Chapter III: Tom King (champion) (1)

1860-1862.

The brief history of the last legitimate champion of the British P.R. is, in many respects, a consoling contrast and relief to the chicanery, trickery, and moral or physical cowardice which marked the “latter-day” professors of pugilism, and their yet more disreputable and despicable patrons. If Tom King fell short in scientific attainments and the intuitive fighting gifts which were so conspicuous in Tom Sayers, Tom Spring, Jem Belcher, Dan Mendoza, John Jackson, and Tom Johnson, he nevertheless exemplified through his brief but bright pugilistic career the boldness, honesty, and fairness which are the accompaniments of true courage; and, whether winner or loser, won or lost upon his merits.

Tom King first saw the light on the 14th of August, 1835, in Silver Street, in the “maritime district” of Stebonheath, or Stepney; an East London parish in which, by an ancient popular tradition, all children born on the high seas have their “settlement.” Among the amphibious population of this region of docks, wharfs, stairs, and jetties, Tom’s earlier days were passed, and here, with “a brother Tham,” he grew in due time to the stature of six feet two inches in his stockings, and the weight of twelve stone and some odd pounds; as active and straight and “pretty a piece of man’s flesh” as a recruiting sergeant ever cast eyes on, and tempted with the “Queen’s shilling” to become a bold dragoon or a stately grenadier. But Tom’s inclination by birth, parentage and education, was all towards “the sister service,” and at an early age he was a “sailor bold” on board of one of Her Majesty’s ships. In this capacity he made a voyage to the coast of Africa, and subsequently another in a trading vessel. On his return his good conduct and character obtained him a position as foreman of labourers at the Victoria Docks, and here, among a very rough class of fellows, Tom, though a giant in stature, and of the mild behaviour which so often accompanies size and strength, could not escape insult. In fact, our hero, instinctively brave, exemplified the wise precept of Laertes’ father:――

“――――Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel; but, being in,
Bear it that th’opposed may beware of thee,”

and so soon found some of the long-shore men who presumed on Tom’s easy temper and mildness of manner. The mode in which, on one particular occasion, he disposed of a half-drunken bully, known in Wapping by the odd nickname of “Brighton Bill,” whose pugnacious propensities and violence had made him a sort of standing terror to his fellow-labourers, got quickly noised abroad, and coming to the ears of Jem Ward, who at this time kept the “George,” in his old quarter of Ratcliffe Highway, the ex-champion sought him out. The pair were quickly on friendly terms, and the scientific Jem, after a few trials of the youngster’s quality with the gloves, in which he quickly perceived the excellent material, in pluck and good temper, he had to work upon, introduced King to some staunch patrons of boxing. Hereupon a notification was published early in 1860, that “’Jem Ward’s big ’un,’ who had never fought in the P.R.,” could be matched for £50 a side against any comer “catch weight.” Of course this modest price was utterly beneath the notice of modern P.R. professors, who condescended to nothing less than five hundreds and thousands, or――save the mark――five thousands and ten thousands when they came to reckon in dollars. So nobody nibbled at the chance, save one Clamp, of Newgate Market, who had fought and won a battle in the London Ring, in October, 1857. A friend of Clamp’s, calling on Jem, posted a “fiver” on his man’s behalf; but, being of an inquisitive turn, Mr. Clamp presented himself at Ward’s sparring saloon, being personally unknown, and put on the gloves, as a casual customer, with the “young sailor.” The result being a “receipt in full” in a single round, the “fiver” was quickly forfeited, Mr. Clamp retired from the public gaze, and Tom was again adrift without an engagement.

