HARRY BROOME (CHAMPION).
1843-1856.
Harry Broome, a younger brother of the renowned Johnny, was born in
the “hardware town,” which has given so many of its best pugilists to
the modern Ring, that Birmingham early rivalled, and afterwards
eclipsed, the fame of Bristol as the birthplace of boxers. The subject
of this memoir, who first saw the light in 1826, was a mere boy at the
time when his elder brother had fought his way to “the topmost round
of fortune’s ladder”――Broome’s ultimate victory, that over Bungaree,
the Australian, being achieved in April, 1842, when Harry had not yet
counted sixteen summers. At that time Johnny had already married, and
settled as host of a well-accustomed tavern――to wit, “The Rising Sun,”
in Air Street, Piccadilly, where his shrewdness, activity, and
enterprise had transformed the short avenue from Piccadilly to Regent
Street into a “high change” of sporting; a very Rialto of the Ring,
where patrons and practitioners of the Noble Art “most did
congregate.” The sparring saloon at “The Rising Sun,” at this period,
was the arena for the display of the best fistic talent of the
Metropolis; and here, at the age of sixteen, we first saw the aspiring
youngster――a lithe, smooth-skinned, active stripling, very boyish in
look, standing 5 feet 8 inches, and weighing 9 st. 7 lbs.――put on the
mittens, and make a most creditable “private trial” with the
well-known Byng Stocks, of Westminster. Stocks, despite his 11 stone
and experience, by no means had the best of the mimic mill, though
once or twice urged by the delighted “Johnny” “Not to spare the young
’un because he was his brother.” This promising _début_ was followed
by several favourable public displays; and within a few months not a
few of the best judges were of opinion that, barring all question of
breed and blood, a new and formidable aspirant for the middle-weight
Championship would be found in Young Broome, when a year or two should
have hardened the gristle into bone, and manhood had consolidated the
muscle and set the frame of the future gladiator. And so some months
rolled on; a glove-fight, in which Harry disposed of Mitchell, a
10-stone outsider, for a £5 note, being a mere _coup d’essai_, got up
by a few aristocratic visitors of “The Rising Sun,” of which Harry was
the rising star.
[Illustration: HARRY BROOME (CHAMPION).
_From a Print by_ MOORE.]
As we have already said, Johnny Broome at this time filled a large
space in the eye of the sporting world, and young Harry, emulous of
the fistic fame of his elder brother, with a strong family instinct
for fighting, was most importunate with Johnny to let him try his
“prentice han’” in combat with some suitable antagonist. Johnny,
however, did not choose to lower the dignity of the name of Broome by
allowing Harry to strip for “a purse” with any novice; nor would he
hear of a match with any “commoner” or “outsider,” for a five, ten, or
twenty-five pound stake. He would back Harry for £50, or not at all.
At this time there was a strong jealousy, not to say envy, of the
position earned by Johnny in Ring affairs, and more than once did we
hear a wish expressed by East-enders and others, that “somebody” would
“take the shine out of these upstart Brums.” Accordingly, when it was
made known, in September, 1843, that “Young Harry” was ready for a
“customer” for £50, they put on their considering caps, and Fred Mason
(the Bulldog), standing idle in the market-place, was asked what he
thought of the young “ten-stunner?”
Mason, who had, among others, twice beaten Bill Jones, after desperate
battles, in which he earned his formidable nickname, received a sort
of certificate from Johnny Walker (by whom he had been beaten) that he
was just the man to achieve the desired object, if he could raise the
half-hundred. At a council held at “The Grapes,” in Aylesbury Street,
Clerkenwell, it was decided that the “needful” should be posted, and
the cartel accepted. The articles proposed Tuesday, the 10th of
October 1843, but subsequently Broome objected to this, as on that day
the Cesarewitch would be run, at Newmarket, and several of Harry’s
best friends, who were anxious to see his “first appearance,” would be
unable to be present. It was accordingly postponed to Wednesday, the
11th. By mutual agreement “The Nymph” steamer was engaged by the two
Johnnies (Broome and Walker) for the mutual advantage of the men, and
to disburse their training and other expenses. All went smoothly. “The
Nymph,” at the appointed hour of eight, got under weigh from
Hungerford Market, with a goodly freight of West-enders; then she took
in a large company at Old Swan Stairs, London Bridge, while the “Sages
of the East” came on board at Brunswick Pier, Blackwall, in increased
numbers. Thence she steamed down stream with pleasant speed (with the
unwelcome convoy of a trio of crowded tugs), until she came to Long
Reach, where, between Dartford and Northfleet, in a meadow distant
from all human habitation, it was determined to land. This operation
was performed amidst an aqueous downpour, which drenched all the
row-boats and their occupants, except those who were clad in
waterproof garments. The Commissary lost no time in forming the lists,
immediately within the sea wall, upon an excellent piece of turf, and,
despite the rattling shower, which increased rather than diminished,
accomplished his task in a workmanlike manner. The stools and benches
of the steamer were, as usual, transferred to the shore for the
accommodation of the “Corinthians,” of whom there were many present,
and a most acceptable save-all they proved; nevertheless the great
majority had to grin the storm out of countenance; and amidst a
perfect deluge, at twelve o’clock the combatants and their seconds
made their _salaams_――the Bulldog under the care of Jem Turner and
Jemmy Shaw; Broome waited upon by Levi Eckersley and Tom Maley.
Little time was lost in encircling the stakes with their fogles――white
and blue spot for the Bulldog, and blue and white spot for Broome.
Both were as cheerful as if pirouetting in the Lowther Rooms. Happily,
before business commenced the storm somewhat abated, and the weather
became comparatively fine, although occasional slantindicular
visitations from the upper regions proved that the only thing settled
was the unsettled state of the weather. Young Harry’s “first
appearance” was prepossessing. He entered the ring, after dropping in
his cap, with a modest bow, and a smile or nod of recognition to
several acquaintances, and at once steadily proceeded to divest
himself of his upper clothing. “He is a fine young fellow,” says a
contemporary report, “only eighteen years of age, standing 5 feet 9
inches, and weighing 10st. 2lbs. (he was limited by virtue of the
articles to 9st. 3lbs.), and evidently in first-rate condition, not an
ounce of superfluous flesh being visible, and his form as active,
alert, and springy as a greyhound.” Of his milling qualifications of
course no one had as yet any opportunity of judging, so that he was
scanned with all the curiosity with which men examine a “dark horse.”
The “Bulldog” also looked in robust health, but he struck us as being
too fleshy; and, added to this, it could not but be felt that he was
rather stale, not only from the free life he had led, but from his
repeated battles, in which he sustained no small quantum of
punishment, and especially in his fight with Johnny Walker, who,
however, expressed the greatest confidence in his powers. His weight,
we should say, was at least 9st. 10lbs., and in length he was full two
inches shorter than Broome. His rushing and fearless character of
fighting gained for him the sobriquet of “Bulldog,” and his courage
further entitled him to this canine distinction.
The officials being nominated, offers were made to take 7 to 4, 6 to
4, and ultimately 5 to 4; but the Broomites were cautious, although,
taking youth, length, and weight into consideration, he was certainly
entitled to be backed at odds. Doubts as to his qualities were,
however, still to be satisfied, and the speculators were shy of
investing.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.――Precisely at twelve minutes to twelve the men
were delivered at the scratch, neither displaying the
slightest nervousness, and both looking jolly and
determined on mischief. No time was lost; Broome led
off with his left, but the Bulldog stopped and got away
quickly. Bulldog now advanced to the charge left and
right, and got home on Broome’s nose and left eyebrow.
Broome, not idle, returned prettily, when the Bull
rushed in, closed, and, after slight fibbing, finding
Broome too strong, got down, amidst the vociferous
cheers of his friends.
2.――Broome, nothing daunted, was quick to the scratch,
and led off left and right, the Bulldog hitting with
him; a sharp rally, and heavy hits exchanged, in which
Broome had it on the smeller, and his cork was drawn.
(First blood for “Bully.”) A close at the ropes, in
which Broome tried for the fall, but Mason held his
legs too wide apart, and the crook could not be got.
Broome forced him on the ropes, and there held him as
if in a vice――his own nose dropping the crimson fluid.
Bully struggled to get loose, but Broome grappled him
closer. Mutual attempts at fibbing――when, after an
ineffectual trial on the part of Broome for the fall,
Mason got down besmeared with his opponent’s claret,
and pinked on his left cheek. Broome showed a slight
cut on the left eyebrow as well as the tap on the
snout.
3.――Broome opened the ball without hesitation, and
caught Bully on the mouth, lifting the bark from his
nether lip. A short pause, when Broome again went to
work left and right, but Mason got away; Mason hit out
of distance. A rally, in which Broome followed his man
to the ropes, hitting left and right; while at the
ropes Broome let go his right, and catching Bully on
the temple he dropped, but looked up smiling.
4.――Broome popped in his left slightly on Bully’s
cheek; tried it again, but the blow passed over his
shoulder. Mason rushed in left and right, closed, and
tried to fib; Broome, however, proved the stronger man,
grappled him against the stake, and, after some
in-fighting, in which Mason got a crack over the
larboard cheek, he contrived to pull Broome down.
5.――Mason displayed a mouse under each eye, and came
slow to the scratch. Broome hit short with the left,
and Bully did ditto. Exchanges left and right, and a
close at the ropes. Broome hung on the neck of Mason,
which lay across the ropes, but was unable to get the
look for the fall; at last both were down, Broome
having had the best of the round.
6.――Broome, as lively as a kitten, let fly his left,
and caught Bully on the mug, repeating a smack on the
body with the same hand. Mason tried his right, only
tapping Broome’s shoulder. Counter-hits with the left,
both napping it on the muzzle. A short rally, followed
by a close, in which Broome slipped down.
7.――Broome tried his left and right, but was stopped;
he was not, however to be denied; he again rattled in
in the same style, nailed Mason with both hands, and
gave him the upper-cut with the right. Heavy exchanges,
Mason fighting rather wild. In the close Bully down,
having all the worst of the milling.
8.――Broome led off quickly with his left, and nailed
his man on the cheek. A pause for wind, when Broome
again commenced operations. Heavy counter-hitting left
and right, and a spirited rally, in which the exchanges
were severe. Broome closed for the fall, but Mason
dropped on his knees.
9.――Hits left and right attempted, but both short.
Bully’s left neatly stopped, when Broome delivered a
rattler with his right on the body, and on the cheek
with his left. Good counter-hitting with the left; a
close at the ropes, and Mason caught Broome round the
neck over the ropes, but the latter slipped down.
10.――Mason, short with his left, retreated, and sparred
for wind. Slow fighting on both sides. They at length
got to work left and right, and heavy muggers were
exchanged. A close for the throw, but Mason got down,
Broome on him.
11.――The Young’un popped in his left prettily on
Bully’s muzzle. Mason fought wildly and hit short.
Broome rushed to him and closed, but Bully was not to
be had at that game, and fell.
12.――Good outfighting on both sides, left and right,
and heavy exchanges. Broome popped in his right
heavily, and as Mason was staggering hit him
beautifully down with his right. In the counter-hits
Broome had received a nasty crack on his smeller, which
bled profusely. (First knock-down for Broome.)
13.――Harry, as usual, led off left and right; Mason
rushed to a close, and they reached the ropes, where
Broome, with his arm round Mason’s neck, hung on him,
till at last Mason got back and fell, Broome over him.
14.――Broome popped in left and right in splendid style,
repeating the dose with the left on the head, and the
right on the body. Mason closed, but, finding Broome
too strong for him, dropped on one knee with both hands
up. Broome, although entitled to hit, left him.
(Applause.)
15.――Broome again led off with his left. Mason short
and wild in his returns. Broome steady, and again
delivered his left, drawing additional claret. A close
at the ropes; more squeezing on the part of Broome, and
Mason got down, apparently fagged.
