Chapter IV (1)

WILLIAM PERRY (“THE TIPTON SLASHER”) 1835-1857.

Although this ungainly specimen of a boxing athlete first saw the light, in the year 1819, in the town of “the Black Country” from which his _nom de guerre_ was derived, he came to London and worked in its neighbourhood at an early age; for, in the year 1835, he was well known in the neighbourhood of Battersea Fields and Chelsea as a “lumping lad” who, despite the drawback of “a K leg,” could hit, stop, and use his “fives” with formidable effect. In November of that year, we read in a sporting paper:

“The admirers of milling in the military village of Chelsea,
where the ‘saloon of arms’ of Alec Reid is a centre of
attraction, were all alive on Tuesday, from the arrangement
of a ‘field day’ to decide the best-man question between two
pugilistic heroes of the locality. These were Barney
Dogherty, a sprig from the Emerald Isle, and Bill Perry, a
young navvy, whose displays with his digits, if not quite
scientific, are determined and dangerous. Perry was backed
by a sporting butcher, Dogherty by a circle of his
enthusiastic countrymen. In weight the Emeralder had the
advantage of nearly a stone. Each man was waited on by a
member of the P.R., and the regulations of the Ring carried
out.

“The fixture was Wimbledon Common, whither miscellaneous
groups were seen wending their way at an early hour; but the
police scouts were wide-awake, and on reaching the intended
scene of action it was ‘no go,’ and the disappointed crew
looked as blue as their enemies. A move became inevitable,
and new ground was taken opposite the ‘Ship’ at Mortlake.
Here the men set to, but after seven rounds, all in favour
of Perry, the lobsters were again on the scent, and another
retreat was made towards Barnes Common. Here also it would
not do――the pursuers were on the heels of the ‘flying
dustmen,’ and a helter-skelter sort of march took place over
Putney Bridge. Here a council of war was held, and it was at
last agreed to march for Lechmere Common, close to the
sporting grounds of the Baron de Berenger, in the King’s
Road. Here all was right――a fresh ring was formed without
interruption, and the sport was resumed and concluded.

“On squaring elbows there was a good deal of sparring, and
Perry dodged left and right. After some heavy exchanges and
a rally, Barney was down weak. The fight was prolonged for
six rounds more, during which Perry had it all his own way,
punishing Barney terrifically; still the poor fellow came up
as game as a rhinoceros, and would not give in till his
seconds, seeing he had not a chance, cried ‘enough,’ and his
friends were all satisfied he had done his best to win.

“Dogherty turned out to be too stale for active operations;
added to which he is slow and awkward in his style of
setting to. Perry is a scientific hard hitter, but with such
a man as Alec Reed, in his day, he would not have had a
chance. Still, in the present state of the Fancy, he is not
to be sneezed at. It was expected a second fight would have
taken place between Middlesex Ben and the Winchester Pet,
but the former was ‘shopped.’ Perry can be backed with
anybody who may envy his honours, and the money will be
ready at the ‘Lowndes Arms,’ King’s Road, on Tuesday
evening, where Alec Reed gives sparring lectures for the
benefit of the rising generation.”

Such is the account of “The Slasher’s” _coup d’essai_, after which he seems to have found no candidate for his favours for a twelvemonth, and to have worked his way towards his native place. Here his fame as a fistic practitioner was pretty generally acknowledged, and a party of Birmingham boxers, having among their number Ben Spilsbury (not Charley, who fought Johnny Broome), being in the town of Tipton exhibiting the art, young Perry put on the mufflers with that professional. Though the Tipton lad was not so clever as the Brum, he displayed such determination, and got so well “on” to his man, that an observation that, “if in earnest,” Mr. Ben would have to play second fiddle, led to an offer on the part of a Brum to post a “tenner” upon the experiment. “A friend to sport,” at the request of Perry, covered the two sovereigns deposited; and as the Christmas holidays were approaching, December 27th, 1836, was named as the day of battle. After taking some little liberties with the Tipton in the opening rounds, for which he occasionally caught a fearful right-handed visitation, and was rallied down, Spilsbury kept so completely _à la distance_ as to deprive the contest of all interest, and finally, at the end of the 19th round, “cut it,” leaving “The Slasher” in possession of the field and the stakes.