As our hero’s fame was principally spread among long-shore men and “the Salts,” Tommy Truckle, of Portsmouth, found friends to back him for a trial with “Jem Ward’s big ’un.” Truckle’s local fame in disposing of dockyarders and fighting “blues” at the great naval port and arsenal was good, and the £50 a side was duly tabled, November 27th, 1860, being the day of battle. King on this occasion was placed by Mr. Richardson, who became his money-finder in the later deposits, under George Woody, the trainer, at Mr. Lyon’s, the “White Hart,” Romford. The “Young ’un” had certainly an alacrity in making flesh, for we were assured by Woody, that when he took him in hand, he drew all 14 stone; but that such was his docility and steady determination in training that he had him down in four weeks to 12st. 10lbs. with great improvement in stamina and activity. Tommy Truckle, a hardy fellow, seemed always in condition at about 12st. but fought at 11st. 6lbs., and his 5ft. lOin. of stature seemed long enough for anything. He trained at Portsmouth, under the watchful eye of George Baker. On this occasion Truckle started from Mr. Tupper’s “Greyhound,” Waterloo Road, and his colours, a black kerchief with puce and gold border, seemed to be pretty liberally taken by his friends. An early morning trip per rail conveyed the travellers to the water-side, below bridge, where a steam tug was in waiting, by which the principals and their friends were conveyed to the Kentish marshes, where a good ring was quickly formed by Fred Oliver and Co., a large accession of spectators arriving by another tug and numerous row boats.

On the men entering the ring, King being first to show, they were warmly greeted; King being attended by Jem Mace (then called the “coming Champion”) and William Richardson; while Truckle was waited on by Bob Travers (the Black) and Walker, of Stony Stratford. King, who had completed his toilette long before his opponent, whose boots seemed to give great trouble, loomed large as he walked about enveloped in a rug, until, the word being given, Truckle stood up, and King, throwing away his blanket and stripping off his under shirt, displayed a bust and general figure which surprised and delighted his partisans. Truckle, when stripped, looked small and somewhat stale, though hardy and resolute, as he confronted the youthful and symmetrical giant.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――As the men stood face to face King looked the pink of
condition, and not only did he stand over Truckle, but his
attitude was decidedly the more artistic and unconstrained.
Truckle stood firmly, his left well out, and his right fore arm
covering the mark, so that there was little of the novice in his
position. Both men seemed anxious to begin work, and manœuvred in
and out when after a few offers on each side, they mutually
stepped back, looked earnestly at each other and rubbed their
arms. King threw up his hands and advanced, when Truckle cleverly
propped him with the left flush in the nose, and drew the
carmine. (Cheers, and “first blood for Truckle.”) King again
stepped in, and this time got home us right a sounder on
Truckle’s ribs, when Truckle got away and down.

2.――Each sparred for an opening. Truckle feinted and tried to
draw the Young’un, but it was no go. King smiled and shook his
head. Exchanges: Truckle on King’s neck, while, on getting near,
King again visited Truckle’s ribs a sounder. Truckle, in trying
to get back, slipped, but recovering himself, closed, when King,
weaving away, fought Truckle clean through the ropes in his own
corner.

3.――As yet little mischief was done on either side, and on coming
up each man eyed his opponent confidently. After sparring and
manœuvring a bit, each trying to find a weak point in his
adversary’s defence, Truckle broke ground and retreated, King
boldly following him step by step, when Truckle sent in his left
at King’s drinking fountain, which at once answered with a
crimson spurt; King, without a check, delivered his right sharply
on Truckle’s head, and down went the Portsmouth hero; a sort of
staggering fall.

4.――On coming to the call of “Time,” Truckle’s left daylight
seemed to have a half shutter up. After some rather pretty
sparring, Truckle tried his left, which was neatly stopped by
King, amidst some applause; the next moment the Young’un let go
both hands straight as a dart, visiting Truckle’s kissing and
olfactory organs with a one, two, which tapped the homebrewed
copiously. Again he invested on Truckle’s left ear with the right
in a heavy exchange, and bored Truckle down in the hitting at the
ropes.

5.――Truckle came up bleeding from nose and mouth, and some
sparring took place for position, the sun shining brightly in
King’s face. They, however, soon got together, Truckle leading
off, and getting his left on to King’s mouth, inflicting a cut on
his lower lip, which compliment the Young’un returned by another
crack on the left listener, which was also cut, and the
Portsmouth man found his way to grass in a hurry. (7 to 4 on
King.)

6.――Truckle, first to the scratch, led off, but was short; King
went in with both hands, and Truckle fell on both hands and one
knee, looking up at King, laughingly; it was a bid for a “foul,”
but “no go,” as King withheld his hand, nodded, and walked away
to his corner, amidst applause.

7.――A very short round. King, as soon as his man faced him, let
go both hands, which alighted heavily on Tommy’s cheekbone and
kissing-trap, and Truckle went down to escape a repetition of the
dose. (2 to 1 on King.)