16.――The Bulldog slow to the scratch; counter-hitting
with the left, ditto with the right. In the close Mason
down again on one knee, but Broome once more retired
without taking advantage of the opportunity offered.
17.――A good weaving rally, in which the hitting was
tremendous, and, after mutual compliments, in the close
Mason dropped on his knees. (Mason’s seconds now called
for brandy.)
18.――Mason slow in going to the scratch. Broome rattled
to him left and right, catching him a severe nozzler.
Bully made a desperate rush, and heavy counter-hits
were exchanged. A lively rally followed, in which
mutual compliments were paid, and the dripping claret
proved that both had been heavily hit. In the close,
after a severe struggle on the part of Broome to obtain
the fall, Mason dropped on one knee, and Broome walked
away, exhibiting heavy marks of punishment. Mason was
likewise severely mauled, and his left eye was fast
closing.
19.――Each regarded the other with mutual good will.
Broome bleeding at the mouth and nose, but still steady
and self-possessed. He led off with the left, but was
prettily stopped. Counter-hits on each side missed,
when Broome closed, caught Mason round the neck, and
hung on him at the ropes till he got down, amidst loud
shouts of disapprobation from Bully’s friends.
20.――Broome led off with his left, and again nailed
Mason on the left eye. Mason closed, when the Young’un
suddenly disentangled himself, stepped back, gave Mason
the upper cut with his right, followed by a neat slap
with his left, when Master Fred slipped down.
21.――Broome led off left and right; closed, again
caught Mason round the neck, hanging upon him across
the ropes until he fell.
22.――Mason somewhat slow to the scratch, across which
Broome stepped, and led off left and right. Bully let
fly wildly left and right, when Broome once more
closed, flung him across the ropes, and squeezed him as
if his neck were in a vice, amidst repeated shouts of
disapprobation. Jack Sheppard, urged by the impatience
of some of Mason’s friends, ran with a knife to cut the
ropes, but luckily his man slipped down, and thereby
prevented an act which would have been highly
imprudent, inasmuch as the ring would have thereby been
destroyed; and however unseemly such a style of
fighting might appear, it was not inconsistent with any
fixed rule of the Ring.
23.――Broome delivered a heavy hit with his left on
Mason’s body; Mason short in the return, and, after
some wild exchanges, Bully dropped on his knees.
24.――Counter-hitting with the left; a close, and, after
some slight fibbing, Mason again dropped on his knees.
25.――Mason stopped Broome’s left, rushed to in-fighting
left and right, then, missing his upper cut, got down.
26.――Mason’s left eye all but gone, and Broome’s mug
showing sundry marks of severe deliveries. A desperate
rally, both having made up their minds to mischief.
Heavy exchanges left and right, followed by a close at
the ropes, at which Mason once more dropped on one
knee, but Broome still refrained from hitting.
27.――Counter-hits with the left, Broome catching it
heavily on the nose. A slashing rally, in which heavy
right-handed hits were exchanged till Mason fell on his
knees, both bleeding profusely.
28.――Both men cautious. Broome in with his left, and
Mason short in his return. Heavy counter-hitting. Bully
receiving a finishing smack from the right on his left
eye, which was completely closed. Broome grappled for
the fall, seized Mason by the neck, and hung upon him
until he brought him down upon his nose.
29.――Counter-hits with the left, followed by a close,
in which Mason attempted to get down, but Broome held
him by the neck under his arm, and tried to lift him
from the ropes, until he fell, amidst shouts of
disapprobation.
30.――Mason led off short, when Broome steadied himself
and popped in a terrific hit with his left on the
cheek. Counter-hits left and right followed, Mason
fighting wildly. In the close Broome again hung on his
man till he extricated himself from his painful
position, and in getting away Broome fell heavily upon
him.
31.――Mason getting slower. Counter-hitting with the
left and exchanges with the right, in which Bully
delivered heavily. In the close Mason dropped on his
knees.
32.――A rattling exchange of hits; a close at the ropes,
and Mason got down, amidst the cheers of his friends.
Broome rather groggy from the heavy deliveries in the
last round, and the brandy-bottle on his side in
requisition.
33 and 34.――Short and merry rallies, in both of which
compliments were exchanged, and Mason got down on his
knees.
35.――Broome delivered two heavy lunging hits with his
left at the body; a rally and heavy exchanges, when
Broome caught his man in the corner and again grappled
him round the neck with his arm as if in the folds of a
boa constrictor. Here he held him for a considerable
time, till Mason got each leg in succession over the
ropes, and snatched his pimple out of chancery, as he
rose making a desperate upper cut with his right, which
he luckily missed, for had he struck his man when
outside of the ropes, he would have lost the fight on
the ground of foul play.
36.――Broome, although fatigued, came up with
unshrinking spirit. Heavy counter-hits with the left,
when Mason overreached himself, missed, and fell.
37.――Mason evidently less confident. He was slow to the
call of time, while Broome rushed to his work, hit out
left and right, bored his man to the ropes, and again
clasped him in his vice till he fell.
38.――Broome, apparently regaining fresh energy, the
moment time was called rushed to his man, led off left
and right, closed at the ropes, and, after some
in-fighting, Mason got down, Broome falling over him,
evidently with the intention of avoiding falling on
him.
39.――Broome, becoming still gayer, got to work without
delay, popped in a stinger at the body with his right,
and after an exchange of facers, closed at the ropes.
Mason struggled and fell back, Broome hitting with his
right, and falling on him. It was now seen that Mason
was satisfied, and after a short consultation with his
friends, he declined proceeding with the contest,
declaring that he felt he had no chance, for he could
not get at his man, and his power of hitting was
exhausted. At this time his left eye was completely
bunged up, and his face, mouth, and nose were seriously
contused; added to which he complained that both his
hands were injured. Under these circumstances Johnny
Walker saw it was in vain to protract the combat, and
gave in on the part of Mason, who immediately stood up
and shook hands with his opponent, who was proclaimed
the conqueror, after fighting _one hour and twenty-one
minutes_, greatly to the disappointment and vexation of
many of Mason’s friends, who considered that he was
still able to continue the mill, and probably make a
turn in his favour. None, however, know so well where
the shoe pinches as he who wears it, and Mason was
sufficiently satisfied with the dressing he had
received, without adding to its severity. On quitting
the ring after being dressed, Broome was so elated with
his success, that he threw three successive
somersaults, thus proving that his strength and
activity, at least, were unimpaired, although the
disfigurement of his “dial” afforded pretty strong
evidence of the severity of Mason’s hitting.
REMARKS.――The issue of this battle has placed Young
Harry in a very creditable position, and proved him to
possess the first of the requisites for a professor of
pugilism――courage, combined with perfect
self-possession and a fair share of science. He is
quick on his legs, and possesses the happy knack of
using both hands with vigour and effect. He never once
lost the control over his own actions, and between the
rounds nursed and husbanded his strength with the
cunning and calmness of a veteran. He was always first
on his legs on the call of time, and almost invariably
led off with his left with precision and success. It is
clear that he knows the use of his legs; and had not
Bully known how to foil his intentions he would no
doubt have shown him a quick way to his mother earth.
If there was any fault to be found with his style of
fighting, it was in his repeated hanging on his man at
the ropes. It ought not to be forgotten, however, that
Mason in the closes endeavoured to grapple him with no
friendly intention, and to resist this he had recourse
to an expedient which is anything but pleasant to the
spectators. There is no law, however, against it, and
he cannot, therefore, be blamed for following an
example afforded him, not only by his own brother but
by many men of long experience in the Ring. Taking him
“all in all” his _début_ has been highly creditable,
and we have no doubt, if not overmatched or overworked,
he will become an ornament to the P.R. The Bulldog
fought, we think, even better than on former occasions
on which we have seen him engaged. He used his left
more handily than it has been our good fortune to
witness in his former contests, and his counter-hitting
with that hand was extremely severe, while his slogging
right told with stunning effect on young Harry’s mug.
Of throwing he has but little knowledge, although he
possesses sufficient tact to evade the exercise of that
talent on the part of his antagonist. Like all old ones
who have felt the sting of repeated punishment, he
could not resist the influence of hard knocks; and the
body and the mind concurring in the opinion that
“enough was as good as a feast,” and deeming discretion
the better part of valour, he left off while he yet
possessed sufficient self-possession to enjoy the
satisfaction of knowing that he might have been worse
beaten without being better off.
All now sought the ark, there to obtain the “creature comforts” which
had hitherto been withheld. To the men every possible attention was
paid, and a liberal subscription was collected for the loser. The
battle-money was given up to Young Broome, at his brother’s house, in
Air Street, Piccadilly, on the Wednesday of the following week.
The “breed” of young Harry being thus satisfactorily proved, his more
experienced brother determined that he should turn gristle into bone
before he again “sported buff” in the 24-foot, and more than a
twelve-month elapsed ere he made an appearance within the ropes. This
was on December 10, 1845, when he was matched for £50 a side against
Joe Rowe, a well known East-ender, of 10½st., whose victory over
Cullen, in 1844, had raised him to a high position among the middle
weights.
Mixed up with this encounter was a contemptible and ridiculous feud,
provoked and maintained by certain East-enders, who, taking umbrage at
what they considered the upstart assumption of Johnny Broome, and also
prompted by bitter jealousy at his success with the better order of
Ring patrons, sought by fair or by foul means to disparage the name of
Broome, and to defeat the pretensions of his younger brother. We quote
the contemporary report:――
“The unfortunate issue of the meeting is to be attributed to
the gross irregularities and unjustifiable outrages of the
parties assembled to witness the affray, who, regardless of
all attempts to preserve an outer or even an inner ring,
rushed close to the ropes and stakes, which were broken and
levelled with the ground, and were at length reduced to such
a state by the intrusion of the multitude that it was
utterly impossible for the men to continue their contest;
and the referee having withdrawn, both retired from a scene
which, we regret to say, is but a repetition of similar
misconduct in all parts of the country. This species of
misconduct has more to do with the downfall of the Prize
Ring than any other cause to which we can refer. We shall
endeavour to describe the proceedings of the day, and must
leave it to the members of the Ring itself who mean to
preserve their ‘order’ to adopt some plan hereafter by which
similar evils may be prevented.”
It must be borne in mind that by the articles neither of the men was
to exceed 10st. 5lbs., and that they were to meet at Peter Crawley’s
on the Monday for the purpose of going to scale. At Peter’s they did
meet, and were each 1lb. within the stipulated figure, both looking
remarkably well and equally confident. Rowe returned to his
training-quarters, at Mitchell’s Green, about three miles from
Greenhithe, Kent, and Harry Broome remained in London, to be prepared
for his embarkation in the morning. The “Nymph,” Woolwich steamer, was
patronised upon this occasion, as upon many former expeditions of a
similar sort, and received on board a goodly muster of the friends of
the men on Tuesday morning, at Hungerford, London Bridge, and
Blackwall. She was not, however, without her opponents, and another
large steamer named the “Nelson,” as well as the “William Gunston”
tug-boat, by the cheapness of their fares, succeeded in obtaining a
very extensive patronage from the “rough-and-ready” customers both
from the East and the West, but more especially from the former, the
great nursery of Rowe’s early pretensions.
