CHAPTER XIV
AN AFTERTHOUGHT
The Prize-Ring served its turn and passed; and modern boxing, roughly, fills the gap. At present we do not see why modern boxing should not go on indefinitely. For all that people say human nature has changed, does change, will persist in changing, and--we dare hope--for the better. By modern standards the Prize-Ring was brutal, just as the execution of young lads for sheep-stealing was brutal. The same issue of the _Times_ in June, 1833, which reported the acquittal at the Hertford Assizes of Deaf Burke for the manslaughter of Simon Byrne (See Chapter XIV, Part I.), informed its readers that a man found guilty of stealing spoons to the value of 27s. had been sentenced to transportation for life. Human nature has rebelled against the greater brutality as it did against the less. And war is the ultimate expression of brutality in man, and as we have seen only too lately, a brutality which carried to its logical conclusion (or very nearly) surpasses anything in that sort that mankind has been guilty of throughout the ages. A case, you say, against the truth or hope or possibility of change in human nature? Not quite; for human consciousness did, even before the German war, begin to realise what war would mean, and since then has made, is making, genuine efforts to withstand the tide of what pessimists regard as an inevitable tendency.
But apart from war in which we now know that “fair play” is ridiculously impossible, a little friendly hurting of each other in a roped ring and cold blood will do no harm to any two men. Not as a preparation for the hardships of warfare, not necessarily as a means of self-defence, but in view of a fine ideal of physical fitness, the strain and pain of violent athletics should be perpetuated. And this, apart from the fun of the thing (which after all matters most) is the excuse and reason for amateur boxing. So let boxing be regarded as a sport, and let us leave it at that.
* * * * *
Old prejudices live with extraordinary vigour: and boxing--the very fact of it--the peaceful and positively harmless encounter of two men with well-padded gloves stirs the deepest rancour still. We are not surprised at this rancour in people who are not English, French, or American: most of us have to take their point of view for granted, because we find it so difficult to capture. We think that bull-fights are barbarous, and a friend of mine who organised an amateur boxing competition in Monte Video and tried to hire the bull-ring for the purpose was prohibited by the Uruguayan authorities because boxing was--barbarous. You come up against a brick wall sometimes, and you can’t see through it, so it’s not the slightest good trying to explain the plants which grow on the other side.
But in England, and in America too, the prejudices of the “righteous overmuch,” in fact, the prejudices of the Puritan tradition against the Prize-Ring have lived on to regard modern boxing in a similar light. My personal prejudice against overmuch righteousness and the Puritan tradition make the gist of my researches into the history of the Prize-Ring and of professional boxing a very nasty pill to swallow, very painful to digest. I don’t know that I ever hoped to disprove calumnies, for I had always supposed that there was no reason, but a mere love of softness and Pleasant-Sunday-Afternoon respectability behind these objections to boxing. But, as a matter of fact, I have found, to my disgust, that there is much to be said for the “respectable” view--not, of course, on Puritan grounds, but both on humane grounds and in the cause of good sportsmanship. I believe that sport to-day (I don’t say “amateur sport” because I am unable to recognise as sport any pastime that is not, in its true sense, “amateur”) is better and finer and more chivalrous than it has ever been. It is, as a rule, fair--quixotically fair very often, and the more quixotic it is the better. Where a good sportsman could win a fight within the rules, but risks the chance of losing because, on a particular occasion, he is not satisfied that the letter of the rules is adequate, he is behaving quixotically, and as no one suffers but himself, his quixoticism doesn’t matter. A game is only a game.
We might almost define sportsmanship as quixotry, the giving of something for nothing. The word amateur in other relations has become derisive, and has lost its genuine meaning. But an amateur in sport is still recognised as one who loves an occupation for its own sake. He loves it so much that he will deny himself softer pleasures in order to be proficient, and is prepared to undergo serious hardship in its pursuit.
In an affair of life and death, sportsmanship is not involved. We try very hard indeed to make out that it is or that it ought to be, but a man who obeys the rules of--say--the Amateur Boxing Association when he is attacked in a dark lane by a ruffian with half a brick, will have no tribute to his wisdom in any obituary notice written by me.
Sport to-day is beautifully fair. Not so, invariably, are professional athletics.
The Prize-Ring, by its rules, the application of its rules, and the disregard of its rules was what ordinarily intelligent and humane people nowadays call brutal. The professional boxing contest is seldom that, though, as we have seen, individual cases of deliberate cruelty have been known. The object amongst the majority of professional pugilists nowadays is not the enjoyment of a good contest and the money for a contest fairly won, but the money alone for a contest won anyhow. The average pro. is quite happy so long as the referee leaves him alone. He will do anything the referee lets him. What, he asks, is that official for? He is there to see fair play, and to stop the boxer if he does wrong.