8.――After a short spar the men rushed to a close, embraced, and
Truckle tried to bring his man over. He did not succeed, for King
shifted his hold and threw him.

9.――Both up together, when King cleverly ducked his head aside,
and avoided Truckle’s left, then rushed to a close, during which
he administered some rib-roasters to his adversary’s corpus, and
ended by throwing him cleverly, not, however, without getting
some sharp half-arm punches about the head and body from the
Portsmouth man’s busy right.

10.――The fighting had up to this time been unusually fast for big
ones, yet both were active and spry as ever. King went to his man
resolutely, and after two or three exchanges with little attempt
at stopping, Truckle went down, King standing over him.

11.――King seemed determined to give his opponent scant
breathing-time. No sooner was he at the scratch than he went
across the ring, and let go both mauleys on his man’s _os
frontis_, who slipped down at the ropes.

12.――Truckle popped his left sharply on King’s peeper as he came
on; King immediately closed, and tried to get on the lock, but
Tommy slipped through his hands, and was on the grass. (18
minutes only to these 12 rounds.)

13.――King’s left came in contact with the left side of Truckle’s
knowledge-box. Tommy retorted on King’s mouth, but next moment
went down with a flush hit on the forehead, falling partly by his
own consent.

14.――Tommy short with his left, when King measured him and
dropped his right, a wax melter on his man’s left auricular,
which was already badly swollen. In the close both were down side
by side. This was the first time, as yet, that King had measured
his six foot length on the ground.

15.――King, who had certainly been making all the fighting, seemed
a little blown, as they sparred for a few seconds, and Truckle
feinted with the left; King once again got on a rattler on
Tommy’s nob, and Truckle got down. (An appeal was made to the
referee, that the Portsmouth man had fallen without a blow, but
the fiat was “Fight on.”)

16.――Good counter-hits. King on the side of the brain-pan with
his right; Truckle on King’s forehead, raising a visible bump.
The men closed, when King forced Truckle down. (Some confusion,
and a cry of “Police.” It was a false alarm.)

17.――King got home his left on Truckle’s mazzard. Truckle rushed
to an embrace and seized King round the waist, but he could not
throw him, and got down without harm on either side.

18.――King first at the mark. Truckle sparring, tried his left,
but, as usual, was short. King avoided Truckle’s second delivery
by throwing his head aside, caught Tommy on the ribs, and the
Portsmouth man got down somehow.

19.――King with the left on the mark, and the right on the jaw,
received two ineffective returns. Truckle slipped on his knees
and hand, and looked up as if expecting a “foul,” but the blow
was not delivered.

20-28.――Similar in character, except that King twice threw
Truckle.

29.――King got twice on to Truckle’s head, whose returns were wild
and ineffective. (Another appeal on Truckle’s style of getting
down. “Fight on,” was the renewed order.)

30-40.――Of similar character. More than one appeal from King’s
umpire, but disallowed. Truckle receiver-general, and apparently
getting more and more “abroad” in each succeeding round.

41.――Truckle game as a pebble, but without a chance of turning
the tide of battle; King hit Truckle so sharply on the ivories
that he drew a fresh supply of Chateau Margaux, and Tommy fell as
if shot.

42-47.――King strong and fresh; Truckle sinking under repeated
doses of punishment; in the last-named round King hit poor Tommy
clean off his feet with the right hand. “Take him away;” but
Tommy refused to strike his colours, and came up for Round

48.――When the Young’un sent him to grass with a right-hander on
the jaw. Still he would come again for Round

49, and last.――As Tommy stood at the scratch, in a somewhat
puzzled condition, King dropped into him left and right, which
brought Truckle forward. His head came against King’s cranium
with some force, and Truckle immediately saluted his mother
earth. George Matthison, who was one of Truckle’s backers, here
stepped into the ring and, by consent of Tommy’s seconds, threw
up the sponge, as his man had not the remotest chance of winning.
King was accordingly hailed the winner of this hard-fought battle
after a bustling contest of one hour and two minutes.