Harry Broome embarked at Blackwall, and it was considerably after ten
o’clock before the “Nymph” led the way to the field of battle, tardily
followed by her two rivals, the “Nelson” having got aground under
London Bridge, to the infinite terror of her passengers, who began to
apprehend that they had invested their three “bobs” each without the
chance of obtaining a view of the mill for their money. Luckily,
however, they ultimately got off; and from the delay which took place
in arranging the preliminaries for the battle, they arrived in time
not only to reach the field, but to increase, and perhaps create, the
confusion which subsequently prevailed. The marshes below Greenhithe
were selected for the encounter, and here the Commissary executed his
operations with his customary despatch. By twenty minutes after one
the lists were prepared, but upwards of half an hour elapsed before
the combatants made their appearance, and by this time more than 1,000
persons had assembled, including not only the crews of the flotilla,
but a large accession from the inhabitants of the surrounding
district, who, from Rowe’s training in the neighbourhood, and from the
frequent visits of Peter Crawley and his friends, became fully
apprised of the treat which was in store: a species of foreknowledge
which likewise reached a magistrate in the neighbourhood, who, before
the fight was half over, arrived on the ground accompanied by some
dozen policemen. The impolicy of the men approaching the intended
locality of their fight previous to the mill is manifest, and the
present instance confirmed the justice of our remark. In this case,
however, from the terrific confusion which prevailed, neither
magistrate nor policemen ventured to get within the vortex, the chance
of a broken head being infinitely more apparent than the probability
of a respectful reception. His beakship, consequently, contented
himself with directing his aides-de-camp to take down the names of as
many active members of the P.R. as they could obtain.
We will now endeavour to describe, as well as the buffetings to which
we were exposed will permit, “the mill,” its progress, and final
interruption. Shortly before two o’clock Harry Broome and Rowe arrived
at the ring; the former accompanied by his brother, Jack Hannan, and
Sam Simmonds; the latter by Peter Crawley, Jem Turner, and Young
Sambo. The ground was hard and the weather cold, but the breeze was
somewhat tempered to the “shorn lambs,” and not quite so piercing as
it had been the day before. The prospect of the commencement of
business produced a great deal of bustle among the ring-keepers, who
endeavoured to beat out those who had not paid for the privilege of
the posts of honour; but this was found to be a task of no common
difficulty; in fact, it was soon seen, from the conduct of the
majority, that they were not persons disposed to be governed by the
rules of courtesy or fair play. Among the betting fraternity Harry
Broome had become the favourite, and was backed at 6 to 4, at which
price he backed himself on board the boat on his passage down. As in
the match between Maley and Merryman, Tom Spring was again persuaded
to take upon him the office of referee――a kindness which he had much
reason to regret, as the issue will show. All being in readiness, at
the given signal the men were stripped of their upper crusts, and
amidst the cheering exclamations of their respective partisans, shook
hands and threw themselves into attitude. Their colours were, blue
bird’s-eye for Rowe, and blue with a divided white spot, and the
initials “H. B.” in the centre, for Broome.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.――We have already described the condition of
the men, and certainly on their stripping there was
nothing to induce us to recall our judgment. Broome had
a little the advantage in height and length, but
whatever advantage he possessed in this respect was
counterbalanced by the superior muscular development of
his opponent. Broome smiled cheerfully, while Rowe
displayed the steady phiz of “a sage from the East.”
After a few dodges by way of feelers, Rowe tried his
left twice in succession, but was stopped. Harry then
led off with his left, catching Rowe slightly on the
mouth. This brought them to a sharp rally, in which
blows were exchanged. Broome popped in his left at the
body, immediately closed, and succeeded in throwing his
man.
2.――On coming up Broome rushed to his man, put in a
slight blow on his mouth with the left, closed, and
after a short struggle both were down.
3.――Harry led off with his left, which got home on
Rowe’s whistler; slight exchanges to a close, when both
were again down. (On Rowe reaching his corner, we
fancied we discovered a tinge of blood on his lips.)
4.――Rowe, on going to the scratch after one or two
feints, sent his left well home on Broome’s conk from
which the purple fluid instantly flowed in profusion.
Rowe again made his left, this time under Harry’s eye,
from which the claret also spurted. They then rattled
to a close, when some sharp in-fighting took place,
Broome catching Rowe on the skull with his right, in a
sort of round hit, which evidently injured the
thumb-joint, as he shook it as a dog would his sore
paw, and they fell together.
5.――On leaving his second’s knee Broome showed a slight
mouse on his left eye, the effect of Rowe’s visitation
in the last round. Both hit slightly together with the
left, and came immediately to a rally, when some heavy
exchanges left and right took place. They closed,
struggled for the fall, and at length fell together,
Broome under.
6.――The men instantly rushed to a close, and Broome got
his man to the ropes, where they hung until they went
down, Broome again under.
7.――Broome napped another crack on the left eye; ditto
repeated; a close, a breakaway, hit for hit exchanged
left and right, Broome making both fists tell on Joe’s
body. They then closed, and both were down, Broome
under.
8.――Broome jumped up with alacrity, rushed to his man,
and attempted to plant his left, but was neatly
stopped. This led to a rally, in which heavy hits were
exchanged, Rowe catching it on the muzzle and Harry on
the old spot under his left eye. They then closed, hung
on the ropes, and both were again down. (The confusion
outside the ring now became greater and greater. In
vain did Cullen, Alec Reed, Young Reed, and others, use
their sticks and whips on the nobs of the “roughs” who
were pressing forward; they were not to be driven back.
It was with the greatest difficulty the stakes and
inner ring were preserved entire.)
9.――After a few dodges, Broome put in his left slightly
on Joe’s body below the waistband. A claim of “foul”
was instantly raised by Rowe’s partisans, who alleged
that the blow had fallen below the waist. On Spring
being appealed to he immediately decided “fair,” and
the fight proceeded. The men went to work, counter-hits
right and left were exchanged to a close, and Rowe got
down.
10.――Broome again home on Rowe’s ’tato-trap, which
increased in protuberance; counter-hits with the left,
Broome catching it on the nose; body blows exchanged;
counters left and right on the dial――a close, in which
both were down. Broome on being picked up showed a cut
over his left brow, from which the claret was coursing
down in profusion.
11.――Heavy exchanges; Broome again caught a nasty one
over his eye. He returned the compliment on Joe’s
mouth. Body blows exchanged. A close, and both down,
Broome under. The punishment in this round increased
the flow of claret from the wounds of both, but they
took it coolly, and came up smiling for the next round.
12.――This was a punishing round on the part of Broome,
who had no sooner risen from his corner than he rushed
to his man, put in two or three body blows, and then
made his left and right on Rowe’s frontispiece. The
latter made some slight returns, and Broome rushed in,
caught Rowe in his arms, and hung upon him at the ropes
until the latter went down――a game he pursued
throughout the fight.
13.――The cheering and chaffing of the East-enders were
deafening, and it was with difficulty the timekeepers
made themselves heard. On reaching the scratch heavy
counter-hits were exchanged left and right, Broome
again experiencing the effect of Rowe’s left on his
eye. They soon closed, struggled for the fall, and went
down together.
14.――This round was similar to the last.
15.――Heavy in-fighting blows exchanged left and right,
both on the mug and on the body, the hitting rather in
favour of Broome. In the close both down.
16 and 17.――In these rounds the men rushed to
in-fighting at once, and some stinging hits were made
by each on the sore spots of the other. Broome’s left
eye was observed to be fast closing. In the closes
which terminated the rounds they fell together.
18.――Slight exchanges to a close, when Rowe was down,
Broome alongside of him. Rowe’s mouth began to exhibit
unmistakable evidence of Harry’s power of hitting,
although, with the exception of the cuts on his lip,
there was nothing particular the matter with his face.
Indeed, the hitting on both sides seemed to have been
directed almost entirely to particular spots――viz.,
Broome on Joe’s mouth, and the latter on Harry’s left
eye and cheek.
19.――Rowe made his left slightly on Broome’s forehead.
The latter then attempted his left, but was prettily
stopped. In two other attempts he was more successful,
as he put in his left twice, first on Joe’s mouth, and
then on his smeller, from which, as well as his mouth,
the claret began to exude. In the close Joe was down,
Harry on him.
20.――The combatants quickly rushed to a close, and
after a short struggle at the ropes, both went down
together. (The noise and confusion were now becoming
terrific. The spectators in the rear made a rush, the
stake in Rowe’s corner was nearly forced from the
ground, several other stakes were broken, and the
bottom rope of the inner ring was completely trodden
under foot. The pressure was so great in the corner
where we sat that we were obliged to enter the inner
ring, in order to be able to get a note of what was
going on. There seemed among some of the lowest order
of spectators to be a strong party feeling against
Johnny Broome, for what cause it was impossible to
tell, but they repeatedly called upon him to come in
and fight himself, and charged him with acting foully,
although we saw nothing of the kind in his conduct up
to this, beyond his assisting the seconds in wiping his
brother――an example which Crawley followed with Rowe.)
21 and 22.――Broome home with his left on Joe’s nose and
mouth several times. Rowe’s returns were slight. In the
latter round, however, Rowe succeeded in the close in
forcing Broome over the ropes, and falling on him.
23.――Broome’s left again in collision with Rowe’s
mouth. Counter-hits with the left. A close at the
ropes, and Broome succeeded in throwing his man.
24 to 29.――In these rounds the same style of fighting
was pursued, hitting left and right being the order of
the day. Very few attempts were made at stopping, and
these few were on the part of Rowe, who parried Harry’s
left on several occasions. The rounds ended with a
close at the ropes, in which Broome generally had the
advantage, and got his man down by hanging on him.
30.――Joe stopped a nasty one from Harry’s left. Heavy
hits were then exchanged on the old spots, and both
were down, Rowe under. (The disorderly conduct of the
spectators got worse and worse. The ring-keepers were
obliged to get inside the ring, and used their whips
and sticks very freely; but as fast as they drove the
intruders back from the ropes they again came forward,
returning hits for compliments paid them.)
31 to 36.――Heavy exchanges, and no flinching or
attempts to stop. Previous to these rounds we thought
Rowe was weak and on the wane, but he now rallied, and
was firmer on his pins. He was, however, generally
forced to the ropes, where Broome hung upon him until
he fell.
37.――Broome received a stinger on his snout, which
renewed the rivulet of claret. He returned slightly on
Rowe’s cheek and closed. Rowe was, after a short
struggle, forced down, Broome on him.
38.――Broome made his left again on Joe’s mouth. He then
retreated to his corner, as if to get wind. Rowe was
following, but Harry rushed to him, repeated his dose
on the mouth, and fought to a close at the ropes,
where, after a somewhat lengthened struggle, amidst
great confusion in and out of the ring (Johnny Broome
holding the rope), both got down together.
39.――Hitting right and left, and a close, in which some
slight fibbing took place, Broome again receiving over
his damaged eye, which was now almost “used up.” At
length, after a break away, and a few harmless
exchanges, Rowe got down.
40.――Heavy counters with the left, Broome receiving a
snorter, which re-opened the springs from which the
by-no-means-limpid stream had previously trickled. A
close at the ropes, Broome still pursuing his tactics
of endeavouring to hang upon his man. Rowe at length
got down, pulling Broome along with him.
41.――Rowe had now evidently obtained fresh vigour, and
his bellows seemed to have undergone a thorough repair.
On coming up, he immediately went to his adversary, led
off with his left, which was returned by Broome on the
nose. Rowe attempted to obtain the fall, but in so
doing slipped down.
42 and 43.――Slight exchanges, no mischief done; both
down at the ropes.
44.――Harry hit out left and right on Joe’s mug, closed,
and threw him heavily, falling on him.
45.――Broome again touched up Rowe’s “blow pipe.” Joe
immediately insinuated a tremendous counter-crack on
Broome’s head with his right, which dropped him, and he
fell on his hands and knees and fell forward on his
face. (First knock-down blow for Rowe.)
46 and 47.――Counter-hitting left and right, Rowe
occasionally stopping Broome’s left, but the latter
would not be denied, and hit away until he brought his
man to a close, and they both went down together, Rowe
under. On reaching their seconds’ knees, their
punishment appeared to be about equal, neither showing
many marks beyond those on Broome’s left eye and cheek
on the one hand, and Rowe’s mouth and nose on the
other. (About this time a cry was raised that the
police had arrived, but we could see nothing of them,
as we were so hemmed in by the mob, and, as we stated
above, it was impossible for them to get at the
combatants, or any one in the ring.)
