7.—It was clear to the spectators that J_Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 2 (of 3) Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-1740, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863

lead; he cleverly put in a jobber that made the nose of Raines not

only swell, but spoilt the shape of it. In closing Raines

endeavoured to be busy, but the Sailor Boy was the quicker; Raines

received the most punishment, and in going down was undermost.

(Jones for a trifle; in fact, the friends of Raines began to

perceive something was the matter.)

8.—Raines put in a sharp blow on the ear of Jones. (“Well done,

Jem!”) The Sailor Boy, however, returned the favour with interest—he

nosed his opponent, ditto and ditto. (Laughing by the crowd, and “It

is not fair to hit a man twice in one place.”) Raines in the

struggle was again down.

9.—This round was decidedly in favour of Jones. All his blows told.

The nose of Raines again caught it, and he was ultimately hit down.

(The Jonesites had now booked it that the Sailor Boy could win

without a scratch upon his face.)

10.—Not last; but interrupted. Jem made play, and slightly touched

the cheek of Jones; but the Sailor Boy returned another noser. They

closed, when some blows were exchanged; and the Sailor Boy broke

away. A long pause—both on the look-out. Counter-hits. Jones was

going to repeat the dose, when a gentleman on horseback rode up to

the ropes, followed by a constable with a staff in his hand, and

proclaimed, “In the same of the King I command you to desist.” The

assemblage immediately bowed submission and the combatants instantly

“cut their lucky.” The fight had lasted one hour and a quarter, but

the yokels were sadly disappointed, and expressed their anger by

loud hisses and groans. The motley group were soon in motion, and in

less than ten minutes the ground was summat like the “baseless

fabric of a vision;” not a cove was left behind. The nags soon felt

the persuaders, and the toddlers, puffing and blowing, were

compelled to put their best feet foremost in order to keep up with

the drags. Watford was once more the rallying point; and after a few

minutes’ conversation as to finishing the thing, a gentleman offered

his meadow near Bushey Lodge, within a mile and a half of the town,

which was gladly accepted. Here the Commissary-General and his pal

knocked up the ring almost before you could say “Jack Robinson,” and

at a quarter to six the men were again in attitude.

THE FIGHT (PART II.).

Round 1.—The Sailor Boy looked as fresh as a daisy, while Raines

appeared none the better for the delay. He was rather stiff, and his

right hand was a little swelled. Raines made some good stops; but

Jones now seemed determined to finish the thing well, and went up to

his man, fought with Raines, had the best of it, and downed him.

2.—The left eye of Raines had napped pepper in the last round; and

Jones lost no time in polishing off his opponent. He closed, and

fibbed Raines severely until he got him down; but the Sailor Boy

held up his hand to show he would not do anything wrong. (“Bravo!”

and Jones three to one.)

3.—Short; but all in favour of Jones. Raines down.

4.—The mug of Raines was covered with claret, and Jones again fibbed

him off his pins.

5.—Jem was getting abroad, and he hit at random; however, it was a

milling round on both sides, and Jones did not get off without some

clumsy thumps. Both down, Raines undermost.

6.—Sharp work at the ropes. The Sailor Boy held his antagonist and

tipped it him until he went down.

7.—This round decided the fight. Raines was punished all over the

ring until he was down.

8–12.—It was as nice as ninepence to Jones. In the ninth round

Raines was done, and time was called three times before he was

brought to the scratch, and even then he was quite stupid; he,

however, recovered, and fought the remaining rounds—or rather stood

up to be punished—until Jones was declared the conqueror in twenty

minutes.

REMARKS.—Raines never attempted to fight—that is to say, he always

waited for the attack. He countered at times well, but showed

himself more of a sparrer than a milling cove. The Sailor Boy did

everything in his power to win; he fought with capital science, and

likewise bravely. By the above battle he has risen in the estimation

of his friends. Jones will not stand still for backers; and no doubt

the Sailor Boy will soon throw up his hat again in the P.R.

After Reuben Martin had defeated “the Gas,” on Tuesday, October 16th,

1827, at Westbourn Common, Sussex, Harry Jones and Ike Dodd entered the

ring. To detail the rounds of this fight would be not only a waste of

time but of paper. Dodd stood like a chopping-block, and was completely

at the service of the Sailor Boy during thirty-four minutes and eighteen

rounds. Jones took the lead, kept it, and finished off Dodd with the

utmost ease. He won the battle without a scratch upon his face; while,

on the contrary, the mug of Dodd exhibited divers blows in sundry

places. Jones was seconded by Curtis and Stockman, and Ike Dodd by Joe

Fishwick and Lewellin. The above battle was for only £10 a-side and a

trifling subscription purse.

After considerable chaffing, letter-writing, and even blows upon the

subject, a match for £25 a-side was made with Bill Savage and Harry

Jones. The latter went into training at Shirley’s, New Inn, Staines, and

conducted himself like a man desirous to do credit to himself, and

likewise to satisfy his backers. This match was decided on Tuesday,

March 20th, 1828, in the same field, near Chertsey, in which Barney

Aaron and Redmond were to have fought. A few minutes before one o’clock

Jones entered the ring, attended by Young Sam and Ned Stockman. Some

trifling delay occurred before Savage put in an appearance, during which

time Dick Curtis, owing to some misunderstanding with the backer of

Jones, turned round and took five to four for a good stake. This

circumstance rather alarmed the betting men, it being previously

understood that Curtis was to have acted as second to Jones. Savage

threw his castor into the ropes, and Curtis and Alec Reid entered as his

seconds.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—Jones was in tip-top condition, and armed at all points for

his antagonist. The appearance of Savage did not indicate so much

muscle and strength; nevertheless, he was considered up to the mark.

He had also the advantage of a stone in weight and two inches in

height. Some little time occurred in sparring, when Jones

endeavoured to plant a facer with his left hand, but Savage stopped

it skilfully, and got away. The latter retreated to a corner of the

ring, and hit out; but it was “no go,” Harry being too cunning. The

science on both sides was admired, and the parries were excellent.

Jones, eager to go to work, touched Mr. Savage’s _os frontis_ rather

“nasty,” when a close took place, and both combatants endeavoured to

serve it out, until both were down.

2.—The Sailor Boy was too fast for Savage; the latter retreated, but

napped two nobbers. In closing, Savage was bored to the ropes, and

Jones tried on the fibbing system with success, until both went

down.

3.—The Sailor Boy made good use of his science, but Savage stopped

several hits like a pugilist. Jones went in, pelting away, and

caught hold of Savage by the neck with one hand, and made some blows

tell with the other. Savage was not idle in returning upon the body

of Jones. Savage was thrown, and “First blood” called out by Young

Sam, which was discovered upon the lip of Savage.

4.—Jones seemed quite confident that he had nothing to fear from his

opponent, and commenced milling without delay, but Savage made

several good parries. The Sailor Boy slipped down, but jumped up

with so much gaiety as to floor his opponent, (“Harry, go it; that’s

the time of day—it is winning, and nothing else.”)

5.—Jones, without ceremony, planted two nobbers; he also caught hold

of his adversary and gave him a severe cross-buttock, shaking

Savage, his nob coming on the grass and his pins in the air.

(“There’s a burster!” said the Lively Kid; and the friends of Jones

were loud in their marks of approbation. Seven to four.)

6.—Savage showed game to the backbone, and rallying was the result;

in closing, both were down.

7.—Jones’s left hand was exceedingly troublesome, but Savage several

times made skilful stops. In fact, this was a well-fought round on

both sides, until the combatants were upon the ground.

8–10.—The gameness of Savage was the admiration of the ring in all

these rounds; and he also satisfied the spectators that he was not

deficient in science. Savage’s left eye was in mourning and

otherwise damaged, and his face exhibited severe marks of

punishment. Jones took the lead, kept it like a master, and finished

all the rounds in his favour. The mug of the Sailor Boy was as clear

from blows as when he commenced the battle. (Two to one and higher

odds on Jones.)

11–13.—All these rounds were decidedly in favour of Jones; and the

latter showed himself also the best man in obtaining the falls.

Savage was floored by a tremendous hit on his left peeper; and his

pimple shook again from the violent effects of the blow.

14.—Savage was under good instruction, having the Pet of the Fancy

at his elbow, and Bill endeavoured to profit by his advice;

nevertheless, the Sailor Boy could not be reduced, and he, in

general, finished the round in his favour.

15.—Counter-hits, but Savage had the worst of the punishment. (“Long

bowls,” said Curtis to Savage, “will not answer; you must yard-arm

it with your adversary.”) Savage endeavoured to do as Curtis wished

him, and he resolutely went in to work; the Sailor Boy hit him right

away, enough to floor an ox, but the Welshman was too game to go

down. Savage continued the round in the highest style of courage,

until he was thrown cleverly. (“Any odds,” and “Jones, it is all

your own.”)

Any further detail of the rounds would be useless; enough has been

stated to show that the Sailor Boy was completely the hero of the

tale, and reduced conquest almost to a certainty. Jones had never

lost the lead for a moment, but he now took it most decidedly. If

Savage stood out he was jobbed—if he went in he was weaved and

thrown. The fine fighting of Jones was the admiration of the whole

ring, and the delight of all who had not risked their money against

him. But Savage fully supported his character as one of the gamest

of the game; though he had not the slightest chance of winning he

refused to give in, and continued to obey the call of time, in spite

of reiterated cries of “Take him away!” In the twenty-first round

Harry planted a left-hander on Bill’s nose, and also threw him

heavily. In the thirty-second round Savage fought with amazing

spirit, and put in two or three good right-handed bodiers, but Jones

finished the round by giving him a tremendous cross-buttock. In the

thirty-fifth round Harry was winded and was troubled with sickness,

no uncommon occurrence with him in a long fight. Savage, cheered on

by Curtis, endeavoured to take advantage of this circumstance and

some little alarm was in fact felt by those who were not well

acquainted with Harry; but the efforts of Savage were entirely vain.

Sick as he was, Harry had the best of the round, and in the

half-minute’s respite that followed Jones brought up the troublesome

matter, and was soon “all right” again. In the forty-ninth round

Jones threw Savage and fell on him, but under the able management of

his seconds he recovered sufficiently to obey the call of “Time.” It

was clear, however, that Savage could not see his man. Ned Savage

entered the ring in the fifty-fourth round and threw up his hat,

declaring that his brother should fight no more. Harry capered about

the ring for victory, but to the surprise of all present Bill

declared he would not give in. He fought or rather groped his way

through a couple more rounds, when his seconds, seeing that he had

not the “shadow of a shade” of chance took him away, and Harry Jones

was declared the victor, after a most gallant fight of fifty-six

rounds, in one hour and thirty-five minutes.

