Chapter III: , p. 77 (1)

It is certain Shaw had an eye upon the championship, for he now formally challenged all England. The amateurs were divided in opinion, but Shaw felt confident, in his own mind, that no boxer existed who could conquer him. Six weeks had scarcely elapsed after the above battle, and no time allowed for either Cribb or Oliver (who would not have suffered such a challenge to pass over unnoticed) to have an opportunity of entering the lists with Shaw to decide the point, when the Life-guards were ordered abroad, and Shaw soon found himself, with his comrades, on the plains of Waterloo. His heroism on that memorable occasion has been handed down to posterity in those glowing colours which real courage and love of country merit. Sir Walter Scott has thus sung the fame of Shaw:—

“The work of Death is done, yet still her song
In Britons’ praise the muse would fain prolong,
Would, were her power but equal to her will,
Swell to a mighty stream her slender rill,
Exalt her voice to praise each gallant son,
But chiefest thee, O godlike Wellington!
But who can count the sands? then might he name
The lengthen’d numbers of the sons of fame:
Nor ‘mongst her humbler sons shall SHAW e’er die,
Immortal deeds defy mortality.
Posterity shall read the glowing page
That paints the glories of a former age,
Then shall their bosoms burn with patriot fires,
And, if their country calls, they’ll emulate their sires.”

In “Paul’s Letters to his Kinsfolk,” Sir Walter, writing from Paris of the Battle of Waterloo, observes:—“Amid the confusion presented by the fiercest and closest cavalry fight which had ever been seen, many individuals distinguished themselves by feats of personal strength and valour. Among these should not be forgotten Shaw, a corporal of the Life-guards, well known as a pugilistic champion, and equally formidable as a swordsman. He is supposed to have slain or disabled ten Frenchmen with his own hand, before he was killed by a musket or pistol shot.”

The “science of the sword” was possessed by Shaw in a superior degree, which, backed by British strength and resolution, tended to secure the fortune of the day, in reducing the confidence of Napoleon’s hitherto invincible cuirassiers:—

“A desperate charge the cuirassiers oppose,
And thrust for thrust, and blows return for blows.
But still in vain the British sabres fall,
Whose strokes rebounded from a brazen wall.
At length more wary, with experience stor’d,
They now apply the science of the sword:
Just at the juncture of the arm and chest,
Where meet the mail-plates of the back and breast;
In gentle curve, they leave an opening way,
To fit the shape and give the shoulder play;
Some watch the moment while the uplifted arm,
Urg’d by a feint, protects the head from harm,
To reach, with lightning speed, the unguarded part
And through the opening penetrate the heart;
Some, skill’d with dext’rous art, deceive their foe,
Cut through the face and lay the opponent low;
Some at the breast-plate thrust with upward glides
Pierces the jaw, or else the neck divides;
And some, more quick, the unguarded throat observe,
Drive to the spine, and cut the dorsal nerve.”

It appears, on the first day, previous to the Battle of Waterloo, Shaw was wounded in the breast, and was ordered by his commanding officer to remain in the rear; but after the wound was dressed, and feeling little inconvenience from it, he nobly disdained to shrink from the post of honour, and on the 18th took part in the grand decisive charge. After having performed his duty towards his country in a giant-like manner, and exalting his character as a man and a soldier, he fell on the 18th of June, 1815, covered with glory.

It would appear, from the statement of the author of “Anecdotes of Waterloo,” that Shaw, though prostrated by a pistol shot, was yet alive on the morning of the 19th, but in _articulo mortis_, having received an immense number of lance-wounds after his fall from the French light-cavalry, armed Polish fashion, who galloped over the ground. A soldier of the 73rd gave the expiring hero a draught of water; but he was “past all surgery,” and soon afterwards expired without the possibility of removal to hospital.

“While martial pomps rise on the view,
And loud acclaim exalts the brave,
The tears of beauty shall bedew
The fallen victor’s laurell’d grave;
Flow, mournful flow, and sacred be the tear,
To grace the hero’s fall, whose bright career
Is clos’d in victory.”

“DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI.”

GEORGE NICHOLLS, THE CONQUEROR OF CRIBB.

George Nicholls finds a niche here, principally from the circumstance of his early victory over the renowned Tom Cribb; his other fistic exploits, though numerous, not being of celebrity sufficient to entitle him to this distinction. Nicholls was one of the numerous offshoots of the Bristol school, and was born in that city in the year 1795. In the third volume of “Boxiana” Pierce Egan has given an account of twenty-five pugilistic engagements, but, like the exploits of heroes before Agamemnon, they find no record, save in his pages. The most remarkable of those are thus narrated.

At seventeen years of age George entered the ring with a man of the name of Hocky Harding. It was only for a guinea a-side, and it took place on Durdham Downs. Nicholls had for his seconds Applebee and George Davis. In forty minutes Harding was defeated, and the punishment he received was terrific. This latter boxer had gained considerable notoriety in having made a drawn battle, after a desperate fight with the celebrated Bill Warr.

GEORGE NICHOLLS.

_From a Drawing by_ G. SHARPLES.
]

A week after the above battle, the brother of Harding, anxious to have a turn with Nicholls, fought him on Durdham Downs for a guinea and a half a-side, but, in the second round, Harding, receiving an ugly knock, exclaimed, “I’ve had enough; George shall not serve me as he did my brother.” Applebee and Davis were also seconds to Nicholls on this occasion.

A sailor, who weighed thirteen stone, challenged Nicholls for a guinea a-side. This battle took place in the Back Fields, near Lawford’s Gate. The man of war was a troublesome customer, and did not give in till one hour had expired.