48.――Stinging hits exchanged with the left to a rally
and a close at the ropes, where Rowe got down to avoid
Harry’s friendly hug.
49.――Broome’s left eye was now completely closed, and
the surrounding flesh was considerably swollen; his
nose, also, looked very blue. He went to his man,
caught him round the neck with his left, and fibbed him
severely with the other hand. Rowe at length caught the
offending mawley, and forced Harry’s head back. After a
little struggling, Rowe slipped down.
50.――Joe stopped a well-intended smack from Broome’s
left. The latter then made his “one, two” on Rowe’s
mouth and body. Joe slipped, and Broome was making an
upper cut at him as he went down, but just succeeded in
stopping the delivery in time to prevent grounds for a
claim of “foul.”
51 and 52.――Some good countering took place in these
rounds with equal advantage, for what Broome gave on
Joe’s mouth and cheek he received in return on his
damaged ogle and sneezer.
53.――The men quickly rushed to a close, and after a
short struggle Joe succeeded in giving Broome a clean
somersault over the ropes, amidst the joyous shouts of
his partisans.
54 to 57.――Still the same hit-away style of fighting,
no stopping or flinching, Broome occasionally getting
his man’s head in chancery and fibbing. In the 56th
round Harry put in a smasher on the body of Rowe, from
the effects of which he was going down, when Broome
sent in another, which did not reach him until he was
on his knees. Another claim of “foul” was made by Jem
Turner and Sambo, but the blow was evidently
accidental, and Spring decided “fair.” Had it been
otherwise, it would have been almost impossible for
Spring to see, he was so beset by the mob who were
creating the disturbance and overwhelming the ring.
Spring at length was compelled to come within the arena
to watch the proceedings. In the 57th round Rowe went
down weak. Both Johnny Broome and Peter Crawley had now
been in the ring during some rounds, Broome assisting
his brother, and Crawley performing the same kind
office for Rowe. Broome led the way, and his presence
excited a good deal of angry feeling, but it was “six
of one and half-a-dozen of the other.”
58 and 59.――Rowe was getting weaker, and Broome was
piping. In the latter round heavy counter-hits were
exchanged in Broome’s corner. The latter then put in a
heavy body blow, from the effects of which Rowe
staggered and went down.
60.――In-fighting in favour of Rowe, who made several
good hits on Broome’s dial. Broome retaliated, but not
so severely. They closed at the ropes, and both fell
together. (The ring was now half full of people, and
sticks and whips were being plied without avail on all
sides.)
61 to 70.――On coming up for the 61st round, Broome’s
face, principally on the left side, was terribly
disfigured, while Rowe’s right jaw, cheek, and upper
lip were so much cut and swollen as to produce the
appearance of dislocation of the jaw. The hitting in
these rounds was severe, although Rowe occasionally hit
open-handed. In the close they generally fibbed each
other severely, and fell together. The space in which
they were fighting became gradually more and more
circumscribed, and almost invariably in the close the
ring-keepers were obliged to surround the combatants,
and literally beat the crowd away, to give room for
them to struggle for the fall, and to prevent their
being injured by the mob.
71.――Tom Spring now, finding that there was not the
slightest probability of a clear ring being again
obtained, and satisfied that it would be impossible to
obtain fair play, resigned his office as referee. The
seconds and backers ought then to have each withdrawn
his man; instead of this, however, the fight was
continued amidst the most dreadful confusion, and in a
space about two yards square, until the 81st round,
when the men were taken away and conveyed on board the
Nymph, after fighting for 2 hours and 21 minutes. All
chance of concluding the contest had at this time
vanished, and, of course, universal dissatisfaction
prevailed. A cowardly attack was made on Johnny Broome
by some of the disappointed Eastenders, but Peter
Crawley manfully threw his shield over him, and
prevented mischief.
REMARKS.――We have thus, to the best of our ability,
amidst the shameful confusion which prevailed,
endeavoured to give as accurate a description of this
battle as our opportunities would admit. We can only
repeat that at a very early period of the battle the
crowd completely overwhelmed the efforts of those who
were certainly anxious and creditably active in their
endeavours to preserve order. The jealousy of those,
however, who could not pay towards those who had paid
was so forcibly evinced as to prevent all resistance;
and this, combined with a large majority of Rowe’s
friends and partisans, who indulged in a very unseemly
expression of ill-feeling towards Johnny Broome and his
brother, produced the very unsatisfactory conclusion at
which the affair arrived, and of course led to the
necessity of another meeting before it could be decided
which was the better man. We confess we do not feel
ourselves justified, from all we have yet seen, in
assigning the palm of decided superiority to either.
They both fought manfully and bravely, and exhibited
all those sterling qualities which are calculated to
reflect credit upon the characters of British boxers.
There was no flinching, no cowardly attempts to fall to
avoid punishment, nor were any of those subterfuges
adopted on either side calculated to create the
disapprobation of the spectators. On the contrary, when
permitted by the disgraceful intrusion of strangers in
the ring, they promptly and fearlessly obeyed the call
of time, and hit away left and right each with a
courageous determination to turn the scale in his
favour. In the last few rounds――or, rather,
scrambles――which took place, we are inclined to believe
that Broome had a little the advantage; but it would be
by no means just on our parts to give this as a decided
opinion, and the less so as we saw Rowe run vigorously
from the ring to the place of embarkation, followed by
Broome. We were glad to make our escape from such a
scene, and made our retreat along the banks of the
river to Greenhithe, from whence we subsequently
obtained a passage, not in the “Nymph,” but in a
Gravesend boat, on its way to Blackwall, and thus did
not obtain a close view of the men. Many heavy blows
were exchanged in the course of the turmoil, and some
one, with a wantonness perfectly indefensible, flung up
a quart bottle in the air, which, alighting on Johnny
Broome’s head, might have been fatal, and, as it was,
proved anything but agreeable to his feelings. We
cannot too strongly impress upon the parties concerned
in this disgraceful exhibition that, as in the fable of
the goose and the golden egg, they are sacrificing the
chances of their own future gratification. A clear ring
and no favour is the battle-cry of all fair boxing; and
if the spirit of this cry be once abandoned, it is in
vain to hope for the continuance of those manly
demonstrations of courage and fair play which render
prize-fighting defensible. It seems also to be
forgotten that, by keeping a wide and extended ring
throughout a combat, all have a fair opportunity of
witnessing its progress; while, by thus closing in, the
greater portion must be debarred from a view of the
combatants, and thus disorder becomes inevitable. Added
to this, the prejudices of the opponents of the good
old sport become trebly fortified, and the interference
of the magistrates and the police will find not only
apologists, but eulogists, even among those who
heretofore would have been the first to decry their
interference. Aquatic excursions, by limiting the
number of spectators, were, in the first instance,
adopted as a prudent and judicious move, and so long as
they were confined, by a fair charge, to the men and
their real supporters, this object was gained; but the
unfair system of starting opposition boats, at low
prices, by enabling the worst class of Ring-goers to
obtrude upon the scene of action, has superseded this
intention, and it now only remains to adopt some new
expedient by which fair play and good order can be
maintained. Nothing but a determined coalition upon the
part of the milling fraternity themselves will prevent
the repetition of evils which must altogether
extinguish their popularity as a class.
Great complaints were made of Broome having gone into the ring to
assist his brother, which was decidedly contrary to the rules of the
Ring, and led to Crawley following so bad an example. It was
undoubtedly wrong; but some allowances must be made for the horrible
confusion which prevailed, and the utter impossibility of the referee
calling for a stringent attention to the rule referred to; although in
two instances when Broome had intruded he peremptorily ordered him
out, and was obeyed. It must be distinctly understood that any man,
save the seconds, thus interfering with his man loses the fight.
Broome soon recovered from the contusions on his face, although when
we saw him on the Friday the marks were sufficiently apparent. The
forebone of the thumb on his right hand was, however, fractured. This
occurred in the fourth round, and the repeated use of the hand
afterwards rendered the consequences more serious. Rowe’s physiognomy
was still far from symmetrical. His face on the right side was
dreadfully swollen, and the cut on his lip severe and deep. The left
side of his countenance also showed obvious symptoms of unpleasant
visitations. In other respects the men were little damaged; but Rowe
had clearly got the larger share of the punishment. His left hand was
also much puffed. It was stated that for the present it would be
impossible for Broome to use his right hand, and Crawley readily
agreed that the day for the renewal of the battle should not be fixed
till a surgeon had pronounced when the damaged feeler was likely to be
fit for service. Johnny Broome proposed to give £5 towards Rowe’s
training expenses, provided the match were made for £100, and to come
off in four months. To this Crawley could make no response, as he had
his apprehensions of being able to get any addition to the stakes
down.
The final agreement was that the renewal of the combat should take
place on the 6th of May; Peter Crawley and Johnny Broome to name the
locality. At a subsequent meeting at Spring’s, it being mentioned that
the 6th of May was the day of running the Chester Cup, the date was
altered to the 13th by mutual agreement, and the place of rendezvous
was settled for Ensham, Oxfordshire, six miles from the University
city. On the overnight the men and their mentors set off for that
locality. The “London Particulars,” however, contented themselves with
the half-past seven morning train, and the quarter to ten fast ditto,
as their method of reaching the trysting-place. Soon after eleven all
was alive in Ensham, and the cavalcade moved off for the battle-field,
many of the drags being of the style and pattern that bespoke the
Corinthian quality of their owners or occupants. At twelve the
Commissary and assistants had made a model ring and enclosure in an
emerald-green meadow near Ensham, and soon after Harry Broome, his
brother Johnny, his seconds and friends, came on the ground on a
four-in-hand; while Rowe, under the broad shadow of Peter Crawley,
escorted by a numerous cavalcade of equestrians and charioteers, with
a long queue of pedestrians was also “thar.” Harry Broome was waited
on in the ring by his brother and Sam Simmonds, of Birmingham; Rowe by
Jack Macdonald and Bill Hayes. Broome’s colours were blue with a large
white spot, Rowe’s the old blue birdseye.
After some little delay in the choice of a referee, “time” was called,
and the men, in fighting costume, advanced from their corners and
shook hands. Young Harry, in point of condition, was all that his best
friends could desire; he was indeed a model of youthful health and
activity. He stood slightly over his opponent, and had evidently the
advantage in length of reach. Rowe looked far more solid and burly at
his weight (10st. 5lbs.), and was much less graceful in his movements;
indeed, his look lacked the animation and confidence which beamed on
the features of his youthful antagonist. The friends of Rowe were,
nevertheless, sanguine of his success, and took the 5 and 6 to 4
readily which some of Broome’s patrons offered.
At a few minutes before one the men and their seconds crossed hands,
the latter retired to their corners, and the twain stood up for
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.――On throwing themselves into position each put
out his feelers and advanced and retreated several
times. After one or two feinting dodges Rowe tried his
left, but was short; they got closer to their work, and
left-hand counters were exchanged, Rowe catching it on
the mouth and Broome slightly on the cheek. After a
break away they again approached, and once more
exchanged counter-hits with the left, Broome getting
well home on Rowe’s kissing organ, whence blood
immediately trickled, and “first blood” was claimed for
Broome and awarded. Broome rushed in, caught Rowe round
the neck under his left arm, fibbed a little with his
right, hitting up, then, giving him a leg, threw and
fell on him. (7 to 4 on Broome offered.)
2.――Rowe, on coming to the scratch, showed a stream of
the crimson fluid from the side of his mouth. Broome
led off with his left, but was neatly stopped, and in
the second attempt equally well foiled. Slight
exchanges, and Broome closed, and, after a short
struggle, had his man down, but came himself to the
ground rather heavily.
