conflict of opinion respecting the battle between Harmer and
Shelton, the friends of the latter were induced to give him another
chance. He was accordingly backed to fight Harmer, on the 26th of June,
1816; but Shelton, during his training, fell off altogether in
constitution, and paid forfeit.
In December, 1817, Harmer’s ring career was ended by a severe ophthalmic
disorder, which so affected his eyesight as to compel him to decline all
challenges. As Harry had never been defeated, he was the object of some
envy. He began business as a publican at the Plough, in West Smithfield,
which he kept for many years. Shelton, having called at Harmer’s and
quarrelled with him, he thereafter published a challenge, to which
Harmer sent the following reply:—
“SIR,—
“I have only to observe, in answer to your challenge to me in
_Bell’s Weekly Dispatch_, that you know the cause which compelled me
to take off my coat and waistcoat in the affair to which you allude.
It was to resent an injury; nay, more, it was to recover my money,
the wager not being decided. Under the like circumstances, I hope I
shall be always ready to resent an injury. Respecting my fighting
again in the prize ring, it is well known to you and the sporting
world that, from my defect of sight, I have left the ring. Indeed, I
regret my defect of sight most seriously, that I am not able to meet
you again in the ring, as I feel equally confident respecting the
termination of it as it occurred about three years since in our
battle.
“H. HARMER.
“_The Plough, Smithfield, October 21, 1820._”
Harmer died in 1834, well respected by numerous friends.
HENRY JOSIAH HOLT, THE CICERO OF THE RING—1816‒1820
Harry Holt was born at Islington on the 17th of May, 1792. In early life
he was articled to a surveyor, but his master having failed, he was
turned over for the remainder of his apprenticeship to a builder, in St.
Martin’s Lane. Here he seems to have imbibed a love of “arms,” and,
disdaining the jog-trot operations of the plane and saw, he appears to
have determined to chisel his way through life in a more exciting path.
That this resolution was prudent we are by no means disposed to believe,
but “every one to his taste,” as the old woman said when she kissed her
cow; and if he was unable to build for himself a fame equal to Sir
Christopher Wren, he at least obtained a fame in other respects which,
to the day of his death, made him acceptable in the eyes of the fancy
circles.
Upon all occasions in the prize ring he evinced a tact and gallantry
which obtained for him well-earned commendations; and his literary
ability for some time made him the support of the milling department of
the second sporting paper of the kingdom, the _Era_.
The first recorded conflict in which Harry Holt engaged was with a hero
of the trowel, in the Five Fields, Chelsea, in the year 1810. His
opponent was well known in the neighbourhood as a determined miller, and
flattered himself he could dispose of the pretensions of the slight and
fair-haired youth without giving him half a chance. But the science and
quickness of Harry turned the scale, and he not only astonished the
bricklayer, but carried off the laurel of victory in triumphant style.
His next trial was with a life-guardsman (as recorded in “Boxiana”), and
here again, despite the disparity of height and weight, Harry milled the
swordsman till he laid down his arms.
The skirmishes of Holt ere he was out of his teens will be found related
in “Boxiana,” vol. iii., pp. 372‒5, in the usual loose, skimble-skamble,
ungrammatical style of the uneducated editor of that undigested
hotch-potch.
At the age of twenty-five Harry first shied his castor within the
twenty-four feet ring (so called, upon the _lucus a non lucendo_
principle, from its shape being a parallelogram), on the 20th of August,
1816, with Joe Parish, the waterman. This was indeed a manly, as well as
a scientific, contest; and, although defeated, Holt earned “golden
opinions” from all those whose good opinion was worth having. The
victory was gamely disputed for ninety minutes, during which seventy
rounds were fought. At the commencement Holt was thought to have the
advantage, but the tide of fortune soon changed, and he “got into
trouble,” out of which he never again was able to struggle. On one
occasion during the fight Parish had Holt upon the ropes, in a position
where he might in all probability have “finished” him, but he manfully
threw up his hands and walked away, amidst loud and well-merited
approbation from all parts of the ring. Holt felt so impressed with this
generous behaviour of his adversary, that while his adversary sat upon
his second’s knee, he shook him by the hand, saying, “I thank you, Joe,
for your conduct.” After an hour and ten minutes, the termination seemed
extremely doubtful, when Parish, like a true aquatic, watching the turn
of the “tide which leads to fortune,” went in so strongly and
determinedly that poor Harry, despite the most heroic efforts, was
forced to succumb, and was led from the ring completely beaten. The
result of this contest raised both men in the esteem of the milling
circles, and Parish (this was his first appearance in the prize ring)
was shortly after matched against the Nonpareil, Jack Randall, who, we
need hardly say, in turn defeated the victor.
Holt now devoted some nine months to sparring, and acquiring a still
further knowledge of his art. His manners were pleasing, his address
engaging, and, as he sung a song somewhat above mediocrity, his company
was sought, a dangerous thing for a young man in the great metropolis.
Harry, too, from having received an education somewhat above the average
of the society with which he mixed, and being moreover gifted with a
command of words and a power of expression rather beyond the ordinary
range, was generally elected to address the public on the occasion of
benefits, etc., by such of his brother pugs who were “slow and halt of
speech,” a deficiency to which those readiest with hands and feet are
often doomed. From these oratorical displays, he soon acquired the
sobriquet of “Cicero,” and, as the Cicero of the ring, Harry Holt for
some quarter of a century figured in the public prints.
Holt’s next appearance in the prize ring was with Jack O’Donnell (said
to be a relative of the once celebrated Irish pugilist of that name), at
Arlington Corner, near Hounslow Heath, after a harassing journey of some
miles across the country, in consequence of the interruption which took
place on the day the first fight between Scroggins and Turner occurred,
at Hayes, Middlesex. This was on Wednesday, March 26, 1817. The
combatants stripped in a heavy shower of rain, and commenced fighting at
a quarter before six o’clock in the evening. Tom Owen and Dolly Smith
seconded O’Donnell; and Painter and Harmer attended upon Holt. Five to
four on the latter.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Upon setting-to the attitude of Holt
was extremely elegant, and his appearance
altogether rather interested the spectators
in his behalf. He commenced play without
ceremony, by planting a severe facer under
O’Donnell’s left eye, and got away with much
dexterity. The latter endeavoured to return
the compliment, but hit short. It was one of
the most manly rounds ever witnessed, the men
fighting at arm’s length; and, notwithstanding
the rain descended in torrents, the combatants
seemed insensible to its chilling effects, and
opposed each other with the utmost gaiety. A
number of good blows passed between them,
materially to the advantage of Holt, who nobbed
poor Paddy most successfully. Near ten minutes
had elapsed, nothing like closing had occurred,
and both appeared quite exhausted, when
O’Donnell rushed in, and Holt was sent down.
Such a first round was scarcely ever seen
before. (Seven to four on Holt.)
2.—O’Donnell, finding that keeping out from his
opponent was disadvantageous, endeavoured to
bore in, but Holt stopped him by a tremendous
blow on the jaw, that made his pimple rattle
again. The Irishman was not to be dismayed, and
he succeeded in marking one of Holt’s peepers.
Some reciprocal fighting took place, when, in a
struggle to obtain the throw, both went down,
but Holt undermost.
3.—Holt hit and stopped with great facility,
and his science was loudly admired throughout
the ring. O’Donnell did not want for courage,
and showed himself to much advantage in this
round. A desperate rally took place, and in
closing, O’Donnell endeavoured to fib Holt, but
the latter resolutely broke away, and knocked
O’Donnell’s head about like a spinning top. Both
ultimately went down.
4.—A smile sat upon the countenance of Holt: he
had all the coolness about his actions of the
experienced pugilist, and he scarcely threw a
blow away. O’Donnell’s mug, from the repeated
attacks made upon it, appeared rather out of
shape. Both again down. (Two to one upon Holt.)
5 to 17 and last.—It was most manly boxing
throughout the whole of these rounds. O’Donnell
put in some good hits, and always had the best
of his opponent in throwing, but he never could
keep his head out of chancery. The seventeenth
round was truly desperate. O’Donnell repeatedly
attempted to go in, but was as repeatedly kept
out by a stopper on his nob. Holt put in six
facers without any return. The jaw of O’Donnell
was terribly battered, part of his chin laid
open, and a tremendous blow, put in under his
ear, brought out the claret instantaneously, and
his senses seemed almost beat out of him. He
could not come again.
Mr. Jackson made a collection of £9 to be
divided between them. This battle proved a treat
to the admirers of scientific boxing; so good a
fight restored good humour to the amateurs for
their disappointment at Hayes; and they retired
well satisfied. The ring was kept in good order,
although neither ropes nor stakes were used to
protect the men from the crowd. The unpropitious
state of the weather had not the least effect
upon the feelings of the spectators, who never
shifted an inch of ground in consequence of
being so drippingly assailed.
The friends of Holt, from his decisive victory over O’Donnell, and the
general improvement which had taken place in his fighting, were induced
to match him with a better man, and, on the 20th of May, 1817, the
sporting world was on the _qui vive_ to witness the decision of the
match between Harry Holt and the Nonpareil of the ring, the celebrated
Jack Randall, who long preceded the subject of this sketch in his
journey “to that bourne from whence no traveller returns.” Indeed, the
friends of Holt and many of the most distinguished amateurs were much
prepossessed in his favour, and, notwithstanding the known excellence of
Randall, it was very generally thought that Holt would prove a worthy
competitor. Coombe Warren was the _locus in quo_, and, on the appointed
Wednesday, Colonel Berkeley (the late Earl), Captain Barclay, Mr.
Jackson, and a muster of Corinthian patrons of popular sports, assembled
at the above-named place. The combatants were equal in weight and
height, namely, each about five feet six inches and a half, and ten
stone two pounds to four pounds. Randall was backed by his patron
Colonel Barton, and Holt by several amateurs of eminence. The stake was
£50. This battle will be found in the Life of RANDALL, p. 332.
It was urged by many of Holt’s friends that he displayed no fight at all
in this contest with Randall; but this complaint will vanish on a slight
examination. Randall assumed the offensive throughout the battle, and
his punishment was so electrifying and severe that he never gave Holt
any opportunity of showing himself, save in the defensive department of
fistic strategy. Holt did, in the earlier part of the battle,
occasionally stop his opponent’s left; but the fact was, as Holt
frequently afterwards observed, the fight was decisively hit out of him
in the third round. Indeed, if Holt had not been a truly game man, he
never could have stood before Randall twenty-five minutes, after the
heavy milling he received at the outset, and in consequence of this
opinion a few amateurs present collected £10, which they presented to
him as the reward of his bravery.
After the battle between Turner and Cy. Davis at Wallingham Common, on
Friday, June 18, 1819, a cessation of hostilities for upwards of an hour
took place, during which period a purse was subscribed, but went begging
for want of a couple of good ones. Sutton, the black, who had defeated
the brave Ned Painter, wished to have a shy at Carter (once the
_soi-disant_ Champion of England), but the latter boxer pleaded
indisposition. Hall, Jack Martin (the Master of the Rolls), and others
were named, but it was “no go.” At length Harry Holt, to adjust all
difficulties, shied his castor into the arena for any ten stone man,
declaring (unlike our cavilling pugilists, “those of the modern time”)
that he was not nice to a few pounds. His challenge was speedily
accepted by David Hudson. Randall and O’Donnell waited on Holt, and
Josh. Hudson and Tom Owen upon David Hudson. The purse was 20 guineas,
and the odds on Holt five to four.
The “game” of Holt had been proved on more than one occasion, and his
character stood high as a neat stopper, a pretty rapid hitter, and a
well-scienced man. He was not, however, by any means in condition, and
had walked all the way from London that morning to see the first fight.
Hudson, too, was out of condition; nevertheless, they set-to with a
spirit which might put to the blush mills of far higher pretence and
more careful and expensive preparation, Holt taking the lead, and
nobbing Hudson down.
Harry contested this battle up to the eighty-ninth round, but he could
not stand the hitting of Hudson, and went down repeatedly; while, on the
contrary, Hudson seemed to be getting fresher, and often ran and jumped
to get in at Holt. The latter would not give in, and he was taken out of
the ring by the desire of a noble lord and other amateurs. The fight
occupied an hour and three-quarters.
It was a most distinguished, capital fight on both sides, and, in a
word, the men covered themselves with pugilistic glory. Holt was rather
too stale for his opponent; he had also some of his teeth dislodged. A
handsome subscription was made for Holt.
Holt now bade adieu to the ring, in which, if he had not done what
Addison declares is not within the power of mortals, namely, “command
success,” he had done more, “deserved it.” Time, however, and the Fates
brought round another scrimmage in the shape of a room fight, with the
never-to-be-forgotten Jack Scroggins, whose “ghost” long “revisited the
pale glimpses of the moon” in the poetic gaggeries of _Bell’s Life_.
On the 30th of November, 1820, after a sporting dinner at Randall’s
house in Chancery Lane, there arose a difference of opinion during a
discussion of the merits of various pugilistic professors. Spring,
Purcell, Randall, Martin, the Birmingham Youth, Holt, etc., being among
the parties assembled. Among matches proposed and talked of, was one
between Holt and Scroggins, to come off in some six weeks from the first
“time of asking.” This delay, however, the time being eleven o’clock at
night, and the spirits mounting, did not suit the desperate Scroggy, who
delivered his ideas on the subject somewhat in the following form:—
“Why, as to that there matter, it ain’t no match between me and Holt; I
can lick him like a babby. I never was so ill with a cold in my life;
but I will fight him any time you like, but I’d rather it ’ud be now.”
Holt returned Scroggins thanks for his candour, but, in return, thought
Scroggins would have no chance to win with him. Nevertheless, he too was
of opinion that the best way would be to decide it instantly.
“I am ready,” said Scroggins; “but the winner shall have the whole of
the purse.”
“I am agreeable,” replied Holt.
The usual preparations were made for the contest. Turner and Martin
seconded Scroggins, and Purcell and Sampson were for Holt. Spring was
the time-keeper. Five to four on Scroggins on one side of the room, and
five to four on Holt among the other party.
In this affair Holt, after taking the lead in scientific style, received
a heavy fall from Scroggy’s rush in the twenty-fourth round; up to that
period Scroggy had all the worst of it. Harry’s constitution, however,
could not stand the wear and tear, and, after thirty-three rounds,
Sampson declared Holt should fight no more.
For two men out of condition, nay, both unwell, particularly Scroggins,
it was a much better fight than has frequently been seen when boxers
have been in training for six weeks. Scroggins had always some
tremendous points about him. It was a most gallant battle on both sides;
but the blows of Holt were not hard enough to stop the rush of
Scroggins. The accident Holt received in the twenty-fourth round lost
him the fight; and he also complained of a sprained thumb before he
commenced the battle. In a ring, some of the amateurs thought Holt might
have had a better chance. The smiles of victory, which had not been
familiar to Scroggins in his last six battles, now seemed to give him
new life. He was, however, in the most exhausted state; and nothing but
a lack of the _physique_ to second his science and courage made Harry
the loser of this most determined contest.
We here drop the curtain on the pugilistic career of Harry Holt,
whereon, although the sunshine of victory seldom shone, he ever
displayed, under the clouds of misfortune and ill-success, the brightest
attributes of a British boxer, science, courage, self-possession, and
honesty. “Some one must lose,” as a practical philosopher has remarked,
and the mischances of war fell often and heavily on poor Harry.
Henceforth his career was chequered and various in its character,
sometimes basking in the sunshine of Dame Fortune, and at others
reposing in the shade of her elder daughter, and tasting the bitters of
vicissitude. He became publican, whether a “sinner” or not we will not
take upon ourselves to state; but, as far as our experience has gone,
the traits of his character were quite as estimable as any of those in
whose sphere he moved. His early education enabled him to bring into
useful operation the powers of his pen, and upon the retirement of
Pierce Egan from the _Dispatch_, he was engaged by Alderman Harmer as
the mentor of Mr. Smith, the new milling editor of that paper, now, like
Harry, gone to that bourne from which no pugilist returns. Harry was
found an excellent Asmodeus to Smith, and introduced him to all the
eccentricities of London life, as well as to the mysteries of the London
Ring, and found so apt a pupil that his _protegé_ was soon enabled to go
alone, and to obtain for the _Dispatch_ a reputation for its advocacy of
the sports of the ring, which it has long since lost, and which lies
buried in the tomb of poor Smith. As a second in the ring, with his
consummate judgment and “artful dodging,” Harry was only equalled by Tom
Belcher and Dick Curtis; and these three men were always considered
hosts of themselves in doubtful points, for, by their ingenious devices
and careful husbanding the strength of their principals, they have
frequently “brought their men through,” when the balance preponderated
against them. In the course of his life Harry occasionally dealt in
cigars and other “Parliament” commodities, and thus did his duty
manfully for the support of a large family. He latterly devoted himself
entirely to sporting literature, and proved himself a useful assistant
to the _Era_ newspaper, in recording milling and pedestrian occurrences,
always reporting faithfully and impartially, and displaying a knowledge
of his profession, eminently useful in describing the “ins and outs” and
“ups and downs” of a fight. His inevitable exposure in this vocation to
the change of weather in every season of the year, whether on the land
or the water, now sitting for three or four hours up to his fetlocks in
snow or mud in a slimy marsh, and then scorched by the rays of a mid-day
sun, and again at night breathing the fœtid atmosphere of some fancy
“re-union,” gradually operated upon a constitution injured by early
exertion, seized his lungs, and threw him into a rapid decline. His last
appearance in the discharge of his vocation was at the fight between
Heffernan and Scully, in the Marshes of Kent, on Tuesday, April 9, 1844,
to and from which he was conveyed with great difficulty to the steamer,
and thence home. While committing to paper the result of his
observations, he received his last awful summons from “the grim king of
terrors,” and handing his pen to his son, left him to give the finishing
stroke to his report. He left behind him a widow and six children, one
of whom, Alfred, succeeded to his father’s post of Ring reporter,
firstly on the _Era_, and subsequently on a daily journal.[167] Holt was
eminently known among his compeers for his “gift of the gab,” as it is
vulgarly termed, hence his cognomen of “Cicero,” the speechmaking at
benefits, etc., being entrusted to his care.
Would that he had left behind a goodly number of men in his profession,
who, without his talents, were imbued with an equal share of honesty of
purpose, integrity of conduct, and correctness in all the relations of
life, both public and private; were such the case, the position of
British boxers would not be degraded to the low ebb at which it stands
at present. Highly respected by the patrons of the science of
self-defence, and esteemed by many of the right sort yet remaining, his
compeers in the ring, Harry Holt left behind him a name which may be
envied by many of his fraternity who less deserve it.
WEST COUNTRY DICK, THE NAVIGATOR.—1816‒1820.
A more manly and courageous boxer was not to be found among the records
of pugilism than this little hero. In a short period he fought no less
than sixteen prize battles in gallant style, and the smiles of victory
proved propitious to his exertions in twelve, Curtis, Gipsy Cooper, and
Jack Randall ranking among his conquerors; defeat by such men being no
dishonour.
Richard West was a native of Bedminster, in Somersetshire, and was born
in the year 1794. At the period of his first battle he was in height
five feet five inches and a half, and weighed nine stone and half a
pound. Dick ranked more as an active boxer than a fine fighter, and was
conspicuous for being a slashing hitter; considering his weight, he
certainly used his right in a tremendous manner. His courage was of so
superior a quality that it often prompted him to fight men much above
his own weight. The most prominent of Dick’s battles were the
following:—
Dick’s first attempt at prize milling was with a man denominated the
Grabbler, in Tothill Fields. It was a desperate fight, and one hour and
twenty minutes expired before Dick was declared conqueror.
A man of the name of Reeve was disposed of by Dick in the short space of
six minutes, at Coombe Wood. It was a match for seven guineas a-side,
Dick putting down his own stake.
A gardener, of good weight, fought with Dick at Moulsey Hurst. This was
also a short battle; and, as before, the confidence of Dick again
prompted him to back himself. He gained the victory in good style.
Dick next entered the lists with the determined Jack Curtis, whose fatal
termination of his fight with Turner we have already noticed in that
boxer’s life. Dick was defeated in fifty-eight minutes, his right hand
being disabled by an accident.
For a trifling purse, to make up a second fight after Carter had
defeated Robinson, the man of colour, in a match against time, at Coombe
Warren, on Wednesday, June 26, 1816, Dick entered the ring with Jack
Payne, the butcher, but, in the course of only four rounds, the latter
was so satisfied that he declared he would fight no more, and left the
ring.
Dick was at length matched with Charley Martin for the sum of 20 guineas
a-side. This contest took place at Moulsey Hurst on Tuesday, August 22,
1816. It was a spirited battle on both sides, and reciprocal milling
occurred during forty-seven rounds; but the severity of Dick’s hitting
brought him through in fifty minutes.
Martin, not exactly satisfied as to the merits of the above battle,
requested a second trial of skill, which being granted, he entered the
ring with Dick, confident of recovering his lost laurels, on Thursday,
February 13, 1817, at Coombe Warren, for 20 guineas a-side. Richmond and
Eales seconded Martin, and Dick had for his attendants Oliver and
Clarke. This second encounter was bravely contested for thirty-four
rounds; and sharper milling, for the time it lasted, thirty-five
minutes, had not been often seen; for the last six rounds Martin had not
the least chance, and left the ring much punished. The Grand Duke
Nicholas of Russia, the late autocrat of that mighty empire, who
witnessed this battle, seemed much interested in the event, and made
many remarks upon the courage displayed by both boxers.
Dick was now thought a competent match for the Nonpareil, Jack Randall,
who defeated him in thirty-three rounds. See RANDALL, p. 330.
To make up for a wretched burlesque on scientific pugilism, which took
place on Tuesday, December 23, 1817, at Coventry Farm, on the Hale,
Middlesex, Dick was suddenly called upon to enter the ring with Street,
for a subscription purse of 10 guineas. No delay occurred, and Dick,
attended by his seconds, Paddington Jones and Ballard, and Street by
Dolly Smith and Lancaster, appeared within the ropes at thirteen minutes
to three o’clock, and fought as follows:—
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Dick’s right hand soon got into work,
and slightly nobbed his opponent. Street, in
returning, hit short. They immediately fought
their way into a close, and both went down. (Six
to four on Dick.)
2.—Dick, as usual, full of bustle, put in a
severe facer that made Street’s head shake
again; the latter, with much confidence, stuck
close to Dick, and gave him a sharp blow on the
shoulder. In closing, both down.
3.—Street, on setting-to, planted a heavy hit
under Dick’s ear and got away, laughing and
nodding, by way of self-approbation. Some hits
were exchanged and both down.
4.—Street made play with his left hand and got
away. Hard fighting soon commenced, when Dick,
with spirit and judgment, drove his opponent to
the ropes, and hit him clean out of the ring.
(Great applause. Seven to four against Street.)
5.—Street met his man confidently, but his
blows, though often well directed, lost their
force from being open-handed; the best of the
hitting was on the side of Dick. In closing,
both down.
6.—Dick went down from a hit under his left arm;
but it appeared more owing to the slippery state
of the ground than the force of the blow.
7 and 8.—In the latter round Dick took the lead
in good style, hit his opponent quite away from
him, and followed him with success, making
several blows tell, till both went down.
9.—Street did not turn out quite so easy a
customer as Dick had imagined. The nob of the
former was rather the worse for the battle; but
no claret was to be seen about either. Could
Dick have used his left hand with any sort of
effect, he might have made greater progress
towards conquest. This was a milling round, and
both down in the close.
10.—Dick was rather distressed from his
exertions in the last round, and seemed rather
slow in quitting his second’s knee, which
excited much vociferation of “Time, time,” from
Lancaster. Paddington Jones was angry at this,
and offered to fight the former for his
uncalled-for noise. When at the scratch some
sharp hits were exchanged, and Street went down
from the severity of his opponent’s right hand.
(Two to one on Dick.)
11.—Street, it was evident, could not protect
his head from repeated facers; but he planted
a sharp body blow that moved Dick from his
station. The ground was in such a wet clayey
state that neither of the combatants could
stand firm. However, Dick sent Street down in
a twinkling. (“Bravo, Dick!” and five to two
was offered.)
12 to 15.—In the latter round Street hit his
opponent down, and planted so severe a blow on
one of Dick’s peepers that made it wink again.
Street felt flattered at this event, and clapped
his hands at Dick while on the knee of his
second.
16 and 17.—Dick slipped down from a slight hit;
he was evidently distressed. Oliver handed the
_eau de vie_ to his seconds, who instantly
administered the restorative cordial.
18 to 20.—In all these rounds Street appeared
the fresher, though his opponent had rather
the best of the milling. Dick’s eye was puffed
up and seemed dark, and Street anxiously
endeavoured to shut up the other.
21.—Street came to the scratch laughing and
nodding at Dick by way of derision; but the
latter gave him such a podger on the jaw that
not only spoiled the grin on his countenance,
but made him laugh on the wrong side of his
mouth. He finished the round by hitting him
down.
22.—Dick seemed to have recovered and reduced
Street to his pitch; he made his hits tell as
fast as he could plant them.
23.—The scale was now turning, Dick having it
all his own way. He planted four severe facers
without any return, and ultimately sent Street
down. (Five to one.)
24 to 27.—In these rounds Street scarcely
exchanged a blow before he was in the mud.
28 to 32.—It was all up with Street; he was down
every round. Dick very politely inquired how he
felt himself?
33.—Street, on leaving the knee of his second,
was asked by Dick “To come to his place, and
stand up like a man;” but he was again down, as
soon as Dick stepped towards him.
34 and last.—On setting-to, Street almost laid
himself down. He, however, got on his legs, but
seemed to avoid meeting his man, and so the
fight ended in thirty-one minutes.
REMARKS.—Considering that the above contest was
a made up mill on the spur of the moment, it was
far above mediocrity, although there was more
manhood than science displayed. The combatants,
too, it seems, were equally unprepared for the
event, Dick having been “navigating” early in
the morning, and “padded the hoof,” as it was
termed in what Ephemera calls the “faded flash
era,” down to the Hale. Street also had
pedestrianised it from Woolwich to the same
spot, a distance of twenty-two miles, which must
have operated as a considerable drawback upon
activity. Dick’s mug was rather battered; and
had not the frame of Street been of a close
texture, the repeated punishment he received
would have been much more visible. The latter,
though defeated, was not altogether satisfied
with the termination of the fight; and it was
thought not unlikely, at a future period, it
might lead to a more regular meeting. Dick was
now not above nine stone and half a pound, and
declared himself open to any man under ten stone
weight in the kingdom.
