Chapter I (2)

4.――The Deaf ’un now came up all the worse from the
effects of the last rattling round, while Bendigo
scarcely showed a scratch. The seconds of the Deaf ’un
called on him “to go in and fight;” he obeyed the call,
but again had Bendigo’s right on his damaged peeper.
Bendigo fought on the retreat, hitting as he stepped
back, but steadying himself he caught the Deaf ’un on
the nose with his right, and sent his pimple flying
backwards with the force of the blow. The Deaf ’un
rushed in, hitting left and right, and in getting back
Bendigo fell over the ropes out of the ring. (The fight
had now lasted sixteen minutes; the Deaf ’un had all
the worst of it, although Bendigo from his exertions
exhibited trifling symptoms of distress.)

5.――The Deaf ’un came up boldly, but all his cleverness
seemed to have left him. Bendigo, steady, was first to
fight, popping in his right; exchanges followed, and in
the close both went down, Burke uppermost.

6.――“Drops of brandy” were tried with the Deaf ’un, but
his friends seemed to have “dropped down on their
luck.” Still he came up courageously, although his
right as well as his left eye was pinked.
Counter-hitting, in which Bendigo’s right was on the
old spot. A close at the ropes, the Deaf ’un trying for
the fall, but after some pulling both went down and no
harm done. (Three to one on Bendigo, but no takers.)

7.――The Deaf ’un’s left eye was now as dark as Erebus,
and as a last resource he tried the rush; he rattled in
to his man without waiting for the attack, but in the
close, after an exchange of hits and a severe struggle,
was thrown. The moment the Deaf ’un was picked up he
cried “Foul!” and asserted that Bendigo had butted him,
looking anxiously at the umpire and referee for a
decision in his favour; but there was no pretence for
the charge, as it was obvious Bendigo merely jerked
back his head to relieve himself from his grasp. Like
“a drowning man,” however, it was obvious he was
anxious to “catch at a straw.”

8.――The Deaf ’un showed woeful punishment in the
physog, although not cut. Again did he make a
despairing rush, stopping Bendigo’s right, but in the
second attempt he was not so fortunate, for Bendigo
muzzled, closed, and threw him.

9.――The Deaf ’un’s game was now clearly all but up, for
while he showed such prominent proofs of the severity
of his antagonist’s visitations to his nob, the latter
was but little the worse for wear. The Deaf ’un,
however, was determined to cut up well, and again
rattled in left and right, Bendigo retreating and
jobbing as he followed, and at length hitting him down
with a right-handed blow on the pimple. The Deaf ’un,
with one hand and one knee on the ground, looked up,
but Bendigo stood steadily looking at him, and would
not repeat the blow, showing perfect coolness and
self-possession.

10, and last.――The Deaf ’un, greatly distressed, still
came up with a determination to produce a change if he
could by in-fighting. He rushed into his man, hitting
left and right, but receiving heavy jobs in return. He
forced Bendigo with his back against the ropes, and, as
he had him in that position, deliberately butted him
twice, when both went down in the struggle for the
fall. Jem Ward immediately cried “Foul!” and appealed
to the referee, who refused to give any decision till
properly appealed to by the umpires. He stepped into
the ring, where he was followed by the umpires, when he
was again appealed to, and at once declared that Burke
had butted, and that therefore Bendigo was entitled to
the victory――a judgment in which, it is due to say, the
umpire of the Deaf ’un, although anxious to protect his
interests, declared in the most honourable manner he
must concur. Several of Bendigo’s friends wished no
advantage of this departure from the new rules to be
taken, foreseeing that a few more rounds must finish
the Deaf ’un; but the decision of the referee was
imperative, and thus ended a contest which disappointed
not only the backers of the Deaf ’un but the admirers
of the Ring generally, who anticipated on the Deaf
’un’s part a different issue, or at least a better
fight. With regard to the butting, of which we have
no doubt, our impression is that it was done
intentionally, and for the express purpose of
terminating the fight in that way rather than by
prolonging it to submit to additional punishment and
the mortification of a more decided defeat; and we are
the more inclined to this conclusion from the Deaf
’un’s readiness to claim a butt on the part of Bendigo
in the seventh round, a convincing proof that he was
fully sensible of its nature and consequence. An
attempt was subsequently made to wrangle with the
referee on the soundness of his decision, for the
purpose of sustaining the character of the Deaf ’un,
and exciting a spirit of discontent among his backers.
This was not creditable, and to be classed among these
petty expedients to which some of our modern
“Ringsters” are but too willing to have recourse――namely,
at all events “to win, tie, or wrangle,” a practice to
which every honest man must be opposed. The time
occupied in the contest was exactly four-and-twenty
minutes. In no one of Burke’s former battles was he
more severely punished in the face, not, it is true, in
any vital part, for all Bendigo’s hits, both left and
right, were as straight as a line, going straight from
the shoulder and slap to their destination. There were
no round hits on his part, and the body blows on both
sides were few and far between.

