L’Envoy to the Reader.
“Constant Reader!”—for surely he deserves that title who hath borne me mental company through fifteen hundred pages—this is an old-fashioned book, written by an old-fashioned “pen,” recording old-fashioned manners, customs, and pursuits of men in times fast becoming old fashioned; it therefore seems fit that, in the old fashion of the L’Envoy, the Author and the Reader should have a few “more last words” ere they part company.
When Cid Hamet Benengeli, in the ultimate Chapter of “Don Quixote,” apostrophises his pen, he speaks of scribblers “who compile false and idle histories.”[42] Even so does the smaller author of Pugilistica feel as he ceases from his “Story of the Ring.” It would seem from the denunciation of the worthy Cid Hamet that in all times there have been literary fabricators and forgers, and the writer can certify that the History of the Ring in the present day has more than one flagrant instance. Foremost of these is a weekly newspaper professing to be the Argus of the Turf, and the Titan of Tipsters. The “Famous Old Fights” appearing in its columns are pure fiction, grafted on well-known names, dates, and anecdotes procurable from standard works of reference; the details of incidents, of rounds, &c., &c., being the emanation of the lively imagination of the newswriter, who, to our knowledge, and from innumerable instances in his blundering romance, is utterly ignorant and innocent of any acquaintance with the Ring, its professors, or the scenes he so inventively describes. The sole reason for this exposé is, that as, in many instances, these forged accounts of battles purport to be between men whose combats are authentically given in these pages, the reader should be made aware, that no such reports exist in any contemporary publications, of which innumerable proofs might be given, but that we cannot spare the space, time, and trouble to “break a butterfly on the wheel.” Yet do we bear no grudge to the ingenious fiction-writer; and having set the point of truth and accuracy in its true light, we say, as did Uncle Toby, when he released the fly, “Go thy ways, there is room enough in the world for both of us.”
And now for one other topic of our desultory gossip. In the later portions of the Lives of the Boxers, we have had occasion to notice the crusade which cant, cowardice, and hypocrisy successfully carried out to the bitter end against pugilism and pugilists; we shall not here iterate their defence or apology. To render, however, the work more complete as a reference, in times when even the first principles of fair-play to an antagonist, and forbearance towards the vanquished seem to be little more than a memory, and to be fast vanishing out of the minds of a pusillanimous populace, we shall here preserve the text of the latest form of the “Regulations” which governed the practice of honourable combat between professional opponents in the P.R. The old Code, known as “Broughton’s Rules,” are given in volume i., page 25.
RULES OF THE RING, AS REVISED BY THE PUGILISTIC ASSOCIATION.
It having been found that many of the Rules of the Ring are insufficient to provide for the various contingencies which continually arise in prize battles, an entire revision has been determined on, and a committee of gentlemen, members of the Pugilistic Association, undertook the task. When the revision was complete, the laws were submitted to a general meeting of the members of the Prize Ring (being members of the Association) and unanimously agreed to.
Rule 1.—That the ring shall be made on turf, and shall be four-and-twenty feet square formed of eight stakes and ropes, the latter extending in double lines, the uppermost line being four feet from the ground, and the lower two feet from the ground. That in the centre of the ring a mark be formed, to be termed “the scratch;” and that at two opposite corners, as may be selected, spaces be enclosed by other marks sufficiently large for the reception of the seconds and bottle-holders, to be entitled “the corners.”
2.—That each man shall be attended to the ring by a second and a bottle-holder, the former provided with a sponge, and the latter with a bottle of water. That the combatants, on shaking hands, shall retire until the seconds of each have tossed for choice of position, which adjusted, the winner shall choose his corner according to the state of the wind or sun, and conduct his man thereto; the loser taking the opposite corner.
3.—That each man shall be provided with a handkerchief of a colour suitable to his own fancy, and that the seconds proceed to entwine these handkerchiefs at the upper end of one of the centre stakes. That these handkerchiefs shall be called the “colours;” and that the winner of the battle at its conclusion shall be entitled to their possession as the trophy of victory.
4.—That two umpires shall be chosen by the seconds or backers to watch the progress of the battle, and take exception to any breach of the rules hereafter stated. That a referee shall be chosen by the umpires, unless otherwise agreed on, to whom all disputes shall be referred; and that the decision of this referee, whatever it may be, shall be final and strictly binding on all parties, whether as to the matter in dispute or the issue of the battle. That the umpires shall be provided with a watch for the purpose of calling time; and that they mutually agree upon which this duty shall devolve, the call of that umpire only to be attended to, and no other person whatever to interfere in calling time. That the referee shall withhold all opinion till appealed to by the umpires, and that the umpires strictly abide by his decision without dispute.
5.—That on the men being stripped it shall be the duty of the seconds to examine their drawers, and if any objection arise as to insertion of improper substances therein, they shall appeal to their umpires, who, with the concurrence of the referee, shall direct what alterations shall be made.
6.—That in future no spikes be used in fighting boots except those authorised by the Pugilistic Association, which shall not exceed three-eighths of an inch from the sole of the boot, and shall not be less than one-eighth of an inch broad at the point; and it shall be in the power of the referee to alter, or file in any way he pleases, spikes which shall not accord with the above dimensions, even to filing them away altogether.
7.—That both men being ready, each man shall be conducted to that side of the scratch next his corner previously chosen; and the seconds on the one side, and the men on the other, having shaken hands, the former shall immediately return to their corners, and there remain within the prescribed marks till the round be finished, on no pretence whatever approaching their principals during the round, under a penalty of 5s. for each offence, at the option of the referee. The penalty, which will be strictly enforced, to go to the funds of the Association. The principal to be responsible for every fine inflicted on his second.
8.—That at the conclusion of the round, when one or both of the men shall be down, the seconds and bottle-holders shall step forward and carry or conduct their principal to his corner, there affording him the necessary assistance, and that no person whatever be permitted to interfere in this duty.
9.—That on the expiration of thirty seconds the umpire appointed shall cry “Time,” upon which each man shall rise from the knee of his bottleholder and walk to his own side of the scratch unaided; the seconds and bottle-holders remaining at their corner; and that either man failing so to be at the scratch within eight seconds, shall be deemed to have lost the battle. This rule to be strictly adhered to.
10.—That on no consideration whatever shall any person be permitted to enter the ring during the battle, nor till it shall have been concluded; and that in the event of such unfair practice, or the ropes or stakes being disturbed or removed, it shall be in the power of the referee to award the victory to that man who in his honest opinion shall have the best of the contest.
11.—That the seconds and bottle-holders shall not interfere, advise, or direct the adversary of their principal, and shall refrain from all offensive and irritating expressions, in all respects conducting themselves with order and decorum, and confine themselves to the diligent and careful discharge of their duties to their principals.
12.—That in picking up their men, should the seconds or bottle-holders wilfully injure the antagonist of their principal, the latter shall be deemed to have forfeited the battle on the decision of the referee.
13.—That it shall be a fair “stand-up fight,” and if either man shall wilfully throw himself down without receiving a blow, whether blows shall have previously been exchanged or not, he shall be deemed to have lost the battle; but that this rule shall not apply to a man who in a close slips down from the grasp of his opponent to avoid punishment, or from obvious accident or weakness.
