At Moulsey Hurst, October 25, 1808, Dogherty fought with Jack Power for an hour and a quarter. It has been considered rather a disputed point, but Dogherty claimed it, and got the money. It should be remembered that Power was but a mere strippling at that period.
On Epsom Downs, February 1, 1809, Dogherty beat a turnpike man.
On the 18th of January, 1811, he met with a reverse of fortune in being defeated by Silverthorne, at Coombe Wood, but he was then considered in bad condition.
In November, 1811, he beat with considerable ease, at Chichester, Ben Burn.
Dogherty for a long time was engaged on a sparring excursion, not only in various parts of the kingdom, but also in the sister country. On Tom Belcher’s arrival in Ireland, the superior science of that pugilist having, it is said, taken from Dogherty a number of his pupils, a battle took place between them. On the 23rd of April, 1813, for 100 guineas, they decided the contest on the Curragh of Kildare, when Dogherty again fell beneath the conquering arm of Belcher. See ante, p. 160. This great battle is omitted from “Fistiana,” under Dogherty, though indexed under Belcher.
Dogherty, from this period, remained in his native land, where he taught sparring, and was known as a civil and active fellow: he was thus engaged as late as 1827. Pierce Egan tells an anecdote of him which we preserve.
Dogherty’s Duel.—Notwithstanding Dan’s penchant for the arbitrement of the fist, he accepted a challenge to fight with pistols, in order to place his opponent upon equal terms, he, it was urged, having no pretensions to boxing. It appears the meeting was a sort of hoax upon the combatants, as planned by the friends of both parties. The seconds, unknown to Dogherty and his opponent, merely put powder into the pistols. The adversary of Dogherty fired first, when the latter, forgetful of the “honourable” situation in which he stood, resorted to the scientific practice of the ring, by putting up his right arm as a natural stop to prevent the ball hitting his face, producing much fun to those who witnessed and contrived the duel.
GEORGE CRIBB,
BROTHER TO THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
Cribb and victory have so often been coupled, that in attaching defeat to the name we almost pause; but such is the case. While the champion, Tom Cribb, enjoyed the smiles of victory, and the patronage annexed to it, the junior hero, panting to emulate the heroic deeds of his warlike brother, encountered nothing but defeat.
George first entered the lists with Horton, near Bristol, for a purse of 50 guineas, on September 5, 1807, and notwithstanding the assistance of his brother Tom for a second, was beaten in twenty-five minutes.