38.—Trifling exchanges with the left, and the Slasher down.
39.—The Slasher rushed in to make another effort for the throw, but Freeman again seized him in his powerful grasp, fibbed, and fell with him, but not on him.
40, 41, 42, 43, 44.—Slasher down in every round, but apparently no mischief done, and as far as the glimpse of light left would permit, we could discover no distinct mark of punishment on either man.
45.—The Slasher delivered his left at the body and fell, as if from the force of his own blow. Freeman fell over him, but evidently with a desire to avoid falling on him. [Another appeal was made to the referee on the ground of the Slasher falling without a blow, but the referee declared it was impossible to form a correct opinion, and expressed a strong wish that the fight should either be drawn or adjourned, but to this neither party would accede.]
46, 47, and 48.—The Slasher down in each round, and Freeman manfully avoiding falling on him.
49.—The Slasher in with his left on the body, but as he attempted to retreat Freeman caught him in his arms, held him for some time, occasionally chopping, and at last fell forward on him, but too much over to produce any consequence.
50.—The Slasher showed some fatigue, but came up full of confidence. He delivered his left at the body, but did not get well home; Freeman caught him left and right, and he went down to avoid further mementoes.
To describe the remaining rounds would be an idle attempt, in fact it became so dark that the men were only visible from the light colour of their skins and drawers. The Slasher pursued his dodging, getting away, and falling system, occasionally making his left and right hits at the body and shoulder, and sometimes appearing to recoil from the effects of his own blows, but without producing any turn in his favour. Freeman hitting left and right, and now and then seizing his man, lifting him up, and flinging him down, but almost invariably avoiding falling on him; in one instance actually making an arch over his carcase, his head and legs on the ground, amidst the acclamations of the throng. In the last few rounds there was an evident attempt to draw Freeman into the Slasher’s corner, round which a desperate set of ruffians had collected, who, by the most offensive vociferations, endeavoured to intimidate and alarm him. He, however, kept his temper, and came up every round cool and collected, grumbling only at the Slasher not standing up to fight. In the 69th round the Slasher exclaimed, “I’ve got you now, old fellow!” but the words were scarcely out of his mouth when Freeman hit him down with his left. The darkness, combined with a fog, now became so intense that it was impossible to see what was doing from one side of the ring to the other. The referee declared his utter inability to form any judgment of the character of the fight, and, unable to get both umpires to agree on the expediency of putting an end to the battle, he jumped into the ring, and, getting between the men, declared he would not permit them to prolong the contest. At this moment both men were fresh and vigorous, and each seemed disinclined to leave his chance of victory in doubt, Slasher especially, who said he considered he was robbed of the fight, while Freeman laughed, and said, if they were permitted to proceed, the result would perhaps prove he was mistaken. The referee was, however, peremptory, and both men were taken from the ring after having fought seventy rounds in one hour and twenty-four minutes. They walked away as fresh as when they began, with a mutual desire that they might renew the combat the next day at twelve o’clock, at such place as the referee might appoint, to which the latter assented, as there did not appear to be anything in their appearance to justify a further delay in the gratification of their desires.
Remarks.—It is much to be regretted that this curious encounter was not brought to a more satisfactory conclusion, inasmuch as the merits of the men still remain undecided; and so evenly had their pretensions been balanced in the minds of their respective friends that each party declares, had time and circumstances permitted, their favourite must have been crowned with victory. How far these conclusions may be well or ill founded we will not pretend to say; but certainly we feel justified in giving to both men an equal proportion of praise, so far at least as their game qualities are concerned. It is true, we may be disposed to take exception to the “getting down” system which was adopted by the Slasher, but then it must be borne in mind he fought at fearful odds both as regards weight and length, and could never hope successfully to compete with such an antagonist unless by a degree of caution and cunning, which with a man of his own inches would have been unjustifiable and amounted to cowardice. There is no doubt that occasionally his dropping after delivering his blows had too much the appearance of being at variance with our notion of “a fair stand-up fight;” but then the ground was slippery, and he asserts that when he did fall it was from the recoil of his own blows or from his being unable to keep his feet in endeavouring to avoid the tremendous return which he had sufficient reason to expect. That this was provoking to Freeman we can well imagine; but, under all the circumstances, we do not think it detracts from the game qualities of the Slasher, who certainly came up from first to last undismayed, and with a manly determination to win if he could. Of his scientific qualifications we cannot say much. If he possessed any they were reserved for a future occasion. He never attempted to stop the blows which were showered on his canister, and throughout confined himself to attempts to disable Freeman by body blows from his left or round hits with his right. The former occasionally reached their destination with sounding effect, but we are inclined to believe they fell more frequently on Freeman’s arm, which was dropped to catch them, than upon his more vulnerable corpus. That some of them