REMARKS.――Perhaps no battle on record offers a stronger
illustration of the consequences of vanity and
headstrong confidence than that which we have just
recorded. Burke, puffed up by his former successes, and
flattered by the good-natured freedom of young men of
fashion, placed himself beyond the pale of instruction
and advice. He was self-willed and obstinate, and
quarrelled with all who presumed to guide him in the
proper course. His repeated acts of imprudence while in
training called forth the strongest remonstrances, but
in vain; and thus he has found, when too late, that “a
man who will be his own adviser” on such occasions “has
a fool for his client.” Nothing but the most decided
want of condition can account for the slowness which he
exhibited; and, when his career from the time he went
to Brighton till the day of the battle is considered,
that state of constitution is sufficiently explained;
and yet those besotted friends who knew all this were
as prejudiced in his favour that they blindly pinned
their faith to his former reputation, believed no man
alive could beat him, and risked their money, as well
as stultified their judgment, on we issue of his
exertions. But then say these wiseacres, opening their
eyes with well-feigned astonishment, “We could not have
erred. It is impossible, seeing all that we have seen,
and knowing what we have known of the Deaf ’un that he
could have made so bad a fight, and be beaten so hollow
by a countryman!” Oh no! this could not be――and what
follows? Why, the old story――the honest Deaf ’un has
all at once turned rogue――he had been bought and fought
a cross!――he has sold his friends, and must be consigned
to degradation. Why, from the third round it was seen
by the merest tyro in the ring that he had not a
chance. He was completely paralysed by the unexpected
quickness of his adversary, who has, as Jem Ward
foretold, proved himself a better man than has for some
years appeared in the ring. This has been Ward’s
constant cry, and had his advice been taken all the
odds that were offered would have been taken. But no;
the Londoners were not to be beaten out of their
“propriety.” Twos to one, sevens to four, and sixes to
four have, as is well known, been offered over and over
again in sporting houses without takers, and many who
lamented the impossibility of “getting on” before the
fight, have now, after it, the consolation of feeling
that they have “got off” most miraculously. And yet
this was a cross; and the cunning concoctors of the
robbery had the generosity to refuse the hundreds which
were, as it were, forced under their noses. Verily this
is “going the whole hog” with a vengeance; but from the
little we know of such speculations we are inclined to
think that those who hazard such an opinion will be
deemed greater flats than they have proved themselves.
It is an accusation unjust towards a weak, but, we
believe, an honest man, and still more unjust towards
Bendigo, who, throughout, proved himself, in every
respect, a better fighter, as well as a harder hitter,
than Burke, and who, in no part of the battle, was
guilty of an act which would disentitle him to the
honour and profit of his victory. But some facts seem
to be altogether lost sight of in forming a just
estimate of poor Burke’s pretensions, for, independent
of his want of condition, it seems to be forgotten that
instead of fighting or sparring for the last two years
he has been confining himself to the personification of
“the Grecian statues,” forsooth――anything but calculated
to give energy to his limbs――added to which he is
ruptured. We are also informed on medical authority
that the patella or knee-pan of his right leg is as
weak from the fracture which he sustained in the
hospital some time back that he is obliged to support
it by double laced bandages, and he has been altogether
precluded from taking strong walking or running
exercise, never having walked more than ten miles in
any one day of his training. For our own part we
think his day is gone by, and, like many other great
performers, he has appeared once too often; but that he
intentionally deceived his friends we believe to be a
most ungenerous calumny, although his friends may have
deceived themselves. After the fight, Burke, who was
sufficiently well to walk from the ring, returned to
Appleby, and from there to “foot-ball kicking”
Atherstone, where the annual sports were merrily kept
up in his absence. The same night he returned to
Coventry, and arrived by the mail train in London the
next morning, none the worse in his bodily health from
the peppering he received, however mentally he was
“down on his luck.” He complained much of his arms,
which, from the wrists to the elbows, were covered with
bruises, the effects of stopping――and stopping blows,
too, which, had they reached their destination, would
have expedited his downfall. Bendigo returned to
Nottingham the same night, decorated with his well-earned
laurels; and it is to be hoped he will enjoy his
victory with becoming modesty and civility, bearing in
mind that he has yet to conquer Caunt before he can be
proclaimed Champion of England.

The Deaf ’un, who showed on the Friday at Jem Burn’s, with the exception of his “nob” was all right. He complains most of having been stripped of his belt, which was attached to his truss by a loop, and the absence of which filled him with apprehension. This, combined with his admitted want of condition, he declares placed him on the wrong side the winning post. He is, however, most anxious for another trial, and instructs us to say that he still has supporters who will match him once more against Bendigo for £100 a side, the fight to come off in the same ring with Hannan and Walker; Burke to be permitted to wear his belt, as in the case of Peter Crawley and Jack Langan. It is needless to say that Burke never again faced Bendigo in the ring, getting on a match at this time with Jem Bailey.

For several months the newspapers were rife with challenges from Caunt to Bendigo and Bendigo to Caunt; each “Champion” roving about the counties in which he was most popular upon the “benefit dodge,” each with a star company, and each awakening the city or town where his company performed with a thundering challenge, while each pugilistic planet revolved in his own peculiar orbit without giving the other a chance of a “collision.”

In this interval Jem Ward presented a “Champion’s” belt to Bendigo, at the Queen’s Theatre, Liverpool, amid great acclamations, and again the tiresome game of challenging and making appointments for “a meeting to draw up articles,” at places where the challenged party never attended or meant to show, went on. Brassey, of Bradford, too, having in the interim beaten Young Langan, of Liverpool, and Jem Bailey, put in his claim and joined the chorus of challengers. Burke also offered himself for £100, which Bendigo declined, according to his published challenge. In the latter half of 1839 we read as follows:――

“_To the Editor of_ ‘BELL’S LIFE IN LONDON.’

“SIR,――Caunt states that he has been given to understand I
wish to have another trial with him for £200 a side, and
that his money is ready at any sporting house in Sheffield.
Now, Sir, I have been to many houses that he frequents, and
cannot find any one to put any money down in his behalf; and
as he was in Sheffield for a fortnight previous to my going
away to second Renwick, I think, if he meant fighting, he
would have made the match when we were both in Sheffield.
Now, Sir, what I mean to say is this――I will fight Caunt, or
any other man in England, for from £200 to £500 a side, and
I hope I shall not be disappointed, as I mean fighting, and
nothing else; and to convince the patrons of the Prize Ring
that there is no empty chaff about me, as I am going to
leave Sheffield this week, my money will be ready any day or
hour at Mr. Edward Daniels’, ‘Three Crowns,’ Parliament
Street, Nottingham. Or if Burke wants another shy, I will
fight him for £150 a side.