Bill Thomas, a butcher, of Chepstow, had so good an opinion of his milling qualities, that he sent a public challenge to Bristol to fight the best man in that city. Nicholls accepted the challenge without delay, and he also won it off-hand.

Leonard, the champion of Bath, was matched against Nicholls for five guineas a-side. Bob Watson and Tom Davis acted as seconds to our hero. This battle took place on Lansdown, the same day that Spaniard Harris and Bill Cox fought. The Bath champion was dreadfully beaten, and both his peepers were soon closed; while Nicholls received but a slight injury.

It is stated by Pierce Egan that Nicholls was victor in forty-nine battles out of fifty.

We will now quit these dateless records of Nicholls’s triumphs over the “illustrious obscure,” to come to his crowning achievement, the exploit which has preserved his name. It has been repeatedly urged that this overthrow occurred during the brave Tom’s noviciate; but he had previously beaten that renowned pugilistic veteran, George Maddox, Tom Blake, and Ikey Pig, all of them men of notoriety as pugilists. The success of these contests had rendered Cribb somewhat conspicuous, and he was rising fast into eminence and fame, when he entered the lists with Nicholls, for a subscription purse of £25, at Blackwater, thirty-two miles from London, on Saturday, July 20, 1805, made up by the amateurs, to compensate them for being deprived of witnessing the intended fight between the Game Chicken and Gully. Tom Jones waited upon Nicholls, and Dick Hall was second to Cribb. The odds on setting-to were greatly on the side of Cribb, who was the favourite; but Nicholls, aware of Cribb’s method of fighting, fought him after the style of Big Ben in his contest with Tom Johnson. Nicholls, like a skilful general, armed at all points, was not to be deluded by the feints of the enemy. The system of milling on the retreat, which Cribb had hitherto practised with so much success, in this instance failed. The coolness and good temper of Nicholls appeared so eminently throughout the fight, that not only did he preserve his fortitude, but added vigour to his judgment. Hence, both in attack and defence, the future champion found in Nicholls a steady and decisive fighter. Cribb became perplexed at finding his tactics foiled. The advantage he had derived in former contests by drawing his opponents, and then punishing and irritating them in their pursuit, so as to make them throw their blows out of distance, and consequently render them feeble, ineffective, and uncertain, was rendered entirely unavailing. George would not suffer Cribb to play round him, but, with a guard like Ben’s, firm in the extreme, his attitude was impregnable. Nicholls could never be induced to quit his position without putting in a tremendous hit, waiting with the utmost skill for the attack of his opponent, and then giving the counter with stinging severity. George scarcely ever failed in breaking through the defence of his adversary, and ultimately concluded the round with a knock-down blow. Nicholls was a tremendous hitter; and his one, two, rendered him truly formidable. The science and ability displayed by Nicholls in this contest completely astonished the sporting world, many of whom, in obtaining such knowledge, found that they had procured it at no trifling expense.

We have not met with any good or detailed account of this remarkable battle, and shall therefore add another report, which we find in “Pancratia,” pp. 237‒238.

“As so many amateurs had collected and come from town, a distance of thirty-two miles, to be present at this famous match, they were determined to knock up a fight, and Tom Cribb, the Black Diamond, who ranked very high as a pugilist, was matched against a man of the name of Nicholls, a Bristol man, and who, like Gully, had never fought on a London stage. The former was seconded by Dick Hall, and the latter by Tom Jones. At setting-to Cribb was the favourite, and odds were greatly in his favour. In the first round Nicholls, however, brought him down; but this was thought nothing of, as it was well known Cribb frequently threw himself back to avoid a blow. In the fourth round Cribb put in a most severe blow, and cut his opponent under the right eye. Nicholls still fought with great spirit, and perfectly cool and good-tempered. By the end of the twentieth round Nicholls had perfectly closed one of his antagonist’s eyes, notwithstanding he fought with great dexterity, and made several good rallies. At the end of the fortieth round Cribb appeared distressed in his wind; he, however, had somewhat recovered the sight of his eye, but began to fight very shyly, and shift: his blows were frequently short, and he several times fell back from his own hits. At the end of the fifty-second round he gave in, and the knowing ones were done, as they were sanguine of Cribb, even to the last. Nicholls was by all acknowledged a prime fellow: his superiority consisted of very expertly breaking on his adversary, in the style of Slack, by projecting his arm suddenly against his antagonist’s face when he swung forward to put in a blow. It has been asserted in the public prints that Cribb never has been unsuccessful throughout his pugilistic career; but this must be the consequence of ignorance on the subject.”

Nicholls now retired from the ring, and, returning to his native city, invested the money he had gained, and which had been somewhat augmented by the subscriptions of several patrons of manly courage, in a butcher’s shop, in Gloucester Lane, Bristol. Here he added another to the innumerable contradictions to those maligners of pugilism, who would identify it with ruffianism, by earning in a long life the character of a quiet, inoffensive, nay, a retiring man. In fact, all who remember him describe him as “shunning general company, rarely visiting a public house, and of a somewhat religious turn of mind;” the leisure time his business afforded him being occupied in angling, his favourite recreation. He died at his native place, June 6, 1832, in the fifty-eighth year of his age.

DAN DOGHERTY—1806‒1811.

As the name of Dogherty is continually found scattered up and down the reports of ring affairs for many years, and also in the pages of “Pancratia” and “Boxiana,” we shall devote a few paragraphs to a sketch of his ring career, chiefly from the latter work.

