prize. Included in the list were a fair sprinkling of old veterans, and a
whole bevy of young aspirants of considerable promise; namely, Robinson of
Hackthorpe, (his first appearance, we believe,) William Slee of Dacre, Tom
Todd of Knarsdale, Tom Richardson--"the Dyer," Joe Abbot of
Thornthwaite-hall, Andrew Armstrong of Sowerby-hall, Thomas Peat of
Blencow, Thomas Armstrong, the "yak tree," and the three Forsters of
Penton, being among the number.
Robinson entered the ring in excellent spirits, and threw his men generally
very cleanly and cleverly. In the first round, he gained an easy victory
over John Copley. The next time over, in coming against Armstrong, the "yak
tree," all his activity and skill had to be brought into play, before the
compressed mass of eighteen stones could be brought to grass. In the third
round, he toppled over Edward Forster of Penton, in capital style; and, in
the fourth round, James Richardson of Hesket-New-Market, brother to "the
Dyer." The fifth time over, George Forster, another of the Penton brothers,
(who had thrown Tom Todd in the previous round,) came quickly to grief,
under the gamekeeper's brisk fire. Up to this point the Hackthorpe man had
shown some really good play; but, says the _Carlisle Patriot_, before the
final struggle commenced, Robinson and William Slee of Dacre had agreed to
divide the first prize between them, so that they only played for honour.
The "honour" of carrying off the head prize then fell to Robinson's share.
On New Year's day, 1816, the annual meeting at Langwathby was numerously
attended. A contributor to one of the local papers says:--"Most of the
distinguished wrestlers of Cumberland and Westmorland were on the ground,
and there never was displayed more skill in the art of wrestling than on
this occasion. James Robinson, the noted champion, who won the first prize
at Carlisle races, was also successful at Langwathby, and we think he bids
fair to excel any man in the kingdom, in this species of amusement. He is a
strong-boned, athletic man, but not tall. Before the wrestling commenced,
considerable bets were made: the east against the west side of the Eden,
which was won by the latter. The purse contended for, was two guineas. It
is intended next year to give a much larger sum, as Langwathby is likely to
become a distinguished place for wrestling, being situated in a
neighbourhood abounding in first-rate players."
In October, 1816, Robinson again attended the Carlisle meeting. Owing to
being the victor of the previous year, a high chair was placed for him to
sit upon, from which elevated position he commanded an uninterrupted view
of the various falls. Entering his name among the contending parties, he
threw Joseph Batey, in the first round; Joseph Brown, in the second; and
William Rome in the third round. Coming against a miller, named William
Clark--"a tight built lal fellow"--from Hesket-New-Market, in the fourth
time over, Robinson was very adroitly brought to the ground, amid the
deafening cheers of the assembled crowd. No sooner had Clark achieved this
unexpected feat, than he created much laughter by marching up to the place
of honour, with a dignified swagger, saying, as he sat down: "I think I's
fairly entitled tiv a seat i' t' chair, noo, when I've thrown the greit
champion!"
The wrestling at Carlisle in 1817, was held in Shearer's Circus--and not on
the Swifts as previously--when James Robinson, Tom Todd, John Mc.Laughlan,
and John Liddle, were looked upon as the principal champions. As it turned
out, however, Mc.Laughlan stalked through the ring an easy victor, none of
the other three mentioned being able to make any headway against the
enormous reach and height of the Dovenby giant. This is the last record
known to us of the Hackthorpe gamekeeper as a wrestler.
Robinson has been described by those who knew him, as a sturdy
bullet-headed sort of fellow, whose ideas seldom soared above the velveteen
coat and corduroy-trouser order of mortals; a rare hand at either creating
a row or quelling one; probably more accustomed to the former than the
latter. Nevertheless, he is still remembered in his capacity of gamekeeper,
as being an active and trustworthy servant to the Earl of Lonsdale: a
terror to all midnight prowlers and others addicted to trespassing among
the game preserves at Lowther. He took a prominent part in suppressing a
riot among the navvies employed in making the new road near Lowther, about
1818 or 1819.
As Robinson advanced in years, intemperate habits appear to have gained
upon him; and for some time he led an irregular, harum-scarum sort of life.