“WILLIAM THOMPSON, alias BENDIGO.”

This certainly looked like business, yet the next week we find Caunt declaring “I will make a match with Bendigo for £200, and I will take a sovereign to go to Nottingham, or give Bendigo the same if he will meet me at Lazarus’s house at Sheffield.” This was in July, and shortly after Bendigo writes:――

“_To the Editor of_ ‘BELL’S LIFE IN LONDON.’

“MR. EDITOR,――Having sent a letter to Caunt accepting his
challenge on his own terms, and not receiving an answer, I
wish to put that bounceable gentleman’s intentions to a
public test. I am willing to fight him on his own terms, and
I will give him the sovereign he requires to pay his
expenses in coming to Nottingham to make the match, and let
it be as early as possible. As to Deaf Burke, he is but of
minor importance to me. I have no objection to give him
another chance to regain his lost laurels, and will fight
him for his ‘cool hundred,’ as he calls it, providing he or
his friends make the first deposit £50, for my friends are
not willing to stake less. Should the above not suit either
of these aspirants for fistic fame, I again repeat I will
fight any man in the world for £200 or £500, barring neither
weight, country, nor colour. I am always to be heard of at
the ‘Three Crowns,’ Parliament Street, Nottingham.

“WILLIAM THOMPSON, alias BENDIGO.
“August 3rd, 1839.”

Soon after we read:――

“CAUNT AND BENDIGO.――Bendigo went to Nottingham to make the
match with Caunt on Saturday week, but the latter could not
find more than two sovereigns to put down as a deposit.
Caunt, before he indulges in bounce, should reflect that he
only disgraces himself and gains nothing by his
‘clap-traps.’ These benefit humbugs must be suppressed.”

No wonder that the much-enduring editor should thus express himself. Nevertheless the “benefit humbug,” like other humbugs, exhibited irrepressible vitality; 1840 wore on, and Caunt, who seemed to prefer a tourney with Brassey or Nick Ward (who had challenged him), did not close with Bendigo. Had there been a real intention, the subjoined should have brought the men together:――

“_To the Editor of_ ‘BELL’S LIFE IN LONDON.’

“SIR,――I agree with you that there is more ‘talk than doing’
among the professors of ‘the art of Self-Defence’ of the
present day――more challenges than acceptances――evidently for
the purpose of giving to the members of the Ring, for
benefits and other interested purposes, fame and character
which they do not always possess――I allude particularly to
Caunt and Bendigo, ‘the Great Guns of the day.’ Each talks
of being backed, but each, in turn, avoids ‘the scratch.’
Now to the test: I am anxious, for the sake of society, that
‘old English Boxing’ should not decline, because I am sure
it is the best school for the inculcation of ‘fair play,’
and the suppression of the horrible modern use of the
knife――and of this I am prepared to give proof. Bendigo says
he will not fight Caunt for less than £200, which sum I
presume he can find, or he, too, is carrying on ‘the game of
humbug.’ Caunt says he is equally ready to fight Bendigo,
but cannot come to his terms. Now to make short work of
it――if Caunt can get backed for £100, I will find another
£100 for him, and thus come to Bendigo’s terms. Let him
communicate with Jem Burn, in whom I have confidence, and
the money shall be ready at a moment’s warning. I wish for a
fair, manly fight and no trickery; and my greatest pleasure
will be to see the ‘best man win.’ In and out of the Ring
prize-fighters ought to be friends――it is merely a struggle
for supremacy, and this can be decided without personal
animosity, foul play, or foul language, all of which most be
disgusting to those who look to sustain a great national
and, as I think, an honourable game.

“I am, &c.,
“A MEMBER OF THE NEW SPARRING CLUB AT JEM BURN’S.”

Brassey, however, was withdrawn from the controversy by an accident beyond his own control. The magistrates of Salford, determining to suppress pugilism so far as in them lay, indicted Brassey for riot in seconding Sam Pixton in a fight with Jones, of Manchester, and, obtaining a conviction, sentenced him to two months’ incarceration in the borough gaol. He was thus placed _hors de combat_.

Early in 1840 Bendigo was in London, with his head-quarters at Burn’s, where Nick Ward exhibited with him with the gloves in friendly emulation. The brother of the ex-champion, however, was averse to any closer engagement. Bendigo returned to the provinces, and the next week the public was informed that “Caunt’s money, to be made into a stake of £200, was lying at Tom Spring’s, but nothing has been heard from Bendigo!” The conjunction of circumstances is curious, for in the same week the subjoined paragraph appeared, which records an accident which certainly crippled Bendigo for the rest of his life. Indeed the author, who at this period saw him occasionally, did not consider him well enough to contend in the ring up to the time of his crowning struggle with the gigantic Caunt.

“ACCIDENT TO BENDIGO.――William Thompson, better known by his
cognomen of ‘Bendigo,’ has met with an accident which is
likely to cripple him for life. On Monday he had been to see
the military officers’ steeplechase, near Nottingham, and on
his return home he and his companions were cracking their
jokes about having a steeplechase among themselves. Having
duly arrived nearly opposite the Pindar’s House, on the
London Road, about a mile from Nottingham, Bendigo
exclaimed, ‘Now, my boys, I’ll show you how to run a
steeplechase in a new style, without falling,’ and
immediately threw a somersault; he felt, whilst throwing it,
that he had hurt his knee, and on alighting be attempted in
vain three times to rise from the ground; his companions,
thinking for the moment he was joking, laughed heartily, but
discovering it was no joke went to his assistance and raised
him up, but the poor fellow had no use of his left leg. A
gig was sent for immediately, in which he was conveyed to
the house of his brother, and Messrs. Wright and Thompson,
surgeons, were immediately called in. On examination of the
knee we understand they pronounced the injury to the cap to
be of so serious a nature that he is likely to be lame for
life.