3.――Rowe short with his left. Broome quickly caught him
a smasher on his damaged mouth, repeating the dose
twice, and playing round his man with a celerity that
reminded us of Young Dutch Sam. Rowe tried to get home,
first with one hand then the other, but was short, from
the rapid shifting of his adversary. In the close
Broome tried to get the lock, but Rowe kept his legs
wide and declined the intended favour. Broome tried to
hit up with the right, but Rowe slipped on one knee,
catching a stinger on the jaw as he was falling, and
Harry tumbling over him.
4.――On Rowe coming up, his left eye, left cheek, and
mouth gave evidence of renewed visitations. Harry,
though flushed in the frontispiece, was not yet
“adorned with cuts.” Rowe hit short with the left, and
then stopped two or three attempts by Harry to get home
with the same hand. In trying to return Rowe hit rather
in the style of the sparring school, drawing back his
elbow just as his fist reached its destination, instead
of letting the blow go straight from the shoulder. A
rally, in which Rowe succeeded in planting his left on
Broome’s eye, and then stepped in with a rattling hit
on the jaw that seemed for a moment to stagger the
Young’un; in fact it looked for a moment as if he would
go down from the stunning visitation; but he did not,
and Rowe closed and threw his man amidst vociferous
acclamations from the East-enders.
5.――Broome came up smiling, steady, and resolute,
showing little effects of the last round. He made play,
but Rowe easily stopped two long shots from the left.
Rowe retreated, but did not succeed in drawing Broome
near enough, so the latter, after an exchange or two,
got within distance, delivering left and right heavily
on the head and body, then catching his man firmly on
his left arm, he “fiddled” him with the right, and as
he struggled away gave him the leg and fell heavily on
him. (The Rowe-ites mute with astonishment.)
6.――Both showed signs of punishment, Rowe on mouth,
eye, cheek, and left ear, Broome on the left cheek.
Rowe short with the left; a rally, when Harry caught
Rowe an upper-cut with the left, but Rowe grappled him,
and Harry got down through his hands, amidst the jeers
and scoffs of the Rowe party.
7.――Broome came up slowly; he sparred and shifted
ground, but Rowe would not be drawn. Broome sent out
his left, but was short, and in a second attempt just
reached Joe’s neck with his right, who threw his head
back with great quickness out of the way of mischief.
Three times in succession Rowe stopped Broome’s left
with great neatness. (“That’s the way to break his
heart,” cried Jack Macdonald.) After some more clever
sparring, in which little damage was done, Broome
closed, and again threw his man, falling on him.
8.――Broome was again neatly stopped, but he persevered
and got in a smasher on Rowe’s damaged mouth, who
counter-hit, but not effectively. Broome got in to
half-arm and visited Rowe’s left eye. Joe, not
relishing these pops, dropped on his knees, but Harry
caught him with his left arm and lifted him bodily up
from the ground, thus displaying immense muscular
strength, threw him and dropped on him. (2 to 1 on
Broome.)
9.――Harry came up smiling confidently. He led off with
his left, but Rowe stopped him three or four times
beautifully. (Applause.) At length they got close, and
Broome twice in succession got home on Rowe’s mouth and
eye. Rowe, wild and stung, rushed into close quarters,
but Broome got away, broke ground, and twice or three
times popped in sharp hits in the face. Rowe got down
in his own corner during a rally.
10.――Broome played round his man actively, occasionally
getting in a “little one.” Rowe was slow, and stood
steadily on the defensive. He evidently reckoned on
Broome tiring himself by doing all the work. He could
not, however, keep Broome out, who gave him a tidy
smack on the cheek, and Rowe got down.
11.――Rowe still slow and on the defensive. Broome put
in a nobber, and Rowe was down on the grass.
12.――Rowe stopped a succession of hits with the left,
but Broome would not come in to be propped; at last
they exchanged two or three sharp hits, when Broome
closed and threw Rowe, but not heavily.
13.――Good out-fighting on the part of Broome, who
planted on Rowe’s neck and ear. Rowe continued his
stopping, and stepping back, until Broome, tired of the
game, fought in, closed, and threw him.
14.――Broome got home with his left, a cutting blow;
Rowe let go right and left wildly, of which Broome took
advantage, closed, caught him round the waist, and
flung him cleverly.
15.――Rowe still stopped steadily, but was sadly short
in the returns. As we have before said, his blows did
not go from the shoulder, but partook of the flip-flap
character of the sparring school. Broome advanced and
retreated, and at last, springing in, caught Rowe in
the mark with his left, and gave the “first knock
down.”
16 to 19.――Broome made the fighting, got in his left,
and threw his man in all these rounds.
20.――Rowe maintained his steadiness amazingly. He
stopped with precision, and was getting down from
Broome’s onslaught when Harry seized him, lifted him by
sheer strength, and threw him.
21.――Rowe getting slow, and apparently vexed at not
being able to get his man to hitting distance. Broome
played half-round to the right, then to the left. Rowe
went in desperately and forced a rally, in which he got
home his right a sounder on Broome’s jaw, and both were
down, amidst the uproarious cheers of the East-enders,
who seemed “thankful for small mercies.”
22.――Broome showed symptoms of fatigue; he coughed and
hemmed, stepped back, and rubbed his arms, leisurely
surveying his antagonist. “Don’t be gammoned,” said
Bill Hayes; Rowe nodded his head assentingly. As Rowe
would not advance Broome went to him, and in some sharp
exchanges hit hardest and oftenest. Broome’s right came
in sharp contact with Rowe’s sconce as he was going
down, and Broome was seen pulling at his right little
finger, to which some mischance had happened.
23.――On coming to the scratch Broome again sparred _à
la distance_. “Go in,” cried Crawley to Rowe; “his
hands are gone, it’s all your own.” This was an error;
“the wish was father to the thought,” for Harry
frustrated his adversary’s attempt by sending his left
slap in Rowe’s mazzard, hit him with the supposed
disabled right in the ribs, closed, and got him down.
24.――Broome popped in his left, closed, and rolled over
his man as he got down.
25.――Rowe, getting slower and slower, seemed to content
himself with guarding his head and ribs, and shifting.
Broome bided his time, but at length got home, and
muzzled poor Joe, who went to grass somehow.
26.――As before, Rowe on the defensive, stopping, but
not returning. Broome followed him up, forced him on to
the ropes, and rolled over with him.
27th and last.――Broome came to the scratch cheerfully;
his seconds certainly sent him up remarkably clean.
Although Rowe, as before, stopped an experimental
left-hander or two, Harry gave him two severe smashers
on the mouth and cheek, then closing as Rowe was trying
to get down, he gave him the crook, and fell heavily on
him. It was all over. Rowe, though still strong on his
legs, declined to continue the contest; and Bill Hayes
threw up the sponge in token of defeat. Young Harry was
highly elated. He jumped about the ring like a parched
pea in a frying-pan, shook hands with his opponent, and
performed a _coup de théâtre_ by pressing the
winning-colours to his lips, and then waving them round
his head. At this moment Harry showed no further
discolouration of the face than a blue mark under the
left eye. One of the bones of his right-hand, however,
was broken, and from that round it was of little
effectual service, though he used it several times. The
fight lasted exactly fifty-seven minutes, and from
first to last was conducted with the utmost fairness,
and without the slightest interruption from the
surrounding multitude, which was largely increased by
the accession of several Whitsun clubs, who were
celebrating their holiday in the neighbourhood.
REMARKS.――Broome won the fight from superior tact, good
in-fighting, and the clever use of his legs, both in
getting away and throwing. To the quick use of his
left――for he did but little with the right――the
downfall of his game antagonist is also to be ascribed.
Rowe, we must confess, from what we had previously
seen, somewhat disappointed us. Not only was he slow,
and generally short, but his hits were
elbow-deliveries, while, before the battle was half
through, he adopted such a determined line of mere
defensive tactics as never could have gained him
victory over such a courageous and active adversary as
Young Broome. We almost suspected he had made up his
mind to defeat early in the fight. Broome’s youth,
though much against him, was relied on by Rowe,
mistakingly, as the event proved. He was neither so
much exhausted, or even tired, as his older opponent.
It would be prudent, from the injury he has twice
sustained in his right-hand, that he should, for a
time, retire from the active pursuit of the profession
he has adopted, until gristle has hardened to bone, and
well-knit sinew and tendon replace his youthful rounded
muscle. That Young Harry possesses steadiness,
self-possession, game, and confidence he has fully
shown, and these, aided by the increasing strength and
stamina which time must bring, must ensure him a high
position among pugilistic professionals. The weather
was, throughout the day, most favourable, and order and
regularity admirably maintained, Spring, Peter Crawley,
Jem Burn, Owen Swift, Johnny Hannan, Jem Turner, Young
Reid, Jemmy Welsh, and others of the _corps d’élite_,
contributing greatly to this desirable state of things.
At this period (1846) there resided at Birmingham a boxer of high
local repute, some five years the senior of Harry, and still in his
prime, who, in the opinion of his fellow-townsmen, was well fitted to
check the triumphant career of the juvenile representative of the
house of Broome, which was considered to have transferred its
pugilistic fame from its native place to London. This was Ben Terry,
whose successive defeats of Jem Hodgkiss, Forster, Davis of
Birmingham, and Tom Davis, in 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844, all
middle-weights, had earned for him a character approaching
invincibility. After some cavilling with Johnny Broome in times passed
by, before that boxer retired from the Ring, which, however, ended in
nothing. Ben now proposed a match for £100 a side, with Young Harry,
at 10st. 4lbs., and the youngster, nothing loth, closed with the
offer. There was much partisan feeling mixed up in the affair, and on
February 3rd, 1846, the men met at Shrivenham, Berkshire, on the Great
Western line. There was tedious disputation on the choice of a
referee; and the behaviour of the partisans of Terry was simply
disgraceful, and marked most significantly the falling fortunes of the
Ring. The unfinished battle, which occupies an immense and undue space
in the contemporary report, is not worth preserving. Suffice it to say
that for the first half hour the fighting of Harry was singularly
irregular and wild, and only accountable upon the supposition, loudly
proclaimed by Brother Johnny, that Young Harry had been stupefied by
the surreptitious introduction of some drug in his drink――in short,
had been “hocussed.” We, who witnessed the fight, however loth we
should be to admit such a shameful act without clear evidence, could
not resist the suspicion of some foul play. Terry, however, seemed to
fight very little better than his opponent. After the 35th round, the
confusion and disorder defied description. The ring was broken in, and
filled with an unruly crowd; repeated claims of “foul” were made from
both sides; the referee was sought to be intimidated by uproar and
threats; and finally the fight was claimed for Terry, without any
decision being given by the properly constituted authorities, and the
respective parties returned――the one to Birmingham, the other to
London, to wrangle over the destination of the £200 in the hands of
the stakeholder. After a tedious controversy and furious mutual
recriminations, it is clear that the Terry party did not fancy a
second meeting, and the affair ended by Johnny Broome, on behalf of
his brother, consenting to draw stakes on receipt of a douceur of £5.
Terry, who was subsequently beaten by Coates and Posh Price, died at
Birmingham, October 12th, 1862.