Dogherty’s first set-to was early in June, 1806, with a Jew, at Wilsden Green, where he proved the conqueror; and shortly afterwards, at the same place, on the 17th, he easily beat one Wall.

On Lowfield Common, near Crawley, Sussex, August 21, 1807, he conquered Dick Hall; and on his return home that day had a turn-up in the road with Jack Warr, whom he milled.

George Cribb he defeated twice. See GEORGE CRIBB.

On Epsom Downs, Tom Belcher conquered Dogherty. See _ante_, p. 156.

Dogherty fought one Pentikin, a Scotch Baker, at Golder’s Green, Hendon, June 11, 1808, for forty-five minutes, when Pentikin gave in. Dogherty fought him forty guineas to twenty.

At Moulsey Hurst, October 25, 1808, Dogherty fought with Jack Power for an hour and a quarter. It has been considered rather a disputed point, but Dogherty claimed it, and got the money. It should be remembered that Power was but a mere strippling at that period.

On Epsom Downs, February 1, 1809, Dogherty beat a turnpike man.

On the 18th of January, 1811, he met with a reverse of fortune in being defeated by Silverthorne, at Coombe Wood, but he was then considered in bad condition.

In November, 1811, he beat with considerable ease, at Chichester, Ben Burn.

Dogherty for a long time was engaged on a sparring excursion, not only in various parts of the kingdom, but also in the sister country. On Tom Belcher’s arrival in Ireland, the superior science of that pugilist having, it is said, taken from Dogherty a number of his pupils, a battle took place between them. On the 23rd of April, 1813, for 100 guineas, they decided the contest on the Curragh of Kildare, when Dogherty again fell beneath the conquering arm of Belcher. See _ante_, p. 160. This great battle is omitted from “Fistiana,” under Dogherty, though indexed under Belcher.

Dogherty, from this period, remained in his native land, where he taught sparring, and was known as a civil and active fellow: he was thus engaged as late as 1827. Pierce Egan tells an anecdote of him which we preserve.

DOGHERTY’S DUEL.—Notwithstanding Dan’s penchant for the arbitrement of the fist, he accepted a challenge to fight with pistols, in order to place his opponent upon equal terms, he, it was urged, having no pretensions to boxing. It appears the meeting was a sort of hoax upon the combatants, as planned by the friends of both parties. The seconds, unknown to Dogherty and his opponent, merely put powder into the pistols. The adversary of Dogherty fired first, when the latter, forgetful of the “honourable” situation in which he stood, resorted to the scientific practice of the ring, by putting up his right arm as a natural stop to prevent the ball hitting his face, producing much fun to those who witnessed and contrived the duel.

GEORGE CRIBB,
BROTHER TO THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.

Cribb and victory have so often been coupled, that in attaching defeat to the name we almost pause; but such is the case. While the champion, Tom Cribb, enjoyed the smiles of victory, and the patronage annexed to it, the junior hero, panting to emulate the heroic deeds of his warlike brother, encountered nothing but defeat.

George first entered the lists with Horton, near Bristol, for a purse of 50 guineas, on September 5, 1807, and notwithstanding the assistance of his brother Tom for a second, was beaten in twenty-five minutes.

On February 9, 1808, he was defeated by Dogherty on Highgate Common.

On the coast, near Margate, August 9, 1809, he entered the ring with Cropley, and was conquered in sixteen minutes. George did not let his opponent win without punishing him a good deal. It was considered an unequal match.

At a meeting of amateurs, May 1, 1810, at Bob’s Chop-House, after a sporting dinner, he again fought Dogherty, when Tom Cribb also seconded his brother. In this contest George proved himself a game man, and at times overcame the superior science of his adversary; but, at the end of an hour, Dogherty was the conqueror, and had the £20 purse. It was a severe battle.

George fought with Isle of Wight Hall, on November 15, 1810, on Old Oak Common, near Uxbridge, when the odds were six to four in his favour at setting-to; but, after a contest of one hour and nine minutes, he was reluctantly compelled to give in. He fought like a hero, and, although defeated, reflected credit on the name of Cribb.

After his brother Tom had beaten Molineaux, on September 21, 1811, at Thistleton Gap, he entered the ring, for a subscription purse of £20, with Ned Maltby, a Nottinghamshire lad. It was a determined battle for the time it lasted, thirteen rounds; but George was again not only conquered but severely punished. Maltby was not much the worse.

George, like his brother, was a slow fighter, but sparred tolerably well. In height, five feet eight inches and a half, and nearly eleven stone in weight.

SILVERTHORNE.

From his contests with Tom Belcher, Dogherty, and Burn, we are induced to mention Silverthorne. It appears that this boxer, who came out under the patronage of Caleb Baldwin, was a native of the county of Somerset, but not a Bristolian. From his style of setting-to, Caleb, no mean judge of such matters, formed a high opinion of his capabilities, and procured him patronage for a battle for 100 guineas, with Dan Dogherty, then in high repute. The battle came off at Coombe Warren, near Kingston, June 11, 1811, Caleb Baldwin seconding his _protegé_, assisted by Bill Gibbons. Dogherty was waited upon by Dick Hall and Power. We copy the report from “Pancratia,” pp. 353‒355. There is none in “Boxiana.”

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—At half past twelve the men stood up.
Silverthorne stood five feet eight inches, and
weighed eleven stone two pounds; Dogherty,
eleven stone eight pounds, five feet nine
inches, so that there was not a great disparity.
Both sparred with great caution. Dogherty tried
a right-handed hit, but was short. Silverthorne
returned sharply with the left. They rallied
courageously, and exchanged hit for hit, until
Dogherty went down on the saving suit. (Six to
four on Silverthorne.)