This serious mishap, which befell him on the 23rd of March, 1840, was the result of those “larking” propensities for which Bendy was notorious. It shelved our hero most effectually, leaving the field open to Caunt, Nick Ward, Brassey, Deaf Burke, Tass Parker, and Co., whose several doings will be found in the proper place.

While Bendigo suffers as an _im_-patient under the hands of the Nottingham doctors for more than two years, we shall, before again raising the curtain, interpose a slight _entr’acte_ in the shape of a little song to an old tune, then in the height of its popularity, “The Fine Old English Gentleman;” of which we opine we have read worse parodies than this, which was often chaunted in the parlour of Tom Spring’s “Castle,” in Holborn, at various meetings of good men and true, the patrons of fair play and of the then flourishing “Pugilistic Association,” whereof Tom was the President, and “the Bishop of Bond-street” the Honorary and Honourable Treasurer.

THE FINE OLD ENGLISH PUGILIST

BY THE P.L. OF THE P.R.

I’ll sing a song of days of old now vanish’d like the mist,
And may the fire of “Frosty Face” a modern bard assist
To pay the honours justly due to each Old Pugilist,
Who, not for filthy lucre, but for conquest, clenched his fist,
Like a fine Old English Pugilist,
One of the olden time!

No plans of crossing robbery he ever deigned to hatch,
The honest backers to betray, or simple ones to catch;
But at a moment’s notice always ready for a match,
Whoever was the customer that dar’d him to the scratch,
Like a fine Old English Pugilist,
One of the olden time!

Whate’er his size, whate’er his weight, he didn’t care a pin,
The science of his challenger, or colour of his skin,
But gallantly he went to work, regardless of the tin,
And though not certain of success he did his best to win.
Like a fine Old English Pugilist,
One of the olden time!

Those were the days when Ben the Big and Johnson fought of old,
Mendoza, Humphries, Bristol Pearce, and both the Belchers bold,
That was, I mention it with pride, Pancratia’s age of gold,
When men, like cattle in a fair, were neither bought nor sold,
But shone true British Pugilists,
Men of the olden time!

Then manfully within the ring each boxer kept his ground,
Bestowing wholesale pepper in each well-contested round;
And when the victory was proclaim’d, their brows with conquest
crown’d,
All anger, in a foaming pot, was in an instant drown’d,
Like fine Old English Pugilists,
Men of the olden time!

But, ah, those hours flew swiftly by, of boxing annals bright,
And men began to do the thing that wasn’t very right,
And honesty from Pugilists prepar’d to take a flight,
For cross coves manag’d, as they pleas’d, to win or lose a fight,
Unlike brave English Pugilists,
Men of the olden time!

Then censures on the fancy Ring on every hand were rife,
And beaks proclaim’d they’d put an end to Boxiana’s life;
And now, as a more gentle mode of settling points of strife,
We’ve introduc’d, God save the mark! the dagger and the knife;
Oh, for brave English Pugilists,
Men of the olden time!

Now surely it were better far the Ring should thrive again,
And good Old English Boxing should a character maintain,
Than that assassination foul our annals still should stain,
And crimes best suited to the soil of Italy and Spain,
Unlike Old English Pugilism,
Milling of olden time!

In 1842 Bendigo, maugre the advice of the medicos, made his way to London, and, putting in an appearance at a “soirée” at Jem Burn’s, solicited the honour of a glove-bout with Peter Crawley. Bendy’s resuscitation was hailed with delight, and as he declared his readiness to renew a broken-off match with Tass Parker, a spirited patron of the Ring declared that money should be no obstacle. On the Thursday week ensuing, Tass also being in town with his friends for the Derby week, all parties met at Johnny Broome’s, and articles were penned and duly signed. By these it was agreed that the men should meet on Wednesday, the 24th of August, within twenty miles of Wolverton, in the direction of Nottingham, for a stake of £200 a side.

Parker having beaten Harry Preston, the game Tom Britton, of Liverpool, and the powerful John Leechman (Brassey, of Bradford), was now at the pinnacle of his fame. His friends, too, were most confident, as Bendigo’s lameness was but too painfully apparent. Tass offered to “deposit the value of Bendigo’s belt, to be the prize of the victor.” The match went on until June 28th, when, £140 being down, it was announced at the fifth deposit that the bold Bendigo was in custody on a warrant issued by his brother (a respectable tradesman in Nottingham), who was averse to his milling pursuits. The rumour was too true. Bendy was brought before their worships, charged with intending a breach of the peace with one Hazard Parker, and held to bail to keep the peace towards all Her Majesty’s subjects for twelve months, himself in £100, and two sureties of £100 each.

During this interval, too, Ben Caunt had not been idle. He had beaten Brassey on the 27th of October, 1840, after a long, clumsy tussle of 101 rounds in an hour and a half, as may be read in the memoir of CAUNT. He had also lost a fight with Nick Ward, by being provoked to a foul blow, and then beaten the same shifty pug. in May, 1841, thereafter departing on a tour to America, after the fashion of other modern champions. “Time and the hour wore on;” Bendy’s knee strengthened, and Big Ben returned from Yankeeshire, bringing with him, from the land of “big things,” the biggest so-called boxer that ever sported buff in the P.R., in the person of Charles Freeman, weighing 18st., and standing 6ft. 10½in. in his stocking feet. Freeman’s brief career will be found in an Appendix to that of his only antagonist WILLIAM PERRY, the Tipton Slasher.

At the close of 1843 Bendigo once again disputed the now established claim of Caunt to the proud title of Champion of England, when Brassey also offered himself to Bendigo’s notice. The Bradford Champion, however, does not seem to have had moneyed backers, and the business hung fire. On the 14th February, 1844, we find the following:――

VALENTINE FROM BENDIGO TO BRASSEY.

Many happy returns of the Spring, bouncing Brassey,
I hope Fortune gives you no cause to complain,
That you’re right as a trivet, determined and saucy,
And ready for mischief with Bendy again.