REMARKS.――There was but one opinion on both sides, that, for
novices, both men had acquitted themselves in a first-rate
manner. King is undoubtedly the finest made young fellow it has
been our lot to behold for many a long day. He is, in our
opinion, far finer and more symmetrical in frame than Heenan, not
being so clumsily legged as the Yankee Champion, and his weight
(ordinarily 12st. 12lbs.) more proportionately distributed; and
we cannot help thinking, if ever they should come together (and
it is reported that Heenan challenges the belt) that our “novice”
is just the sort of man to give a good account in a passage of
arms with that redoubtable and over-boasted gentleman. King does
not use his left in leading off, as more practised pugilists do,
but that is a fault he has full time to amend, and as his pluck,
endurance and presence of mind, seconded by undebauched wind and
a fine constitution, were fully demonstrated in this trial, we do
not know where to look for his master. Throughout the battle the
Young’un behaved in the most manly manner, refusing to fall on
his antagonist on several occasions, when he had clearly the
right to do so, and resisting the temptation to deliver a blow,
though sorely provoked by his opponent’s shifty getting down.
Truckle has little pretensions to science; but is a rough and
ready fighter. It must be admitted that, from the first round to
the last, he tried his utmost to get a turn in his favour, but
was overmatched and outfought at all points. His friends must
have been satisfied that he only succumbed to a superior man in
all respects, and then only when nature could do no more. A
subscription for the beaten man was collected on the spot by the
winner, which was added to at the giving up of the stakes. King
exhibited on the following Monday night, at the Rotunda,
Blackfriars Road, at Tom Paddock’s benefit (after the latter’s
defeat by Sam Hurst), showing but trifling marks of his recent
encounter.

Early in 1861, there was much tall talk of a match with Heenan, whose intention of returning to England and claiming the championship from Sam Hurst, the holder of the new belt, was loudly boasted, but all ended, as it had begun, in mere talk.

The tough and gallant Harry Poulson, of Nottingham, was proposed as a competitor, and articles were signed in February, to fight for £100 a side, May 23rd being fixed for the encounter, and £12 a side posted; but the backers of the veteran Harry took second thoughts, and at the second deposit (of £20) failed to put in an appearance, and King pocketed the forfeit.

After the defeat of Sam Hurst by Jem Mace, King lost no time in challenging the new champion, for the “regulation stake” of £200 and the belt, which trophy had been duly handed over by Hurst to the stakeholder. A match with Young Broome, however, intervened, and came off in October, the championship battle being fixed so far forward as January 31, 1862.

Of the way in which the Ring, even when the Championship itself was involved, was made subservient to the quackery of benefit gaggery, the puffery of the Circus, and the gobemoucherie of the gaping rustics and sightseekers, the following from a leading contemporary sporting paper will show:――

“The deposit this week of £15 a side, making £130 a side
down, was duly posted yesterday, and another of like amount
must be staked on Friday next. The big event for the belt
does not excite much interest, from the fact of the Young
Big’un (King) having a previous engagement with Wm. Broome
(Young Evans), on the issue of which, we need hardly say,
must rest his claim as a competitor for the belt and its
contingent honours. Young King, we can say, is taking every
care of himself for the approaching encounter. Jem Mace is
still starring it in the provinces with Pablo Fanque’s
circus, but on Monday week he will re-appear in one of his
superior qualifications at Birmingham, he having matched
himself to run ten miles within the hour for a bet of £100
to £50, on Monday week, Oct. 21st. The ex-champion, Tom
Sayers, we are informed, has also entered into business on
his own account as a circus proprietor, having bought (?)
the three well-known circuses, including Messrs. Howe and
Cushings’, and Jem Myers’s Great American Circus (!). Tom
intends commencing his tour this day, &c., &c., &c.” [We
omit the rest of the “gag.”] “Mr. Edwin James (not the
Q.C.), a New York gentleman, called at our office on
Wednesday last, immediately after his landing, and informed
us that, owing to the war, business is almost at a dead
standstill in the United States; nevertheless, J. C. Heenan,
the gallant competitor of Sayers, is driving a lucrative
trade in his profession (?). Heenan repudiates the fulsome
praises of himself and the absurd tirades against Sayers
inserted in several of our Transatlantic contemporaries.”