14.—That butting with the head shall be deemed foul, and the party resorting to this practice shall be deemed to have lost the battle.
15.—That a blow struck when a man is thrown or down, shall be deemed foul. That a man with one knee and one hand on the ground, or with both knees on the ground, shall be deemed down; and a blow given in either of those positions shall be considered foul, providing always that, when in such position the man so down shall not himself strike or attempt to strike.
16.—That a blow struck below the waistband shall be deemed foul, and that in a close seizing an antagonist below the waist, by the thigh, or otherwise, shall be deemed foul.
17.—That all attempts to inflict injury by gouging, or tearing the flesh with the fingers or nails, and biting, shall be deemed foul.
18.—That kicking or deliberately falling on an antagonist with the knees or otherwise when down, shall be deemed foul.
19.—That all bets shall be paid as the battle-money, after a fight, is awarded.
20.—That no person, under any pretence whatever, shall be permitted to approach nearer the ring than ten feet, with the exception of the umpires and referee, and the persons appointed to take charge of the water or other refreshment for the combatants, who shall take their seats close to the corners selected by the seconds.
21.—That due notice shall be given by the stakeholder of the day and place where the battle-money is to be given up, and that he be exonerated from all responsibility upon obeying the direction of the referee; that all parties be strictly bound by these rules; and that in future all articles of agreement for a contest be entered into with a strict and willing adherence to the letter and spirit of these rules.
22.—That in the event of magisterial or other interference, or in case of darkness coming on, the referee shall have the power to name the time and place for the next meeting, if possible on the same day, or as soon after as may be.
23.—That, should the fight not be decided on the day, all bets shall be drawn, unless the fight shall be resumed the same week, between Sunday and Sunday, in which case the bets shall stand and be decided by the event. The battle-money shall remain in the hands of the stakeholder until fairly won or lost by a fight, unless a draw be mutually agreed upon.
24.—That any pugilist voluntarily quitting the ring previous to the deliberate judgment of the referee being obtained, shall be deemed to have lost the fight.
25.—That on an objection being made by the seconds or umpire the men shall retire to their corners, and there remain until the decision of the appointed authorities shall be obtained; that if pronounced “foul,” the battle shall be at an end, but if “fair,” “time” shall be called by the party appointed, and the man absent from the scratch in eight seconds after shall be deemed to have lost the fight. The decision in all cases to be given promptly and irrevocably, for which purpose the umpires and the referee should be invariably close together.
26.—That if in a rally at the ropes a man steps outside the ring to avoid his antagonist, or to escape punishment, he shall forfeit the battle.
27.—That the use of hard substances, such as stone, or stick, or of resin, in the hand during the battle shall be deemed foul, and that on the requisition of the seconds of either man, the accused shall open his hands for the examination of the referee.
28.—That hugging on the ropes shall be deemed foul. That a man held by the neck against the stakes, or upon or against the ropes, shall be considered down, and all interference with him in that position shall be foul. That if a man in any way makes use of the ropes or stakes to aid him in squeezing his adversary he shall be deemed the loser of the battle; and that if a man in a close reaches the ground with his knees his adversary shall immediately loose him or lose the battle.
29.—That all stage fights be as nearly as possible in conformity with the foregoing rules.
We ask, in the name of humanity, too often taken in vain, a calm and dispassionate perusal of these rules, confident that the appeal will at least induce a more charitable opinion of the men who could frame and act upon them than ignorance or prejudice would form. “It has been constantly urged,” says an experienced writer, “as a ground of objection to the study of the skilful use of the fist that it makes men pugnacious, and more ready to seek than to evade a quarrel, in order that they may display their fancied superiority. Observation and experience do not confirm this view. We have almost invariably found (except with persons who cannot command their temper, and if this be the case, whatever be their acquirements, they will be equally without control) that the consciousness of power inclines men to be less prone to quarrel, and more forbearing against an opponent. Of this abundant proofs are to be found, not only among the ordinary classes of society, but more particularly among professed pugilists, who, with a few exceptions, are the last to invite a quarrel, and the first to seek a reconciliation. Many instances are on record, and have passed under our notice, in which the most respectable members of the Prize Ring have actually submitted to positive insult rather than exercise their athletic powers and take advantage of the weakness of an assailant. This calmness of disposition, joined with perfect self-possession, is in fact one of the most valuable attributes of a British boxer, and one of the best tests of true courage. That there may be and are exceptions to this rule cannot be denied; but all must concur in the proposition, that for the strong to oppress the weak, or the scientific boxer to take advantage of an ignorant and helpless opponent, is an act of cowardice deserving the utmost contempt. The ruffian who would strike a woman is not less deserving of execration than he who, for the mere purpose of displaying his scientific acquirements, would assail another not equally gifted. The great end of pugilistic instruction is, to instil into the mind of the pupil a manly and honourable bearing, combined with personal confidence in the hour of danger; we have no apprehensions, therefore, that its pursuit will lead to the abandonment of those principles of self-respect and fair play which are alike estimable in the minds of all classes.”
And here we will once again ask the question, without fear of a valid retort, “Has the experience of the last twenty years, read by the light of our police reports, and the records of our criminal courts, shown any improvement in the character of what are called ‘offences against the person’?” On the contrary, familiarity with the use of deadly weapons, of the knife in murderous varieties of “the bowie” the “Spanish,” “the Arkansas tooth-pick,” the “knuckle-duster,” the many-chambered revolver, with the stringent repression of all pugilistic conflict by an ever and over-vigilant police, has undoubtedly led to swifter, more sanguinary, more treacherous, and more deadly modes of settling those differences which must arise, especially among the lower classes of society. To this humiliating catalogue of brutality we may add the savage use of the iron-bound clog, and the “running kick,” so fatally studied and practised by a section of the community which in ruder and in better times would have scorned such an unmanly mode of attack, and would not even have permitted it where several spectators were gathered together. But alas! the outcome of the decay and suppression of fair fighting is manifest; the doctrine of assassination is publicly preached in the press and in public meetings, and “the gospel of dynamite” is the latest development of the “superior civilisation” of a people who
“Scorning all treacherous feud and deadly strife,
The dark stiletto or the murderous knife,
Boasted a science sprung from manly pride.
Linked with true courage, and to health allied—
A noble pastime, void of vain pretence—
The fine old English Art of Self-defence.”