May I never again take a sip of blue ruin
If I love to see fair English fighting take wing;
’Tis time for the “big ’uns” to up and be doing,
For bantam cocks only show now in the Ring.

Then again for the laurel crown let us be tugging,
May fair play be always our motto and plan!
But Caunt I denounce, and his system of hugging,
A practice more fit for a bear than a man.

As to Freeman, the giant――I don’t mean offending――
His bulk and his weight may astonish the raw,
But when with Bill Perry, the Slasher, contending,
I’m bless’d if he showed any point worth a straw.

Of falsehood I scorn the unclean manufacture,
My luck with good men always forward to try;
And but for my knee-pan’s unfortunate fracture
With the Yankee I wouldn’t have shrunk from a shy.

Then, Brassey, come out if you truly mean milling,
And drop down your dust for a match if you dare,
And you’ll find Billy Bendigo ready and willing
To give you a sample of Nottingham ware.

I’m anxious, bold Brassey, again to be busy,
And face a good fellow, true-hearted and tough;
And I’d cheerfully draw from my cly my last tizzy
To see two game pugilists stripp’d to the buff.

But here I conclude, for my time’s up for starting,
And conscience is giving a sort of a shove;
But I just drop a hint, my good fellow, at parting,――
If you can’t raise the needful, I’ll fight you for love.

Brassey did not make a deposit, and Caunt, who was now settled at the “Coach and Horses,” St. Martin’s Lane, seemed rather given to benefits and bounce than boxing.

The rest of the year was consumed in correspondence, in which Bendigo demanded the odds offered and then retracted by Caunt, the latter having, _ad interim_, a row, and ridiculous challenge from Jem Burn, and an equally absurd cartel from a burly publican named Kingston, whose eccentric antics will be noticed in the memoir of CAUNT.

The year 1845 was, however, destined to see the eccentric Bendigo and the ponderous Caunt brought together. All doubts and surmises were silenced when articles were signed to the effect that on the 9th of September, 1845, the men were to meet, Bendigo having closed, after innumerable difficulties, with Caunt’s terms of £200 a side and the belt.

At the final deposit, on August 26th, at Tom Spring’s, the Castle Tavern, Holborn, it was officially announced that both men were in splendid condition. Bendigo had trained at Crosby, near Liverpool, under the care of Jem Ward, and Caunt near Hatfield, in Hertfordshire, where he was looked after by his uncle, Ben Butler, and by Jem Turner, the D’Orsay of the Ring, besides being constantly visited by his great friend and patron, the gallant Tom Spring. Caunt, who was now thirty-three years of age, had scaled over 17st. when he went into training, but on the day of the fight was reduced to a pound under 14st., the lightest weight he ever reached in any of his fights. Bendigo, who was three years older, weighed 12st. 1lb., and was also in the pink of condition. When articles were originally signed, on April 17th, it was arranged that the fight should take place half-way between London and Nottingham, but at the final supper this was altered by mutual consent to Newport Pagnel, in Bucks. On the Sunday Bendigo, Merryman, and Jem Ward arrived at Newport Pagnel, which led to an immediate issue of a warrant, and Bendigo’s friends took him out of the town to a neighbouring farmhouse. Caunt turned up in London, at Spring’s, with his uncle, Ben Butler, on the Monday afternoon, in high spirits, though remarkably thin. He had got rid of every ounce of superfluous flesh, and was nothing but bone and sinew. Two hundred of his handkerchiefs were sold, at a guinea each if he won, nothing if he lost. He left by the four o’clock train for Wolverton, from whence he proceeded, with Spring and other friends, to the “Cock” at Stony Stratford. Newport Pagnel was full of the Nottingham division. The “Swan” (Tom Westley’s) and all the other inns were filled to excess. In the evening Spring went to the “Swan” to meet Bendigo’s friends to settle the place. Bendigo wished to fight in Bucks; Spring had seen constables with warrants, and wanted to take them to Oxfordshire, to Lillingston Level, where Deaf Burke and Nick Ward fought in 1840. There was a long disputation, but at last they agreed to toss. Jem Ward, for Bendigo, won, and they chose Bedfordshire. In the morning they again altered their minds, and determined to try Whaddon in Oxfordshire. This ill-judged proceeding necessitated a ten miles’ tramp to Whaddon, where the first ring was pitched. Meanwhile, at the “Cock,” at Stony Stratford, the chief constable told Spring that Whaddon was in Bucks, and that they could not fight in that county. Spring sent off a messenger, but at first the Nottingham roughs would not allow a move to be made; at last they started for another eight miles’ walk to Sutfield Green. At half-past two a second ring was formed, when there were at least 10,000 people present. The Nottingham roughs, who were in great force, made an invasion, and drove all back who would not buy Nottingham tickets. Spring, who had provided tickets for the London men, had not yet arrived. At twenty minutes past three the men entered the ring――Caunt first, attended by Molyneux the Black and Jem Turner as seconds, Butler having charge of the bottles. Bendigo was attended by Nick Ward and Jack Hannan, Jem Ward and Jem Burn. They shook hands, and tossed for choice of corners. Caunt won, and took the higher ground, with his back to the sun. Spring, in compliance with the articles, produced Caunt’s belt, and handed it to Bendigo to show it was the genuine article. He buckled it on in bravado, and laughingly offered to bet Caunt £50 that he would win the fight. Caunt declined; he evidently did not appreciate Bendy’s funniment. The belt was then handed to Jem Ward to await the result. There was another disputation about choice of referee. After various names had been proposed on one side only to be captiously rejected on the other, “t’Auld Squire”――the renowned George Osbaldiston――who had retreated to his carriage to get out of the rush, was agreed to. At first the Squire declined, but being pressed, and it being urged that if he did not consent the match would not come off, he accepted. Bendigo’s colours were blue with white spot――Caunt’s bright orange, with blue border, the following inscription in a garter in centre:――“Caunt and Bendigo, for £200 and the Championship of England, 9th September, 1845.” This was surrounded with the words, “May the best man win!”