After this defeat of Spilsbury, it would appear that the sobriquet of “The Tipton Slasher” had become the accepted title of William Perry, for in a local (Staffordshire) paper we find him so described, as being matched for £25 a side against one Jem Scunner, who is described as the “Gornel Champion,” a six-foot specimen, weighing 13st. odd, and therefore a fair opponent in height and weight for our hero. The report is especially meagre, merely informing us that “the battle commenced on Tuesday (Nov. 22, 1837), near Gornel, but was not decided until the following day.” The betting at setting to was 6 and 7 to 4 on the Gornel man. After a few rounds, however, the Gornelites claimed the fight for their man on the ground of a “foul,” but the referee would not allow it, and Scunner, by the advice of his friends, would not go on. A rush to the ring was made, and the referee retired. It was asserted that Perry fell without a blow. After some wrangling, the referee ordered that the fight should be renewed on the next day, at Kingswood, near Wolverhampton. There both men showed at the time appointed, and lost no time in getting to work. During the first four or five rounds the Gornel man rushed at the Tipton like a wild bull, but Perry waited for him, shifted cleverly on his crooked leg, and delivered straight blows and upper-cuts with such slashing effect that the Gornelites were utterly paralysed. From this time Scunner betook himself to out-fighting; but here he took nothing by the change, except prolonging the fight. At the end of one hour the Gornel Champion, having been hit down or thrown in five or six successive rounds, was finally floored in the 31st round, and deaf to the call of time. Tass Parker, of West Bromwich, and Preston, of Birmingham, seconded Perry; Surrender Lane and George Gallant, of Birmingham, waited on Scunner. The match exciting much interest in the Potteries, Perry, with Parker, became the “lions” of the neighbourhood; the Fountain Inn, at Tipton, the Slasher’s headquarters, being crowded by the Fancy of the Midlands at their benefit on the ensuing Monday.

The defeat of Jem Scunner, who had an immense, though undeserved, local reputation, in a period when the dearth of good big ’uns was remarkable, spread the fame of the prowess of the Slasher so widely that he was fain to wield the shovel in laborious obscurity, instead of flourishing his ponderous mauleys in the 24 foot. In the interval, “the Deaf’un” had returned from Yankeeland, and――despite his two successive defeats by Bendigo (Feb. 12, 1839) and by Nick Ward (Sept. 22, 1840)――owing to Bendigo’s accident, and Caunt’s announced absence in America, boldly claimed the Championship. Johnny Broome hereupon sought out the Slasher, and calling to his aid some patrons of the Rising Sun, he proposed a “trial by battle,” to settle the difference of opinion. Burke’s backers came to the scratch with their rhino, for a battle to come off in August, 1842, but at the fourth deposit Broome thought fit to absent himself upon the night of “posting the possibles” at Owen Swift’s, and the Slasher’s money down was confiscated to the extent of £15.

The Tipton, as we know, was a mere tool in this affair, as in other instances, of the over-cunning Johnny Broome, who, like most self-sufficient sharps, often “cut before the edge.” Johnny had other views of the “dark horse” which he flattered himself he had in his own stable, and, as he didn’t find the money, the poor Tipton suffered in reputation (as Johnny intended he should do) by this forfeit. The Editor of _Bell’s Life_, too honourable himself to suspect this double-dealing, observes: “Though Broome was certainly late, this insistance on forfeit seems very sharp practice; the more so as the same gentleman who backs Perry actually assisted Burke with his first deposit. The forfeit, however, has yet to be taken by Burke’s backers, as he has nothing to do with it beyond their approval, and we may yet find that the last and remaining deposits will be posted, and ‘the ball go on.’ We have since received a letter from the gentleman who put £4 of the first deposit down on behalf of Burke, when the match was made, stating that he will not consent to the forfeit being received, and expressing his desire that the match may proceed, as his only wish is to encourage the manly sports of the Ring.”

But Johnny was determined to be off with the match, as he had not found Brassey, of Bradford, so “tenderly led by the nose as asses are,” and he had now in view a grand _coup de poing_, to play off against the unquestionable “blaze of triumph” achieved by Ben Caunt in the circus and theatre line, by the introduction of what might be called the “illegitimate” drama in place of, and to the eclipse of, the exhibition of “legitimate” British boxing. In this fairly-planned vindication of the art from mere bulky pretenders, Johnny was certainly to be praised; but as his choice of a champion was “Hobson’s,” and limited to such an inferior tactician as the game, rough-and-ready Tipton Slasher――to oppose immense weight, superior length and activity, backed by a creditable reserve of courage and self-possession, and moderate skill in sparring――the enterprise was certainly ill-judged. Of its progress and issue we shall now have to treat.

In the year 1842, a sensation was created by the return of Ben Caunt to England, bringing with him a seven-foot specimen of humanity, of the name of Charles Freeman. There can be little doubt, from subsequent events, that Ben brought over his gigantic _protégé_ purely as a showman’s speculation; and that Freeman, with his immense length, strength, and bulk, had as little pretensions or inclination to boxing as any non-combative member of the Peace Society could desire. Ben, however, seeing how “big things” carried it in Yankeeland――the country of “big things,” of which he, himself, was certainly one――imported the “American Atlas” as his sparring opponent; and if he might infer future success from their first few nights at the Queen’s Theatre, in Liverpool, when not a seat was to be had in a few minutes from the opening of the doors, the Lancashire people, at any rate, were willing to patronise the show.