2.—Dogherty was touched under the eye, but
smiled and put in a blow on Silverthorne’s ribs
that left a red mark. The latter returned at the
nob, but hit round; another rally, and no best
on either side. Silverthorne got Dogherty down.

3.—Both men went to work rather hurriedly, and
were soon engaged in a desperate rally.
Silverthorne stuck up, and though he threw away
many blows by his round method of fighting,
bored his opponent to every part of the ring.
Dogherty exerted all his skill, and not
unsuccessfully, on his adversary’s head, but
being at length very weak, fell by a slight hit.
(Seven to two on Silverthorne.)

4.—Dogherty bled freely; but he commenced a
sharp rally, and put in a good body blow, which
somewhat staggered his opponent. In endeavouring
to repeat, Silverthorne dexterously struck him
on the head and brought him down.

5.—Exactly as in the last round. Dogherty put in
a body blow, and Silverthorne returned on the
head. A rally, and Dogherty brought down his
opponent for the first time by a severe blow on
the head.

6.—A rally; Dogherty soon laid low.

7.—Dogherty, very gay, appeared first to his
time, and successfully planted a good hit over
the head. Silverthorne made play, seemed
distressed, hit awkwardly, and received a severe
right-handed facer. He still, however, bored in,
and commenced another rally. Hits were exchanged
for a minute and a half, each appearing totally
regardless of blows. Dogherty’s superior science
gave him the advantage, and Silverthorne at
length fell through weakness.

8.—Silverthorne rallied. Dogherty threw in a
good hit over his opponent’s mouth, but was
afterwards knocked down.

9.—Both seemed distressed for wind, and sparred
for some time. Dogherty put in a more forcible
body blow than could have been expected.
Silverthorne returned on the head and fell.

10.—Dogherty commenced a rally, and
Silverthorne, by a tremendous blow, knocked him
down.

11.—It was with difficulty Dogherty could be got
off his second’s knee; he, however, went in with
courage, and fought until knocked down.

12.—Dogherty was again brought to the scratch,
and made play, although almost in a doubled
state. The combatants managed a rally, but in a
state of weakness perhaps unparalleled; they
could stand, but although within arm’s length
were incapable of hitting. Silverthorne,
however, recovered, and knocked down his
opponent for the last time.

The contest lasted twenty-two minutes. A pigeon
was immediately despatched to Jem Belcher’s, but
in passing over Wimbledon Common it fell a prey
to the gun of some cockney spoil-sport. Both
combatants were dreadfully beaten, and were
immediately put to bed and bled. Silverthorne
proved himself a worthy disciple of Caleb, and
possesses that degree of strength which cannot
fail to make him formidable to men of his own
weight. Dogherty’s strength failed somewhat
sooner than usual, which was attributed to
indisposition.

This remarkable success so elated Caleb and his friends that they at once proposed a match with Tom Belcher for 100 guineas. What came of this may be seen at pages 158, 159, _ante_.

Silverthorne, who bore the character of a steady, temperate, and well-conducted man, now publicly announced his retirement from the ring, in reply to a challenge from Dogherty, adding, he was resolved not to fight, “except when the necessity of the moment forced it upon him, when he hoped he should never be found backward to defend himself.” However, in 1812, at Coombe Warren, being provoked by Ben Burn, he departed from his resolution, and gave that boxer a thorough thrashing. From this time forth, though his name is sometimes mentioned, we hear no more of Silverthorne in the ring. In 1821 (May), we find the following in “Notices of Boxers who have retired from the P. R.”

“SILVERTHORNE, once distinguished for his contests with Dogherty and Belcher. He is a teacher in a Sunday school, highly respected, and follows his business as a master fishmonger.”

JACK POWER.

With by no means first-rate qualifications, Jack Power is one of the examples of what personal popularity will do in exaggerating mediocrity into the foremost position. In the first volume of “Boxiana” many pages are given to Power, and in the second an obituary eulogium, from which we extract the salient points.

Power was born in London on the 8th of August, 1790, and descended from Irish parents. His father apprenticed him to a plumber, and Pierce Egan gives us the usual number of six-feet-two men, butchers, etc., who surrendered to “our hero” while yet a stripling.

Power’s first regular ring battle was with Dogherty, on the 25th of October, 1808, at Moulsey Hurst. This was the third battle on that day: the first being Tom Cribb’s victory over Gregson; the second, Tom Belcher’s conquest of Bill Cropley. The reporter simply says, “After a game battle of one hour and a quarter, Dogherty was triumphant.” Egan says, “Dogherty gave in three times during the fight; but Power being a new one, and Dogherty more experienced, it was managed in that sort of way, that the latter was pronounced the victor.” What this may mean we cannot tell, with “the Duke of York, the Marquis of Tweeddale, Lords Yarmouth, Craven, Barrymore, Brook, and Somerville, and Paul Methuen on the ground” (“Pancratia,” p. 322), and with Fletcher Reid as umpire.

Power’s next battle was with one Frere, April 1, 1809, which he won in twenty-one minutes.

Some ridiculous “turns-up” follow (“Boxiana,” pp. 458‒460), which we shall omit, to come to Power’s best fight, that with Joel King, for 50 guineas a-side, July 16, 1811, at Moulsey Hurst. The report is from “Pancratia,” pp. 360, _et seq._ “At twelve o’clock the combatants appeared. King, who was a new candidate for pugilistic honours, was accompanied by Richmond and Hall; Power attended by Bob Clarke and Paddington Jones. Odds, five to four on Power.”