But apart from the actual boxing, much connected with its “promotion” and management is so nauseously vulgar, false, unfair, and dishonest, that remaining prejudices based on that foundation are not unintelligible.
APPENDIX
RULES OF THE RING
AS REVISED BY THE
PUGILISTIC BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
1. That the ring shall be made on turf, and shall be four and twenty feet square, formed of eight stakes and ropes, the latter extending in double lines, the uppermost line being four feet from the ground, and the lower two feet from the ground. That in the centre of the ring a mark be formed, to be termed a scratch; and that at two opposite corners, as may be selected, spaces be enclosed by other marks sufficiently large for the reception of the seconds and bottle-holders, to be entitled “the corners.”
2. That each man shall be attended to the ring by a second and a bottle-holder, the former provided with a sponge, and the latter with a bottle of water. That the combatants, on shaking hands, shall retire until the seconds of each have tossed for choice of position; which adjusted, the winner shall choose his corner according to the state of the wind or sun, and conduct his man thereto, the loser taking the opposite corner.
3. That each man shall be provided with a handkerchief of a colour suitable to his own fancy, and that the seconds proceed to entwine these handkerchiefs at the upper end of one of the centre stakes. That these handkerchiefs shall be called “the colours”; and that the winner of the battle at its conclusion shall be entitled to their possession, as the trophy of victory.
4. That two umpires shall be chosen by the seconds or backers to watch the progress of the battle, and take exception to any breach of the rules hereafter stated. That a referee shall be chosen by the umpires, unless otherwise agreed on, to whom all disputes shall be referred; and that the decision of this referee, whatever it may be, shall be final and strictly binding on all parties, whether as to the matter in dispute or the issue of the battle. That the umpires shall be provided with a watch, for the purpose of calling time; and that they mutually agree upon which this duty shall devolve, the call of that umpire only to be attended to, and no person whatever to interfere in calling time. That the referee shall withhold all opinion till appealed to by the umpires, and that the umpires strictly abide by his decision without dispute.
5. That on the men being stripped, it shall be the duty of the seconds to examine their drawers, and if any objection arise as to the insertion of improper substances therein, they shall appeal to their umpires, who, with the concurrence of the referee, shall direct what alterations shall be made.
6. That in future no spikes be used in fighting boots except those authorised by the Pugilistic Benevolent Association, which shall not exceed three-eighths of an inch from the sole of the boot, and shall not be less than one-eighth of an inch broad at the point; and it shall be in the power of the referee to alter, or file in any way he pleases, spikes which shall not accord with the above dimensions, even to filing them away altogether.
7. That both men being ready, each man shall be conducted to that side of the scratch next his corner previously chosen; and the seconds on the one side and the men on the other, having shaken hands, the former shall immediately return to their corners, and there remain within the prescribed marks till the round be finished, on no pretence whatever approaching their principals during the round, under a penalty of 5s. for each offence, at the option of the referee. The penalty, which shall be strictly enforced, to go to the funds of the Association. The principal to be responsible for every fine inflicted on his second.
8. That at the conclusion of the round, when one or both of the men shall be down, the seconds and bottle-holders shall step forward and carry or conduct their principal to his corner, there affording him the necessary assistance; and that no person whatever shall be permitted to interfere in this duty.
9. That, at the expiration of thirty seconds (unless otherwise agreed upon) the umpire appointed shall cry “Time,” upon which each man shall rise from the knee of his bottle-holder, and walk to his own side of the scratch unaided, the seconds and bottle-holders remaining at their corner; and that either man failing so to be at the scratch within eight seconds, shall be deemed to have lost the battle.
10. That on no consideration whatever shall any person be permitted to enter the ring during the battle, nor till it shall have been concluded; and that in the event of such unfair practice, or the ropes and stakes being disturbed or removed, it shall be in the power of the referee to award the victory to that man who in his honest opinion shall have the best of the contest.
11. That the seconds and bottle-holders shall not interfere, advise, or direct the adversary of their principal, and shall refrain from all offensive and irritating expressions; in all respects conducting themselves with order and decorum, and confine themselves to the diligent and careful discharge of their duties to their principals.
12. That in picking up their man should the seconds or bottle-holders wilfully injure the antagonist of their principal, the latter shall be deemed to have forfeited the battle on the decision of the referee.