We have noted in the life of the Tipton Slasher, how, after his defeat
of Paddock, in December, 1850, he laid public claim to the
Championship; how Bendigo, after stating that he was prepared to fight
for £500, and no less, backed out when the Tipton offered to meet him
for that amount; and further, that he, the Tipton, would fight any man
for £100 or £200. This challenge was unanswered until May, 1851, when
Broome declared himself ready to make a deposit for an “Unknown,” for
£200 a side. This was accepted. At a subsequent meeting at Johnny
Broome’s, on the 2nd of June, the articles were completed, and the
battle agreed to take place within four months. On the occasion first
named poor Tom Spring, who had in this case undertaken to see to the
interests of the Slasher in London, lay stretched on a bed of
sickness, struggling with that grim antagonist who soon after gave him
his final fall; consequently Johnny Broome claimed and received
forfeit at the second deposit, the Slasher’s friends not putting in an
appearance. In the following week a gleam of hoped-for health on the
part of Spring, and the arrival of Perry himself in London, led to a
demonstration, and a sum of money was deposited in the hands of the
Editor of _Bell’s Life_ on the part of Tipton, to meet the “Unknown”
for the sum proposed. That the “Great Unknown” was a mystery, like the
authorship of “Junius,” and, for a time, the Waverley Novels, was
evident, for men did not scruple to say that Johnny had had a lucky
escape from “a bit of bounce” by the receipt of the small amount down.
The mystery, however, was quickly dissipated, for at the next meeting,
to the astonishment of all, Young Harry announced himself to be the
“mysterious stranger,” prepared to join issue with the ponderous
Slasher, and from that evening the match progressed satisfactorily.
In the interim, the Tipton, after a provincial tour, went into
training at Hoylake, in Cheshire, under the mentorship of Jem Ward,
and the superintendence of Jemmy the Black (Young Molyneaux). Harry
was, of course, looked after by his brother, but was unable to do so
much work as he required, owing to the necessity that arose of
constantly shifting his quarters. This, we may now state, was owing to
the embarrassed state of his pecuniary affairs, in connection with the
Opera Tavern, in the Haymarket, of which he was then the landlord.
When we last saw Harry in the lists, in his interrupted combat with
Ben Terry, he was looked upon as a “middle-weight,” his height 5 feet
9 inches, his weight 10½st.; and from this circumstance, despite the
assertion that he had grown nearly two inches in stature, and would go
to scale full two stone heavier in muscle and bone, there was an
obstinate incredulity on the part of many who thought they knew the
man, with respect to the 10½st. Harry and the 13st. Slasher ever
facing each other in the Ring.
The stakeholder, upon whom devolved the duty of naming the place of
fighting, selected Mildenhall. Johnny Broome had a predilection for
Six Mile Bottom, near Newmarket, as suitable for the convenience of
the sporting men going to the First October Meeting, but this he
subsequently abandoned. The place having been appointed, Johnny Broome
and Young Spring, on behalf of the Slasher, engaged a special train on
the Eastern Counties Line, which, it was notified, would start at
half-past eight. There was little excitement abroad, for the eve of so
important an event as that which was to decide the _vexata quæstio_ as
to who was to be Champion of England. It is true, the houses of the
two Broomes, and the Castle Tavern, were thronged, but we did not hear
of a bet being made, and a strong impression prevailed up to the very
day that something would occur to prevent the issue of the battle. On
reaching the platform whence the train was to start we found the
assemblage was limited, and we should calculate that not more than one
hundred took their places in the carriages, so that these who
speculated on gain were on the wrong side of the post. With the
exception of Peter Crawley and Old Tom Oliver, we recognised none of
the representatives of the old school.
The travellers having taken their seats――the Tipton, accompanied by
Nobby Clarke and Molyneaux, being among them――the whistle sounded, and
off went the party. A good deal of consternation was expressed by some
persons at the non-appearance of Broome; but, on the train arriving at
Bishop Stortford, all doubt was set at rest by his presence on the
platform. The train once more got under weigh, and shortly the goal
was reached. Pursuing a winding lane, the veteran Commissary led the
way to the field where Bendigo won his parting laurel from Paddock, in
1850. This ground, however, was found to be under plough, and the
travellers had to go further afield; nevertheless, all was soon in
apple-pie order for business. The London train band was reinforced by
a few of the Norfolk and Suffolk Militiamen, and a cavalry contingent
from Newmarket, and by one o’clock there was a tolerable muster round
the roped arena. At ten minutes after that hour the Tipton hero
advanced to the ring-side, and, removing his nob-cover, tossed it
gaily within the magic circle. Harry was not long in answering the
Tipton’s call for him to come forth, and was loudly cheered on
presenting himself. After shaking hands, the difficult point of
choosing a referee came on the _tapis_. This knotty question seemed
likely to occupy the whole day, for to each proposition a negative was
offered, chiefly by the Tipton and his friends. One hour and forty
minutes were thus cut to waste, but at twenty-five minutes past two
the differences ended by the selection of Peter Crawley, and the men
commenced their toilettes. Crawley had been previously rejected by the
Tipton, from an apprehension that his predilections were in favour of
Broome; and it was not until Harry offered to fight without a referee
that he at last consented. The choice made, the Slasher approached
Crawley, and said all he desired was a fair fight and no favour. If he
did anything foul he must abide by the consequences, and if his
antagonist did wrong he hoped an equal measure of justice would be
meted out to him. Crawley said he might rely on his performing his
duty strictly and impartially. All he desired was to see a fair and
manly contest, and to see it fairly and manfully fought out.
The attendants on the Slasher were Nobby Clarke and Jem Molyneaux. The
bold Harry was esquired by Callaghan, of Derby, and Bob Castles,
Johnny, of course, being in the corner. A little interlude, in the
shape of a shindy between Molyneaux and Callaghan, enlivened the
interval of suspense, but, on everything being ready, they were soon
quieted down. The ring was admirably kept throughout, Tom Callas,
Jerry Noon, Mallet, and others lending a helping hand. The betting at
the commencement was 2 to 1 on the Slasher; and at forty-five minutes
past two business began.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.――And so the men stood up, and all doubts,
fears, and suspicions as to whether there would or
would not be a fight were at an end, and the question
was now to be set at rest as to what sort of a fight
those present were to witness, and we were to record.
No sooner had the youthful Harry struck his canvass,
and exhibited himself in Nature’s buff suit, than an
almost audible buzz of surprise and admiration broke
from the spectators. Never did gladiator of old offer a
finer study for the chisel of the sculptor or the
pencil of the painter. 5ft. 10½in. in stature, his
height was only fairly proportioned to his weight,
12st. 10lbs. on the morning of the battle, which,
by-the-bye, was 10lbs. too much. His chest and scapulæ,
with their masses of prominent and rigid muscle, were
almost preternaturally developed; and as he swung his
long, round arms, with the motion of one practising
with the dumb-bells, closing and unclosing his hands
(black with the astringent juices applied to them), to
supple his joints for the impending encounter, all
seemed to agree that he was up to the standard of
weight and measure which the veteran Captain Barclay
said “was big enough to fight any two-legged creature
that ever walked.” There is much, however, in “a
name”――despite Juliet’s declaration to the contrary,
which, coming from a green young Miss, don’t carry much
authority――and, accordingly, the old ring-goers were
half inclined to a belief in the Slasher’s
invincibility, and doubted whether the audacious “boy,”
as the Tipton contemptuously called him in our hearing,
would stand up to his ancient friend and fellow-trainer
in bygone days. That this was a mistake was soon
apparent. Throwing up his hands with smiling
confidence, Harry toed the scratch, saying, as he did
so, “Here I am, old boy, and I mean to win to-day.” The
Tipton grinned――the absence of his incisors imparting
that expression to his laugh. On the present occasion,
though he looked brown, hardy, and sunburnt, there was
somewhat of an antiquated cut about his figure-head
which was not observable on his last public appearance,
which, as we have already recorded, was with Paddock,
in December, 1850. His frame, however, showed no waste
or diminution of its formidable proportions. Poised
upon his letter K-like pedestals, his huge upper works,
broad shoulders, immense blade-bones, wide loins and
well-ribbed carcase showed the ponderous athlete,
though the bloom and freshness of youth had faded from
his skin. It was clear he meant to give no rest, and as
little room and opportunity, to his antagonist as he
could help. Harry offered with his left high up, in the
direction of the Slasher’s nob; it was a sort of
measuring, and he stepped aside, breaking ground with
graceful agility. Slasher followed him, when he stepped
aside laughing, closing and unclosing his hands,
playing about out of reach, and sparring. “Go to him,
Tipton,” cried Jemmy Wharton; “he’s afraid of you.” The
Tipton did as he was bid, and Harry retreated until
near the ropes. The Tipton let go his right, and just
reached Harry’s ribs, who rapidly caught him a
cross-counter with the left on the face. A couple of
rather hasty exchanges brought the men together; they
separated, and Broome delivered an upper cut on the
Slasher’s face, who retaliated on Harry’s body so
effectively that he slipped in jumping back, and fell,
throwing up his feet as he reached the ground, to
prevent the Tipton falling on him, and, when he found
himself safely landed, bringing his heels over his head
with a spring, and turning a complete somersault. A
claim for a knock-down; but it was anything but that.
Four minutes. (6 to 4 on the Tipton, and no takers.)
2.――Harry came up laughing, and nodded at the Tipton,
who laughed and nodded in return. Nothing was the
matter on either side. Slasher followed Broome, who
retreated to the ropes. “Get nearer, Harry,” cried
Brother Johnny. “Don’t go after him,” said Molyneaux,
and the Tipton in turn retired to the scratch, to which
he pointed down with his index-finger. Harry stepped
right up to his head, and delivered his left flush on
the Slasher’s mouth. (Cheers.) There was a momentary
pause, Slasher pursued Harry to the ropes, where the
latter jumped into a close, and caught his opponent
round the waist. Harry tried to get the lock, but both
were down, Tipton having hold of the upper rope with
his right.
3.――Broome was all confidence and elasticity. He went
up to the Slasher, and reached his head, then retreated
from the return. “He’ll stand it,” cried Callaghan. The
Tipton got in his left on Harry’s right cheek, who, in
return, gave him a sounding flush hit on the olfactory
organ. The Slasher let fly right and left, and the men
closed near the centre stake. Harry got an unmistakable
outside look with his right leg over the crooked knee
of the Slasher. There were a few seconds of severe
struggling, when Broome, having fixed his hold, brought
the Slasher over on his back. Down he came, shaking the
earth with the concussion, his shoulders, neck, and
back part of his caput first saluting the ground, while
Harry rolled over on him. The effect was electrifying:
even “Peter the Great” gave an audible grunt in unison
with the “thud” that accompanied the Slasher’s
downfall. There lay the crooked Colossus prostrate,
till his active seconds, seizing him by the legs and
wings, conveyed him to his corner, whither Harry
followed him with inquiring eyes.
4.――Tipton came well and boldly, but not till time had
been several times vociferously called, the Broomites
evidently in most hurry. Harry shifted round and round
the corners, the Slasher following him. Harry reached
the Tipton’s mouth smartly, who let go both hands. The
hit sounded. Broome closed, and tried the lock again.
The Tipton avoided his hips, and both were on the
grass.
5.――The Tipton had shaken off the effects of his fall.
He tried to gammon Harry within reach of his formidable
right by short feints with the left. As this did not
have the desired effect, he went in, hitting out with
both hands. Harry nailed him on the frontispiece, and
as he came on again, administered an upper-cut. It was
not quite close enough, or it might have told tales. In
the close the Tipton was under at the ropes, but it was
no detriment.
6.――Broome went to the Slasher’s head in the most manly
style, and popped in one. “Fortune favours the brave.”
Tipton retorted, but missed one very mischievous hit.
The men closed, Harry hit up, catching the Tipton on
the nose, and both were down in the scramble――the
Tipton, if either, first.
7.――“First blood” for Broome, which was unmistakably
distilling from the Slasher’s nose, to which he put his
hand as if to feel it. The Tipton forced Broome to the
ropes, threatening with his right, where they closed,
and after some not very effective fibbing, Broome
brought the Tipton down on his back, falling on his
stomach with his latter end. (An offer to take evens on
Broome.)
8.――Smart active sparring and a bustling exchange.