Freeman, during several months, not only exhibited at the Queen’s Theatre, Lyceum, Olympic, Adelphi, Victoria, and other theatres, halls and assembly rooms, where a great feature of the entertainments was a caricature of boxing by the giant and Big Ben, but the non-sporting papers were flooded with ridiculous paragraphs, several of them offensively setting forth the wonderful powers and prowess of the American gladiator, and in some instances asserting the “scare” produced among the English prize-fighters by the advent of the New World Goliath. We need hardly say that Freeman himself was entirely innocent of this silly braggadocio, which emanated from the Barnum managers of these performances, and the speculators who at this time degraded the character of the decadent Ring, and prostituted its true aim――the encouragement of courage and skill――to their own profit and plunder. Johnny Broome, then in the full tide of his prosperity, called a meeting at his house, the “Rising Sun,” Air Street, Piccadilly, where, after the reading of some of these “puff paragraphs” about “Championships of England and the World” (Ben Caunt modestly claiming the first, and liberally presenting his prodigious pal with the other), it was proposed to bring these pretensions to a practical test by a challenge for £100 a side from “a novice,” to be hereafter named by Broome. On the following week, at the adjourned meeting, Tom Spring presented himself, on the part of Caunt, and stated the latter to be ready to make a deposit for Freeman. Spring further said that Freeman had not come to this country with any intention to fight; his pursuits were quite different; he, therefore, had challenged no man (this was so; but many of his placards contained a challenge to any and every man); nevertheless, he had determined not to refuse this challenge, and, therefore, his money was ready. Harry Broome, on the part of his brother Johnny, who was from home, covered the deposit, and the Thursday evening following was named for drawing up articles, at the “Castle,” for a further deposit, and for naming “the novice.” Freeman and Caunt were both present, and the crowd immense. The giant and his mentor, Ben Caunt, arrived late, owing to an accident on the rail near Weedon. Broome proposed to defer naming “the novice;” but this being insisted on, or a forfeit claimed, “William Perry, of Tipton,” was nominated as the “great unknown,” and the following articles “signed, sealed, and delivered”:――

“Articles of agreement entered into this 29th of September,
1842, at the Castle Tavern, Holborn, between Charles Freeman
and William Perry of Tipton. The said Charles Freeman agrees
to fight the said William Perry, a fair stand-up fight, in a
four-and-twenty foot roped ring, half minute time, according
to the New Rules, for £100 a side, on Tuesday, the 6th of
December, half-way between Tipton and London. In pursuance
of this agreement, £20 a side are now deposited in the hands
of the stakeholder; a second deposit of £10 a side to be
made on Thursday, the 6th of October, at Johnny Broome’s; a
third deposit of £10 a side on Thursday, the 13th of
October, at Johnny Walker’s; a fourth deposit of £10 a side
on Thursday, the 20th of October, at Jem Burn’s; a fifth
deposit of £10 a side on Thursday, the 27th of October, at
Tom Spring’s; a sixth deposit of £10 a side on Thursday, the
3rd of November, at Johnny Broome’s; a seventh deposit of
£10 a side on Thursday, the 10th of November, at Tom
Spring’s; an eighth deposit of £10 a side on the 17th of
November, also at Tom Spring’s; and the ninth and last
deposit of £10 a side on Thursday, the 1st of December, at
Johnny Broome’s. The said deposits to be made between the
hours of 8 and 10 o’clock, p.m., or the party failing to
forfeit the money down; a toss for choice of ground to take
place on the night of the last deposit. The men to be in the
ring between the hours of twelve and one o’clock, or the man
absent to forfeit the whole of the stakes. Two umpires and a
referee to be chosen on the ground, the decision of the
latter in the event of dispute to be conclusive. In case of
magisterial interference the referee, if chosen, to name the
next time and place of meeting, or if the referee be not
chosen then the stakeholder to name the next time and place
if possible on the same day; but the money not to be given
up until fairly won or lost by a fight; the winner to pay
for the ropes and stakes. Should any money be given for the
privilege of the fight taking place in any particular
locality, such money, if agreed to be accepted, to be
equally divided between the men.

“(Signed) “CHARLES FREEMAN.
“JOHN BROOME (for W. PERRY).”

Offers were made to take two to one on the Yankee, but nothing more than six to four could be obtained. The match excited extraordinary interest, and set all the Americans in town on the _qui vive_. They viewed the success of Freeman as a result already almost attained.

After a round of “appearances,” “benefits,” “soirées,” “entertainments,” &c., to which the well-advertised fact of being “matched” lent additional attractions, both men went into training, Freeman at Frank Key’s, the “Duke of York,” Gannick Corner, near Barnet, and the Slasher in the first place at our friend Jemmy Parsons’s, at Hampton, and subsequently at Ould Tom Owen’s, at Northfleet, Kent. A contemporary paper thus announces the coming event on the previous Saturday:――

“Freeman has been assiduously attended by his friend Ben
Caunt, and has been ranging up hill and down dale like the
celebrated giant Gog, in his ‘seven-league boots,’ with
staff in hand and followed by ‘a tail,’ which, from the
length of his fork, generally keeps a respectful distance in
his rear. Although his nob has been roofed with a shallow
tile, to diminish the appearance of his steeple-like
proportions, he still has the appearance of a walking
monument, to the no small alarm of the squirrels in Squire
Byng’s park, into whose dormitories he occasionally casts a
squint of recognition. By his good humour and playfulness of
disposition he has won all hearts, and has been a welcome
guest on whatever premises he has cast anchor in his walks,
which have seldom been less than twenty or thirty miles a
day. He has been extremely attentive to his training, and
has been much reduced in flesh, while his muscular
developments stand forth with additional symmetry. On his
arrival in this country he carried some twenty-three stone
‘good meat,’ but we doubt whether on Tuesday he will much
exceed eighteen stone. His drawers and fighting shoes have
been built with a due regard to ease and elegance, and the
latter have been seasonably aired by being lent to a cat and
kittens as temporary nurseries. He already sports his blue
bird’s-eye fogle, and, without vaunt or unseemly bounce,
seems to think his chances of success are planted on a good
foundation.