13. That it shall be a “fair stand-up fight,” and if either man shall wilfully throw himself down without receiving a blow, whether blows shall have previously been exchanged or not, he shall be deemed to have lost the battle; but that this rule shall not apply to a man who in a close slips down from the grasp of his opponent to avoid punishment, or from obvious accident or weakness.
14. That butting with the head shall be deemed foul, and the party resorting to this practice shall be deemed to have lost the battle.
15. That a blow struck when a man is thrown or down, shall be deemed foul. That a man with one knee and one hand on the ground, or with both knees on the ground shall be deemed down; and a blow given in either of those positions shall be considered foul, providing always, that when in such position, the man so down shall not himself strike or attempt to strike.
16. That a blow struck below the waistband shall be deemed foul, and that in a close, seizing an antagonist below the waist, by the thigh, or otherwise, shall be deemed foul.
17. That all attempts to inflict injury by gouging, or tearing the flesh with the fingers or nails, and biting, shall be deemed foul.
18. That kicking, or deliberately falling on an antagonist, with the knees or otherwise, when down, shall be deemed foul.
19. That all bets shall be paid as the battle-money, after a fight, is awarded.
20. That no person on any pretence whatever shall be permitted to approach nearer the ring than ten feet, with the exception of the umpires and referee, and the persons appointed to take charge of the water or other refreshments for the combatants, who shall take their seats close to the corners selected by the seconds.
21. That due notice shall be given by the stake-holder of the day and place where the battle money is to be given up, and that he be exonerated from all responsibility upon obeying the direction of the referee; and that all parties be strictly bound by these rules; and that in future all articles of agreement for a contest be entered into with a strict and willing adherence to the letter and spirit of these rules.
22. That in the event of magisterial or other interference, or in case of darkness coming on, the referee shall have the power to name the time and place for the next meeting, if possible on the same day, or as soon after as may be.
23. That should the fight not be decided on the day, all bets, instead of being drawn, shall be put together and divided, unless the fight shall be resumed the same week, between Sunday and Sunday, in which case the bets shall stand and be decided by the event. That where the day named in the articles for a fight to come off is altered to another day in the same week, bets shall stand. The battle-money shall remain in the hands of the stake-holder until fairly won or lost by a fight, unless a draw be mutually agreed upon.
24. That any pugilist voluntarily quitting the ring previous to the deliberate judgment of the referee being obtained, shall be deemed to have lost the fight.
25. That an objection being made by the seconds or umpire, the men shall retire to their corners, and there remain till the decision of the appointed authorities shall be obtained; that if pronounced “Foul” the battle shall be at an end, but if “Fair,” “Time” shall be called by the party appointed, and the man absent from the scratch in eight seconds after shall be deemed to have lost the fight. The decision in all cases to be given promptly and irrevocably, for which purpose the umpires and referee should be invariably close together.
26. That if in a rally at the ropes a man steps outside the ring, to avoid his antagonist, or to escape punishment, he shall forfeit the battle.
27. That the use of hard substances, such as stones, or sticks, or of resin, in the hand during the battle, shall be deemed foul, and that on the requisition of the seconds of either man, the accused shall open his hands for the examination of the referee.
28. That where a man shall have his antagonist across the ropes in such a position as to be helpless, and to endanger his life by strangulation or apoplexy, it shall be in the power of the referee to direct the seconds to take their man away, and thus conclude the round, and that the man or his seconds refusing to obey the direction of the referee, shall be deemed the loser.
29. That in any case where men on meeting in the P.-R., or at any subsequent period during the fight, shall retire from the scratch, or refrain from all attempts to fight for the space of five minutes, the referee shall give them an additional five minutes, and if at the expiration of that time no blow has been struck, or no attempt has been made to strike, he shall have the power of awarding the battle-money, or one moiety thereof, to the funds of the Association.[5]
30. That all stage fights be as nearly as possible in conformity with the foregoing rules.
INDEX
Advertisement, a typical, of a hundred years ago, 59.
Albert Hall contests-- Burns _v._ Beckett, 155; Carpentier _v._ Cook, 189-92.
All India Championship, 1909, 174.
Amateur Boxing Association rules, 203.
American Union rules, 146.
Amphitheatre, Broughton’s, 3, 4, 6.
Andover, 68.
Angle, Mr., decision in the Jackson-Slavin fight, 126.
Appleby in Warwickshire, 86.
Apreece, Sir Thomas, umpire to Mendoza, 16-17; timekeeper in Cribb _v._ Molineux, 46.
Aston, Mr. Harvey, 17.
Attitudes, 86.
Banbury, 7.