Harry gave the Slasher a very heavy hit on the jaw,
producing a slight cut. The Tipton retorted with a
nobber, and also sent home a body-hit. Whether the
Tipton’s right hand had lost its cunning or not, these
ribbers did not seem to stagger the Young One as they
did former adversaries. Still, the old one rattled in,
and in the scuffle was jobbed in the head, till at the
end of the round Broome pushed him from him sideways
with both hands, when he got down. Bellows to mend on
both sides.
9.――The Slasher came up grinning, but his merriment
looked rather forced, although the hitting had left but
little traces on his hard features. He hit very short
with his left, and Broome walked round smiling. There
was a close at the ropes in Harry’s corner, in which
the Tipton got Broome awkwardly over them, and hung on
him, holding the rope with his right, his left hand
being across Harry’s face. The rope was slacked, and
Harry was let down. The referee was appealed to, who
ordered the fight to proceed.
10.――Exchanges: Harry gave the Tipton a blow on the
left eye that raised a lump, then swung round and broke
away from the return. He jobbed the Slasher as he
advanced, but was driven to the ropes, whence he
suddenly sprang forward, took a half-arm hit, and
making his favourite grip, brought the Tipton over――a
heavy fall――tumbling on him with his knees. As Harry
lay on the grass, he blew like a grampus.
11.――The Slasher came slowly up. There was a short
pause, when again Broome went up to his head. The
Slasher’s right reached Harry’s body, who put in a
sharp left-hander that cut the Tipton’s lip; there was
some quick half-arm hitting, in which Broome delivered
a clever upper-cut with his right, and both were down.
Broome uppermost, the crimson fluid from the Slasher’s
nose and lip smearing Harry’s frontispiece as they
embraced.
12.――The Tipton bored Harry to the ropes, was on to him
before he got his chance for a lunge, and had him down
in a scramble.
13.――Harry retreated to the ropes. The Tipton followed.
Broome stopped his left, and shifted from his right,
but got a slight taste as he broke ground, and moved
round his man. Harry dashed at the Slasher, and got
within his guard. There was a short scrambling rally,
when the Tipton got down to avoid the lock. Offers to
take evens, and then to bet the short odds on “the
Young’un.” Bob Castles retired from Broome’s corner in
this round, and his place was supplied by Macdonald. An
objection to the change of seconds overruled.
14.――Broome milled prettily on the retreat, the Tipton
hitting remarkably short with his left. Harry unclosed
his hands, and shifting round towards the Slasher’s
corner, said, cheerfully, “I’ll take odds ‘the boy’
licks him without a black eye.” The Tipton was
evidently more bothered than beaten, and the facility
with which he was thrown made him put on his
considering cap. Broome went up to his head, as if to
attack, but as quickly stepped back. The Slasher
followed, and let go both hands, his right alone
getting home. Harry turned at the instant, hit up
sharply with the left, and weaving away, the Tipton got
down. In the in-fighting there were some heavy hits
exchanged, and Broome’s over-weight told sadly on his
bellows, which heaved and jerked like those of a
pumped-out steeplechaser.
15th and last.――There was a little squabble about time,
the Slasher slowest from his corner. Both sides seemed
somewhat inclined to spar for wind. Harry dashed in,
evidently with the intention of closing and trying for
a heave. He hit the Tipton on the chin, but the Ould’un
got away, as if to get room for his right. Harry
advanced, closed, and a struggle took place, each
attempting to hit. The Tipton grasped him tightly with
his left, and was trying to hit with his right, when
Harry slipped down on both knees. The Tipton let go his
right just as he reached the ground, giving him a
decided nobber, which certainly did not reach its
destination till Harry was down. It was the work of a
moment. The shouts from all sides were tremendous.
Broome’s seconds ran to the umpires and referee, as did
the ever-active Molyneaux, on the side of the Tipton.
There was a short pause, during which “Peter the Great”
declared he had not yet been formally appealed to. This
was done, the umpires, of course, disagreeing. “A most
deliberate foul,” said “Peter the Great,” and the ring
broke up. Thirty-three minutes had sufficed for the
present decision of the question, “Who is the Champion
of England?”
As the ponderous Peter left the roped enclosure,
another instance was added to the many previous of the
suicidal conduct of the present race of Ring men. The
referee was surrounded by a vociferous and violent mob,
whose language was of the most outrageous description.
The Tipton himself, too, so “raised the dander” of the
referee by his remarks and conduct, that the veteran
Crawley declared he would fight for his credit and
integrity, and, to the no small amusement of many, was
disencumbering his portly person of his outer coat, to
inflict summary punishment on his assailants, when the
Tipton was forced away.
REMARKS.――Upon this battle, ending in a manner so
unsatisfactory, few remarks are necessary. The style of
fighting will speak for itself. It was clear that the
Tipton was surprised by the vigour and determination of
his youthful opponent, and not less so at the manner in
which he exhibited his throwing powers; for, in
closing, not only was Harry the better wrestler, but
apparently the stronger man. How the battle would have
terminated had it proceeded in the ordinary way it is
impossible to say, and in this respect opinions
naturally differed. For, on the one hand, the little
punishment that was administered came from the Young
One, while the Old One had evidently lost none of his
personal confidence, and no doubt anticipated that
Harry would out-fight himself, and, by the rapidity of
his movements, increase that exhaustion which had
already shown itself at the conclusion of some of the
earlier rounds. The sudden termination of the battle
came upon all by surprise, and few believed that there
was a “deliberate” intention on the part of the Tipton
to administer the blow which was pronounced “foul.”
That Harry was on his knees when he received the ugly
hit we can aver, as we were seated by the side of the
referee at the time of the appeal. The men were
certainly in a scrambling close at the moment; and it
was obvious that, while Harry desired to get out of
trouble, the Tipton felt inclined to make the most of
his fancied advantage. Crawley’s experience thoroughly
enabled him to form a correct opinion, and we have no
reason to believe that his judgment was not given
fairly and impartially. Of course those not over-honest
persons, who always attribute unworthy motives to
others, assert that Crawley’s prepossessions were in
favour of Broome, and that this was the reason why the
Tipton originally objected to his being selected as
referee. To this we can distinctly oppose that, to our
own knowledge, the bias of Peter, if he had any, would
have carried him the other way. Such, however, was not
the opinion of the Tipton nor of his friends, as the
latter, on the following day, served the stakeholder
with notice “not to part with their money,” and the
Tipton still asserted himself to be “Champion of
England.”
Upon this unsportsmanlike proceeding the Editor
commented with much severity, arguing that if such
practices were pursued, there would be an end to all
confidence between man and man in sporting matters, and
would assuredly deter any one from posting money on any
similar event, as well as from holding stakes.
Harry Orme having, as we have seen in the preceding chapter, defeated
Aaron Jones a second time, was strongly urged to put forth his claim
to the Championship, and to meet Harry Broome on his “advertised”
terms. Months, however, passed before the match was made. First Broome
made one stipulation, and then Orme’s friends showed their “stupid
cleverness” in a counter-proposition, and there was a cannonade of
angry correspondence of the most futile controversial character. Late
in the year 1852, however, articles were signed and delivered for a
fight to come off on the 18th of April, 1853, for £250 a side, the
Editor of _Bell’s Life_ to name the place of fighting, and also
appoint a referee.
Harry, who since developing into a Boniface had become excessively
corpulent, at once placed himself under the care of Levi Eckersley, at
Cleave Hill, near Cheltenham, and here diligently subjected himself to
an immense amount of work. Orme went into training near Maidstone,
whence, the Monday before the battle, he removed to Greenstreet Green,
in Kent.
It being stipulated in the articles that the stakeholder should name
the whereabouts for the event, a special train was engaged on the
Eastern Counties Railway, for “an excursion of 100 miles or
thereabouts,” the exact spot being undivulged to the general sporting
public, lest the gentry then known as “Cheapsiders” should get down
“by hook or by crook,” and, by alarming the county, spoil sport. The
arrangements with the railway company were made with despatch, and the
gentlemen at the Shoreditch Station took every care to make such
dispositions on the eventful morning as effectually to prevent any of
the unprivileged classes from obtaining admittance. The time for
starting was nominally a quarter-past eight, but long before that hour
the neighbourhood of Shoreditch was in a perfect ferment; the streets
and the station-yard were crowded with spectators anxious to get a
glimpse of the chief performers in the forthcoming drama; but in this
they were disappointed, as they had both proceeded a certain distance
on the line of march on the previous day. As the time for starting
approached, the arrival of cabs and other vehicles was incessant, and
it was perfectly clear that there would be a very large muster of
patrons of the sport, the majority of whom were what Pierce Egan would
have called “reg’lar nobs and tip-top swells,” but who are, in the
present Ring vernacular, classed as patrician and Corinthian patrons
of the noble art. At no fight for many years past had there been such
a congregation of noblemen and gentlemen; and certainly at no
encounter since that between Caunt and Bendigo, in 1845, was so much
interest excited. Among the company present we were glad to observe
some patrons of the Ring of the Old School――gentlemen who remembered
the battles of Cribb, Spring, Hickman (the Gas-man), Oliver, &c. There
was also a good sprinkling of Turfites present, attracted partly owing
to its being a bye-day in the racing world, and partly by the fact
that Orme’s backer was a gentlemen well known in the betting-ring.
Among the latest arrivals at the station was the “Arch” Bishop of Bond
Street, with a considerable number of his flock. The reverend “gent.”
although suffering from gout, had strained a point to be present at
such an important contest, no doubt anticipating that the winner would
insist upon his “crowning” him upon the spot; but in this the “mad
priest” was disappointed: his services were not required, and he had
to return to town after the battle, without being called upon to
distinguish himself in any manner except in the voracious devouring of
the contents of a huge sandwich-box, which he was compelled to attack
by the calls of appetite, and in the ceremony of swallowing which he
highly distinguished himself. At length the train was full, the
station-doors were closed, and at half-past eight precisely the
whistle sounded, and we were off. The caravan, consisting of some
sixteen carriages, all of which were crammed, proceeded steadily on
its way until we reached Bishop Stortford, where we took in Orme (for
the fight), and water (for the engine). The next stoppage was
Elsenham, where Broome got into the train, and the engineer received
his orders as to the final destination. He, acting under directions,
pulled up at Ely, where a pilot, who had gone on the previous day,
took up his position on the train, and informed us of that of which we
had already our misgivings――viz., that an immense number of persons
had gone by parliamentary train from London to Mildenhall, early in
the morning, and were there in waiting to receive the combatants and
their friends. This being the case, proved the correctness of the
precautions we had taken in sending on a pilot beforehand. That
gentleman now undertook to conduct us to a spot where business could
be proceeded with in peace and comfort, and the train once again sped
on its way. As we passed Mildenhall, we saw hundreds of disappointed
travellers, who had been patiently waiting all the morning, and who
were thus, very properly, baulked in their parsimonious intentions. At
Lakenheath, the next station, we perceived a company of mounted blues
in readiness to spoil sport. These worthies, like the would-be
spectators at Mildenhall, also had their trouble and expense for
nothing. There was no intention of breaking the peace within their
bailiwick, so still the train went on. At length the appointed spot
was reached, between two stations, and about 108 miles from London.
Here a hasty debarkation was effected, and the train returned to the
nearest station. Tom Oliver, his son, and Tom Callas, at once
proceeded to erect the lists, while Dan Dismore carried on a brisk
business in the sale of inner-ring tickets. Some idea of the number of
gentlemen present may be gathered from the fact that the tickets so
disposed of realised between £40 and £50. There were, of course, a
great number of outsiders on the ground, but owing to the precautions
that had been taken in keeping things dark, the total number of
spectators did not exceed 2,000. All these persons, by the admirable
arrangements, and the activity of the ring-keepers of the Pugilistic
Association, obtained an admirable view of the contest throughout, and
we did not, during the day, hear of a single disturbance calculated in
the slightest degree to interfere with the sport, or those anxious to
witness it. By a quarter-past one o’clock the ring was completed. Orme
immediately pitched his castor within the ropes, and followed himself,
attended by Tom Sayers and Jack Grant. He looked well and hardy, and
wore a smile of confidence on his good-humoured mug. In about ten
minutes more the other Harry made his appearance, closely followed by
Bill Hayman, of Birmingham, and Callaghan, of Derby, his brother
Johnny being, as he had promised, “in the corner.” Harry smiled, and
shook hands with t’other Harry, and both were loudly cheered. The
ceremony of peeling now commenced, and by half-past one the men were
delivered at the scratch in fighting undress.