REMARKS.—Savage showed himself as brave a man as ever pulled off a

shirt, and as being able to stop with considerable skill. His blows

did not tell in out-fighting, his distances were incorrect, and when

he closed he could not punish. He had hitherto been considered a

good wrestler, but Harry almost always threw him. Indeed, poor Bill

received more than twenty, perhaps we might say thirty,

cross-buttocks, each of which was terribly effective. Harry Jones

showed tactics of the very highest order. It is difficult to say

which we had most occasion to admire—his out-fighting or

in-fighting. He was evidently notwithstanding the disparity in size,

much stronger than Savage, and, in fact, so fine was his science

that he quitted the ring with hardly a mark on his face, and

returned to Staines to dine so little “the worse for wear” that a

stranger could not have discovered from his appearance that he had

been fighting. His brave but unfortunate antagonist, on the

contrary, was borne off the ground to the “Cricketers” public-house,

where he was put to bed. The fight would have been brought to a

conclusion much sooner had not Jones, in the early part of the

action, sprained his left arm in one of the falls. The injury

prevented the use of his left hand throughout the rest of the fight.

Not the slightest dispute took place during the whole of the fight.

Jones was often deservedly applauded for his forbearance in

releasing Savage when he was entirely at his mercy, and, upon the

whole, it was as fair, clever, and manly a battle as the best

well-wishers to honest pugilism would desire to witness.

Jones had now given undeniable proofs of more than ordinary boxing

qualifications. In fact by many fanciers he was declared to be the best

ten stone man on the list. Ned Stockman, however, “the Lively Kid,” at

that time a first favourite in sporting circles, strenuously denied this

at all times and places, pointing to his early defeats of Harry, twice

for purses (of course impromptu affairs), and later for £25 in the

regular P.R., at Epping, in 1824. Mr. Stockman, however, had forgotten

that Harry had been improving in bone and stamina (he was only

twenty-one), while “the Lively Kid” had been “going the pace” in very

fast company. Ned soon got on a match for £25 a-side, and, all going

smoothly, articles were signed, and he met Harry Jones at Shere Mere, on

the 16th September, 1828. A clever fight on the part of Stockman, not

without occasional game rallies, almost uniformly to the advantage of

the Sailor Boy, in the forty-third round ended in Stockman’s defeat, his

chances being quite out some time before the finale.

Barney Aaron, whose victorious career we have just given, was the Sailor

Boy’s next opponent. In weight the men were about equal, but the fame of

the “Star of the East” shone so brightly that the £100 staked were

already “as good as won,” and so discounted by the denizens of Duke’s

Place. But the soundness of Mark Twain’s advice, “never to prophesy

unless you know,” received here another illustration. On the 11th of

November, 1828, at the Barge House, Woolwich Marshes, the renowned

Barney struck his colours to the gallant Sailor Boy, after eighteen

sharp fighting rounds, lasting fifteen minutes only.

Tom Reidie, “the Colonel,” conceiting himself upon his shifty

performance among the cabbages at Battersea, already noticed, having

spoken disparagingly of Harry’s victory as “a fluke,” followed it up by

expressing a wish that “somebody” would back him for “half a hundred,”

and let him “stand in a tenner of his own.” A patron of the “silver” or

“copper hell,” whereof the Colonel was for the time being

“groom-porter,” volunteered “the needful,” and, in the short period of

seven weeks from his victory over Aaron, the Sailor Boy was face to face

with Reidie at Hurley Bottom, Berks, on the 30th of December, 1828, for

£15 a-side. This time the Colonel’s “strategic movements to the rear”

entirely failed him. The stakes and ropes enclosed him in the limits of

twenty-four feet, and in less than that number of minutes (the fight

lasted twenty-two, minutes) down went Tom Reidie for the last time, at

the close of the sixteenth round, perfectly satisfied that he had quite

another “boy” to deal with than the lad he had tired out in Battersea

Fields.

Frank Redmond, whose game battles with Barney Aaron we have already

chronicled in these pages, proposed to try conclusions with the Sailor

Boy for a stake of £100 a-side, which Jones had now little difficulty in

getting together. It was a game and, for a few rounds, a tremendous

struggle, but Harry had “a little more left in him” in the last three

rounds (there were only ten in all), and in thirty-six minutes he was

hailed the victor of a well-fought field.

We should unduly extend the bulk of our volumes did we attempt to give

the detailed rounds of all the fights of the minor celebrities to whom

we have given niches in our gallery of pugilistic pen-portraits. We

shall therefore summarise Harry’s other battles by merely enumerating

them.

On the 19th May, 1829, at Harpenden Common, he fought and beat George

Watson for a stake of £50 a-side. Time, thirty-nine minutes; rounds,

thirty.

June 7th, 1831, beat Dick Hill (the Nottingham Champion), for £100

a-side, at Bagthorpe Common, Notts, in sixty-nine rounds, eighty

minutes.

Harry next met “the Oxford Pet,” Perkins, whose victory over Dick Curtis

had placed him on a pinnacle above his real merits as a boxer. On

January 17th, 1832, Harry Jones disposed of “the Pet’s” lofty

pretensions in twenty-two rounds, occupying forty-six minutes only. The

battle was fought at Hurley Bottom.

On April 2nd, 1833, Jones, who had just recovered from a long illness,

fought Gipsy Jack Cooper for £25 a-side, at Chertsey. It was a long and

tedious battle, with heavy punishment on both sides, for two hours and

ten minutes, twenty-six long rounds, when Jones was hailed as conqueror.

For some time Harry, who was suffering from a chronic disease of the

lungs, caused by exposure, earned money by sitting at Somerset House as

an artists’ model; and we can well say a finer bust and arms for an

athlete, or an exemplar of muscular development and symmetry, could

rarely be met with. As poor Harry, too, was a civil-spoken and

good-looking fellow, he had a numerous _clientèle_.

Another “Sailor Boy,” with the prefix of the words “The East End,” hight

Tom Smith, was now in the field. He was ten stone four pounds; and

having disposed of the nine stone lad, Owen Swift, and also Jack Adams

and Aaron, he challenged Harry. The match was made for £50 a-side, and

the two “Sailor Boys” met at Shrubs Hill, Bucks, on the 17th June, 1834.

Harry was no longer the “Gay Sailor Boy.” His heart was sound, but his

breathing apparatus was rapidly going out of repair, and in five rounds,

occupying only fourteen minutes, down went poor Harry for the last time,

and his colours and the £50 were the prize of “the East End Sailor Boy.”

Soon afterwards Jones became an inmate of the Westminster Hospital,

where he died on the 14th April, 1835, at the early age of twenty-eight

years.

JACK PERKINS (“THE OXFORD PET”). 1827–1830.

Among the ten stone boxers who ran a bright but brief career we note

Jack Perkins, “the Oxford Pet,” renowned chiefly for his victory over

the theretofore unconquered Dick Curtis.

Perkins’s first recorded battle, at the age of nineteen, with Bailey

Wakelin, an Oxonian pugilist nearly a stone his superior in weight,

spread his fame among the “gownsmen.” The affair came off at Radley

Common, on the 30th January, 1827, for £25 a-side, “the Pet” polishing

off his opponent in twenty-three active rounds, occupying thirty-two

minutes only.

His next appearance in buff was with Godfrey, an Oxford waterman, at

Henson, near the University City, on the 3rd of July, 1827. In the

seventh round, after twenty-eight minutes’ fighting, the referee awarded

the fight to Godfrey (against whom two and three to one was current), on

the ground that Perkins had got down without a blow. Godfrey refused a

second trial.

Perkins’s next match was with a well-known London man, Jem Raines.[57]

The battle was for £25 a-side, and came off at Penton Hook, near

Staines, on the 21st August, 1828. The Londoner’s skill was completely

outshone by the provincial professor, who out-fought and in-fought,

rallied, and sent down poor Jem for about a dozen of the twenty-five

rounds which comprised the battle, lasting forty-four minutes.

Perkins was now voted a don in the “University of Fives,” and was soon

matched by some of his “undergrad” admirers with Dick Price, of whose

qualifications a slight instance is given in the sketch of Harry Jones,

in a previous page of this Appendix. Perkins’s fight with Dick Price, at

Wantage, Berks, on October 15th, 1828, in which Price had for seconds

Peter Crawley and Dick Curtis, from London, was a one-sided affair, the

Oxford Pet knocking down the eleven stone butcher in the second and

third rounds, and administering punishment _ad lib._ until the sixteenth

and last, when the fight was over. Time sixty-two minutes.

On this occasion some chaffing between Curtis and Perkins produced all

ill feeling, and in the very next issue of _Bell’s Life_ we find “a

friend from Oxford” was commissioned to stake for a match with Curtis

for £100 a side, and articles were signed for a meeting between the two

“Pets.” Curtis forfeited on the second deposit, being matched to fight

Edwards for £200 a-side in the ensuing February. This match also ending

this time in a forfeit to Curtis, the affair with Perkins was resumed.

We may here note that Curtis was at this period suffering from an attack

of rheumatic gout, and that he stated this fact in reply to a challenge

of one Joseph Hudson Gardener to fight for £300, in April, 1829. A

“short-notice” battle was eventually agreed upon for £100 a-side, and

the day fixed for the 30th December, 1828.

In London and its vicinity, Curtis, who had pursued a long career of

glory, and who, in all his battles, had never been beaten, was

considered almost invincible; and few, in the first instance, were

disposed to lay against him, although seven to four and two to one were

repeatedly offered. As the time of fighting approached, however, more

minute inquiries were made respecting the merits of his opponent, and

those who had had opportunities of judging described him as a customer

of no ordinary stamp. He had been, like Dick, successful in all his

contests, and was described by those who knew him best as a scientific

pugilist—active on his legs, a straight and severe hitter with his left,

a good getter away, and distinguished for sound bottom. Independent of

this, it was known that he was at least a stone heavier than Curtis,

weighing when stripped ten stone four pounds, while Dick was booked at

nine stone at most. He was also five years younger than Curtis, being

scarcely twenty, while Dick was twenty-five; and those who knew the

habits of the latter were perfectly aware that they were not such—since

he had been in the habit of “seeing the gas turned off”—as to improve

his stamina or increase his muscular powers.

Both men went immediately into active training—Curtis to Hartley Row,

and Perkins, first in Oxfordshire, and latterly to Mr. Shirley’s, the

New Inn, at Staines, whose system of training and unremitting care of

the men entrusted to his charge placed him deservedly high in the

estimation of the best judges. It was observed that both men were

uncommonly attentive to their exercise, and both were acknowledged to be

in excellent condition. These were points to which particular attention

was paid as the period of the last deposit approached, and the friends

of Perkins exhibited an increasing confidence, many boldly asserting

that Curtis would find himself mistaken in his estimate of the talent of

his opponent, and others boldly asserting that they thought he was

overmatched—a stone being far too much for any man to give away, where

it was accompanied by a corresponding proportion of science and game.