To return to the “trial fight” between Young King and William Evans (known as Young Broome), which came off on Monday, October 21st, 1861, on a spot not far from where the International Contest was left undecided in 1860, we may say, in partial contradiction of our quotation, that there was a lively interest in pugilistic circles, whether “a line” could not be drawn from the event as to the capabilities of the “Novice” to wrest the laurel from the brow of the scientific Jem Mace. Immediately after the match was made King was placed under the fostering wing of Nat Langham, who took him out of town, and placed him at Tom Salter’s, “The Feathers,” at Wandsworth, where he had the combined advantages of the river and the road, and from time to time the preceptorship of “Ould Nat” in imparting “wrinkles” from his own practical experience. His walking and rowing exercises were carefully superintended by John Driver, and the condition of King was a credit alike to himself and his trainer.

We must here devote a paragraph to the boxer who was thought good enough to risk 50 sovs. and expenses upon, as a “trial horse” for Young King.

William Evans (whose Ring alias was “Young Broome”) was born in August, 1836, stood 5 feet 10 inches, and, on this occasion, weighed 11st. 2lb. He had fought twice before in the P.R.――viz., with a gentleman of colour, called Kangaroo, whom he defeated, for £15 a side, 18 rounds, 30 minutes, down the river, on March 13, 1858. He next fought and beat Tom Roberts, for £25 a side, in 30 rounds, 50 minutes, down the river. He afterwards received £10 forfeit from Tyson, who could not get to weight; and £10 forfeit from Joe M’Gee; but, on the other hand, forfeited £10 to Joe Goss. Young Broome, having expressed a depreciatory opinion of King’s pugilistic capabilities, and finding some friends who shared his views, challenged the Young One to fight at catch-weight for £50, which was accepted, and Broome, after getting his patrons to rally round him, went to train at Mr. Packwood’s, the “Boileau Arms,” Hammersmith Bridge, at that time weighing about 13st., which bulk was reduced by hard work to 11st. 2lb. Dando, the well-known trainer of Tom Paddock, looked after Broome, and most certainly did his duty to his man. Alec Keene had the management of Broome, who showed the night previous to the fight at the “Three Tuns,” Moor Street, Soho, from which he took his departure in the morning.

There was but little betting on the event, only a few speculations being made at 2 to 1 on King. A very early hour was arranged for the departure, which was made from London Bridge with unusual quietness and absence of bustle; and, after a pleasant trip by rail over about sixty miles of ground, by no means in a direct line, a spot was found in the county of Surrey fit for the amusement. No time was lost in the ring being formed, by Fred Oliver and assistants, when Broome was the first to throw in his cap, attended by a well-known retired pugilist, and Bob Travers. King quickly followed suit, with Joe Phelps and Bos Tyler as his attendants. As both parties meant business, the referee was quickly chosen, and the colours tied to the stake, Broome sporting a salmon-coloured handkerchief, with a narrow magenta stripe and border, for his flag. King had for his standard a chocolate handkerchief, with white, blue, and yellow lozenge, and blue border. During the progress of the toilets of the men, a large number of the neighbouring farmers and gentry assembled on horseback, and, altogether, the gathering was of a superior order. The ring was well kept by Billy Duncan, the P.B.A. Inspector, assisted by Young Shaw, Tom Paddock, and Dan Collins. At length, all the preliminaries having been arranged, the men stood up at 9h. 44min. for

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――King was, of course, the first to attract the
eye of the _cognoscenti_, and his condition was
immediately a moot point, many, who are by no means bad
judges, stating that he was some pounds too heavy;
while others thought that he was in very good trim, but
no doubt without the polish which could have been shown
had his finishing touch been given by a first-rate
proficient. As King placed himself in attitude, his
commanding height showed to great advantage, while the
free play of his shoulders and arms indicated that,
whatever artistic skill he might be deficient in, still
there was propelling power sufficient to compete with a
greater amount of _talent_ than was generally credited
to his opponent. The Young’un certainly exhibited a
wide spread of shoulder, combined with great
development of the muscles on the back; his chest well
arched, showing that there is plenty of room for the
play of his lungs when in work; his loins are rather
narrow, while his legs are worthy the proportions of
the upper part of his frame. His attitude was very
erect, his right hand well across his chest, and the
left well advanced, but low. Young Broome looked, in
comparison, small, but, on scanning his proportions, a
great amount of power could be discovered in the
muscles, which stood out fairly developed, each as
sharply defined as in an anatomical study. His attitude
was rather stiff, with the left well in front, but with
no forcible action, the position of the right rather
showing a determination for mischief with that weapon.
The way in which Broome stood as he sparred, prepared
the spectators for an exhibition of “trotting,” of
which they were most pleasingly disappointed. No time
was lost in sparring, for, both being in the mind for
serious business, hostilities were commenced at once,
by King getting close to Broome and feinting with his
left, but Broome was “wide oh,” and got out of danger.
Broome, who was more than eager, dashed his left at the
head, but, in consequence of his great hurry, he was
short. King, who would be busy, got his left fairly on
the front of Broome’s head, receiving on the chest.
This led to good exchanges, in which both fought very
last, until Broome went down.