Whether fair and regulated prize-battles are destructive of life, and absolutely and directly shorten the period of man’s longevity, may be fairly a subject of inquiry. A few statistics may well give us pause before we decide this point, which an insufficient investigation and popular prejudice would pronounce in the affirmative, while a candid consideration of the following table may prove the negative—that is, as compared with many other gymnastic and sporting exercises. Deaths in the prize-ring, or even as the consequences of pugilistic encounters, do not show a marked diminution of the term of human life, in the recorded instances of the ages of the most celebrated professors and practitioners of the art of boxing:—
| AGES OF THE CHAMPIONS FROM BROUGHTON TO TOM KING. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BORN. | DIED. | AGE. | |
| John Broughton | 1703 | 1789 | 85 |
| Tom Johnson (Jackling) | 1750 | 1797 | 47*[43] |
| Daniel Mendoza | 1763 | 1836 | 73 |
| John Jackson | 1769 | 1845 | 76 |
| Jem Belcher | 1781 | 1811 | 30*[43] |
| Tom Belcher | 1783 | 1854 | 71 |
| John Gully, M.P. | 1783 | 1863 | 80 |
| Tom Cribb | 1781 | 1848 | 67 |
| Tom Spring | 1795 | 1851 | 56*[43] |
| Jem Ward (still living) | 1800 | — | 81 |
| Bendigo (William Thompson) | 1811 | 1880 | 69 |
| Benjamin Caunt | 1815 | 1861 | 46*[43] |
| William Perry (Tipton Slasher) | 1819 | 1881 | 61 |
| Tom Sayers | 1828 | 1866 | 38*[43] |
| Jem Mace (living in 1881) | — | — | — |
| Tom King (living in 1881) | — | — | — |
| 880 yrs. | |||
| An average of fourteen lives nearly 63 years. | |||
Our last plea shall be drawn from the records of the “collective wisdom” of the nation, wherein we flatter ourselves manly common sense will find little difficulty in discriminating the characters of the meddling, malignant and persecuting preachers of the doctrine of “sweetness and light,” from the generous and tolerant spirits who declined to use the powers of government against the much-maligned Ring, its professors and patrons.
We have noted the wave of puritan cant which for some ten years previous to 1860 had rolled over the land, and the force of which was long after felt. In the last-named year it gave trouble and unrest in the Senate.
On the 13th of April, Mr. Hadfield gave notice, on presentation of a petition, that he would call the attention of the Government to a meditated breach of the peace, by a pugilistic contest to take place between an American citizen and a British subject for a so-called Championship. He added the extraordinary information that “the newspapers had given notice of the time and place (?); “therefore he asked the Secretary for the Home Department whether he intended to take measures to put down such intended disturbance of the public peace and prevent an exhibition so contrary to the religious sense of the country at large—(laughter)—and he would further ask whether the public might rely on his doing his best to prevent so brutal and demoralising an exhibition to the rising generation as the announced contest between this American gladiator and——(Laughter prevented the rest of the hon. member’s question reaching the reporters’ gallery.)
Sir Geo. C. Lewis, rising, said: The contest between these redoubtable champions (a laugh) has been brought under my notice, and I have transmitted the letter to Sir Richard Mayne, who, I have no doubt, will take the necessary steps to prevent a breach of the peace within the metropolitan district. Beyond this I cannot assure my honourable friend; I cannot venture to give any positive promise—for if he is informed of the time and place I am not, and I don’t think they are fixed—it is, therefore, impossible for me to say whether the police will succeed in preventing the “incursion” in question. (Laughter.)
Mr. Hadfield was by no means satisfied with the Right Honourable gentleman’s answer, and should again raise the question.
The fight came off unsatisfactorily, as all the world knows. Punch, in the following week, tells us (in his “Essence of Parliament”):—“Commons. More fun about the fight. Mr. Ewart admitted but deplored the interest taken, and the questions raised upon this matter; but wanted to know what power there was to suppress such doings, except the police power to suppress riot? Sir G. G. Lewis was also at a loss to know how to deal with our modern Dares and Entellus.”
A young Yorkshire noblemen, however, a newly-fledged M.P., Lord Lovaine (now Earl of Beverley) sought to make political and religious capital out of the affair. His lordship opened fire by an attack on the directors of a certain railway company—the South Eastern—for “their conduct in offering facilities for the conveyance of persons to these illegal contests,” and to raise the question, my Lord Lovaine, “moved for copies of any correspondence on this subject, which had passed between the Government and the South Eastern Railway Company.” He also inquired whether the Government had attempted to enforce the law, or whether anything had been done to stop the practice of letting trains for the purpose he mentioned.
To these impertinences, spiced with some personal inuendoes, Lord Palmerston replied in the following terms:—“He would not argue the technical legal question that a fight between two men—not a fight of enmity, but a trial of strength—is, legally, a breach of the peace, and an act that renders the parties liable to prosecution; nor whether the persons who go to witness it are not, technically, involved in the charge. But, as far as they are concerned, they may conceive it to be a very harmless pursuit; some persons like what takes place; there may be a difference of opinion, as a matter of taste, whether it is a spectacle one would wish to see, or whether it is calculated to excite disgust. Some people look upon it as an exhibition of manly courage, characteristic of the people of this country. I saw the other day,” said his lordship, “a long extract from a French newspaper, describing this fight as a type of the national character for endurance, patience under suffering, of indomitable perseverance in determined effort, and holding it up as a specimen of the manly and admirable qualities of the British race (hear). All this is, of course, entirely a matter of opinion; but really, setting aside the legal technicalities of the case, I do not perceive why any number of persons, say 1,000 if you please, who assemble to witness a prize fight, are in their own persons more guilty of a breach of the peace than an equal number of persons who assemble to witness a balloon ascent (laughter). There they stand; there is no breach of the peace; they go to see a sight, and when that sight is over they return, and no injury is done to any one. They only sit or stand on the grass to witness the performance, and as to the danger to those who perform themselves, I imagine the danger to life in the case of those who go up in balloons is certainly greater (hear and laughter) than that of two combatants who merely hit each other as hard as they can, but inflict no permanent injury upon each other (hear, hear). I think there is moderation in all things—moderation in all opinions; and although it may or may not be desirable that the law should be enforced—whatever the law may be—still I do not think any advantage is gained or good done, either to public morals or public feeling, by the sort of exaggerations in which the noble lord has indulged. At the same time the motion is one to which I see no objection, and therefore I do not oppose it.”
Some sparring took place, in the course of which Lord Lovaine taunted the Premier with a love of pugilism, and with sanctioning rather than discouraging these meetings. Mr. Scully also had a fling at the Premier.
Lord Palmerston replied as follows:—“I distinctly stated that it was ruled by legal authorities that such prize fights were breaches of the peace; but I protest, at the same time, against the exaggerated terms in which the noble lord (Lord Lovaine) characterised the conduct of the spectators on those occasions.”
“Colonel Dickson was surprised to hear his hon. friend (Mr. Scully) take the noble lord at the head of the Government to task for the remarks he had made on this occasion, for he (Colonel Dickson) could not understand an Irishman objecting to fighting (a laugh). The noble viscount (Palmerston) had not laid himself open to such taunts. He sat on a different side of the House from the noble lord, and did not often find himself in the same lobby with him on a division, but he would say for the noble viscount that if he had one attribute more than another which endeared him to his countrymen, it was his thoroughly English character and his love for every manly sport (cheers). He (Colonel Dickson) never saw a prize fight in his life; but he would say that the two men who fought on the recent occasion showed qualities of which the whole English race had reason to be proud, our own man in particular (laughter), who evinced powers of endurance and an indomitable pluck which entitled him to the admiration of his countrymen (cheers.) Many men in this country received honours who did not so well deserve them. He did not think Parliament ought to legislate with the view to put down manly sports; and, with regard to the duties of magistrates the law was clearly laid down. Magistrates themselves ought to know when to act and when to shut their eyes (a laugh).”
The returns were then ordered; but whether any such papers existed, or of what use they were to the meddlesome movers, the world is to this day in ignorance. We should say that the whole debate was a peg on which to hang a sanctimonious attack to the glory of the “unco’ guid” assailants. While on this topic we will add a well-authenticated anecdote which was current at the time in the clubs.