“The Slasher has been under the care of Johnny Broome, whose
brother is constantly with him, and was removed on Tuesday,
for some reason not explained, from Hampton to Northfleet.
We have not seen him, but he is described as in fine
condition, and in high spirits. He will weigh, we hear,
between thirteen and fourteen stone, stands six feet high,
and is a well-proportioned, muscular fellow (always
deducting the ‘baker-knee,’ which destroys the perpendicular
of his pedestal). His flag of cream colour ground, with the
union-jack in the centre, bearing the words ‘Old England,’
and the rose, the thistle, and the shamrock in the corner,
the whole inclosed in a blue border, has been unfurled at
Johnny Broome’s, and has found numerous supporters on the
usual terms, ‘a sovereign or nothing.’ The betting within
the last week has varied; in some places the Slasher has
been taken for choice, in others Freeman has been the
favourite at 5 to 4, at which price a good deal of business
has been done. The final deposit was made at Johnny
Broome’s, in Air Street, Piccadilly, on Thursday evening, in
the presence of a goodly muster. Neither of the men was
present. Betting was slack, 5 to 4 only being offered on
Freeman; but after some breathing a ‘supposed green,’
offered 30 to 10 on the Giant, at which Johnny Broome
snapped, as well as 20 to 10 immediately after from the same
innocent, who said he had £50 to lay out and was satisfied
with a small profit. This, however, did not advance Freeman
much in the betting, for, after a good deal of ‘screwing,’
higher odds than 6 to 4, and this reluctantly, could not be
obtained. In consequence of a private agreement between the
backers of both men, the appointed toss for choice of ground
did not take place.”

There had long been a complaint in the Fancy circles of the dearth of “great men;” if “great” be synonymous with “big,” then this was a “great fight.” How far it deserved that epithet the reader will shortly be able to decide. The Slasher had never been credited with scientific qualifications, and “the American Giant” was remarkable solely for his prodigious bulk and weight-lifting pretensions, never having fought a prize battle before. The match, we are inclined to think, arose rather from a desire to put the pretensions of “the Yankee _critter_” to the test than from any belief that a man could be found capable of successfully competing with such “a mountain of humanity;” the more especially as Ben Caunt, the Champion of England, had signified that he and Freeman were sworn friends, and were, therefore, unlikely to come in hostile collision. Johnny Broome was consulted as to whether he could find a man willing to try his hand with the Giant, and he at once answered in the affirmative, experience having afforded him opportunities of estimating the game and muscular qualities of the Slasher, who was perfectly willing to make the experiment. It was under these circumstances the challenge was given and accepted. This was the position in which matters stood when the match was made, and in due course the men went into training, each taking every pains to improve his stamina and physical qualities. We may here remark that, in the opinion of competent judges, the mere fact of Freeman being so much taller and heavier than his opponent was not regarded as an argument in favour of his real superiority. In truth, we have seen, and over and over again been led to believe, that a man standing six feet high, and weighing between twelve and thirteen stone, with muscular power and activity in proportion, is the _beau ideal_ of manly perfection; and that anything beyond this is mere surplusage, seldom, if ever, of any real advantage, as has been remarked of most of the giants who have been exhibited as objects of curiosity. We must admit, however, that for his size, we never saw a man so symmetrical in all respects as Freeman; there was nothing unwieldy or awkward in his appearance. In point of muscular development and strength, too, we are persuaded there was not his equal, and in point of activity and lightness, and springiness of action, he was not less to be admired; in fact, his early career was in the equestrian school, where, among other feats, he rode two horses at once, at the same time balancing a man with his arms above his head as he galloped round the circus, added to which he was renowned for the number of somersaults he could throw in succession. In lifting weights, too, on more occasions than one, he has raised fifteen cwt. from the ground. With all these appliances, however, there yet might be a want of animal courage and natural powers of enduring punishment and fatigue; and in the absence of any criterion upon which an opinion on these latter points could be formed, considerable doubts were entertained of the probable issue of his battle with the Slasher, who was known to possess fearless intrepidity, great bodily strength, some science, and sufficient height and weight to entitle himself to be ranked among the most dangerous of our modern millers. Hence the betting, which seldom exceeded 5 to 4 in favour of Freeman, did not prove him to have inspired any extraordinary confidence in the minds of his friends, of whom, from his really unassuming conduct, civil deportment, and good temper, he had many.