Still, such was the deep-rooted prejudice in favour of Curtis, and such

the confidence in his generalship and cutting severity of punishment,

that the great majority of the Metropolitans considered it next to

treason to harbour a thought of his defeat. There were those, however,

who were not quite so bigoted in their opinions, and who, viewing the

merits of the men dispassionately, were disposed to think that Curtis,

as well as many of his gallant contemporaries, might find an equal, if

not a superior, in the art which he professed. Among this class were

found ready takers of the long odds of two to one, and subsequently of

seven to four—but on the night of the last deposits the odds were taken

to a large amount at six to four.

On the Monday evening the road to Maidenhead, which was appointed

headquarters, was crowded with vehicles of all descriptions, and every

house which would receive such visitors was crowded to excess. Curtis

and his backers cast anchor at the “Sun,” and Perkins, under the

auspices of the Oxford Dragsman, brought to at the “Dumb Bell,” on the

London side of Maidenhead Bridge. Curtis was accompanied by Tom Reidie,

who had trained with him, and Perkins by Harry Jones.

Tuesday morning produced a numerous accession to the multitude, and

countless vehicles continued to pour in as the day advanced, embracing

some of the most distinguished patrons of the Ring, and giving ample

occupation to the postmasters.

At an early hour Tom Oliver and his assistant, Frosty-faced Fogo,

proceeded to form the milling arena in the Parish Meadow, at Hurley

Bottom, Berks, thirty-four miles from London, and close to the banks of

the Thames—in summer no doubt a very desirable spot, but in the winter

season, from the marshy state of the soil, anything but eligible,

especially for those who had to travel in heavy vehicles. Several of

these stuck fast in the yielding soil, and the casualties which followed

were of the most ludicrous description—many of the inmates, who till

then had escaped the miseries of damp feet, being obliged to alight,

and, ankle deep in mud, to scramble to that portion of the turf which

was still capable of bearing their weight. Having encountered these

dangers “by flood and field,” they reached the ring, which was admirably

constructed, and surrounded by an ample supply of wagons, flanked by an

immense number of carriages of every denomination. As a proof of the

interest excited we may state that the crowd assembled was estimated at

more than 5,000 persons.

At one o’clock the men had arrived on the ground, sporting their

respective colours—Curtis a bright orange, Perkins a crimson. The bustle

of preparation was soon visible. The whips were distributed to the men

appointed by the Fair Play Club, and the stragglers were driven back to

the outer ring of rope which had been constructed near to the wagons.

Shortly after Dick Curtis approached the scene of action, accompanied by

Josh Hudson and Young Dutch Sam, and was soon followed by Perkins, under

the guidance of Tom Spring and Harry Holt. On meeting within the ring

they shook hands, and immediately commenced stripping. Both looked well

in health; but it was impossible not to observe that there was a rustic

hardiness in the appearance of Perkins, very different from that of

Curtis, who, nevertheless, had that sleekness and delicacy in his aspect

which one is apt to ascribe to superior breed or higher blood. On

stripping this contrast was still more apparent; for while Curtis showed

that beautiful symmetry of person for which he was so distinguished, and

which would have formed a perfect model for the sculptor, Perkins was

rough, square, and muscular in appearance. His head, too, being stripped

in patches of its hair, from the effect of ringworm in early life, gave

him rather the cut of a ragged colt just caught upon the mountain wilds

than the well-groomed nag coming from the stud of an indulgent master.

Overcoming first impression, however, on seeing both men stripped, it

was impossible not to discover at a glance the great disparity in point

of size between the men. Perkins appeared to us to be at least two

inches taller than Curtis, and every way larger in proportion. He was

well pinned, with substantial thighs, and his shoulders and arms showed

powerful muscle, though his loins were thin. His phiz, too, exhibited

various scars, which were convincing proofs that he had been engaged in

encounters of no trifling character. He evinced a great coolness in his

manner, and, as throughout his training, booked victory as certain.

Curtis looked to us light, but, nevertheless, in high favour with

himself. Many old followers of the stakes did not hesitate on seeing the

men for the first time stripped in fair comparison to exclaim, “Dick is

overmatched,” an opinion which had often been expressed before, but met

with little attention. Everything being in readiness the men were

conducted to the scratch and commenced.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—The positions of both men were good. Curtis, his head a

little advanced, his arms well up, and his eye measuring his man

with the piercing look of the eagle. Perkins, his head rather on one

side, and thrown a little back, his right hand well up, to stop

Dick’s left, and his left ready for a fling. Each manœuvred and

changed ground. Dick made several feints with his left, but Perkins

was not to be drawn from his caution. (“He’s not to be kidded!”

cried one of the Oxonians.) Dick crept in, tried to draw his man

once or twice, but it would not do. Perkins stood well to his guard.

Five minutes were occupied in this way, and not a blow struck; at

last Dick plunged in with his left, which was stopped, but he

delivered with his right. Good counter-hits were exchanged in a

rally, Dick catching the left between his eyes, which made them

twinkle, and the right on the tip of his conk. Perkins instantly

stepped back and exclaimed. “First blood!” at the same time pointing

to Dick’s nose, and sure enough the purple fluid came gurgling

forth. Dick, undismayed, bustled up to his man, and caught him

heavily on the mouth with his left. Perkins got well away, but no

time was lost in again getting to a rally; Dick would not be denied,

and got close to his man. Perkins again put in a left-handed facer,

but had a tremendous hit in return from Dick’s right, which cut him

over the corner of the left eye, and drew a copious stream of blood.

Both again drew back, but Dick suffered no time to elapse, rushed in

to deliver, and after two or three exchanges Perkins went down from

a slight hit. The round lasted seven minutes, and the fighting on

both sides was excellent, and acknowledged by the most sceptical to

be better than was expected on the part of the Oxford Pet.

2.—Dick again came up in beautiful position, while Perkins seemed

perfectly at home, and nowise dismayed by Dick’s “ocular

demonstration.” Perkins waited; and Dick, after two or three feints

with his left, made a good hit with his right, but was well

countered by Perkins. A sharp and active rally followed, in which

Perkins caught it on the nozzle, and was on a par with his opponent,

for he too showed abundance of claret. In the end Perkins was down,

though not a decided knock-down blow.

3.—Perkins came up fresh as a kitten, while Dick looked deeply

intent on his work. Dick hit out with his left, but was cleverly

stopped. Perkins made a similar effort, but was likewise stopped.

Dick then rushed in to hit, while Perkins retreated and fell back at

the ropes, half out of the ring. (Shouts for Dick.)

4.—Dick’s face was now a good deal flushed, and the first hit

between the ogles began to show its effects, as his right eye became

discoloured. Dick, after a leary feint, rushed in to hit with his

left; but Perkins, with great steadiness, parried the compliment,

and smiled. Dick finding he could not plant his favourite nobbers,

now tried the body, and popped in two or three pretty hits in the

bread-basket with his left. Perkins was not idle, and caught him on

the side of the head with his right. Both were again cautious, and

Perkins covered his upper works in good style; he was always ready

to counter with his left as he stopped with his right. Dick saw

this, and repeated his body blows, leaving pretty obvious marks from

his knuckles; Perkins did not return. Good counter-hits at the nob

right and left, and both away. Again to manœuvring, when Dick’s body

hit was stopped; he then rushed in and hit Perkins open-handed with

his left. Perkins returned with his left, catching him on the mouth,

and a few slight exchanges followed. Dick again had him in the body

with his left. After a short pause a fine slashing rally followed,

and some jobbing hits were delivered on both sides, but little

advantage was observable. The punishment received by Dick, however,

was more obvious; in the end Perkins fell. This was a fine manly

round, and excited general applause; and from Dick’s steadiness, his

friends’ confidence increased.

5.—The symmetry of Dick’s more delicate physog. was a good deal

altered, while Perkins’s only showed the cut over his right eye, and

still preserved his coolness and self-possession. Dick again planted

his left-handed body hit, but was idle with his right; in fact,

Perkins was so well guarded as to bid defiance to his usual sharp

and cutting jobs. A short rally, in which hits were exchanged, and

both went down easy, Perkins under.

6.—Dick tried to plant his left on Perkins’s nob, but he got well

away, and succeeded in stopping a second attempt at his body.

Perkins made two excellent stops right and left at his head, but

napped it in the ribs; this did not seem to affect him, and he

preserved his steadiness in a manner little expected from a yokel.

Good stops on both sides, and an admirable display of science;

Perkins stopped right and left, but his returns passed beside Dick’s

head, and were rather at random; hits were interchanged, though not

of great moment, and in the close Perkins went down.

7.—Dick fought a little open-mouthed, and seemed somewhat crabbed at

not being able to reach his man. He took a drop of brandy-and-water

and again went to action. Perkins still steady and collected, and

evidently as strong as a horse. Dick resumed his feinting system,

and caught Perkins cleverly with his left, while he delivered his

right heavily on his collar-bone. Had this reached his canister, as

was no doubt intended, it would have told tales, but Perkins’s

activity on his legs enabled him to step back in time. Dick put in

three body blows in succession with his left, but they did not seem

to tell on the iron carcass of Perkins. Dick then rushed in to

punish, but Perkins, in retreating, fell, and pulled him upon him.

(Dick’s friends were still satisfied all was right, and booked

winning as certain. But little betting took place, so intense was

the interest excited by every move.)

8.—Dick tried his left-handed job, but was stopped, and with equal

neatness stopped the counter from Perkins’s left. In a second effort

Perkins was more successful, and put in his left cleverly on Dick’s

nob, while Dick countered at his body. Perkins again stopped Dick’s

left-handed job, and showed great quickness in getting away. A fine

spirited rally followed, in which mutual exchanges took place, and

the blood flowed from the smellers of both. It was a fine, manly

display on both sides, but in the end Perkins hit Dick clean off his

legs with his right, catching him heavily on the side of the head.

(Immense cheers from the Oxonians, and the Londoners looking blue.)

9.—Dick, a little abroad, popped in his left on Perkins’s body, and

then rushed in to fight. Perkins retreated, and got into the corner

of the ring, when a desperate rally followed; Perkins jobbed Dick

several times right and left, catching him heavily under the ear

with his right, thus showing he could use both hands with equal

effect. Dick fought with him, but the length of Perkins seemed too

great to enable him to hit with effect. Finding himself foiled at

this game, he closed, and catching Perkins’s nob under his arm, was

about to fib; but Perkins slipped down, by the advice of Spring, and

evaded the punishment he would otherwise have received. Dick, on

getting to his second’s knee, was covered with blood, and looked all

abroad; the right-handed hit under his lug in the last round was

evidently a stinger.

