Chapter I: Tom Sayers (champion).――1849-1860 (6)

REMARKS.――Where the battle was of such short duration,
it is, of course, difficult to find much to say in the
shape of remarks. To every judge of milling who was on
the ground, not excluding some of Brettle’s own
friends, it was obvious from the very first round that,
bar an accident, the victory must lie with the
favourite. In fact, in our own hearing, at the
conclusion of the first round, where Tom drew the
crimson from Brettle’s mouth, and set his sign manual
on his forehead, one of the backers of the latter said,
“It’s all over; we shan’t win.” It had been anticipated
that the Champion, in his anxiety to win the bet of
£200 to £20, would at once take the initiative, and
that thereby he would throw himself open to the
dangerous right-handed counters of Bob; but those who
knew Tom Sayers were too well acquainted with his
judgment and tact to believe any such thing; hence
their confidence and the great odds they so freely
laid. From the very commencement it was obvious Tom saw
the game he had to play, and the calm way in which he
shifted his position so as always to present a square
front to the enemy delighted every one. He was, of
course, taken by surprise at Bob’s getting home first,
but this only rendered him steadier, and convinced him
that he must act in a cautious manner. We do not
believe he for a moment contemplated going for the bet,
although we feel convinced that had one vicious
upper-cut got home he must have won it to the greatest
certainty. In all his recent fights he has been the one
that has fought in the jump-about, dancing-master
style, but here he was the steady old stager, quietly
biding his time and seldom throwing away a hit. The
knock-down blow in the fourth round was indubitably a
fair knock-down, but it must not be forgotten that
although matters thereby looked favourable for Brettle,
the real fact was that Tom in his counter got home much
heavier than his opponent, and that had he been
stepping in instead of back at the moment he would not
have been floored. The proof of the effectiveness of
the blow was seen on the men again appearing at the
scratch, when Tom showed no mark, while the evidence of
his visitation to Bob’s eye was unmistakable. That the
battle terminated as it did we cannot help feeling was
fortunate for Brettle. Tom’s dangerous right――never
brought into play until he has his man “safe,” as he
says――was already busy; true, he missed once or twice,
but he is not the man to do this often, and had it got
home effectively there is no telling what injury he
might have inflicted. The actual cause of Bob’s
accident it is impossible to fathom. Some aver that it
was partly caused by the heavy blow in the fifth round,
others that the shoulder was injured by the fall on his
hands, but, as he was able to use it so vigorously in
the last round, we believe both these suppositions to
be wrong. Possibly they may have rendered the muscles
weaker than usual, and predisposed the arm for such a
_contretemps_, but our own idea is that Bob, swinging
his arm out so very viciously at a distance from his
man, and receiving a tap on the collar-bone at the same
moment, the joint was jerked out entirely in that
manner. That his arm was dislocated there was not the
slightest doubt, for we have the evidence not only of
the surgeon himself, but also of Jack Macdonald, as to
the dislocation being reduced: and even if we had not,
the expression of poor Brettle’s countenance and his
contortions when in his corner were far too natural to
have been put on for the occasion. We should not have
thought it necessary to make these observations had we
not heard it whispered that a set of idiots, who think
everything connected with the ring is “a barney,” or
something tantamount to it, have been going about
saying that there was no accident at all, and that the
statement as to Brettle’s accident was all moonshine.
The gentry who make these remarks should look at home,
and before throwing mud at persons in a different walk
of life, should consider whether in the event of a
similar compliment being paid to themselves, there
would not be a much larger portion of the sticking part
attached to them, and whether they could be as easily
whitewashed as their humbler, though perhaps, honester,
brethren of the P.R. Of Brettle’s performances we need
say but little. He evidently found himself
out-generalled from the first; and this being the case,
all that remained for him to do was to make the best of
a bad bargain, and this we are bound to say he did to
the utmost of his ability. Our own opinion was, before
the battle, that he had not the ghost of a chance, and
that opinion was borne out by the result. We are sorry
that he was disappointed in his expectations, which
were entirely raised by his underrating his man; but as
we do not believe he will be a loser by his defeat, he
is, perhaps, not to be so much pitied as some of his
less fortunate compeers. He has been always a general
favourite, and so long as he perseveres in his present
straightforward course he must retain the good wishes
of all parties. As we have stated above, we think he
has taken a wise resolution in retiring from the Ring,
and we hope that no vain flattery on the part of any
interested admirers will induce him to change his
resolution.

These excellent remarks of the writer, on the readiness of silly persons to impute dishonesty to the losing pugilist, are as laudable as they are just and honest. We shall elsewhere have occasion to remark upon a recent work devoted to the resuscitation and reassertion of these defunct, discreditable, and often dishonest “shaves.”