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—King attempted to plant a forcible
right-hander; Power stopped him, and hit one
two, left and right, well planted on the head
and body. King fell. (First knock-down bets
decided.)

2.—King did not appear intimidated; he again
made play, and planted a good right-handed hit
on his opponent’s throat; his left-hand fell
short. Power with great quickness threw in a
severe left-handed facer, and brought him down.

3.—A good rally, several blows well exchanged.
Power scientifically planted one with the left
hand. King returned with the right. They closed
and both fell. (Two to one in favour of Power.)

4.—Power hit left and right, and King returned
very forcibly in the throat. They closed, and
Power threw his opponent again. (Betting two
points more in favour of King than at setting
to.)

5.—King planted a left-handed hit, but out of
distance. He followed quickly with his right,
which Power cleverly avoided. They closed, and
Power threw King a cross-buttock.

6.—Both made play, King with his right, Power
with the left, at the same instant; the former
told on the head. Some good trying hits
followed, and, upon the whole, the round was in
favour of King: notwithstanding Power again
threw him a cross-buttock. In doing this, with
too much eagerness Power received a hurt on the
right shoulder against a stake, which, if it did
not disable him, proved a severe hindrance.

7.—In this round Power changed his mode of
fighting, endeavouring to avert the punishing
right-handed blows of his adversary, and getting
away to hit.

8.—Power put in a good blow on the mouth, got
away, repeated it, and gave an excellent
specimen of science by repeating his blows, and
avoiding his adversary’s, until King fell,
bleeding copiously.

9.—King commenced a rally, in which he evidently
had the advantage, throwing in straight
right-handed hits with great dexterity. His
superior strength gave him the advantage, but at
length he received a violent cross-buttock.

10.—King’s face was much disfigured. Power put
in a severe one two in the mouth, followed by a
scientific hit on the throat, which brought King
down.

11.—A good rally, and both fell.

12.—Another rally. Power hit his opponent,
staggering away, with the right. King
courageously renewed the rally, and returned his
adversary’s hits with the gluttony of a Cribb,
and at length succeeded in throwing him.

13.—Power, by another blow in the mouth, brought
King again on the floor. Power continued
fighting at points until he was scarcely able to
administer the beating his adversary seemed to
require to satisfy him. In the

26th.—Betting came to six to four; and although
the left side of King’s head was a sorry sight
for any feeling spectator to view, he still
fought with such determined bravery as never
can be forgotten by his enemies or too highly
appreciated by his friends. At the expiration of
the

46th.—When every one evidently saw he had no
chance of success, he was urged, particularly by
his backers, to resign, but still expressing
anxiety for the continuation of the conflict,
even in opposition to advice, he was allowed to
go up, but merely to be sent down by a push. The
token of surrender was made, and Power hailed
the victor, after a game battle of fifty-seven
minutes.

In October, 1801, Power’s friends proposed a match with Tom Belcher, a deposit was made, but they thought better of it and forfeited.

Power now travelled through the provinces as a teacher of boxing. During this tour he ruptured a blood-vessel, and had a severe attack of pleurisy. Before his entire restoration to health, he imprudently suffered himself to be matched with Jack Carter for 100 guineas. The battle took place at Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, November 16, 1812. Power was seconded on this occasion by the Champion, Tom Cribb; Carter by Bittoon and Tom Jones.

Pierce Egan says, “It would be superfluous to detail the rounds of this battle, which continued one hour and twenty-five minutes; suffice it to say that the conduct of Power this day was worthy all praise. Passing previously a restless night, afflicted with a cough, and somewhat nervous in his habit, he entered the ring under these disadvantages to contend against an adversary, his superior in height, strength, constitution, perfectly in health, and not deficient in pugilistic acquirements. It was a tremendous task, a daring attempt; and superlative science, and that alone, gave the victory to Power. It required something more than fortitude to act thus in opposition to nature, as well as considerable ingenuity in husbanding his strength to reduce his opponent to his own level. This Power effected, when he grappled with his opponent upon superior terms; his strength gone, and his science inferior, Carter was conquered with elegance and certainty. Upon no occasion whatever were the knowing ones so completely ‘out of their know.’ Carter, although defeated, showed that he was not without game; but Power completely astonished the most experienced of the Fancy.”

Power had a set-to with Richmond (see _ante_) at a sparring match at the Fives Court, on Dutch Sam’s benefit, soon after the above contest. Something about a white feather being mentioned, Power instantly mounted the stage, and addressed the spectators thus:—“Upon the day previous to the night when I fought Richmond I was following my business as a plumber, in making paint. The fumes of white lead are of so strong and poisonous a quality, that, to prevent any serious effects operating upon the constitution, we are necessitated to drink a quantity of castor oil; in addition to which I had been drinking, which rendered me then unprepared; but now,” said Power, “if Richmond can take out the white feather, as he pleases to term it, that I possess (stripping off his clothes), let him come up here, and I will fight him instantly for £50.” At his own benefit he again offered to fight Richmond.

