35.—The Giant in left and right—the Slasher retreated—the Giant after him, but it was no go—he let fly right and left, and then went down. The ground now became extremely slippery for both men.
36.—Freeman led off, but was short and wild, and did not reach his man. Slasher popped in his right on the Giant’s shoulder, and in getting away went down.
37 and last.—Freeman ready, when the Slasher rushed to close quarters, struck him on the shoulder with his right, but, on the Giant attempting to return, he went down without a blow.
A call was made by the seconds of Freeman on the umpires, who disagreed, and on appealing to the referee he pronounced “foul;” and, no doubt, had a similar appeal been made to him before, he would have given a like decision.
The Giant was immediately proclaimed the winner, and was taken out of the ring after fighting thirty-nine minutes.
The Slasher came up again “fresh as paint,” and evidently but little injured by the contest. His left ear alone showed serious marks of punishment; it was much swollen and filled with coagulated blood. The finger of his left hand was likewise cut; but the contusions on his index were few and of trifling consequence. He seemed anxious to renew the contest, and denied that he had fallen purposely. The judgment had been pronounced, however, and there was no recalling it.
Johnny Broome was evidently mortified, and offered to put down a score for the Slasher to fight Ben Caunt, “then and there.” Spring said such a proposition savoured too much of passion and folly, but said Caunt was prepared to fight the Slasher or any man in England for from £100 to £500, and the money was always ready at his house.
Remarks.—This was altogether an unsatisfactory contest. The match was unequal, and the difference in the size of the men, Freeman having already shown no lack of personal bravery, left no room for speculation on the issue. Everybody foresaw that the Giant must be triumphant, notwithstanding he fought badly. In fact he did not hit at points, and missed most of his well-intentioned but ill-directed blows from the shifty character of his opponent, as well as from his own wild and uncertain mode of delivery. He hits round with his right, as the Slasher’s ear testified, and his left-handed deliveries are more like pokes than punishing hits. That he is a game man we have no doubt, but he is unwieldy, and possesses too much of “the milk of human kindness” ever to become a “star” in the Ring, even if his equal could be found. We are inclined to think, however, that this will have been his last appearance in the P.R., and should recommend him to choose some more suitable occupation—although as a sparrer, from his great size, he will always be an object of curiosity. The Slasher is a mere rough, who must be beaten by a well-scienced man. That he would have shown to more advantage with a man of his own pretensions and size we have no doubt; but with Freeman he felt he could not hope to win, and therefore became reckless and careless—seeking only how to escape those visitations which, had he made a “fair stand-up fight,” must have ended in more serious punishment. As it was, both escaped with comparatively trifling injuries, and remained to witness the subsequent fight. The contusions on the Slasher’s ear were reduced by a surgeon who was on board the steamer, and after a little ablution he was himself again, repeating that his going down without a blow was the effect of accident, and not of design—an assertion the truth of which few who saw the performance were disposed to admit.
The ring being cleared, and M’Ginty, the Scotchman, having defeated Bungaree (John Gorrick), the Australian, after a game battle of one hour and forty-seven minutes, the voyagers possessed of “return tickets” re-embarked on “Father Thames;” οι πολλος betaking themselves to their tugs, row-boats, and ten toes, as necessity might compel. Although it was dark ere the boat passed Blackwall, all were safely landed by seven p.m. at “Old Swan,” highly gratified with the good order preserved by the ring-constables, and the perfect arrangements of the managers for this great day’s “outing.”
As a compliment and a help to Dick Curtis, who, on the Tuesday, assiduously seconded both the Giant and Bungaree, his benefit was fixed for the following Thursday, at the Westminster Baths, which were crowded to excess by all classes, from the Corinthian to the costermonger. The crowd assembled was scarcely less numerous than at the Giant’s benefit, and the spirit in favour of boxing certainly more apparent. We were gratified to recognise Mr. Jackson, Tom Cribb, Tom Belcher, Tom Spring, Jem Burn, and most of the old originals. Freeman, the Slasher, and Bungaree showed, but M’Ginty was non inventus. Freeman and the Slasher scarcely displayed a scratch; but Bungaree showed a few marks of chasing and hammering on the mug, and his left hand was in a sling, the sinews of the knuckle having been divided. The setting-to was excellent and abundant, and included a long list of talented exhibitors. Among others, Johnny Broome and Johnny Hannan displayed great vigour and determination, and, after a matchless exhibition of talent, it would be difficult to say which “bore the bell.” Their exertions were rewarded by thunders of applause. Freeman and Caunt also elicited the warmest approbation, the Giant sparring with a freedom and ease that surprised many who were disinclined to believe in his improvement. The appearance of Tom Spring with the veteran Tom Belcher—who made his first appearance after a retirement of fourteen years from the sparring-schools—produced an enthusiastic sensation, and the set-to between these men afforded the greatest satisfaction. Belcher, by the beauty of his position, and quickness and neatness of his stops and hits, reminded us of what were indeed the palmy days of the Ring. Spring had the advantage in length and bulk of frame; still, the display was, upon the whole, a finished specimen of the science of self-defence. King Dick and Owen Swift, the retired champions of the light weights, wound up the sports, and were most favourably received.