With this very easy defeat of the Birmingham Pet, Tom Sayers, as was generally supposed, had disposed of the last of his competitors for the belt; but it was not to be so. A breeze, whispering of war, was heard from across the broad Atlantic. Aaron Jones, not long after his defeat by Sayers, had emigrated to the land of the stars and stripes, and being a fine-looking young fellow, of good address, and of quiet and civil deportment, had found much favour as a teacher of the art pugilistic among our Yankee cousins. His anecdotes of British boxers and exemplifications of the English method became fashionable among the young bloods of New York, and the subject of pugilism grew to be the talk of the town. John Heenan had been selected by a party to “whip” John Morrissey, who for some reason had become obnoxious to some of them, and Heenan’s friends made choice of Aaron Jones as trainer and ring adviser of “The Benicia Boy.” Heenan, however, being attacked by illness, was stopped in his work, and thus forced to go into the ring with a stone of superabundant flesh, and suffered defeat at the hands of Morrissey. About the close of the year 1858, distance lending enchantment to the view, the Transatlantic papers told us that Aaron did not think Tom Sayers such a very formidable customer after all, and “Had a mind to return and have a second (third?) shy for the belt.” Rumour added that, failing Aaron, Uncle Sam was about to send over one of his champions, to see what he could do towards humbling the pride of the little Englishman. Early in 1849 rumour ripened into certainty, and a letter reached _Bell’s Life_ office from Mr. Wilkes, inquiring on what terms Heenan could be placed on the rota to have his turn against Sayers. A good deal of astonishment was created at the time by the fact that the defeated man, and not the winner of the American fight for the championship, had been selected; but when it came to be remembered that Morrissey, the winner, was an Irishman by birth, and not a native American, the wonderment ceased, and Heenan was recognised as the proper representative of America. The Editor of _Bell’s Life_ replied to Mr. Wilkes’s letter, intimating that immediately on the receipt of a deposit from Heenan he could be placed on the list. He further stated, however, that, in the event of his winning, he would not be permitted to take the belt back to America, without leaving its equivalent in value or remaining here three years to contest its possession against all comers on the usual terms. By the next mail, after Mr. Wilkes’s first letter, came a second, dated New York, March 29, 1859, which was as follows:――

“Office _Wilkes’s Spirit of the Times_, New York.
“March 29, 1859.

“DEAR SIR,――Enclosed please find a draft for £200 sterling,
drawn in your favour on the Bank of Liverpool, which I have
been requested to forward to you, on the part of Aaron
Jones, in order that you may deposit for him the necessary
sum for a meeting with the Champion of England within six
months of the date of the battle of the 5th April, between
Sayers and Benjamin; and in case the winner of that fight do
not accept, you will please hold the money subject to my
order. The language with which Jones accompanies this draft
is as follows:――‘I, Aaron Jones, hereby challenge the winner
of the coming fight for the championship, to fight me in six
months from that time for _two hundred pounds and the
Champion’s belt_. The fight to take place near London, and
to be governed by the rules of the London Prize Ring.’ Jones
also requests me to say to you for him that ‘he would prefer
having the forfeit or first deposit to be as much as _fifty
pounds_, as he does not wish to be at the trouble of
crossing the Atlantic for nothing, though he is willing to
pay his own expenses over and back to get the fight.’ He
also hopes that Sayers will, for old acquaintance’ sake,
give him the first chance; but this is a consideration which
I have no right to press, after having previously consented
to lay before you the wishes or the claims of Heenan. Your
sense of propriety will find a law for the matter, and will,
I hope, likewise permit me to remain, yours, very truly at
command,

“GEO. WILKES.

“P.S.――I am also desired by the backers of Jones to say that
the stakes will be increased to _five hundred pounds a
side_, if the Champion wishes it.

“G. W.”

To this letter Sayers at once replied, closing with the proposition of Jones, and thus placing that hero first on the list of candidates after his second battle with Benjamin. Hardly had the missive of the gallant Tom been despatched when another letter arrived from Mr. Wilkes――who throughout acted as the adviser and amanuensis of both Jones and Heenan――enclosing a sum of £50, which he had been directed by his friends to stake on the part of Heenan. In that letter he requested the stakeholder, if not contrary to rule, to give Heenan’s claim the preference, as that aspiring youth had been the first to challenge Sayers, and was fearful that if he was not at once placed on the list of candidates, his chance of encountering Sayers might be entirely lost by some unforeseen accident. Inasmuch, however, as Jones, with prudent foresight, had been the first to post the coal, the stakeholder felt bound, according to practice, to give him the priority, and Heenan was compelled reluctantly to moderate his impatience; Heenan, like Jones, offered, if Sayers wished, to increase the stakes to £500 a side.

Shortly after the second defeat of Bill Benjamin, Tom Sayers was called upon to meet Jack Macdonald, who had been delegated by Aaron Jones to act the part of plenipotentiary on his behalf. Another conference was held, and after many _pros_ and _cons._, articles were signed, sealed, and delivered, under which Jones was bound to fight the Champion early in the current year, a margin of one month being allowed on either side as to the actual day of battle. For this match £50 a side was deposited. It was not long after this that a further communication was received from Mr. Wilkes, requesting the stakeholder to return him £50 out of the £200 he had sent for Jones, to pay the passage of Aaron to Europe, and to transfer the remaining £100 to the account of the match between Heenan and Sayers. He added, that if Jones intended to go on with his match he would have to find the remainder of his money himself, his American friends having some reason to be dissatisfied with him, and being desirous of transferring all their interest to the Benicia Boy. By the very next mail came another letter intimating that Jones would be able to find all his money himself, and therefore the match was still to be considered “on,” and so for several months the matter rested.

In the following October the public were startled at reading the following letter from Mr. Wilkes to the Editor of _Bell’s Life in London_:――

“Office, _Wilkes’s Spirit of the Times_, New York, Oct. 7, 1859.