10.—Both came up collected, but Dick did not seem disposed to lose

much time in reflection; he hit with his left, but had it in return

from Perkins on the nob. A lively rally followed, in which both got

pepper; Dick rushed in hastily, and Perkins fell, Dick on him.

11, and last.—Dick now came up evidently resolved to make a

desperate effort to put aside the coolness of Perkins, but he found

his man ready at all points; good counter-hits were exchanged, and

both fought with fury; Perkins threw in a heavy hit with his left on

Dick’s nob, and then on his body with his right; Dick fought with

him boldly, but had no advantage, when Perkins again caught him

heavily under the ear with his right, and he fell “all of a heap.”

He was immediately picked up, and his seconds tried every expedient

to bring him to his senses, but he was completely stupefied, and on

time being called was incapable of standing. The hat was immediately

thrown up, announcing victory, and Perkins ran out of the ring as

strong as ever. He was, however, sent back till the battle was

pronounced won or lost. The decision was given in favour of Perkins,

and in a short time Dick was conveyed to his carriage, and from the

ground to Maidenhead. The fight lasted twenty-three minutes and a

half.

REMARKS.-At the conclusion of the fight, which was certainly more

quickly ended than we anticipated, most of the persons close to the

ring seemed to be satisfied that Curtis had been out-fought, and

that, in fact, he had been, as was observed in the first instance,

overmatched. The losers, however, soon began to state a different

impression, and certain shrugs and twists gave indication of a

feeling that all was not right “in the state of Denmark.” It is

certain that Dick did not do as much with Perkins as we have seen

him do with other men; but then it must be considered that we never

saw him opposed to so good a man as Perkins was on this day. In

addition to his superior weight and physique, the Oxford man from

first to last preserved a coolness and steadiness, and covered his

points with a scientific precision, which few men of his age and

experience have displayed in the Ring. This was admitted even by

those who had most reason to lament his success. In our opinion Dick

fought too quickly, and lost that presence of mind which with such

an opponent was his only chance of success. From the undiminished

strength which Perkins showed at the last, too, we are satisfied he

could have continued the fight much longer. We agree with Sam (who

seconded Curtis) that he was more of a match for him than for the

Pet. It cannot be forgotten that from the first moment the match was

made we expressed our fears that Dick was giving away too much

weight, and the result has confirmed our judgment.

In a very few minutes after the fight Perkins entered the ring dressed,

and little the worse for his engagement, beyond the cut over his left

eye and a little puffiness in the mouth and nose; he must, however, have

felt for some time the effects of his body blows, which were both heavy

and numerous. He expressed a strong desire to second Harry Jones in his

fight with Reidie, but this his friends would not permit.

A challenge from Bob Coates procured for that boxer a thrashing in

twenty-five rounds, occupying twenty-eight minutes, near Chipping

Norton, on the 19th of March, 1830.

The defeat of Curtis, as we have already noted in our Memoirs of ALEC

REID and HARRY JONES, rankled in the memory of the London Ring, and

consequently a more equal opponent for the fresh and hardy provincial

was looked out in the person of Alec Reid, “the Chelsea Snob,” the full

details of which may be read in the tenth chapter of this volume, pp.

423–426.

This first defeat took place on the 25th May, 1830, and thenceforward,

until 1832, Perkins remained without a customer. Towards the close of

1831 a negotiation with Harry Jones, the Sailor Boy, was concluded. The

stakes, £50 a-side, were tabled, and on January 17th, 1832, at Hurley

Bottom, the scene of his victory over the London Pet, the Oxford man was

defeated, after a gallant defence, in twenty-two rounds, time forty-six

minutes.

With this defeat closed the Ring career of “the Oxford Pet,” in three

short years.

END OF VOL. II.

INDEX TO VOLUME II.

[Illustration]

AARON, BARNEY (“the Star of the East”).

His birthplace, 504

His early days, 504

His battles with Connelly, Lyons, Ely Bendon, and Sam Belasco, 504–5

Beats Tom Collins for a purse, 504

Beats Ned Stockman, 504

Beats Tom Lenney (twice), 505–6

Beats Frank Redmond, 507

Beats Peter Warren, 508

A gallant tar’s generosity, 509

A “chant of victory”, 509

Beaten by Arthur Matthewson, 510

Arthur Matthewson (note), 510

Challenges Matthewson to a second trial, 511

Battle with Dick Hares, 511

Mynheer Van Haagen’s letter descriptive of the fight, 511

Defeated by Dick Curtis, 512

Set-to with Curtis at the Coburg Theatre, 512

Second battle with Frank Redmond, 512

A disappointment, 513

The stakes awarded to Barney, 513

Third match with Frank Redmond, 513

Beats Frank Redmond, 514

Beats Marsh Bateman, 515

Beaten by Tom Smith, 515

Dies in Whitechapel, 515

ABBOT, BILL.

His victories, 182

Beats Dick Hares and Dolly Smith, 183

Beaten by West Country Dick (see Vol. I.), 184

Beats a “Johnny Raw”, 185

Beats a “navvy” at Hampton, 185

Beats Bennyflood, 186

Beats Pitman, 186

Beats Tom Oliver, 186

Beats Phil Sampson, 189

Challenges Josh Hudson, 191

Fights a cross with Jem Ward, 191

Beaten by Larkins, of Cambridge, 191

Beats Search, 191

ACTON, DICK, his battles, note of, 200

BROWN, TOM (“Big Brown,” of Bridgnorth).

His birthplace, 437

Aspires to the Championship, 437

Matched with Tom Shelton, 437

Patronised by Tom Spring, 437

Beats Tom Shelton, 438

Challenges the Championship, 440

Replies to the challenges by Ward and Sampson, 441

Match with Jem Ward goes off, 443

Defeated by Phil Sampson, 445

Beats Isaac Dobell (first time), 446

Beats Isaac Dobell (second time), 449

Announces his retirement from the P.R., 450

Second match with Sampson, 450

Beats Phil Sampson, 451

Disputed result—Mr. Beardsworth gives up the stakes, 452

Recovers the £200 battle-money of Mr. Beardsworth, 453

Becomes a Boniface in Bridgnorth, 453

BALDWIN, EDWARD (“White-headed Bob”).

His birth, 338

First appearance in the Ring, 338

Beats O’Connor, 338

A pupil of Bill Eales, 338

A plant with Jem Ward, 388

Beats Maurice Delay, 339

His patronage by “Pea-green Hayne”, 341

Becomes a “man on town”, 341

Forfeits to Ned Neale £100, 341

Is beaten by Ned Neale, 341

Challenges Langan, the Irish Champion, 342

Beats George Cooper, 342

Opens “Subscription Rooms”, 344

Takes a Provincial tour, 344

Beaten by Jem Burn, 344

Beats Jem Burn, 345

Fights a “draw” with Ned Neale, 350

Beats Ned Neale, 350

Dies at the “Coach and Horses,” St. Martin’s Lane, Oct., 1831, 352

BURN, JEM (“My Nevvy”).

His birth at Darlington, 328

Apprenticed at Newcastle, 326

Of a fighting family, 326

Early exploits, 326

Beats O’Neil, 327

Sir Bellingham Graham, 328

Matched with Jack Martin, 328

A draw, 329

Defeated by Ned Neale, 329

And by Phil Sampson, 329

Beats Pat Magee, 330

Marries Miss Watson, of Bristol, 333

Matched with Ned Baldwin (“White-headed Bob”), 333

Beats Baldwin, 334

A second match made, 335

Is defeated by Baldwin, 336

Beaten by Neale (second time), 336

Becomes host of the “Queen’s Head”, 336

An active second, backer, and professor of the art, 336

His character and last illness, 336

A mechanical contrivance, 336

His death, 336

CANNON, TOM (“the Great Gun of Windsor”).

Appeared too late in the P.R., 248

Born at Eton, 248

Classic associations of youth, 248

A fisherman, “bargee,” and runaway, 249

Cannon defeats Tom Anslow, a Grenadier, 249

Matched with Dolly Smith, 250

Witnesses the fight of Hudson and Ward, 251

Offers to fight either combatant, 251

Matched with Josh Hudson, 251

Beats Josh Hudson, 252

Second match with Hudson, 254

Gamekeeper to Mr. Hayne, 255

Stage and Grand Stand for the fight, 256

“The Squire” (Osbaldeston) referee, 256

Defeats Josh Hudson again, 257

Becomes a publican at Windsor, 259

Challenges the Championship for £1,000, 259

“Pea-green” Hayne’s match at Brighton, 259

Wrestles with Carney the Gambler, 260

Sparring at “Ireland’s Ground”, 260

Is challenged and beaten by Jem Ward, 261

Exhibits at the Coburg Theatre, 261

Is beaten by Ned Neale, 261

Becomes host of the “Castle,” Jermyn Street, 261

Retires, and is a “swan-watcher” to the City Corporation, 262

Commits suicide in his 69th year, in July, 1858, 262

CARTER, JACK (“the Lancashire Hero”).

His character as a boxer, 161

His early days, 161

Works as a “navvy”, 162

Pierce Egan’s story of the jackass, 162

Meeting with Bob Gregson, 163

Appears at the Fives Court, 163

Beats Boone, the Soldier, 164

Beaten by Jack Power, 164

Beaten by Molineaux, 164

Travels the Provinces and Ireland, 165

His challenges, 165

His battle with Stephenson, 165

His battle with Sam Robinson, 166

His second battle with Robinson, 168

Matched with Tom Oliver, 170

Defeats Tom Oliver, 171

His pedestrian capabilities, 173

Again challenges Cribb, 173

His puffing announcements, 174

Matched with Spring, 174

His defeat by Spring, 175

Returns to Ireland, 176

And to England, 176

Challenges Shelton and Jem Ward, 176

Is beaten by Jem Ward, 176

Beaten by Deaf Burke, 176

Died at Manchester, 1844, 176

CRAWLEY, PETER, 1818–1827.

His introduction to the Ring, 233

His birth and parentage, 233

Apprenticed to a butcher in Clare Market, 233

Juvenile encounters, 234

The “Coal-yard” against “Bloomsbury”, 234

Sundry fistic exploits, 235

A Westminster election and its consequences, 236

Beats Ben Sutliffe in the Ring, 237

Has a severe accident, 237

Glove-fight with Bully Southerns, 238

Defeats Dick Acton, 238

Goes into business as a butcher, 239

Is engaged as a “special” at the Coronation of George IV., 240

Mr. Sullivan’s mistake, 240

Replies to Jem Ward’s challenge, 240

Matched with Ward, 240

Two Commissaries and a _contretemps_, 240

Beats Jem Ward, “the Champion”, 242

Peter at the Tennis Court, 245

His modest speech and retirement from the P.R., 245

Becomes landlord of the “Queen’s Head and French Horn,” Smithfield,

246

An insolent customer, 246

His forbearance and courage, 246

Acts as referee at the fight of Harry Broome and “the Tipton

Slasher”, 247

His death in 1865, aged 66, 247

CURTIS, DICK (“the Pet of the Fancy”).

