Scroggins also fought a brick-maker, weighing thirteen stone, near the sign of the Fox and Goose, at Appleton, near Harrow-on-the-Hill. It was thought by the spectators, from the great disproportion between the combatants, that little Scroggy must ultimately be annihilated; but the smashing activity of Jack reduced the brick-maker to his own pitch, when he finished him off in quick time.
A navigator, known by the appellation of Long Will, fought with Scroggins near Harrow. It was a desperate battle, and contested with alternate success for a long time, till victory crowned the exertions of our little hero.
At Cowley, near Uxbridge, Scroggins entered the lists with Burke Smith, denominated the second Robin Hood, from his attachment to deer, a man of great activity, and distinguished for his great jumps over the canal. In the hands of Scroggins he was soon glad to acknowledge he was defeated.
Billy Lee, the gipsy, had a desperate set-to with Scroggins, at Kilburn, in the year 1804. The bruising qualities of the gipsy were well known in the neighbourhood of Paddington; but Scroggins not only nobbed him severely, but punished his body in such a hammering style that he hastily relinquished the contest, acknowledging the superiority and goodness of our hero.
By moonlight, at Kilburn, between twelve and one o’clock on a Friday night, a chap of the name of Blinko, otherwise designated as “No Nose!” had a turn-up with Scroggins, but the severity “No Nose” met with, in the course of a few rounds, induced him to give in. Upon being shown Scroggins the next day, he said he was not the same he fought with, but would fight him for the whole of his week’s wages on the next Sunday morning; but, when the time arrived, “No Nose” was not to be found.
A strong athletic farmer’s man, of the name of Bill King, was also beaten by Scroggins, at Sandford Green, near Harrow.
At Appleton, after a very severe battle, Jack Matney surrendered to the conquering arm of Scroggins.
It was owing to the following circumstance that our hero was compelled to leave milling on land, to fight the battles of his country at sea, by entering into the navy. In a row with one Ellis, a constable, at Sandford Green, the representative of the law, it appears, felt rather heavily the indignation of Scroggins. In consequence of which turn-up, an application was made to the magistrate (Dr. Glasse), when our hero was depicted in such terrible colours, that a press-gang of seventeen was considered necessary to convey him in safety out of the neighbourhood.
On the Point Beach at Portsmouth, Happy Jack, the terror of that then uproarious seaport (so termed from the numerous conquests he had obtained over various Jack-tars), was, in the presence of some thousands, wofully cut down from the severe punishment he received in combat with Scroggins; Happy Jack, for once in his life, being made miserable by defeat.
During the time Scroggins was on board the Argo, the ship was a scene of milling adventures, and, it should seem, when off duty, his leisure was filled up in boxing.