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
It ought to have been mentioned, that soon after Langan’s arrival at St.
Marguerite, Colonel Mead mentioned his prowess in the milling line to
Admiral Bryan, who had a _penchant_ for fistic exercises. The admiral’s
boatswain, Jack Power, bore a high character for his thumping qualities,
and was anxious to have a trial of skill with our hero. The boatswain
waited upon Langan with proposals for a match; he was received by the
latter with a hearty welcome, and the match made without delay. Three
days only were allowed for training; at the expiration of which a proper
place was selected for the mill, and a tolerably good ring made,
although not so tight and compact as the Commissary-general of England,
Bill Gibbons, might have produced. At the coolest period of the day, the
combatants, attended by their respective friends, appeared; the “legion”
of course attended to have a peep at the triumph of their countryman.
For the first five rounds the boatswain took the load: his constitution
was excellent, and his shipmates backed him to win. Jack was floored
several times, and napt lots of punishment, but his pluck never deserted
him; his superior science enabled him to get out of trouble, and his
goodness upon his legs ultimately decided the battle in his favour. The
natives appeared highly pleased with the manly exhibition; and it is to
be sincerely wished that they had also profited by such a display of
true courage over the stiletto and knife, those treacherous weapons
being generally used among the natives, the legitimate use of the bunch
of fives being unknown to them. This conquest tended to increase
Langan’s popularity, and also to establish his character as an
out-and-outer among the islanders.
At this period Langan’s rank was Quarter-master Sergeant; promotion had
been promised to him on the first opportunity, but in consequence of the
gross mismanagement of the funds, and the neglect which had occurred in
the hospital department, Jack resolved to quit the service. Langan,
therefore, left St. Marguerite, and worked his passage to Trinidad, in
company with several officers and men, whose military ardour was damped
by the want of funds and clothing, and the dreary prospects of the
expedition.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account