“MY DEAR SIR,――I take pleasure of informing you that Aaron
Jones, conceding to the common desire on this side of the
Atlantic to see Heenan have the first chance at Sayers for
the Championship (after the Unknown), has desired me to have
forfeited the £50 which now remain staked for him in your
hands against Sayers. Enclosed I send you Jones’s letter
authorising me to take this course; and as I represent the
money of his backers, your authority for declaring the match
“off” will, I suppose, be considered complete. I forget, as
I write, whether Sayers has already covered a deposit of
Heenan’s for the Championship; if not, please let the same
deposit be made and covered in his case (£50) as was made
and covered in the case of Aaron Jones. I am very solicitous
about this point as, for special reasons, I want Heenan
regularly upon the record at as early a moment as possible.
I send with this a note to Sayers, directed to your care, in
which I apprise him of Jones’s forfeit. Please preserve the
note of Jones to me, and believe me to be yours, ever truly,
at command,

“GEO. WILKES, Editor _Wilkes’s Spirit of the Times_.”

This communication was of course made known to Sayers without loss of time, and having now no business on hand, the way was clear for the Benicia Boy, and Tom’s backers being anxious that he should finish his career as quickly as possible, and get into business, at once covered the £50 of Heenan, and signed articles for Tom to fight him on or about the day originally fixed for the fight with Jones, supposing it was the wish of Heenan to step into Jones’s shoes. In this, however, the English managers of the affair had mistaken the meaning of Mr. Wilkes’s letter, for on their writing to him, with details of what had been done, the following reply was forwarded:――

“Office, _Wilkes’s Spirit_, New York, Nov. 23, 1859.

“MY DEAR SIR,――Your letter of 3rd inst., enclosing copy of
articles for a fight between Heenan and Sayers, and signed
by the latter, for our acceptance, reached me yesterday, and
have been communicated to Heenan. We are all, however, taken
by surprise at the proposal that the fight should come off
in February next, instead of at the expiration of the
regular six months, as was stipulated in the original
proposition, and I am requested on Heenan’s part to say,
that he expects the usual preparatory term will be granted
to him. By reference to his cartel you will find he
challenged Sayers to fight him near London for £200 and the
Champion’s belt, in six months from the date of his (Sayers)
reception of that challenge, or the date of the first
deposit under it. This challenge having reached England
during the pendency of the engagement between Sayers and the
Unknown, was kept in abeyance in your hands, and having been
further kept back by the next succeeding engagement of
Sayers with Jones, was not recognised or _received_ by
Sayers until after he had accepted forfeit from Aaron Jones.
Being thus left free of all engagements, he responded to the
challenge of Heenan, and on the 26th October (I believe)
covered the £50 deposit which you had, for months, held in
Heenan’s name. The articles for this _new match_, however,
were not signed by Sayers until the 3rd Nov. inst., and
consequently Heenan claims that he is entitled to six
months’ preliminary time from either one or the other of
those dates. He, however, desires me to say that if there be
anything in the rules of the P. R. Benevolent Association
which entitles the Champion to reduce the term for meeting
on his acceptance of a regular six months’ challenge, he
will conform to those rules, and fight Sayers at the
indicated time, even though it will leave him deficient of
the due preparation; but he utterly repudiates the idea
(which the selection of February by Sayers perhaps infers)
that his match with Sayers is a continuation of the match
with Jones. With this explanation he desires to state that
he will be ready to put up his second deposit of £50 at Owen
Swift’s in London, on the 15th December next, and if he be
not represented at that time by any agent from this country,
he begs you will continue your past kindness and again put
up the money for him. Waiving no right, but conceding to all
rules, he remains your obedient servant, though very
respectfully yours,

“GEORGE WILKES.”

At first it was feared this would occasion a hitch in the match, but it was not the case. Tom was nothing loth to let the affair take its course. He had promised to give Heenan a chance, and would not disappoint him. He proposed, therefore, to extend the time to the end of March, and a missive with this proposition was despatched across the Atlantic, together with a proposition from Tom that the stakes should be £500 a side, or as much more as Heenan could get. Before, however, it could reach its destination, a Mr. Falkland had left that country as the representative and forerunner of Heenan, prepared, immediately on his arrival, to do the needful on his behalf. Early in December, Mr. Falkland presented himself at the stakeholder’s, where he was met by some of the friends of Sayers, but as Tom was not present it was agreed that the evening of December 15, which was set apart for staking a further sum of £50 a side at Owen Swift’s, should be selected for coming to terms. At Owen’s, on the night in question, Tom made his appearance, and quickly fraternising with the ambassador of his foe, found not the slightest difficulty in arranging everything on that satisfactory footing upon which the match afterwards stood. Mr. Falkland had instructions not to make the match for more than £200, as Heenan could lay out the remainder of his money to more advantage in bets, the odds being against him. The following day articles were drawn in the approved form, and information was forthwith despatched to Heenan that his presence in the Old Country was at once required.

In the meantime, on the other side of the Atlantic, things had well nigh tended to prevent the consummation of the wishes of the Fancy. John Heenan and his quondam opponent Morrissey had got to loggerheads, and Heenan proposed to fight Morrissey a second time before fighting Sayers. Through the timely diplomacy of Mr. Wilkes, however, the difficulty was solved, by Morrissey promising to give Heenan another chance, in either England or America, for his own sum, should he prove fortunate enough to defeat our Champion. With this promise the “Boy” was forced to be content, and after innumerable hair-breadth escapes from warrants out against him for an alleged breach of the peace, he succeeded (again thanks to the good management of Mr. Wilkes) in getting on board the “Asia,” which brought him to this country, landing at Liverpool on the 16th of January, 1860.

Thenceforward all went serenely and smoothly; the whole of the deposits were made good, and the 17th of April, 1860, was waited for with feverish expectation.