His merits as a pugilist, 481

His birth, 482

His first battle with Watson, 482

Beats Ned Brown (“the Sprig of Myrtle”), 482

Beats Lenney, 483

Dick at Epsom Races, 484

Beats Cooper, a Gipsy, 485

Defeats Peter Warren four times, 485

His battle with Hares prevented, 486

Defeats Dick Hares, 487

Receives £100 forfeit from Barney Aaron, 487

Poetical effusions on the match with Aaron, 489

A “turn-up” with Ned Savage, 490

Disposes of Stockman in one round, 491

Matched with Aaron for £100 a-side, 491

Beats Barney Aaron, 492

Matched with Tisdale, 492

An idle controversy with Jack Randall, 498

Takes leave of the Ring, 498

A rencontre with a coalheaver, 498

Goes on a tour in the North, 499

Disposes of Coaly’s pretensions in a glove-fight, 499

Is beaten by Perkins, “the Oxford Pet”, 500

His talent as a second, 500

Testimony to his integrity by a friend, 501

His death and funeral, 501

Monody on Dick Curtis, 501

DONNELLY, DAN (“Champion of Ireland”).

His birth, 138

Fight with Isle of Wight Hall, 139

Defeats George Cooper, 139

Comes over to Liverpool, 140

Joins Carter in a sparring exhibition, 141

Comes to London—opinions of the amateurs, 142

Appears at the Minor Theatre, Catherine Street, Strand, 142

Challenged by Sutton, the Black, 143

Sets-to at the Fives Court, 143

Challenged by Oliver, 144

Defeats Tom Oliver, 145

Other challenges to Donnelly, 149

His dissipation and loss of money, 149

His arrest, and subsequent departure for Ireland, 150

Donnybrook Fair, 151

Carter’s challenge to Donnelly, 152

The match goes off, 153

His house in Pill Lane, 153

His sudden death, 154

Dan’s humour and training eccentricities, 154

Public and literary honours to Dan’s memory, 155

His funeral, 159

His epitaph, 160

EVANS, SAMUEL (“Young Dutch Sam”).

His birth and parentage, 353

His early days, 354

Apprenticed as a compositor, 354

A youthful escapade, 355

Becomes a “flying newsman”, 355

Is introduced to Mr. John Jackson, &c., 355

Receives forfeit from Lenney, 356

His friendship with Dick Curtis, “the Pet”, 356

Beats Ned Stockman, 356

Spars at the theatres, 358

Beats Harry Jones, “the Sailor Boy”, 358

Defeats Tom Cooper, “the Gipsy”, 359

Beats Bill Carroll at Ascot, for “a purse” given by the Duke of

Wellington, 361

Beats Jack Cooper, “the Gipsy”, 362

Defeats Dick Davis, “the Manchester Pet”, 364

Matched with Bishop Sharpe, 367

Comparison of the men, 367

The fight prevented, 368

Sparring at the Tennis Court, 369

The stakes given up to Sharpe, 370

Challenges Peace Inglis, 370

Receives forfeit from Dan M’Kenzie, 370

Held to bail for twelve months, 371

Beats a big carman for striking Dick Curtis, 371

Challenged by Jack Martin, 372

Preliminaries of the battle, 373

Defeats Jack Martin, 374

Preliminaries of first fight with Ned Neale, 376

Beats Ned Neale (first battle), 379

Renewed challenge by Neale, 382

Contrasted qualifications of the men, 383

The road to Newmarket, 384

Defeats Neale a second time, 385

Sam “a man about town”, 387

The Haymarket and its “night-houses”, 388

Challenged by Tom Gaynor, 388

A drunken constable and a lost “warrant”, 388

Defeats Tom Gaynor, 389

Matched with Reuben Martin, 392

Prevented by the death of “Brighton Bill”, 392

Absconds to Paris, 392

Frank Redmond (note), 392

Adventures in Paris, 393

Returns, is tried at Hertford, and acquitted, 394

“Tom-and-Jerryism” rampant 1836–46, 394

A police fracas and three months’ imprisonment, 395

“Lament of the Disorderly Gentlemen”, 396

Becomes a publican, and marries, 397

Sam’s qualifications as a boxer, 397

His death, and a “Monody” thereon, 398

GAYNOR, TOM (“the Bath Carpenter”).

His late _début_ in the Ring, 400

Birthplace, 400

Tom’s wonderful uncle “the Zummerzet Champion”, 400

Early skirmishes of the young carpenter, 401

Makes his way to the Metropolis, 401

A glove-bout with Josh Hudson, 402

Sets-to with Ben Burn, 402

Defeated by Ned Neale, 402

Beaten at Epsom Races by “Young Gas”, 402

Matched with Alec Reid, 402

Beats Alec Reid, 403

Matched with “Young Gas”—a draw, 405

Beaten by Bishop Sharpe, 405

Matched with Charles Gybletts, 405

Beats Gybletts, 406

Second match with Neale proposed, 408

Both men publicans, 408

Beats Ned Neale, 409

Challenged by Young Dutch Sam, 411

Beaten by Young Dutch Sam, 411

His death, 411

HICKMAN, THOMAS (“the Gasman”).

His character as a boxer, 118

His birth, 118

Apprenticed to a boiler maker, 119

Early battles, 120

His battle with Peter Crawley, 121

Beats George Cooper, 122

Receives forfeit from Cooper, 124

Glove battle with Kendrick the Black, 124

Second match with George Cooper, 124

Beats George Cooper second time, 125

Matched with Tom Oliver, 126

Scenes on the road, 126

Defeats Tom Oliver, 127

Matched with Neat, 128

Display at the Fives Court with Shelton, 129

Beaten by Neat, 130

Hickman’s irritability, 131

Turn-up with Rawlinson, 131

Theatrical engagement of Neat and Hickman, by Davidge, 132

His character, 132

His melancholy death, 132

Coroner’s inquest, 133

Funeral of Hickman and Mr. Rowe, 134

Sympathy of brother pugilists, and benefit for his widow, 135

HUDSON, DAVID.

His victories, 191

Beats West Country Dick, 192

Beats Harry Holt, 192

Beats Jack Scroggins (Palmer) twice, 194, 195

Beaten by Jack Martin, 195

Beats Green, “Essex Champion”, 195

Beats Jack Steadman, 196

Becomes publican at Chelmsford, 196

Second victory over Green, 196

Beaten by Ned Neale, 197

Beaten by Larkins (the Irishman), 198

Died Nov. 27th, 1835, 198

HUDSON, JOSH (“the John Bull Fighter”). 1816–1826.

His birth at Rotherhithe, 263

His good humour, 263

Fight with Jack Payne, the Butcher, 263

Draw with Aby Belasco, 263

Defeats Street and Charles Martin, 263

Beats Thompson, “the Essex Coachman”, 264

Takes a voyage to India, 264

Beaten by Bowen, “the Chatham Caulker”, 264

Beats Williams, “the Waterman”, 264

Defeats Scroggins at Moulsey, 264

Beats Phil Sampson, 265

Beaten by Tom Spring, 267

Turn-up with Aby Belasco at Norwich, 267

Beats “Swell” Williams, 267

Miscalculation of the “knowing ones”, 268

Beaten by Ned Turner in a “turn-up”, 269

Second match with Phil Sampson, 269

Beats Phil Sampson, 270

Fracas with Jack Ford, 270

Challenge to Martin and Garrol, 272

Second match with “the Chatham Caulker”, 272

A stormy day, a beak, and a move, 273

Defeats Bowen, 274

Challenges, 275

Beats Barlow, “the Nottingham Youth”, 275

Matched with Tom Shelton, 277

Receives forfeit from Shelton, 278

Matched with Jem Ward, 278

Remarks on the capabilities of the combatants, 279

Josh’s training costume, 279

Defeats Jem Ward, 280

The return from the fight, 283

A speculation in bandannas, 284

A silver cup voted to Josh, 284

At the Fives Court, Hudson and Ward, 285

Hudson and Sampson, impromptu, 285

Presentation of a silver cup, 286

The “no fight” affair with Sampson, 287

His marriage—the “Half Moon Tap”, 288

Josh’s gallantry—a ruffian punished, 288

Josh, “mine uncle,” and the silver cup, 289

Josh Hudson Junior, 290

Died Oct. 8th, 1838, in Milton Street, Finsbury, 290

JONES, HARRY (“the Sailor Boy”).

His many battles, 515

His birth in Bristol, 516

Apprenticed on board an Indiaman, 516

Beaten by Latham, 516

Beaten by Ned Stockman (twice), 516

Bye-battles with Watts, Riley, and Peter Brookery, 516

Beats Brown (“Sprig of Myrtle”), 517

The Fighting “Typo,” a bride and a challenge, 517

Beaten by Dick Price, 517

Held to bail at Oxford, 518

Beaten by Tom Reidie, 518

And by Ned Stockman (third time), 518

Beats Fred Edwards, 519

Beats Mike Curtain, 519

Defeats “Captain Corduroy”, 519

The humours of Westminster in by-past times, 519

A day’s outing—Harry Jones and Tommy O’Lynn, 520

Jones defeats Tommy O’Lynn, 521

Is beaten by Young Dutch Sam, 521

Beats Knowlan, the Tumbler, 522

Beats Mike Curtain the second time, 522

Beats Tom Collins, 522

Beats Pick, of Bristol, 522

Beats Reuben Howe, 523

Beaten by Charley Gybletts, 523

Interrupted fight with Jem Raines, 524

Beats Bob Simmonds, 525

Second match with Jem Raines, 526

Beats Ike Dodd, 527

Beats Bill Savage, 528

Matched with Ned Stockman, 529

Beats Ned Stockman, 530

Beats Barney Aaron, 530

Beats Tom Reidie, 530

Beats Frank Redmond, 530

Beats George Watson, 531

Beats Dick Hill, of Nottingham, 531

Beats Perkins, of Oxford, 531

Beats Gipsy Jack Cooper, 531

Beaten by Tom Smith, 531

His death, 531

LANGAN, JOHN (the Irish Champion).