Barclay, Captain, referee, 37; Tom Cribb trained by, 41-42, 52-54.
Bare-knuckle fighting, nature of, 60-61.
Bartholomew, Jack, Jem Belcher and, 24.
Basham, Johnny, 194.
Beckett, Joe, Broughton compared with, 3; and Tommy Burns, 154-57; and Bombardier Wells, 170-76; and Pat O’Keefe, 172; and Carpentier, 173, 183; and Frank Goddard, 173; and Eddie McGoorty, 173; and Dick Smith, 173.
Belcher, Jem, Broughton compared with, 4; early fights, 23-25; Joe Berks and, 25; accident to, 25-26; and Hen Pearce, 26-29; and Tom Cribb, 30-33, 41-43, 74, 92; reputation of, 85-86; and Tom Sayers, 108; character, 171.
---- Tom, 52; seconds Neate, 64, 68-69; seconds Langan, 76-77.
_Bell’s Life in London_, articles _quoted_, 80, 82; presentation to the editor, 84-85; report of Bendigo _v._ Burke, 86; Bendigo _v._ Caunt, 96; Langham _v._ Sayers, 99.
Bendigo and Deaf Burke, 85-87; the Champion belt, 93; and Ben Caunt, 93-97; character, 97-98.
Berkeley, Colonel, referee, 73.
Berks, Joe, and Jem Belcher, 25, 27; and Hen Pearce, 26.
Birdham Bridge, the Langan _v._ Spring contest, 75-76.
Bittoon, Isaac, Tom Jones and, 24-25.
Blyth, near Doncaster, 26.
Boots, 59.
Borrow, George, on Jack Randall, _cited_, 60; on Tom Spring, 68.
Bowker, Joe, 194.
_Boxers and Their Battles_, “Thormanby,” _quoted_, 49.
Boxing, English style, 194; the science of, 171; necessity for “character” in the boxer, 171; thoughts on modern, 201-4.
“Boy Jim,” 25.
Bradyl, Mr., 14.
Brain, Big Ben, 8.
Britton, Jem Belcher and, 24.
Brompton cemetery, John Jackson buried, 22.
Broughton, John, and Slack, 3-6.
Broughton’s Rules, 13.
Burke, Deaf, and Simon Byrne, 80-84, 201; Bendigo and, 85-87; and Nick Ward, 93.
Burns, Tommy, and Jack Johnson, 147-53; style, 150-51; and Joe Beckett, 154-57; his commercialism, 178.
Byrne, Simon, and Deaf Burke, 80-84, 201.
Byron, sparring with Jackson, 21-22.
California Athletic Club, 121.
Cannon, Tom, and Deaf Burke, 83.
Carpentier, Georges, and George Cook, 38, 189-92; a genuine champion, 148; and Bombardier Wells, 163-69; appearance, 170; “character,” 171; and Beckett, 173, 183; methods, 174; account of, 176; and Jeff Smith, 176, 178-82; and Frank Klaus, 178; and Papke, 178; and Battling Levinsky, 183; and Dick Smith, 183; and Jack Dempsey, 183-88, 192; war service, 183.
Carson City, Nevada, Fitzsimmons _v._ Corbett contest, 135.
Castle Tavern, Holborn, taken by Tom Spring, 78.
Caunt, Ben, and Bendigo, 85-86, 93-97; Nat Langham trained by, 99.
“Charlemagne” and Jerry Driscoll, 176.
Choynski, Joe, Corbett and, 128; Fitzsimmons and, 133; Jefferies and, 139.
Church, 59.
Clarence, Duke of (afterwards William IV.), 30.
Clinches, the English tradition regarding, 139-40.
Clohessey, Private, and Bombardier Wells, 164.
Cock, the, Epping, 12.
“Colour line,” Sullivan and the, 128.
Combe, Mr., umpire to Humphries, 16.
“Commercialism,” 154-55.
Coney Island Athletic Club, Jefferies _v._ Fitzsimmons contest, 139-43.
Cook, George, and Carpentier, 38, 189-92.
Cooper, Gipsy, Tom Hickman and, 64.
Copthall Common, 46, 53.
Corbett, James J., and Peter Jackson, 121-22; and John L. Sullivan, 127-32; and Robert Fitzsimmons, 133-38.
_Cornhill Magazine_, article by Thackeray on the Sayers _v._ Heenan contest, 114.
Corri, Mr. Eugene, _Thirty Years a Boxing Referee_, _quoted_, on Peter Jackson, 122-25; referee in Wilde _v._ Mansfield, 199-200.
Crawley Downs, Jack Randall _v._ Ned Turner contest, 60.