Though it was made known to those who invested their gold in the ticket for “there and back,” that the start must be made as early as four o’clock, this had no effect in diminishing the number of those who resolved to be “thar,” as our Yankee visitors expressed it.

The scene at Owen Swift’s and Harry Brunton’s, where tickets were obtainable, beggars description, the rush was terrific, and many were entirely unsuccessful in getting tickets at all. Nat Langham’s, Alec Keene’s, and other sporting houses were also crammed, but there was not the same difficulty in carrying on the business of the landlord as at the first houses named, where at one time trade was at a standstill. Many of the frequenters of the sporting hostelries evidently determined to make a night of it in order to make a certainty of being up betimes in the morning, and that they carried their intentions fully into effect was plainly visible in their countenances on their emerging into daylight. The more prudent ring-goers, however, took time by the forelock, and early ensconced themselves in their beds until the summons to be up and doing should arouse them.

The scene at London Bridge Station was one of continual bustle for at least an hour before the time appointed for the start, and, judging from the early arrivals, all seemed impressed with the necessity of taking time by the forelock. The precincts of the station reminded us of the crush on the Derby Day, but the effect was far more striking from the circumstance of its being a “midnight flitting.” The company’s arrangements, however, were such as to meet the pressing requirements, and the travellers by the late trains from the provinces, and those who had postponed the purchase of their tickets until the last moment were enabled to provide themselves with the necessary passport at the last moment. Two monster trains were prepared, and as early as half-past three the first, which consisted of thirty-three carriages, was so full that the non-arrival of the men, both of whom were accommodated at private lodgings close by, alone delayed its departure. The Champion arrived first, and his fresh, brisk, and natty appearance indicated a good night’s rest, and especial pains with his _toilette_. He was soon followed by Heenan, who seemed to wish to avoid recognition, and instantly proceeded to a compartment reserved for him and his seconds. The tickets were then collected, and at twenty minutes past four they started on their journey. By this time night had cast off her sable mantle, and day dawned with that peculiar tint which foretold the brilliant sunny weather with which the expedition was favoured. Throughout the whole of the metropolitan district, which extends for fifteen miles from London, the police, both mounted and on foot, and all armed with cutlasses, were on the look out on each side of the line even at this early hour, but the speed at which the train proceeded at once satisfied those watchful guardians that the mill was never intended to take place within their bailiwick, after leaving which scarcely a soul was to be seen beyond husbandmen proceeding to their daily avocations.

Great preparations were made to “stop the mill” further down, both on the Dover and Brighton lines; but they were unnecessary, as the travellers turned off at Reigate Junction on to the Guildford line, along which the train rattled at a good pace――we may say, “in peaceful serenity”――until within a short distance of the latter old-fashioned country town, where the first stoppage was made for water. In due course the journey was resumed, and in a short time the travellers entered the wild district where the military town of Aldershott is situated, the deserted appearance of which satisfied all that the “pilot” to whom the selection of the _locale_ had been entrusted had made a “happy choice.” It was near seven o’clock when the first train discharged its living burthen at Farnborough station, after a most pleasant journey through one of the prettiest counties in England, which, illumined by a glorious sun, and shooting forth in vernal beauty, must have inspired all with feelings of intense gratification; whilst the Benicia Boy and the numerous Americans present must have been struck with the highly favourable contrast to the miserable pilgrimage which from all accounts preceded their representative’s last appearance in the Ring, when he fought Morrissey in America.

No time was lost in choosing the spot for the ring, which was quickly and well formed by the veteran Tom Oliver and his son, in a meadow adjoining the railway, situate on the borders of Hampshire and Surrey, and within half-a-mile of the Farnborough Station on the South Western line. By this time the second train had reached its destination, and the crowd could not have numbered fewer than twelve hundred persons, both of high and low degree, though compared with former mills the present “congregation” must unhesitatingly be pronounced the most aristocratic ever assembled at the ring side. It included the bearers of names highly distinguished in the pages of Burke and Debrett; officers of the army and navy, members of Parliament, justices of the peace, and even brethren of the cloth; whilst the muster of literati on behalf of the leading metropolitan journals, and the most popular periodicals and miscellanies――to say nothing of the editorial and pictorial staffs of our American contemporaries, _Wilkes’s Spirit of the Times_ and _Frank Leslie’s Illustrated News_――gave quite a new feature to the gathering, and evinced at the same time the overwhelming interest and excitement this national rivalry had created throughout both hemispheres. The sale of inner-ring tickets (raised to 10s. each on this occasion) produced a large revenue to the Pugilistic Benevolent Association, and Billy Duncan’s speculation in chairs must have been a most successful one, judging from the demand for those conveniences, by means of which the spectators were enabled to “see the fight” with comparative comfort.[29]