Colonel Barton and several amateurs of rank appeared on the ground.
Randall, Parish, Scroggins, Oliver, Gibbons, Tom Belcher, etc., were
also present.
A match was now proposed to Dick to enter the lists again with Jack, the
butcher. Our game little hero accepted the challenge without hesitation,
and on Tuesday, February 2, 1818, upwards of eight thousand persons
assembled on Old Oak Common, Middlesex, to witness the battle. The fight
was for 20 guineas a-side, in a twenty-four feet roped ring. From the
size, strength, and weight of the knight of the cleaver (added to his
promise of fighting like a man for once in his lifetime), he was backed
by the _soi-disant_ knowing ones at six to four; but the steady amateurs
who valued character, who admired pluck, and who were well assured that
while a chance remained Dick would not quit the field, took the odds
again and again as a safe thing. The event justified their judgment. At
thirteen minutes past one o’clock, Dick, accompanied by his seconds,
Randall and Paddington Jones, entered the ring and threw up his hat.
Payne soon followed and answered the token of defiance, attended by the
veteran Joe Ward and Dick Whale. The good old ceremony of shaking hands
was then gone through, and the combat commenced.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Jack set-to rather eagerly, but hit
short, when Dick’s right hand made free with his
opponent’s nob. In closing, Jack endeavoured to
fib West, but both went down.
2.—Jack seemed to feel as if he had still some
character left, and endeavoured to convince the
amateurs that he could fight. He gave Dick a
precious muzzler, and exchanged some sharp hits;
but when Dick put in a facer which produced the
claret, a slight trait of his old system peeped
out, and he went down not in the most gallant
style.
3.—This was a good round, and two minutes of
downright milling occurred. Jack put in two
desperate facers with much dexterity, and
likewise some sharp body hits. Dick was not
behindhand with his opponent, and exchanged hits
in a manly style till he sent Payne down.
4.—Payne hit his adversary till Dick got the
turn, when he followed the butcher all over the
ring; the latter’s mug was bleeding copiously.
Both down.
5.—Sharp work was the order of this round, and
reciprocal nobbers occurred. In closing, Dick
threw his adversary.
6.—Dick evidently took the lead, although he did
not escape severe punishment. Payne went down
from a heavy hit he received on his body; he
fell on his knees, and his nob bent forward on
the ground in a singular manner.
7.—After an exchange of blows Jack curred it
down from a facer. (“He’s coming it!” and
disapprobation.)
8.—Dick went down from the force of his own
blow.
9.—This round raised a blush upon the cheeks of
the game pugilists who witnessed the fight. A
boxer, at least twenty pounds heavier, and
taller, than his antagonist, positively turned
his back and ran away from a nine stone man,
after receiving a few sharp hits, and in a
manner laid himself down. (Loud hissing.)
10.—It was singular to observe how, when the
butcher forgot his fears, he fought in manly
style. In this round Jack had decidedly the best
of the milling: he planted two facers right and
left, and sent Dick down from a bodier. The
latter, while on his second’s knee, appeared
much exhausted, and brandy was applied with
success.
11.—Jack again took the lead: he planted two
dreadful hits right and left on Dick’s nob that
seemed nearly to stupefy him; but Dick,
game-cock like, went in with the most determined
confidence, changed the scene, and the butcher
rolled down from a hit.
12.—After an exchange of hits, Dick sent his
opponent down.
13.—Dick slipped down on one knee, but recovered
himself, and ultimately got his adversary down.
14 and 15.—Jack was down in both these rounds,
but not before Dick had received much mischief.
16.—Dick again slipped; but recovering himself
to meet his antagonist, received a desperate
blow near the mark that floored him. This was
bad judgment on the part of Dick.
17.—This was a singular round: both went down
from counter hits.
18 to 20.—One of Dick’s peepers was nearly
closed, and although he had not lost a single
drop of claret, he had received an unusual
degree of punishment. These rounds were rather
in favour of Dick.
21.—This was a grand round on the part of the
little one. He planted three facers with his
right hand without return; but Jack at length
got into work, and fought gaily till he went
down.
22 and 23.—Jack down in both these rounds; in
the latter he received so severe a facer that he
crimsoned all over in a twinkling.
24.—The butcher again administered some heavy
punishment. In closing, both down, when Jack
laughed at his antagonist.
25.—Jack went down from a hit in the throat.
(“Well done, Dick!”)
26.—There was nothing like stopping attempted
between the combatants; and several of the round
lunging blows told desperately. Dick again
received some terrible punishment about his nob
that made him stagger. Both down.
27.—Dick was now extremely weak, and his nob had
been so peppered that he could scarcely tell
what he was about; but his natural game prompted
him to proceed, and in consequence he floored
Jack from a desperate hit on his mouth. (Loud
shouting.)
28 to 30.—Although Payne curred it down in all
these rounds, it could not be considered exactly
safe to Dick. The butcher always hit his
opponent. In the last round the hats were thrown
up, in consequence of Jack’s not liking to leave
his second’s knee. (Five to one on Dick.)
31.—The butcher slowly appeared at the scratch,
and the terrible long faces of his backers
resumed a more cheerful appearance at the
chance. He fought this round tolerably well,
and, in closing, when Dick attempted to fib him,
held his hands till both went down.
32.—On setting-to, Jack fell down. (Hissing.)
33 to 37 and last.—In all these rounds the
butcher went down in a currish style, although
he generally planted a hit before he fell. He
could not have lost it had he possessed anything
like the heart of a true English boxer.
Thirty-five minutes and ten seconds had elapsed,
when victory was decided in favour of Dick. The
latter was led out of the ring almost deprived
of vision; and Jack leant across the ropes to
show, as usual, that he was quite sick of it.
It, however, cannot be denied that he took a
good share of milling, and was heavily hit about
the loins.
REMARKS.—Notwithstanding Dick’s well-known
bottom, it was physically impossible he could
have lasted three rounds more. Nature was
completely exhausted by the heavy punishment
he had received. Upon Dick s being put into
a coach he was for a short period stupefied,
which might have been owing to the heavy nobbing
hits he had undergone; and, in consequence of
not losing a single drop of blood, his head
was much swelled. Had Dick been anything but
a game cock, he could never have had the pluck
to have fought a man twenty-three pounds heavier
than himself, and in every respect a more
skilful boxer. Upon the whole, it was not a
contemptible fight. In this instance it was
admitted that the butcher “did the thing that
was right,” and was defeated against his will.
In a word, he was a boxer without “a heart,”
and it was a matter of great astonishment how
the amateurs could have suffered him again to
make his appearance in the prize ring, after
his unblushing effrontery in previously
acknowledging his being privy to a cross. His
backers, it was said, lost considerable sums in
consequence of his defeat.
Dick was matched with David Hudson, for 50 guineas a-side; but he was
defeated, to the great surprise and mortification of his friends, in a
few minutes. See DAVID HUDSON, Appendix, Period VI.
On Friday, September 11, 1818, Dick, for a purse of 20 guineas, fought
with Davis, a navigator, belonging to the Chatham Dockyard, in a field
near the Chatham Lines. For the first twelve rounds it was tremendous
punishment and reciprocal fighting; but in the thirteenth round Davis
dislocated his wrist, which compelled him reluctantly to acknowledge
Dick as the conqueror.
Abbot, who had defeated Dolly Smith, at the Barge House, in Essex, after
a long fight of 138 rounds, occupying two hours and fifty-five minutes,
it seems looked forward to greater conquests. At a sporting dinner which
took place on Tuesday, March 2, 1819, in the neighbourhood of
Westminster, several of the milling coves looked in to see if any
business had been cut out for them. Dick and Abbot, it appears,
accidentally met each other, and, in consequence of some difference of
opinion, Abbot threatened to mill the former. Dick replied with much
spirit, it should not be long before he was served out for his
insolence. A purse was subscribed by the amateurs, a large shed cleared
and lighted up, and the combatants stripped, attended by seconds and
umpire, with all the regularity of a Moulsey Hurst contest. Randall and
a gentleman amateur took Dick under their especial care; and Abbot was
equally well looked after by Richmond and Hopping Ned. Dick was terribly
out of condition, much distressed, and totally unfit for fighting; and
the state of Abbot was a few degrees removed from condition; but, it
being election time, some excuse was admitted on account of his “voting
for Lushington.” For thirty-five minutes the battle raged with
manliness, activity, and hard hitting. The left hand of Dick was seen to
greater advantage than usual, while his right dealt out tremendous
punishment. Abbot was equally on the alert, the body of Dick serving for
a drum. Abbot, it is said, gave in twice. At the expiration of an hour
and ten minutes, when “time” was called, he left his second’s knee, but
so completely exhausted that he could not put up his hands; the umpire
requested Dick not to hit him in that defenceless state, and victory was
declared in his favour. Dick cross-buttocked his opponent several times
with great adroitness, but did not win without receiving heavily, and
from the manliness he displayed, and the weight against him, he received
much praise. It was three to one on Abbot in the early part of the
fight, and a great deal of betting occurred, the tens and twenties
flying about like waste paper. Dick was offered to be backed to fight
Abbot in a ring for £50 a-side.
Dick fought a Clerkenweller of the name of Parsing, in a long but narrow
room, in the neighbourhood of Smithfield, before a few swell amateurs,
for a purse to the winner, and £1 to the loser, on Tuesday evening, June
13, 1820, at ten o’clock at night. Randall and Scroggins seconded Dick,
and Purcell and Tisdale were for Parsing. It was all over in eleven
rounds, occupying fifteen minutes. No claret was drawn. Parsing would
not fight any more, observing, Dick was too much for him in a room, but
he would fight Dick in a ring for £10 a-side of his own money. Parsing,
though much taller than Dick, had not a shadow of chance. The latter
hero challenged Tisdale to fight before he put on his clothes, as the
battle just over had not afforded any amusement to the amateurs; but
Tisdale refused, stating he should obtain no credit if he won it. “Never
mind,” replied Dick, “I’ll risk it.” Tisdale then publicly acknowledged
that he did not think himself competent to cope with Dick in a room.
Dick fought a most tremendous battle with Jack Cooper, the Windsor
Gipsy, on Epsom Downs, May 16, 1820, but he was defeated in twenty-nine
rounds. See GIPSY COOPER, Appendix, Period VI.
A small subscription purse, for a second fight, at Banstead Downs, on
Tuesday, July 4, 1820, was contested for between West Country Dick and
Parsing. Dick was the favourite six to four. Parsing had been defeated
by Dick in a room, as we have just related, but flattered himself, from
his length, that he could conquer Dick in a ring. Randall and Paddington
Jones seconded the latter, and Purcell and Holt attended upon Parsing.
Twenty-nine rounds took place, occupying twenty-eight minutes. The
latter, it appeared, could not take punishment; and the severe bodiers
given to him by Dick made him grin again. Parsing went down almost every
round, and finally surrendered.
In consequence of the storm having separated the amateurs rather in a
hurry at North Walsham, on Monday, July 17, at the close of Martin and
the Birmingham Youth’s battle, the fancy found themselves weather-bound
at Norwich, and in lack of amusement, when a novice of the name of
Redgreaves offered himself to the notice of a London swell for a turn-up
with Dick. It was thought Redgreaves was a yokel; but, upon further
scrutiny, it turned out that he was a Clerkenweller, and, like some
others of the milling tribe, fancied he could fight a bit, and was
determined to chance it. Dick, the game little Dick, always ready to
improve his circumstances, did not value giving a few pounds in weight
to his opponent; and, after the London manner, this battle took place in
an elegant room, by candle-light, only a few being admitted to the
exhibition. At eleven o’clock on Tuesday night, July 18, Dick stripped,
Randall and Shelton taking him under their especial care. Redgreaves was
well attended by Purcell and O’Donnell. Five to four on Dick.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Dick, without hesitation, went to
work to ascertain what sort of pluck this new
customer possessed; but Redgreaves was not
intimidated, and returned the compliment as
quickly. The result was that Dick went down.
2.—Redgreaves seemed full of fight, and a hard
hitter; exchanged blows with his adversary in a
manly manner. Dick put in a tremendous nobbing
right-handed blow, but in a struggle was thrown.
3.—Dick’s nob received some sharp pepper in this
round; he, nevertheless, got Redgreaves down.
4.—A complete milling round on both sides.
Redgreaves had none the worst of it. Both went
down.
5.—Redgreaves got Dick under his arm and fibbed
him heavily, but the latter extricated himself,
turned round, and went down.
6.—Dick missed a heavy blow, and fell.
7.—This was a good round. Redgreaves showed he
was a heavy hitter, and nearly stove in Dick’s
ribs. The latter gnashed his teeth and went
down.
8.—Dick was thrown heavily.
9.—Dick put in a tremendous bodier that gave his
opponent some losing notions, but went down.
10.—Redgreaves came to the scratch cruelly
distressed. Randall offered a guinea to a crown
that he would not fight above another round.
11 and last.—Dick unscrewed the pepper-box,
and dealt out the punishment so hard and so
fast that Redgreaves went down, and could not
come to the scratch. It was over in fifteen
minutes. Dick got £9, and Redgreaves £ 2 10_s._
The ribs of the former were terribly swelled.
Redgreaves was not a very easy customer, and
the well-breeched yokels pronounced it a manly
fight.
Dick, for a small subscription purse, fought Mason (well known at the
Fives Court, for his repeated sets-to with Lennox) at Chesterfield
Races, on Thursday, July 27, 1820. Mason had not the slightest chance
whatever, and Dick was pronounced conqueror in sixteen minutes.
Dick entered the lists with a man of the name of Hellick, a shipwright,
for a purse of £ 15, at Kit’s Cot House, three miles and a half from
Maidstone, on Monday, August 21, 1820. The milling fame of Dick, who had
fought nineteen prize battles, five of which occurred within the short
space of four months, attracted a numerous assemblage of persons.
Hellick was a well-known good man, upwards of a stone heavier than Dick.
Bob Purcell and Jackson handled the former; Shelton and Cooper attended
upon the latter. Dick was quite out of condition, but he was never out
of pluck; and a good battle was the result of their exertions. It
occupied twenty-six minutes, and nineteen rounds were spiritedly
contested. Dick emptied the pepper-box upon his opponent’s mug in the
first fourteen rounds, and made many severe attacks upon his victualling
office; but the game of Hellick was not to be reduced, and in the
fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth rounds, Dick had it in
such severe style that the shipwright, it was thought, would come into
harbour victorious; but in the nineteenth and last round, Dick, by a
sort of _coup de grace_ effort, gave Hellick a forgetter, added to a
sharp cross-buttock; he fell upon his neck, and it was all U P, to the
great mortification of the yokels, who had sported their money on the
dockyard man.
We have met with no record of the death of this pugilist.
ABY BELASCO—1817‒1824.
During the thirty years preceding 1820, it is but candid to admit that
the Jews made a very prominent feature in the pugilistic circles; but
from the period that “Old Time” compelled Mendoza to retire from the
field of fame, and defeat and death removed Dutch Sam from the prize
ring, the glories of the children of Judah became overcast. Indeed, such
men as the two first-named were rather a disadvantage even to good ones
who might come after them. A century might elapse before two such boxers
as Mendoza and Dutch Sam appeared in the prize ring, although for some
time the “peoplesh” endeavoured to set up the subject of the present
sketch in their place.
Aby Belasco was born on the 9th of April, 1797, and when he first
exhibited with the gloves, he gave such promising milling specimens that
high hopes were entertained by the Israelites, and their expectations
were increased from his conquests, in succession, over Cribb’s
coal-heaver, Josh. Hudson, and Payne.
Belasco was in his day a boxer of superior talent, a master of the
science, not wanting for game, not deficient in strength, of an athletic
make, a penetrating eye, and in the ring full of life and activity. His
fighting weight was ten stone and a half, and in height Abraham was five
feet six inches and a half.
Belasco’s first battle of note was with a man denominated “Cribb’s
coal-eaver,” in consequence of his being under the patronage of the
champion. This contest was for a subscription purse of five guineas,
collected for a second fight. The activity and science displayed by
Belasco on this occasion attracted the attention of the amateurs, and he
was viewed as a pugilist of rising abilities. In the course of thirty
minutes the superiority of Belasco was so decisive that the coal-heaver
was glad to acknowledge he had had enough. Belasco now obtained the
general patronage of the Jews.
Near the Barge House at Woolwich, Belasco entered the lists with the
afterwards renowned Josh Hudson. It was a well-fought battle on both
sides, and was contested with great spirit and science for one hour and
thirty minutes, when the smiles of victory again crowned the efforts of
the promising Israelite.
Our hero, it seems, was down at Moulsey Hurst on Thursday, April 3,
1817, to witness the fight between Randall and West Country Dick, and,
not to lose sight of the “main chance,” he filled up his time on the
ground in disposing of oranges, thus uniting pleasure with profit, when
he was unexpectedly called upon to enter the ring with “Jack the
butcher” (Payne), for a subscription purse. Belasco, without hesitation,
put down his basket of fruit, peeled himself instead of his oranges, and
instantly prepared for action.
He was seconded by two of his own people; Jack was attended by
Paddington Jones and Dolly Smith.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Jack, full of bustle, went to work,
planted three hits, and had the best of the
round till they closed, when Belasco got him
against the ropes, fibbed Jack severely, and
both went down.
2.—The latter did not appear to like the Jew,
and held down his head. Belasco went in with
great gaiety, again fibbed the Butcher, and
dropped him.
3.—This was a spirited round, and Jack showed
fight. Some good blows were exchanged, till the
fibbing system was introduced by the Jew, when
both went down, Belasco undermost.
4.—The Butcher’s nob now showed the handywork of
the Jew, the claret was flowing copiously. In
this round Belasco appeared to do as he liked
with his opponent: he punished him in all
directions, and, by way of concluding, like a
good workman, floored the Butcher, and jumped
over him as he lay on the ground. (Great
shouting.)
5.—Jack appeared at the scratch, but he soon ran
himself down.
6.—The Jew behaved like a true Christian in this
round. He had it all his own way; but when he
got the Butcher on the ropes, in a perilous
situation, he was too manly to take advantage of
it, lifting up his hands and walking away amidst
thunders of applause.
7.—Belasco nobbed Jack with the utmost ease, and
ultimately sent him down. It was rather a sharp
round.
8.—In closing, the Jew fibbed his opponent
terribly, till both fell over the ropes. (Seven
to four on Belasco.)
9.—It was evident the Butcher wished to avoid
the fist of his adversary: he held down his
head. In struggling, both again out of the
ropes.
10.—Jack turned away from his man, but got
peppered for so doing, and was ultimately sent
down.
11.—The Butcher could not keep his head out of
chancery, and was floored. (Great applause.)
12.—Jack seemed quite sick, and curred it down
without a blow. (Disapprobation.)
13.—Both down, but Belasco took the lead.
14.—After the exchange of a few blows, Jack was
fibbed down, his face covered with claret.
15.—If the Butcher possessed anything like
resolution or bottom he might have stood some
chance; but his fighting was all momentarily,
either desperate or currish. Cool judgment did
not work any of his attempts. He, nevertheless,
made some good hits; but, in closing, was again
fibbed till both went down. (Any odds upon the
Jew.)
16 and last.—The Butcher ran at the Jew
furiously, but it was too late to turn the
scale, and he received such a floorer that he
would not again appear at the scratch. The
battle continued seventeen minutes and a half.
Belasco retired from the contest without a
scratch, and proved the conqueror in first-rate
style.
In consequence of the friends of Davis, the milkman, paying forfeit to
Belasco, he was hastily matched with Reynolds. In this battle he
sustained defeat.[168]
Notwithstanding this reverse of fortune, Aby’s partisans did not desert
him, and he was considered an able competitor for the accomplished
Randall. He was accordingly matched with the Nonpareil, eight weeks only
having elapsed since his heavy fight with Reynolds. It is true Belasco
was defeated, but it is equally true that he gained much approbation as
a skilful boxer; and the battle between the Jew and Randall, in a
scientific point of view, stands equal to anything on the records of
pugilism. See RANDALL, _ante_, p. 333.
While Belasco was on a sparring tour with Mendoza in Gloucestershire, in
the summer of 1818, he fought the Winchcomb champion, on the race-course
at Cheltenham, a thirteen stone man, for 20 guineas a-side. Abraham won
in the short space of twelve minutes.
In the same year, on the 9th of December, Belasco entered the lists at
Coventry with Joe Townsend, who was considered the leading boxer in that
place. Townsend fancied that he could beat Belasco off hand, and put
down his watch and five guineas to back himself. He was a twelve stone
man. Aby at that period only weighed ten stone ten pounds. Belasco
proved conqueror in twenty-four minutes.
On Aby’s returning to London he was matched with Phil. Sampson for 50
guineas a-side. The battle took place at Potter’s Street, in Essex,
twenty-one miles from London, on Tuesday, February 22, 1819. This fight
was brought to a wrangle, but the money was ultimately given up to
Belasco. See Life of PHIL. SAMPSON, Period VI.
The Jew and the Birmingham Youth were continually quarrelling upon the
subject, and a second fight took place between them. See _ibid_. A third
fight, with the gloves, at the Tennis Court (_ibid_); and a fourth also
occurred before doubts about each other’s merits could be decided
(_ibid_).
Belasco left London for Bristol to fight Cabbage for 100 guineas a-side,
in October, 1820; but, on his arrival in the above city, the friends of
Cabbage would not advance the money. Belasco, however, was well received
by the Bristolians, who, to make up for his disappointment, gave him a
most excellent benefit.
In the autumn of 1820 Aby was down at Norwich, with most of the London
pugilists, to witness the second mill between Ned Painter and Tom Oliver
(detailed in this history, in the Life of PAINTER, vol. ii., pp. 85‒88),
when, on the following day, some little misunderstanding occurred
between an amateur of Norwich and Belasco, the latter challenging the
swell with offering his brother, Izzy Belasco, a sum of money to fight a
cross with the Bergh Apton groom; the amateur hereon offered Josh.
Hudson £5 if he would give the Jew a thump on the head for his
insolence. This, however, passed over; but when the sherry was
circulating quickly, at Gurney’s Bowling Green, some chaffing occurred
between these old opponents, and Hudson struck Belasco. This was enough,
and which was better man was decided instantly upon an elegant Turkey
carpet. Spring supported the claims of Josh. Hudson; the Master of the
Rolls gave his assistance to the scientific Israelite; and thirty-five
rounds were contested in the most spirited manner, occupying upwards of
forty minutes. Hudson was terribly punished about the head; but such was
his determined courage that, although his shoulder went out two or three
times, and was reduced to its proper situation by Spring, yet he
insisted upon renewing the battle, and continued to fight till Belasco
observed, they were both weak, and that, as he should get nothing, he
(Belasco) would not contend any longer, but that he would fight Hudson
for £100 in London at any time the latter would appoint. Belasco
unquestionably won the fight, as he twice waited upwards of one minute
while the shoulder of Hudson was reduced. The Birmingham Youth gave his
bets, two guineas, as did Spring, one guinea, to Hudson. Belasco
received a dreadful hit on his right eye; but this blow, the Jew
asserted, was given previous to fighting. Hudson was rather inebriated;
and next morning, in company with Scroggins, went to an eminent surgeon,
who not only pronounced that his shoulder had been “out of its place,”
but advised Hudson to take great care of himself, as he would not be
enabled to enter the ring again for at least a twelvemonth. This affair
took place on Wednesday, July 19, 1820.
Aby’s next turn was with Phil. Sampson (third battle, December 21,
1820), a glove fight, already noticed in a paragraph above.
Pat Halton was about this time brought out as a wonder. According to
report he had beaten all Irish opponents in an unapproachable style. He
was in height five feet eleven inches, and in weight eleven stone. His
fame, which had gone before him, was challenged by Aby Belasco for £50
a-side, and the event came off at Harpenden Common, near St. Alban’s, on
the 8th of April, 1823.
Aby arrived on the ground in a barouche and four, supported by some
swells of his tribe; and at one o’clock his seconds, Richmond and Ben
Burn, threw up his topper. In a few minutes, Pat Halton, arm-in-arm with
his backer, a sporting Irish captain, followed by Randall and Josh.
Hudson, repeated the token of defiance. The odds were guineas to pounds
on Belasco. Tho colours, yellow for the Jew, and green (_à la_ Randall)
for Halton, were tied to the stakes.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, the lathy appearance of
Paddy astonished his backers beyond description:
his ribs were bare, his legs and arms were thin,
his countenance pale, his lips white, and, in
fact, he was as light as a cork. Belasco, on the
contrary, was never in more prime trim. Some
little squaring at each other occurred, when the
Jew gave his opponent a tap on the cheek; Paddy
returned without effect. Halton again missed.
A long pause. Belasco planted another facer
without any return. Halton’s right hand missed
the Jew. At length some exchanges took place,
and Belasco hit Halton as he was going down.
2.—The Irishman showed first blood; he had
napped a clumsy thump on his left ear. After a
few exchanges, in a close, the Jew fibbed his
opponent; but Halton got the throw, and Belasco
was undermost.
3.—The Jews were in raptures, and the judges of
milling had made up their minds as to the
result. Belasco hit his opponent on the body
without any return; a facer ditto. This conduct
made Halton angry, and he missed the Jew.
Belasco gave another bodier without return; also
a nobber Halton missed; in fact, he did not come
near enough to hit his opponent. Belasco again
fibbed his opponent at the ropes, but Halton got
the throw. (Six to four on the Jew.)
4 and 5.—Belasco bodied his opponent several
times, and got away with the greatest ease. In
the latter round Belasco caught hold of his
adversary by the hip. Randall said, “Foul! and
if Belasco did so again he would take Halton out
of the ring.”
6.—It was evident the Irishman had no chance; he
went down from a hit.