We may here state that the wisdom of not ascribing too much merit to superior bulk derived confirmation from scientific calculations made by Mr. Hutchinson, a surgeon of eminence, who made some curious experiments by means of hydraulic and other instruments to ascertain the constitutional powers of human beings, founded on comparisons of the strength of their lungs, by respiration and inspiration, the state of their pulse, capacity of chest, height, weight, &c. Mr. Hutchinson submitted both Freeman and Perry to his tests, and the result of his observation was, that although Freeman’s admeasurement was extraordinary in every respect, yet, comparatively, when the dimensions of both men were taken into account, the balance of bodily power, strength, and endurance was in favour of Perry, who Mr. Hutchinson considered more calculated to sustain fatigue and punishment than his gigantic antagonist. Mr. Hutchinson, of course, admitted that the inference which he thus drew may be defeated by accidental or other causes; but looking to the mere animal qualities of the men, such was his conclusion. That his hypothesis was fairly tried cannot be asserted, for, as will be seen, both men left off, so far as we were capable of judging from the darkness which prevailed, pretty much on a par, whether as respects punishment or fatigue.

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 was no remedy, and on they went till the desired goal was reached. On the road there were some few mishaps, but still all were cheered on by hope. The Commissary lost no time in examining the intended field of battle, which he found swampy, and far from desirable; but there was no help for it, and he was about to form a ring when a fresh alarm was given. The Sawbridgeworth police superintendent and Mr. Phillips, the magistrate, once more presented their ill-omened countenances, and plainly declared their determination to prevent the fight taking place either in Essex or Hertfordshire This was a poser. A council of war was held――suggestions of all sorts were offered, and a great deal of time was lost. Cambridgeshire, the adjoining county, was deemed too distant to be reached in time, and more especially by the pedestrians; and at last it was determined to “try back,” and return towards London; Broxbourne, on the borders of Middlesex and Essex, being agreed on as the point of re-assemblage.

This point settled, a general move took place towards the nearest stations――the toddlers to Sawbridgeworth, and the charioteers to Bishop Stortford, there to repack their nags and drags, while the beak and his co-partner, considering that a move had been made to get out of their bailiwick, also moved off. On reaching Bishop Stortford a fresh resolution was formed. “While the cat’s away the mice will play;” so, as the conservators of propriety were no longer present, it was urged that the ring might be formed in the place originally intended, half a mile from the Sawbridgeworth station, not far from the same field in which Turner beat Scroggins, in June, 1817, and scarcely more distant from the scene of Oliver’s conquest over Shelton, in 1820. No sooner said than done; and, in the absence of those who had promised to avoid the county of Hertford, at half-past two o’clock all agreed to drop down to the place from whence they came, with the exception of the Commissary, Freeman, and his friends, who took the main road in a carriage kindly yielded to them by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Bond Street, who also hospitably furnished their larders with a very welcome supply of roast fowls and other “combustibles,” of which their “inward men” stood beseechingly in need. In the interim the Slasher threw himself on a bed at Bishop Stortford, and all who had wisdom took some hasty refreshment. On again reaching Sawbridgeworth we were informed that the lists were formed, and a competent guide being found, all set out along the towing-path of the canal to a very eligible site, about half a mile off, on an elevated piece of ground admirably calculated for the purpose. The evening was now fast approaching, for it was nearly four o’clock, and it was hoped there would be still daylight sufficient to decide which was the better man. The privilege tickets were distributed, and in a short time everything was arranged for the commencement of hostilities.

All being in readiness, Freeman entered the ring in high spirits, attended by Caunt and King Dick, and was received with loud cheers. Rumours were now afloat that the Slasher did not mean to come, and sovereigns even were offered to be laid that there would be no fight. In the interim horsemen were sent off to Sawbridgeworth station to urge the approach of the missing man, who it was known had been left there in charge of Broome. Matters thus remained in doubt for some time, and great impatience began to be manifested, when it was announced, to the great joy of the spectators, that the Slasher was coming――and come at last he did, amidst the encouraging shouts of his friends. He lost no time in entering the ring, and was immediately met with a friendly shake of the mauley by Freeman. The Slasher was attended by Ben Terry and a provincial friend named Tom Parker. No time was now lost in “trimming” the men for battle, and their superfluous “feathers” were quickly removed. Both appeared in high spirits and eager for business. Umpires and a referee having been chosen, the ring was cleared out, and the “privileged” dropped contentedly on the damp earth, with such preservatives to their sitting places as circumstances would permit; but it must be acknowledged that these were far from satisfactory, owing to the difficulties to which the Commissary had been exposed in the various transfers of his _materiel_.