2.――On time being called Broome came up first, amidst
the cheers of his friends, who were taken by surprise
at his cleverness in avoiding punishment. King, who
appeared determined to finish the affair off-hand, went
straight to his opponent, who, nothing loth, met him,
and they fought right and left with both hands, King
getting well on the nose and forehead, Broome landing
on the chest and neck, the “pepper-box” being freely
handed from one to the other. This bout was finished by
Broome getting to close quarters, when King picked him
up in his arms, and by sheer strength threw him, after
a good struggle, and fell upon him.

3.――Both came up piping when time was called;
nevertheless, they commenced as soon as they were
within distance by right and left deliveries, Broome
getting fairly on to King’s neck and forehead; King
delivering his left on the nose and jaw; Broome getting
his left on the neck heavily, grazing the skin and
drawing the blood. King at the same time landing his
left on Broome’s forehead, made the first event (first
blood) equal. They then closed, and exchanges took
place until Broome went to grass.

4.――As Broome came up, the effects of the blow
delivered by King upon his forehead were very apparent,
there being a lump with a cut, while King had his right
cheek and chest flushed. Broome, who evidently thought
he had only to go in and win, fought very fast, which
tactics met the ideas of the candidate for the
championship, for they fought furiously with both
hands, until Broome was knocked down by a right-hander
on the jaw. The quick fighting that had taken place,
and the eagerness of the combatants, can be well
explained by stating that the time occupied in the four
rounds was only four minutes.

5.――Broome, who appeared to have had the worst of the
previous round, came up smiling, and, in point of fact,
forced the fighting by leading off with his left at the
head, which was rendered ineffective by King getting
home with his left on the nose. This brought on some
heavy exchanges with both hands, King getting well on
the forehead and nose, receiving on the chest and cheek
until they got to the ropes, where the same tactics
were pursued until they closed, when King proved
himself much the stronger man, as he picked up Broome,
and, after a short struggle, threw him, landing his
right on the chest as Broome fell.

6.――When time was called, both came up with a
determination to settle the matter “off-hand,” which
was evident from the manner in which rapid exchanges
were delivered on both sides. King landed his mauleys
on the nose, forehead, and right ear; Broome getting
well on the cheek and chest twice, and falling from the
force of his own blow at the finish.

7.――Both were blowing as they left their seconds’
knees; nevertheless, the game was kept alive by their
simultaneously delivering their left on the face and
chest, King having the best of the exchanges. Broome
missed a couple of well-intended right-handers, for
which mistakes he was fought down, after a good rally.

8.――The same tactics were pursued as in the previous
rounds, the right and left exchanges being of the same
character. Broome, after breaking away, got his right
on King’s jaw twice, steadying the rush of the “big
’un,” who reached Broome’s forehead with his right.
This forced a rather wild rally, in which King missed
one or two well-intended shots with the left. Broome,
who got on a right-hander on the forehead, fell from
the force of his own blow.

9.――Broome, who was first up, was blowing very freely,
and had a cut on the left eyebrow. King had no
prominent mark, with the exception of his right cheek
being slightly swelled. No time was lost in sparring,
for they commenced proceedings as soon as they met.
Both being eager for work, they closed, and some fast
and wild exchanges took place, Broome getting on the
cheek and forehead, King on the nose and cheek; they
then closed, and after a short struggle, were down side
by side.