He either possessed an estate, or had some interest in one, at Hackthorpe,
near Lowther, which he sold, and then foolishly set to work and squandered
the money. Ultimately, he became reduced to considerable destitution, and
at times fell into such sad states of despair, that one can easily conceive
of similar thoughts passing through his mind, to those embodied in Miss
Powley's pathetic ballad, "The Brokken Statesman":--
O, the fule rackle days! when in wild outwart ways,
I spent time but i' daftness, wi' raff an' expense.
Then the auld land's neglect, an' my friends' lost respect,
While I scworned to tek counsel--I ne'er rued but yence!
*....*....*....*
When drink hed browt sorrow--fresh money to borrow,
Wi' deep debt o' the riggin', puir crops o' the hill;
Wi' life at the barest, heart sorrow fell sairest;
Yet e'en then I thowt--Cummerland caps them aw still.
In November, 1834, James Robinson was found drowned in Armathwaite bay,
eight or nine miles from Penrith, and about the same distance from
Carlisle. The waters being very full at the time, it was presumed he had
missed his way in the dark, and fallen into the river Lowther, near
Brougham--a tributary of the Eden. An inquest was held upon the body, but
no evidence appeared to the jurors as to how or by what means he was
drowned. At the time of this unfortunate event, Robinson was forty-five
years old.
THOMAS RICHARDSON
OF HESKET-NEW-MARKET.
Thomas Richardson, commonly known as "the Dyer," one of thirteen children,
was born at Caldbeck, about the year 1796, and brought up in the
neighbouring village of Hesket-New-Market, situate between Penrith and
Wigton.
Richardson's father held situations at Rose Castle, under Bishops Vernon
and Goodenough. The latter prelate, taking an interest in the welfare of
young Richardson, sent him to be educated, under the Rev. John Stubbs,
formerly master of Sebergham grammar school; a man of considerable
classical attainments, and of a very jovial disposition. The bishop
intended his _protégé_ for the Church; and, to attain such distinction,
most of our readers will be aware, was the anxious hope of many
middle-class families in Cumberland and Westmorland. In this case, the wish
and aspiration were destined not to bear fruit. The lad steadily rejected
all offers of advancement in that direction, his own oft expressed wish
being to be brought up to husbandry, and to excel as an athlete. While the
father and mother were not averse to his following agricultural pursuits,
they were strongly against his wrestling proclivities. Whenever such
gatherings were attended, the youngster had to "slipe off" unknown to his
parents.
On arriving at maturity, Richardson developed into a fine manly-looking
man, standing five feet eleven inches high, and weighing from thirteen to
thirteen-and-a-half stones, with broad massive chest, good length of arm,
and strongly built throughout. In the ring, he excelled greatly at hyping,
and if this chanced to miss, generally followed up with the "ham."
The question has often been asked, how Richardson came to be familiarly
spoken of as "the Dyer." It occurred after this manner. In the parish of
Caldbeck, there happened to be several families, at one time, of the same
name. This rendered it necessary to distinguish them by such appellations
as "Fiddler Richardson," "Dyer Richardson," and "oald Jwohn
Richardson"--the last named being "Belted Will's" father. John Richardson,
Tom's grandfather, was a dyer at Caldbeck, and became much famed for his
_blue_ dyes. At that time, blue-and-white checked shirts were generally
worn in country districts, by middle and lower class persons; and the women
donned blue linen aprons, and blue linsey skirts. These now disused and
durable fabrics, were manufactured extensively at Ulverston, Kendal, and,
on a lesser scale, at many other places in the north. It was a _sine qua
non_ that the blue colours should be "fast."
John Richardson served his apprenticeship in Kendal, under the Wakefields,
and was there during the rebellion of "'45." When the first section of the
Pretender's army retreated northwards through Kendal, it was market-day,
and as a matter of course, a multitude of people were collected together,
who mobbed the rear-guard of the troops. During the excitement which
prevailed, one of Wakefield's dyers seized a gun belonging to a Highlander,
and boldly and determinedly wrenched it from his grasp. This only proved
the forerunner of more direful onslaughts. As the rebels were turning down
the Fish-market, a musket shot fired from a window above, brought one of
them lifeless from his horse, and two others were taken prisoners. Being
thus provoked, the Highlanders turned about and fired on the multitude. A
farmer, named John Slack, of New Hutton, was killed in the open street; and
a shoemaker, and an ostler, were seriously wounded. When the Duke of
Cumberland's army had passed through Kendal, John Richardson--having proved
himself a trustworthy servant--was decorated with a cockade, and employed
to carry despatches between the Wakefields and Colonel Honeywood, who was
wounded in the skirmish on Clifton Moor, near Penrith.
