As the day approached, intense interest prevailed both in London and Liverpool, to say nothing of Nottingham, Birmingham, Derby, and Manchester, all of which towns sent their contingents of amateurs. Jem Ward undertook to give Bendy “the finishing touch,” and reported him “in prime twig,” while Burke was declared by Tommy Roundhead, his faithful red-nosed “secretary” and “esquire,” to be “strong as a rhinoceros and bold as a lion.”

At length the eventful morn of Tuesday, the 12th of February, 1839, dawned; it was Shrove Tuesday, and the concourse on all the roads to Ashby-de-la-Zouch, for which the “office” was given, was something more marvellous than that which was occasioned by the “gentle passage of arms” in which Richard Cœur-de-Lion figured, for which see “Ivanhoe.” But we will leave Bell’s Life to tell the further proceedings of the tournament.

According to articles, the men were to meet within 35 miles of Nottingham, and it was finally agreed that they should meet at the “Red Lion,” at Appleby, in Warwickshire, on the Monday, to agree upon the battle-field. A centre of attraction having been thus appointed, the men were moved from their training quarters, to be near the scene of action. Burke, attended by Jem Burn, King Dick, Tommy Roundhead (his secretary), and other friends, took up his position at Atherstone, while Bendy, under the fostering care of Jem and Nick Ward and Peter Taylor, approached in an opposite direction. The contest seemed to excite extraordinary interest, and the bustle of preparation was observable in all directions. In Atherstone, a most pugnacious town by ancient charter, Burke was hailed with great favour, as a precursor of the local sports of Tuesday; for, from time “whereto the memory of man runneth not to the contrary,” on Shrove Tuesday the inhabitants of the village exercise a sort of prescriptive right to settle all disputes in fistic or other combat.

It was decided to pitch the ring as near Appleby as possible, and if practicable to have the men in the ring at ten o’clock. In the interim all sorts of vehicles were pressed into the service, horses were at a high premium, and the most ludicrous shifts were made to procure conveyances. In some instances mourning coaches, and even a hearse, were irreverently brought into use, while nags of the most unseemly description were drawn from their privacy and honoured by being hooked as leaders to post-chaises, or harnessed to any out-of-the-way kind of vehicle that fortune dictated. Beds and other accommodation were also difficult to procure, and, as in times of yore, hundreds, de necessitate, sat up all night to be up early in the morning.

Long before dawn on Tuesday multitudes were progressing towards Appleby, and at nine o’clock the assemblage in front of Burke’s domicile was immense. The crowd continued to increase steadily until the arrival of a cavalcade of “swell drags” from the direction of Leicester, which gave the signal for departure, as in and upon these were the patrician supporters of the Deaf ’un. On the arrival of these traps the Burke party instantly prepared for a start. Jem Ward and Bendigo, who were located about two miles off, were also in readiness, and lost no time in repairing to the trysting-place, which, to the dismay of the toddlers and the discomfiture of the prads, proved to be at least seven miles off. The ring was formed on the top of a hill, in the parish of Heather, which spot was not reached by the Deaf ’un, owing to various impediments, until half-past eleven o’clock. A vast crowd had preceded him, and hailed his approach with cheers, but it was evident that thousands were yet to arrive, and fortunately for them an unexpected delay in the arrival of Bendigo proved favourable to their hopes, by protracting the commencement of hostilities.

It was nearly half-past twelve before the actual arrival of Bendigo was made known, and at that time, upon a moderate calculation, there were not less than 15,000 persons present of all degrees, the aristocracy forming no inconsiderable portion.

From some inexplicable delay it wanted only a quarter to one when Burke entered the ring, attended by King Dick and Jackson, and if good humour and confidence could be taken as indications of success his friends had no reason to grumble. While waiting for the arrival of Bendigo an incident occurred which produced considerable laughter: it was the approach of a well-dressed and not unlikely woman, who, forcing her way through the well-packed mass of spectators, ran up to the roped arena, and, seizing the Deaf ’un by the hand as an old acquaintance, wished him success, and, but for the intervening rope, would no doubt have added an embrace. She then seated herself in front of the inner circle, and waited the issue of the battle, subsequently cheering her favourite throughout his exertions. Shortly before one o’clock Bendigo made his salaam amidst deafening shouts, attended by Peter Taylor and Nick Ward, and, walking up to Burke, shook him heartily by the hand. The men then commenced their toilets, and on being stripped to their drawers a subject of much contention arose; Bendigo, on examining Burke’s drawers, discovered a belt round his waist, which he insisted should be taken off. In vain did Burke and his friends assure him it was merely a belt to sustain a truss which he wore in consequence of a rupture, and, as it was below his waist, was of no importance; in vain, too, did the referee pronounce it to be perfectly fair; Bendigo was not to be driven from his point, and it was not till the obnoxious belt was taken off that he was satisfied. The belt was exhibited, and fully corroborated the opinion of the referee as to its perfect inutility as a means of defence.

The signal having been given, the men threw off their great coats, and, advancing to the scratch, threw themselves into position; and now, for the first time, a superficial estimate of their condition could be formed. Burke presented all that fine muscular development for which he is famed, but he was pale, and it struck us most forcibly that his flesh wanted that firmness and consistency, the sure consequence of perfect training, and to the attainment of which the mode in which he passed his time was anything but conducive; still he was playful and confident, and regarded his adversary with a look of conscious superiority. Bendigo, in point of muscularity, was inferior to Burke, especially in the shoulders, arms, and neck, but he appeared in perfect condition, and firm as iron. The colour of his skin was healthful; his countenance exhibited perfect self-possession, and wore an easy smile of confidence. The current odds, on setting to, were six to four on Burke, with plenty of takers. In Nottingham, where the physical qualities of Bendigo were better known, the odds had been as low as five to four.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—​The position of Burke was easy and unconstrained. He stood rather square, his left foot in advance, and his arms well up, as if waiting for his antagonist to break ground. Bendigo, on the contrary, dropped his right shoulder, stooped a little, and, right foot foremost, seemed prepared to let fly left or right as the opportunity offered. After a little manœuvring, he made a catching feint with his left, but found the Deaf ’un immovably on his guard. They changed ground, both ready, when Bendigo let go his right, and caught Burke on the ribs, leaving a visible impression of his knuckles. More manœuvring. Bendigo tried his left, but was stopped. The Deaf ’un popped in his right, and caught Bendigo on the ear, but soon had a slap in return from Bendigo’s right, under the eye, as straight as an arrow. (Cheers for Bendigo.) Both steady. Bendigo made two or three feints with his left, but did not draw the Deaf ’un. Each evidently meaning mischief, and getting closer together. Counter hits with the left, when both, by mutual consent, got to a rally, and severe hits, right and left, were exchanged. The Deaf ’un closed, but Bendigo broke away, and turning round renewed the rally. Heavy exchanges followed, when they again closed, and trying for the fall both went down in the corner. (There was a cry of first blood from Bendigo’s left ear; but, although very red from the Deaf ’un’s visitations, the referee, who examined it, decided there was no claret.)