APPEARANCE OF THE MEN.――All being in readiness, and the immense crowd disposed in tolerable order by the exertions of those of the ring-keepers who chose to do their duty, Tom Sayers appeared at the ring-side, and having deposited his hat within the ropes, quickly followed it himself, attended by his old pal, Harry Brunton, and the accomplished Jemmy Welsh, as seconds. The Benicia Boy was not long in following his example, attended by Jack Macdonald and his trainer, Cusick. Tom looked as dapper and well set up as ever, and was full of smiles. “The Boy” (aged 26), whose attire was not quite so fashionable, was also all on the broad grin. They eyed one another curiously for a few seconds, this being, it must be recollected, their first meeting, and then advancing, shook hands most cordially together, each regarding the other with evident friendly feeling. The warmth of the greeting appeared to give great satisfaction to the surrounding multitude, who cheered vociferously. The men conversed for a few minutes, but of course the subject of their interview did not transpire. Umpires and a referee having now been appointed, the signal was given to prepare for the combat. The first ceremony, that of tying the colours to the stakes, was then proceeded with, and no time was cut to waste in doffing their upper toggery. Each had taken the precaution to put on his boots and drawers previous to entering the ring, so that the usual tedious process of lacing the men’s boots was dispensed with. In Heenan’s case, however, there would have been no necessity for this, as his boots were of fashionable make, with elastic sides. He was the first to appear in buff, and a single glance was sufficient to show that his condition was all that could be desired by the most fastidious. Tom’s mahogany bust was quickly after bared to the gaze of the multitude, and here, too, was evidence of strict attention to his work. They had a last rub from their seconds, and now advanced to give the final friendly shake. This was the time to get a fair idea of their respective proportions, and in size it really looked a horse to a hen. Heenan stood full four inches and a half over Tom, and had an immense advantage in length. Every muscle on his broad back, his shoulders, and arms, was well developed, and gave evidence of enormous power. His legs were rather light, but still there was no lack here of wire and activity. His skin was exceedingly fair and transparent, and shone like that of a thorough-bred. His mug was hard, and looked older than we expected, his cheek-bones being very prominent, and now that they had been denuded of much that was superfluous, his _tout ensemble_ was far more like that of his brother professional than on his first interview with us. Tom looked brown and hard as nails: his well-knit frame seemed fitter that we have seen it for years. He looked visibly older even than when he fought Brettle, but, considering what he has gone through, this is not to be wondered at. The only points in which there appeared any advantage on his side were in his loins and his legs, which were cast in a decidedly stronger mould than those of his towering opponent. The contrast between them was far greater than between Tom and the Tipton Slasher, and taking into consideration the fact that the advantage in age on this occasion was t’other way, Tom’s work seemed indeed cut out. That he had the remotest doubt as to the result we do not for an instant believe. He smiled confidently, and had evidently made up his mind to do or die. Heenan seemed to have an equally decided opinion as to the termination of the battle, and, to use an expression of his own countrymen, he was “all thar.” He won the toss for corners, and, of course, placed himself with his back to the sun; and, in addition to this, he had the advantage of being on slightly rising ground, so that Tom had all the way through to fight up hill. The usual ceremony was now gone through by the seconds and men. Time was called at twenty-nine minutes past seven, and they commenced

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――Heenan at once threw himself into very fair
position, his left well balanced ready for a shoot, and
the right across the body. Tom’s position was the same
as ever, lightly but firmly planted on his pins. He
smiled and nodded, and on Heenan trying to lead off his
left got well back. Heenan tried again, his reach being
tremendous, but again did Tom get well away. Tom now
essayed a draw, but “the Boy” was awake. Each feinted
and dodged to find out a weak point, but for a short
time each fortress was too well guarded. At last Tom
let go his left and right, but out of distance. Heenan
shook his nob and grinned, then again tried a lead, but
was short. They got gradually to Heenan’s corner, who
appeared disposed to fight on the defensive, and the
sun being in Tom’s eyes seemed to bother him not a
little. At length they came together, and sharp
left-handers were exchanged, Tom getting on “the Boy’s”
nose, drawing first blood, and Heenan leaving his sign
manual on Tom’s frontispiece. Heavy counter-hits
followed, Tom again getting on the nose, and receiving
on the nob. More sparring ensued to a close, when
Heenan seized Tom round the neck, but Tom pegged away
at the back of his head until he made him leave that,
and Tom fell laughing.

2.――Heenan showed marks of Tom’s handiwork on the back
of his neck, and Tom’s forehead was flushed. Heenan
kept to his corner, whither Tom went to draw him out;
when he thought Tom was near enough, “the Boy” lunged
out his left, but Tom stopped him and got back. Heenan
tried again, and just reached Tom’s nose. After one or
two feints a pretty counter took place, Tom getting on
the nose, and receiving a sharp one over the right eye.
Heenan then closed, got well hold of him, and threw the
Champion, falling heavily on him. Offers to take 2 to
1.

3.――After a little lively fiddling, Tom got too near to
the big’un, who instantly slung out his left straight
and full on the bridge of Tom’s beak, knocking him
clean off his pins. (“First knock-down” for Heenan.)

4.――Tom, on coming up, looked rather astonished, and
his eyes blinked in the sun like a dissipated owl.
Heenan went at once to him at the scratch, dodged him,
and once more planted a heavy spank with his left, this
time on the jaw, and down went Tom again, amidst the
shouts of the Yankees, who now offered 6 to 4 on
Heenan. The Sayers party looked excessively blue.

5.――Tom’s mug showed visible marks of “the Boy’s”
powers of hitting. He was cautious, and kept away from
his man; Jack followed, and letting go his left on the
mouth was well countered by Tom on the proboscis.
Heenan now bored in, and after dodging Tom, got again
heavily on the sneezer, and Tom fell.

6.――Tom’s countenance, though not swelled, was much
flushed, while the Boy was almost scatheless. He was
somewhat wild, and tried both hands, but missed.
Counter-hits ensued, in which Tom received the full
weight of Heenan’s ponderous fist on his right arm,
which was driven back against his face. Tom reached
Heenan’s left cheek, leaving his mark. Heenan
retaliated on the right brow, and Tom fell.