In after life, Tom Richardson's father kept an inn, and the _blue_ flag
which floated over his tent at wrestling and other meetings, was the means
of indicating his whereabouts to friends and customers.
In the year 1813, when Richardson was about seventeen years old, he felt a
strong desire to attend the races and wrestling at Carlisle. His father
being much against the outing, some bickering took place between them.
However, after breakfast, on the morning of the races, watching his
opportunity, the lad slipped out unseen, and had to run part of the way, in
order to be in time--the full distance to the border city being something
like thirteen miles. Reaching Carlisle, he succeeded in getting his name
entered for the head prize. This effected, he was soon called out against
Joseph Slack of Blencow, a skilful wrestler, but getting past the meridian.
After an exciting tussle, the youngster proved victorious. Next time over,
he met George Forster of Denton, and buttocked him cleverly. Forster's
shoulder was unfortunately put out in the fall, but set again quickly, as
described in the sketch of George Dennison's career. In the third round,
Richardson's further progress was cut short by one Robert Langhorn. Our
youthful aspirant for fame, then entered for the second day's prize, but
was thrown in the second round, by Simon Armstrong.
The following year--1814--he again attended the Carlisle wrestling, and met
with about similar success as before. For the head prize, Samuel Jameson of
Penrith disposed of him in the third round. In the second day's entry,
William Slee of Dacre did the same in the first round.
In 1815, the "Dyer" appeared in the Carlisle ring for the third time. He
threw Andrew Armstrong of Sowerby-hall, in the second round; and was thrown
next time over by Tom Todd of Knarsdale, near Alston. For the second day's
prize, he disposed in succession of his neighbour, William Clark, the
miller, Joe Abbot of Thornthwaite-hall, and Robert Forster of Denton; and
was brought to grief by Edward Forster, a brother of the last mentioned.
The weather at the Carlisle meeting held in September, 1816, turned out to
be extremely wet and uncomfortable, on both first and second days. As a
natural consequence, there was a much thinner attendance than ordinary. The
Earl of Lonsdale, the Marquis of Queensberry, Sir Philip Musgrave, and
others of the nobility and neighbouring gentry, were present; but after the
first day, scarcely any equipages, and very few ladies, were to be seen on
the course. There was a fair average of good men entered; but the account
we have to give of the wrestling is conflicting and unsatisfactory,
presenting a finish lame and impotent in the extreme.
In the first and second rounds, Richardson was called out against John Earl
of Cumwhitton, and John Weightman, respectively. He succeeded in throwing
both of these formidable antagonists. The former was an old veteran in the
Carlisle ring, and the latter a powerful young man of twenty-one, with an
eventful career before him. In the fourth round, Richardson and Joseph
Graham were drawn together, and had an unsatisfactory bout. Respecting this
fall, Litt says: "Being a spectator that year, we do not hesitate to say
that the conduct of the umpires was extremely blameable. In the course of
the wrestling, a fall between Thomas Richardson of Hesket, and Joseph
Graham from Ravenglass, was given to the former. We assert that Graham was
not allowed a fair hold, that it was a manifest snap, and after all it was
a complete dog-fall. On wrestling when there were but four standers,
Richardson was indisputably thrown; but such was the gross partiality shown
towards him, that he was allowed to compound with the person who threw
him." Disposing of George Coulthard, in the fifth round, Richardson was
then called against Tom Todd of Knarsdale, to wrestle the final fall.
As a somewhat different statement has been sent abroad in _Wrestliana_, we
think it only right that the "Dyer's" own plea should be set forth. Well,
after Todd and he had stood fronting one another, in the ring, for some
time, but had not been in holds, "'turney" Pearson called Richardson to one
side, and offered him a considerable sum of money if he would only take his
coat, go out of the ring, and say he "darrent russel," or he "dudn't
want to russel." To this proposal, Richardson indignantly replied: "No!
I'll nowder deà sec a like thing for yee, nor nivver a man i' Carel toon!"