7.—Belasco received a severe lunging hit on
the side of his head. The leariness of the Jew
was peculiarly striking in this round. Belasco
gave Halton a body blow, and got away cleverly;
repeated this liberty, tried it on a third time
with equal success, when Aby burst out into a
loud laugh. Halton endeavoured to return, but
his hits were all out of distance.
8.—Halton missed numerous hits. A short rally
took place, and the Irishman’s head was sent out
of the ropes; but he got it in the ring again,
when his left eye was nearly hit up. A pause.
Halton missed his adversary, when the Jew gave
him a clean knock-down blow.
9.—This was a sharp round, and Belasco received
two or three hits on his body and arms. Some
exchanges took place, and as the Jew was
endeavouring to get away he received a hit on
the chest that floored him, but he jumped on his
knees instantly. (A rare shout for Halton.)
10.—The Irishman’s face was clareted, and he
had napped pepper: he never had a chance of
winning. Some exchanges took place, but to
the disadvantage of Halton, although the Jew
went down. (Murmurs from Halton’s party; and
exclamations, “The Jew went down without a
hit!”)
11 and last.—On appearing at the scratch,
Halton’s nob was materially altered, from the
punishment in the last round; and Belasco made
an attempt at finishing his work. Some sharp
blows passed, and the Irishman went down.
Belasco, in falling, touched the face of his
opponent with one of his knees. Randall called
out “Foul!” and said he would take his man out
of the ring. Halton said to the umpires, “It is
foul!” The latter replied they saw nothing
unfair, and desired the fight to proceed.
Randall, however, took his man out of the ring,
regardless of their decision; and when time was
called, Belasco appeared at the scratch. Hudson,
who had not left his post, and in the bustle had
lost sight of Randall and Halton, was looking
after them; but the Jew, having no opponent to
meet him, was declared by the umpires to be the
winner. Considerable confusion ensued, and a
comical scene tied up the matter, producing
roars of laughter from the spectators in the
wagons. Tho roped ring was instantly filled with
persons of every description, all eager to learn
the event. A Babel row commenced, followed by a
general fight, and many blows were given and
received. It was the general opinion that Halton
could not have fought two more rounds. However
all the bets, or nearly so, were paid, and the
stakes given up to Belasco upon the stakeholder
receiving the undersigned document.
“_To the Stakeholder, the President of the D. C._
“SIR,
“We are of opinion, as umpires of the battle
between Belasco and Halton, that Belasco won the
fight fairly, and is entitled to the stakes.
“J. H.
“J. B. C.
“_April 9, 1823._”
Belasco left the ring almost without a mark. The
battle had lasted twenty-seven minutes when the
interruption took place.
Belasco a fourth time met Sampson, at Crawley Hurst, August 19, 1823,
and was once again beaten. See SAMPSON, Period VI.
Resolved not to close his fistic career in defeat, Belasco, though he
had formally retired and become an L. V. in Whitechapel, presented
himself, after Dick Curtis and Ayres had finished their battle at
Shepperton Grange, May 25, 1824, with the enquiry whether George Weston,
who had promised Aby a thrashing, intended to carry out his threat? The
insult to Belasco, it appears, had occurred during the fight between Ned
Neale and Tom Gaynor. Weston declared his readiness, and £16 were
immediately put into a purse by the amateurs. The battle was a
burlesque: Aby so punished Weston all over the ring, that he surrendered
after three rounds.
From this period Aby figured merely as a second and a sparrer. His later
career was disreputable, as a keeper of low gambling houses, night
houses, supper rooms, and such like resorts of midnight and morning
debauchery, which brought him into repeated conflicts with the law. His
life no further concerns the history of the ring.
CY. DAVIS, “THE GAY BRISTOL BOY”—1818‒1823.
Cyrus Davis was one of those boxers who shine with a reflected light,
borrowed from the renown of the man they have conquered; his defeat of
the game and scientific Ned Turner establishing his claim to notice, and
also his extensive acquaintance as a tradesman, in after life, first in
the vicinity of old Smithfield Market, where for many years he was
landlord of the Bear and Ragged Staff, of the Plough, in Giltspur
Street, and subsequently an L. V. at the New Cattle Market, Islington.
Cyrus was born in the Broadway, Bristol, November 27, 1795, and was, at
fourteen years of age, apprenticed to a butcher. His height was five
feet nine inches, his weight a trifle under eleven stone, far exceeded
in his later days. His appearance was prepossessing, and his first
lessons in the art were received from his townsman, George Nicholls,
celebrated as the only conqueror of Cribb. Pierce Egan gives the usual
early undated victories to Davis, which we pass to come to his first
recorded London display.
Davis was introduced to the cognoscenti of the metropolis by Tom
Belcher, and attracted much notice by his activity in sparring and
decisive precision of hitting. Cy. was taken down to Rickmansworth by
his patron, on Friday, June 10, 1818, to witness the battle between Neat
and Oliver (see NEAT, Vol. II., Period V., Chapter IV.) That event
decided, there was a purse of twenty guineas to be disposed of, five
guineas for the loser. Abraham Belasco offered himself, when young
Cyrus, stepping into the ring, offered to accommodate the circumcised
champion. The members of the P. C. were delighted. Tom Belcher and Tom
Cribb volunteered themselves as seconds to the young Bristolian, and the
Israelite was picked up by Tom Jones and Cropley. Two to one on Davis.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The style of fighting exhibited by Cy.
was something after the manner of Tom Belcher
when that pugilist first entered the London
ring. Davis went to work rapidly, with one,
two. It was a sharp round altogether; but Davis
took the lead and sent Belasco down. (Great
applause.)
2.—One of Davis’s eyes was a little touched,
but he again went sharply to work. The Jew, in
closing, endeavoured to fib his opponent, and
also threw him.
3.—This was a short round. Davis went down from
a slight hit, or rather a slip; he instantly
jumped up laughing, ready to renew the attack,
but Belasco sat down on his second’s knee.
4.—The liveliness of Davis was the admiration of
the ring. He had it all his own way this round,
and, with a tremendous right-handed hit, he
floored Belasco. (Tumultuous applause.) 5 to 2
on Davis.
5.—Cy. endeavoured to repeat the dose, but
without the desired effect. The Jew received
some sharp facers, but in return got Davis down.
6.—In this round the fine science displayed by
Belasco was much praised. He stopped six blows
in succession of his opponent: nevertheless
Belasco was sent down.
7.—Some sharp work, till Belasco, in closing,
fibbed Davis severely till he went down.
8.—The milling talents of Davis in this round
were conspicuous: he dealt out much severe
punishment to Belasco with his right hand, and
with great quickness gave the Jew a back-hander,
when he went down like a shot. (Tumultuous
applause, and “It’s all your own, Davis.”)
9.—Belasco looked rather queerish on arriving at
the scratch, when Davis finished him with a
right-handed flooring hit. It was all over in
ten minutes. Belasco would not fight any more.
REMARKS.—Davis throughout the above battle was
as gay as a dancing-master. His appearance and
mode of hitting prepossessed the amateurs in
his favour. The quickness of Davis was truly
astonishing, undressing himself, getting into
the ring, and winning the battle only occupied
our hero fifteen minutes. Belasco, it was urged
by his own “peoplesh,” was not in condition; and
therefore the £5 had some charms for him as a
losing man. However, he could not have won that
day.
Davis, soon after this battle, returned to follow his business at
Bristol, but he had made so strong an impression on the amateurs that
Cy. was soon brought to town and matched against Ned Turner for 100
guineas a-side. They fought at Wallingham Common, Surrey, on Friday,
June 18, 1819. How he was defeated may be seen at p. 385, _ante_.
Moulsey Hurst, the delight of the fancy for its velvet turf, was, on
Tuesday, August 24, 1819, again selected for a British and Irish
pugilistic display of manhood. Boshell, recently imported from Paddy’s
Land, was known on the Curragh from a spirited turn-up there, but an
entire stranger to the London prize ring, except from the good character
given of him by Randall. In a trial set-to with the latter it was
thought by some of his countrymen that he might establish himself among
the light weights; therefore he was backed for 50 guineas a-side.
Davis’s recent defeat with Turner had placed him rather in the
back-ground; but the good judges viewed it as an easy thing for the
“Bristol Boy,” and two to one on Davis was offered on the preceding
evening at the sporting houses. The old ring goers and a sprinkling of
the Corinthians were present. On the Commander-in-chief[169] and his
party crossing the water, the combatants were ordered to prepare for
action; and Boshell, with much confidence, threw his hat into the ring,
attended by Tom Jones and Larkins. Davis, waited upon by Harmer and
Shelton as his seconds, answered the challenge. The hands were crossed
in friendship, and the men set-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Boshell looked compact and well, but
the remains of a small blister appeared on his
lower ribs. Davis was as fine as could be
wished, and smiled as if confident of success.
The attitude and manner of Boshell soon
convinced the amateurs that science was not his
_forte_. Davis tapped him on the arm and got
away; ditto and ditto; some little sparring;
when Davis let fly, and a sharp facer was the
result. Two or three awkward exchanges occurred,
and Boshell planted a heavy body hit. They
fought into a close, and, after some little
struggling, Davis was thrown, and undermost.
(Seven to four, and two to one was loudly
offered on Davis.)
2.—The Bristol Boy soon put in a facer, that not
only drew the pink, but seemed like an electric
shock on the upper works of poor Paddy. Some
awkward blows again passed. The Irishman got the
throw. (Three to one upon Davis.)
3.—Davis, with his left hand, put one of Paddy’s
eyes into mourning. Boshell, however, made some
good stops, but he had not a single point
towards finishing a round well. Davis was again
undermost. (All betters; and “It will soon be
over,” was the cry.)
4.—Boshell showed himself as game a bit of stuff
as ever peeled in this round. The hitting was
sharp on both sides, but Davis got away, and
Boshell, in following him, received one of the
Bristol Boy’s lunging hits on the nose, when he
instantly fell on his face, the claret flowing
rapidly. (“It’s all up now; he can’t fight two
more rounds.” Oliver offered five to one on
the last event, and twenty to one he lost the
battle.)
5.—Boshell came up distressed, but game as a
Purcell, and endeavoured to lash out. He was,
however, milled all over the ring, and fell at
the ropes, rolling over on his face exhausted.
6.—The mug of Paddy was a picture of punishment;
both his eyes damaged and his face altogether
changed. Fresh milling was added, but he
nevertheless threw Davis.
7.—This was a sharp round. Boshell went down
exhausted. (“It’s poundable—take him away.”)
8.—The claret was now trickling down the nose
of Davis. After some heavy exchanges they broke
from a close, and Boshell fought till he fell
on his knees, and caught hold of the ropes
distressed.
9.—Davis winked to his friends that it was all
right, and planted three facers in succession.
Boshell, however, showed the fight was not taken
out of him, and again threw his opponent a heavy
fall. (“Bravo, Boshell, you are a game fellow!”)
10.—The face of the Irishman was piteous.
Boshell went down.
11.—In struggling for the throw, Davis slipped
on his knees. This was thought unhandsome; but
Boshell held up his hands, not to hit him foul.
(“Bravo!” from all parts of the ring.)
12.—Boshell endeavoured to make some hits, but
went down exhausted.
13.—Boshell was floored like a shot, from a
tremendous lunging blow on his nob. (Any odds.)
14.—Boshell, groggy, was hit down, but in
falling he caught the ropes.
15.—Boshell came up staggering, and soon went
down. Time was called, and it was thought he had
given up. Davis’s hat was thrown into the air,
and the outer ring broken.
16.—Boshell said he was not done, and another
round took place, but he was hit down. Paddy
was, however, so game, he declared he would not
say “No.” He had no chance, and was taken away.
Davis, elated with his success, jumped over the
ropes out of the ring, without a scratch. It was
over in fifteen minutes and ten seconds.
REMARKS.—If any remarks can be made, a few words
will suffice. Boshell is a game, a very game
man, and his courage was the admiration of the
ring; but as a fighter has no pretensions.
Indeed he was little more than a plaything in
the scientific hands of Davis.
At Spring’s benefit at the Fives Court, on Tuesday, November 2, 1819,
our hero made a considerable impression upon the minds of the amateurs,
by the display of science in a set-to with the Nonpareil. Upon the
appearance of Randall, followed by Cy. Davis, the audience seemed
extremely anxious for the set-to. The confidence of the “Bristol Boy”
astonished all; he exhibited considerable improvement. In fact, with the
gloves, the Nonpareil never met such a successful opponent before. Davis
did not get off without a good receipt of Randall’s talents;
nevertheless, the former put in two or three dexterous facers and made
some fine stops. The fanciers were all alive; the Court rang with
applause. It was generally admitted that the advantage was on the side
of Davis. Upon pulling off the gloves another round was called for and
complied with. Both the combatants were now upon the alert, and it was a
fine specimen of skill and courage. A well-contested long rally
occurred, and Davis again acquitted himself in such good style as to
raise his character in the sporting world.
Davis felt so much mortified at his defeat by Turner that he was often
heard to say that he should never feel satisfied until he had the chance
at least of a second trial with his brave opponent. This feeling
accounts in some measure for his not showing in the prize ring, or
figuring in the “gag” correspondence and boxing challenges then so much
in vogue in the “sporting” press. However, somebody made some letters
for him about fights with Gipsy Cooper, Phil. Sampson, and Turner, which
Pierce Egan prints with the curious foot-note, “This letter was a
_hoax_!” (“Boxiana,” vol iv., p. 166.)
On the second match being made, at the Castle Tavern, Holborn, between
Turner and Cy. Davis for £100 a-side, the following remarks appeared in
the _Weekly Dispatch_:—
“Davis is decidedly the favourite five to four, and in a few instances,
for small sums, six to four is betted. It is nearly four years since,
June 18, 1819, at Wallingham Common, that Davis was defeated by Turner
in thirty-two rounds, forty-five minutes. Turner also defeated Martin in
forty rounds, one hour and seven minutes, October 26, 1819; but since
that period Ned has in turn surrendered to Martin. Davis won with
Boshell, August 24, 1819, in sixteen rounds, fifteen minutes and ten
seconds. This might be termed no match. The most important point taken
into consideration by the sporting men in this battle is the modes of
life pursued by the combatants for the last three years. Davis has lived
regularly, and added to the good effects of training; he is as fresh as
a ‘four year old,’ ‘fine as a star,’ and as confident of victory as if
the battle was over. Would we could say so much for ‘poor Ould Ned;’
indeed, a few months since an opinion was entertained by the supporters
of pugilism that Turner was more likely to make his exit than to show
again in the prize ring. However, Ned laughs at these remarks, and
asserts he is quite well.”
The fight took place at Harpenden Common, twenty-five miles from London,
and four from St. Alban’s, on Tuesday, February 18, 1823.
On the Monday night previous to the battle, the Castle Tavern, although
overflowing with company, was a blank as to betting. This sort of
silence on a night previous to a mill occasioned one of the most
respectable ring goers, and a sound sporting man for the previous
twenty-five years, to observe sarcastically—“It was a square fight
between Turner and Davis, which accounted for chaffing instead of
betting. Ready made luck,” said he, “is wanting, and therefore a certain
Bet of people will not chance a crown without the office ‘to a
certainty’ is to be had in private. Nevertheless, I am glad of it,”
concluded the wag, “it will bring the prize ring back to the good old
times (although ‘honesty is a ragged virtue’), when such men as the late
Colonel Mellish and Fletcher Reid brought their men into the ring,
exclaiming, without fear of anything being attempted on the part of the
boxers to do wrong, ‘I’ll bet 600 to 400.’”
The weather on Tuesday morning was rather inauspicious to a long
journey, yet it did not prevent the thorough-bred ones from starting for
the scene of action. At one o’clock Cy. Davis threw up his castor,
followed by Richmond and Harmer as his seconds. Turner, close at his
heels, arm-in-arm with the President of the Daffy Club, followed his
example, attended by Tom Cribb and Josh. Hudson. Five to four on Davis.
Cy., smiling, went up and shook hands with Ned. The colours, blue for
Turner and yellow for Davis were tied to the stakes by Cribb and
Richmond.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The condition of Cy. was beautiful in
the extreme; he was a perfect picture of a man
in fine health. Turner, although not up to the
above mark, was, nevertheless, well patched
up as to the look of the thing. The skin of
Davis was transparent, ruddy, and healthful,
while Turner’s exhibited a yellowish hue. Both
extremely cautious; and the great difficulty
of getting at the Old One prevented Cy. from
making play. Turner, at length, let fly, and
put in a slight hit on the body with his left
hand. More dodging. Turner stopped the right of
his opponent well; both extremely active on
their legs. Turner put in another bodier; some
exchanges, but of no consequence. Cy. tried to
put in his favourite blow with his right hand,
but was again stopped. Cy., somewhat tired, put
down his hands for an instant, but Ned took no
notice of it. Exchange of blows at the ropes:
a struggle for the throw; both down, but Cy.
undermost. This round occupied six minutes; and
the friends of Turner shouted, and said, “it was
all right, the Old One behaves well.”
2.—Turner missed a well-meant left-handed blow
at the body. Neither of them eager to go to
work, both anticipating danger. The right hand
of Cy. told, after a few exchanges, and Turner
went down. (A shout for Davis from the
Bristolians.)
3.—Although in such fine condition, Davis was
piping a little, and Turner kept hitting at the
body. Some exchanges took place, but the blows
were light on both sides. Owing to the slippery
state of the ground, Turner went down from a
slight hit.
4.—It had been expected that three rounds would
not have passed over without some mischief,
nevertheless this was a good round. Cy. smiled
with confidence, and made himself up to do
severe execution with his right, but Turner,
with considerable skill, stopped him. Nothing
done yet, and in a struggle both went down.
5.—Whether it was from partiality to the Old One
or not, the friends of Turner urged he had none
the worst of it; in fact, no severity of
punishment had passed on either side. In
closing, Turner had the best of the fibbing, and
Cy. showed first blood. Davis got the throw
cleverly, and Turner was undermost.
6.—The left hand of Davis seemed of no use to
him, except, after the manner of the late
Gas-light-Man, to hold his opponent. Some good
fighting occurred in this round, and the finish
of it was to the advantage of Cy., who fell
heavily on Turner. (Seven to four.)
7.—Turner placed many of his blows well; but
the strength of his hitting, which on former
occasions appeared prominent, seemed to have
left him. The great _forte_ of Davis was to put
in his right hand; and had not Turner stopped it
often, the fight would soon have been at an end.
Turner again had the best of the fibbing, and
Cy. was undermost. (Several of the partizans of
Turner began now to flatter themselves that
victory was within his reach. Loud shouting,
“Turner for ever!”)
8.—If Davis had commenced play, and fought with
both hands, another tale must have been told.
However, in this round, some severe execution
was done. Turner’s left hand drew the claret
from Cy.’s nose and mouth, and he appeared for
the instant a little abroad; he also received a
heavy body blow, but recovered and sent down
Turner with a right-handed hit on the head.
(“It’s all over,” from the cutting tribe of
Newgate-market. “You have won it, Davis.” Two to
one.)
9.—The friends of Turner began to quake a
little, recollecting the almost finishing blow
Ned received in his last round. This hit took a
little of the fight out of Turner, and he came
up bleeding and weak to the scratch, but his
game did wonders for him. Davis now went to work
a little. Turner, game as a pebble, returned hit
for hit, till he fell exhausted. While on his
second’s knee, Randall, Holt, Curtis, &c., gave
the Old One advice gratis, how he should act, so
anxious did they feel for his success.
10.—Ned came to the scratch like a high-couraged
man, determined to strain every nerve for
victory, although the chance was against him.
He, however, had no idea of losing at this stage
of the battle. Yet the patch-work began to peep,
and the effects of premature age could not be
hid. Turner received a bodier that sent him
down. (The backers of Davis now booked it as
safe, and inspired their hero with shouts of
approbation.)
11.—Davis commenced fighting, and planted a
severe hit with his right hand on the body of
his opponent. Turner, however, stood up and
exchanged hit for hit, till a pause was
necessary on both sides. Cy. was weak in turn,
and kept sparring for wind, yet smiling at his
opponent. Turner’s left ear was bleeding from a
severe hit, and in following Cyrus he slipped,
or went down from a slight hit. The truth could
no longer be hid; Turner was going every round;
he fought like a man; but the stamina was
wanting.
12.—On the part of Turner this was an excellent
fighting round. In spite of his distress, his
stops were so excellent as to claim applause
from all parts of the ring. Cy. also exhibited
fine science. Hit for hit, but the hardest blows
were in favour of Davis, and Ned kept up the
game till he fell, overcome with fatigue.
13.—Turner was equal to his adversary in
milling; but there was no comparison between the
effect of their blows. They followed each other
over the ring, exchanging hits in the most manly
style, till an accession of wind was necessary
on both sides. At the ropes a struggle took
place, and in going down, Turner uppermost.
(“Well done both,” from all parties.)
14.—Cy. made a blow with his right hand at the
body, but it fell rather low. “Come,” says
Josh., “fight fair; recollect you are to hit
above the waistband.” A good round, but Turner
down exhausted. (Ten to two. Several of the
fighting men came to the ropes, and in their
anxiety for his winning, gave Ned hints what to
do.)
15.—Cy. had decidedly the best of the hitting
in this round; he also threw Turner and fell
on him heavily. This fall shook poor Ned, and
he was placed on the knee of his second with
difficulty. In fact, it won the battle. (Any
odds.)
16.—Tom Belcher observed to Davis—“Why not use
both of your hands?” Here Hudson said that
Belcher had no business to interfere, it was
unfair. “It was not my intention to have said a
single word,” replied Tom, “if I had not seen so
many fighting men breaking in the ring, and,
like Trueman’s cocks, all on one side. I have
not one farthing on the battle; all I want is
fair play.” Cy. took Belcher’s hint, but Turner
opposed him gamely till down.
17.—The Old One, good to the last, exchanged
blow for blow till he was hit down.
18.—On coming to the scratch, Cy. immediately
went to work with his right hand, met Turner in
the body, and sent him down in a twinkling. The
President of the Daffies (under whose direction
Turner was brought into the ring) humanely
stepped forward, and said, “he should not fight
any more.” He (the President) would not stand by
and see one of the bravest men of the ring
wantonly cut up, when he had no chance. It was
over in thirty-five minutes. Davis shook hands
with Turner, gave a jump, huzzaed for joy, and
left the ring.
REMARKS.—However ill-natured it may appear,
the truth is that Turner has no one to blame
but himself,—he was in no condition to fight.
A boxer, like a general, if he wishes to prove
successful, ought always to be prepared for
his enemy. Turner admits, with great candour,
that he could not have fought another round.
He was not defeated by the blows he received,
but he attributes his defeat to fatigue and
exhaustion, Nature having refused to second
his mind. It was but the shadow of that Ned
Turner who defeated the terror of the ring,
Scroggins, twice; who fought with Randall for
two hours and twenty-two minutes; and obtained
a victory over the Master of the Rolls. It
was, nevertheless, a brave, good fight on both
sides; and it is but doing common justice to
Davis, to state that his conduct was manly and
interesting to the spectator. Cy. also fought
under great disadvantage and pain. After the
seventh round, his right hand went, and was
much swelled. Davis possesses in his person
the finest requisites for a fighting man. Mr.
Jackson not being present, we are sorry to say
not a shilling was subscribed for Turner.
Davis was not hurt.
The above victory proved rather a dear triumph to Davis: he was disabled
from appearing again in the prize ring. The fore-finger of his right
hand met with so serious an injury, from the knuckle coming in contact
with Turner’s teeth, that, after baffling the most skilful surgeons for
a considerable time, Davis was ultimately compelled to submit to an
operation which deprived him of his index finger. With this battle his
fistic career closed. Not so his public life. Cy. was for many years a
publican, but no more of a sinner than his neighbours. He died on the
8th of March, 1846, aged 51, at the house of his son, the White Bear,
Kennington Common (now Kennington Park), of disease of the heart, and
lies buried in the churchyard of St. Mark in that parish.
PEACE INGLIS, “THE PHENOMENON”—1822‒1824.
Peace Inglis, known among his companions as “the Mattress Maker,” was a
smart young fellow of five feet eight inches, weighing ten stone four
pounds. His first appearance in the ring was with Hamilton, the
waterman, for 20 guineas, at Moulsey, on the 22nd of October, 1822. On
this occasion, Josh. Hudson, who had taken Hamilton, a “below-bridge
man,” under his wing, seconded his _protegé_, Paddington Jones looking
after Inglis. It was a brave battle on both sides for forty-two minutes,
when Inglis was hailed as conqueror.
The young aspirant’s first essay had so much surpassed the expectations
of his backers that he was matched against Bill Davis (Deaf Davis), a
well-known good man, and the battle came off at Harpenden Common, near
St. Alban’s, February 18, 1823, in the same ring in which Cy. Davis (see
_ante_) had defeated Ned Turner. On this occasion, Josh., dissatisfied
with the defeat of Hamilton, seconded Davis, having with him Jack
Scroggins and the east end division. Inglis was attended on by Jem Ward
(then rising into fame, having beaten Ned Baldwin a fortnight previous)
and a friend named Rogers. The watch was held by an amateur.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The Deaf ’un had scarcely put himself
into attitude, when in he went like a hammer-man
at an anvil, gave his opponent a smash in the
middle of the head, and floored him like a shot.
(Six to four on Davis. “Where’s your clever
fighter?”)
2.—The “feather-bed” hero proved himself to have
no soft place about him. He stood up manfully,
but received three facers in succession, was
nobbed over the ring, and fell covered with
claret. (Two to one on Davis.)
3.—Inglis came gamely up, when Davis once more
punished him, and he turned his back on his
opponent, set off running, and was only stopped
by the ropes. Here Davis caught his adversary,
and once more levelled him. (A guinea to a
shilling was offered, but no takers; and “Take
him away,” from all parts of the ring; “he will
be killed.”)
4.—Contrary to all expectation, the feather-bed
maker was not so “soft” as he appeared to be; he
met Davis like a trump, hit out straight with
both hands, and, after a desperate rally, Davis
was hit down almost senseless.
5.—Inglis had now got the turn. He put a new
face on Davis, milled him from one side of the
ring to the other, and levelled the deaf one
with his native dust.