On toeing the scratch, there was a very perceptible difference in the
appearance of the men. Broome overtopped his adversary a good two
inches, and was proportionably longer in reach. His weight, we are
told, did not exceed 12st. 5lbs., but of this he might well have
spared half a stone. There was much loose flesh about his back, chest,
and ribs, and although he was evidently in rude health, he had not
been drawn fine enough to stand a long day’s work under such a burning
sun as shone down upon the combatants during the fight. Broome, had he
been permitted to take that pains with himself requisite to make him
fit, would have been about as awkward a customer as could have been
well conceived. As it was, however, he was so much harassed with law
and other proceedings that he could not pay that attention to his
training that he otherwise would have done. We think at 11st. 8lbs.
his condition would be about perfection. His attitude, as he stood
awaiting the attack, was admirable, and, had it not been for his fat,
he would have looked all over a gladiator. Orme, whose colour is
almost mahogany, is barely 5ft. 8in. in height, but is a thick-set,
powerful fellow, with a frame of iron, long arms, a perfect bull-neck,
and a pair of understandings fit for an Atlas. His weight was 11st.
8lbs., and of this scarcely 2lbs. was superfluous stuff. His attitude,
when on the defensive, is not graceful, but he looks rough and ready,
his dangerous right being across his mark, but always ready to be
dashed out at the least opening on his adversary’s ribs. It was clear
that there was a determination on both sides “to do or die,” and the
spectators made up their minds that they were in for a good thing.
Before the men entered the ring, the betting was 6 and 7 to 4 on
Broome, but these odds were, previous to the fight, increased to 2 to
1, at which price a good deal of business was done. The colours having
been duly tied to the stakes (blue and white spot for Broome, green,
with small white rings thereon for Orme), the signal was given that
all was in readiness, and “time” was called.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.――Broome, after one or two feints, approached
his man and attempted to draw him, but Orme was wary,
and stepped back. They both then advanced and retreated
several times, Broome repeatedly making attempts to kid
his man within reach, but Orme was too wary. Broome
scratched his ear, as endeavouring to rouse an idea
what to do next, when Orme approached and lunged out
heavily with his right out of distance; Broome then let
fly both hands, but was neatly stopped. Orme now went
up to his man and sent out both mauleys, but Broome
jumped away. More sparring and fiddling, Orme several
times stopping Broome’s left. At length Broome crept
close again, lunged out one, two――his left was stopped,
but his right just reached the left side of Orme’s nut;
Orme returned very heavily with his right on the ribs,
and after receiving a gentle tap on the forehead from
Broome’s left, the latter closed, and both rolled over.
This round lasted eight minutes, and at once showed to
the spectators that Orme was much better on his legs
and cleverer at stopping than the public had given him
credit for.
2.――Again did each man make ineffectual feints out of
distance. Broome at length let go his left, but Orme
jumped cleverly away. Broome tried it again, but was
stopped. “There’s luck in odd numbers,” however, for,
in a third attempt, he got home heavily on Orme’s left
peeper, and then on his mouth, and, on Orme rushing at
him to make a return, Broome turned his back and ran
round the ring. They quickly got together again, when,
after one or two very slight exchanges, Orme got down.
3.――Broome, on nearing his man, led off with his left,
and reached Orme’s kissing-trap. Sharp counter-hits
followed, Orme reaching Broome’s left ogle with his
right, and Broome getting heavily home on Orme’s right
eye. A few weaving half-arm hits followed to a close,
and both were down, Orme under.
4.――Broome feinted with his left, but it was no go. At
length he succeeded in drawing Orme, who rattled at
him, when Broome propped him heavily on the left
peeper, drawing “first blood” from a cut on the brow.
Some heavy exchanges followed, Orme delivering his
right with terrific force on Broome’s ribs three times,
and receiving heavy spanks in return on his right ogle
and mouth, drawing more claret, and in the end, as Orme
lunged out with his right, his head came forward, and
Broome administered a terrific upper-cut in the mark,
which doubled him up completely. Orme turned round, and
gradually fell to the ground. It was now thought to be
all over, but Orme, being in good condition, quickly
rallied.
5.――Orme, on coming up, showed marks of Broome’s
visitations on his right peeper, which was beginning to
close, while the marks on Broome’s ribs proved that
Orme’s right had done him good service in that quarter.
Broome dodged his man, and on Orme poking his head
forwards, instantly dashed in his left on the dexter
optic. He tried to repeat it, but was stopped. Both now
let fly out of distance, crept close, and Broome made
his one, two, on the right eye and side of Orme’s
canister. Orme returned with severity on the ribs, and
then on Broome’s mouth. A pause ensued, during which
Broome put down his hands. On lifting them again he
approached Orme, planted one hand on the forehead, and
the other on the left lug, and cleverly jumped away
from Orme’s return. Broome made two attempts to repeat
the dose, but Orme got quickly away. Orme now took a
turn, swung out his right heavily on the ribs, and got
away. Long sparring followed, during which the
perspiration came from Broome’s every pore――the sun was
insufferably hot for the time of year, and must have
been distressing to both men. Caution was now the order
of the day, until Broome got within distance, when he
sent out his left and caught Orme on the right eye, but
not heavily; this he repeated, when Orme again swung
out his right, catching Broome heavily on the ribs, and
jumped away. Some wild hitting out of distance
succeeded, but, on their getting steadier, Broome let
go his left spank in Orme’s mouth, and jumped away;
again he crept close, made his one, two heavily on the
left and right cheek, drawing claret from the latter.
On Orme attempting to rush in, Broome again turned tail
and ran across the ring. Orme followed him up, when
Broome jumped quickly round and delivered his left
heavily on the right cheek. Orme countered him heavily
on the mazzard――received another spank on the right
cheek, when Broome once more turned his back and
retreated. Long sparring for wind now took place, after
which there was some mutual stopping. Broome, at length
caught Orme sharply on the mouth and right cheek, which
brought them to a rally, in which Orme’s right was
excessively busy on Broome’s ribs, while the returns of
Broome did no execution. The repeated “thuds” on his
ribs made Broome wince, and screw himself up, evidently
with pain; he retired, blowing, while Orme (instead of
following him up) stood in the middle of the ring until
Broome recovered himself. The latter now popped in his
left on the right cheek, but Orme countered him with
the left heavily on the nozzle, drawing claret from a
cut on the bridge of that organ, which, in Harry, as
well as Johnny Broome, is slightly of the Roman order.
Orme also caught Broome another spank on the ribs with
his right, which led to heavy exchanges, in the course
of which Broome reached Orme’s mouth and right cheek,
while the latter caught Broome a tremendous hit on the
left eyebrow, with his right, inflicting a deep,
perpendicular cut, and drawing the ruby in profusion.
Broome retired, and wiped away the fluid as it ran into
his ogle, Orme again refusing to profit by opportunity,
and go in while his man was confused. Broome soon
recovered his presence of mind, went at his man, and,
after some rattling exchanges, Orme was down, amidst
the vociferous cheers of his friends, who considered
that in this round he had infinitely the best of the
hitting. It was a tremendous round, lasting sixteen
minutes, during the greater part of which time the
hitting was extremely severe.
6.――Both came up puffing, and their countenances
considerably changed since the last round. After a good
deal of sparring out of distance, Broome opened the
ball, just reaching Orme’s nose with his left. A second
attempt was frustrated by Orme jumping away and lunging
out his right most viciously at the body; luckily,
however, for the Champion, it did not reach him, or it
would most assuredly have “found him at home.” Broome
again crept up, caught Orme on the potato-trap with his
left, but was prettily stopped in a second attempt. He
tried once more, reached Orme’s left whisker-bed, but
napped it heavily on the sore spot, his left eyebrow,
from which a fresh tap was instantly opened. Broome
retreated to wipe away the carmine from his peeper, and
as Orme attempted to follow him up, he met him with a
straight shooter on the mouth, which opened up another
spring. This caused Orme to rush in wildly, when he
caught it severely on the smeller, from which more
claret trickled; Broome then closed, and, after a long
struggle, threw and fell heavily on Orme.
7.――Broome led off with his left, but was neatly
stopped; he tried again left and right, and was again
parried, Orme returning a stinger with his right on the
left eye. Orme now took the initiative, dashed in
regardless of consequences, and was propped heavily on
the left eye. This led to tremendous counter-hits with
the left, each getting well home on his opponent’s
smelling-bottle. A ding-dong rally followed, both
getting it severely on the mouth and nose, left and
right, and Orme punching Broome’s ribs with great
severity. At length they closed, and rolled over
together, Orme under.
8.――Both came up much the worse for wear. They sparred
cautiously for wind, until Broome got close and sent
out his left, which Orme parried, and missed his
return. Broome led off twice in succession; the first
time Orme jumped away, but the second Broome paid a
visit to his right cheek. Orme then made his left on
the chest, Broome returning with both hands on the side
of his opponent’s nut and his right cheek-bone. Two
more attempts were cleverly stopped by Orme, after
which they rested a short time. Broome was first to
recommence, caught Orme on the left cheek, and received
another awkward reminder on the left eyebrow from
Orme’s right sledge-hammer. Heavy exchanges followed,
Orme getting well home on Broome’s mug and nose, and
Broome on the right ogle and mouth. Broome now resorted
to his old system of turning his back and running away,
Orme after him. Broome at length turned round, let out
his left, but was countered heavily on the nozzle and
mouth. Heavy hits were now exchanged, left and right,
and in the end Orme caught Broome full on the point of
his conk, drawing the ruby in profusion, and knocking
the Champion off his legs; “first knock-down” being
awarded to Orme amidst vociferous cheering. This round,
which, like the fifth, was extremely severe, lasted
twelve minutes.
9.――Broome came up snuffling; the crack on his
snuff-box in the last round had evidently been a
teazer. His left eye was fast closing, and the hopes of
the East Enders began to be in the ascendant. The
betting receded almost to even money, and it was clear
Broome had made the discovery that his adversary was no
such catch as people had expected. He, nevertheless,
opened the proceedings by dashing out his left, which
was well stopped. Counter-hits followed, Broome
reaching his opponent’s left cheek, and receiving in
return on the mouth. Broome next made play left and
right, caught the gallant Orme heavily on each cheek,
and then, closing, threw and fell on him. (One hour had
now elapsed.)
10.――Broome once more took the lead, but was prettily
stopped. Heavy counter-hits followed, Broome on the
nose and Orme on the left cheek. A close at the ropes
succeeded, when Broome hugged Orme round the neck.
Orme, however, punched away at his ribs until Broome
released him, and Orme retreated to the centre of the
ring, whither Broome followed him, and some heavy
exchanges took place, Orme reaching Broome’s nose and
left peeper, and Broome punishing him severely on the
mouth. In the end Orme got down.
11.――Broome, first to open the ball, caught Orme
sharply on the ivory box with his left, drawing claret
and loosening several of his head rails. Orme would not
be stalled off, but immediately rattled in, when some
heavy counter-hitting took place, each getting it
severely on the nose and mouth. A break away and at it
again. The hitting in this round was really tremendous,
both men staggering away after the counters, and each
having his cork drawn to some purpose. At length they
closed, and after a slight struggle Orme got down.