On being stripped and placed in juxtaposition, the towering height of Freeman presented a most formidable aspect, while the muscular development of every limb, and the broad expanse of his chest and shoulders, gave him the appearance of herculean strength. His weight, without his clothes, we understood was but little above seventeen stone, for it was remarked that during the last week of his training he rather diminished than increased in bulk. Still, he was in high spirits, and moved about with elastic and graceful step. In the following July he would be 23 years of age. The Slasher also wore a cheerful smile on his mug, which betrayed the fact that he had already lost some of his head rails. From his hips up his bust displayed great muscular power, but being in-kneed, there was less of symmetry in his figure than in Freeman’s. On throwing himself into position, however, this was scarcely perceptible, and he may be described as a model of burly strength. He appeared to be, and said he was, in excellent condition, and, judging from his cheerful index, there was no want of self-confidence. His height six feet, his age twenty-three, and his weight 13st. 4lb.; but notwithstanding the fearful odds against him, he evidently regarded the coming struggle with gallant indifference. Of betting there was but little――5 to 3 was offered but not taken, and the only bet we heard laid was one of 6 to 4 on Freeman.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――Precisely at seven minutes after four o’clock the men
were conducted to the scratch, their fogles having been first
tied to the corner stake, and having shaken hand with great good
humour, the seconds retired to their corners. The towering height
and gigantic proportions of Freeman led all to suppose that he
would endeavour to fight down his opponent; but, as will be seen,
this anticipation was not fulfilled. The Slasher stood on the
defensive and Freeman broke ground, hitting out with his left;
from this the Slasher retreated, when Freeman followed him
quickly, popped in his left and right slightly, and the Slasher
was down. Freeman laughing, and no mischief done.

2.――The Slasher again to the scratch, when Freeman led off left
and right; the latter blow got well home, and dropped the
Slasher. _First knock-down_ blow for Freeman; but no damage done,
as the Slasher received it when retreating.

3.――The Slasher made play, and tried his left on Freeman’s body,
but was stopped. Freeman rushed to him, the Slasher retiring and
hitting short and wild. Freeman popped in his left and right,
caught the Slasher in his arms, and threw him with ease.

4.――The Slasher, on the defensive system, dodged a little,
delivered his left on the ribs, in getting away he fell, and thus
escaped Freeman’s return.

5.――Freeman hit out left and right, but the Slasher ducked his
head and fell on his knees.

6.――The Slasher on the dodging system, stepped back; Freeman
after him to the corner, where there was a wild rally, in which
hits right and left were exchanged. The Slasher got within
Freeman’s long arms, gave him a tidy smack with his right on the
left eye, and got down. (_First blood_ from Freeman’s brow, and
the Tipton lads uproarious.)

7.――The Slasher, the first to fight, hit out left and right, but
was stopped. Freeman slashed away left and right but without
precision, and after some trifling deliveries the Slasher got
down.

8.――The Slasher popped in his left on Freeman’s ribs, and got
away; Freeman after him, when the Slasher closed. Freeman lifted
him clean off the ground, but was unable to get his arm loose to
fib, and after a short struggle the Slasher slipped from his
grasp and got down.

9.――The Slasher again led off with his left at the body, and in
getting away fell from accident or design. [Cries of “foul” and
“foul” was claimed on the part of Freeman; but the referee did
not feel himself justified in stopping the fight, and “time” was
called.]

10.――The Slasher again tried the artful dodge, rushed in to hit
with the left at the body; but Freeman seized him in his powerful
feelers, held him up for a short time, and finding he could do
nothing at in-fighting fell on him, but not so as to do him any
mischief.

11.――The Slasher as lively as a grig popped in his left on
Freeman’s arm and got away; Freeman followed, gave him one, two,
left and right The Slasher broke from him, and delivered his
right on his shoulder; then getting away, fell to avoid.

12.――The Slasher once more led off with his left, but was short.
Freeman after him delivered left and right; the Slasher down.

13.――Freeman popped in his left, The Slasher retreated and fell.

14.――Freeman again planted his left slightly. The Slasher adhered
to his retiring system. Freeman followed him to the ropes, and
after a scrambling exchange of hits the Slasher got down. Freeman
pointing at him derisively with his finger and laughing.

15.――Freeman hit left and right, and the Slasher rushed in and
caught him round the body, to try for the fall; Freeman held him
up completely off the ground by the neck, then chopped first with
the left and then with the right; the Slasher hit up left and
right, and caught Freeman on the mouth with his right; and after
a short struggle was thrown, Freeman on him.

16.――The Slasher again tried his left at the body, but was short,
the blow falling slightly on Freeman’s arm. Exchange of blows.
Freeman with the left on the nob, and Slasher on the shoulder
with the right, which sounded, but was of no effect. Slasher, in
retreating, fell.

17.――Slasher came up on the defensive, but Freeman hit him down
with his left.

18.――Slasher again popped his left at the body, but was hit down
with a counter-hit from Freeman’s left. Freeman fell on him, and
foul was claimed by Slasher’s party, but not acknowledged, as it
was obvious the fall was accidental.

19.――Slasher hit Freeman on the shoulder with his right, and in
return caught it left and right as he retreated. Slasher returned
to the charge with his right, and fell.

20.――A wild exchange of blows, but not effective, and the Slasher
slipped down in retreating.

21.――[Twenty-three minutes had now elapsed, no real damage done
on either side, and both as fresh as when they commenced.] The
Slasher popped in his left on the body, and stepped back; Freeman
after him, hit left and right, and the Slasher fell.