6.—Davis, relying on strength, was determined
not to be “told out.” He again took the lead,
and nobbed the feather-bed hero, when Inglis, by
a flush hit, sent him down. It was not quite a
finisher, but it found out the condition of
Davis. (Inglis was now the favourite.)
7.—This round was “portrait-painting” with a
vengeance. A rally took place, in which Davis
received a severe cut over the left eye, and
was floored again. (Any odds. “Feathers for a
trifle.”)
8 and last.—Such fighting as was seen in the
above seven rounds, and hitting in the right
places, must always produce short fights. Davis
exerted himself in returning hit for hit, till
another floorer put an end to the battle. On
time being called, Davis observed to his second,
“that he could not stand.” It was all over in
twelve minutes.
REMARKS.—Such a cutting-up had not been
witnessed for a long time. In the exultation of
the moment the friends of Inglis challenged Dick
Curtis. Inglis was about ten stone. Dick replied
he would not refuse the challenge. Davis was
carried out of the ring. He was too stale for a
young opponent.
Inglis, from his brave conduct in the fight with Davis, was next matched
against George Curtis, the brother of the Pet, for £50 a-side.
Moulsey Hurst, on Tuesday, August 12, 1823, was again the scene of
attraction. The umpires and referee were chosen, and, at one o’clock,
George Curtis threw his hat into the ring, attended by Josh. Hudson and
Harry Holt. Inglis, followed by Paddington Jones and Neale, also threw
up his beaver. He was the favourite at five to four.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Curtis exhibited much activity on his
pins, and, on peeling, displayed a more muscular
frame than had been anticipated. His face was
pale, his nob looked like a milling one, and
altogether had a great resemblance to that of
the Pet. Inglis was as well as he could be—a
wiry strong young man, the taller of the two,
and appeared to stand over his opponent. The
attitudes of the men on setting-to were
interesting. Inglis was in no hurry to proceed
to blows; and Curtis, as a novice, deliberated
before he went to work. George made an attempt
with his left hand, but it told slightly. This
movement led to an exchange of hits, yet nothing
was the matter. A long pause. Curtis retreated
from some heavy blows; Inglis, however, planted
a severe nobber. “I’ll bet £100 to a tizzy,”
said Paddington Jones, “it’s as right as the
day; we shall win the fight.” “Walker! hookey!”
replied Josh. The left hand of George told
smartly on Inglis’s body; and, after some
cut-and-come-again work at the ropes, in
struggling for the throw, both went down, Curtis
undermost. (Six and seven to four on Inglis.)
2.—The left eve of Curtis was winking. Inglis,
on the alert, planted a hit; an exchange of
blows. Curtis again felt for his adversary’s
body. Inglis missed a well-meant blow for his
opponent’s nob; he, however, tried it again, but
George stopped him with great skill. (“Bravo,
Georgy!” from his pals.) A pause. After some
little time, both combatants made themselves up
to do mischief, and, on getting within each
other’s reach, they let fly, which produced the
claret. (“First blood,” exclaimed Josh. and
Jones at the same instant. “Upon my honour, it
appeared first on your side,” said Josh., “and I
hope you will not dispute the honour of the
John Bull fighter, my Tommy!” It was rather a
doubtful point at the moment.) Curtis went down
weak.
3.—Inglis, to the astonishment of the
spectators, did not fight first, and a long
pause ensued. Curtis commenced milling on the
retreat, and the feather-bed hero napped three
nasty ones on his index. Another stand-still for
a minute, looking at each other. Inglis stopped
well, when the combatants got into a sharp rally
at the ropes. In struggling for the throw,
Inglis got his opponent upon the ropes; and, in
this situation, Curtis received pepper until he
went down exhausted. (“It’s all over. I’ll bet
ten to one that Curtis can’t fight two more
rounds,” was repeated by the betting men round
the ring.)
4.—The left eye of George was nearly closed;
but when time was called he showed himself at
the scratch. Although the advantage was now
decidedly in Inglis’s favour he did not commence
fighting; and Curtis, recovering his wind, made
play with his left hand, and had none the worst
of it. This was altogether a milling round.
Curtis threw his opponent. (Thunders of applause
from the Bermondsey boys.)
5.—It was no secret to the spectators that
Curtis at this period of the battle was the
weaker man; but his coolness was the admiration
of all present. Some good hitting and stopping
were displayed on both sides. Curtis planted a
rum one on the feather-bed’s throat that made
him gasp for breath. Inglis also received three
or four nobbers that stopped his exertions; but
at the ropes he had the best of it, and punished
Curtis down.
6.—This round was a fine display of manhood;
punishment on both sides all over the ring.
Inglis got Curtis on the ropes, and was pelting
him with divers blows in sundry places, when, by
an extraordinary effort, Curtis broke away,
put in a facer, and drove his opponent to the
opposite side of the ring, where he held Inglis
for a short time at the ropes, and then sent him
down. (The applause for Curtis was loud.)
7.—Short, but full of mischief. Curtis received
a heavy fall on his back, which shook him sadly
and added to his exhausted state.
8.—Another short round, but rather dangerous
to Inglis. In struggling for the throw, Curtis
went down. “Foul! foul!” The ring was broken:
it was asserted Inglis had caught hold of his
opponent’s thigh in a way not allowed by the
laws of boxing.
9.—The right hand of Curtis was open; he,
nevertheless, had decidedly the best of the
hitting in this round till Inglis bored him down
out of the ropes.
10.—The game which had been so conspicuously
displayed by George induced many of his backers
to stick to him. Inglis, with all his strength,
did not take the lead of Curtis as was expected.
In fact, George, in most instances, had the best
of the milling; but, in finishing the round,
Inglis generally had the advantage. (Two to
one.)
11.—This round was truly an out-and-out one on
both sides. Curtis vindicated the pedigree of
his race for “bottom, bone, blood.” It would
be detracting from Inglis to withhold from him
that he showed himself as high-couraged and
game as his brave adversary. It was hit for
hit all over the ring—backwards and forwards,
in and out of the corners, and round about,
till the combatants were at a stand-still. To
it again like true Britons, till nature could
no longer assist their minds. At the ropes
they were both so exhausted as to take hold of
each other and push each other down, Inglis
uppermost. (Applause. “Here’s a round for
you!” “Why, they are both East-nders,” said
Josh., “and that accounts for it. We can get
nothing among the coves of the West, so we are
obliged to fight amongst our own breed.”)
12.—Curtis threw his opponent.
13.—Inglis received several blows on his nob,
and at times was much distressed. If he had
not been a very game man he would have cut it.
Curtis endeavoured to keep the lead, and fought
till he fell exhausted. “Take him away, Josh.;
he can’t win it,” said a patron of the P. R.;
“it is a pity to witness so game a man cut to
pieces.” Curtis, while sitting on the knee of
his second, overheard the above remark, and he
answered, “I will not be taken away; I am sure I
shall not lose it; I _will_ not lose it.”
14.—Curtis was so determined that to say “No”
never entered his mind. After an exchange of
blows Curtis received a severe fall. “Take him
away,” from all parts of the ring. (Any odds
upon Inglis.) George said he would not give it
in.
15 and last.—Curtis planted a blow on his
opponent’s throat; but it was too feeble to do
much mischief. In a short rally Curtis was hit
down, when “the Pet”[170] threw up his hat, and
declared George should not fight any more. It
was over in fifty-five minutes. Inglis went up
to Curtis, and shook hands with him.
REMARKS.—If Curtis had been as fresh as his
opponent a different tale might have been told.
He fought like a brave man; and, although he
could not achieve victory, he obtained a high
character in the pugilistic circles. George
was overmatched; indeed, any boxer who wishes
to have a turn with Inglis, will find plenty
of work cut out for him before the battle is
at an end. Curtis was taken out of the ring
by his brother, and exhibited severe marks of
punishment. The nob of Inglis did not show much
beating; but he received many hard blows during
the fight. Four pounds were collected on the
ground for Curtis.
Peace Inglis now stood so high in the estimation of his friends, that he
challenged Harry Holt for £100 a-side; but a match being made on the
spur of the moment with the brave Ned Turner, for £100 a-side, the fight
with Holt went off. After a considerable time allowed for the training
of Turner, the above match was decided at Colnbrook, seventeen miles and
a half from London, on Tuesday, April 26, 1824.
The road was lively, but not thronged with company as heretofore; in
fact, it was more select than usual. When “Time” was called, Turner
walked coolly into the ring, followed by Josh. Hudson and Paddington
Jones. He was well received by the crowd, like an old performer
returning to play a favourite part. Some little delay occurred, when the
John Bull boxer roared out, “Come, you Inglis! Where are you? Don’t you
like it? We are ready.” Inglis appeared immediately, waited upon by
Maurice Delay and Dan M’Kenzie, and threw his hat into the ring. The
colours, light blue for Inglis and dark blue for Turner, were tied to
the stakes. Everything being adjusted according to custom, the men stood
up for
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Turner looked better than was expected;
his face was tanned with the sun, and his legs
appeared firm and round. His eye was bright,
his countenance serene and placid, and the
invigorating breezes of the Welsh mountains,
where he had been training, had imparted vigour
to his limbs. The heart, too, that just and
indispensable attribute of a boxer, was sound,
and Ned declared himself confident of victory.
His opponent must not be passed slightly over.
He is one of the bravest of the brave men
belonging to the prize ring. The contrast
between the combatants was striking. The
youthful Inglis was a model; fine as a star,
strong as a lion, game as a pebble, and
confident as a Randall. The odds were decidedly
in favour of Inglis, £20 to £30. Turner and
Inglis are in attitude, and on the look out
for the first blow. The superiority as to
knowledge of fighting was conspicuous on the
part of Ned, who let fly his left teazer, which
told heavily on Inglis’s bread-basket. One or
two stops occurred, when the left hand of Ned
operated so sharply on the throat of the young
one that he went down like a shot. (An artillery
report of applause for Turner.)
2.—The mark of Turner’s fist on the throat of
his opponent was visible to every spectator.
Inglis tried to do something, but the Old One
was too clever to be caught napping. Turner
made both his right and left hand tell on
Inglis’s nob. An exchange of blows to the
advantage of Ned. The young one had two more
“nasty hits” on the mouth, as Josh. termed them,
at the same time exclaiming, “First blood! My
eye, what a hobble you have got into, my covey.”
Turner again planted two left-handed blows, and
immediately afterwards put in a severe one,
two. Inglis was now bleeding from his mouth.
Turner made another hit. “Talk of Old Ones,”
said Josh.; “is there anything like the good
Old Ones?” An exchange of blows, but Inglis
did no execution. The latter received another
terrible hit on his mouth. Inglis did not know
what to do with his adversary. A pause. “I’ll
bet fifty to twenty,” said Randall. Turner’s
left hand repeated the dose. In closing, Turner
had decidedly the best of it. Inglis’s face
bleeding in all parts of it. Both down, but the
Old One undermost.
3.—Short. Turner’s left hand told, but he
slipped down in endeavouring to make a hit.
4.—Inglis was piping a little, but not at all
dismayed. He was a complete receiver-general; he
would have returned many favours, but Turner did
not accept them. This was a good round, yet
Turner went down weak.
5 to 10.—The fighting was all on the side of
Turner; the taking on the part of Inglis. In all
these rounds the superiority of the Old One was
evident.
11.—“Come, Scroggins’s ruin,” said Josh., “we
are at home; we have won it.” Turner nobbed his
opponent with the utmost ease; in fact, he had
everything his own way again in this round, but
went down rather weak.
12.—Turner again made play right and left with
great success; he also stopped Inglis in the
most beautiful style of the art. The game of
Inglis was, however, so good that he presented
himself in the most resolute way, and in a sharp
exchange of blows Turner went down. Inglis was
nearly falling, but caught by his second.
(“Bravo! well done both sides!”)
13.—Turner did as he pleased in regard to
hitting; nevertheless, Inglis was not to be
got rid of; his youth and stamina were his
safeguards. Turner down. (The Bermondsey boys
did not know how to express their approbation
of Turner’s conduct in terms strong enough.)
14.—Inglis could not plant any effective
hits; if his blows could have reached their
destination, a change might have soon been
witnessed in the fight. Turner’s one, two,
was well directed, and he also put in a
heavy body blow. The Old One showed weakness
and went down.
15.—“If Ned does not tire,” said an old
ring-goer, “he must win the battle; but he has
too much work to perform.” Inglis could not keep
the Old One’s hands out of his face, and
appeared rather distressed. Turner down, getting
weak.
16.—The superior science displayed by Ned was
the admiration of all the spectators. It is true
Inglis now and then planted a blow, but it was
not of sufficient consequence to reduce the
activity of Turner. In closing, Turner got the
throw. (A great shout from the Bermondsey lads.)
17.—“A fine old cock this Ned is,” said Josh.;
“this is the weather for the old cocks to tip
it them.” Inglis was advised to bore in upon
Turner, as he was getting weak; but the young
one lost ground by this attempt. He was hit away
three successive times on the nob; in fact, he
stood still for an instant quite confused, but,
with game never excelled, he returned to fight
till Turner went down.
18.—Inglis rushed in, and bored Ned down.
19.—Inglis repeated this conduct, but Turner
stopped the feather-bed hero, by hitting up as
he was rushing in. Turner down.
20.—This was a sharp round, but highly important
to Turner. Inglis was floored by a tremendous
left handed hit on the side of his head. (It
is impossible to describe the applause which
followed.)
21.—Inglis came to the scratch piping. Turner
nobbed his opponent with success, but the
strength of the Old One was going. Turner down.
22.—Turner met Inglis in the middle of the head,
punished him in all directions, and had he not
missed a well-aimed blow, in all probability the
fight would have been at an end. Turner went
down from exertion.
23.—Nothing. A struggle, and both down without a
blow.
24.—Inglis was bleeding copiously; nevertheless,
he bored in and received several jobbers, till
both down.
25.—Turner planted four successive blows on
Inglis’s face; in fact, the Old One had too much
work to do. Turner down.
26.—This was a tremendous round on both sides.
Inglis, although hit to death nearly, would not
be shook off, but kept fighting like a hero till
he was thrown. (“What a round! Here’s a fight!
Why it is worth going to see, if it had been
five hundred miles from London!”)
27.—It appeared to the feather-bed hero that
he had no chance to win without boring his
opponent, and he rushed in till both went down,
Inglis undermost.
28.—This was a tremendous fighting round, and
Inglis was hit away three or four times from
his opponent. In going down, Inglis fell over
Turner.
29.—At the ropes Turner was as good as Inglis,
till both down.
30.—Inglis appeared extremely bad, and several
of the judges thought Turner must now win. The
feather-bed maker was jobbed about his already
damaged head, and he slipped down quite weak.
31.—Both down. In the act of giving, the blow
alighted on Inglis’s body after he was down.
“Foul! foul!” “Fair! fair!” It most certainly
was not an intentional foul hit on the part of
Turner, and the referee pronounced it so.
32.—The face of Turner appeared little, if any,
the worse for fighting. Inglis again napped it
as he was boring in to mill. Both down, Inglis
undermost.
33.—“The Elephant and Castle is yours,” said
Josh., “if you win, Ned.” Inglis was getting
a little better, and Turner received more
punishment in this round than in any of the
preceding ones. Both down.
34.—Nothing. A struggle, and both on the ground.
35 to 38.—In all these rounds the nobbing system
was pursued with the greatest success by Turner;
and had not Inglis been one of the gamest men
that ever pulled a shirt off, he must have been
licked long before this period of the battle.
But the feather-bed hero would not be denied;
and his courage, seconded by his fine stamina,
enabled him to continue the battle, under the
idea that the Old One could not last. Inglis
fell heavily in the ropes on Turner.
39.—It was the astonishment of every person
round the ropes to witness Turner take the lead
in the superior manner he did over a fine young
man, and a boxer who had had some experience in
the prize ring, having defeated Deaf Davis and
George Curtis. Turner, in order to spoil the
boring in of Inglis, hit up; and whenever the
Old One caught his nob the claret followed in
profusion. Turner went down owing to his great
exertions.
40.—This was a terrific round. Inglis would not
be denied, although frequently nobbed away.
Both down. (Randall, elated with the success of
Turner, offered, in the warmth of his heart, £10
to £2. “I will take it,” said Inglis’s brother.
Time was called, and the bet was not made.)
41.—The sun at this period was very powerful.
Turner appeared languid while sitting on the
knee of his second, but when fighting he seemed
all energy. Inglis missed a terrific blow that
might have brought the battle to a speedy
termination. Turner down.
42.—Notwithstanding the state of fatigue which
Turner laboured under, and which could not be
kept from the spectators, he nobbed Inglis with
the utmost ease. The young one was hit to a
stand-still, and Turner was too tired to follow
him. At the ropes Turner had also the best of
it, till both down.
43.—“Go in, Inglis,” from his friends; “you
can’t lose if you do.” Inglis took the advice of
his friends, and went in, fighting pell-mell,
till Turner went down. (Four to one upon the
young one.)
44.—This round had nearly decided the battle
in favour of Turner. Hit for hit for a short
time, when Turner knocked his opponent to a
stand-still between the ropes. Turner, resolved
not to give half a chance away, came again and
planted another heavy nobber in the middle of
the feather-bed hero’s nob; but Inglis’s
out-and-out game brought him through his
trouble, and he fought like a lion till Turner
went down. (The approbation bestowed upon Turner
was immense. It was also “Bravo, Inglis! your
fellow is not to be met with every day in the
week.”)
45.—Inglis was determined to reduce the strength
of his opponent, and again bored in; but this
rush always cost him something, and Turner
liberally discharged the account. Both down.
46.—Inglis again napped it in going in, but
returned a heavy body hit. Turner fought at
every point to win, but his strength could not
keep pace with his skill, and he went down
exhausted. “Take the good Old One away; if he
wins he cannot raise himself higher in the
estimation of the fancy,” exclaimed several
friends; “the chance is against him.”
47 and last.—This was a well fought round,
although both men were distressed. Inglis was,
however, a fresh man compared with his opponent.
Turner had the best of the milling as usual, but
went down worn out. While sitting on the knee of
his second several persons requested that he
might not fight any more. Harry Holt jumped into
the ring, and throwing up his hat, observed,
“Permit me, gentlemen, to give in for Turner.”
One hour and eighteen minutes had elapsed.
Inglis left the ropes, but he instantly returned
into the ring to shake hands with those hands
which had so liberally distributed punishment
only a few seconds previous. We wish sincerely
that the inhabitants of all the countries in the
world would imitate such a noble example in the
moment of victory.
REMARKS.—“Othello’s occupation’s gone!” Indeed,
Turner may apply to himself the words—
“I’ve seen the day
That, with this little arm and this good fist,
I’ve made my way through more impediments
Than twenty times your stop.”
Yes; and we have “seen the day”—that day when
Turner overcame the undaunted Scroggins; that
day, also, when he stood before the accomplished
Randall two hours and twenty minutes; and
likewise that day when he conquered Jack Martin.
We cannot offer an insult to a brave man, and
it is far from our intention even to wound his
feelings; but on any of the above days what
chance would Inglis have stood with Turner?
The fact is, Ned was not licked; he was tired,
worn out, and Nature refused to second his
efforts. Inglis won the battle fairly, and
according to the rules of pugilism. Indeed,
the fight was one of the best specimens of
milling skill ever witnessed, and the courage
displayed by Turner was of the highest order.
It is but common justice also to state, that
Inglis’s manliness, game, coolness, and
honourable conduct throughout the battle placed
him high in the list of boxers.
By an unpardonable oversight “Boxiana” (see p. 115, vol. v.) omits at
this place all mention of Turner and Inglis’s second battle, on the 9th
of November following, and gives an epistolary challenge from Inglis to
Turner as being penned “a few weeks after the above battle,” i.e., the
first fight, so that Inglis is made to challenge the man he had
conquered. The second fight will be found in the memoir of Turner,
_ante_, p. 391. After his defeat Inglis published the following in the
_Weekly Dispatch_:—
“TO EDWARD TURNER.
“SIR,—
“My friends have agreed to give me another trial; I therefore
challenge you to fight me for £100 a-side, within two months from
the date hereof, and am ready to make a deposit within a fortnight.
If this challenge be not accepted, I propose to retire from the ring
altogether.
“I remain yours, etc.
“PEACE INGLIS.
“_December 10, 1824._”
Turner immediately answered the above challenge.
“TO PEACE INGLIS.
“SIR,—
“I have seen your challenge in the papers, and in reply beg to state
the only terms that will induce me to meet you, or any one else, in
the ring, and which, considering the battles I have fought, will
not, I trust, be thought out of the way. £200 a-side is the least I
mean to fight for. And when you talk of two months, you must have
forgotten the state of my left hand; but if the last Tuesday in
April will answer your purpose, and your friends are willing to
agree as to the sum I propose, I shall be most happy to accommodate
you. I should be sorry to think my refusal the cause of your leaving
the ring, in which I wish you success; but I must take care to leave
off fighting before fighting leaves me.
“I am yours, etc.,
“EDWARD TURNER.
“_Newtown, Montgomeryshire, North Wales_,
“_December 15, 1824._”
The health of Turner was, however, rapidly declining, and he retired
from the ring without making any further match. Inglis also now retired
into private life, but we have not met with any record of his death.
* * * * *
At the close of the Fifth and Sixth Periods, opening the Second Volume,
we propose to give an Appendix of the Remarkable Light Weights who
especially illustrated this epoch of pugilistic history, thus collecting
the lesser stars into a galaxy, instead of scattering them here and
there among the larger lights—the planets of the pugilistic system.
INDEX TO VOLUME I.
A.
ÆNEAS (Introd.), xii
AMPHOTIDES described (Introd.), xiii
AMYCUS (Introd.), vii
ANTÆUS (Introd.), _ib._
ANCIENTS, History of Boxing among the (Introd.), v‒xvi
ASTON, Col. Henry, a patron of Pugilism, 92
His melancholy death (note), _ib._
B.
BALDWIN, CALEB, “The Pride of Westminster,” 1796‒1816:—
His real name, 211
His early battles, _ib._
With Tom Jones, Kelly, Jackling, and Lee the Butcher, 212, 213
Beat Jack O’Donnell, _ib._
Draw with Bill Ryan, 214
Defeats “Young Massa”, 216
As second and ring-keeper, 217
Farewell benefit and death, 218
BARCLAY, Captain, Allardyce of Ury:—
Trains Tom Cribb, 259
His birth and love of athletic exercises, 435
His pedestrian capabilities and performances, 436, 437
His match of 1000 miles in 1000 successive hours for 1000 guineas,
438
His death, 439
BARRYMORE, Lord:—
His career, nicknames of family (note), 103
Thrashed by Mr. Donadieu (note), 104
Mr. Grantley Berkeley’s slips relating to, _ib._
Particulars of his death, _ib._
BARTHOLOMEW, JACK, 1795‒1800:—
His merits, 221
Victory over Firby, 222
Beaten by Bill Wood, _ib._
Beat Tom Owen, _ib._
Beaten by Jem Belcher, 134, _ib._
His death, _ib._
BELASCO, ABY, 1817‒1824:—
Jewish prize-fighters, 481
Belasco’s birth, _ib._
His battle with Cribb’s Coalheaver, 482
Beat Josh. Hudson, _ib._
〃 Jack Payne, _ib._
Beaten by Tom Reynolds, 483
〃 by Jack Randall, _ib._
Beat the Winchcomb Champion, _ib._
Wrangle with Phil. Sampson and three fights, 484
Room fight with Josh. Hudson, _ib._
Beat Pat. Holton, 485
Becomes an L. V. in Whitechapel, 486
Beat George Weston, _ib._
His degraded career, _ib._
BELCHER, JEM (Champion), 1798‒1809:—
His pedigree, person, and symmetry, 132
His natural skill as a boxer, 133
Beat Britton, _ib._
Introduced to Bill Warr, 133
Beat Tom (Paddington) Jones, 134
〃 Jack Bartholomew, 134, 135
〃 Andrew Gamble (Irish Champion) twice, 135, 136
〃 Joe Berks, first encounter, 137
Ditto, second encounter, 138
Ditto, third encounter, 140
Proceedings against Belcher and Berks for breach of the peace,
141‒143, 146
Battle with Firby, 146, 147
Indicted in consequence, 148
Loses his eye at rackets, _ib._
His announced retirement, _ib._
Pearce claims the championship, 149
Belcher challenges Pearce, _ib._
His defeat (see Pearce), _ib._
John Gully’s disparaging remark, _ib._
His two defeats by Cribb, 150, 247, 251
His boxing and personal qualities, 151
Death and burial, 152
BELCHER, TOM, 1804‒1822:—
His birth and first fight in the London P.R., 153
Defeated Jack Warr, 154, 155
Beaten by Bill Ryan, 155
Beat O’Donnell, _ib._
〃 Bill Ryan, 156
Beaten by Dutch Sam thrice, 157
Beat Dogherty, 157, 158
〃 Cropley, 158
〃 Silverthorne, 159
〃 Dogherty, second time, in Ireland, 160
A turn up at Hampstead and in Holborn, 163
The Castle Tavern and sporting publicans, _ib._
Belcher’s sparring, 164
Retirement and death, 166
BERKELEY, Hon. GRANTLEY, M.P.:—
Vindication of boxing (note), 5
His estimate of Pierce Egan (note), 239
BERKS, JOE, of Shropshire:—
Beat Christian, beaten by Jem Belcher twice, by Hen. Pearce twice,
and Dick Deplige (note), 137
BITTOON, ISAAC, 1801‒1804:—
His draw with Maddox and battle with Will Wood, 230
A teacher of singlestick and boxing, 232
His death, _ib._
_BLACKWOOD’S MAGAZINE._
Sonnets to Randall, 361
BLAKE, “Tom Tough,” 1804‒1810:—
His fight with Holmes, 235
Beaten by Tom Cribb and by Tom Molineaux, 236
His death, 237
BOB’S CHOP-HOUSE (the Castle, Holborn), 162, 237‒240
BOXING, vindication of, 1, 2
Schools, their good results, 6
Among the ancients (Introd.), v‒xvi
Origin of the term (Introd.), vi
BOND, Mr., the Bow Street Magistrate, 146
BRAIN, BENJAMIN, “Big Ben” (Champion), 1786‒1791:—
His fights with “the Grenadier”, 65
〃 〃 Corbally, 66
〃 〃 Jacombs, _ib._
〃 〃 Hooper, 67
〃 〃 Tom Johnson, 68
〃 〃 Will Wood, 69
His death, _ib._
Epitaph on, 70
BROUGHTON, JOHN (Champion), 1734‒1750:—
Secedes from George Taylor’s Booth, 19
Description of, 21
His amphitheatre in Oxford Street, 22
His battle with Stevenson, _ib._
〃 〃 Jack James, 23
His rivalry with George Taylor, 24
His “New Rules” reform the art of boxing, 25
Invents padded boxing-gloves for practice, 26
A Yeoman of the Guard, _ib._
His fight with Slack, 27
Captain Godfrey’s eulogy on, 28
His retirement, anecdote of, 29
Pension, property, death, and funeral, 30
BUCKHORSE (John Smith), 1732‒1746, 40
Curious particulars of, 41
BURKE, of Woolwich, beaten by Jack Randall (glove fight), 333
Ditto, second time, 388
BURN, “Uncle Ben,” 1810‒1834:—
As a pugilist, backer, and second, 461
Beat Christie, _ib._
Beaten by Dogherty, Silverthorne, Palmer Jones, Tom Spring, and Tom
Oliver, _ib._
BURSCHEN, German, their murderous fights, 3
C.