While the Home Secretary (Sir G. Cornewall Lewis) was solemnly explaining and admitting the illegality of Ring-fights, a well-known sporting M.P. was collecting a “purse” for Sayers. Lord Palmerston came upon the group, and was instantly arrested by the amateur collector. “My lord, I want a sov. for Tom Sayers.” “A sov. for Sayers? Splendid fellow that; I’ll give you five.” “Thank you, my lord; but the subscription is limited to a single sov.” His lordship, with subdued alacrity, “Well, here it is; but I wish it was five.” There were noblemen then, in soul as in title; in humble life as in exalted. Do they survive, and have they the courage even of their own opinions?
Ah, me that I have lived to hear
Such men as ruffians scorned.
Such deeds of valour “brutal” called,
Canted, preached-down, and mourned!
Ah! that these old eyes ne’er again,
A gallant mill shall see!
No more behold the ropes and stakes,
With colours flying free!
Yet, in despite of all the jaw
And gammon of this time,
That brands the art of self-defence—
Old England’s art—as crime,
From off mine ancient memories
The rust of time I’ll shake.
Your youthful bloods to quicken
And your British pluck to wake;
I know it only slumbers,
Let cant do what it will,
The British bull-dog will be
The British bull-dog still.
Valete ac plaudite: The curtain has fallen!
Wood Green. H. D. M.
[42] “And now, my slender pen, whether cunningly cut, or unskilfully shaped, it boots not much; here, from this rack, wire-suspended, shalt thou enjoy repose to future ages, if no presumptuous and wicked hand shall take thee down, and profane thee by compiling false and idle histories.”—“The Achievements of the Sage and Valiant Don Quixote de la Mancha,” book iii., ch. XXII. Smollet’s translation.
[43] A reference to the memoirs in these volumes will fully show, that in each of the instances of early death, marked with an asterisk (*), extraneous causes account for the comparative shortening of life.—Ed.
INDEX TO VOLUME III.
| PAGE | |
| B | |
| BENDIGO. See [THOMPSON, WILLIAM.] | |
| BENJAMIN, BILL, or BAINGE | [399], [406] |
| BRASSEY, of Bradford (JOHN LEECHMAN). | |
| Fight with Young Langan | [340] |
| Fight with Tass Parker | [344] |
| His death | [351] |
| BRETTLE, BOB. | |
| His pugilistic career | [414] |
| His battle with Tom Sayers | [416] |
| Defeats Jem Mace | [451] |
| Is beaten by Tom Sayers | [452] |
| Is challenged by Jem Mace | [457] |
| Adjourned fight | [458] |
| Is beaten by Mace | [459] |
| BROOME, HARRY (Champion). 1851. | |
| Younger brother to the renowned “Johnny” | [308] |
| Born at Birmingham | [308] |
| Early glove displays | [308] |
| Rivalry of East and West. The Broomes | [309] |
| Fred Mason (the “Bulldog”) | [309] |
| Harry matched against Mason for £50 | [309] |
| A prepossessing “first appearance” | [310] |
| Harry beats the “Bulldog” | [311] |
| A twelvemonths’ rest. Joe Rowe | [314] |
| A trip down the river | [315] |
| Harry defeats Joe Rowe | [316] |
| Tom Spring resigns his post as referee | [319] |
| Second battle of Broome and Joe Rowe | [321] |
| Matched with Ben Terry | [323] |
| A suspicious affair and a “draw” | [324] |
| “The Great Unknown,” Harry and the Tipton Slasher | [325] |
| Broome’s remarkable increase in weight and stature | [325] |
| His fight with the Tipton, and Peter Crawley’s decision, | [327] |
| Negotiations with Harry Orme | [330] |
| Matched for £250 a side | [330] |
| Defeats Harry Orme | [333] |
| The old “Tipton” again | [336] |
| Broome forfeits to the “Tipton” | [338] |
| And to Tom Paddock | [338] |
| Is beaten by Paddock | [338] |
| Retires from the Ring | [339] |
| Becomes a publican at Portsmouth | [339] |
| His death in 1865, aged 39 | [339] |
| Joe Rowe’s “Sultan Stores” (note) | [339] |
| BURKE, JAMES (“the Deaf’un”). | |
| His birth and parentage | [94] |
| Strand Lane Stairs. “Jack-in-the-water” | [95] |
| The Thames in the first quarter of the century | [95] |
| The old “fighting days” | [96] |
| Joe Parish. “the Waterman.” “The Spotted Dog” | [96] |
| Eminent watermen pugilists | [96] |
| The Deaf’un’s first fight | [97] |
| The butchers of Clare Market | [98] |
| An Impromptu mill. Defeats Tom Hands | [98] |
| Defeats a “New Black” for “a purse” | [99] |
| Enrolled in the corps pugilistique | [99] |
| Beats Berridge at Leicester | [99] |
| Matched with Fitzmaurice | [99] |
| Beats Fitzmaurice at Harpenden | [100] |
| Spars with Young Dutch Sam | [100] |
| Is ruptured by an accident | [101] |
| Defeated by Cousens of Chichester | [101] |
| Defeats Girdler at North Chapel, Sussex | [102] |
| “Whiteheaded Bob” and the Duke of Cumberland | [102] |
| High prizes prohibitory of prize-fights | [104] |
| A stratagem. Grabbing the wrong man | [104] |
| Beats Gow at Temple Mills | [104] |
| Bob Hampson’s challenge and defeat | [105] |
| Three battles within six weeks | [105] |
| Beats Tim Crawley | [108] |
| Tommy Roundhead and Frosty-faced Fogo | [109] |
| A Homeric battle; the muses appeased | [110] |
| “The Deaf’un’s” merits as a sparrer | [110] |
| Matched with Birmingham Davis | [111] |
| A disappointment | [111] |
| Defeats Birmingham Davis | [112] |
| Matched with Blissett | [113] |
| Beats Blissett | [114] |
| A dinner at Tom Cribb’s; and a match | [115] |
| Beats old Jack Carter | [115] |
| A “little go.” Lazarus and Jem Brown | [116] |
| An interval and a sparring tour | [116] |
| Beats Yorkshire Macone | [117] |
| Challenges from Cousens and Josh Hudson | [117], [118] |
| Bill Charles, “the Welsh Champion” | [118] |
| Claims the Championship | [118] |
| “Too heavy” for Young Dutch Sam | [118] |
| Sign articles with Simon Byrne | [119] |
| “The Deaf’un’s” courage and humanity | [119] |
| The “Irish Champion” and “the talent” | [119] |
| The day before the battle | [120] |
| The fight and fatal result | [121]–[125] |
| Verdict of “manslaughter” against Burke and others | [126] |
| Subscription for the Widow Byrne | [126] |
| Trial and acquittal of Burke | [127] |
| Presentation of a service of plate to the Editor of Bell’s Life in London | [128] |
| Challenged by O’Rourke | [128] |
| And by Young Dutch Sam for £500 (!) | [128] |
| And by Jem Ward for £500, but not less than £100 a side, | [128] |
| O’Rourke’s challenge and departure for America | [129] |
