Thorne was a man of Widdecombe-on-the-Moor, a man of splendid build and muscular development. He had made his name as a wrestler, when he was induced to join the Life Guards, and in the battle of Waterloo took part in the famous charge against the French cuirassiers; as he was cutting down his tenth victim a shot laid him low, at the age of twenty-three.
Then two young Devonian giants took the lead in the ring, Johnny Jordan and Flower, each six feet high and weighing a trifle over eighteen stone apiece. Jordan was a redoubted kicker, and the bravest wrestlers shrank from challenging him. On one occasion Flower and Jordan were opposed to one another, and after a struggle of seventeen minutes, Flower gave way.
In 1816, Flower was confronted with Polkinghorne, a St. Columb taverner, and the champion of Cornwall. The latter was too much for Flower, and he was thrown amidst enthusiastic cheering and hat-tossing and kerchief-waving of the Cornishmen.
Drawn from Nature on the Stone by Geo. Rowe.
Printed by P. Simonau.
THE WRESTLING CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
ABRAHAM CANN.
Who challenges all the World for 100 Sovereigns. Height 5 ft 8¼. Weight 12 Stone 7 lb Age 30.
Pubd by Geo. Rowe Nn 38 Paris St Exeter Augst 10th 1826.