Crawley, Peter, Tom Hickman and, 64.
Creedon, Dan, and Fitzsimmons, 133.
Cribb, Tom, and Jem Belcher, 30-33, 41-43, 74, 92; supports John Gulley, 35; Gregson’s lines in honour of, 40; and Molineux, 44, 46-54, 68, 75; a remark of, 61; seconds Spring, 68, 73, 75-77.
Crookham Common, Yankee Sullivan _v._ Hammer Lane contest, 87.
Crosby, near Liverpool, 94.
Crouch, Abe, and Tom Sayers, 99.
Cumberland, Duke of, patron of Broughton, 5-6.
Curphey, Jack, and Bombardier Wells, 173.
Curtis, Dick, seconds Deaf Burke, 81, 83.
Customs of the Ring, 95.
_Daily Oracle and Advertiser_, 21.
Davis, Tom, and Hammer Lane, 92.
Deaths, accidental, 80-84.
Deerhurst, Lord, 73.
Dempsey, Jack, and Fitzsimmons, 133, 183;
---- (The new), and Jess Willard, 162, 183; and Georges Carpentier, 183-88, 192.
Descamps, M., manager to Georges Carpentier, 168; gymnasium of, 176-78; intervention in the Carpentier _v._ Jeff Smith contest, 181; power of, 192.
Dieppe, Carpentier _v._ Klaus, contest at, 178.
Dixson, W. Wilmott, _see_ “Thormanby.”
Don river, 17.
Doncaster, 17.
Doyle, Sir A. Conan, _Rodney Stone_, 25.
Driscoll, Jem, style, 154, 157, 199; winner of the Lonsdale belt, 194; and Spike Robson, 194-97; and Jean Poésy, 197-98.
---- Jerry, and Charlemagne, 176.
Dunstable volunteers called out, 36.
Eales, 59.
_Edinburgh Star, The_, 54.
Egan, Pierce, _quoted_, on Perrins and Johnson, 8-9; on the Humphries-Mendoza contest, 14; on the rules of 1795, 20; on the “Lancashire” method, 38; on Gregson, 39; on Cribb _v._ Molineux, 46-50.
“English attitude,” the, 69.
English Heavy-Weight Championship held by Bombardier Wells, 164.
Epsom racecourse, the, 41.
Farnborough, Heenan _v._ Sayers contest, 108.
Fearby and Belcher, 25, 27.
Fewterel of Birmingham, 19.
Figg, 3.
_Fight, The_, Hazlitt, 64.
“Fight,” use of the term condemned, 126, _note_.
Film, the, and Boxing, 149.
Finchley Common, 24.
Fisher, 59.
_Fistiania, or the Oracle of the Ring_, _cited_, 3.
Fitzsimmons, Mrs., 136.
---- Robert, and James J. Corbett, 133-38; and James J. Jefferies, 139-46, 160; character, 171.
Fives Court, St. Martin’s Street, 59.
“Fly-Weight Champion of the World,” Jimmy Wilde’s title, 199-200.
Foley, Larry, 121.
Fouls, 91, 113; Bendigo and Caunt, 85-86.
French Flying Corps, 183.
French, the, as boxers, 109.
_From Pit Boy to Champion Boxer_, Lucas, 177.
Gamble, Andrew, and Jem Belcher, 24.
Gaynor, Tom, 81.
Ghent Exhibition, Carpentier _v._ Wells match, 165-66.
Gibbons, Bill, second to Gulley, 37; to Molineux, 53.
Goddard, Frank, and Joe Beckett, 172-73.
Goodricke, Sir H., 73.
Grain, Isle of, 103.
Grant, Jack, and Tom Sayers, 99.
Gregson, Bob, and John Gulley, 35-39; personality, 39-40.
Gulley, John, and Hen Pearce, 26, 34-35; and Bob Gregson, 35-39; seconds Cribb, 46, 53.
Hague, Iron, 164.
Hailsham, 34.
Hall, Jem, and Fitzsimmons, 133.
Hamilton, Colonel, 17.
Hampton Court, 30.
Hannan, seconds Bendigo, 97.
Harmer, Harry, 59; seconds Neate, 64, 68.
Hart, Marvin, and Tommy Burns, 148.
Hatfield, Caunt trained at, 94.
Hayes, Bill, 103.
Hazlitt, William, _The Fight_, 64; description of Neate _v._ Hickman, 65.
“Heavy-Weight,” _Times_ article on the Heenan-Sayers match, 116-17.
Heenan, John, Tom Sayers and, 107-17.