Power’s excesses are thus leniently touched upon in “Boxiana:”—“In concluding this sketch, the most painful part remains to be performed. No boxer commenced his milling career with a fairer prospect to arrive at the top of the tree, or become a fixed star in the pugilistic hemisphere, than Jack Power; but, possessing a gaiety of disposition which could brook no restraint, the fascinating charms of company and the enlivening glass proving too powerful for his youth and inexperience to withstand, he plunged into excesses which induced premature debility. In this last battle, although gaining the victory, he endangered his existence. From being stripped in the open air for nearly an hour and a half, the severity of the weather afflicted him so seriously, that for several hours his frame did not experience the least warmth whatever, notwithstanding the best medical treatment was resorted to. His sufferings were acute, and he observed, ‘All the milling that he had received in the whole course of his pugilistic career was trifling in comparison with the pain he sustained on his return to a state of convalescence.’ He, however, was not long in returning to the metropolis to receive those congratulations which his noble courage had so justly entitled him to. The supporters of pugilism gave him a most flattering reception, so that Power’s time was principally occupied with the pleasures of society, and the enlivening charms of the bottle. Power was no churl, full of good humour in company, and his song was always ready when called for to support the cause of harmony.”

At a sparring exhibition which took place at the Fives Court soon after, when Jack merely looked in as a visitor, and Carter was present, several of the amateurs expressed a wish to witness a set-to between them. It proved a sharp contest; but the superiority was decidedly, in point of science, as in the fight, in favour of Power.

A public dinner, in honour of Power’s victory over Carter, took place at Mr. Davenport’s, the Three Pigeons, Houndsditch, when Jack presided, supported by Tom Cribb. Conviviality was the order of the day; and, upon the introduction of Carter, the behaviour of Power to his fallen adversary was attentive, generous, and manly, and he strongly recommended him to the attention of the fancy in general. Soon after this period he rapidly declined, and endeavoured to recruit his health by a journey to Oxford. It proved too late, and the last stage of consumption was reducing him daily. He witnessed the memorable set-to of Molineaux and Carter, and expressed himself astonished to hear it termed “fighting!” He returned to his dwelling in Plough Court, Fetter Lane, not only exhausted in person, but, to add to his afflictions, one of his children took ill and died. Mr. Jackson, ever attentive to the wants of brother pugilists, on being made acquainted with his peculiar situation, instantly made a collection for him among the patrons of the science. His disorder was so flattering that, at times when his spirits were good, he would observe, “Let me get but a little better, and I’ll show the lads how to fight; many of those that pretend to teach it scarcely know anything about the sound principles of milling—they are only sparrers.”

Power departed this life June 2, 1813, at the early age of twenty-three, and lies interred in the burial ground of St. Giles’s-in-the-Fields. He was in height about five feet nine inches and a half, and in weight twelve stone. He turned out several good pupils.

WILLIAM NOSWORTHY, THE BAKER.

As the conqueror of the renowned Dutch Sam, albeit in the day of his decadence, the name of Nosworthy is preserved from oblivion.

In his boyish days, Nosworthy, it appears, was not altogether unknown in Devonshire, both as a wrestler and pugilist. He was born at Kenn, a parish in the hundred of Exminster, of respectable connections, on the 1st of May, 1786. He was of an athletic, prepossessing appearance, and extremely well made. In height five feet six inches, and weighing about eleven stone. In disposition he was cheerful, good-natured, and inoffensive; but in the ring Nosworthy was a glutton of the first mould. Several sporting characters denominated him the “Young Chicken,” from some likeness he bore to the celebrated Hen. Pearce.

“The historian” having given us the usual “servings out,” “polishings off,” etc., of unknown opponents, judiciously omitted by the compiler of “Fistiana,” brings Nosworthy to town. Here it appears that “the Baker” attended a Devon and Cornwall gathering of wrestlers, and was matched against one Pentikin, whom he threw.[165] The defeated wrestler offered to post a guinea and thrash Nosworthy for the stake. The contest took place on the 3rd of May, 1808, in Pancras Fields. Nosworthy was seconded by Tom Jones and Bill Ryan. The superiority was evidently on the part of Nosworthy for the first twenty minutes, Pentikin being milled in all directions. It was presumed that, had the fight continued without any interruption victory was by no means doubtful on the side of Nosworthy, who had, at this period of the battle, considerably reduced the strength of his opponent. But Nosworthy was here representing a county partisanship of Devon _versus_ Cornwall, and was moreover unknown in comparison to Pentikin. The ring, it is said, was broken in consequence, much confusion ensued, and some delay occurred before the combatants could appear in a new ring. The contest was renewed with increased ardour, and Pentikin appeared more fresh from the delay. Reciprocal fighting continued for one hour and twenty-five minutes, when Nosworthy was reduced to insensibility, and carried off the ground by his brother. The game he displayed was highly praised. Pentikin, although the conqueror, could not be induced again to face his fallen adversary, and forfeited three times to Nosworthy.[166]

After some irregular battles the bakers of the metropolis, looking upon Nosworthy as a leader in their sporting circle, a match for ten guineas a-side was made between him and Barnard Levy, a Jew, which took place at Golder’s Green. Levy was known to be a good man, and proved himself deserving of that character throughout the fight. Nosworthy was not in condition, and the Jew maintained an evident superiority for the long space of two hours. The game displayed by the Baker astonished every one present—he fought undismayed, and showed himself a “taker” of no common mould. Notwithstanding the punishment the Jew had administered, he could not take the fight out of him, and at length became exhausted. Nosworthy, contrary to all expectation, appeared refreshed, and finished the Jew in high style during the last twenty-five minutes. From this conquest the Baker gained ground. The fight lasted two hours and twenty-five minutes.