| The Deaf’un’s “ancient statues” | [129] |
| Harry Preston and “the Deaf’un” | [130] |
| Plays at Sheffield in “Valentine and Orson” | [131] |
| Burke’s “farewell,” and high stakes for prize battles | [131] |
| A maximum stake of £200 voted | [131] |
| Sails for America | [132] |
| His welcome in the New World | [132] |
| Sails South to meet O’Rourke | [133] |
| Riots in New Orleans, and escape of “the Deaf’un” | [133] |
| Returns to New York | [134] |
| Battle with and defeat of O’Connell | [135] |
| The New York Herald and the P.R. | [135] |
| Burke’s arrival in Liverpool | [138] |
| The “big ones” of 1838 | [138] |
| A general challenge from “the Deaf’un” | [138] |
| The school of “Tom and Jerry;” a trip to France | [139] |
| Returns, and is beaten by Bendigo | [139] |
| “The Lament of Deaf Burke” | [140] |
| The Deaf’un again in the field, and matched with Nick Ward | [141] |
| Beaten by Nick Ward | [141] |
| The Deaf’un’s oratory | [142] |
| Indicted with Owen Swift, Ned Adams, Dick Cain, Lord Chetwynd, and others | [143] |
| The “Battle of Bedford” and Parson Cautley | [143] |
| Address of Deaf Burke to the Grand Jury of Bedford | [144] |
| The trial and its result | [148] |
| Receives forfeit of £15 from the Tipton Slasher | [148] |
| Night-houses in the Haymarket | [149] |
| Bob Castles and “the Deaf’un” | [149] |
| A match between Old Ones | [149] |
| The voyage to Rainham Ferry | [150] |
| The fight. Burke the conqueror | [151] |
| “Triumphant epistle of Deaf Burke to Bob Castles” | [155] |
| Dissipation, disease, and death | [156] |
| C | |
| CASTLES, BOB | [149] |
| CAUNT, BENJAMIN (Champion) 1841. | |
| A native of Nottinghamshire | [47] |
| Hucknall Torkard and Lord Byron | [47] |
| His first defeat by Bendigo | [47] |
| Beats William Butler | [47] |
| Beats Boneford | [48] |
| Second match with Bendigo | [48] |
| A mail-coach Journey to Doncaster in 1838 | [48] |
| The road to the fight | [52] |
| The combatants “interviewed” | [53] |
| Incidents and mishaps | [54] |
| The fight; a magisterial interference | [56] |
| The fight won by a “foul” | [58] |
| Remarks on the battle | [59] |
| Caunt receives the stakes | [60] |
| A new match for £100 a side and a forfeit | [60] |
| Challenges by Brassey and Caunt | [60] |
| “An heroic epistle from Brassey to Caunt” | [61] |
| Estimates of the men | [62] |
| Newmarket and its neighbourhood | [64] |
| A battle of “big ’uns” | [66] |
| Caunt the victor | [69] |
| Claims the Championship | [69] |
| Challenged by Nick Ward | [69] |
| Loses with Ward by a “foul blow” | [70] |
| A second match made | [70] |
| Stratford-on-Avon the rendezvous | [71] |
| The field of battle, Long Marsden | [72] |
| The Champion’s new belt | [73] |
| Caunt defeats Nick Ward | [74] |
| Caunt “Champion,” sails for America with the “Belt” | [77] |
| A “buncombe” challenge | [77] |
| Charles Freeman, “the Giant” | [78] |
| “The Michigan Giant” and “New York Baby” | [78] |
| Returns to England, March, 1842 | [79] |
| Caunt’s “Champion Cup” | [79] |
| Challenges Bendigo, Tass Parker, and the Tipton Slasher, in six months, each for £200 | [79] |
| Bendigo again in the field | [80] |
| Caunt loses his third battle with Bendigo | [80] |
| A dreadful domestic calamity | [80] |
| Caunt and Nat Langham; a silly feud | [81] |
| Matched for £200 a side | [81] |
| Ben’s challenge to Tom Sayers | [83] |
| Misgivings as to Caunt and Langham’s encounter | [84] |
| The battle | [86] |
| A “draw” and a “dispute” | [88] |
| The “dropping” system | [92] |
| Caunt in retirement | [93] |
| His death, Sept. 10, 1861 | [93] |
| H | |
| HURST, SAM (“the Staleybridge Infant”). | |
| His battle with Tom Paddock | [307] |
| Matched with Jem Mace | [459] |
| His battle with Jem Mace | [460] |
| Defeat and retirement | [463] |
| J | |
| JONES, AARON. | |
| His fights with Harry Orme | [253], [262] |
| Ditto with Tom Paddock | [283] |
| Beaten by Tom Sayers | [237], [287] |
| Fight with Bob Wade | [245] |
| Challenges Tom Sayers | [419] |
| A renewed match with Sayers | [431] |
| Surviving in 1881 | [358] |
| K | |
| KING, TOM, (Champion) 1862. | |
| His birthplace, Stepney | [490] |
| Adopts a sailor’s life | [490] |
| Voyages to Africa | [490] |
| A foreman in the docks | [490] |
| His inoffensive character and courage | [491] |
| Disposes of a “’long-shore” bully | [491] |
| Introduced to Jem Ward | [491] |
| A challenge for a small stake | [491] |
| A forfeit from Clamp | [491] |
| Matched with Tommy Truckle, of Portsmouth | [491] |
| Beats Tommy Truckle | [492] |
| Arrival of Heenan | [494] |
| Matched with Harry Poulson, of Nottingham | [494] |
| Challenges Sam Hurst for Championship | [494] |
| Matched with Evans (Young Broome) | [495] |
| The Championship and Circus quackery | [495] |
| Ring performances of Young Broome | [495] |
| King defeats Young Broome in two Rings | [496] |
| Large stakes for little fights | [500] |
| Matched with Mace | [500] |
| A tedious interval | [501] |
| The approaching day—anxiety | [501] |
| A clerical “tip” | [501] |
| The journey to the fight | [505] |
| King defeats Mace for the Championship | [505] |
| King resigns the belt | [509] |
| A telegraphic message corrected | [510] |
| Heenan again in the field | [510] |
| Agrees to meet Heenan | [511] |
| Articles for £1,000 a side | [511] |
| Heenan in training | [512] |
| His pedestrian feats | [512] |
| Difficulties as to the place for combat | [513] |
| Three nights of watchfulness | [513] |
| Scene at London Bridge | [513] |
| The “roughs” at fault | [513] |
| A morning ride | [514] |
| Speculation; arrival at the ground | [514] |
| The ring at Wadhurst | [515] |
| The fight | [516] |
| King defeats Heenan | [516] |
| Remarks | [517] |
| Conclusion | [518] |
| L | |
| LANGHAM, NAT. | |
| His qualities and “unlucky” weight | [234] |
| Born at Hinckley, Leicestershire | [234] |
| His first fight | [234] |
| Comes up to London | [235] |
| An impromptu battle. Defeats Tom Lowe | [235] |
| Challenges Joe Bostock | [235] |
| Beats “Doctor” Campbell | [236] |
| Challenges; matched with Gutteridge | [236] |
| Defeats Gutteridge | [237] |
| Nat receives forfeit from Angelo and Gutteridge | [238] |
| Matched with Sparks the Australian | [238] |