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――Caunt threw himself into attitude erect and
smiling, whilst Bendigo at once began to play round
him, dodging and shifting ground in his usual style.
Caunt let fly his left, but missed. Bendigo, active on
his pins, retreated, and _chasséed_ left and right; at
last he crept in closer, then out again, till, watching
his opportunity, he got closer, and popped in a
sounding smack with his left on Caunt’s right eye.
After a few lively capers he succeeded in delivering
another crack with his left on Caunt’s cheek, opening
the old scar left by Brassey, and drawing first blood,
as well as producing an electric effect on Caunt’s
optic. (Shouts unlimited from Bendigo’s friends.) Bendy
got away laughing, and again played round his man.
Caunt got closer, missed an intended slasher with his
left, and closed for the fall. Bendy grappled with him,
but could not escape, and Caunt, by superior strength,
forced him down at the corner.

2.――Caunt up at the call of time, his cheek and eye
testifying the effects of the visitations in the last
round, Bendy dancing round him, and waiting for an
opening. Slight exchanges left and right, Caunt missing
his opponent’s head; Bendigo, in retreating to the
ropes, slipped down, was up again in a moment, and
dashed to his man. Wild exchanges, but no apparent
execution; Caunt hit out viciously left and right,
missed his kind intentions, and Bendy got down
unscathed.

3.――Caunt came up quiet, and determined on
annihilation. Bendy again played about him, but did not
get near enough for execution. After some wild passes,
Caunt missing, Bendigo, on the retreat, was caught in
the powerful grasp of Caunt, who threw him across the
ropes and fell on him, but no mischief done. (Shouts
from the roughs.)

4.――Caunt came up blowing, when Bendigo, after a little
dodging, popped in his left under his guard, and got
away. Caunt, determined on mischief, followed his man,
and at last getting to him let fly left and right,
catching Bendy with the left on the mouth slightly, but
missing his right. Bendigo finding himself in
difficulties got down, falling on the ropes, and
grinning facetiously at Goliath the Second, who walked
back to his corner.

5.――Caunt, first to lead off, drew on his man, but
Bendy retreated, Caunt after him, till he reached the
ropes, when Caunt hit out left and right, his blows
passing harmlessly over Bendigo’s head. There was a
want of precision in Caunt’s hitting not to be
accounted for with his supposed science. Bendigo, who
stopped rather wildly, got down.

6.――Caunt, first to the call of time, waited with his
hands well up, but blowing. We believe he was
over-trained, and really distressed thus early in the
struggle. Bendy manœuvred to the right and left; Caunt
approached him, but he retreated. Caunt let fly left
and right, but Bendy ducked his canister, and got down
with more caution than gallantry.

7.――Left-handed exchanges on the nobs, but of no
moment. Caunt made some desperate lunges left and
right, but was too high, and Bendy slipped down.

8.――Bendy, after a few dodges, got within Caunt’s guard
with his left, and gave him a pretty prop on the cheek.
Caunt missed his return, but, seizing Bendy in his
grasp, flung him over the ropes. Here he leaned heavily
on him, overbalanced himself, and fell over on his own
head, bringing Bendy with him, amidst loud shouts and
abusive epithets. Caunt fell at the feet of his
friends, Tom Spring and the editor of _Bell’s Life_,
the latter of whom was seated on that side of the ring
near the centre stake.

9.――Bendy came up full of glee, and played round his
man, watching for his opportunity to plant his left.
This at last offered, and catching Caunt on the old
wound he ducked his head to avoid the return, and got
down.

10.――More sly manœuvring by Bendy, who, after dancing
about at arm’s length, stole a march, and caught Caunt
a stinging smack with his left on the right cheek,
drawing more claret, and giving the big ’un more of the
tragedy hue. Caunt instantly closed, gave Bendy the
Cornish hug, flung him by main strength, and fell on
him.

11.――Bendy pursued his eccentric gyrations round his
man, when with the swiftness of lightning he popped in
his left on the jaw and right on the body, and fell.
Caunt, stung by these visitations, followed him, and
dropped on his knees close to his man, but luckily did
not touch him, and Bendy was picked up laughing and
uninjured; in fact, up to this time he scarce showed
the semblance of a hit beyond a slight contusion on the
lip and left ear.

12.――Bendigo retreated from Caunt’s vigorous charge
right and left, and slipped down, but instantly jumped
up and renewed the round. After some wild fighting, but
no execution worth recording, Bendy went down in his
corner, amidst cries of “Foul!” “Unmanly,” &c.

13.――Caunt, on coming to the scratch, let fly with his
left, just grazing the top of Bendigo’s scalp. A sharp
rally followed, and counter hits with the left were
exchanged, Bendy hitting Caunt with such terrible force
on the old spot on the right cheek that he knocked him
clean off his legs, thus gaining the first knock-down
blow, amidst deafening shouts from the Nottingham
roughs. Bendigo’s blow was so powerful that he actually
rebounded back against the stakes, and Caunt was picked
up almost stunned by the severity of the visitation.

14.――Bendy, elated with his handiwork in the last
round, again dashed in with his left, but not being
sufficiently quick in his retreat Caunt caught him
round the neck with his left and lifted him to the
ropes, and there hung on him till, in trying to escape
from his grasp, he pulled him forward, threw, and fell
heavily on him, amidst the indignant shouts of his
opponents.

15.――Bendy came up as lively as a kitten, while Caunt,
undismayed, came smiling to the scratch. Caunt plunged
in his left and right, but missed; he then seized his
man for the throw, but Bendy slipped round, and seizing
Caunt by the neck pulled him down.