CÆSTUS, descriptions and drawings of (Introd.), xv, xvi
CASTLE TAVERN, Holborn, sporting head-quarters, 162, 163, 237, etc.
CASTOR and POLLUX (Introd.), vi
CAMELFORD, Lord, Richmond’s master, 291
CLARENCE, Duke of (afterwards William IV.), a ring patron, 100
CLOANTHUS (Introd.), xii
COHANT (or COANT), the Butcher (note), 45
COOPER, GEORGE, 1812‒1825:—
His height, weight, etc., 302
Beat Harry Lancaster, _ib._
Beaten by Tom Oliver, 303
Beat Jay, _ib._
Goes to Scotland, _ib._
Beat Tom Molineaux, the Black, 304
Beaten by Dan Donnelly, _ib._
Returns to London, _ib._
Beat Robinson, the Black, 305
Goes on a continental tour, (lines from “Tom Cribb’s Memorial to
Congress”), 306
Boxing at Aix-la-Chapelle, 307
Returns to Edinburgh, _ib._
Turn up with Kendrick, the Black, at Tom Oliver’s, 309
Set-to with Hickman (Gas), 310
Set-to with Jack Randall, 311
Matched with Shelton, _ib._
Beaten by Hickman, 312
Moulsey Hurst, lines on, 313
Beat Tom Shelton, _ib._
Returns to Edinburgh, 316
Matched again with Hickman, _ib._
Beaten by Hickman, 317
〃 by Ned Baldwin, “White-headed Bob”, 318
His retirement and death, _ib._
CORBALLY and BIG BEN, 66
CORCORAN, PETER, his defeat by Turner, 47
Fights with Dalton, Davis, and Smiler, _ib._
〃 〃 Bill Darts, 48
〃 〃 Sam Peters, _ib._
Blunders of “Boxiana”, _ib._
CRABBE, ELISHA, 52
CRIBB, TOM (Champion), 1805‒1820:—
English Champions, remarks on, 242
His birth and arrival in London; becomes wharf porter, 243
A slow fighter, 244
Beat George Maddox, _ib._
〃 “Tom Tough”, 245
〃 “Ikey Pig”, 216
Beaten by George Nicholls (see Nicholls), _ib._
Beat Bill Richmond, _ib._
〃 Jem Belcher, first time, 247
〃 Bob Gregson for championship, 249
〃 Jem Belcher, second time, 251
〃 Tom Molineaux, first time, 252
Challenged anew by Molineaux, 255
Beat Tom Molineaux, second time, 256
Cribb’s return to town, 258
His training by Captain Barclay, and anecdotes, 260
Presented with a silver cup, 261
Fails as a coal-merchant, and becomes a publican, 262
Spars in the presence of monarchs, princes, and marshals, _ib._
High patronage of boxers, 263
Anecdotes—Cribb and the pig, _ib._
Cribb and the navvy, 264
The champion and his dwarf, 265
Cribb and Massa Kendrick, _ib._
Curtis’s challenge to Cribb, 266
Cribb’s punishment of Carter, 267
Challenged by Neat, 268
Cribb’s retirement, 269
He attends as a page at the Coronation of George IV., 270
Lines on the challenge of Neat (note), _ib._
His formal retirement from the ring, and speech, 271
“Cribb and his customer”, 272
“The three tailors”, _ib._
“Cribb and the cobbler”, 273
His death, _ib._
Character by Vincent Dowling, Esq., 274
His monument in Woolwich Churchyard, 275‒277
“CRIBB’S, TOM, Memorial to Congress” quoted, 306
CRIBB, GEORGE, 1807:—
Beaten by Horton, Dogherty (twice), Cropley, Isle of Wight Hall, Ned
Maltby, 449
CROPLEY, BILL, 1807‒1810:—
Battles with Dutch Sam and Tom Belcher, 232, 233
Defeats “Jemmy from Town,” Tom Hazel, and George Cribb, 233
A second and sparrer for many years, 234
CUMBERLAND, WILLIAM, Duke of, patron of Broughton, 19
D.
DARES (Introd.), xii
DARTS, BILL (Champion), 1764‒1791:—
His fights with Juchan, Dogget, Swansey, and Lyons, 45
Cross with Peter Corcoran, 46
DAVIS, CY., “The Gay Bristol Boy,” 1818‒1823:—
His birth, and introduction to the ring by Tom Belcher, 487
Beat Aby Belasco, _ib._
Beaten by Ned Turner, 488
Beat Boshell, 488
Spars with Randall, 489
Hoaxing challenges, 490
Second match with Ned Turner, _ib._
Beat Ned Turner, 491
His accident, 492
Retirement and death, 493
DEATH (Stephen Oliver), 46, 51
His numerous battles, 51
Epigram on his defeat of Small, _ib._
His fights with Tom Johnson, _ib._
〃 〃 Elisha Crabbe, 52
“DEATH’S DOINGS,” lines from, 393
DOGHERTY, DAN (Irish Champion), 1806‒1811:—
His early fights, 447
Beaten by Tom Belcher, _ib._
Beat Jack Power, 448
〃 Ben Burn, _ib._
Beaten by Tom Belcher, second time, 160
Dogherty’s Duel, 448
DONNELLY, DAN., beats George Cooper (see Donnelly, vol. ii.), 304
DOWLING, VINCENT G., Esq., 96
DOYLE, beaten by a sawyer, 52
DUTCH SAM (see Elias Samuel).
E.
EGAN, PIERCE, author of “Boxiana,” notice of, by Grantley Berkeley
(note), 239
ELIAS, SAMUEL, “Dutch Sam,” 1801‒1814:—
His fighting qualities, 192
Introduction to the ring, 193
Early fights, and Caleb Baldwin, 193, 194
Beat Britton, 195
Beaten by Jas. Brown, _ib._
Beat Tom Belcher, 196
Drawn battle with Tom Belcher, 198
Third fight with Belcher, 199
Arrested for match with Dogherty, 200
Beat Cropley, _ib._
〃 Ben Medley, 201
Retires from ring; his intemperance, 202
Returns, and is beaten by Nosworthy, _ib._
Anecdotes of Dutch Sam, 203
His death, 204
EMERY, the celebrated Yorkshire actor, a ring goer, 240
Presents a silver cup to Tom Cribb, 261
ENTELLUS (Introd.), ix
ERYX (Introd.), vii
F.
FAULKNER, TOM, “the Cricketer,” 1758‒1791:—
His battle with George Taylor, 19, 40
His character, 40
His battle with Joe James, 41
His challenge to Watson, 42
His fight with Thornhill and retirement, _ib._
FEWTEREL, his battle with John Jackson, 93
His battle with a Highlander (note), _ib._
FIG, JAMES (Champion), 1719‒1734, 8
Opens his amphitheatre, 1719, 9
References to, by the _Tatler_, _Guardian_, _Craftsman_, etc., _ib._
Captain Godfrey’s eulogium on, _ib._
His handbills, 10
Verses on, by Dr. Byrom, 11
His death, 1734, 12
FIRBY, “The Young Ruffian,” beat Symonds, “The Old Ruffian,”, 130
Beat Tom Tyne, 129
Beaten by Tom Belcher (turn up), 163
〃 by Jack Bartholomew, 222
FRANCIS, JOHN, “The Jumping Soldier”, 18
G.
GAMBLE, ANDREW, 1792‒1800:—
His origin, and fight with Stanyard, 219
Beat Noah James, the Guardsman, 220
Beaten by Jem Belcher, 136, 221
GEORGE IV. has a retinue of boxers at his Coronation, and presents them
with a gold medal, 100, 270
GODFREY, Captain, his sketches of the boxers, 8, 9, 12, 14
GOWLETT, beaten by Symonds, 130
GREGSON, BOB, 1807‒1809:—
His birth and early career, 237, 238
His fictitious fight with Joe Berks, 238
His weight and strength, 239
Meets with Gully, _ib._
Gregson’s fights with Gully and Tom Cribb, 183, 185, 239, 240, 249
Landlord of Bob’s Chop-house and ring poet, 241
His death, _ib._
GRETTING, GEORGE, 1724‒1734, 14
GRANBY, Marquis of, and Hayman, the painter, 91
GULLY, JOHN, 1805‒1808:—
His ambition for the championship, 182
First battle with Gregson, 183
Second battle, 185‒189
His retirement, 190
Mr. Gully as a pugilist and as a member of society, _ib._
M.P. for Pontefract, 191
His family and death, _ib._
GWYDYR, Lord, letter of thanks to, for the services of the pugilists at
the Coronation, 270
GYAS (Introd.), xii
H.
HARMER, HARRY, 1812‒1815:—
Allied to the Belchers, 461
Beat Maltby, _ib._
〃 Jack Ford, 462
Glove-fight with Shelton, 463
Beat Tom Shelton, 464
Spars on the continent, 465
Anecdote of a French patron, 466
Forfeits to Shelton, _ib._
His death, _ib._
HAYMAN, the painter, and the Marquis of Granby, 91
HENLEY, PAT., 1742, 18
HOLMES, JACK, fight with “Tom Tough”, 235
HOLT, HARRY, “The Cicero of the Ring,” 1816‒1820:—
Articled to a surveyor, 467
Ring reporter to the “Era”, _ib._
Beaten by Parish, the waterman, 468
His eloquence, _ib._
Beat Jack O’Donnell, 469
Beaten by Jack Randall, 470
〃 by David Hudson, _ib._
〃 by Jack Scroggins (room fight), 471
His newspaper career, 472
His death, 473
Succeeded by his son Alfred, his death, _ib._
HOMER, first reporter of a prize fight (Introd.), viii
HOOD, JOE, 1773‒1760:—
Fights with Parrot, Rossemus, Gregory, Kellyhorn, Macdonald, Sellers
(Champion), Higgins, Bath, and Day, 53, 54
HOOPER, BILL, the Tinman, 1789‒1797:—
His birth, patronised by Lord Barrymore, and reward, 103
His battles with Clarke, Cotterell, Wright, and Bob Watson, 104, 105
His fights with Big Ben (Brain), 67, 106
〃 〃 Bunner, of Colchester, 106
〃 〃 George Maddox, 107
〃 〃 Will Wood, _ib._
〃 〃 Tom Owen, 108, 110
Becomes a bully and drunkard, his degradation and melancholy death,
108, 109
HORACE celebrates pugilism (Introd.), vi
HUMPHRIES, RICHARD, 1784‒1790:—
His personal appearance, 84
His battle with Sam Martin, 85
〃 〃 Dan Mendoza, 86‒88
A coal-merchant in the Adelphi, 88
His death, _ib._
HUNT, EDWARD, 1746‒1758:—
His style of boxing, 39
His battle with Hawksley, the Guardsman, 40
〃 〃 Smallwood, _ib._
〃 〃 Mills, _ib._
I.
INGLESTON, GEORGE, the Brewer, 1789‒1793:—
As a boxer, 124
His fight with John Jackson, 94, 125
Defeats Pickard, of Birmingham, twice, 125
Beaten by Will Wood, _ib._
Retires, _ib._
INGLIS, PEACE, “The Phenomenon,” 1822‒1824:—
Beat Hamilton, the Waterman, _ib._
〃 Deaf Davis, _ib._
〃 George Curtis, 494
Challenges Harry Holt, 495
Beat Ned Turner, 390, 496
J.
JACKSON, MR. JOHN (Champion), 1788‒1795:—
Slanderers of pugilism and its defenders, 89, 90
His birth and education, 92
His _debût_ in the ring, 93
Fights with Fewterel, _ib._
〃 〃 Daniel Mendoza, 94
〃 〃 George Ingleston, _ib._
His muscular strength, 96
Mr. Vincent Dowling’s eulogium on, _ib._
His rooms:—Lord Byron, Sir John Lade, Colonel Hanger, etc., Jackson’s
personal appearance, 98
As a teacher of boxing, 99
His generosity, 100
Presentation of plate to, _ib._
Death and personal honours, 101
JOHNSON, TOM (Champion), 1783‒1791:—
His real name, his kindness, his character by a contemporary, 55, 56
His fights with Jarvis, “the Croydon Drover,” Oliver (Death), Bill
Love, Jack Towers, Fry, and Bill Warr, 57, 58
His fight with Michael Ryan, 58, 59
〃 〃 Isaac Perrins, 59, 63
〃 〃 Brain (Big Ben), 63, 68
His style of fighting, 64
His retirement and death, _ib._
JOHNSON, Dr. SAMUEL, a practical exponent of pugilism, 10, 90
JOHNSON, Mr. ANDREW, the swordsman and boxer, 10
JONES, TOM (Paddington), 1786‒1805:—
His early battles, 114, 115
His battle with Caleb Baldwin, 115
〃 〃 Abraham Challice, 116
Frightens “Leather Jacket”, _ib._
Beat Keely Lyons, twice, 117
Beaten by Jem Belcher, _ib._
Draw with George Nicholls, 118
Fights with Isaac Bittoon and Simpson, _ib._
A well-known attendant at the Fives Court, 119
His death, _ib._
JUCHAU, TOM, the Paviour (note), 45
K.
KENDRICK, MASSA, 308‒310
L.
LAWS OF THE RING, BROUGHTON’S, 25
LINES on the fights of Epeus and Euryalus, Homer (Introd.), viii
On the fight of Dares and Entellus, Virgil, (Introd.), x, xi
On the two great masters of defence, Messrs. Fig and Sutton, by Dr.
John Byrom, 11, 12
On Ben Brain (Big Ben) by a pugilist, 70
On John Jackson at Brompton Cemetery, 102
On the heroic conduct of Henry Pearce, 179
On the death of Fletcher Reid, Esq., 197
On Tom Cribb, by “An Old Miller”, 270
On Tom Cribb, by V. G. Dowling, Esq., 277
From “Tom Cribb’s Memorial to Congress,” by Tom Moore, 240
On Moulsey Hurst, 313
To Jack Randall, by Tom Moore, 355
To Jack Randall, by a contributor to _Blackwood’s Magazine_, 360
“Jack Randall’s Ghost,” from _Bell’s Life in London_, 361
From “Death’s Doings”, 393
On Jack Scroggins (Epitaph), 434
On Shaw, the Life-guardsman, by Sir Walter Scott, 443
LOVE, BILL, 1788, 57
LYONS, the Waterman (Champion), 1769,
his fight with Bill Darts, 45
M.
MADDOX, GEORGE, “the Veteran,” 1792‒1805:—
His numerous battles, 205
His character, _ib._
His battles with Symonds, “the Ruffian;” Hooper, “the Tinman;” and
Isaac Bittoon, 206
Beat Seabrook and Bill Richmond in one ring, 208
Beaten by Tom Cribb, 208, 244
Draw with Coady, 209
His good qualities, _ib._
Killed by an accident, 210
MARTIN, JACK, “the Master of the Rolls,” 1813‒1828:—
His birth and early battles, 395
Beat George Oliver, _ib._
〃 Paddington Johnson, 396
Wins a foot-race against Spring, Ben Burn, and a novice, 398
A bout with Scroggins, _ib._
Matched with Scroggins, 399
Beat Scroggins, 400
Beaten by Jack Randall, first time, 401
〃 by Ned Turner, _ib._
Beat Josh. Hudson, 402
〃 Cabbage, of Bristol, 403
Mills half-a-dozen “dandies”, 404
Beat Phil. Sampson, 405
〃 a Gipsy, 406
〃 David Hudson, 407
Wins a foot-race from “the Chicken Butcher”, 408
Beat Ned Turner, _ib._
Beaten by Jack Randall, second time, 410
Marriage announcement, _ib._
Beaten by Young Dutch Sam, 411
His retirement, _ib._
MARTIN, the Bath Butcher, fights with Mendoza, 72
His battle with Humphries, 85
〃 〃 Bligh and King (note), _ib._
MEGGS, GEORGE, the Collier (note), 35, 36
MEGGS, PARFITT, 37
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS, CRIBB’S, 306
MENDOZA, DANIEL, 1784‒1820:—
His style and skill, 71
His battles with Harry the Coalheaver, _ib._
〃 〃 Martin, of Bath, 72
〃 〃 Humphries, first battle, _ib._
〃 〃 〃 second battle, 73
〃 〃 〃 third battle, 74
〃 〃 Bill Warr, two fights, 76, 77
〃 〃 John Jackson, 78
〃 〃 Harry Lee, 79
〃 〃 Tom Owen, 81
Farewell benefit and death, 82
MENDOZA, AARON, 76
MIDAS, a Meddling, 146
MOLINEAUX, TOM, the Black, 1810‒1815:—
Born in Virginia, 278
His first battle, _ib._
Beat “Tom Tough” 279
He claims the championship, 280
Beaten by Cribb, first time, _ib._
Beat Rimmer, 281
Beaten by Cribb, second time, 282
His downward course, 283
A good wrestler, _ib._
Richmond arrests Molineaux, _ib._
Beat Jack Carter, 284
His passion for dress and women, 285
Beat Fuller, _ib._
Beaten by George Cooper, 287
Rencontre with Abe Denston, _ib._
Dies in Ireland, 288
MOORE, TOM, Lines to “the Nonpareil”, 365
“Tom Cribb’s Memorial to Congress”, 306
MOULSEY HURST, Lines on, 313
N.
NICHOLLS, GEORGE, 1812‒1818:—
His early battles, 444
Beat Tom Cribb, 445
His retirement to Bristol and death, 447
NOSWORTHY, WILLIAM, the Baker:—
His birth, etc., 455
Fight with Pentikin, 456
Beat Barnard Levy, _ib._
Beat Dutch Sam, 457
Beaten by Jack Scroggins, 460
Forfeits to George Curtis, _ib._
Death from excessive drinking, _ib._
O.
OLIVER, STEPHEN, “Death,” 1770‒1788, 51
O’DONNELL, JACK, 1802‒1806:—
Beat Pardo Wilson, 223
〃 Smith, 224
Beaten by Caleb Baldwin, 226
〃 by Tom Belcher, _ib._
Beat Emery, 227
〃 Wasdell, _ib._
〃 Smith, 228
His conviction and transportation, _ib._
OWEN, TOM, 1796‒1820:—
His birth, introduced to Mr. Jackson, matched with Hooper, 110
Apocrypha of “Boxiana”, _ib._
Fights with Houssa and Jack Bartholomew, 111
Battles with Mendoza, 81, 112
His judgment as a second, good fellowship, and death, 113
P.
PACKER AND MENDOZA, 76
PALMER, JOHN, see “Scroggins, Jack.”
PAYNE, JACK, the Butcher:—
Beaten by Jack Randall, 329
〃 by Josh. Hudson, see vol. ii.
〃 by Burke, 474
〃 by West Country Dick, twice, 474, 476
〃 by Aby Belasco, 482
PEARCE, HENRY, “the Game Chicken” (Champion), 1803‒1805:—
His brilliant qualities, 167
Comes to London and meets Berks and beats him, 167, 168
Beat Berks in the ring, 169
Pearce’s second indicted, 170
Challenges Bittoon, and beats Elias Spray, _ib._
Beat Carter, _ib._
〃 John Gully and becomes champion, 170, 175
Challenged by Jem Belcher, 175
Defeats Jem Belcher, 176
His bravery and humanity, 178
Verses on Pearce’s gallantry, 179
Attacked by pulmonary disease, 180
His early death, 181
PEARTREE, NAT., his defeat of Whitaker, 13
PERRINS, ISAAC, of Birmingham, 60
His fight with Tom Johnson, 59‒63
PETERS, SAM., of Birmingham, 1771‒1774, 52
Sell with Corcoran, 48, 53
PIPES AND GRETTING, Captain Godfrey’s account of, 14
POWER, JACK:—
His birth, 451
Beaten by Dogherty, _ib._
Beats Frere and Joel King, 452
Forfeits to Tom Belcher, 453
Beat Jack Carter, _ib._
Challenges Richmond, _ib._
His character, 454
Illness and early death, 455
PRUSSIA, FREDERICK WILLIAM, King of, patronises sparring, 100
PUGILISM, its advantages, 6, 7, 96
Its slanderers and defenders, 89, 90
Among the Greeks and Romans (Introd.), v
St. Bernard, a patron of (Introd.), xvi
Origin of the word Pugilist (Introd.), v
R.
RANDALL, JACK, “the Nonpareil,” 1809‒1821:—
His birth-place, 328
His early battles, 328, 329
His debut in the ring, 329
Beat Walton, “the Twickenham Youth,” and “Ugly Baruk”, _ib._
〃 “West Country Dick”, 330
〃 Harry Holt, 331
〃 Aby Belasco, 333
Glove-fight with Burke, of Woolwich, 335
Beat Joe Parish, the Waterman, 336
〃 Burke, of Woolwich, 339
Matched with Ned Turner, 340
Public excitement, 341
Beat Ned Turner, first time, 342
Becomes publican, 345
Randall and Burn, 346
Matched with Jack Martin, _ib._
The road to a fight in olden times, _ib._
Beat Jack Martin, first time, 348
Turn-up in Battersea Fields, 350
Challenged by Scroggins, _ib._
An adventure with “roughs”, _ib._
Comes from his retirement and challenges Martin, 351
Beats Jack Martin, second time, _ib._
“A Cantab’s” account of the fight, 353
Lines by Tom Moore to, 355
Forfeits to Martin, 356
A rencontre at Hampstead, 357
Randall and the Mayor of Canterbury at Hatton Garden, 359
His death, 360
Sonnets to Randall, _ib._
His “Farewell to the ring”, 361
“Jack Randall’s Ghost”, _ib._
Summary of Randall’s pugilistic merits; his charitable disposition,
362, 363
REID, Mr. FLETCHER, a patron of pugilism, lines on his death, 197
REYNOLDS, TOM (note), 483
RICHMOND, BILL, 1804‒1818:—
His birth in New York State, comes to England, and education, 289
First boxing match, _ib._
Early battles, 290
Beat Myers and Green, _ib._
Beaten by George Maddox, 291
Beat Youssouf, a Jew, _ib._
〃 Jack Holmes, the Coachman, 292
Beaten by Tom Cribb, _ib._
Beat Carter (countryman), 293
〃 Isaac Wood, _ib._
〃 George Maddox, 294
〃 Jack Power, 295
Becomes a publican, 296
The P.C. Club, _ib._
Beat Davis, the Navvy, 297
〃 Tom Shelton, 298
Retires and keeps sparring rooms, 299
Turn-up with Carter, 300
As a second, _ib._
His long life and lamented death, 301
RUSSIA, ALEXANDER, Emperor of, patronises the boxers, 100
RYAN, BILL, 1804‒1806:—
His qualifications, 228
Defeat of Tom Belcher, 229
Draw with Caleb Baldwin, _ib._
Beaten by Tom Belcher, _ib._
Beat Clarke, 230
His death, _ib._
S.