Martin, an active lively boxer, and much fancied by his own people, the Jews, was now pitted against Nosworthy for a purse of 25 guineas, at Moulsey Hurst, on the 29th of March, 1814. High expectations were formed of the pugilistic talents of Martin, but the Baker soon put his skill and manœuvres at defiance. Joe Ward and Paddington Jones seconded Nosworthy, and Little Puss and Jacobs attended upon Martin. It was two to one in favour of the Jew previous to the battle, betting brisk.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—On setting-to considerable expectation
was formed as to the talents of the Jew, who
commenced with much gaiety; but Nosworthy
planted a tremendous hit on Martin’s mouth,
which not only drew a profusion of claret, but
he went down.

2.—The Jew, more cautious than heretofore,
sparred for advantage, but ultimately he was
again floored. (The two to one had now all
vanished, and even betting was the truth of the
matter.)

3.—Nosworthy began to serve the Jew in style,
and his hits told tremendously. Martin made a
good round of it, but fell rather distressed.
The dead men now opened their mouths wide, and
loudly offered six to four on the Master of the
Rolls.

4.—Martin, with much activity, planted a good
facer; but Nosworthy again finished the round in
high style.

5.—The Israelite’s nob was peppered, and his
body also much punished; and Nosworthy, with
great severity, hit him right through the ropes.
(Seven to four on Nosworthy.)

6.—It would be superfluous to detail the
remaining rounds. Nosworthy had it all his own
way, notwithstanding Martin resorted to his old
method of falling, to tire out his opponent. In
thirty-six minutes the Jew was completely
defeated, and Nosworthy increased his fame as a
boxer.

After some minor affairs, we come to Nosworthy’s great match with the Phenomenon, Dutch Sam. Pierce Egan expends pages of wonderment, conjecture, and exclamation on the fact that a strong, young, resolute man, and a good boxer withal, should have beaten a gin-drinking stale pugilist, who would not even train for the battle. We now come to the report.

Five years had nearly elapsed since Sam had exhibited in the prize-ring. The curiosity to see him once more display his great pugilistic skill drew together an unusual number of spectators. Neither bad roads nor torrents of rain could check the interest excited by this battle. Vehicles of all descriptions for weeks before were put in requisition to reach the destined spot, and pedestrians out of number were not dismayed in tramping through thick and thin for sixteen miles. The vast collection of carriages on the Hurst excited the astonishment of every one, and some hundreds were on the spot who did not even see the battle. Several marquees were erected for accommodation. The sum to be contended for, in a twenty feet ring, was £50 a-side and a purse given by the Pugilistic Club of 25 guineas. At a few minutes before one Nosworthy entered the ring, attended by his seconds, Bill Cropley and Silverthorne, and was loudly cheered for his confidence, in daring to face so acknowledged a boxer as the Jew. Sam soon followed, and received every mark of gratifying attention from the surrounding multitude. Ben Medley and Puss were his attendants. A heavy shower of rain could not delay their thirst for fame.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—On the combatants approaching each
other, and shaking hands in the usual way, the
difference of person was so manifest that an
ordinary spectator must have given the
preference to the Baker, from the roundness of
his frame, the firmness of his step, and the
cheerfulness of his countenance. He must have
been a novice, indeed, not to have discovered
the wretched condition of Sam upon his throwing
off his clothes. His ribs were spare in the
extreme; his face, which hitherto had assumed
such a formidable aspect, and his fierce eyes
that seemed upon similar occasions to have
penetrated into the very souls of his opponents,
appeared clouded with doubt and anxiety. It was
altogether a different frontispiece. Dejection,
arising from dissipation, was marked strongly on
his features. As for his legs, as if Sam had
anticipated that they might tell against him,
he, for the first time in his life, preferred
fighting in gaiters and breeches. The _tout
ensemble_ portrayed, a worn-out man rather than
a boxer entering the prize-ring, prepared to
vanquish youth, health, and strength. But all
these objections were as a feather in the scale
against the Jew. Weather could not affect him;
no one could punish him; he hit as hard as
Cribb; he was no mannerist; he set-to a hundred
different ways; he altered his mode of fighting
as circumstances required. Many seemed really to
think, and plenty were forward enough to urge,
that Sam was as well, if not better, without
training, than undergoing the systematic
precaution of invigorating the _stamina_. In
short, he was the phenomenon of the fighting
world; everything but a losing man. The
recollection that he had beaten all the best men
for a series of years that had been pitted
against him, gave a double confidence to these
sanguine opinions; and what was Sam now called
upon to perform at the top of his glory? Why, to
enter the lists with a boxer, who, to say the
best, was but of considerable obscurity. Who for
a moment would listen to a comparison made
between Nosworthy and the hardy and brave
Champion of Westminster, who had fallen beneath
the conquering arm of Sam? or with that truly
elegant scientific pugilist, Tom Belcher, who
had twice surrendered up his laurels to this
distinguished Jew. Cropley too, who ought never
to be mentioned without praise, ranking as a
superior scientific boxer, was tremendously
beaten by him; and his last antagonist, Ben
Medley, possessing sound fighting pretensions,
true game, and science, was reluctantly
compelled to acknowledge his vast superiority.
The renowned Dutch Sam was once more before his
friends; and his fanciers were so confident of
his adding another laurel to his brow, that bets
to an extravagant amount were loudly offered. To
have named the Baker as having anything like a
chance, was out of the question; but, at this
period, to have proposed an even bet that
Nosworthy won, would have been laughed at, as
betraying a total ignorance in matters of sport.
Such was the state of things upon the combatants
facing each other; and the great superiority of
the Jew was expected to be witnessed every
instant. The decision was near at hand, and the
Baker, eager to commence the attack, displayed
more of valorous spirit than scientific
precision. In making play, his distances proved
incorrect, and two blows fell short. Sam gained
nothing by this opening. Nosworthy, full of
resolution, followed up the Jew, appearing
rather too rapid in his manner to take any
particular aim, and seemed to prefer going in,
to trusting to those advantages that are
sometimes obtained in sparring. Sam made a
slight hit upon the Baker’s nob, but ultimately
went down.

