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
Michael Angin, who had some notions of boxing, was completely satisfied
in a single round with Langan, at Clontarf. A tremendous nobber put
Mike’s head in chancery. On returning to his mother’s cabin, she saluted
him with “Arragh! Mike, my jewel, what have you got in your mouth, that
makes you look so ugly?” “It’s Jack Langan’s fist, mother. I am almost
choked,” replied Angin, hoarse as a raven. “Take it out, my darlint,”
said his parent; “sure it is no good to anybody!”
Robert Titford, Dan Henigan (brother of the boxer of that name), and Jem
Turner, were, in succession, disposed of with apparent ease by our hero.
In short, he had no competitor amongst the boys, and therefore we will
take leave of his early turn-ups, for battles of a more manly
description.
Langan had a desperate battle with a man of the name of Hemet: the
latter person struck the father of our hero. “I will make you repent
your conduct, you blackguard,” said Jack. “A boy like you?” replied
Hemet; “I’ll kick your breech, if you give me any more of your prate.”
Young Langan, as we have before mentioned, was fond of milling; but in
defence of his father felt doubly armed; and in the course of thirty
minutes Hemet was glad to acknowledge the boy was his master.
One Savage, a man weighing about eleven stone, and twenty-one years of
age, had behaved unhandsomely to Jack three years previously to the
period when the following circumstances transpired. Langan, although not
more than sixteen years old, entertained an opinion that he was able to
take the field against Savage, and challenged him without hesitation.
Savage, with the utmost contempt, accepted the challenge, and agreed to
fight on the banks of the Dublin canal. A few friends on each side
attended to see fair play. The battle was long, and well-contested; but
night coming on, as neither of the combatants would agree to surrender,
it was deemed expedient according to the laws of honour, to fight it
out, and therefore candles[10] were introduced. But, before the glims
required topping, Langan floored his opponent, by a wisty-castor upon
the jugular, and Savage was carried home amidst the lamentations of his
friends, and the regret of Langan. Savage was washed and laid out by his
lamenting associates, and everything comfortable prepared to “wake” him.
The body was surrounded by about forty old women and men, smoking and
drinking, and bewailing his loss, interspersed every now and then with
some prime fil-la-loos. “Arrah! my dear Jemmy, why did you put your head
in the way of Jack Langan’s fist?”
In the midst of this beautiful solemnity, to the great surprise and
confusion of the company present, Mr. Savage waked himself, but, before
he could enquire into the particulars how he came into this strange
situation, the whole assembly brushed off with terror, leaving the
corpse to explain his position in the best manner he could.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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