Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 3 (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, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863Miles, Henry Downes
History
Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 3 (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, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863
Miles, Henry Downes
Boxing
It will be borne in mind that at the making of the last deposit, the
toss for choice of ground was dispensed with, Spring, on the part of
Freeman, and Broome, on the part of Perry, having determined on the
probable locality. It was felt desirable to preserve the secret as
long as possible, and it was not till Monday that the direction was
generally known, when a trip by the Eastern Counties Railway to the
borders of Hertfordshire and Essex was announced, with an intimation
that a simultaneous departure by the half-past nine o’clock train to
Sawbridgeworth (about seven and twenty miles from London) would suit
all purposes, and prevent any unnecessary bustle at the immediate
scene of action. Notwithstanding the secrecy which had been observed,
however, some few “go-carts” with their motley inmates were seen going
down the road the night before, and thus a hint was given, of which
the police took advantage; and hence, being on the alert, the
attendance of a magistrate was obtained, and much trouble and
inconvenience, as the sequel will show, were experienced. In the
interim both men arrived in town at their respective head-quarters,
Freeman at Tom Spring’s, and Perry at Johnny Broome’s, so as to be
ready for their morning start, and both houses were crowded to excess.
With the dawn all were in motion, and by eight o’clock the London
terminus of the chosen railway was besieged by visitors. Many of these
brought drags, which were placed upon the trucks, while others trusted
to the “chapter of accidents,” which proved to have a very wide range,
for the means of conveyance. Among the first arrivals were the Tipton
Slasher and his friends, who thus took time by the forelock, so as to
be near the point of rendezvous in due season. This division agreed to
alight at Harlow station, as the train did not pull up at
Sawbridgeworth, which was, however, but two miles further, within
convenient toddling distance, and thither all proceeded. On reaching
the fixture a damper was thrown on the prospects of the travellers.
The superintendent of police was found at his post. He had received
orders from London to prevent hostilities, and to this was added the
fact that Mr. Phillips, a Hertfordshire magistrate, was in readiness
to “keep the peace.” In this unpleasant dilemma all waited till the
arrival of the half-past nine o’clock train, in which came Freeman,
Tom Spring, Caunt, and a vast accession of the Fancy. Fortunately
there was a carriage and four horses waiting the arrival of Freeman,
and after a short deliberation it was resolved to move on to Hatfield
Heath, about four miles further, in the county of Essex, and the
“office” being given, away all went in that direction――the great
proportion on their ten toes, for conveyances were out of the
question――and the roads being heavy the pilgrimage was far from
agreeable, especially to “the London particulars,” who were unprepared
for such a journey. For this unexpected tax upon their patience there
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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