Birth and early days, 53

Juvenile battles, 53

Goes to sea, and adventure at Lisbon, 53

Apprenticed to a sawyer, 53

Apocryphal battles, 54

Sir Daniel Donnelly on training, 57

Fights with Pat Halton, 59

—— with Carney, 60

—— with Cummins, 60

—— with Owen M’Gowran, 61

Sails for South America as a volunteer in the War of Independence, 62

Death of Langan’s brother—an old sailor of Nelson’s “Victory”, 63

Lands at St. Marguerite—sufferings of the “patriots”, 64

Made Quartermaster-Sergeant, 65

Returns to Cork, and goes to Dublin, 65

Becomes publican, 65

An amatory episode and its consequences, 66

Arrives in England, 66

Battle with Vipond (or Weeping), 67

Returns to Ireland, and imprisoned for damages, 68

Challenged by Rough Robin, 68

Challenges the Championship, 69

Defeated at Worcester by Spring, 69

Defeated a second time near Chichester, 69

“The Black Fogle,” an ode, 70

Langan’s Benefit at the Fives Court, 71

Challenged by Jem Ward—no result, 71

Sails for Ireland, 71

Becomes a publican in Liverpool, 72

His social character, 72

His charities, 73

His death, and eulogy, 73

MATTHEWSON, ARTHUR, of Birmingham.

Beats Barney Aaron (note), 510

NEALE, NED (“the Streatham Youth”).

Press penchant for Irish heroes, 291

Born at Streatham, 291

Witnesses fight between Martin and Turner, 291

His patron, Mr. Sant, the brewer, 292

Defeats Deaf Davis, 292

Beats Cribb, of Brighton, 292

Beats Miller, “Pea-soup Gardener”, 293

Beats Hall, of Birmingham, 293

Beats David Hudson (brother of Josh), 294

Beats Tom Gaynor, 296

Matched with Baldwin (“White-headed Bob”), and receives £100 forfeit,

297

Matched a second time, and beats Baldwin, 297

Beats Jem Burn, 299

Visits Ireland, 301

His marriage, 302

Matched with Phil Sampson, 303

Death of Mrs. Neale, and postponement of the match, 303

Second match—defeats Sampson, 303

Defeats Tom Cannon, “the Great Gun,” of Windsor, 308

Matched a second time with Jem Burn, 310

Beats Jem Burn, second time, 311

Challenges any 12st. man, 313

A silver cup proposed, 313

Match with Jem Ward off, 314

Third match with Baldwin, 314

Drawn battle with Baldwin, 316

Beaten by Baldwin, 320

Presented with a silver cup, 320

Matched with John Nicholls, 320

Defeats Nicholls, 321

Matched with Roche, 322

Neale’s honesty—a “cross” defeated, 322

Beats Roche, 323

Retires from the Ring, 325

Is challenged by Young Dutch Sam, and twice defeated, 325

Is beaten by Tom Gaynor, 325

Dies at the “Rose and Crown,” Norwood, 325

NEAT, BILL, of Bristol.

His birth, 104

His fight with Churchill, 104

Bristol the pugilistic nursery, 104

Matched with Tom Oliver, 105

Defeats Tom Oliver, 106

Repairs to the Metropolis, 108

Appears at the Fives Court, 108

Matched with Spring, Neat breaks his arm, 109

Challenges Cribb, 109

Matched with Hickman, “the Gasman”, 109

Scenes on the road, 110

Defeats Hickman, 111

Sensation in London, 114

Matched a second time with Spring and defeated, 115

Bristol in mourning, 116

A Quakeress’ remonstrant, 116

Letter from Mr. Joseph Fry, 117

Neat’s character, 117

Death at Bristol, aged 67, 117

OLIVER, TOM (Commissary of the P.R.).

Born at Breadlow, Bucks, 89

His first ring appearance, 89

Beats Kimber and “Hopping Ned”, 89

Beats Harry Lancaster, 90

Beats Jack Ford, 90

Beats George Cooper, 91

Beats Ned Painter, 92

Aspires to the Championship, 94

Becomes a publican in Westminster, 94

Beaten by Jack Carter, 94

Beaten by Neat, of Bristol, 94

Beats Kendrick, the black, 95

Defeated by Dan Donnelly, 95

Beats Tom Shelton, 96

Beaten by Painter (second fight), 98

Beaten by Spring, 98

Beaten by Hickman, 98

Beaten by Abbott, 99

Becomes Commissary of the P.R., 99

Challenge from Old Ben Burn, 99

Adventures of the Ring-goers, 100

The battle of the veterans, 102

Tom’s victory, 103

His retirement, and death, aged 75, 103

PAINTER, NED.

His character, 74

Early days at Stratford, Manchester, 74

Sets-to with Carter—his strength, 75

Arrives at Bob Gregson’s, 75

Fight with Coyne, 75

Fight with Alexander, “the Gamekeeper”, 75

Beaten by Tom Oliver, 76

Beaten by Shaw, the Life-Guardsman, 77

Matched with Oliver a second time, 78

Polite pugilistic letter-writing, 78

Oliver arrested during his training, and proposal to fight at Calais,

Fight with Sutton, the black, 79

Second fight with Sutton, 79

His foot-racing and athletic capabilities, 80

His defeat by Spring, 82

Painter defeats Spring, 83

His farewell to the Ring, 83

Becomes publican at Norwich, 83

His character vindicated from current slanders, 84

Forfeits to Spring, 84

Matched with Tom Oliver, 85

Defeat of Oliver, 87

His retirement and death, 88

PERKINS, JACK (“the Oxford Pet”).

His boxing qualifications, 532

His battles with Wakelin and Godfrey, 532

Beats Dick Price, 532

His victory over Dick Curtis, “the Pet”, 536

Beats Coates, 538

Is beaten by Harry Jones, “the Sailor Boy”, 538

And by Alec Reid, 538

His brief career ended, 538

REID, ALEC (“the Chelsea Snob”).

Came of a fighting family, 412

Beats Finch, and opens a sparring school, 412

Beats Sam Abbott, 413

Beats Yandell, 413

Beats O’Rafferty, 413

Defeated by Dick Defoe, 413

Beats Harris, the waterman, 414

Beats Underhill, 414

Receives forfeit from Gipsy Cooper, 415

Beats Gipsy Cooper, 415

A “turn-up” with Maurice Delay, 416

A draw with Bill Savage, 416

Matched with Bishop Sharpe, 416

A suspicious “draw”, 417

Matched with Jubb, of Cheltenham, 417

Beats Jubb, 418

Is defeated by Tom Gaynor, 418

Beaten by Bishop Sharpe, 419

Bound in recognisances for twelve months, 419

Third match with Bishop Sharpe, 419

Beats Bishop Sharpe, 420

Matched with Perkins, of Oxford, 423

Beats “the Oxford Pet”, 424

Dies in 1875, aged 73, 427

REDMOND, FRANK (note), 302.

REYNOLDS, TOM.

The Mentor of Langan and Byrne, 477

Of Irish birth, 477

Comes to London, 477

His literary ability, 477

Fails in business, 477

Becomes a pugilist, 478

A battle in the “Old Fleet”, 478

Beats Aby Belasco, 479

Beats Church, 479

And Johnson (“the Broom-dasher”), 479

Becomes a publican in Drury Lane, 479

An accident and a tour, 479

Returns to Ireland, 479

Beats John Dunn on the Curragh, 479

Returns to England, 479

Beats Sammons, of Lancashire, 479

Returns to Ireland, 480

Takes Langan under his tuition and care, 480

Becomes patron of Simon Byrne, 480

A publican in Dublin, 480

His “Defence of Pugilism”, 480

SAMPSON, PHIL (“the Birmingham Youth”).

His birth, in Yorkshire, 454

Migrates in early life to Birmingham, 454

Gregson in Birmingham, 454

An impromptu battle with Dolly Smith, 455

Is beaten by Josh Hudson for “a purse”, 455

A disputed battle with Aby Belasco, 456

A “turn-up” with Aby, 457

A glove-fight at the Tennis Court, 457

Beaten by Jack Martin, 457

Beats Tom Dye, the table-lifter, 457

A second glove-fight with Belasco, 458

Beaten by Charley Grantham (“Gybletts”), 459

Beaten by Bill Abbot, 459

Beaten by Bill Hall, 459

Leaves London, 459

Beats Bill Hall, 460

Matched with Aby Belasco, 460

Beats Belasco, 461

Challenges Jem Ward, and is beaten, 462

Is beaten a second time by Ward, 462

Matched with Jem Burn, 464

Beats Jem Burn, 465

Third match with Hall, 466

Beats Hall, 467

A “turn-up” with Josh Hudson, 467

And a thrashing from Jem Ward, 467

Challenges “Big Brown”, 467

Matched with Paul Spencer, 467

Two fights in one with Spencer, 468

Buncombe challenges, 470

Matched again with “Big Brown”, 470

Beats “Big Brown”, 471

Triumphant return to Birmingham, 474

SHARPE, BISHOP (“the Bold Smuggler”).

A seaman in His Majesty’s service, 428

His early career, 428

Beats Jack Cooper, “the Gipsy”, 429

Defeats Cooper a second and third time, 430

Beats Ben Warwick, 430

Draw with Alec Reid, 430

Beats Alec Reid, 431

Matched with Tom Gaynor, 433

Beats Tom Gaynor, 434

Matched with Young Dutch Sam, 435

Receives forfeit from Young Dutch Sam, 436

Is defeated by Alec Reid, 436

His death, 436

SPRING, THOMAS WINTER (Champion). 1814–1824.

His birth and early days, 1, 2

His battles with—

Stringer, the Yorkshireman, 2

Ned Painter, of Norwich, 4

Ned Painter (second fight), 6

Jack Carter (Championship), 6

Ben Burn, 9

Forfeits to Bob Burn, 9

Beats Bob Burn, 10

Josh Hudson, 12

Tom Oliver, 13

Tom Cribb’s retirement, Spring claims the Championship, 12

His marriage, 12

Forfeits to Neat, 15

Matched with Neat, 17

In custody for attending a fight on Brighton Downs, 18

Fight with Neat, 19

Revisits his native place, and receives the “Hereford” Cup, 23

Jack Langan’s challenge, 23

Matched with Langan, 24

First fight with Langan, at Worcester, 24

Accident at the Worcester Grand Stand, 25

Newspaper correspondence and buncombe, 31

Again matched with Langan, for £500 a-side, 33

Fighting on a stage, 33

Spring’s benefit, and dinner at the “Castle”, 35

The eve of the fight—scenes in Chichester, 36

Second fight with Langan, 38

Spring’s triumph—meeting with Langan, 45

Takes the “Castle” Tavern, Holborn, 45

Reminiscences of the “Castle”, 48

Presentation of “Manchester” Cup (1824), 49

The “Champion Testimonial”, 49

His death, 20th August, 1851, 51

His monument at Norwood Cemetery, 51

SUTTON, HARRY (“the Black”).