2.—The eagerness of the Baker appeared to
supersede every other consideration. He
again hit short; but Sam did not miss this
opportunity, and returned right and left,
drawing the cork of the Master of the Rolls.
Nosworthy, it seemed, had made up his mind
to smash the Jew, and, in his haste to get
at Sam, slipped and fell.

3.—The Baker, determined in his mode of warfare,
resolutely made up to Sam, but the Jew warded
off the force of the blows with much adroitness.
Nosworthy received a hit from Sam, and went
down, but his fall was attributed more to the
slippery state of the turf than to the severity
of the blow.

4.—This round commenced with severe fighting,
and much activity was displayed on both sides.
Some good hits were exchanged. The Baker drove
Sam before him to the ropes, and here it was
that Nosworthy showed his superiority by putting
in three tremendous blows. Sam fell, evidently
distressed, and his breath was nearly hit out of
his body, by a terrible blow he received upon
his breast. His friends, however, thought that
his conduct was a mere _ruse de guerre_. In
fact, nothing could shake their opinion that the
Jew was playing a sure game, by letting the
Baker make the most of his strength, in order
that, at a more advanced stage of the battle,
he would become exhausted, when he might be
easily “kneaded” to answer the purpose of the
Israelite.

5.—It was in this round that Sam found out what
sort of a customer he had to deal with. He was
also convinced, too late, that the chance was
against him: he could not resist the hardy blows
of the Baker, nor had he room enough to get
away from him. Sam’s hits produced no effect
upon the courage of Nosworthy, who went in in
such an unusual manner to anything the Jew had
experienced with any of his other competitors,
that he was confounded. His wonted fortitude
seemed to have deserted him, and dismay taken
possession of his mind: he went down quite
exhausted. But however Sam might feel that he
was sent down against his will, it did not
appear in that light to his backers, who
generally looked upon this as nothing more than
artifice of the Jew to weaken and tire out his
adversary. A few persons who were not quite so
infatuated with the appearance of things, hedged
off a little of their four to one. Some others
ventured upon even betting; but this latter
circumstance was by no means general.

6.—Sam was scarcely upon his legs and set-to,
when Nosworthy put in a blow that sent him down.

7.—The Baker, always ready, proved himself a
resolute and skilful boxer. He did not wish to
lose time by any useless display of scientific
attitudes. The proud name of Sam proved no
terror or drawback to his exertions: he went in
with as much gaiety as if he had been only
contending with a novice, instead of fighting
with a boxer who had performed such wonders in
the pugilistic annals. Nosworthy planted some
good blows, and the Jew was again down on the
turf.

8.—The science of Sam was conspicuous in this
round, but the strength of his opponent was not
to be reduced. The Jew put in some good hits in
a smart rally, but he could not divert the Baker
from his purpose, and Sam went down again much
exhausted.

9.—Nosworthy commenced this round with his
usual spirit, by driving Sam again to the
ropes, where he punished him severely. Sam,
notwithstanding, planted some hard blows, but
the impetuosity of the Baker carried all
before him. The best efforts of the Jew,
however well directed, seemed as useless as if
he had been trying to stem a torrent. At this
period the deeply-interested ones perceived
something in the Baker they had not expected.
That a chance must not be thrown away when
four to one had been betted. A bustle now
commenced, and the outer ring was broken. The
populace pressed heavily against the roped
ring, bearing down all opposition to keep them
off, and many persons crossed the ropes, to
the confusion of the combatants. However we
might be disposed to attribute this disorder
of the ring as the effect of accident, owing
to the great concourse of spectators, to what
account can we place the conduct of a strong
man endeavouring to force out of the ground
one of the stakes which supported the ring,
and which attempt was only prevented by the
manly interference of the Champion of England?
Nosworthy appeared at the mark, and called out
to Sam to observe he was ready, but the Jew
declined setting-to till the ring was cleared
out. It may not be improper here to remark
that, if Sam had decidedly felt in his own
person he was, or must be eventually beaten,
if he continued the contest, it is natural to
infer that he would have saved the money of
his friends by taking the advantage of this
interruption in making at least a drawn
battle; but the Jew wished to fight it out. In
clearing out the ring, the confusion beggared
all description. The whips and sticks were
laid on heavily. In the course of about twelve
minutes the desired object was attained, when
the combatants once more commenced operations.

It would be superfluous to detail the remainder
of the rounds, in number thirty-eight. Complete
sameness pervaded the whole of them; and Sam,
who had hitherto portrayed the hero, now
scarcely exhibited the traits of a second-rate
pugilist. The ferocity which had so terrified
his opponents was no longer visible; indeed he
exhibited weakness and distress early in the
fight. It is curious to remark that he never
once knocked down Nosworthy; but, on the
contrary, was either floored or went down every
round, with the exception of about three. Still
the friends of Sam, and particularly those
denominated “the flash side,” relying on his
experience and judgment, flattered themselves it
was all right, that he was aiming to bring down
Nosworthy to his own pitch, to obtain any
conquest, and give a good opportunity of
betting. But they wofully deceived themselves;
the wished for change never arrived.