16.――Bendy tried his left-hand dodge, but missed and
retreated. Caunt followed him up to his corner, hitting
out right and left, but throwing his hands too high.
Caunt grappled for the fall, but Bendy got down, Caunt
following suit, and as he sat upon the ground beckoned
Bendy to come to him.

17.――Bendy made himself up for mischief, and played
round his man for a few seconds, when, getting within
distance, he delivered a terrific hit with his left on
Caunt’s mouth, and fell. Caunt’s upper lip was
completely split by this blow, and the blood flowed
from the wound in torrents. (Renewed cheers from the
Nottingham division.)

18.――Bendy again came the artful dodge put in his left
on Caunt’s mouth, and fell. Caunt pointed at him, but
Bendy laughed and nodded.

19.――Bendy, more cautious, kept out Caunt rushed to
him, hitting out left and right, but with little
effect. Bendy retreated. Caunt caught him on the ropes,
and hung on him till he fell. (More shouting and some
threats at Caunt.)

20.――Caunt, anxious to be at work, advanced, while
Bendy retreated to the ropes, where he hit up with his
left, and slipped. Caunt turned his back, and was
retiring, when Bendy jumped up, and had another slap at
him. Caunt turned round and caught him under his arm as
he attempted to escape, lifted him to the ropes, and
there held him till he fell, amidst the cries of
Bendy’s friends.

21.――Caunt prompt to the call of time, his hands well
up, but Bendy again stole a march, popped in his left,
and slipped down to avoid a return of the compliment.
(Indignant expressions at Bendigo’s shifty way of
terminating the rounds.)

22.――Bendy was still free from punishment, and looked
as fresh as when he entered the ring, while Caunt,
although firm and active on his pins, showed heavy
marks of punishment on his frontispiece; his cheek had
a gaping wound, his lip cut, and eye and nose evincing
the consequence of Bendy’s sly but stinging
visitations. Caunt, impatient at Bendy’s out-fighting,
rushed to him left and right, but Bendy, unwilling to
try the weight of superior metal, slipped down, and
Caunt fell over him, but not on him, as his friends
anticipated, and as perhaps he intended.

23.――Both fresh. After a little dodging, advancing, and
retreating, Bendy again nailed Caunt with his left on
his damaged kissing-trap. Caunt caught him a slight
nobber on the head with his left, and Bendy got down.

24.――Bendy again played round his man till within
distance, when he popped in a heavy blow on the ribs
with his left, and got down without a return. There was
an immediate cry of “Foul!” and an appeal was made to
the referee. He hesitated, amidst tumultuous cries of
“Fair! fair!” and allusions to the size of Caunt. The
uproar was terrific, and the inner circle was
overwhelmed by the roughs from without rushing in to
enforce their arguments in favour of Bendy. At last the
referee decided “Fair,” and “time” was called.

25.――Nick Ward was here so overcome with his exertions
that he was taken out of the ring, and his office was
filled by Nobby Clark. The moment time was called, and
Bendy reached the scratch, Caunt rushed to him left and
right, and after slight and wild exchanges with the
left Bendy slipped and got down cunning.

26.――Bendy, after a little hanky-panky manœuvring,
popped in his left on Caunt’s mug, and retreated to the
corner of the ring. Caunt followed him with so much
impetuosity that he hit his hand against the stake. In
the close and scramble for the fall, Bendy succeeded in
pulling Caunt down, falling with him.

27.――Caunt on his guard, his hands well up. Bendy
stepped in, delivered his left on the old spot, and
dropped to avoid; Caunt shaking his finger at him as he
retired to his corner. Caunt’s right was visibly puffed
by its contact with the stake in the previous round.

28.――Caunt attempted to lead off with his left, but
Bendy retreated to the ropes, over which Caunt forced
him, and as he lay upon him, both still hanging on the
lower rope, Bendy hit up with his left. In this
position they lay, half in and half out of the ring,
till released by their seconds.

29.――Caunt let fly left and right, but he was short,
Bendy playing the shifty game. Wild fighting on both
sides, till Caunt fell on his knees. Bendy looked at
him, lifted his hand to strike, but he prudently
withheld the blow, and walked to his corner. (Shouts
from the Nottingham “Lambs.”)

30.――A rally, in which both fought wildly, Caunt
catching Bendy a crack over the right brow, from which
the claret flowed, and Bendy returning the compliment
on Caunt’s smeller. In the end Bendy slipped down, and,
on rising, a small black patch was placed on the
damaged thatch of his peeper.

31.――Bendy resumed his hitting and getting down system,
popping in his left on Caunt’s muzzle, and slipping
down.

32.――The same game repeated. Spring, indignant,
appealed to the referee; and Molyneux, in like manner,
called on the umpires for their decision; they
disagreed, and Molyneux ran to the referee. The roughs
again had their say. A blow was aimed at Spring’s head
with a bludgeon, which fortunately only fell on his
shoulder. It was a spiteful rap, and he felt the effect
of it for some days. The referee declared, however,
that he had not seen anything unfair, and Molyneux
returned to his man, and brought him to the scratch at
the call of time, amidst tremendous confusion, sticks
in operation in all directions, and many expressing
great dissatisfaction at Bendy’s unfair mode of
fighting, and the reluctance of the referee to decide
against him.[6]

33.――A short round, in which Bendy retreated, and
Caunt, following, caught him at the ropes and threw him
over, falling on him.

34.――Bendy again popped in his left, and threw himself
down (?) This was repeated in the two succeeding
rounds, but Bendy’s friends attributed it to accident,
and not design, and there was no adverse decision on
the part of the referee, whose position, amidst the
tumult that prevailed, was far from enviable. He must
have been possessed of no small nerve to have presumed
to decide against the arguments that were so
significantly shaken in the vicinity of his
knowledge-box, and to this must be attributed his
reluctance to give a candid opinion. [Partisan
writing.――ED. “Pugilistica.”]