10.――The equal fighting of the previous round had
decidedly roused the energies of both, as they missed
their first deliveries, being too eager to get on. On
steadying themselves they countered neatly with the
left, Broome getting upon the cheek, but King more
effectively on the nose. Broome, who was determined to
make the pace good, tried to land his right twice, but
without avail, getting at the third attempt on King’s
neck, who retaliated by sending his left on Broome’s
nose; the latter hit out at a venture with his right,
which reached the side of King’s head, and Broome went
down rather suspiciously from the “wind” of King’s
right hand.

11.――No sooner were the opponents at the scratch than
they commenced proceedings by countering with the left
flush on the front of the head, after which King got
his left on the cheek; Broome, in retaliation, sent his
left on the jaw, and popped his right under the left
eye. Exchanges followed, in which King proved himself
the stronger by forcing Broome down in his own corner.

12.――Broome was first up, and as King faced him, took
the initiative by leading off with his left, which was
rather short, landing on the chest. King, who was
equally eager to try conclusions, rushed in, delivered
a couple of heavy blows on the nose and shoulder,
receiving a right-hander on the forehead, a left ditto
on the cheek, which was followed by Broome delivering a
fair smack with the right on the eye, which forced King
backward against the ropes. (Offers to take 7 to 4 that
Broome would prove the winner.)

13.――Broome, when time was called, came up bleeding
from the cut under the eye, administered in the
previous bout, but, nothing loth, met King with great
determination, and, both being equally bent upon
mischief, the exchanges which took place were wildly
delivered, until they closed, when Broome twisted King
off his legs, who, nevertheless, was uppermost when
they reached the ground.

14.――Both again eager, were up on time being called;
King showing with a lump on his cheek, which was open
under the left eye; Broome had his nose sadly out of
shape and his forehead swelled. No time was lost in
sparring, each commencing by sending out his left, and
each missing from over impetuosity. Broome, who tried
his left and missed, got down cleverly.

15.――This round was remarkable for the quickness of the
exchanges, both getting it on the head and chest. When
they closed, King held Broome by sheer strength, and
got on his right three times, twice on the nose and
forehead, and the third time on the shoulder. King
stumbled against the stakes, and Broome went down.

16.――This round was commenced by each sparring for
wind, King putting his hands down and walking round the
ring. Broome, who was advised by his seconds to force
the fighting, went to work resolutely, got his left
well on the mouth, catching it in return on the nose.
He, nothing daunted, rushed in, and got his right on
the cheek, then fell, apparently from the force of his
own blow.

17.――A cry that the police were coming was raised, and
both men being confident and eager to settle the
business, they commenced by delivering counters on the
eye and nose, which led to exchanges at close quarters,
Broome receiving on the nose, King having one on the
same spot――“a hot ’un.” This stirred the Young One up,
and he sent his right straight on the mark, Broome
planting in return on the cheek. They then closed, and
some very heavy exchanges took place, Broome twice
visiting King’s head, but not heavily, while King, who
was very busy, planted his left between the eyes,
cutting to the bone, then taking hold of Broome, he
delivered three straight right-handers nearly on the
same spot, and Broome was eventually fought down.
Twenty minutes.

The alarm of the arrival of the police was now realised. Several of the county blues appeared at the ring side, but were waiting orders from their superiors, who had not kept pace with them. The men and seconds skedaddled from the ring, and the spectators moved off. They passed across the border of the county, and there the attentive escort left them. In twenty minutes after, as this invasion was unexpected, a ring was formed in a retired spot, and at half-past ten the men were in position for

THE RENEWED FIGHT.

ROUND 18.――On the men again appearing, Broome had his
nose strapped with a bit of adhesive plaster, his mouth
was swelled, and his left eye discoloured. King had his
jaw swelled, and a cut beneath his left eye; but seemed
as strong as at the commencement. Broome, who still
looked confident, commenced the proceedings by leading
off with his left at the head, getting it on the nose
in return. This led to exchanges, both delivering
heavily on the head and chest, until Broome was fought
down in his own corner.

19.――King came up with alacrity, and commenced
proceedings by planting his left on the sore spot,
receiving on the forehead. Broome succeeded in planting
his left on the cheek and neck, receiving some heavy
returns on the nose and right ear, and was finally
fought down at the ropes.