It was currently reported, by the way, that Pearson had bet a good deal
Todd would win the prize.[11] After some further squabbling, a row took
place, and the ring was completely broken up.
It was then given out that the two men were to wrestle next morning--the
following day being Thursday. When Thursday morning, however, came, the
meeting was put off till next morning. When Friday came, it was again put
off, on account of the great fight between Carter and Oliver, at Gretna.
Richardson stayed three whole days in Carlisle, over the affair, and never
received a penny! Whatever "gross partiality" might be shown towards him in
wrestling through the ring, he seems only to have fared badly in the end.
Let those who can, answer for the treatment he received. The second prize
advertised by the Carlisle wrestling committee, curiously enough, was not
contended for at all; why so, was best known to the committee themselves.
During the years 1817-18-19-20, there was no wrestling at Carlisle, in
connection with the races. The proprietor of a circus certainly filled up
the gap creditably, in 1817; but the three remaining years following were
entire blanks.
At the Langwathby annual Rounds, held on New Year's day, in 1818,
Richardson carried off the head prize of two guineas, finally throwing John
Dobson of Cliburn.
While wrestling seemed altogether defunct at Carlisle, it was taken up with
renewed vigour at Keswick. In August, 1818, the head prize offered was a
purse of five guineas, which brought a great gathering of spectators, and
all the best athletes of the day. The onlookers had the gratification of
witnessing many keenly contested falls. The last two standers were
Richardson, and William Wilson of Ambleside, then just coming out. Before
going into the ring for the final struggle, some chaffing took place, the
"Dyer" saying to Wilson in a swaggering sort of way, "I'll throw thee, noo,
thoo'll see, like I threw t' last chap!" After a good deal of higgling, on
Richardson's part, about wanting a "good hod," the two men finally closed,
and Wilson being impatient to be at work at once, lifted his opponent to
hype him, but missed his stroke. Some manoeuvring then took place, and
the "Dyer" having materially improved his hold, threw in the "ham" quickly,
and curiously enough succeeded in bringing over his dangerous rival, in the
very manner he had "bragged" of doing.
In answer to a paragraph which appeared in the _Cumberland Pacquet_,
Richardson issued the following notice:--
SPORTING ADVERTISEMENT.--Thomas Richardson, who won the
principal prize at the last Keswick Regatta and Races,
having observed it mentioned in the Whitehaven paper of
the first instant, that he refused to "play again with
the man he threw, for five guineas, though challenged,"
begs to contradict such statement, as being a gross
falsehood; and he is sorry such an offer was not made
to him.--He now challenges his opponent, alluded to in
the Whitehaven paper, to wrestle him for ten guineas,
at any time or place.--Hesket-New-Market, Sept. 2nd,
1818.
As this match never came off, it is impossible to say what the result might
have been; nevertheless, we have strong leanings to the belief that the
"Dyer" would have gained nothing, at that date, by coming into personal
contact with Wilson, the best of five falls. As a hyper, the "Dyer" was
admirable, and dangerous, too, among even the best Cumbrian wrestlers; but,
in this particular respect, he was far behind Wilson in quickness of stroke
and brilliancy of execution.
On one of the days after the races at Keswick, Richardson had a match with
Tom Lock of Ravenglass, and threw him cleverly.
Some years after, the "Dyer" rambled away from home as far as Low Wood, to
attend the annual wrestlings at Windermere. For some reason or other, he
entered his name "Thomas Porter," and passed quietly through two or three
of the earlier rounds as an unknown hand. Being called against Joe Abbot
of Bampton, the latter bounced into the ring very full of stopping the
further progress of the stranger. No sooner had they approached one
another, than Joe opened his eyes very wide, stood as one petrified for a
moment, and then exclaimed, "D--n! it's _thee_, Dyer, is it!" The two then
took hold, but Joe made no effort towards getting the fall, and "Thomas
Porter" obtained fall after fall until he succeeded, we understand, in
carrying off the belt.
Liberal prizes for wrestling and other sports were given at Greystoke
Castle, by the Howards, and the meetings were always well attended by the
nobility and the neighbouring gentry. Richardson won there one year,
William Earl of Cumwhitton wrestling second.