7.――Tom’s right peeper displayed marks of pepper, and
it was perceptible that he had sustained severe injury
to his right arm, which was beginning to swell, and
which he now kept close to his body, as if to support
it. Still he went to Heenan in his corner, and that
hero delivered his left, but not effectively, on the
chest. Tom danced away, and as he turned round napped a
little one from the right on his back. He was quickly
out of harm’s way, and, coming again, dodged his man
until he let fly, when Tom countered him heavily on the
right cheek, drawing the claret and raising a
considerable bump. The blow staggered Heenan, who stood
all of a heap for a moment. Soon did he collect
himself, and as Tom came again, lodged a little one on
the nose, but was once more countered very heavily on
the right cheek, the cut being increased and the bump
enlarged. Slight exchanges followed, in which Tom
received on the right eye and Heenan on the right
cheek, whereupon Heenan went to his corner for a
sponge. He seemed in no hurry to come away, and Tom
stood in the middle of the ring until Heenan went
slowly to him, and tried his left, but it was no go. He
tried again, but only just reached Tom’s brow. Tom now
feinted and got home on the right peeper, Heenan
missing an upper-cut. Tom danced away, came again on
another tack, and bang went his left on the sore spot,
a heavy spank, and he was instantly out of danger,
laughing; Heenan rushed after him, but was well
stopped, thrice in succession. Again and again Tom went
to him, and baulked his efforts to effect a lodgment,
and then Heenan napped another slashing crack on the
right cheek, which had the effect of at once closing
his dexter goggle. He retreated for a wipe, and was
followed by Tom, and some mutual cautious dodging and
feinting took place. At last Heenan got on the top of
Tom’s smeller, but not heavily, and Tom then avoided
another attempt. Once more did Heenan retire to Jack
Macdonald for consolation and advice; Tom walking round
and eying him in an inquisitive manner, as if admiring
his handiwork. Tom, after satisfying his curiosity,
went close, and slight exchanges followed, without
mischief. Heenan tried his left and was stopped. Both
very cautious, and neither disposed to go within
gunshot. Heenan now led off and got slightly on the
mouth with his left, Tom retaliating on the closed
peeper. Mutual taps and stops, and then Tom got his
left heavily on the old spot another cracker, whereupon
Heenan once more retired into the privacy of his
corner, amidst cries of 2 to 1 on Sayers. Tom, after a
few turns and a touch of the sponge, went to him, but
Heenan shook his nob and seemed disinclined for work.
Tom finding he could not draw him, retreated, whereupon
“the Boy” came out, and let go his left viciously,
which was beautifully stopped. He then feinted, and got
well on the bridge of Tom’s snorer as he was
retreating, and again knocked him off his pins. Tom
rolled over, laughing, and was carried to his corner.
This round lasted 13 minutes, and was a fine specimen
of stratagem and skill, especially on the part of Tom.
His right arm now was much swollen, and so painful that
he could make little or no use of it.

8.――Tom slowest to the call of time, but directly he
was at the scratch “the Boy” retired to his corner,
whither Tom had to follow him. Heenan at once let go
his left, but Tom laughed and jumped back. A slight
exchange followed, and Tom napped a straight one on the
sniffer. Heenan now missed a couple of well-meant
shots, and Tom jumped away from a third, and as he
turned his back upon Heenan got a right-hander on the
back of the neck. Heenan followed him up, but Tom
grinned and jumped nimbly away. His activity on his
pins was as remarkable as ever. Heenan pursued him, and
at last lodged his left slightly on the nozzle, and
once more turned on the tap. Tom, however, countered
him on the damaged cheek, which caused “the Boy” to
retire for the kind offices of Jack Macdonald. On Tom’s
going to him he let go his left on the kisser, drawing
the carmine, and this led to pretty exchanges at long
shots on the cheek. Heenan at this time appeared weak,
and the hopes of the Sayers party were greatly in the
ascendant. Heenan preferred his corner to the scratch,
and Tom had some difficulty in persuading him to leave.
This he at last accomplished, and some beautiful stops
were made on both sides. Another break away ensued,
after which they countered effectively, but Tom was
heaviest on the right cheek, which was now swelled as
big as two. Heenan’s blow alighted on Tom’s oration
trap, and drew more of the ruby. On his trying to
repeat this lodgment, Tom stopped him cleverly. Capital
exchanges followed, in which Tom was again at home on
the cheek very heavily. Heenan rushed at him, but Tom
was away, and after once or twice being baulked Heenan
again retired to his corner. After Tom had scrutinized
him carefully, he rubbed his hands and went to him,
whereupon Heenan let fly his left, but Tom got well
away laughing; Heenan shook his head and also laughed
good-humouredly. Tom now crept in, and pop went his
left on the plague-spot, and off went the Champion
laughing. More dodging and stopping on both sides,
until Tom was once more on the cheek a slogger. Heenan
retaliated sharply on the bridge of the snout, but was
stopped in a second attempt, and Tom nailed him on the
right cheek very heavily and got away. Heenan tried to
take the lead, but Tom jumped back. “The Boy,”
persevering, got well on the forehead, but was
unsuccessful in a second essay. The first was
sufficient to leave a bump on the gallant Tom. More
sparring until a severe counter-exchange took place, in
which Tom got a hot’un on the whistler, which shook his
ivories, and turned on a fresh tap. It was a staggerer,
but Tom recovered and went to his man, when more severe
counters were interchanged, Heenan getting another rum
one on the cheek, and dropping his left with effect on
Tom’s sneezer. Both now indulged in a wipe, and washed
their mouths out. They came again, now like giants
refreshed, and each in turn tried a lead, but each was
well stopped. Tom’s right arm, from the continual
stopping such a heavy cannonade as Heenan’s, was now
much discoloured and swollen, and utterly useless for
all purposes of hitting, and he was thus deprived of
his principal weapon. After a good deal of this another
heavy exchange followed, in which Tom was at home on
the old spot, and Heenan on the jaw heavily, knocking
Tom once more off his pins. This round lasted 20
minutes, and was a splendid specimen of milling on both
sides. Tom’s nose and mouth were bleeding, but both his
eyes were well open. His arm was his chief drawback.
Heenan’s right eye had been long closed, his cheek was
fearfully swollen, and his mouth was also somewhat out
of straight.