Hertford Assizes, trial on death of Simon Byrne, 84.
---- Police, warrant to apprehend Tom Sayers, 107.
Hickman, Tom, 59; Bill Neate and, 64-67.
Hinkley Downs, 68.
Holborn Stadium, Joe Beckett _v._ Wells match, 172; Jimmy Wilde _v._ Alf Mansfield, 199-200.
Hole in the Wall, Chancery Lane, 63.
Holt, 59.
Home Office, intervention in the proposed Wells _v._ Johnson match, 164.
Hornchurch, 19.
Hounslow Races, 4.
Hudson, Josh, 59; seconds Langham, 73.
Humphries, Richard, 57; and Daniel Mendoza, 1787, 12-14; 1789, 15-16; 1790, 17-19.
Hungerford, 64.
Hurley Bottom, near Maidenhead, 25.
India, Championship held by Wells, 164.
Ingleston, George, 19.
Jackson, John, second to Humphries, 17; and Mendoza, 19-20; a letter to Mendoza, 21; rooms at Old Bond Street, 21-22, 52; keeps time in Belcher _v._ Cribb, 30; superintending the ring, 46, 53, 70, 76.
---- Peter, reputation, 45, 149, 151, 158; and Frank Slavin, 121-26; and James Corbett, 121-22.
Jefferies, James J., methods, 134; and Robert Fitzsimmons, 139-46; and Jack Johnson, 158-62.
Jews among the boxers of England, 12.
Johnson, Jack, reputation, 44, 85; and Tommy Burns, 147-53; and James J. Jefferies, 158-62.
---- Tom, and Isaac Perrins, 7-11; second to Humphries, 13, 16, 17; to Mendoza, 17; his figure, 26; and Tom Sayers, 108; character, 171.
“Jolly Butchers,” Wardour St., 26.
Jones, Paddington, and Jem Belcher, 24; seconds Molineux, 46.
---- Tom, and Isaac Bittoon, 24-25.
Journee, Paul, and Wells, 173.
Keene, Alec, seconds Tom Sayers, 99, 101.
Kilrain, Jake, and Sullivan, 128-30.
Klaus, Frank, and Carpentier, 178.
Lane, Hammer, and Yankee Sullivan, 87-92; and Tom Davis, 92.
Langan, Jack and Tom Spring, 72-78; generosity of, 78-79.
Langham, Nat, and Tom Sayers, 99-103.
Ledoux, Charles, 194.
Lee, Harry, and Mendoza, 20.
---- Tancy, 194.
Lens, colliers of, and Carpentier, 165-66, 176.
Levinsky, Battling, and Carpentier, 183.
Longford, Lord, backer of Bendigo, 98.
Lonsdale Belt, Pat O’Keefe the winner, 167; won by Jem Driscoll, 194.
Lonsdale, Lord, on the use of the word “Fight,” 126, _note_.
Lucas, F. H., _From Pit Boy to Champion Boxer_, 177.
“Lying on,” art of, 155.
Macdonald, Jack, seconds Perry 103.
Mace, Jem, 121; competition organised by, 133.
McGoorty, Eddie, and Beckett, 173; and Bombardier Wells, 173.
McKay, death of, 80.
Maher, Peter, 133.
Mahoney, Packey, 166.
Mansfield, Alf, and Jimmy Wilde, 199-200.
Martin, Jack, and Jack Randall, 62-63.
Mendoza, Daniel, 57; and Richard Humphries, 12-19; and John Jackson, 19-20; and Harry Lee, 20; and Tom Owen, 21.
Miles, Henry Downs, _Pugilistica_, by, 49.
Mitchell, Charley, seconds Kilrain, 130.
Moir, Gunner, and Tommy Burns, 148-49; and Bombardier Wells, 167.
Molineux and Tom Cribb, 40, 44, 46-54, 68, 75; history of, 45-46.
Molyneux, and Hammer Lane, 88.
Monte Video, boxing in, 202.
Moulsey Hurst, 30.
“Mouth fighting,” 145-46, 151-54.
“Mufflers,” 34.
National Sporting Club contests: Frank Slavin _v._ Peter Jackson, 121-26; a private meeting with Fitzsimmons, 134; Wells _v._ Iron Hague, 164; Wells _v._ Packey Mahoney, 166; Carpentier _v._ Wells, 167; Jem Driscoll contests, 194, 197-98.
Neate, Bill, and Tom Hickman, 64-67; and Tom Spring, 68-71; manner of, 95.
New Jersey, U.S.A., Jack Dempsey _v._ Carpentier, 184.