A close acquaintance existed between Richardson and Weightman. The former
was master at the beginning of their career, but afterwards the latter
became too powerful for him. In all they met eleven times, and out of that
number of falls, Weightman scored six, and Richardson five. Among other
places, the latter threw the Hayton champion at one of the Kirkoswald
"worchet" meetings, and got the compliment returned at Wreay soon after,
where the fallen man lamed his side.
Sitting among the crowd that lined the Carlisle ring one year, the "Dyer"
was called out against a big, raw-boned fellow, an awkward-looking
customer, but one, nevertheless, who appeared young and inexperienced.
"What's t'e gaen to mak' o' yon 'an, Tom?" asked Weightman. "Oh,"
replied the "Dyer," in a tone of mock humility, "I's just gaen to fell
him reet off hand, an' than he can ga heàm till his mudder, pooar
lad!"
On another occasion, he was called out against Wilfrid Wright, at a meeting
on Penrith fell. "Noo, Wiff," said he, "I's gaen to throw thee
streight into yon furrow yonder!" and did so cleverly. When Wright had
recovered from his astonishment, and was gathering himself up, he
exclaimed: "Cush, man! I dudn't think thoo cud ha' deùn't hofe sa clean!"
Richardson continued to wrestle for many years, in the Carlisle and other
rings, with moderate success. Later on, he lived at Penrith with a sister,
who kept an inn there. When approaching fifty years old, he became so
overgrown, that his weight appeared to be seventeen or eighteen stones,
forming a marked contrast to what he was a quarter of a century
before--then a lish, active, thirteen-stone man.
He died at Penrith, about the year 1853.
FOOTNOTES:
[11] Henry Pearson, solicitor, was a rare upholder of wrestling, but too
much given to betting to do full justice to all parties. It was currently
reported he ventured so large a sum on Carter at the Gretna fight, that
when Oliver was likely to win during the earlier rounds, he evinced a state
of the greatest nervousness imaginable. An old stager has a distinct
recollection of him as he stood "fumlen wid his fingers iv his mooth,"
betraying the nervous "twitch" peculiar to men undergoing great mental
excitement, and looking as if he might have gone off at any moment like
touchwood or tinder.
TOM TODD
OF KNARSDALE.
Tom Todd, a Northumbrian by birth, was born and brought up at "The Bogg,"
in Knarsdale, near Alston, where his father was well known as a sheep
breeder. He stood fully five feet ten inches high; his general wrestling
weight being about twelve stones and a half. Todd's contemporaries have
spoken of him as a most accomplished and scientific wrestler. He could
buttock cleanly, hype quickly, and excelled in most other chips. Weighing
and watching his opponents' movements narrowly, he seemed to anticipate
what was coming, and prepared accordingly, both for stopping and chipping.
In taking hold, like most good wrestlers, he stood square and upright; but
in consequence of having a very peculiarly shaped back, like half a barrel,
it was next to impossible to hold him easily, or to grip him with any
amount of firmness. Like Richard Chapman, he could always "get out," if so
minded, at starting.
About the summer of 1810 or 1811, Tom Todd, then just merging into manhood,
attended the annual "boon" mowing-meeting of John Bell of Kirkhaugh, the
noted bone-setter, where as many as twenty or thirty strong men often
congregated together. When the grass had been cut down, it was usual to
broach a barrel of ale, and drink the contents on the green sward. During
the time the nut-brown home-brewed was being handed round, the Alston band
enlivened the scene with music; and then followed the most attractive part
of the day's programme, namely, dog-trailing, jumping, and wrestling. At
this rural festival Tom Todd won his first belt; and a lad, named Robin
Carruthers, a farm servant, from the Bewcastle district, wrestled second.
In 1815, Todd figured in the Carlisle ring, probably for the first time;
and came against Tom Richardson, the dyer, in the third round for the
principal prize. Being both young men, and not unequally matched in size,
strength, and science, they had three desperate tussles before the struggle
could be decided. Finally, the fall ended in favour of Todd. In the fourth
round, Todd's career was cut short by George Forster of Penton.
In contending for the second prize, Todd threw a clever wrestler, named
Thomas Peat, a farmer's son, from Blencow, in the third round; and
Armstrong, the "yak tree," in the fourth. Not being able to come to terms
about holds, in the final fall, with Edward Forster of Penton, the two
never wrestled out, but, says Litt, in dividing the money for first and
second, Todd received more money than his opponent, it being the opinion
of the umpire that he was the fairer stander.