22.――Freeman delivered left and right; the Slasher was short in
his return, and again received two pops left and right, and fell.

23.――Freeman delivered left and right, and Slasher down.

24.――Freeman led off with his left. The Slasher popped in his
left on the mark and tried to drop, but Freeman caught him round
the neck and held him up some time, and then let him fall,
tumbling over him. (Another claim of foul not allowed.)

25.――Freeman popped in his right on Slasher’s left eye; the
Slasher countered on his shoulder, when Freeman caught him with
his left, and the Slasher was down.

26.――Freeman again planted his left; and, on Slasher rushing in,
caught him in his arms, held him for a second or two, and fell on
him.

27.――Freeman popped in his left, and dropped his man with his
right.

28.――The Slasher hit short with his left, and renewed the dodging
system, playing round his man. Freeman tried to nail him, but he
got away, hit out with his left at the body, and fell without a
return. [Another claim of foul for Freeman, not admitted.]

29.――Slasher hit at the body with his left and broke away,
Freeman after him, all for mischief, caught him on the hop, and
hit him down with his right.

30.――The Slasher delivered his right on Freeman’s shoulder, broke
away, and tried it with the left on the body, but was stopped.
Freeman let go left and right, but the Slasher ducked his nob,
escaped, and fell.

31.――The Slasher again in with his left on the ribs and away;
Freeman after him, caught him on the pimple, and he fell.

32.――The Slasher hit short left and right, and was hit down with
Freeman’s left.

33.――The Slasher pursued his left-handed game at the body, but,
in getting away, was hit down with a touch from Freeman’s left.

34.――The Slasher missed left and right, caught it left and right,
and was down.

35.――[It now became so dark that it was difficult to see what was
doing in the ring, and the spectators came closer to the ropes.
The partisans of the Slasher were extremely uproarious, and one
of them especially was constantly interfering with the umpires,
called “time” when it was not time, and was guilty of other most
offensive and unfair conduct.] The Slasher, as usual, led off
with his left at the body, but without effect, and in return was
hit down.

36.――The Slasher hit short with his left, and was hit down by a
counter from Freeman’s left as he was getting away.

37.――Slasher planted his favourite body blow with the left, but
without producing any visible effect; Freeman did not seem to
feel it, and he was again down.

38.――Trifling exchanges with the left, and the Slasher down.

39.――The Slasher rushed in to make another effort for the throw,
but Freeman again seized him in his powerful grasp, fibbed, and
fell with him, but not on him.

40, 41, 42, 43, 44.――Slasher down in every round, but apparently
no mischief done, and as far as the glimpse of light left would
permit, we could discover no distinct mark of punishment on
either man.

45.――The Slasher delivered his left at the body and fell, as if
from the force of his own blow. Freeman fell over him, but
evidently with a desire to avoid falling on him. [Another appeal
was made to the referee on the ground of the Slasher falling
without a blow, but the referee declared it was impossible to
form a correct opinion, and expressed a strong wish that the
fight should either be drawn or adjourned, but to this neither
party would accede.]

46, 47, and 48.――The Slasher down in each round, and Freeman
manfully avoiding falling on him.

49.――The Slasher in with his left on the body, but as he
attempted to retreat Freeman caught him in his arms, held him for
some time, occasionally chopping, and at last fell forward on
him, but too much over to produce any consequence.

50.――The Slasher showed some fatigue, but came up full of
confidence. He delivered his left at the body, but did not get
well home; Freeman caught him left and right, and he went down to
avoid further mementoes.

To describe the remaining rounds would be an idle attempt, in
fact it became so dark that the men were only visible from the
light colour of their skins and drawers. The Slasher pursued his
dodging, getting away, and falling system, occasionally making
his left and right hits at the body and shoulder, and sometimes
appearing to recoil from the effects of his own blows, but
without producing any turn in his favour. Freeman hitting left
and right, and now and then seizing his man, lifting him up, and
flinging him down, but almost invariably avoiding falling on him;
in one instance actually making an arch over his carcase, his
head and legs on the ground, amidst the acclamations of the
throng. In the last few rounds there was an evident attempt to
draw Freeman into the Slasher’s corner, round which a desperate
set of ruffians had collected, who, by the most offensive
vociferations, endeavoured to intimidate and alarm him. He,
however, kept his temper, and came up every round cool and
collected, grumbling only at the Slasher not standing up to
fight. In the 69th round the Slasher exclaimed, “I’ve got you
now, old fellow!” but the words were scarcely out of his mouth
when Freeman hit him down with his left. The darkness, combined
with a fog, now became so intense that it was impossible to see
what was doing from one side of the ring to the other. The
referee declared his utter inability to form any judgment of the
character of the fight, and, unable to get both umpires to agree
on the expediency of putting an end to the battle, he jumped into
the ring, and, getting between the men, declared he would not
permit them to prolong the contest. At this moment both men were
fresh and vigorous, and each seemed disinclined to leave his
chance of victory in doubt, Slasher especially, who said he
considered he was robbed of the fight, while Freeman laughed, and
said, if they were permitted to proceed, the result would perhaps
prove he was mistaken. The referee was, however, peremptory, and
both men were taken from the ring after having fought _seventy
rounds_ in _one hour and twenty-four minutes_. They walked away
as fresh as when they began, with a mutual desire that they might
renew the combat the next day at twelve o’clock, at such place as
the referee might appoint, to which the latter assented, as there
did not appear to be anything in their appearance to justify a
further delay in the gratification of their desires.