New Orleans, Sullivan _v._ Corbett, 128-29.
Newbury in Berkshire, Neate _v._ Hickman, 64.
Nichols, George, and Tom Cribb, 30.
Nigger, the, in Boxing, 44-45.
No Man’s Land, Hertfordshire, Deaf Burke _v._ Simon Byrne, 80.
No-Decision contests, 146.
Northumberland, Duke of, and Bill Richmond, 46.
Nosworthy, 59.
“Nottingham Lambs” support Bendigo, 96-97.
Nottingham Steeplechases, 1840, 93.
Odiham in Hampshire, 12.
O’Keefe, Pat, and Bombardier Wells, 167; and Joe Beckett, 172.
Old Bond Street, Jackson’s rooms, 21-22.
“Old K Legs,” nickname of the Tipton Slasher, 103.
Old Swan Stairs, 7.
Oliver, Tom, seconds Jack Randall, 59-60; and Tom Hickman, 64.
Olympia, Joe Beckett _v._ Bombardier Wells, 173-75.
O’Neill, Colonel, Langan’s backer, 76-77.
Osbaldiston, Squire, referee in Bendigo _v._ Caunt, 95, 97.
Owen, Tom, 59; and Mendoza, 21; seconds Ned Turner, 60.
Painter, Ned, seconds Spring, 68, 73, 76; referee in Sullivan _v._ Lane, 91.
Palmer, Pedlar, 194.
Papke, and Carpentier, 178.
Parish, 59.
Parker, Tass, Bendigo’s challenge, 93; and the Tipton Slasher, 102; seconds William Perry, 103.
Pearce, Henry, and Jem Belcher, 26-29; and John Gulley, 34, 36.
Perrins, Isaac, 103; and Tom Johnson, 7-11.
Perry, William, _see_ Slasher, the Tipton.
Pinckney, Mr., 45.
Plimmer, Billy, 194.
Plough Inn, Carey Street, 34.
Poésy, Jean, and Jem Driscoll, 192-98; and Digger Stanley, 198.
Pontefract, 34.
Prize money, amount in 1789, 7-8.
Prize-Ring, the, and modern Boxing, 201-4.
_Punch_, lines by Thackeray on the Sayers-Heenan contest, 114-16; on the boxer’s appearance, 171.
Pugilistic Benevolent Association, revised Rules of the Ring, 204-8.
_Pugilistica_, Miles, _quoted_, 49.
Randall, Jack, 59; and Ned Turner, 60-62; and Jack Martin, 62-63.
Reeves, Harry, and Bombardier Wells, 173.
Referee, action regarding “breaking,” 139-40; duty of the, 156.
Reno in Nevada, Jefferies _v._ Johnson, 158-62.
Reynolds, Tom, seconds Langan, 73-75; complaint of, 75.
Richmond, Bill, and Tom Cribb, 30; supports Bob Gregson, 35; seconds Molineux, 44-46, 49-50, 52-53; seconds Ned Turner, 59-60.
Ring, broken in the Langan _v._ Spring contest, 73.
Robertson, Colonel Archibald, 107-8.
Robson, Spike, and Jem Driscoll, 194-97.
_Rodney Stone_, Conan Doyle, 25.
Ruhlin, Gus, 139.
Rules of the American Union, 146.
Rules of the Ring, 96, 204-8; English, regarding hitting in holds, 139-40.
Rushcutter’s Bay, Sydney, Tommy Burns _v._ Jack Johnson, 150.
St. Martin’s Street, the racquets court, 25.
Sampson, 59.
San Francisco, Jefferies _v._ Fitzsimmons, 143.
_Savate, La_, decay of, 176.
Sawbridgeworth, 56.
Say and Sele, Lord, backs Jem Belcher, 30.
Sayers, Tom, 53; and Nat Langham, 99-101; and the Tipton Slasher, 102; warrant for his arrest, 107-8; and the Benicia Boy, 107-17; character, 171.
Scholfield, J., 51.
Scroggins, Jack, and Ned Turner, 55-59.
Seabright, Sir John, 37.
Sellinger Cup Week, 1790, 17.
Shelton, Tom, 59; seconds Hickman, 64.
Shepperton, Turner _v._ Sayers, 58.
Six Mile Bottom, near Newmarket, 35.
Slack, Jack, and Broughton, 3-6; Jem Belcher his grandson, 23.
Slasher, the Tipton (William Perry), and Tom Sayers, 102.
Slavin, Frank, and Peter Jackson, 121-26.
Smith, Dick, and Joe Beckett, 172-73; and Carpentier, 183.
