Great complaints were made of Broome having gone into the ring to assist his brother, which was decidedly contrary to the rules of the Ring, and led to Crawley following so bad an example. It was undoubtedly wrong; but some allowances must be made for the horrible confusion which prevailed, and the utter impossibility of the referee calling for a stringent attention to the rule referred to; although in two instances when Broome had intruded he peremptorily ordered him out, and was obeyed. It must be distinctly understood that any man, save the seconds, thus interfering with his man loses the fight.
Broome soon recovered from the contusions on his face, although when we saw him on the Friday the marks were sufficiently apparent. The forebone of the thumb on his right hand was, however, fractured. This occurred in the fourth round, and the repeated use of the hand afterwards rendered the consequences more serious. Rowe’s physiognomy was still far from symmetrical. His face on the right side was dreadfully swollen, and the cut on his lip severe and deep. The left side of his countenance also showed obvious symptoms of unpleasant visitations. In other respects the men were little damaged; but Rowe had clearly got the larger share of the punishment. His left hand was also much puffed. It was stated that for the present it would be impossible for Broome to use his right hand, and Crawley readily agreed that the day for the renewal of the battle should not be fixed till a surgeon had pronounced when the damaged feeler was likely to be fit for service. Johnny Broome proposed to give £5 towards Rowe’s training expenses, provided the match were made for £100, and to come off in four months. To this Crawley could make no response, as he had his apprehensions of being able to get any addition to the stakes down.
The final agreement was that the renewal of the combat should take place on the 6th of May; Peter Crawley and Johnny Broome to name the locality. At a subsequent meeting at Spring’s, it being mentioned that the 6th of May was the day of running the Chester Cup, the date was altered to the 13th by mutual agreement, and the place of rendezvous was settled for Ensham, Oxfordshire, six miles from the University city. On the overnight the men and their mentors set off for that locality. The “London Particulars,” however, contented themselves with the half-past seven morning train, and the quarter to ten fast ditto, as their method of reaching the trysting-place. Soon after eleven all was alive in Ensham, and the cavalcade moved off for the battle-field, many of the drags being of the style and pattern that bespoke the Corinthian quality of their owners or occupants. At twelve the Commissary and assistants had made a model ring and enclosure in an emerald-green meadow near Ensham, and soon after Harry Broome, his brother Johnny, his seconds and friends, came on the ground on a four-in-hand; while Rowe, under the broad shadow of Peter Crawley, escorted by a numerous cavalcade of equestrians and charioteers, with a long queue of pedestrians was also “thar.” Harry Broome was waited on in the ring by his brother and Sam Simmonds, of Birmingham; Rowe by Jack Macdonald and Bill Hayes. Broome’s colours were blue with a large white spot, Rowe’s the old blue birdseye.
After some little delay in the choice of a referee, “time” was called, and the men, in fighting costume, advanced from their corners and shook hands. Young Harry, in point of condition, was all that his best friends could desire; he was indeed a model of youthful health and activity. He stood slightly over his opponent, and had evidently the advantage in length of reach. Rowe looked far more solid and burly at his weight (10st. 5lbs.), and was much less graceful in his movements; indeed, his look lacked the animation and confidence which beamed on the features of his youthful antagonist. The friends of Rowe were, nevertheless, sanguine of his success, and took the 5 and 6 to 4 readily which some of Broome’s patrons offered.
At a few minutes before one the men and their seconds crossed hands, the latter retired to their corners, and the twain stood up for
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On throwing themselves into position each put out his feelers and advanced and retreated several times. After one or two feinting dodges Rowe tried his left, but was short; they got closer to their work, and left-hand counters were exchanged, Rowe catching it on the mouth and Broome slightly on the cheek. After a break away they again approached, and once more exchanged counter-hits with the left, Broome getting well home on Rowe’s kissing organ, whence blood immediately trickled, and “first blood” was claimed for Broome and awarded. Broome rushed in, caught Rowe round the neck under his left arm, fibbed a little with his right, hitting up, then, giving him a leg, threw and fell on him. (7 to 4 on Broome offered.)
2.—Rowe, on coming to the scratch, showed a stream of the crimson fluid from the side of his mouth. Broome led off with his left, but was neatly stopped, and in the second attempt equally well foiled. Slight exchanges, and Broome closed, and, after a short struggle, had his man down, but came himself to the ground rather heavily.
3.—Rowe short with his left. Broome quickly caught him a smasher on his damaged mouth, repeating the dose twice, and playing round his man with a celerity that reminded us of Young Dutch Sam. Rowe tried to get home, first with one hand then the other, but was short, from the rapid shifting of his adversary. In the close Broome tried to get the lock, but Rowe kept his legs wide and declined the intended favour. Broome tried to hit up with the right, but Rowe slipped on one knee, catching a stinger on the jaw as he was falling, and Harry tumbling over him.
4.—On Rowe coming up, his left eye, left cheek, and mouth gave evidence of renewed visitations. Harry, though flushed in the frontispiece, was not yet “adorned with cuts.” Rowe hit short with the left, and then stopped two or three attempts by Harry to get home with the same hand. In trying to return Rowe hit rather in the style of the sparring school, drawing back his elbow just as his fist reached its destination, instead of letting the blow go straight from the shoulder. A rally, in which Rowe succeeded in planting his left on Broome’s eye, and then stepped in with a rattling hit on the jaw that seemed for a moment to stagger the Young’un; in fact it looked for a moment as if he would go down from the stunning visitation; but he did not, and Rowe closed and threw his man amidst vociferous acclamations from the East-enders.