A native of Baltimore, U.S., 177

Fight with “Cropley’s Black”, 177

Fight with Black Robinson, 178

Beats Ned Painter, 178

Beaten by Ned Painter, 179

Beats Kendrick the Black, 181

Receives forfeit from Larkin, 182

Becomes a sparring exhibitor, 182

WARD, JEM (Champion). 1822–1831.

Pugilistic reporters and writers of the Period: V. Dowling, George

Kent, George Daniels, S. Smith, Pierce Egan, &c., 199

Candidates for the Championship on the retirement of Tom Spring, 200

Birth and parentage of “the Black Diamond”, 200

Beats Dick Acton, 201

Challenges Jack Martin for £150, 202

Beats Burke, of Woolwich, 202

Beaten (?) by Dick Acton, 202

The stakes drawn and bets off, 203

Ward’s letter and apology, 204

Beats Ned Baldwin (“White-headed Bob”), 205

Beats Rickens, of Bath, at Landsdowne, 205

Beats Jemmy the Black, 206

Returns to the London P.R., 206

Beaten by Josh Hudson, 206

Beats Phil Sampson, 206

Challenges Langan, who had retired, 207

Claims the Championship, 207

Second fight with Phil Sampson, 207

Challenges Cannon for £500 a-side, 208

The challenge accepted, 209

Excitement at Warwick, 210

“The Old Squire” (Osbaldeston) referee, 212

Beats Tom Cannon, 213

Receives a belt at the Fives Court, 214

Dispute on giving up the stakes, 215

Challenges all comers, 216

Turn-up with Sampson, 217

Beaten by Peter Crawley, 217

Challenges Peter Crawley, who declines, 217

Brown, of Bridgnorth, declines to fight except on a stage, 218

Accident at the Tennis Court, 219

Challenged by Carter, 219

Beats Carter, 220

Receives forfeit from Simon Byrne, 222

Matched with Simon Byrne, 223

Public disappointment and Ward’s forfeit of the stakes, 225

Renewal of the match with Byrne, 226

Arrest of Byrne for his fight with Alexander Mackay, 226

Byrne’s acquittal and new match, 226

Preliminaries of the fight, 227

Beats Simon Byrne, 229

Receives a second belt, 231

Becomes a publican at Liverpool, 231

Ward’s talent as a painter, 232

Returns to London, 232

Interview with Ward (aged 80 years) in June, 1880, 232

-----

Footnote 1:

This is an error of the reporter’s. Spring has told us he was thirteen

stone, nett, when he met Stringer.

Footnote 2:

This resembled the much-discussed round in Heenan and Sayers’ fight at

Farnborough, where the Yankees claimed a “foul” because the ropes were

lowered when Heenan was throttling the English Champion. The

twenty-eighth rule of the P.R., which governs this case, authorises

the referee to have the men separated, or the ropes cut, to prevent a

fatal result. This the American party ignored or were really ignorant

of.—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 3:

Though this report is mainly from Pierce Egan’s text, it is not his

writing; these “remarks” are from the pen of Mr. Vincent Dowling, and

appeared in _Bell’s Life in London_, of January 11, 1824.

Footnote 4:

“FIGHTING UPON A STAGE.—Some little difference of opinion having

existed upon the merits of the case between Langan and Spring, the

majority of the supporters of pugilism assert, according to milling

precedents, that if Spring intended to retain the title of Champion,

he could, nay, he ought not to have refused to fight Langan upon a

stage, as the following circumstances support the claim of Langan. It

appears that Jack Bartholomew thought he had not fair play in the ring

when he fought with Jem Belcher; and upon Bartholomew’s soliciting

Belcher to give him a chance upon a stage, he replied, “Any where; a

saw-pit, if you like.” Again, when Molineaux entertained an opinion

that he had not justice done him in a ring with Cribb, the latter

veteran answered the request of the man of colour, with a smile upon

his face, “Yes, upon a stage, the top of a house, in a ship, or in any

place you think proper.” It is likewise insisted upon by the admirers

of boxing that the advantages are all upon the side of Spring. He is

the tallest, the heaviest, and the longest man, with the addition of

his superior science into the bargain. Most of the prize battles

formerly were fought upon stages—Tom Johnson with Perrins, Big Ben

with Jacombs, and George the brewer with Pickard; Johnson with Ryan,

Johnson also with Big Ben, Mendoza with Humphries, Ward with Mendoza,

Tom Tyne with Earl, etc. It is also worthy of remark, that none of the

above stages were covered with turf. The only instance that bears upon

the point respecting “turf,” is the stage which was erected at

Newbury, upon which Big Ben and Hooper were to have fought. This was

covered with turf, but the magistrates interfered; the fight was

removed to some miles distant. Big Ben and Hooper fought on the ground

in a ring.”—PIERCE EGAN.

Footnote 5:

See Life of JEM BURN, Period VI., Chapter VI.

Footnote 6:

Mr. John Jackson.

Footnote 7:

So says the reporter. It would, however, be fair, even if intentional,

for any man is entitled to hit another “going down,” but of course,

not when “down.”—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 8:

The more humane provisions of the “New Rules,” do not allow this

conduct on the part of the second. By rule 9, the man must rise from

the knee of his bottle-holder and walk unaided to the scratch to meet

his opponent.—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 9:

This is negatived by round thirty-eight of the report: see also the

note.—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 10:

This reminds us of a duel which was fought at Liverpool some years

since by the light of lamps, between a volunteer colonel and the

aide-de-camp of a royal duke.

Footnote 11:

This is most unlikely; Langan was, we should say, never under eleven

stone seven pounds to ten pounds from the time he was a grown man.—Ed.

PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 12:

This sort of balderdash abounds in Pierce Egan’s (or rather, we

suspect, Tom Reynolds’) Sketches of Irish Boxers in “Boxiana.” We let

it stand here as something to provoke a smile.—Ed. PUQILISTICA.

Footnote 13:

The reader should also take the advice of Carney’s second, and “not

mind such trash.”—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 14:

The place where Tom Belcher defeated Dogherty, and which has ever

since been called after the former celebrated pugilist. See BELCHER

(TOM), vol. i., p. 160.

Footnote 15:

Our friend the historian of “Boxiana,” here makes a sad mess of it.

The Victory was not at Aboukir Bay at all; Nelson’s ship at the battle

of the Nile (Aboukir) was the Vanguard. Every schoolboy knows the hero

died off the coast of Spain, about sixty miles west of Cadiz, October

21, 1805, after the “crowning victory” off Cape Trafalgar.—Ed.

PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 16:

Pierce Egan makes, reason unknown, this man’s name “Cohen.” He was

afterwards beaten by Davis (the navigator), and is rightly indexed as

Coyne in “Fistiana.”

Footnote 17:

Respecting the division of the “gate-money,” Mr. Jackson’s opinion

was, “that all moneys taken upon the ground, in point of right and

justice, belong to both of the combatants, who are the primary cause

of the multitude assembling, and therefore ought to be fairly divided

between them, without any reservation whatever.”

Footnote 18:

This, as we have already observed, would not be allowed by modern

practice, and is forbidden by the new Rules of the Ring, Arts. 7 and

9.—Ed. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 19:

A town once celebrated for cocking, pronounced by the natives

“Wedgebury.”

Footnote 20:

Mr. James Soares.

Footnote 21:

Instruments used in gas-works.

Footnote 22:

This is the account in “Boxiana,” and _faute de mieux_ we must adopt

it. We suspect the much-vaunted Sir Daniel was simply a big clumsy

“rough,” despite his defeat of Old Tom Oliver, who was a game boxer,

but “slow as a top,” as Spring often in a friendly way described him.

Cooper, too, had already been beaten by Oliver, and was in anything

but good condition when he met Donnelly.

Footnote 23:

By the New Rules Donnelly would here have lost the fight, as Burke did

in his contest with Bendigo, on February 7, 1839.—ED. PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 24:

The writer never enters into the private quarrels of pugilists. His

only anxiety is to represent every circumstance connected with the

prize ring with accuracy and fidelity. He entertains no prejudices,

neither has he any partialities to gratify.

Footnote 25:

Tom Shuffleton, speaking of a female, says, “Oh! I see; she must be

the sixteenth Mrs. Shuffleton.” We never ascertained whether Mr.

Donnelly placed his ladies in numerical order; it is, however, certain

that he was a very gallant Milesian.

Footnote 26:

Pugilistic Champion of Ireland, we presume.—ED.

Footnote 27:

In Dublin.

Footnote 28:

Poor Dan kept a public-house—Lord rest his sowl.

Footnote 29:

Carter’s ring career really closed on the 4th of May, 1819, when his

pretensions were disposed of by the science of Tom Spring. See Life of

SPRING, Vol. II., Chapter I.

Footnote 30:

Sam Robinson, the Black, was born in 1778, in New York. He was a

strong and courageous nigger, and after beating Crockey, beat Butcher,

on March 16, 1810, at Coombe Warren, for a purse of £10. He was then

beaten by Carter (twice) as here recorded. He beat Stephenson, the

Black, at Coombe Wood, the 28th of May, 1816, making his third battle

in three months. A hasty match was again made with Carter, and

Robinson was a second time defeated, June 20, 1816. Sutton, the Black

(see Appendix), challenged Robinson at Doncaster Races, and beat him,

September 26, 1816, for a purse, in thirty-six minutes. In December,

Robinson beat a big Yorkshireman, named Taylor, at Ferrybridge, in

nineteen minutes, for a purse of ten guineas. He was next defeated by

George Cooper (see COOPER, vol. i., p. 365), and quickly polished off.

Fangill, a Scotch boxer, and a Waterloo man, was matched against

Robinson, and they fought at Shellock, in Ayrshire, June 25, 1817,

when Robinson proved the victor in forty minutes, after a gallant

fight. His last battle was with Dent, a north-countryman, whom he

beat, December 5, 1817, near the renowned Gretna Green, famed for

other ring matches. He for some time attended sparring at the Fives

Court, and when we lose sight of him he had entered the service of a

sporting nobleman.

Footnote 31:

Mr. John Jackson.

Footnote 32:

This Green was an Essex man, who, having defeated one Wyke, at

Barnsley, in Yorkshire, for a stake of £60 (April 2, 1819), and

subsequently Harris, a _protégé_ of Josh. Hudson, at Dagenham Breach,

Essex, March 13, 1820 (in “Fistiana” the date is wrongly given as

March 1, 1829), had crept into favour with himself. He was snuffed out

by David as we here find.

Footnote 33:

Mr. Soares.

