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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

Name: 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
Author: Miles, Henry Downes

Miles, Henry Downes

Boxing

On Sunday, February 27, 1820, the remains of this celebrated character
were borne, with all due pomp and solemnity, from his family residence
in Greek Street to the last asylum at Bully’s Acre, where his ancestors
lie quietly inurned. An immense concourse, some in carriages and some on
horseback, moving in slow and measured pace, formed part of the
procession. There was a strong muster of the fancy. The gloves were
carried on a cushion in front of the hearse, from which the horses had
been unyoked by the crowd, and multitudes contended for the honour of
assisting in drawing it. The procession took its route through the
leading streets of the city, and the numbers, as it passed, increased
until the body of the champion was lodged in its last resting-place. It
is for posterity to do justice to the prowess of Sir Daniel Donnelly.
Not the least remarkable feature in his eventful history is, that he was
the last person who received the honour of knighthood during the
regency: there might have been, and probably were, worse men among those
who received that honour before him. Although last, he did not deserve
to be held as least, among the knights of our day.

          “What dire misfortune has our land o’erspread?
          Our Irish Champion’s numbered with the dead;
          And he who never did to mortal bend,
          By Death’s cut short, and Ireland’s lost her friend.
          Ah! cruel Death, why were you so unkind,
          To take Sir Dan, and leave such trash behind
          As Gregson, Cooper, Carter—such a clan
          To leave behind, and take so great a man?
          Oh! Erin’s daughters, come and shed your tears
          On your bold Champion’s grave, whose shortened years
          Have made Erin’s sons this day a day of sorrow—
          Who have we now that will defend our Curragh?”

To the Blackwood collection we again resort for the proposed inscription
for an obelisk to Sir Daniel’s memory:—

                          “The Epitaph.

              “Underneath this pillar high
              Lies Sir Daniel Donnelly:
              He was a stout and handy man,
              And people called him ‘Buffing Dan;’
              Knighthood he took from George’s sword,
              And well he wore it, by my word!
              He died at last, from forty-seven
              Tumblers of punch he drank one even;
              O’erthrown by punch unharmed by fist,
              He died unbeaten pugilist!
              Such a buffer as Donnelly,
              Ireland never again will see.

          “OBIIT XIII^o KAL. MARTII, MDCCCXX. ÆTAT SUÆ XXXII.”

[Illustration]




                             CHAPTER VIII.
           JACK CARTER, “THE LANCASHIRE HERO”—1812–1832.[29]

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