9.――Heenan came up as if he intended to force the
fighting. He led off viciously, but Tom got well away.
“The Boy” followed him closely, and at last got on
Tom’s mouth, drawing more of the juice. He followed
suit on the snuffer-tray with a like result, and
counter-hits ensued, in which each did mischief. Heenan
continued to bore in, and at last Tom, after getting a
little one on the back, dropped laughing.

10.――Tom was very slow to the call of time, and
appeared to want nursing. It was evidently heavy work
struggling against such superior mettle. He stood in
the middle of the ring until Heenan went to him, when
slight counter-hits were exchanged; after which they
closed. Heenan lifted Tom from the ground and threw him
heavily with the greatest ease.

11.――Tom, again very much behindhand in coming to time,
and the friends of Heenan did not appear in much hurry.
When they did come up Tom had to go into Heenan’s
corner. After a dodge or two Tom got his right on the
good eye rather heavily, but it was not such a
right-hander as of yore, and evidently gave him pain.
Heenan returned on the chest, and Tom fell.

12.――“Time, Time!” neither too ready. On Sayers at last
facing his man, Heenan caught him, but not very
heavily, on the jaw, and dropped on the saving suit.

13.――Heenan, first to leave his second’s knee, now went
to Tom, and after a dodge or two popped the left very
straight on Tom’s nose, once more knocking him clean
off his legs. He turned round on returning to his
corner, and looking to Mr. Falkland, his umpire,
exclaimed, “That’s one for you, Fred!” Offers were now
made to lay 5 to 4 on Heenan, but the takers seemed
scarce.

14.――Tom, very weak, came up cautiously and slowly, his
nose being large enough for two. Heenan, seeing Tom’s
state, tried to force the fighting, but Tom got
cleverly out of the difficulty. Heenan followed him up,
and popped a rattler on the throat, without a return.
He paused, and then sent a little one on the
scent-bottle, but Tom countered him well and straight
on the nose, drawing the crimson in profusion. Heenan,
nothing daunted, let go his left, and was stopped. He
then swung round his right heavily on the jaw. They got
to close quarters and some heavy in-fighting took
place, in which Tom was very busy. At length both were
down heavily, Heenan under.

15.――Neither seemed in a hurry to leave his second’s
knee, but Tom was slowest in answering the call. Heenan
at once went to him, got the left well on the proboscis
and his right on the jaw, and down again fell the
Champion in a heap.

16.――Tom shook himself together, but was very cautious.
He sparred as if requiring rest, until Heenan came in,
when slight exchanges took place, Tom getting it on the
nose, and Heenan on the whistler, but neither very
heavily. Heenan then made a sudden dart, and planting
heavily on Tom’s mouth, once more knocked him off his
legs. (Loud cheers for Heenan.)

17.――Tom did not display many marks from his repeated
knock-down blows, but came up smiling, although
somewhat tired. Heenan’s mug was decidedly the most
disfigured, being so much swelled. Heenan took the
lead, but did not get heavily on. He tried again with
his right, but the blow passed over Tom’s nob. Counter
hits followed on the nose, in which Tom’s delivery was
most effective, but Tom was down.

18.――Very slight exchanges, followed by a heavy
counter, in which Heenan’s mouth came in for pepper,
and Tom got it slightly on the nose, and fell.

19.――Tom slow to time; Heenan not in a hurry. At last,
on facing one another, Heenan went in to a close, and,
throwing Tom, fell on him.

20.――Heenan followed Sayers, who was on the retreat,
and after one or two dodges, caught him on the jaw
heavily with his right. He tried again, but Tom jumped
back. Still he persevered, and heavy exchanges followed
at close quarters, and both were in the end down at the
ropes.

21.――Sayers very slow, which Heenan seeing, dashed at
him, slung out the left on the nose, and again floored
the Champion.

22.――Tom seemed none the worse for this floorer; it
rather seemed to do him good, for he came fresher,
which Heenan seeing, he retired to his corner. Tom
followed and tried to deliver, but missed, and the
Benicia Boy dropped him with another straight one on
the jaw. Heenan’s left hand was now much puffed, and
did not seem to leave such impressions as formerly.

23.――The time was very badly kept on both sides, and
there were now complaints that the Benicia Boy was
allowed a stool in the ring. An appeal was made to the
referee, who at once ordered its removal, as contrary
to the laws. Heenan rushed at Tom, who retreated and
got one on the back. Tom then turned round and missed
his right. They closed, and Tom pegged away merrily on
the nose and left cheek, and in the end both down, Tom
under. One hour and eleven minutes had now elapsed.

