Wrestling and Wrestlers: Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring; to Which is Added Notes on Bull and Badger BaitingRobinson, Jacob
History
Wrestling and Wrestlers: Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring; to Which is Added Notes on Bull and Badger Baiting
Robinson, Jacob
Wrestlers; Wrestling
During a lengthened career, Fawcett continued a great enthusiast in
wrestling matters. When lying on his death bed, while wrestling with a foe
sure to triumph in the end, the "ruling passion" exercised a strange
influence over him. He actually induced his son and daughter to take hold
in the room, for a tussle, in order that the son might be benefitted by his
instructions, relative to certain favourite chips. This anecdote is well
authenticated.
Fawcett died at Nenthall, near Alston, aged fifty-five or fifty-six years,
about 1830.
WILLIAM RICHARDSON
OF CALDBECK.
"_BELTED WILL._"
When Professor Wilson wrote a review of William Litt's popular
"Wrestliana," for _Blackwood's Magazine_, he stated that WILLIAM RICHARDSON
of Caldbeck, the winner of two hundred and forty wrestling trophies or
"belts," was "better entitled than old Howard of Castle Dacre himself to
the cognomen of 'Belted Will.'" From this sweeping dictum of the presiding
spirit of old Maga, we are inclined to dissent. William Richardson
doubtless gained his formidable list of prize "belts" mostly in well
contested but harmless fields of strife, and is fully entitled to the proud
distinction of having his familiar Caldbeck patronymic, "Will Ritson,"
elevated into "Belted Will." How, however, he is "better entitled" than the
grand border chieftain of the Howards--one of the most celebrated heroes
that shone in the long and deadly feuds which prevailed for generations
between the rival border houses of Scotland and England--we are at a loss
to conceive. Besides, they earned a similar designation in such different
fields. One is rendered for ever famous as one of the most renowned actors
in the fierce border raids that were wont to arise between England and
Scotland--a historic celebrity handed down to all time; and whose sword and
belt--still preserved amongst the Howard relics--astonish everyone
attempting to handle them. It is inconceivable that any one ever existed
with sufficient strength to wield such formidable weapons, without we fall
back to that giant of a "long time ago," yclept Samson, or to the other
strong man of heathen mythology, Hercules. Richardson, holding a high place
in the wrestling arenas of the north, and formidable from his overpowering
strength, contended only in fields where, it is true, there was keen
determined rivalry, but of an entirely harmless description to life or
limb--plenty brought to grass in a rough, tumble-down, unwelcome manner,
but not ending with the death-struggles of infuriate moss-troopers, hating
each other with a savage bitterness almost inconceivable at the present
day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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