SAVILLE HOUSE, history of, 19
SCOTT, Sir WALTER, Lines on Shaw, the Life-guardsman, 443
SCROGGINS, JACK, 1803‒1822:—
His sobriquet, 412
His birth and early days, _ib._
His early fights, 413
Pressed and sent to sea, 414
Champion on board the Argo, _ib._
A turn-up at Woolwich, 415
Beat Jack Boots (Wilford), _ib._
〃 Dolly Smith, 416
〃 Nosworthy, _ib._
Matched with Bill Eales, 418
Beat Bill Eales, 419
Becomes publican, 420
Beat Whittaker, “the Oilman”, 421
〃 Church, 423
A draw with Ned Turner, 426
Beat Fisher (room fight), 427
Beaten by Ned Turner, 428
Second match with Turner, 429
Beaten by Turner, second time, _ib._
His imprudence, _ib._
Beaten by Jack Martin, _ib._
〃 by Josh. Hudson, _ib._
〃 David Hudson, twice, _ib._
Beat Harry Holt (room fight), 430
〃 Parish, the Waterman, 431
Receives forfeit from Parish, 432
Beaten by Gipsy Cooper, 433
His poverty and fate, _ib._
The moral of his death, 433
His epitaph, 434
SELLERS, HARRY (Champion), 1776‒1785:—
Fights with Corcoran, 49
〃 〃 Joe Hood, _ib._
〃 〃 Stevens, the Nailer, 50
〃 〃 Duggan Fearns, _ib._
〃 〃 Harvey, _ib._
His death, _ib._
SHAW, JOHN, the Life-guardsman, 1812‒1815:—
His youthful battles, 441
His boxing capabilities, _ib._
Beat Burrows, 442
〃 Ned Painter, 442
Challenges the championship, _ib._
Lines by Sir Walter Scott on, 443
His gallant conduct at Waterloo, _ib._
His death on the battle-field, 444
SHELTON, TOM, “the Navigator,” 1812‒1825:—
His birth and qualifications, 319
Beat Fitzgerald, _ib._
Origin of the term “Navvy” (note), _ib._
At the Fives Court, _ib._
Beaten by Harmer, 320
Beat Studd, the Farmer, _ib._
Beaten by Richmond, _ib._
Becomes a publican, _ib._
Beats Ben Burn, first time, 322
〃 〃 second time, 322
Forfeit from Benniworth, 324
Beaten by Tom Oliver, 325
〃 by George Cooper, _ib._
Receives forfeit from “Unknown,” _ib._
Beat Carter (turn-up), _ib._
〃 Josh. Hudson, _ib._
Received forfeit from Josh. Hudson, 326
Beaten by Big Brown, _ib._
Died by prussic acid, 327
SIDMOUTH, Viscount, his letter of thanks to the pugilists, 270
SILVERTHORNE, beaten by Tom Belcher, 450
Beat Dan Dogherty, _ib._
〃 Ben Burn, 451
A Sunday-school teacher, _ib._
SLACK, JACK (Champion), 1750‒1760:—
His style and character, 31
His first appearance and quarrel with Broughton, 32
His fight with Broughton, 33
〃 〃 Petit, the Frenchman, 34
〃 〃 Moreton, _ib._
〃 〃 Harris, _ib._
〃 〃 Bill Stevens, the Nailer, 35
His character and death, _ib._
SMALLWOOD, TOM, 1741‒1747, 17, 18
Captain Godfrey’s account of, 37
His fights with Harris, Willis, King, and Hunt, 38, 39
STEPHENSON, GEORGE, the great engineer, 1801, 439
Beat Ned Wilson, “the fighting pitman” of Callerton, 440
STEVENS, BILL, the Nailer, 36
Backed by the Duke of York, 35
His fight with Jacob Taplin, 36
〃 〃 Slack for the championship, 1760, _ib._
“Cross” with George Meggs, 35, 56
SUTTON, the Pipemaker, his fight with Fig, 11
SYMONDS, “the Ruffian,” 1791‒1795:—
His nickname, 130
His fights with Jackling (Ginger), and Gowlett, _ib._
Beaten by Firby, 130
Draw with George Maddox and with Ugly Baruk, _ib._
T.
TAYLOR, GEORGE (Champion), 1734‒1756:—
Battles at his booth, 17
His fight with Boswell, _ib._
〃 〃 Tom Faulkner, 19
His death, 1758, 20
TENNIS COURT in the Haymarket, 35
“TOM TOUGH,” see Blake.
TRING, TOM, his person, battles, and character, 67
TURNER, NED, 1814‒1824:—
His birth and calling, 364
Beat Balch, _ib._
His minor battles, 365
Goes to Scotland, _ib._
Returns to London, 366
Battle with George Curtis (fatal), 367
Inquest on Curtis, 369
Trial and defence of Turner, 371
His sentence, 373
Matched with Scroggins, 374
Draw with Jack Scroggins, 375
Beat Scroggins, 377
Turner visits Wales, 381
Third meeting with Scroggins, _ib._
Beat Scroggins, second time, 383
〃 Cy. Davis, 385
Matched with Jack Martin, 387
Jack Scroggins’ estimate of Turner and Martin, _ib._
Beat Jack Martin, 388
Tom Belcher challenges Turner, 390
Beaten by Cy. Davis, _ib._
〃 by Peace Inglis, _ib._
Beat Peace Inglis, 391
His last illness, 392
His death and funeral honours, 393
His character as a boxer, 394
TURNUS, King of the Rutuli (Introd.), xii
TYNE, TOM, “the Tailor,” 1788‒1792:—
His merits, 127, 128
Battles with Jones, Earl (fatal), and Elisha Crabbe, 128, 129
Defeated by Firby, 129
Doubtful defeat by Mendoza, _ib._
U.
UPPER-CUT, the (note), 194
V.
VIRGIL, his account of the prize fight of Dares and Entellus (Introd.),
x, xi
W.
WALES, FREDERICK, Prince of, patron of George Taylor, 19
WALES, GEORGE, Prince of, a ring patron, 52, 94, 126, 128
WARR, BILL, of Bristol, 1787‒1792:—
His battles with Tom Johnson and Will Wood, 120
Defeated by Mendoza, twice, 76, 77, 120
Convicted of manslaughter, 121
Beat Stanyard, of Birmingham, _ib._
Becomes a publican; his death, 122
WATSON, BOB, of Bristol, 1788‒1791:—
His battles with Elisha Crabbe, Bill Jones, and Anderson, 126
His battle with Hooper, 127
Beaten by Davies, _ib._
Theatrical sparring, _ib._
His death, _ib._
WEST-COUNTRY DICK, the Navigator, 1816‒1820:—
His birth, 474
His fights with Grabbler, Reeve, Jack Curtis, Jack Payne, and Charley
Martin, twice, 474, 475
Beat Street, 475
〃 Jack Payne, 476
Beaten by David Hudson, 478
Beat Davis, _ib._
Turn-up with Abbott, 479
〃 〃 Parsing, _ib._
Beaten by Gipsy Cooper, _ib._
Beat Parsing, 480
〃 Redgreaves, _ib._
〃 Mason, _ib._
〃 Hellick, 481
WHITAKER, BOB, 1733:—
His fight with the big Gondolier, 13
His defeat by Nat. Peartree, 14
WHITEHEAD, PAUL, the Poet, 19
WILLIS, WILLIAM, “the Fighting Quaker,” 18
WINDHAM, Right Hon. WILLIAM, his defence of pugilism, 90, 91
WOOD, WILL, the Coachman, 1788‒1804:—
Fights with Will Warr, George the Brewer, Hooper the Tinman, and Jack
Bartholomew, 122, 123
His fight with Isaac Bittoon, 124
His death, _ib._
Y.
YORK, Duke of, patron of Stevens, 1760, 85
END OF VOLUME I.
PRINTED BY
OLIVER AND BOYD
EDINBURGH
-----
Footnote 1:
Pietro Torrigiano’s history has an English interest. He was certainly
a “fighting man.” While serving as a volunteer in the army of Pope
Alexander VI. he modelled some bronze figures for some Florentine
merchants, who invited him to go with them to England. Here he was a
favourite with “bluff King Hal,” who employed Torrigiano to execute
the tomb of his father, Henry VII. in Westminster Abbey, for which he
received the then large sum of £1,000. Employed to execute a
sarcophagus for Cardinal Wolsey—the Ipswich butcher’s son—his work
(once intended to enclose the coffin of Henry VIII. at Windsor) by the
“irony of fate” was destined to enshrine the remains of a greater
English hero. Nelson lies beneath the dome of St Paul’s in the
sarcophagus sculptured by Torrigiano for Wolsey, his inner coffin
being made from a piece of the French flagship _L’Orient_, blown up at
the battle of the Nile. Torrigiano died in Spain in the prisons of the
Inquisition, having been condemned as a sacrilegious heretic for
demolishing a “statue of the Virgin,” which having been paid
inadequately for by a niggardly nobleman, the Duke of Arcoss, he broke
in pieces with his mallet. The incensed grandee had him arrested, and
Torrigiano, to avoid being roasted at an _auto da fé_, refused food
and so perished, A.D. 1522.
Footnote 2:
See Apollon., Argonaut.; Theocritus, Idyll. 22; Apollodorus, b. i., c.
9.
Footnote 3:
Statius, Thebais, vi., v. 893; Lucan, Pharsalia, iv., 598; Juvenal,
Sat. iii., 88.
Footnote 4:
The inquiring reader will find the _sex_ of “the Trojan horse” settled
in some humorous scholia to Pope’s “Dunciad,” book i., line 212,
quizzically attributed to Richard Bentley, the famous critic, under
the _alias_ of Martinus Scriblerus. And at this present time of
writing we may note that the axe-wielding ex-premier, the Right Hon.
W. E. Gladstone, in his great speech on introducing the Reform Bill
(March 19, 1866), borrowed a metaphor from this ancient fable with
eloquent propriety—
“Scandit fatalis machina muros
_Fœta_ armis.”
Footnote 5:
Forsyth’s “Remarks during an Excursion in Italy,” p. 117.
Footnote 6:
In Blaine’s “Cyclopædia of Rural Sports,” art. _British Boxing_, p.
1219. Longmans 1860.
Footnote 7:
An intelligent correspondent of _The Sporting Life_ newspaper, in a
series of letters from Germany, written in July, 1863, gives a graphic
and blood-tinted picture of “How the Students fight at Heidelberg,”
which we would commend to the perusal of the pedagogues of our public
schools. We have space for no more than a few fragmentary sentences,
but the whole is worth serious thought on the part of those who “teach
the ingenuous youth of modern nations.” The writer says:—“I will now
describe to you three duels, out of many I have witnessed. The first
with the sabre, the other two with _schlagers_. The first was between
the _præses_, or head man of one of the principal corps, and an
officer in the German army. It appears that the officer was at one
time a student in the University of Heidelberg, which he quitted to
enter the German service. Being quartered at Mannheim, which is close
to Heidelberg, he determined to revisit the place, when, for some
reason or other unknown to me, he was at once drawn into a duel by the
_præses_ of the corps. Allow me to remark, _en passant_, that an
unfortunate student was killed here in a sabre-duel some three or four
months ago. A court of inquiry was held, and it was proved by the
medical men that the deceased had a remarkably thin skull, which would
easily have been fractured by the slightest blow, a fall, or anything
of that sort. The result was that all parties were acquitted. But I
must return to my sabre-duel. While I was passing through Heidelberg,
Old “Puggy” came and told me there would be a sabre-duel early the
next morning in the _Ingle Suisse_, or “Angels’ Meadow,” a small
meadow up in the mountains, surrounded by trees, and where all the
_sabre_ and _pistol_ duels came off. The “Angels’ Meadow” is about ten
minutes walk from the _Hirsch Gasse_. I suppose it has derived its
name from its extreme beauty, but I think the “Devil’s Meadow” would
be a more appropriate name, for during the last twenty years no end of
fatal duels have taken place there. I took care to be on the ground
early, in order to get a view, which I did by mounting a tree. The
attendance was very small, as only a limited number are allowed to be
present at a duel which is likely to be attended with loss of life.
Each man arrived on the ground in a carriage, the student being
accompanied by the University doctor, while the officer had a medical
friend. While the seconds and umpires were arranging preliminaries,
the men were prepared by their respective doctors. The combatants in
this case were prepared as follows:—A leather pad to protect the
stomach, and a woollen one guarded the lower parts. The sword arm was
covered as usual, and a leather apron put on. The whole upper part of
the body was left open to attack. The ring was made, the seconds,
umpire, and referee took up their respective positions, and the two
doctors undoing their cases of instruments, laid them on the ground
ready for any emergency. The terms were that the men, if able to
scratch, were to fight fifteen minutes, not including rests and
stoppages. The umpire of the student (the student being the
challenger) now prepared to give the word. Previous to this, a sabre,
with schlager handles, was handed to each man. At the word
_Silentium_, you might have heard a pin drop. _Gebunden_, or the order
to bind them, was then given, and a silk handkerchief was tied round
the wrist, and fastened to the handle. _Gebunden ist_ was the reply,
which means, “bound it is.” _Auf de mensur_, “go into position and
scratch,” _Faretz_, “ready,” and _Los_, “go at it,” were called, and
at it they went with a will, the guard used being the
_schlager_-guard, and not the English sword exercise. Two or three
rounds were fought, when the officer got a fearful wound on the side
of the head. The round was of course over, and after a few
restoratives had been administered, silence was again called. I may as
well state here, once and for all, that this was the only wound the
officer got; not so with the student, the wounds he received about the
head were of a fearful character, and round after round he came up.
The time having expired, the student was carried to his carriage; and,
owing to the injuries received, he could not leave his room for
several months. When he left his room, he went to the seaside. It is
needless for me to say that both of them will carry the marks of this
contest to the grave.
“It was on April 10, during vacation, and while there were scarcely
any students in Heidelberg, I was sitting at my window, and saw four
or five students go towards the _Hirsch Gasse_; I followed them, and
when I arrived there the men were stripping. All being in readiness,
they were led out of the house, each arm being carefully supported by
the seconds. One of these gentlemen was a student from Munich, the
other was a Heidelberger, and the men were placed opposite to each
other. Silence was called, and the fight began. The first round
occupied considerably less than half a minute, and was finished by the
seconds springing in and terminating the round, because one of the
_schlagers_ was bent. The second round followed without any result.
The combatants are never allowed to be in _mensur_ more than
three-quarters of a minute—scarcely ever half a minute: these short
rounds are done to rest the arm. In the third round, the Munich man
got a cut on the cheek, a _Bluticher_, or “a blood,” was the cry. The
seconds cried “halt!” and “a blood” was scored to the Heidelberg
student. The fourth round was a teazer for the Munich man, for he got
his nose divided clean in two. No surgeon could have done it better:
you could have laid one half back on one cheek, and the other half on
the other. After this, the Munich man lost his nerve, and every round
he only came up to be receiver-general. At last he got a fearful cut
behind the head, dividing an artery. Seeing this, the surgeon
immediately stopped the duel, after they had been at it seven minutes
(fifteen minutes was the time they had to fight). The wounded man was
taken inside the inn, where every necessary attention was paid him
which his condition required. I never saw the man again.
“The second _schlager_ duel which I saw was between a Prussian and a
Schwabian: both fine men. The morning was a wet one, so they fought in
a cart-shed. Having gone into a detailed account of two other duels,
it will not be necessary for me to do so in this one; suffice it to
say, the surgeon made them fight out the full time (fifteen minutes),
and the Prussian got no less than six ugly cuts about the head;
fearful gashes they were. He had to keep his bed; and, like most of
these duellists, will carry the marks to the grave. As he was led out
of the shed, he presented a piteous spectacle; and I only wish some of
the detractors of the P.R. could have seen him as I did. These two
_schlager_ duels are good average samples.”
The writer adds, after some sensible remarks on these sickening and
murderous savageries, “I write thus strongly, because I cannot and
will not believe that any one who has the good of his country at heart
can decry a well-conducted P.R., as it might be if legalised, or at
the least winked at and tolerated.” As to the fatal encounters with
knife, rifle, and revolver in the Transatlantic States, they stain
almost every sheet of their journalism.
Footnote 8:
As it would overload the page with notes to give authorities for these
remarks, we may observe that the opinions upon pugilism of the
celebrated Mr. Windham, Mr. Harvey Combe, Sir Henry Smith, the Duke of
Hamilton, Francis Duke of Bedford, Lord Yarmouth, Mr. Barber Beaumont,
Sir John Sinclair, the first Lord Lowther, and other legislators of
both Houses, will be found under the periods with which they were
contemporary, together with the dicta of justices and judges as
occasion called them forth. Anecdotes and extracts from the writings
or speeches of Dr. Johnson, Dr. Parr, Dr. Drury, Adam Smith, Sir
Walter Scott (in _Paul’s Letters to his Kinsfolk_), Professor Wilson,
Lord Byron, Tom Moore, Sir Robert Peel (the late), and other admirers
of the pugilate, are scattered in the places where they appropriately
occur.
Footnote 9:
On this point the Hon. Grantley Fitzhardinge Berkeley, M.P. for
Gloucester, has expressed himself with outspoken candour in “A Letter
on the Sports of the People, and their Moral Effects,” which is
invaluable as the testimony of one who has shared in the sports and
studied the customs of his countrymen. He says:—“Looking at a mere
prize-fight got up by the backers and friends of each party, it seems,
in its abstract position, to be an useless brutality for two men,
having no personal cause of quarrel, to bruise each other for the
possession of gold; but, regarding it in another light, as the
necessary display of a fair standard of combat, by the rights and
regulations of which, throughout the country, all quarrels determined
by personal conflict are to be settled, in this light it assumes a
character of safe and wholesome public example, which its most
strenuous opposers cannot with justice deny. In my mind, then, the
prize fight and fair boxing-match are the means of teaching the people
to become advocates for honest and gallant decisions in all cases of
quarrel, and that the encouragement of the use of the fist is the
greatest antidote that can be offered to the revengeful and dastardly
resort to the assassin’s knife.
“In freedom from war, in the retirement and blessings of the country,
there are no gallant deeds to keep alive the emulation and courage of
the English peasant; then I hold that _any amusement_ which tends to
the display of personal gallantry, is calculated to be beneficial to
the human mind. In spite of all the outcry raised by self-dubbed
humane societies, and the abuse to which they often stretch the power
vested in them for better purposes; in spite of the sickly preachings
of diseased and over-sensitive minds, there is no set of people more
angry with the fact of two armies being in presence of each other
without fighting, than those whose health or inclinations confine them
to the tea-table and fireside, and who would faint at the mere sight
of their own blood.
“It is the man who cannot leave home, that cries out for war; it is
the man who has no chance of bleeding, that calls for blood. A paper
on the breakfast-table, which brings a return of thousands slain, is,
to the appetite of those sickly sophists, an agreeable stimulant.
‘Humanity’ makes a capital banner for a cavilist, ignorant of the
matter of the subject he condemns, to march under; and ‘no cruelty’ is
a cry like the ‘no popery’ cry, which gathers together hosts of
unthinking people ready to arraign and pull down they know not what.
“The shrivelled penman, whether clerk or layman, whose thews and
sinews have wasted through inactivity, sits at his desk and condemns
recreations, pastimes, and pleasures, the value of which he has never
known, and the loss of which, in consequence, is immaterial to him;
while hosts of others, conscious of their own more secret mental
deformities, are zealous to hang charges of immorality on any
superficially available corner of the characters of their neighbours,
for the sole purpose of sustaining one reputation on the ruins of
another.”
Footnote 10:
Vide Mr. Henry Mayhew’s admirable pen and pencil sketches of “London
Labour and the London Poor.”
Footnote 11:
It is a curious statistical fact that of twenty murders, accompanied
with brutal violence, committed in 1862‒3‒4, the writer traced no less
than eleven to inhabitants of England not native born. A more recent
atrocity, the railway murder of Mr. Briggs, we owe to a German
immigrant; the five preceding ones (out of eleven) to Irishmen, who
bear a proportion to Englishmen as 5 to 150, or 1 in 30 of the
population. Then comes in close sequence, the brutal assassination and
mutilation of a German (Fuhrup) by his countryman Karl Kohl; and later
we find recorded a knife and shillalah fight between Italians
(Gregorio Mogni and Serafino Pelizzioni), who among them stabbed
several persons and killed an Irishman, one Michael Harrington, the
initiatory feud being the merits of Garibaldi on the Italian side, and
his Holiness Pio Nono on the Irish.
Footnote 12:
This shows that the professors of gymnastics were numerous at the
time.
Footnote 13:
“To Fig and Broughton he commits his breast,
To steel it to the fashionable test.”
And in Bramstone’s _Man of Taste_ we read:—
“In Fig, the prize-fighter, by day delight.
And sup with Colley Cibber every night.”
Footnote 14:
The “Ring” in Hyde Park (not the drive so called) was formed in 1723,
by “order of his Majesty,” and encircled by a fence. It was situated
about 300 yards from Grosvenor Gate. The area is still visible—a
circle of very old trees belted by a plantation of younger ones. It
was the scene of many impromptu conflicts, especially among the
“chairmen” and “linkmen” of the two first Georges’ reigns, and the
early part of the third. Fights were stopped here by the “Bow-street
myrmidons” towards the close of the last century, and the ring itself
obliterated in 1820.
Footnote 15:
This assertion is found in contemporary writers, and in _Pancratia_,
p. 34. The ponderous Doctor himself was not only an advocate, but a
practitioner of the fistic art. His strength and personal courage were
undoubted, as well as his humanity. We have the authority of his
biographers for his knock-down of Davies, the bookseller, in
King-street, Covent Garden, and among the anecdotes of the day current
and printed, is one of his successfully “instructing” a bullying
drayman who was beating a cripple; as for his humanity and strength,
we have the well-known and oft-repeated fact of his carrying
pick-a-back (despite his prejudice against Scotchmen,) a disabled
Scottish beggar to the hospital in Crane-court, Fleet-street.
Footnote 16:
“Boxiana” in two or three places says 1740. That was the period when
George Taylor, the proprietor of the Tottenham Court booth, was beaten
by the renowned Broughton.
Footnote 17:
The residence of George the Third, wherein he received the address of
the Corporation of London on his accession (June 16, 1727); and also
the mansion of his son Frederick, Prince of Wales, above-mentioned,
who died in his father’s lifetime. Here were held the glove matches
above alluded to. Here, too (afterwards called Saville House), George
the Third was proclaimed, on the 26th October, 1760, and received the
great bodies of the State. Its subsequent history—as Miss Linwood’s
Gallery of Needlework, rooms for sparring and fencing exhibitions,
conjuring, etc., _cafe chantant_, casino, and restaurant—brings us to
its fate by fire in the month of March, 1865, and its proposed
resuscitation in 1879, as “The Alcazar” theatre, concert-room, and
hotel. _Sic transit_, etc.
Footnote 18:
This was written in 1747. It had been well had the Captain’s friendly
caution been remembered.
Footnote 19:
Richard Humphries, “the gentleman boxer,” who beat Mendoza in 1788, is
here alluded to. He was five feet nine inches. We suspect Broughton
was an inch or two taller (Slack was five feet eight and a half
inches); but his bulk, in old age, took off his height.
Footnote 20:
“Pancratia,” p. 46, edit. 1811.
Footnote 21:
This clumsy, inefficient, and easily stopped blow has later claimants
to the _honour_ of its invention. It is simply the most dangerous to
the boxer who tries it, and the most awkward delivery of the fist.
Footnote 22:
A provincialism for crushing and rubbing.
Footnote 23:
This conduct would, of course, have lost the Frenchman the fight in
modern times. There are some odd points of resemblance in Pettit’s
fighting and that of Heenan in his Wadhurst fight with Tom King,
although one was fought on turf the other on a stage. Heenan did not,
however, “rogue” it like the Frenchman, and walk off, but “took his
gruel” till beaten out of time.
Footnote 24:
George Meggs, the collier, was from the pugilistic nursery of Bristol.
After this surreptitious seizure of the championship, he returned to
his native place, we presume, for in July, 1762, we find him fighting
“a pitched battle for a considerable sum (“Fistiana” says £100) with
one Millsom, a baker, of the rival city of Bath.” This came off at
Calne in Wiltshire, when, after a fierce battle of forty minutes,
Millsom was acknowledged the conqueror. In the next month (August,
1762), Meggs, having challenged Millsom to a second combat, was a
second time beaten.
Parfitt Meggs, noticed hereafter, a noted west country boxer, also
surrendered to Millsom. Parfitt afterwards beat a namesake of the
retired champion Slack (whose Christian name was John, not Jem), in
the year 1765, at Lansdown, near Bath, which has made a mess in more
than one “history.” In “Fistiana” (1864 edit.), under Meggs (Parfitt)
are several fights, including two defeats by Tom Tyne (1787) and a
victory over Joe Ward in 1790, about all which history is silent,
while under Tom Tyne we are told he was twice beaten by Mendoza; when
and where we know not. He was, however, beaten by Bill Darts
(afterwards champion) at Shepton Mallett, in 1764, which does not
appear under Meggs’ name.
Footnote 25:
Pierce Egan alters this to eight stone and a half, to agree with his
statement that he fought men _double his weight_.
Footnote 26:
The reporter’s statement shows that, according to the modern practice,
Taylor had lost the fight.—He was merely fighting for an off-chance, a
foul blow, or a wrangle. ED.
Footnote 27:
Pancratia, pp. 52, 53.
Footnote 28:
“Tom Juchau, the paviour,” once bid fair to seize the championship—on
June 20th, 1764. His name in pugilistic circles was “Disher;” how
derived, we might in vain inquire. His first fight of importance was
with Charles Cohant (or Coant), a butcher, who had fought several
severely-contested battles. Cohant, being the best known man, was the
favourite, and the contemporary account says, “During the first
twenty-five minutes ‘Disher’ was scarcely able to give him a single
blow, but was knocked down several times. At thirty-five minutes odds
were so high that money was offered at any rate. At this time Disher
(Tom Juchau) changed his mode of fighting, and giving Cohant a most
tremendous blow, by which he fell; the odds immediately changed in his
favour. After this they fought but four rounds, when Disher, having
played in several dreadful blows, Cohant yielded, acknowledging
himself to be vanquished. The fight lasted forty-seven minutes.” There
is a Spartan brevity, an heroic simplicity, and a simple trust in the
reports of these olden fights, which is truly “refreshing” (we believe
that is the tabernacle phrase) in these days of prose-showering and
persiflage.
The next report is equally commendable for its brevity. “On August the
27th (1765), Millsom, who had defeated the two Meggs (see _ante_),
fought a battle with Thomas Juchau, the paviour, at Colney, near St.
Alban’s, in which he failed to enjoy his usual triumph, Juchau proving
his conqueror.” After half a page of undated rigmarole, headed “Tom
Juchau,” Pierce Egan says, vol. i., p. 74, “The paviour was now
considered a first-rate man, and soon matched himself against some of
the most distinguished pugilists.” We cannot find that he ever fought
again.
Footnote 29:
Lyons (champion, 1769) has no mention of his exploits, except his
conquest of the heroic Bill Darts, June 27, 1769, for the
championship. For twenty-five minutes Darts had it all his own way,
and ten to one was laid upon him, when Lyons recovered second wind,
and in forty-five minutes wrested the championship from him. The
battle took place at Kingston-upon-Thames. No other notable fight is
credited to Lyons.
Footnote 30:
_Daily Advertiser_, May 17, 1771, and _Monthly Register_ for May of
the same year.
Footnote 31:
“Boxiana,” vol. i., p. 83.
Footnote 32:
Joe Hood, see _post_, p. 53.
Footnote 33:
“Historical Sketches and Recollections of Pugilism.” 1 vol. London,
1803.