might have got home we are inclined to believe, but it was clear they did not produce any serious consequence, for on examining the Giant’s body subsequently we were surprised to find so few symptoms of forcible collision on his ribs, while we discovered sundry bruises on his fore and upper arm, which showed these had been exposed to heavy visitations, and no doubt stopped numerous kind intentions which, had they reached their destination, would have been far from agreeable. With the right the Slasher was unsuccessful, as it generally fell on Freeman’s left shoulder, and with the exception of the cut on the left eye, which gained first blood in the sixth round, this weapon did not produce much damage, for the only other punishment visible was a slight scratch and swelling on the under lip, which was produced by the upper cut in the fifteenth round. In his attempts to throw, the Slasher had not the most remote chance of success, for when the attempt was made Freeman lifted him completely off the ground and threw him as he pleased, occasionally going down with him, from overbalancing himself. Throughout the fight it struck us that the Slasher showed no symptoms of distress, except after the struggle in which he was suspended between heaven and earth for some time in Freeman’s grasp, and was then thrown, Freeman falling on him. With respect to Freeman, although a novice in the milling arena, it must be admitted that throughout he showed great coolness and presence of mind. He never lost his temper, and was only indignant that the Slasher would not stand up to receive his sledge-hammer compliments. It struck us, however, that with immense power he wanted judgment in its application. His left and right hits were straight and well directed, but he failed in countering with his left, for had he let fly at the same moment that the Slasher tried his left at the body, the consequences would no doubt have been serious. He too frequently suffered the Slasher to lead off and get away, so that in following, his blows did not tell with half the effect. Of this there was sufficient evidence in the little impression he made, there being no material damage discernible on the Slasher’s countenance beyond a slight cut on his left brow, and a few contusions which afterwards produced discolouration—a black eye included. We learn also that he received sundry raps on the head and neck, out of sight, which required the aid of leeches to allay inflammation. His left hand, too, was a good deal puffed. Freeman’s left thumb was also injured, and from the force of one blow was actually put out of joint; but the dislocation was reduced, and little harm arose from this. There is no doubt that many felt astonished, after witnessing so many apparently heavy deliveries followed by instant prostration, that more decisive consequences were not produced. It must be borne in mind, however, that Freeman hit against a yielding object, which of course offered little resistance, and fell from the slightest concussion. Had the Slasher hit with him, or stood firmly on his legs, the effect would have been different; and many of his hits were rather shoves or pokes, instead of coming well from the shoulder. The tumbling system of the Slasher cannot be pursued with impunity, and if it be clearly shown that he falls without a blow, there will be less hesitation in condemning him to defeat, as he must now perfectly understand the distinction between accident and design.
The sports thus most unsatisfactorily concluded, and the excitement which prevailed having subsided, those of the throng who remained to the last—for a great number had already taken their departure—began to speculate on the best mode of getting home. So intense was the darkness that it was almost impossible to distinguish your best friend, although close at your elbow; and the calls for Bill, Tom, and Harry resounded in all directions, with unsatisfactory responses of “Here; where are you?” and so forth. Then came inquiries as to the best mode of reaching the station. Some by guess, who thought they had marked the road they came, ventured to set out on their journey, and were soon heard floundering in the ditches or swamps into which they had wandered, and roaring lustily for relief. Others employed the yokels as guides, and thus they went, in connected chains, pursuing their devious paths. The Bishop of Bond Street, who had magnanimously resigned his carriage to Freeman, was foremost among the unfortunates, and went floundering on through mud and mire, but cheerfully submitting to all manner of casualties, till he reached the Sawbridgeworth station, where he was joined by hundreds of others, some of whom had got into the canal, others into dreary swamps, and all more or less miserable, but still happy in having escaped the perils to which they had been exposed. Complaints were loud and numerous; and verily some of our friends presented piteous specimens of human misery, with pretty certain prospects of future suffering from colds and other ills to which flesh is heir. A great number got off by the six o’clock train, but many had to remain for that which followed, and did not reach their destination till a late hour. There were but few carriages on the battle-field, and these were with difficulty piloted to the main road, and by that route either to the Harlow station or to the Metropolis. The Slasher with difficulty reached Sawbridgeworth, where he obtained requisite refreshment; and Freeman, equally fortunate, got to the Harlow station, and in a room of one of the attendants found “a good Samaritan,” who attended to all his wants. He was in good spirits, and but little the worse for wear. Caunt and Spring paid him every attention. The numerous assemblage here, half famished, had to send half a mile for the means of satisfying their appetites, and bread, cheese, and beer were in anxious requisition; to these a lucky contribution of a Yorkshire ham and sundry chickens, from the hamper of a swell drag, proved a most acceptable addition for a party of “the select.”