24.――The Benicia Boy, first up, tried his left by a
sudden dart, but was stopped. An attempt with the right
just landed on the side of Tom’s nut, and he fell. (5
to 4 on Heenan still offered.)

25.――Tom, weak, came up slow, but cheerful. He waited
the attack, which was not long in coming, and after
getting a little one on the side of his head, Tom
popped his left very heavily on the snout, drawing more
home-brewed. Heenan, wild, rushed in and bored Tom
down.

26.――Tom, fresher, came up gaily, and tried to lead off
with his left, but the Boy stopped him prettily.
Another effort landed on Heenan’s good eye. Heenan in
return planted a rattler on Tom’s jaw with his right,
which staggered him, and was all but a knock down. Tom
soon shook himself together, whereupon Heenan let fly
his left, but Tom was well away. Following up, “the
Boy” got on Tom’s chest, but not heavily. Exchanges;
Heenan on the ’tato-trap, and Tom on the nose, a
smasher, each drawing the cork. Heavy counters followed
with the left, and they broke away. Heenan came again,
and got on Tom’s snorer heavily with his left, once
more staggering him. Twice after this did Tom stop
Heenan’s right and they closed. After some slight
fibbing Tom fell, Heenan hitting him when down. An
appeal of foul was overruled, the blow being obviously
accidental.

27.――“The Boy” came up determined and led off, but Tom
was away. A second attempt was equally unsuccessful,
and as Tom turned his back to dash away, the Boy caught
him on the neck, but not heavily. Sharp exchanges
followed, Tom on the left cheek and nose, and “the Boy”
on the mouth. Heenan then went in and tried his left,
but was short, whereupon he retired to his corner, had
a wipe, and wetted his whistle, and then went to the
middle of the ring. Tom joined issue at once, and some
heavy exchanges took place, each on the nose, and
Heenan now tried to close, reaching after Tom to catch
him round the neck. Tom kept out of harm’s way, but at
length “the Boy” bored him down at the ropes.

28.――Both much fatigued, wanted all the time they could
get. After some sparring, Heenan ran at Tom, who darted
away. The Boy rapidly pursued, and they got together,
and in the fibbing Tom was busy on Heenan’s good cheek,
while he caught it on the mouth. In the end Tom was
down.

29.――Tom still slow to time. The Boy at once went to
him, and got heavily on the top of his nut. Tom
countered with effect with his right on the left cheek,
and then popped his left on the proboscis. Heavy
exchanges followed in Tom’s favour, who met “the Boy”
very straight and effectively on the nozzle, opening a
fresh bin. A break away, followed by slight exchanges,
led to a harmless close, and Tom slipped down.

30.――Heenan’s other eye was now quickly closing, and he
had evidently no time to lose. He was strongest on his
legs, but his punishment was far more visible than
Tom’s. He tried to lead off, but Tom met him neatly on
the nose, turning on the red port. “The Boy” rushed at
Tom, and literally ran over and fell on him.

31.――After standing some time in his corner, Heenan was
fetched out by Tom, who had now recovered a little. A
short spar was followed by another retreat, after which
Tom went in and got a little ’un on the left cheek, but
it lacked steam. More sparring, and Heenan again
retired. Tom stood and examined him with the eye of a
connoisseur until he came out, when good exchanges took
place, Tom getting heavily on the mouth, and Heenan on
the nose. A break away; more sparring for wind; Heenan
again to his corner. On Tom going at him he slung out
his left heavily on the nose, and prone once more fell
the brave Champion.

32.――Tom all alive, dodged, and caught “the Boy” on the
chin. He turned to retreat, and “the Boy” nailed him on
the body, but not heavily. Heenan then tried repeatedly
to draw Tom, but the latter would not go into Heenan’s
corner. “The Boy,” therefore, had to go out, and some
rapid hits and stops followed, without any apparent
damage; each, however, got a small tap on the mouth.
Heenan having taken another rest in his corner, came
out, and got a hot one on the left cheek for his pains,
which all but shut up the other eye. This brought on
exchanges, each on the mazzard, and then Heenan reached
Tom’s nose. Heavy determined counter-deliveries on the
note ensued, after which Heenan floored Tom by a
right-hander on the cheek. The betting was now even,
Sayers for choice. It was obvious that, strong as
Heenan was, unless he could make a decided change, he
must in a very few minutes be blind.

33.――The Benicia Boy, feeling he had no time to lose,
rushed in, but only just reached Tom’s chest. Both
seemed fagged, and they stood a few seconds, and then
went to close quarters, where Tom, as usual, was busy
on “the Boy’s” frontispiece, until he let him slip
through his arms on to the ground.

34.――Heenan again tried to force the fighting, but Tom
got away. They then stood and sparred until Heenan let
fly his left, which did not reach its destination. He
retired for counsel, and then came at Tom and tried his
right at the body, but without success. Steady
exchanges led to close and rapid in-fighting, and both
fell, Tom under. Heenan’s eye all but closed up.

35.――The Benicia Boy dashed viciously in, and caught
Tom on the snout, but the blow was without powder. Tom
retreated from the vigorous onslaught; Heenan followed
and got home on the jaw with the right, still with no
effect. Tom now turned and ran, Heenan after him, when,
on turning round, Tom napped one on the nose. He,
however, landed another little pop on the good eye.
Sharp exchanges at close quarters ended in the downfall
of Tom. Two hours had now elapsed.