37.――Bendy tried his hit and get-down practice, but
Caunt seized him round the neck, threw, and fell over
him.

38.――A wild and scrambling rally, in which Bendigo
caught it on the nob. After a scramble they fell, Caunt
within and Bendigo without the ropes, when each put his
tongue out at the other like angry boys.

39.――A slight exchange of hits with the left, when
Bendy went down laughing.

40.――Bendy popped in his left on Caunt’s ancient wound,
his right on the ribs, and slipped down.

41.――Bendy renewed his left-handed visitation, and was
retreating, when Caunt rushed after him, caught him at
the ropes, over which he threw him, and fell on him. A
blow was here aimed at Caunt’s head by one of the
roughs with a bludgeon, but it fell on Bendy’s
shoulder.[7]

42.――Exchanges of hits left and right, when Bendy got
down.

43.――Bendy manœuvred in his old way, delived a smashing
hit with his left on Caunt’s throat, and went down to
avoid a return.

44.――Caunt came up fresh, and rushed to the assault,
but Bendy got down. Caunt, indignant, jumped over him,
but luckily fell on his knees beyond him, without
touching him. It was assumed that he meant to jump on
him, and an uproarious appeal of “Foul” was made to the
referee, which, after much confusion, he decided in the
negative, and ordered the men to go on.

45.――Bendy renewed his Merry Andrew curvetings, and
tried his left, but Caunt seized him round the neck
with his right, and swung him twice round like a cat.
Bendy succeeded in getting the lock with his right leg,
when Caunt gave him a twist, threw, and fell heavily on
him, a little to the derangement of the Nottingham
heroes, who shouted vociferously.

46.――Caunt again succeeded in catching Bendy by the
neck under his powerful arm, threw, and fell heavily on
him, but at the same time came with great force against
the ground himself.

47.――Caunt led off with the left, catching Bendy on the
forehead. Bendy retreated, hit Caunt as he came in with
his left on his distorted phiz, dropped, and looked up
in derision. Appeal from this species of generalship
seemed now to be idle, and was not repeated. [He
slipped through Caunt’s hands, which he was entitled to
do.――ED.]

The succeeding ten rounds were fought in the same
style. Little worthy of note occurred; each in turn
obtained some trifling advantage in the hitting or
failing but neither exhibited any disposition to say
enough, although we thought that Bendigo from his
repeated falls, began to evince symptoms of fatigue.
The confusion round the ring continued most annoying,
although, the ropes and stakes were still preserved
entire. Many persons, from the pressure of those
behind, were completely exhausted, and happy to beat a
retreat. For ourselves (Ed. of _Bell’s Life_) we had
repeatedly to bear the weight of some half-dozen
neighbours, to which the bodies of both Caunt and
Bendigo were occasionally added as they fell over the
ropes on us. During all this time the members of the
London Ring, with one or two exceptions (Macdonald and
Johnny Broome in particular), were perfectly quiescent,
and looked on with modest timidity, evidently afraid to
interfere with the “club law” of the Nottingham bands,
who were regularly organised, and obeyed the signals of
their leaders with a discipline worthy of a better
cause. [An impartial observation convinced us that
Caunt’s partisans quite rivalled those of Bendigo in
riotous ruffianism.――ED. “Pugilistica.”]

58.――Bendigo “jumped Jim Crow” round his man, tipped
him a left-handed smeller, and dropped without a
return.

59.――Caunt followed Bendy to the corner of the ring,
hitting out left and right, but without precision, and
certainly without doing execution. Bendy nailed him
with his left in the old style, and slipped down, but
instantly jumped up to renew the round. Caunt, instead
of stopping to fight, considering the round over, ran
across the ring to his corner, Bendy after him, till
they reached the ropes, and after a confused scramble,
in which Bendy used his left and right behind Caunt’s
back, both were down, amidst general expressions of
distaste at this style of fighting, but loud applause
for Bendy.

60.――Caunt no sooner on his legs than to his man, but
Bendy escaped his intended compliments left and right,
threw in his left on the mouth, and dropped, Caunt
falling over him.

61.――One hour and twenty-four minutes had now elapsed,
but there were still no symptoms of an approaching
termination to the battle; each appeared fresh on his
pins and strong; and although Caunt showed awful flesh
wounds on his dial, there was nothing to diminish the
hopes of his friends(!) Bendy exhibited but a few
slight contusions, and although, no doubt, shaken by
the falls, and his own repeated prostrations, he
appeared as active and leary as ever. Caunt, anxious to
be at work, rattled to his man, hitting left and right,
but Bendy retired, and fell back across the ropes.

62.――Bendy again on the retreat; Caunt after him,
hitting wildly and without precision left and right.
Bendy gave him an upper pop with his left, and slipped
down. Caunt was retiring, when Bendy jumped up again to
renew active operations, but Caunt dropped on his
knees, looked up in Bendy’s face, grinning, as much as
to say, “Would you?” and Bendy, deeming discretion the
better part of valour, contented himself with shaking
his fist and retiring to his corner. Spring here
remarked that jumping up to hit a man when the round
was over, and when he was unprepared, was as much foul
as striking a man down, and in this we perfectly
concur. [No appeal was made, but the Squire sent to
Clarke to caution his man that such conduct was
dangerous.――ED.]

63.――Caunt let fly left and right, but missed his
blows. Both slipped down on their knees in the struggle
which followed, and laughed at each other. In Caunt’s
laugh, from the state of his mug, there was little of
the comic.

64.――Bendy renewed his hanky-panky tricks, and trotted
round his opponent. Caunt rushed to him, but he
retreated to the ropes, hit up, and dropped, but
instantly rose again to renew the round. Caunt was with
him, but he again got down, falling over the bottom
rope; and Caunt narrowly escaped dropping with his knee
on a tender part.