Footnote 34:
Elisha Crabbe, though a professor of some notoriety, does not take
much rank by this conquest over a boxer of upwards of fifty years of
age. His next fight was with Bob Watson, of Bristol, June 9, 1788 (see
Appendix to Period II., in the memoir of WATSON), wherein he was
beaten, but not disgraced. His last fight was with Tom Tyne (see
TYNE), wherein he was also defeated. Elisha, who was in height 5 feet
8 inches, was a man of great muscular power. For many years he filled
the responsible position of a peace officer at the Mansion House of
the City of London. He resigned this and became a licensed victualler
in Duke’s Place. He was a civil, obliging man, and always an object of
popular attraction among the people of his own persuasion. He died
suddenly on board the Gravesend packet, June 9, 1809, on his return to
London, and was buried with Jewish tokens of respect.
Footnote 35:
The following shows that police interference was occasional, even in
these early times. “May 11, 1773, a boxing match took place at the
Riding School, Three Hats, Islington, between John Pearce and John
White, both shoemakers, for £10 a-side. At the commencement of the
combat White seemed to have somewhat the advantage, but Pearce having
recovered his wind, and given White several severe falls, was on the
point of winning, when the high constable and his attendants mounted
the stage, and put an end to the contest.”—_Daily Advertiser_, May
13th.
Footnote 36:
“Pancratia,” p. 63.
Footnote 37:
Bath’s name appears as BOOTH in “Fistiana,” under HOOD, but his
battles are omitted in their alphabetical place. The most important
were—beat William Allen, 40 min., Barnet, Aug. 20, 1776; beat Joe
Hood, £50, 20 min., Maidenhead, Sept. 8, 1778.
Footnote 38:
Life of Johnson in “Historical Recollections of Boxing, etc.” 8vo.,
1804; copied in “Pancratia,” (1811), pp. 65, 66.
Footnote 39:
As even an opponent of so good a boxer, Love’s name deserves a line or
two. On January 14, 1788, after the fights of Johnson and Ryan and
Mendoza and Humphries had brought back to pugilism the highest
patronage, Bill Love and Denis Ketcher, an Irish boxer, fought for 20
guineas. Love was seconded by W. Savage, and Ketcher by his brother.
“There were not less than 10,000 spectators of this fight, who were
highly surprised and gratified by the dexterity of Ketcher. In size
and strength Love was superior, but in forty-five minutes he was
obliged to yield the laurel to the superior adroitness of his
opponent.” (“Pancratia,” p. 77.) Love’s next appearance was more
successful. On January 22, only eight days after his defeat by
Ketcher, Love fought George Ring (generally misprinted King), the Bath
baker, a well-known pugilist, whose defeat of Edwards, on his first
arrival in London, had made him much talked about. Love beat him
cleverly in thirty-seven minutes, in “the Hay Fields, Bloomsbury.”
Footnote 40:
Called Bill Ward in “Recollections” and in “Pancratia.” His name is
correctly given in “Fistiana.” Warr beat Wood (Captain Robinson’s
coachman) at Navestock, Essex, December 31, 1788; was twice beaten by
Mendoza (see MENDOZA); beat Stanyard, “a pugilist of celebrity from
Birmingham,” for 100 guineas, in ten rounds, thirteen minutes, at
Colnbrook, October 26, 1792.
Footnote 41:
It would be injustice to omit a short sketch of what our Yankee
friends would call so “tall” a boxer as Isaac Perrins. His immense
strength was “yoked with a lamb-like disposition.” In Birmingham,
where he had long followed his occupation as foreman of a large
manufactory, he was respected by his employers, and beloved by the
workmen under him. Perrins was far from an illiterate man. In his
general conversation he was intelligent, cheerful, and communicative,
and possessed of a considerable share of discernment, which, after he
quitted his calling as a coppersmith at Birmingham, and became a
publican at Manchester, was of great service to him in business. His
house was well attended by customers of a superior class. Isaac, too,
had a natural taste for music, and, at one period of his life, was the
leader of a country choir in psalmody. In company, Perrins was
facetious, full of anecdote, and never tardy in giving his song; and
was a strong instance in his own person, among many others which might
be cited, if necessary, that it does not follow as a matter of course
that all pugilists are blackguards! The following anecdote from a work
entitled “The Itinerant,” not only places the good temper and amazing
strength of Perrins in a conspicuous point of view, but exhibits one
of the peculiar traits of an erratic histrionic genius, whose reckless
riot ruined and extinguished his higher gifts. “It happened that
Perrins, the noted pugilist, made one of the company this evening. He
was a remarkably strong man, and possessed of great modesty and good
nature; the last scene took such an effect on his imagination, that he
laughed immoderately. Cooke’s attention was attracted, and turning
towards him with his most bitter look, ‘What do you laugh at, Mr.
Swabson, hey? Why, you great lubber-headed thief, Johnson would have
beat two of you! laugh at me! at George Cooke! come out, you
scoundrel!’ The coat was soon pulled off, and, putting himself in an
attitude, he exclaimed, ‘This is the arm that shall sacrifice you.’
Perrins was of a mild disposition, and, knowing Cooke’s character,
made every allowance, and answered him only by a smile, till
aggravated by language and action the most gross, he very calmly took
him in his arms as though he had been a child, set him down in the
street, and bolted the door. The evening was wet, and our hero without
coat or hat, unprepared to cope with it; but entreaty for admission
was vain, and his application at the window unattended to. At length,
grown desperate, he broke several panes, and, inserting his head
through the fracture, bore down all opposition by the following
witticism: ‘Gentlemen, I have taken some _panes_ to gain admission,
pray let me in, for _I see through my error_.’ The door was opened,
dry clothes procured, and about one o’clock in the morning we sent him
home in a coach.” Despite the second-hand wit, the credit remains with
the pugilist.
In the “Annual Register,” under date of December 10, 1800, we read,
“Died at Manchester, aged 50, Mr. Isaac Perrins, engine-worker. This
pugilistic hero will ever be remembered for the well-contested battle
he fought with the celebrated Johnson, in the month of October, 1789.
Perrins possessed most astonishing muscular power, which rendered him
well calculated for a bruiser, to which was united a disposition the
most placid and amiable. His death was occasioned by too violently
exerting himself in assisting to save life and property at a fire in
Manchester. He was sincerely lamented by all who knew him.” Perrins
needs no further epitaph than this tribute of _one_ who knew him.
Footnote 42:
The account does not say whether blows had been exchanged, but we
presume there had.—ED.
Footnote 43:
Those who witnessed the memorable third fight between Caunt and
Bendigo (at Sutfield Green, Oxfordshire, Sept. 19, 1845), so unfairly
reported at the time, may think they are perusing an account of it. So
does pugilism, like history, under like circumstances, “reproduce
itself.”—ED.
Footnote 44:
This seems to have been such a hit as that with which the Tipton
closed accounts with Tass Parker in their last fight, or Tom King gave
Mace at the conclusion of their second meeting. Those hits, when a man
is “shaky,” are receipts in full.—ED.
Footnote 45:
Jacombs, whose provincial triumphs are unrecorded, was a strong rough,
with an Englishman’s heirdom, unyielding pluck. We find only one other
notice in the journals of the time. “March 10 (1790). A desperate
contest was fought at Stoke Golding, near Coventry, between Jacombs,
the Warwickshire boxer, and Payne, of Coventry. At setting-to Jacombs
was the favourite, but after a most severe conflict of two hours, in
which the combatants contested ninety-five rounds, and during which
both the combatants were several times thrown from the stage, Payne
was declared victorious. The conduct of Payne was cool, but admirably
courageous, whilst that of Jacombs seemed brutally passionate. He
seemed to depend more upon driving and bruising his opponent against
the railings than fair and open fighting with the fists.” We regret to
say that Jacombs has had too many successors in this unmanly art, even
with the less dangerous ropes and stakes of the modern ring.
Footnote 46:
Tom Tring in person, but not in physiognomy, resembled the late burly
and clumsy boxer Ben Caunt. He was, however, a civil, inoffensive, and
mild looking giant. He was the original of several Academicians’
drawings and paintings of Hercules. “He challenged all England”
(_except his friend_ Tom Johnson—a judicious exception), “for one
thousand guineas;” so do the advertising hair-dressers: but when
Pierce asks us to believe that poor Tring’s “qualities as a pugilist
were of a most tremendous nature, and few men appeared who were
capable of resisting his mighty prowess,” and of his being “clad in
the rich _paraphernalia_ (which of the princesses married him?) _of
royalty_,” we begin to ask ourselves whether we are reading the
history of Tom Thumb. To support this magniloquent introduction, we
are told he beat Tom Pratt, “a very formidable man,” in 1787, a guinea
to four shillings, “Pratt ran away, leaving Tom in possession of the
ring.” We find, instead of this, under date of August 19th, 1787, that
“a boxing match was contested on Kennington Common, between Jacob
Doyle, the Irish boxer, and Tom Tring, which the latter won with ease.
Tring is said to be the finest made man in England, and the talents of
several of the first artists have been employed to delineate the
symmetry of his person. As a boxer he possessed little science, but
good courage.” (Quoted in “Pancratia,” p. 72). A terrible “street
fight” with one Norfolk, a bricklayer, is here improvised, to
introduce his thrashing by Big Ben. Poor Tring was another of the
victims of the heartless dandy and unprincipled egotist miscalled “the
first gentleman of Europe,” without a particle of the gentleman in his
whole composition. Tring obtained a precarious living as a model to
Sir Joshua Reynolds, Hooper, Sir William Beechey, and others, and
earned a crust as a street porter. He was a civil inoffensive fellow;
in height six feet two inches, and weighing fifteen stone in prime
condition. He died in the pursuit of his humble calling in the year
1815.
Footnote 47:
“Fighting for darkness,” a few years since, became a sort of
calculated “off-chance,” to save bets among the “down the river”
second-class pugilists of the London ring.—ED.
Footnote 48:
Rather too small for big men.—ED.
Footnote 49:
The distribution of duties of seconds, and a third party in care of
the water, etc., in modern times, is noted elsewhere.—ED.
Footnote 50:
_Daily Advertiser_, January 22, 1790.
Footnote 51:
Mendoza’s last ring battle may be considered as that with John Jackson
in 1795. His return to the ring to fight out a quarrel with Harry Lee,
in 1806, and the foolish exhibition in 1820 with old Tom Owen, are
solecisms, and do not disturb the arrangement by Periods.
Footnote 52:
A contemporary writer, in 1790, says of him: “Mendoza is a pugilist
better initiated in the theory of boxing than perhaps any of his
cotemporaries, and has produced some exceedingly expert pupils. In his
manner there is more neatness than strength, and it has been said,
more show than service; his blows are in general deficient in force,
but given with astonishing quickness, and he is allowed to strike
oftener, and stop more dexterously, than any other man; he is
extremely well formed in the breast and arms, but his loins are very
weak; his wind is good, and he possesses excellent bottom.”
Footnote 53:
This would have lost Mister Packer the battle by the modern rules.—ED.
Footnote 54:
See notice of WARR in Appendix to Period II.
Footnote 55:
1— Thomas Wilson
2— John Horn
3— Harry Davis
4— John Lloyd
5— Thomas Monk
6— John Hind
7— William More
8— John Williams
9— Richard Dennis
10— George Cannon
11— A. Fuller
12— T. Spencer
13— William Taylor
14— John Knight
15— John Braintree
16— William Bryant
17— John Matthews
18— Tom Tyne
19— Ditto
20— George Hoast
21— George Mackenzie
22— John Hall
23— William Cannon
24— George Barry
25— George Smith
26— William Nelson
*27— Martin (the Bath Butcher)
*28— Richard Humphries
*29— Ditto
*30— Ditto
*31— William Warr
*32— Ditto
*33— John Jackson
*34— Harry Lee
*35— Tom Owen.
Such is the list; see “Boxiana” (Vol. iii. p. 489). There is “a
curious felicity” in the selection, as, with the exception of Tom Tyne
(Nos. 18, 19), whose two defeats by Mendoza are unrecorded, and those
with an asterisk, not one name ever figures as fighting anybody else
on any discoverable occasion.
Footnote 56:
Mendoza was at that period fifty-seven years of age, while Owen was
nearly six years younger; an important difference—supposing all other
circumstances equal—at such an advanced (we had almost said absurd)
time of life for a fistic exhibition.
Footnote 57:
Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis.—VIRGIL.
Footnote 58:
Sam Martin, known as the Bath Butcher, fought many good battles in
“the West Countrie.” On his coming to London, however, he was unlucky
in being pitted against such masters of the art as Humphries and Dan
Mendoza. To Sam’s battle with Humphries, the author of “Pancratia” (p.
68), attributes “the revival of pugilism, and its high patronage.” The
result is related in the text.
Martin was next matched against Mendoza. His defeat, April 17, 1787,
will be found in that boxer’s biography. His last battle of importance
was with Bligh, “the Coventry Champion,” a riband weaver of that town.
It came off at Evesham, in Oxfordshire, on the 7th of April, 1791, for
50 guineas a side. George Ring, the Bath Baker, seconded Martin; a
local boxer (Brooks), picked up Bligh. Martin’s two defeats, and
Bligh’s local fame, made the latter the favourite, at six and seven to
four. After a severe contest, Martin was hailed as conqueror.
Footnote 59:
This was an unjustifiable interference on the part of the second.—ED.
Footnote 60:
As a matter incidental to the history of pugilism, we cannot omit a
short notice of Colonel Aston. The story has a spice of romance, and
“points a moral” in favour of the principles we are advocating. We
copy the “News from India” in the _World_ for 1799. “Colonel Aston
being for a short time absent from his regiment, a misunderstanding
occurred between Major Picton[171] and Major Allan with a lieutenant.
Immediately on the return of the colonel, he was made acquainted with
the affair, and wrote his opinion, in a private letter, that the
behaviour of the two majors was somewhat ‘illiberal’ to their
subaltern officer. The letter being shown, Majors P. and A. demanded a
Court of Inquiry, which was refused by the commander-in-chief, as
calculated to destroy ‘that harmony among officers so essential to the
support of discipline in regiments on foreign duty.’ Major Picton now
called upon Colonel Aston to demand an explanation of the term
‘illiberal.’ Colonel Aston ‘did not think himself bound to account for
his conduct in discharge of his duty as Colonel to any inferior
officer; but if Major Picton had anything to reproach him with, as a
private gentleman, he was prepared to give him any satisfaction in his
power.’ This brought it into the domain of a private quarrel (!), and
the next day they met by appointment, accompanied by their seconds.
Major Picton had the first fire: his pistol snapped, which was
declared equal to a fire by the seconds. Colonel Aston immediately
fired in the air, declaring he had no quarrel with the major.” Would
not a rational man think this punctilious foolery was settled; but no!
We continue our quotation. “Notwithstanding the kindly manner in which
this affair had been apparently settled, to the reciprocal
satisfaction of the code of the duello, Major Allan the next day
demanded satisfaction for the private opinion expressed by the colonel
of his conduct. A similar answer was returned, that the colonel denied
his right to call upon him to explain any act of his official duty;
that he was at all times ready to vindicate his private conduct, but
at the same time was unconscious of having offended Major A. The
latter, however, assumed a tone of vehemence and authority, which
rendered the meeting on the part of the colonel unavoidable. Major
Allan fired the first shot—the seconds did not perceive the ball had
taken effect. The colonel, having received the fire, appeared unhurt,
stood erect, and with the greatest composure levelled his pistol with
a steady hand, shewing he had power to fire on his antagonist. He then
leisurely drew it back, and laying it across his breast, said, ‘I am
shot through the body; I believe the wound is mortal, and therefore
decline returning the fire: for it never shall be said that the last
act of my life was dictated by a spirit of revenge.’ He sat down on
the ground, was carried home, where he languished in excessive agony
for several days, and without a murmur expired.
“Colonel Harvey Aston was brother to the pretty Mrs. Hodges, well
known in the sporting world. He married Miss Ingram, the daughter of
Lady Irwin, and sister to the Marchioness of Hertford, Lady William
Gordon, Lady Ramsden, and Mrs. Meynell, whom he left with a young
family to deplore this melancholy accident.” The chivalrous honour,
manly forbearance, and moderation of this staunch patron of pugilism
shines through every phase of this deplorable case of manslaughter. We
call things by their right names.
Footnote 61:
Fewterel is said by Mr. Vincent Dowling, in his obituary notice of
John Jackson, to have been a Scotchman; we think it probable from what
we here give.
The only other contest of Fewterel’s, worth preserving, is his battle
with a Highlander, on the Leith Ground, Edinburgh, March 23, 1793. The
Highlander, whose calling was that of an Edinburgh chairman, was
reputed a phenomenon among his brethren of the Scottish capital.
“Fewterel, when stripped, appeared very corpulent, and by no means in
the condition in which he fought Jackson. The Highlander was by far
the finer and stronger man, and was reported to possess wonderful
readiness and courage. They set-to at about eight o’clock in the
morning, and the first knock-down blow was given by Fewterel, who sent
his antagonist a surprising distance, there being no roped enclosure.
The next round he also brought down the Scot by a severe blow in the
chest. In the next round the Highlander got in a well-hit stroke under
Fewterel’s right eye, which cut him severely. He, however, stood firm,
and kept cool. The next blow Fewterel got in, he again brought him
down, and this so enraged the Highlander, that during the remainder of
the contest he never recovered his temper. This gave Fewterel a
decided advantage, and though he afterwards received many severe
blows, he constantly reduced the strength of his antagonist. At length
he put in a hit under the Highlander’s jaw that laid him senseless on
the grass. Thus terminated the contest, after thirty-five minutes. The
Scot soon, however, recovered, but was unable to walk home. The match
was 50 guineas to 30 guineas. The odds were given to Fewterel, who
generously gave the man he had beaten 10 guineas, the sum he
(Fewterel) was promised if he won the battle.”—“Pancratia,” pp. 111,
112.
Footnote 62:
“The second boxing match was between Elisha Crabbe, the Jew, who beat
Death (see _ante_) and Watson of Bristol; won by the latter. The third
between two outsiders.”
Footnote 63:
That the everyday use and familiar handling of deadly weapons lead to
their reckless use, we may quote a few recent instances from the
history of our descendants in America. The horrible assassination of
the great and good President Abraham Lincoln, and the ferocious use of
a “billy” and a bowie-knife upon the helpless and prostrate Mr.
Secretary Seward, his son, Major Frederick Seward, and an attendant,
are offsprings of a familiarity with daily outrages by lethal weapons,
and the general resort to them to redress injury or resent insult. The
death of the assassin Booth is the culmination.
Footnote 64:
_Eheu fugaces anni_—not only have the men departed, but their local
habitations have vanished. The spacious hotel, once Wallace’s, now the
Alexandra, and palatial mansions, cover the ground extending from Hyde
Park Corner (on the side of St. George’s Hospital), towards St. Paul’s
new Puseyite pinnacles at Knightsbridge. Even “the Corner” itself—the
world-famed “Tattersall’s” has migrated. It will be known only to the
remainder of the present, and the next rising generation, as the
splendid club-room and spacious horse-mart at the junction of the
Brompton and Kensington Roads.
Footnote 65:
About 1790, Lord Barrymore was in the hey-day of his riot and
“larkery” at Brighton, where the Prince of Wales had just finished
that grotesque kiosk known as the Pavilion, once the scene of royal
orgies, now a cockney show-shop of London super mare. The Lord
Barrymore, who was Hooper’s patron, was the head of the family firm
nicknamed Newgate, Hellgate, and Cripplegate, from colloquial,
acquired, or personal peculiarities. On hearing these elegant
sobriquets, the Prince is said to have objected to the omission of the
lady sister of the trio from this nomenclature, and ungallantly
suggested the name of “Billingsgate,” as a fourth of the family.
One anecdote is too characteristic of the actors to be lost. “In one
of his wild freaks, his Lordship, from his lofty phaeton, struck with
his driving whip a Mr. Donadieu, a respectable perfumer of Brighton,
who was driving in his gig, for not getting quickly enough out of his
impetuous Lordship’s way. Mr. Donadieu drove after him, but his
lordship’s terrible high-bred cattle soon distanced him. The next
morning Mr. D., perceiving Lord Barrymore upon the Steyne, in company
with several sporting men, went up to him and remonstrated upon the
ungentlemanly usage he had experienced the previous day. His Lordship
replied insultingly, and struck the perfumer. The tradesman was an
Englishman, and at once returned the blow. A smart rally convinced the
eccentric peer that his credit as a boxer was at stake, for his
resolute opponent drove him before his attack. Lord Barrymore tried to
take an unfair advantage, when the Prince of Wales, who had witnessed
the whole fracas from a window of the Pavilion, called out in a loud
voice, ‘D——e, Barrymore, _fight like a man_!’” In the Hon. Grantley F.
Berkeley’s volumes, “My Life and Recollections” (London, Hurst and
Blackett, 1865), vol. i., pp. 49‒78, is a curious sketch of Brighton
at the close of the 18th century, with anecdotes of Colonel Hanger,
Lord Barrymore, John Jackson, etc., and the ladies whom the heir
apparent delighted to honour. The specimen of the Prince’s style, in
the anecdote of the Royal Harriers, pp. 70, 71, will show that the
“first gentleman of Europe” was _facile princeps_ in the then
fashionable accomplishment of swearing. Grantley Berkeley makes a slip
in the closing lines of his notice of Lord Barrymore, which it may be
worth while to correct. He says: “A rapid career of reckless
extravagance was brought to a sudden close whilst marching with a
detachment towards Dover: _the musket of one of his men went off,
eventually causing his_ (Lord Barrymore’s) _death_.” We must acquit
the Berkshire militia of this charge of clumsy or intentional
homicide. We extract from the memoir of a contemporary: “Lord
Barrymore was a lieutenant of the Berkshire militia stationed at Rye,
and was marching a party of French prisoners to Deal. They marched
through Folkestone to the top of the succeeding hill, and halted at a
small public-house to refresh his men and the prisoners. Admiral
Macbride and General Smith met his lordship there; he was in high
spirits, and accepted an invitation to dine with them at Deal. Lord
Barrymore had marched at the head of his party from Rye; he now
ordered his _valet-de-chambre_, who drove his curricle in the rear, to
procure him a pipe of tobacco, saying, ‘I’ll ride and smoke while you
drive.’ He was in high glee, counted up the score with chalk on a
slate, _à la_ Boniface; imitated Hob, from ‘Hob in the Well,’ a farce
he was very partial to; treated all about him; gave the landlady a
kiss, and leaped into the curricle. He gave the fusil to his servant,
who placed it carelessly between his legs and drove off. They had
scarcely proceeded fifty yards when the piece went off. The contents
entered his lordship’s right cheek, forced out the eye, and lodged in
the brain: he was pointing to the coast of France at the moment. He
lived forty minutes, groaning heavily, but never spoke again. The
fusil was loaded with swan shot; he had been killing gulls and rabbits
on his way from Rye to Folkestone. An inquest was held on the 8th of
March, the verdict ‘Accidental Death.’ He was interred on Sunday,
March 17, 1793, in the chancel of the church at Wargrave.”
Footnote 66:
In “Fistiana,” Wright is, by a slip, called “Lord Barrymore’s man.”
Cotterel’s fight is also omitted under HOOPER.
Footnote 67:
This battle does not appear under Hooper’s name in “Fistiana.”
Footnote 68:
There not being time for the second contest between Stanyard, of
Birmingham, and Andrew Gamble, the Irish champion, it was postponed to
the next day. See GAMBLE, in Appendix to Period II.
Footnote 69:
Maddox will find his place under CRIBB’S period. His first fight was
in 1792, his last with Bill Richmond in 1809.
Footnote 70:
See Wood’s memoir, Appendix to Period II., _post_.
Footnote 71:
“Fistiana” misprints it _sixteen_ minutes.
Footnote 72:
A memoir of this well-known boniface, whose memory yet lives with old
ring-goers, (he died at his house at Plumstead, Kent, in 1843), will
be found in its chronological order.
Footnote 73:
“The Historian” inflicts a second thrashing by his hero and pal “Ould
Tom Owen” on poor Hooper, ten weeks afterwards, at the same place,
under similar circumstances. We suspect “Ould Tom,” as Pierce Egan
calls him, who had a lively imagination, to say the least, must have
narrated a dream to his “philosopher and friend.”
Footnote 74:
These exceptional events are out of ring chronology, properly
speaking. Owen and his opponent, old Dan Mendoza, belonged, as
pugilists, to a previous generation.
Footnote 75:
There was a boxer at this period, Bill Jones, who fought Dunn, Tom
Tyne, and Bob Watson, who has been confounded with Paddington Jones.
Footnote 76:
See Life of JEM BELCHER in Period III.
Footnote 77:
“Boxiana” and “Fistiana” date this fight in June. January is the
correct date; see “Pancratia,” p. 123, and the _Daily Advertiser_ of
the date.
Footnote 78:
“Boxiana” confounds him with Tom (Paddington) Jones.
Footnote 79:
Though Anderson was not, or pretended not to be, good enough for
Watson, Lord Barrymore, who saw the fight, matched him for 50 guineas
against Tom Tight, an Oxford bargee. They fought on Wargner Green,
Berks, January 4, 1790, when Anderson knocked the bargeman almost out
of time in the third round, six minutes only having elapsed.
Footnote 80:
See Life of GULLY, _post_.
Footnote 81:
Cullington was a sporting publican, landlord of the Black Bull, in
Tottenham Court Road, a personal friend and backer of Jem Belcher,
then called “The Bristol Youth.”
Footnote 82:
Pierce Egan says, “a man of the name of Bourke, a butcher.” Much
confusion has been occasioned by the absurd penchant of “the
historian” (as Pierce was wont to style himself) to Hibernicise and
appropriate to Ireland the names and deeds of fistic heroes. Teste his
twist of “the Streatham Youth” into O’Neale, his ludicrous
magniloquence in the case of several Irish roughs in “Boxiana,” on
whom he has expended his slang panegyric (see CORCORAN, GAMBLE,
HATTON, O’DONNELL, etc.), and his thousand and one claims of “Irish
descent” for most of his heroes. Joe Berks (spelt Bourke or Burke in
“Boxiana” and “Fistiana”) was a native of Wem, in Shropshire. He was a
powerful heavy made man, a little short of six feet high, and weighing
fourteen stone. His career was unfortunate, from being pitted against
such phenomena of skill as Jem Belcher and Henry Pearce, for his game
and strength were unimpeachable. From “Pancratia,” p. 126, under date
of September, 18, 1797, we learn that Joe Berks was a cooper, and that
at that date he fought one Christian, a shoemaker, and much fancied as
a boxer by the sons of Crispin, a severe battle in Hyde Park. The
contest lasted fifty-five minutes, during which there were twenty-two
rounds of hard boxing. Berks, despite a wrangle for a “foul,” was
declared the conqueror. Berks’ subsequent pugilistic career will be
read in the memoirs of his conqueror. His successive defeats by
Belcher, Pearce, and Deplige, and his violent temper, lost his
patrons, and he sunk into poverty. A dishonest act, under the
influence, as it was urged in his defence, of liquor, led to his
imprisonment. Here one firm friend of the unfortunate stepped forward,
John Jackson, who, by petition, procured his liberation. Berks
enlisted, and when his kind benefactor last heard of him he held the
position of non-commissioned officer in the Grenadier company of a
regiment serving under the Duke of Wellington (Sir Arthur Wellesley)
in Spain.
