10.—Harris could not reduce the strength of Reid. The Waterman possessed the best science, but the blows of Reid were most effective. It was a manly fight. Both down.
11–12.—Equally good as the former rounds. Two to one on Reid.
13.—Harris jobbed his opponent frequently, but Reid always finished the round to his own advantage. In the last round he fell on Harris in the close. (“Take him away; he’s a good old ’un, but too stale for the Snob!”) Any odds.
14, and last.—Reid went up to his man and hit him one, two; Harris did not return. He seemed all abroad. Reid bustled him down, and Josh threw up the sponge in token of defeat. The fight lasted only fifteen minutes.
Remarks.—A better fight, while it lasted, has not been lately seen. Harris was not only stale, but was stated to be a little “off” in condition and health. Harris was not disgraced, though defeated by youth, backed by resolution and strength.
Only two months after this victory Alec was at Chatham, teaching “the art of self-defence,” when a rough and ready fisherman named Joe Underhill found local friends to subscribe a purse of £25, and £5 for the loser. For this, then, “the Chatham champion” proposed to meet the “London professor.” Underhill’s friends had miscalculated both their man’s skill and Alec’s science, for in the short space of nineteen minutes the fisherman’s chance was more than “fishy,” and at the end of the eighth and last round the Snob had so completely sewn him up and welted him that he cried, “Enough!” and refused to face his man. This battle took place on Chatham Lines, October 21st, 1823.
At the farewell benefit of the game Bob Purcell, at the Fives Court, February 15th, 1824, Reid set to with Gipsy Cooper, and gave the rushing Bohemian such a glove-punishing as led to a match. Cooper, however, forfeited a small deposit. A second match was made on Tuesday, April 13th, 1824; this, however, was prevented by magisterial interference, and the stakes were drawn.
An opportunity, however, soon offered itself, proving the truth of the adage that “where there’s a will there’s a way.” On the very next Tuesday, April 20th, 1824, both men found themselves (of course by accident) at Colnbrook, when and where Peace Inglis defeated Ned Turner. Twenty pounds were quickly subscribed for a second battle, and Alec having tossed his beaver into the ropes was answered by the Gipsy. Both men were in first-rate condition, and both equally confident. Josh Hudson and Dick Curtis, two of the ablest of seconds, looked after Cooper; the accomplished Harry Holt and the veteran Tom Jones, of Paddington, seconded Reid.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Cooper commenced the mill furiously, and his blows told heavily. Flattered with success, he went to work hand over head, throwing aside a number of blows. Reid could scarcely be quick enough for his opponent; but he stopped and shifted cleverly. A short pause, when the Gipsy again plunged in and drew first blood. In closing, both down. No harm done.