REMARKS.――It is much to be regretted that this curious encounter
was not brought to a more satisfactory conclusion, inasmuch as
the merits of the men still remain undecided; and so evenly had
their pretensions been balanced in the minds of their respective
friends that each party declares, had time and circumstances
permitted, their favourite must have been crowned with victory.
How far these conclusions may be well or ill founded we will not
pretend to say; but certainly we feel justified in giving to both
men an equal proportion of praise, so far at least as their game
qualities are concerned. It is true, we may be disposed to take
exception to the “getting down” system which was adopted by the
Slasher, but then it must be borne in mind he fought at fearful
odds both as regards weight and length, and could never hope
successfully to compete with such an antagonist unless by a
degree of caution and cunning, which with a man of his own inches
would have been unjustifiable and amounted to cowardice. There is
no doubt that occasionally his dropping after delivering his
blows had too much the appearance of being at variance with our
notion of “a fair stand-up fight;” but then the ground was
slippery, and he asserts that when he did fall it was from the
recoil of his own blows or from his being unable to keep his feet
in endeavouring to avoid the tremendous return which he had
sufficient reason to expect. That this was provoking to Freeman
we can well imagine; but, under all the circumstances, we do not
think it detracts from the game qualities of the Slasher, who
certainly came up from first to last undismayed, and with a manly
determination to win if he could. Of his scientific
qualifications we cannot say much. If he possessed any they were
reserved for a future occasion. He never attempted to stop the
blows which were showered on his canister, and throughout
confined himself to attempts to disable Freeman by body blows
from his left or round hits with his right. The former
occasionally reached their destination with sounding effect, but
we are inclined to believe they fell more frequently on Freeman’s
arm, which was dropped to catch them, than upon his more
vulnerable corpus. That some of them might have got home we are
inclined to believe, but it was clear they did not produce any
serious consequence, for on examining the Giant’s body
subsequently we were surprised to find so few symptoms of
forcible collision on his ribs, while we discovered sundry
bruises on his fore and upper arm, which showed these had been
exposed to heavy visitations, and no doubt stopped numerous kind
intentions which, had they reached their destination, would have
been far from agreeable. With the right the Slasher was
unsuccessful, as it generally fell on Freeman’s left shoulder,
and with the exception of the cut on the left eye, which gained
first blood in the sixth round, this weapon did not produce much
damage, for the only other punishment visible was a slight
scratch and swelling on the under lip, which was produced by the
upper cut in the fifteenth round. In his attempts to throw, the
Slasher had not the most remote chance of success, for when the
attempt was made Freeman lifted him completely off the ground and
threw him as he pleased, occasionally going down with him, from
overbalancing himself. Throughout the fight it struck us that the
Slasher showed no symptoms of distress, except after the struggle
in which he was suspended between heaven and earth for some time
in Freeman’s grasp, and was then thrown, Freeman falling on him.
With respect to Freeman, although a novice in the milling arena,
it must be admitted that throughout he showed great coolness and
presence of mind. He never lost his temper, and was only
indignant that the Slasher would not stand up to receive his
sledge-hammer compliments. It struck us, however, that with
immense power he wanted judgment in its application. His left and
right hits were straight and well directed, but he failed in
countering with his left, for had he let fly at the same moment
that the Slasher tried his left at the body, the consequences
would no doubt have been serious. He too frequently suffered the
Slasher to lead off and get away, so that in following, his blows
did not tell with half the effect. Of this there was sufficient
evidence in the little impression he made, there being no
material damage discernible on the Slasher’s countenance beyond a
slight cut on his left brow, and a few contusions which
afterwards produced discolouration――a black eye included. We
learn also that he received sundry raps on the head and neck, out
of sight, which required the aid of leeches to allay
inflammation. His left hand, too, was a good deal puffed.
Freeman’s left thumb was also injured, and from the force of one
blow was actually put out of joint; but the dislocation was
reduced, and little harm arose from this. There is no doubt that
many felt astonished, after witnessing so many apparently heavy
deliveries followed by instant prostration, that more decisive
consequences were not produced. It must be borne in mind,
however, that Freeman hit against a yielding object, which of
course offered little resistance, and fell from the slightest
concussion. Had the Slasher hit with him, or stood firmly on his
legs, the effect would have been different; and many of his hits
were rather shoves or pokes, instead of coming well from the
shoulder. The tumbling system of the Slasher cannot be pursued
with impunity, and if it be clearly shown that he falls without a
blow, there will be less hesitation in condemning him to defeat,
as he must now perfectly understand the distinction between
accident and design.