Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 2 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-1740, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863Miles, Henry Downes
History
Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 2 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-1740, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863
Miles, Henry Downes
Boxing
One trait of Donnelly is worthy of notice: on quitting his room to enter
the apartment of Oliver, he would not publicly wear the coloured
handkerchief of his fallen opponent, but concealed it by way of pad, in
the green handkerchief which he wore round his neck.
Soon after Donnelly arrived at Riddlesdown, Shelton, by desire of an
amateur, who offered to back him for £200, challenged the Irish
champion, to fight at his own time.
The sporting houses were crowded at an early hour in the evening by
persons anxious to know the result, and the Castle Tavern, Randall’s,
Welch’s, and Dignam’s, overflowed with the well-pleased countrymen of
Donnelly. The “Irish division” won large sums by this victory.
Notwithstanding Donnelly’s victory over Oliver, it appeared to be the
general opinion that his talents as a pugilist had been much over-rated.
Challenges, in consequence, flowed in fast, and a nobleman offered
Donnelly his choice out of Cooper, Shelton, Gregson, Sutton, Spring,
Carter, Neat, Richmond, and Painter, for £100 a-side. The following
document also appeared in the _Weekly Dispatch_, August 15, 1819.
“A CHALLENGE TO DAN DONNELLY, THE CONQUEROR OF OLIVER.
“I, the undersigned, do hereby offer to fight you for 1,000 guineas,
at any place, and at any time, which may be agreeable to you,
provided it be in England.
“ENOS COPE, _Innkeeper_.
“Witnesses, WM. BAXTER, C. PALMER, J. ALCOCK.
“_Macclesfield, July 23, 1819._”
Donnelly was now caressed in the most flattering manner by all ranks of
the fancy, but more particularly by his own countrymen; indeed, it might
be said that his days, if not a great part of his nights, were
completely occupied in taking his drops from one end of the Long Town to
the other with his numerous acquaintances. Time rolled on very
pleasantly, and it appears, by the way of “seeing a bit of life,” that
Dan was taken by some of his friends to view the sports of the West, not
forgetting those of some of the “hells” of St. James’s. Here Dan was
picked-up one night, and eased of £80 out of the £100 he won by
defeating Oliver. It was a “secret” at the time, and only “whispered”
all over London. Dan’s blunt was fast decreasing, and reduced to so low
an ebb as to remind him that a supply was necessary, and something must
be done; therefore, after Mr. Donnelly had shown his “better half” all
the fine places in and about London, he naturally felt anxious to return
once more to dear Dublin, where his presence might be turned to a good
account. It was accordingly agreed that his friends George Cooper and
Gregson should accompany him on a sparring tour to Donnybrook Fair. But
many things happen between the cup and the lip, and just as Donnelly had
taken his seat upon the stage coach, and was in the act of bidding
“Fare thee well; and if for ever,
Still for ever fare thee well,”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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