| A trip per steamer and a strategic movement | [239] |
| Nat defeats Sparkes | [240] |
| In want of a customer | [242] |
| Matched with Harry Orme | [242] |
| Beaten by Harry Orme | [243] |
| Goes into business at Cambridge | [243] |
| Alec Keene, Tom Sayers, Harry Brunton | [243] |
| Nat matched with Tom Sayers | [244] |
| A trip per Eastern Counties Railway | [245] |
| A model mill; Nat defeats Tom Sayers | [246] |
| Tom and Nat, rival pubs | [251] |
| A ridiculous match. Langham and Ben Caunt | [251] |
| “A draw.” Nat dies at the “Cambrian,” Sept. 1st., 1871 | [252] |
| L’ENVOY TO THE READER. | |
| The extinction of the Ring | [518] |
| Fabricated accounts of Prize Fights | [519] |
| The Crusade against the Ring | [519] |
| The noble supporters of Boxing | [519] |
| Ages of the Champions from Broughton to Tom King | [524] |
| Parliamentary discussions | [524] |
| Railway directors and special trains | [525] |
| Anecdote of Lord Palmerston | [526] |
| Cant and cowardice versus manly courage | [527] |
| Farewell to the reader. Finis | [528] |
| M | |
| MACE, JEM (Champion). | |
| His merits as a boxer | [444] |
| Degeneracy of pugilists and Ring-patrons | [444] |
| Birth of Mace | [444] |
| His parentage | [445] |
| His travelling propensities | [445] |
| His first Ring fight | [445] |
| Matched with Bill Thorpe | [445] |
| Rapid increase in weight of some pugilists | [445] |
| Mace beats Bill Thorpe | [445] |
| Comes to London. Proposals for matches | [448] |
| Returns to Norwich, and matched with Mike Madden | [449] |
| A dispute and a disappointment | [449] |
| Six months’ quibbling | [450] |
| A new match and a “bolt” | [450] |
| Reappears as “George Brown’s Novice” | [450] |
| Matched with Bob Brettle | [451] |
| Beaten (?) by Bob Brettle | [451] |
| Appears as “Bob Brettle’s Novice” | [452] |
| Matched with Posh Price of Birmingham | [452] |
| Defeats Posh Price | [453] |
| Becomes a publican | [454] |
| Challenges; matched with Bob Travers (Black) | [454] |
| Career of Bob Travers | [454] |
| Beats Bob Travers (an adjourned fight) | [456] |
| Quarrel with Bob Brettle | [457] |
| Match for £200 with Brettle | [458] |
| Beats Brettle in an adjourned fight | [459] |
| Matched with Sam Hurst | [459] |
| The “Staleybridge Infant” | [459] |
| Defeats Sam Hurst | [460] |
| Mace hailed as Champion | [462] |
| Tom King challenges the title | [462] |
| Mace defeats Tom King | [465] |
| Heenan returns to England, 1861 | [468] |
| Mace in business as a publican | [468] |
| Brettle backs “an Unknown” against Mace | [469] |
| Brettle receives £25 from King’s backers to retire | [469] |
| Mace defeated by Tom King | [469] |
| Matched with Joe Goss, of Wolverhampton | [469] |
| Mace stakes £600 to £400 on the part of Goss | [469] |
| Match-making “considerably mixed” | [469] |
| Fighting career of Joe Goss (note) | [470] |
| Precautions against police interruption | [471] |
| Riotous conduct of roughs at railway terminal | [471] |
| An early journey into Wiltshire | [472] |
| The “referee” difficulty again | [472] |
| A police intervention | [473] |
| A disappointment, and return to town | [473] |
| An adjournment “down the river” | [473] |
| The fight on Plumstead Marshes | [474] |
| Mace defeats Joe Goss | [474] |
| A “side-light” on “bogus” stakes | [475] |
| The anti-pugilistic press | [476] |
| The Morning Star and Dial | [476] |
| The Saturday Review: reflections on the fight | [476] |
| A “champion” from the New World | [477] |
| Mace and Coburn matched for £1,000 | [477] |
| Cavilling negotiations | [477] |
| A sketch of Joe Coburn | [477] |
| Edwin James & Co. | [478] |
| Contrast of olden Ring “patrons” and modern Ring “agents” | [478] |
| Lord Shaftesbury an admirer of boxing (note) | [478] |
| Provincial tours | [479] |
| A journey to Dublin | [479] |
| A public “secret” more Hibernico | [479] |
| Press men in Dublin | [480] |
| Irish arrangements | [480] |
| A London celebrity | [481] |
| A scene at the rendezvous | [481] |
| Goold’s Cross, Limerick, named | [481] |
| A shindy, and the match “off” | [482] |
| A farce, and the a stakes claimed | [482] |
| The stakes drawn | [482] |
| Irish humour | [483] |
| An archiepiscopal hoax | [483] |
| Comments thereon | [484] |
| Colours and “good faith” | [485] |
| Mace offers to fight Coburn for £100 | [486] |
| Degeneracy of the Ring | [486] |
| New “big ones” and the Championship | [486] |
| “Train-swindles” | [486] |
| Mace and Joe Goss’s second match | [486] |
| A “no-fight” | [487] |
| A new giant, O’Baldwin | [487] |
| O’Baldwin claims the belt | [487] |
| Mace’s “Unknown” | [487] |
| O’Baldwin and Joe Wormald for £200 | [487] |
| O’Baldwin loses his way | [487] |
| Forfeits £200 to Wormald | [487] |
| Mace offers to fight O’Baldwin | [487] |
| Mace arrested and held to bail | [488] |
| Sam Hurst brought on the stage | [488] |
| Flight of the Champions to America | [488] |
| Their “doings” there | [488] |
| Mace beats Tom Allen at New Orleans | [488] |
| Returns to England | [488] |
| A publican at Melbourne, 1881 | [488] |
| MASON, FRED (“the Bull-dog”) | [309], [311] |
| O | |
| ORME, HARRY. | |
| His birth. Harry an “East-ender” | [253] |
| His brief but brilliant career | [253] |
| Aaron Jones of Shrewsbury | [253] |
| Orme defeats Aaron Jones | [254] |
| Is matched with Nat Langham | [256] |
| Beats Nat Langham | [257] |
| A second match with Aaron Jones | [259] |
| The “ring,” at Newmarket | [259] |
| Hazardous ground. A shift | [260] |
| Fight No. 1 | [262] |
| Fight No. 2. A second interruption | [263] |
| A misunderstanding. Jones refuses a third meeting. The victory awarded to Orme | [266] |
| The stakes given to Orme. Legal proceedings | [268] |
| Orme viewed as the “coming Champion” | [269] |
| Matched with Harry Broome | [269] |
| Defeated by Harry Broome | [269] |
| Becomes landlord of the “Jane Shore,” Shoreditch | [269] |
| His death, June 9, 1864 | [269] |
| P | |
| PADDOCK, TOM. | |
| The Championship at the appearance of Tom Paddock | [271] |
| Tom fought the best men of the day | [271] |
| Born at Redditch | [272] |
| Beats Pearce, of Cheltenham | [272] |
| Defeats Elijah Parsons | [272] |
| Nobby Clarke | [274] |
| Paddock backed against and beats Clarke | [274] |