---- Jeff, and Georges Carpentier, 176, 178-82.
Spring, Tom, 59; Broughton compared with, 4; seconds Hickman, 64, 66; and Bill Neate, 68-71; and Jack Langan, 72-78; death of, 79; seconds Simon Byrne, 81-84; attitude, 86; interest in Caunt, 94, 96; character, 171.
Stanley, Digger, and Jean Poésy, 198.
Stewart, Mr., 25.
Stilton in Huntingdon, 15.
Stock Exchange, gift to Molineux, 50.
Sullivan, John L., 135; James J. Corbett and, 127-32.
---- Yankee, and Hammer Lane, 88-92.
Summers, Johnny, 194.
Sutfield Green, Oxford, Bendigo _v._ Caunt, 94.
Swift, Owen, and Hammer Lane, 87; action of, 106.
Thackeray, W. M., articles in the _Cornhill Magazine_ and _Punch_ on the Sayers-Heenan match, 114-16.
_Thirty Years a Boxing Referee_, Eugene Corri, 122.
Thistleton Gap, 51.
Thompson, John, 85, 93.
---- William, _see_ Bendigo.
---- Mrs., 94.
“Thormanby,” pen-name of W. Wilmott Dixson, 52; on Molineux, 45; _Boxers and their Battles_, _quoted_, 49, 52; generosity of, 78-79; on Bendigo’s arrest, 85, 93, 98.
Thornton, Mr., 15.
Thurtell, 64.
_Times, The_, letter from Molineux to Cribb, 51; notice regarding Tom Sayers’s fight, 107; on the Heenan-Sayers contest, 111; article by “Heavy-Weight,” 116-17; report of Deaf Burke’s trial, 201.
Townley, Arthur, and Bombardier Wells, 173.
Turner, Ned, and Jack Scroggins, 55-59; and Jack Randall, 60-62.
Turners, the three, 59.
Union Arms, Panton Street, 54.
Ward, Jem, the Championship held by, 68, 80; seconds Simon Byrne, 81, 82, 84; seconds Bendigo, 87, 97; gives the Champion’s belt to Bendigo, 93.
---- Joe, seconds Gulley, 37; seconds Cribb, 46, 49-50, 53.
---- Nick, and Ben Caunt, 93.
Warr, Bill, 24.
Weare, Mr., backs Bill Neate, 64.
Wells, Bombardier, and Georges Carpentier, 163-69; character, 163-64; appearance, 170; and Joe Beckett, 170-76; and Arthur Townley, 173; and Eddie McGoorty, 173; and Harry Reeves, 173; and Jack Curphey, 173; and Paul Journee, 173.
Whitaker, 59.
White, seconds Jack Randall, 60.
“White hope,” a search for, 158-59, 164.
Wilde, Jimmy, Fly-Weight Champion of the World, 198-200; and Alf Mansfield, 199-200.
Willard, Jess, and Jack Johnson, 162; and Jack Dempsey, 183.
Winnings, amount in 1750, 6.
Winter, _see_ Spring, Tom.
Women at the Albert Hall, 190.
Worcester Racecourse, Spring _v_. Langan, 72-73.
“World’s Championship,” the phrase, 121; holders in 1915 and after, 162; Sullivan’s title, 128; World’s Middle-Weight Championship held by Robert Fitzsimmons, 133; the Heavy-Weight Championship won by Tommy Burns, 148.
GLASGOW: W. COLLINS SONS AND CO. LTD.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] “In Praise of the Fist,” from _Life and Flowers_, translated by the late Alexander Teixeira de Mattos.
[2] _Pugilistica_, by Henry Downs Miles; _Boxers and Their Battles_, by “Thormanby.”
[3] See Rule 28, Appendix.
[4] Just before this encounter, Lord Lonsdale, President of the Club, had especially urged his hearers not to use the word “Fight” in connection with these proceedings--in view of the fact, no doubt, that a “Prize-Fight” was illegal. Mr. Angle may have forgotten this, or he may have been misreported. The club’s sensitiveness to the use of words is very delicate, and by one of its officials I was once reprimanded at a supper following the Oxford and Cambridge matches for proposing the toast of “The Ring.”
[5] This rule is only binding on members of the P.B.A. or persons signing articles to fight under their rules, and was made to meet cases where men finding themselves equally matched should attempt, by standing and looking at one another, as has been sometimes the case, for half an hour at a time, to protract the battle till dark, and thus have an opportunity of making a draw.
* * * * * *
Transcriber’s note:
Obvious printer errors corrected silently.
Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.
One unpaired double quotation mark could not be corrected with confidence.