Footnote 83:
Alluding to the treaty of Amiens with Napoleon I., the preliminaries
of which were signed October 1, 1801.
Footnote 84:
The old city house of detention and correction was so called; its
successor, the “Giltspur Street Compter,” is now also demolished, and
its prisoners sent to Holloway.
Footnote 85:
These are the exact words of the original report.
Footnote 86:
Another of the _hors d’œuvres_ of a casual turn-up. Tom’s last battle,
properly speaking, was in 1813, with Dogherty, see _post_, p. 160.
Footnote 87:
A silly exaggeration of the “Aquila non gignunt columbæ.” We know
eagles don’t beget doves, or the reverse; but though a healthy or
unhealthy constitution may be transmitted, neither poets,
philosophers, preachers, or pugilists, are begotten hereditarily.
Footnote 88:
“Son of the _renowned_ Michael Ryan,” says Pierce Egan, who devotes to
him a biography. Michael’s “renown” consisted in being twice beaten by
Tom Johnson, which was no disgrace, and then by Mike Brady, an Irish
rough, in twenty minutes, which was. Bill, who was a drunken Irish
braggadocio, after winning his first fight with Belcher, wrangled a
battle with Caleb Baldwin (see BALDWIN), and beat Clarke, June 17,
1806.
Footnote 89:
See Appendix to Period IV.
Footnote 90:
Pearce was in his twenty-sixth year, and the senior of Belcher by
nearly five years; but his constitution was undebauched, and his fame
matured. Belcher began his fighting career at seventeen years with
Britton, two or three years too early.
Footnote 91:
Isaac Bittoon had beaten Tom Jones, and made a draw with George
Maddox, and at this time was in good repute as a boxer. See APPENDIX.
Footnote 92:
It may be as well here to note that wherever practicable, the best
contemporary report has been used of these earlier fights, which will
account for discrepancies between some of them and the embellished
accounts in “Boxiana.”
Footnote 93:
He was born August 21, 1783, at Bristol.
Footnote 94:
A bit of slang for the King’s Bench Prison, afterwards called Abbott’s
Priory, Tenterden Park, Denman’s Priory, etc., from successive C. J.’s
of the K. B. It is now abolished, and its site a barrack.
Footnote 95:
This would now lose the fight.—ED.
Footnote 96:
Gin. The name of a celebrated distiller (Sir John Liptrap) at
Whitechapel. As “Hodges” is now sometimes used for the same spirituous
“blue ruin.”
Footnote 97:
Successively in the occupation of Ned Baldwin, Young Dutch Sam, Johnny
Hannan, and the late Ben Caunt.
Footnote 98:
This is the contemporary report. That in “Boxiana,” and copied into
“Fights for the Championship,” is a re-written version.
Footnote 99:
From the contemporary report. A perusal of merely the first round in
“Boxiana,” or its copyists, will show the unfaithfulness of the
_vamped_ reproduction in these cases.
Footnote 100:
_Bell’s Weekly Dispatch_, May 14, 1808.
Footnote 101:
See CROPLEY, Appendix to Period III.
Footnote 102:
There is some obscurity about this, as to whether the fight with Tom
Jones, July 13, 1801, is attributable to Dutch Sam, or to Isaac
Bittoon. (See BITTOON.) “Boxiana,” “Fistiana,” etc., give it to
Bittoon, we suspect erroneously; for we find in a contemporary
newspaper the following:—“Monday, July 13, 1801.—A boxing match was
fought on Wimbledon Common, between Elias, a Jew, and Tom Jones. In
the first twenty minutes Tom evidently had the advantage, and during
this time great sport was afforded to the amateurs by the science
displayed. Elias, however, put in a hit so forcibly behind Tom’s ear,
that Tom immediately fell, and gave up the contest.” And see
“Pancratia,” p. 136, where the battle is given in chronological order
under this date.
Footnote 103:
See BALDWIN (Caleb), Appendix to Period III.
Footnote 104:
This is the first distinct notice we find of administering the
“upper-cut;” the most effective blow in a rally, most difficult to
guard against, yet so generally missed by the less-skilled boxer.
The “chopper,” or downward blow, of which our forefathers talked,
can only be administered to an incapable off his guard, or a
“chopping-block.”—ED.
Footnote 105:
“Pancratia,” p. 237.
Footnote 106:
“Boxiana” (vol. i., p. 323), and the Chronologies, say at “Moulsey
Hurst.” This is from the contemporary account.
Footnote 107:
As in the interval between these two battles, Mr. Fletcher Reid, a
great patron and backer of the Belchers, paid the “debt of nature,”
this seems the right place for a brief obituary notice which we find
in the journals:—“On Thursday morning, January the 24th (1807), died,
at Shepperton, Surrey, where he had resided for the last two years,
Mr. Fletcher Reid, well-known in the sporting world, particularly as
one of the greatest patrons of gymnastic genius. The evening preceding
he had spent jovially amongst some select companions, and retired to
rest at rather a late hour. In the morning his servant found him dead.
Mr. Fletcher Reid was a native of Dundee, in Scotland, near to which
he had succeeded to estates, by the death of his mother, which
afflicting intelligence he had received only two days previous to his
decease. He left a wife and two children, who for some time past had
resided with his mother.” The following lines, rather questionable in
taste, appeared in a monthly publication some time afterwards:—
“In the still of the night, Death to Shepperton went,
And there catching poor Fletcher asleep,
He into his wind such a finisher sent,
That no longer ‘the time’ could he keep.
“Thus forced to give in, we his fate must lament,
While the coward, grim Death, we must blame,
For if in the morn he to Shepperton went,
He feared Fletcher’s true science and game.
“Then repose to his ashes, soft rest to his soul,
For harmless was he through life’s span,
With the friend of his bosom, enjoying the bowl,
And wishing no evil to man.”
“_February, 1807._”
Footnote 108:
“Recollections of an Octogenarian,” 8vo., London, 1812.
Footnote 109:
Pierce Egan says, “Seabrook was so completely frightened out of all
his conceit, that he _almost bolted_ from the spot.” What that may
mean we cannot explain.
Footnote 110:
Coady’s other exploit was being beaten by Bill Treadway, in
twenty-seven minutes March 16, 1798, in Hyde Park.
Footnote 111:
This is what modern reporters would call “forcing the fighting.”
Footnote 112:
This decision is utterly at variance with the rules of the ring. The
cool _non-sequitur_ of the reporter that, as Coady _refused_ to
appear, the battle was declared a drawn one, is not the least amusing
incident. Mr. Vincent Dowling has booked it as a victory to Maddox,
which it undoubtedly was. See “Fistiana,” _voce_, MADDOX.
Footnote 113:
The memoir of Caleb Baldwin in “Boxiana,” vol. i., pp. 301‒314, omits
all mention of this fight.
Footnote 114:
Copied in “Pancratia,” p. 136, from the _Oracle_ newspaper. This
battle is also overlooked by “the historian,” in his life of Caleb.
Footnote 115:
Jack Lee was then thought a rising pugilist; his previous battle was a
draw with Solly Sodicky, a Jew. He must not be confounded with Harry
Lee, who was beaten by Mendoza.
Footnote 116:
In the travels of Pallas in Tartary, he describes himself, after a
weary sledge journey through snowy steppes, as coming in sight of the
corpse of a malefactor swinging on a gaunt black gibbet as a warning
to “land pirates.” He congratulates himself on this mark of having
arrived on the “confines of civilization.”
Footnote 117:
Blows in the short ribs are so called by the older ring reporters.—ED.
Footnote 118:
Stephenson had been beaten by Jack Carter. (See CARTER, Period IV.)
Robinson was an old stager, fourteen stone weight; his fights, not
worth detailing, are chronicled in “Fistiana.”
Footnote 119:
Massa Bristow seems here to have fought his best fight; despite the
tuition of Richmond and his Fives Court practice, he merely beat an
unknown (Little Tom) for 20 guineas in a clumsy fight at Holloway,
July 19, 1817, and was then thrashed by a fourth-rate pugilist, Pug
M’Gee, at Shepperton Range, September 30, 1817, in sixty-five minutes,
40 rounds.
Footnote 120:
This proved to be the afterwards renowned Jack Randall.
Footnote 121:
Ben Stanyard, who is stated to have been the victor in seventeen
battles in the midland and western counties, does not figure in the
chronologies; this draw and his defeat by Bill Warr (see WARR),
October 26, 1792, are all that appear to his name.
Footnote 122:
Noah James, a discharged trooper, appears to have been a bruiser of
Gamble’s own stamp. He is stated in “Fistiana” to have beaten Smith at
Navestock, December 31, 1788, and Solly Sodicky, the Jew (a cross), at
Hornchurch, Essex, February 13, 1793; but these battles were fought by
one James, a waterman. See “Pancratia,” pp. 82 and 111. There was also
a Joe James, beaten by Faulkner, the cricketer. (See FAULKNER,
_ante_.)
Footnote 123:
In “Fistiana,” under O’Donnell, Harry Holt is stated to have defeated
him in 1817. It was another boxer of the same name, said to be a
relative of the subject of our sketch.
Footnote 124:
The account in “Boxiana” deserves transferring, as a model of accuracy
and diction:—
“_O’Donnell_, the celebrated Irish hero, fought TOM BELCHER for a
subscription purse of 20 guineas, at Shepperton Common, Surrey.
Considerable _science_ was displayed by BELCHER upon this occasion;
and _O’Donnell_ showed himself also entitled to respectable attention;
but who was completely _satisfied_ in fifteen rounds, when BELCHER was
proclaimed the conqueror.”
Footnote 125:
The paragraph runs thus in the papers of the day:—“July 13 (1801). A
boxing match was fought on Wimbledon Common, between Elias, a Jew, and
Tom Jones. For the first twenty minutes Tom evidently had the
advantage, and during this time great sport had been afforded by the
excellent science displayed on both sides. Elias, however, put in a
hit so forcibly behind Tom’s ear, that he immediately fell and gave up
the contest.” And see “Pancratia,” p. 144., where the paragraph is
reprinted. The Elias was, doubtless, Dutch Sam.
Footnote 126:
Bittoon’s name is spelt with a P (Pittoon) in the contemporary
reports.
Footnote 127:
See TOM TOUGH (Blake), in this Appendix.
Footnote 128:
The battle would have been over, and Bittoon the victor, with a modern
referee.—ED.
Footnote 129:
The site of the present Harley Street, Oxford Street. The report
states the spot differently. “On Tuesday morning, February the 18th
[1794], a battle was fought between Jack Holmes, the hackney coachman,
and a manufacturer of _à-la-mode_ beef, in a field behind Gower
Street, Bedford Square. After four or five tolerably good rounds, the
contest was put an end to by the cry of a foul blow. The seconds chose
an umpire, Captain Hamilton, who, greatly to the disappointment of the
kiddies who lacked more fun, decided it in favour of the beef-eater.
This very much discomfited the son of Jehu, who certainly had held the
whip-hand over his antagonist the whole time, and he voluntarily
offered to renew the battle for another guinea, but his opponent
declined.”
Footnote 130:
As “Boxiana” is scarce and out of print, a specimen of the inflated
bombast of its author may be amusing. The memoir of Gregson (who
occupies six lines in the Chronologies), _all his recorded fights
having been defeats_, is thus headed and introduced, with a profusion
of capital letters:—
“BOB GREGSON, P.P.,
_One of the most distinguished Champions of Lancashire_,
and
POET LAUREATE
TO THE HEROIC RACE OF PUGILISTS.
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dare do more, is none.
“In recording the most prominent traits of the celebrated pugilists,
from the earliest professors of the gymnastic art down to the present
milling æra, when passing in review, ‘Boxiana’ has found none more
entitled to peculiar attention than the hero of the present sketch.”
Said sketch then starts off from Fig, glances at Broughton, George
Taylor, Slack, the ‘prodigies of valour performed by Corcoran as a
bruiser;’ and refers to Humphries, Mendoza, Bill Warr, Hooper,
Jackson, Pearce, the Belchers, and Berks. Gully, Cribb, and Molineaux
too are dragged in as foils to Bob Gregson! The proëmium thus
concludes:—“But, notwithstanding the above variety of qualifications,
it has been reserved for Bob Gregson alone, from his union of pugilism
and poetry, to recount the deeds of his brethren of the fist in heroic
verse (like the bards of old, in sounding the praises of their warlike
champions), whose pretensions to the former are beyond all dispute,
and respecting the latter, one of the most distinguished works of
sporting celebrity has given place to the poetic effusions of his
muse.”
Footnote 131:
To many who have not the opportunity of perusing the writings of “the
author of Boxiana,” as he was wont to call himself, this criticism may
appear unduly harsh: this imputation we should be sorry to lie under.
While writing these pages, two well filled volumes have been published
by the Hon. Grantley Berkeley, entitled “My Life and Recollections,”
embracing reminiscences of the first half of the present century, and
of persons and events in society. The writer is happy to have so
thoroughly competent a confirmation of his condemnation. He may
premise also, that the very argot of which Pierce Egan proclaimed
himself a professor was not radically English, but the low slang of
Irish ruffianism. Mr. Grantley Berkeley says (vol. i., pp. 107,
108):—“The extravagances and absurdities of ‘Tom and Jerry’ were
brought into vogue by a low-caste Irishman, known as Pierce Egan,
sometimes a newspaper reporter [only in his later day] of fights,
etc., and sometimes a low comedian in third-rate Dublin and London
theatres. [He was a compositor in Smeeton’s printing office in St.
Martin’s Lane.] His ‘Life in London’ was very popular, and he
dramatised it at the Adelphi [this was done by Billy Moncrieff] with
marked success. He brought out a similar play in the Irish capital,
called ‘Life in Dublin,’ and a third in the flourishing commercial
port on the Mersey, called ‘Life in Liverpool.’ His ‘Boxiana’ was
considered as a text-book on fights and fighting men; and his
elaborate and exaggerated descriptions of ‘a mill,’ as prize-fights
were designated, were stuffed full of slang, the delight of a large
circle of male readers. He assisted in starting a sporting newspaper,
the still flourishing _Bell’s Life in London_ [this is totally wrong],
and subsequently an opposition one, with a similar title. It failed,
and he long outlived his reputation as an author, for he was totally
destitute of literary invention: the characters in his stories were
thoroughly conventional, and his style never rose above that of an
ordinary penny-a-liner. He was a coarse-looking man, who seemed only
to have associated with the very lowest society in England and
Ireland. Indeed, he used to make boast of his familiarity with the
riff-raff of both capitals. The intense vulgarity of his writings grew
distasteful; and though he produced several works of imagination, all
have sunk into oblivion. Indeed they predeceased their author a good
many years. He died totally forgotten by his once innumerable patrons,
and the literature of the ring died with him.” The last phrase rounds
a period; but a second thought would have told Mr. Berkeley that the
really good ring reports which, from about 1824 to a late period, at
intervals filled the columns of the _Morning Chronicle_, _Bell’s Life
in London_, _the Weekly Dispatch_, and other papers, were none of them
from the coarse and illiterate pen of “the historian,” but from those
of George Kent, Mr. G. Daniels; and principally from those of Mr.
Smith, Mr. V. G. Dowling, the writer of this work, and other qualified
reporters. Whether the ring itself is dead is another question, which
we may now answer in the affirmative with Mr. Grantley Berkeley.
Footnote 132:
In Tom Moore’s satirical squib, entitled “Tom Cribb’s Memorial to
Congress” (p. 38), he thus ironically glances at Gregson’s pugilistic
laureateship:—
“A pause ensued—till cries of ‘Gregson’
Brought Bob, the poet, on his legs soon—
(My eyes, how prettily Bob writes!
Talk of your Camels, Hogs, and Crabs,
And twenty more such Pidcock frights—
Bob’s worth a hundred of these dabs:
For a short turn-up at a sonnet,
A round of odes, or pastoral bout,
All Lombard Street to nine-pence on it,
Bobby’s the boy would clean them out!)”
Footnote 133:
The accounts in “Boxiana” and “Fights for the Championship,” are
verbal reprints of each other. The above is the contemporary report.
Footnote 134:
This would by the modern rules be illegal.
Footnote 135:
The unreported rounds in this and other places, are supplied in
“Boxiana” and its copyists; as well as a great quantity of vamping up,
the details of which Pierce Egan must have imagined.
Footnote 136:
See Life of “MOLINEAUX, _post_, Chapter II.”
Footnote 137:
These, as in several other instances, are _resumés_ of the principal
reports of writers who witnessed the fight itself. Where worth
preservation we have preferred the _ipsissimis verbis_ of the
reporter.
Footnote 138:
Shakespere tells us “losers have leave to rail.” Among other things
Molineaux declared he was “sold.” A weekly print had the following
“impromptu,” of course “_fait à loisir_”:—
AN IMPROMPTU,
_On its being said, in allusion to the late battle, that Molineaux had
been “sold.”_
The Black, to say at least, is bold,
That in the battle he was sold:
If so—by _Auction_—for ’tis known,
When he was sold, Cribb _knocked him down_!
Footnote 139:
See note A., Appendix to Period IV. Captain BARCLAY, Allardyce of Ury.
Footnote 140:
In “Boxiana,” this house is elegantly metamorphosed into “The Prad and
Swimmer,” the original name not being thought sufficiently
incongruous.
Footnote 141:
“_On the Champion’s quitting his trade of coal-merchant for that of
victualler, at the sign of the King’s Arms._
“Black Diamonds adieu! Tom’s now took to the bar,
The fancy to serve with new charms—
For a ‘chop’ or a glass, to mill or to spar,
They’ll be at home to a peg at the Arms!
The lovers of truth, without crime, may here fib,
On the pleasures of sporting can sing;
Then ye swells give a turn to gallant TOM CRIBB,
That he may ne’er quit the ‘Arms of his King.’”
Footnote 142:
This speech was thus poetically paraphrased in a weekly journal, from
which we quote a few of the lines:—
“THE CHAMPION’S RETIREMENT.
“‘Every puny whipster gets my sword.’—SHAKSPEARE.
“No so with our champion of Britain’s proud throng,
He still rears his crest for the fight or the song;
‘Bout friendship or fighting he can’t make a speech,
O’ the latter he’d much rather practise than preach.
A lapse of ten years or more soon roll’d away,
Since Afric’s brave bully proclaim’d it Tom’s day;
He then, like a game cock, retired with his pickings,
In peace to provide for his old hen and chickens;
When, lo! a cock crow’d on his walk in the west,
Supposing ‘Old Tom’ of Old Tom had the best;
But Tom left his ‘Hodges,’ gout, crutches, behind,
Reducing his belly, increasing his wind:—
The fight was proclaim’d, and some money put down,
To see who’d best claim to their country’s renown.
Cribb came to the scratch, like a hero, to meet
His man, but he back’d out;—now wasn’t that NEAT?
“AN OLD MILLER.”
Footnote 143:
This has since been done, as is shown in our engraving.
Footnote 144:
This fight is omitted from “Fistiana,” and the name of Burrows given
as Molineaux’s first opponent.
Footnote 145:
Pierce Egan makes it “Sturton” Island in this and other places.
Footnote 146:
This is the newspaper report. Pierce Egan, in his diffuse life of
Richmond, passes it over entirely, until he comes to Richmond’s
victory (in August, 1809) over Maddox, when he alludes to it as
“turn-up five years previously.”
Footnote 147:
Jack Holmes was for many years a well known public character. In
“Fistiana” he is described as beaten by Tom (Paddington) Jones in
1786. This was another Holmes, not “the Coachman.” The latter’s only
recorded battles are, that with Tom Tough (Blake), and that with
Richmond reported above.
Footnote 148:
“Boxiana” says, in an undated and unplaced line and a half, “Richmond
now entered into an unequal contest with Tom Cribb.”
Footnote 149:
This is a blunder in “Boxiana” (if ever the battle did take place),
for 1808, and is so corrected in “Fistiana.”
Footnote 150:
See Tom Moore’s Poem, “Tom Cribb’s Memorial to Congress.”
Footnote 151:
“The Fancy,” a selection from the Poetical Remains of the late Peter
Corcoran, of Gray’s Inn, Student at Law.—Pseudonymous.
Footnote 152:
The term “navvy” or “navigator,” now applied to the labourers who do
the earthworks, embankments, and excavations of our railways, seems
anomalous; it, however, was derived from the fact that the early
canals, which these men dug, were called “navigations,” not only in
common speech, but in legal documents and Acts or Parliament. Those
who worked on the “navigation” were called “navigators.” The name has
remained, though a viaduct has taken the place of an aqueduct.
Footnote 153:
This is Pierce Egan’s report. Shelton was 5 feet 10 inches; Burn (who
is always by him called Burns) 6 feet 1 inch. Johnson was a trifle
under 5 feet 9 inches, Perrins 6 feet inches in his stocking feet.
See _ante_, p. 61.
Footnote 154:
He was a backer of pugilists, and kept the Goat, in Lower Grosvenor
Street.
Footnote 155:
This term perhaps may not be generally understood. To “hocus” a man is
to put something into his drink of a narcotic quality, that renders
him unfit for action. On the morning alluded to, Randall, in company
with some “friends,” partook of a bottle of red wine mulled, into
which, he asserted, the sleepy potion must have been introduced by
some scoundrel of the company.
Footnote 156:
He vanquished the great black, Molineaux, and a wonderful old man,
Richmond, who was a fighter at the age of nearly 60.
Footnote 157:
See “Boxiana,” vol. ii., 135.
Footnote 158:
This may serve to settle a disputed point as to the colour of “the
Belcher,” which has been wrongly said, in a reply to a correspondent
in a leading sporting journal, to have been “a blue bird’s-eye.”
Principal and seconds were here Bristol men.
Footnote 159:
Death’s Doings.
Footnote 160:
Another of the too-late battles. Martin closed his real ring career,
in 1824, by a drawn battle with Jem Burn.
Footnote 161:
Mr. John Jackson.
Footnote 162:
Now the Victoria, in the Waterloo Road.
Footnote 163:
Poet Laureate to the Fancy.—ED.
Footnote 164:
See Note A, p. 258.
Footnote 165:
Egan says, “Pentikin, a Scotch baker.” Certainly Scotchmen have almost
a monopoly of London baking, but the reporter of the day makes
Pentikin a Cornish man.
“By Pol, Tre, and Pen,
Ye shall know the Cornish men.”
Footnote 166:
This is set down in “Fistiana” as a victory to Nosworthy.
Footnote 167:
Since the above lines were penned, Alfred Henry Holt, after several
years’ service on the _Morning Advertiser_, _Bell’s Life in London_,
and latterly on the _Sportsman_, has fallen in the struggle of an
exciting and laborious profession, at the early age of thirty-nine
years. He died of heart disease somewhat suddenly on the 20th of
November, 1865, and lies buried in Nunhead Cemetery, leaving a widow
and a son (Henry), who follows the profession of his father and
grandfather, and now holds the trustworthy position of Secretary and
Scorer to the International Gun Clubs of Brighton, London, and
Mentone, or Nice.
Footnote 168:
Tom Reynolds, born at Middleton, county Armagh, Ireland, 1792, was
brought up in Covent Garden Market, where, in after years, he was a
potato merchant. “Boxiana,” vol. ii., pp. 429-441; vol. iii., pp.
458-462, gives the usual number of victories to the youthful “Tight
Irish Boy,” over “big” unknown men, and a turn-up in the Fleet Prison
with George Head, (in which Reynolds was defeated in nine minutes,
says “Fistiana,” while Pierce Egan says he was victorious). Tom’s
greatest exploit, however, was his conquest of Aby Belasco in one hour
and twenty minutes, at Moulsey, July 23, 1817. It was a game battle on
both sides. His next battle was with Church, in September of the same
year, at the same place, which he also won in half an hour. His
subsequent affairs were a draw with Johnson (the broom-dasher), at
Canterbury, November 11, 1817; beat J. Dunn, fifty-four minutes,
twelve rounds, Kildare, July 4, 1820; beat Simmonds, seven rounds,
Macclesfield, August 21, 1820; fought a draw with Dick Davis, £200
a-side, Manchester, July 18, 1825. Reynolds died in Dublin, May 15,
1832, in his forty-first year.
Footnote 169:
Mr. John Jackson.
Footnote 170:
Dick Curtis, his brother.
Footnote 171:
Afterwards the renowned cavalry officer under the Iron Duke in the
Peninsula, and slain at Waterloo.—ED.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. P. vi, changed “un grande punizone del naso” to “un grande punzone
del naso”.
2. P. viii, changed “ourselves the Homeric description” to “ourselves
to the Homeric description.”
3. P. xiii, changed “Bronzi dei Museo Kircheriano” to “Bronzi del Museo
Kircheriano”.
4. P. 66, changed “convinced the spectators of quality” to “convinced
the spectators of his quality”.
5. P. 90, changed “ars puginandi” to “ars pugnandi”.
6. P. 101, inserted missing anchor for the first footnote on that page.
7. P. 155, changed “A chip of the old block.” to “A chip off the old
block”.
8. P. 170, changed “désagrémen” to “désagrément”.
9. P. 186, changed “posse commitatus” to “posse comitatus”.
10. P. 501, added missing “A.” subheading.
11. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.
12. Retained anachronistic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as
printed.
13. Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers and collected together
at the end of the last chapter.
14. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
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