| Second match with Nobby Clarke | [276] |
| Clarke loses by a “foul” blow | [276] |
| Paddock as Johnny Broome’s Unknown | [276] |
| Loses the fight with Bendigo by a “foul” | [276] |
| Forfeit with the Tipton Slasher | [276] |
| “Draw” with the Tipton Slasher | [276] |
| Receives forfeit from Jack Grant | [277] |
| And from Con. Parker | [277] |
| Is beaten by Harry Poulson | [277] |
| Beats Harry Poulson | [277] |
| Convicted of “a riot,” and imprisoned ten months | [278] |
| Letter from “Lydon” on the affair | [279] |
| A third match with Poulson | [279] |
| Beats Harry Poulson a second time | [280] |
| Is a matched with Aaron Jones | [283] |
| Beats Aaron Jones | [283] |
| Aaron Jones’s qualifications | [285] |
| Paddock challenges the Championship | [287] |
| Receives £180 forfeit from Harry Broome, who is arrested | [287] |
| The late Mr. Vincent Dowling | [288] |
| Renewed match with Aaron Jones | [288] |
| Beats Aaron Jones | [290] |
| Harry Broome’s challenge | [294] |
| Preliminary proceedings | [294] |
| An excursion by the “Eastern Counties” rail | [295] |
| The fight; defeat of Harry Broome | [299] |
| Sympathy for the loser | [302] |
| The Tipton Slasher again | [304] |
| Tom forfeits to the “Tipton” | [304] |
| Challenges Tom Sayers. Alec Keene’s letter | [305] |
| Caunt challenges Sayers | [305] |
| Paddock’s serious illness; kindness of Tom Sayers | [306] |
| Paddock’s recovery. Match with Tom Sayers | [306] |
| Beaten by Tom Sayers | [306] |
| Beaten by Sam Hurst | [307] |
| His death, June 30th, 1863 | [307] |
| PARKER, TASS. | |
| His battles with the Tipton Slasher | [191] |
| His fight with Brassey of Bradford | [347] |
| Ditto with Harry Preston | [351] |
| PERRY, WILLIAM (“the Tipton Slasher”). | |
| His birth at Tipton | [157] |
| The Slasher’s coup d’essai | [157] |
| Beats Tim Dogherty, near Chelsea | [158] |
| Returns to the “Black Country” | [158] |
| Fights and beats Ben Spilsbury | [158] |
| Matched with “the Gornel Champion” | [159] |
| Beats Jem Scunner, and becomes “a lion” | [159] |
| Tass Parker, Harry Preston, &c. | [159] |
| Forfeits £15 to Deaf Burke | [160] |
| Johnny Broome “manipulates” the “Tipton” | [160] |
| Charles Freeman, “the American Giant” | [161] |
| Theatres, the Circus, and the P.R. | [161] |
| A challenge to Freeman by “an Unknown” | [161] |
| William Perry is declared as “Broome’s Novice” | [162] |
| Matched for £150 against Freeman | [162] |
| The Giant “in training” | [163] |
| Description of Charles Freeman | [164] |
| Comparisons of bulk and strength of men | [166] |
| The journey to the field | [167] |
| A contrast | [168] |
| The fight interrupted by darkness | [170] |
| The return and its incidents | [173] |
| The adjourned battle; magisterial interference | [176] |
| Stanzas: “The unfinished fight of the American Giant and the Tipton Slasher” | [177] |
| A trip down the river agreed upon | [179] |
| Freeman’s benefit at the Westminster Baths | [179] |
| The voyage to the fighting ground | [180] |
| Aristocratic Ring-goers: “the Bishop of Bond Street” | [180] |
| “A shave:” Joe Banks, “the Stunner,” Jem Burn, &c. | [181] |
| The fight and defeat of the “Tipton” | [182] |
| The return: Dick Curtis’s benefit | [185] |
| A challenge to Caunt | [185] |
| The stakes given over to Freeman | [186] |
| Death of the American Giant, of consumption; infrequency of deaths from Ring encounters (note) | [186] |
| Johnny Broome and the “Slasher” | [187] |
| Tass Parker and the “Tipton” matched | [187] |
| Unsatisfactory result; police interruption | [189] |
| The adjourned battle | [190] |
| A railway “excursion” | [190] |
| A squabble about the referee | [192] |
| The fight: the “tumble-down system” | [194] |
| Johnny Hannan’s good conduct | [195] |
| The stakes given to the “Tipton” | [196] |
| Third battle with and defeat of Tass Parker | [196] |
| Challenge to Caunt, who declines to fight under £500 a side | [199] |
| Candidates for the Championship (note) | [199] |
| Tom Paddock | [200] |
| A forfeit, and a match with Paddock | [200] |
| A trip per South Western Rail | [200] |
| A day misspent: Wiltshire and Hampshire tabooed | [201] |
| A mill by moonlight | [201] |
| A “pig-shearing” excursion, and a “foul” blow | [203] |
| The Tipton claims the belt | [204] |
| Johnny Broome’s “Unknown” and the “Slasher” | [204] |
| Harry Broome “the Veiled Prophet” | [204] |
| Defeat of the “Slasher” by “Young Harry” | [204] |
| Receives forfeit from Harry Broome | [205] |
| Perry becomes a publican | [205] |
| Rise of Tom Sayers and his challenge of the Championship | [205] |
| Defeat of the “Slasher” by Tom Sayers | [205] |
| Death of Perry, in January, 1881 | [205] |
| R | |
| ROWE, JOE. | |
| His fight with Harry Broome | [314]–[321] |
| In business, 1881 [(note)] | [339] |
| S | |
| SAYERS, TOM (Champion). | |
| His birthplace disputed | [359] |
| An Irish pedigree | [359] |
| Born at Pimlico, near Brighton | [359] |
| A bricklayer on the Preston Viaduct, at Brighton | [360] |
| Comes to London. First fight with Aby Couch | [360] |
| Matched with Dan Collins | [360] |
| First fight interrupted by darkness | [361] |
| Tom beats Dan Collins | [361] |
| Various challenges. Matched with Jack Grant | [361] |
| Beats Jack Grant | [362] |
| Matched with Jack Martin | [365] |
| Beats Jack Martin | [366] |
| Matched with Nat Langham | [368] |
| Tom’s first and last defeat | [369] |
| Langham declines a second encounter | [369] |
| Match with George Sims; £50 to £25 | [369] |
| Beats George Sims | [370] |
| Proposes to go to Australia | [370] |
| Harry Poulson of Nottingham | [371] |
| Jem Burn, his backer, and Bendigo his trainer | [371] |
| Sayers defeats Poulson | [373] |
| The Championship in sight | [379] |
| A new belt and its claimants | [380] |
| The Championship in suspense | [380] |
| Sayers and Aaron Jones for £200 | [380] |
| A change of route | [381] |
| A voyage down the river | [381] |
| Sayers fights Aaron Jones | [383] |
| A “draw” and darkness | [386] |
| Renewed battle with Jones | [387] |
| Sayers beats Aaron Jones | [387] |
| Challenges the Tipton Slasher | [392] |
| Excitement in the sporting world | [393] |
| Preliminaries of the battle | [393] |
| Sayers defeats the Tipton Slasher | [395] |
| Challenged by Tom Paddock | [399] |
