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
Spring rode through the town in a stylish barouche and four (Colonel
Berkeley’s) about twelve o’clock. The postilions were in red, and
everything _en suite_. He arrived on the ground by half-past twelve,
amidst the shouts of the spectators, and drove close up to the ropes in
a post-chaise. He threw his hat into the ring, accompanied by Tom Cribb
and Ned Painter. He was dressed with striking neatness. At this period
all were on the look-out for Langan, but a quarter of an hour had
elapsed, and no Langan—half an hour gone, and no Paddy—three-quarters
over, and still no Irish Champion in sight. Spring pulled out his watch,
and said, “It is time.” In the midst of the hour, waiting for the
arrival of Langan, the right wing belonging to the stand gave way, and
fifteen hundred persons, at least, were thrown in a promiscuous heap. It
was an awful moment. To give any description of the feelings of the
spectators baffles attempt. Spring turned pale, and said, “How sorry I
am for this accident.” In a few minutes composure was restored, it being
ascertained that nothing material had occurred, except a few contusions,
and some of the persons limping away from the spot. “Thank God!”
ejaculated Spring, “I would not have had it happen while I was fighting
for a hundred thousand pounds!” The John Bull boxer had now become
impatient, and exclaimed, “This is strange! Where’s my man?” “I’ll bet
ten to one,” said a swell, “he don’t mean to come at all.” “I’ll take
it, sir,” said an Irishman, “a thousand times over.” “No,” was the
reply—“I meant I would take it.” The stakes would certainly have been
claimed by Spring, but no precise time was specified in the articles. It
was, as the lawyers say, a day in law—meaning “any time within the day:”
the time had not been mentioned in black and white. Nearly an hour had
elapsed, when several voices sung out from the stand, “Josh. Hudson!
Josh. Hudson! Langan wishes to see you.” The John Bull fighter bolted
towards the place like lightning, and in a few minutes afterwards shouts
rending the air proclaimed the approach of the Irish Champion. He did
not, like most other boxers, throw his castor up in the air, but in the
most modest way possible leaned over the ropes and laid it down. He
immediately went up and shook hands with Spring. The latter, with great
good nature, said, “I hope you are well, Langan.” “Very well, my boy;
and we’ll soon talk to each other in another way.” The men now stripped,
when Reynolds went up to Spring, and said, “I understand you have got a
belt on, and whalebone in it; if you persist in fighting in such belt, I
shall put one on Langan.” Spring replied (showing a belt such as are
worn by gentlemen when riding), “I have always fought in this, and shall
now.” “Then,” replied Reynolds (putting on a large belt, crossed in
various parts with a hard substance), “Langan shall fight in this.” “No,
he won’t,” said Cribb; “it is not a fair thing.” “Never mind,” urged
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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