Footnote 34:

There were two other boxers of the name. Sam Larkins, of Cambridge,

who beat Abbot (see ABBOT), Shadbolt, and John Fuller; and Larkins,

the Guardsman.

Footnote 35:

In the fourth volume of Pierce Egan’s “Boxiana,” pp. 473–481, will be

found a friendly sketch of poor George’s career, as historiographer of

the ring for the previous twenty years. He was a Berkshire man, born

August 19, 1778, apprenticed to Varley, the celebrated seal engraver

in the Strand, subsequently enlisted in the 16th Dragoons, but

obtained his discharge at the period of the treaty of Amiens. Then an

usher in a school at Camberwell, a newspaper writer in the _British

Neptune_, and proprietor of _Kent’s Dispatch_, which died. Pierce

Egan, who, with Vincent Dowling and George’s two sons, followed him to

his grave in St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, says he realised in two

successive years £1700, by sporting reporting. He was a scholar and a

man of talent.

Footnote 36:

Dick Acton, a _protégé_ of the scientific sparrer, Bill Eales, was

like the French general who was compared to a drum, heard of only when

beaten. He was a shoemaker by trade, and a ring follower by choice.

His first fight in the P. C. ropes was with one Nash, at Kilburn,

August 21, 1821, whom he beat, for a purse of 20 guineas, in

thirty-two rounds. The next week, the love of fight strong within him,

Dick threw his hat in at Edgeware, for a purse of 20 guineas, and

polished off a stalwart countryman, hight Evans, in eighteen rounds,

forty minutes. His next customer was a regular boxer, known as Massa

Kendrick, the black. He turned the tables on “the Snob,” putting him

in darkness in seventeen rounds, twenty-five minutes, at Moulsey,

December 18, 1821. Dick moved for a new trial, and on the 18th of

March, 1822, at Moulsey, seconded by Eales and Tom Spring, the Black

by Randall and Josh. Hudson, Acton reversed the verdict, with two to

one against him, punishing Massa out of time in thirty-two rattling

rounds, occupying thirty-five minutes. From this time he became a sort

of “trial horse,” and was beaten successively by Jem Ward, Young Peter

Crawley, and Jack Nicholls, all good men.

Footnote 37:

See Memoir of PHIL. SAMPSON, in an after part of this volume.

Footnote 38:

It may be as well to premise that this was written by one who was far

from friendly to Ward. The facts, however, speak for themselves.—Ed.

PUGILISTICA.

Footnote 39:

See Life of PAINTER, _ante_, p. 82.

Footnote 40:

See Life of WARD, p. 201, _ante_.

Footnote 41:

Bill (known as Dolly) Smith was born at Hammersmith, and was well

thought of by many patrons of the art pugilistic. His principal

battles were with Cannon, Abbot, Phil. Sampson, Joe Nash, and Jack

Scroggins, by all of whom he was beaten, so that his name has been

preserved by the fame of the antagonists who defeated him. His one

successful battle was with Hares, whom he defeated after a slashing

fight of fifty-eight minutes, during which forty rounds were fought,

at Coombe Wood, May 3, 1814. This was for a purse of twenty-five

guineas, given by the Pugilistic Club.

Footnote 42:

See Life of JEM WARD, pp. 211–215, _ante_.

Footnote 43:

The following we find in the _Weekly Dispatch_ of the Sunday which

announces Tom’s engagement:—

“So the nobs at the Coburg (forgive me the pun)

Are about to let off, for six nights, a Great Gun:

Tom Cannon, whose backer his prowess espouses.

Is form’d to draw claret, and may draw great houses;

May he make a good ‘hit,’ for the managers’ sake,

If they’re liberal in ‘giving,’ Tom doubtless will ‘take.’

But, jesting apart, may the town aid their plan,

Nor the whole turn out merely a flash in the pan.

“TIMOTHY TRIGGER,

“_Gun Tavern_.”

Footnote 44:

Jack Ford, in his day, fought some of the best men. He was defeated by

Tom Oliver and Harry Harmer (see Life of OLIVER, vol. ii.); but beat

Harry Lancaster, George Weston and Josh. Ebbs. His weight was twelve

stone.

Footnote 45:

This would now be objected to as an improper interference on the part

of a second.—EDITOR.

Footnote 46:

As a sample of what our fathers thought smart writing, we give a

contemporary specimen or two of _les impromptus fait à loisir_ which

appeared in the leading papers of the day:

“IMPROMPTU ON SAMPSON AND HUDSON’S MATCH.

“If what the ancients say be true,

That Samson many thousands slew,

And with a single bone;

How can Josh. Hudson’s skill in fight,

Avail ’gainst modern Sampson’s might,

Who carries two ’tis known?”

Another, alluding to a rife topic of the day—the treatment of Napoleon

the Great by the Governor of St. Helena, Sir Hudson Lowe, whom Byron

has damned to everlasting fame in the lines—

“Or to some lonely isle of gaolers go,

With turncoat Hudson for my turnkey Lowe,”

runs thus; the plagiarism in idea is manifest.

“Josh. Hudson now is _high_ in fame;

Should this against him go,

His glory passes like a dream,

He’ll then be—Hudson Low-e.”

Footnote 47:

Larkins afterwards beat John Fuller, Abbott, and Kelly, and was beaten

by Keene and Tubbs. He came to London, and his name occurs in the

Fives and Tennis Courts glove bouts.

Footnote 48:

See Appendix to Period V., pp. 191–198.

Footnote 49:

In a reprint in _Bell’s Life_ (May 15th, 1879) this fight is reported

throughout as “O’Neale and Gaynor,” without a word of allusion to

Neale’s previous battles.

Footnote 50:

This is an allusion to a system of exercise adopted by Jem in

training, and recommended by many, of practising right and left upon a

sack stuffed with hay, to teach straight delivery.

Footnote 51:

The original Assembly Rooms in Regent Street, by Argyll Place, not the

Windmill Street “Argyll,” recently “disestablished” by the Middlesex

magistrates.

Footnote 52:

Frank Redmond, although his Ring career was not marked by success, was

a skilful sparrer and an excellent teacher of the art of self-defence.

He was born on the 26th of February, 1803, and as a young aspirant was

so highly thought of that he was matched (at the age of twenty)

against the renowned “Star of the East,” Barney Aaron, whose recent

victories over Samuel Belasco, Collins, Ned Stockman, and Lenney

(twice) had raised him to a proud position among the middle weights.

Young Frank was soundly beaten in thirty-two minutes, after a game and

manly battle with an opponent by whom it was no disgrace to be

defeated.

Four years afterwards Frank again challenged Aaron, and a match was

made for £50 a-side, to fight on the 21st August, 1827, but Frank was

arrested on the day on the road to the appointed place. Strange to

say, although this was proved, the stakes were given up to the

Israelite, which so angered Redmond that he threw up his hat in the

room at the “Castle” and offered to fight for £20 on the spot. A third

match was then made for £50 a-side. After a high-couraged battle

(which will be found in the Life of BARNEY AARON, in the Appendix to

this Period) Redmond was again defeated. Redmond’s other battles were

a game but unsuccessful combat with Harry Jones (the Sailor Boy), and

a single victory over Tom Davis, near Leominster, on the 14th of

November, 1833. Frank soon after married, and went into business as a

licensed victualler at the “George and Dragon,” Greek Street, Soho,

which, from Frank’s abilities as a professor of the fistic art, and

his thorough knowledge of the points of a dog, became a popular

resort. At an after period, for many years, Frank Redmond was known

and respected as the proprietor of the “Swiss Cottage,” St. John’s

Wood. We extract the following from “Walks round London,” published in

1846:—

“The ‘Swiss Cottage,’ at the intersection of the London and Finchley

Roads and Belsize Lane, is a pleasant summer retreat; and it would be

hard to name a more competent authority on sporting subjects than the

worthy host, than whom

‘A merrier nor a wiser man

To spend a pleasant hour withal’

is not to be found within the bills of mortality. Well versed in all

sporting matters is Frank Redmond; and behind a yard of clay, and over

a glass of the best Cognac, the proprietor of this hostelrie will

discuss with you the merits of a Derby nag; the pluck, game, bravery,

and stamina of the aspirant for fistic fame; the construction and

merits of a prize wherry; the skill of a batsman and cricket-bowler;

or detail to you the speed and breeding of a crack greyhound. On this

last theme Frank will become a monopolist; you have touched the chord

that will vibrate, for on the subject of the canine species he will

become as learned as England’s ermined Chief Justice on a knotty point

of law, or as eloquent as Demosthenes himself. A better judge of the

merits, breeding, and qualities of the dog does not exist. Frank is

reputed to be the best dog-fancier in the kingdom, and on that point

is generally consulted by the aristocracy and Corinthians of the first

water.

“Such are a few of the many inducements, and we own they are no small

ones, which prompt us to notice ‘the Cottage.’ We say nothing about

the accommodation offered to the guests; for it were a libel on

Frank’s administration to assert that they are not of the first-rate

order, and he must be an epicure, indeed, who could find fault with

the _cuisine_ of the establishment. Had the ‘Swiss Cottage’ existed in

Shakspere’s days, we should have been inclined to assert that it was

from some such a house as this that the ‘fat-ribbed knight’ first

acquired his idea of the comfort a man feels in taking ‘mine ease at

mine inn.’”

Frank Redmond retired from this life and its business in 1863.

Footnote 53:

Dick Curtis died September 16th, 1843, aged 41.

Footnote 54:

This was occasioned by that ancient boxing arena passing into new

hands, and being leased for a circus, under the title of “Cooke’s

Gymnasium.”

Footnote 55:

At this time Tom Belcher bore that title.

Footnote 56:

Arthur Matthewson, for many years known in fistic circles as a

sporting publican, was one of the best little men of his day. His

first reported battle was with David Barnes, whom he defeated in

fifty-one rounds, for fifty guineas a-side, at Basset’s Pole, near

Birmingham, July 15th, 1822. He beat Israel Belasco in forty-four

minutes at Moulsey Hurst, March 19th, 1823, and Barney Aaron as above.

Matthewson died in his native town, July 13th, 1840, generally

respected.

Footnote 57:

Jem Raines, ten stone four pounds, fought a draw with Harry Jones, the

Sailor Boy, at Chesterfield, March 17th, 1827. He was subsequently

beaten by Harry Jones (see Life of the SAILOR BOY, page 526), Ned

Stockman, and Barney Aaron, all, at that period, good men and made in

most instances a very creditable fight.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. P. 456, changed “fell one knee” to “fell to one knee”.

2. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.

3. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.

4. Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers and collected together

at the end of the last chapter.

5. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.

Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 2 (of 3) Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-1740, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863 · 第 14 / 14 章

7.—It was clear to the spectators that Jones was now taking the