| Paddock’s illness | [399] |
| Matched with an “Unknown” for £200 | [399] |
| Bill Bainge, or Benjamin | [399] |
| First battle with Benjamin | [400] |
| Recovery of Paddock and his challenge accepted | [401] |
| The “Three Toms” | [401] |
| Anecdote of Alec Keene | [402] |
| Sayers defeats Tom Paddock | [403] |
| Tom Sayers against “the field” | [404] |
| Second match with “The Unknown” for £100 and the belt | [406] |
| Bill Benjamin once again | [407] |
| Sayers announces his intended retirement after his battle with Benjamin | [408] |
| Extraordinary rumours | [409] |
| The second defeat of Benjamin | [410] |
| Bob Brettle, of Birmingham | [412] |
| Sayers fights Brettle £400 to £200 | [412] |
| £200 to £20 that Brettle was beat in ten minutes | [412] |
| Mr. John Gideon’s “arrangements” | [413] |
| A “monster” train | [414] |
| Bob Brettle’s career | [414] |
| Sayers defeats Brettle | [416] |
| Silly imputations on defeated pugilists | [419] |
| Aaron Jones returns to England | [419] |
| Defeat of Heenan by Morrissey | [419] |
| A challenge from America | [420] |
| Negotiations for an international contest for the belt | [420] |
| Aaron Jones in the field. He retires | [420] |
| A match proposed for Heenan and Sayers | [420] |
| Correspondence between New York and London | [421] |
| Arrival of Mr. Falkland. Preliminary arrangements | [423] |
| Heenan and Morrissey. Heenan lands at Liverpool | [423] |
| The day fixed, April 17th, 1860 | [423] |
| A rush for “tickets” | [423] |
| Two monster trains | [424] |
| The journey down | [424] |
| A distinguished company | [425] |
| Appearance of the men | [426] |
| Pictorial representations of the battle (note) | [426] |
| The fight | [427]–[432] |
| Conflicting reports of the result | [432] |
| Departure of the referee | [433] |
| Return to town | [433] |
| Condition of the men | [433] |
| Humane decision | [434] |
| Two belts ordered | [434] |
| Circus buncombe | [434] |
| Subscription for Sayers at Stock Exchange, Lloyd’s, Mark Lane, &c. | [435] |
| Sayers a partner in a circus | [435] |
| Free living and its results | [435] |
| Sayers’s last appearance in the Ring | [435] |
| The needs of consumption | [436] |
| Last illness | [436] |
| His death | [437] |
| £1,000 invested for his children | [437] |
| Tom Sayers’s personal appearance | [437] |
| His grave and monument in Highgate Cemetery | [438] |
| The Combat of Sayerius and Heenanus—“A Lay of Ancient London” | [439] |
| T | |
| THOMPSON, WILLIAM, of Nottingham (“Bendigo”). | |
| His birth: one of three sons | [5] |
| Nottingham Lambs. Puritanism and Pugilism | [5] |
| Early battles, and first fight with Caunt | [6] |
| Challenged by Brassey (John Leechman), of Bradford, and others | [7] |
| Beats Brassey | [8] |
| Receives forfeit from Jem Bailey | [8] |
| Comes to London | [8] |
| Proposed match with Molyneaux, and forfeit from Flint of Coventry | [9] |
| Defeats Langan of Liverpool | [9] |
| Challenges any 12 stone man in England | [9] |
| Looney’s challenge replied to by Jem Ward | [10] |
| Looney declines Ward and is beaten by Bendigo | [10] |
| Challenges from Tom Britton, Fisher, Molyneaux, &c. | [12] |
| Matched a second time with Caunt | [13] |
| Beaten by Caunt | [13] |
| Caunt forfeits in a new match | [14] |
| Deaf Burke returns from America, his challenge accepted | [14] |
| Burke goes to France and the match falls through | [14] |
| Stanzas from Bendigo to Deaf Burke | [15] |
| Burke returns and articles are signed | [16] |
| Narrow escape of Bendigo | [17] |
| Shrove Tuesday at Ashby-de-la-Zouch | [17] |
| The road to Appleby | [18] |
| Bendigo beats Deaf Burke | [18] |
| Challenges from and to Caunt. Benefit humbugs | [22], [24] |
| Bendigo in London. A serious accident | [24] |
| “The fine old English Pugilist;” a fancy chaunt | [25] |
| Bendigo redivivus appears at Jem Burn’s | [26] |
| Matched with Tass Parker | [26] |
| Arrested at the instance of his brother and held to bail | [27] |
| Caunt returns from his American tour | [27] |
| Renewed negotiations and “A Valentine from Bendigo to Brassey” | [27] |
| Third match with Caunt | [28] |
| Preliminaries of the fight | [29] |
| Bendigo defeats Caunt | [30] |
| Disputed result and decision of “the Old Squire” (Osbaldiston), the referee | [36] |
| Caunt and Bendigo shake hands | [37] |
| Pretenders to the Championship | [37] |
| Bendigo accepts Tom Paddock’s challenge | [38] |
| Defeats Paddock | [39] |
| Receives the battle-money and retires from the Ring | [45] |
| Bendigo’s eccentricities. Takes “the pledge” and becomes a preacher | [45] |
| Beelzebub and Ben Caunt; an anecdote | [45] |
| True etymon of the nickname “Bendigo” | [46] |
| Dies from the effects of an accident, aged sixty-nine | [46] |
| TRAVERS, BOB (Langham’s Black). | |
| His Ring career | [454] |
| Beaten by Brettle | [454] |
| Beaten by Jem Mace | [455] |
| W | |
| WARD, NICHOLAS. | |
| His claims to a place in this “History” | [206] |
| His birth in East London | [206] |
| His maiden battle with Jack Lockyer | [206] |
| Matched with Jem Wharton (Young Molyneaux) | [206] |
| Arrested and held to bail | [207] |
| A journey to Moulsey and a disappointment | [208] |
| A black job: Sambo Sutton | [209] |
| “Nick” is defeated ignominiously | [210] |
| “Brother Jem” backs Nick for a second trial | [210] |
| Misgivings: a “Beak” at Bicester | [210] |
| The Philistines out | [211] |
| Drawing a badger | [212] |
| A fight and a fiasco | [212] |
| Matched with Jem Bailey | [212] |
| A trip to Woking: an interrupted fight | [213] |
| A second match; Nick forfeits to Bailey | [214] |
| A match with Brassey “no go” | [214] |
| Articled to fight the “Deaf’un” | [214] |
| A trip to Stony Stratford | [219] |
| Adventures | [220] |
| Nick defeats “the Deaf’un;” a wrangle | [221] |
| Challenges Ben Caunt | [223] |
| The stakes awarded to Nick Ward | [224] |
| Matched with Ben Caunt | [225] |
| A long journey and its vicissitudes | [226] |
| Hostility of the “beaks” | [227] |
| The fight: a bloodless victory for Ward | [229] |
| A chaunt of the Ring: “Nick Ward and Caunt” | [231] |
| The stakes given to “Nick” | [232] |
| Second fight with Caunt, and defeat | [232] |
| Death of Nick Ward, Feb. 17, 1850 | [233] |