20.――The battle from this time took a decided turn in
favour of King, who, notwithstanding the pace at which
they had been fighting, was as fresh as at the
beginning of the battle. Broome, who was suffering from
repeated visitations on the nose, tried all he could to
turn the tables, but without avail, as, on his forcing
the fighting, King hit him away; and notwithstanding
all the left-hand visitations of Broome, succeeded in
delivering severe right and left blows; the round was
concluded by King knocking down Broome with a
right-hander on the jaw.

21-30.――The fighting in these rounds was of precisely
the same character; notwithstanding all the game and
determined efforts of Broome, who never at any time
flinched, and in several instances surprised his
backers and the spectators by the manner in which he
struggled against the fate, which, though slowly, was
surely declaring against him. In the last of these
rounds Broome tried to get away from the repeated
visitations of King, and cleverly slipped him; but King
followed him closely, and finally knocked him down with
the right. Time in the second ring, fourteen minutes.

31.――Broome, as game as man could be, came up bleeding
from the cut on the nose, and with his ears much
swelled from the blows administered by King, who had
few marks except some red patches on the ribs and
shoulders, and the left eye nearly closed.
Notwithstanding the punishment Broome had received, he
persevered to turn the tables, and met the determined
onslaught of King as well as he was able. It was
evident at this time that his (Broome’s) left hand was
going or gone, as he several times gave his head in an
attempt to bring the battle off in his favour by a
cross-counter with the right. King forced the fighting,
and some good exchanges took place in favour of King,
who, after a spirited rally, fought Broome down.

32-34.――The same tactics were displayed by both
opponents, King, now by far the stronger man, forcing
the fighting as fast as he could, and the seconds of
Broome sending him up to fight, knowing that it was
only a matter of time, unless their man could land the
victory by an accident This he most strenuously
endeavoured to do by getting his right on the jaw; but
King bored Broome down in each round until the 34th,
when Broome landed his right on the temple, which
staggered King, who fell on his knees.

35.――Broome, who came up resolutely, but weak, met the
rush of King with great determination, but was, as
before, the chief recipient of the punishment. His left
hand could not be administered with effect;
nevertheless, he closed, and, after a good rally at the
ropes, threw King, but not heavily.

36.――The cheers and encouragement given to Broome, as
he came up, had decidedly nettled King, for, the
instant he had left his second’s knee, he rushed to
close quarters, and, despite all the efforts of Broome,
fought him down at the ropes.

37.――Broome, who came up slowly, was bleeding from the
cut between the eyes, which were fast closing, and,
with his mouth, much swelled. Despite his weakness he
was resolute, and did not flinch from the onslaught of
his opponent, who sent his left on to the old spot.
Broome sent in his right well upon the ribs, but King,
not to be stalled off, bored in, and fought Broome down
in the latter’s corner. Time in second ring, twenty
minutes.

38.――Broome came up this round apparently better than
heretofore; he was quicker on his legs than in the last
eight rounds. King rubbed his ribs as he came up, and,
getting within reach, rushed to close quarters, when
some very heavy hitting took place; King fighting at
the head, and Broome at the body. On breaking away,
Broome landed his left on King’s nose, for which he was
fought down at the ropes, despite all his endeavours to
“hold his own.”

39.――Broome, in this round, slightly revived the
failing hopes of his friends, as, on King missing his
left, he planted his left neatly on Tom’s nose, and his
right immediately afterwards on the jaw, King dropping
on his knees.

40.――It was but a transient gleam of hope. Despite the
turn in his favour in the last round, it was apparent
that Broome was fast falling weak from exertion and
loss of blood. The seconds of King, seeing the state of
the case, cried out to him “to go in and win,” and he
fought Broome down in his own corner.

41-43, and last.――In each of these rounds Broome only
came up to be hit down. In the last but one he was
knocked down as he came game, but staggering, to meet
his opponent. In the last, King walked straight to
Broome’s corner, as the latter retreated before him,
and, delivering a spank on the head, Broome fell
forward on his face. His seconds, finding it was
useless to prolong the contest, threw up the sponge in
token of his defeat, Young King being hailed the
conqueror, after fighting forty-two minutes in the two
rings.

REMARKS.――The resolute and unflinching manner in which
this splendid contest was carried out from start to
finish, invested the forthcoming encounter for the
Championship with greater interest. The manner in which
King put up with the right-handed deliveries of Broome
(which were by no means light), raised him in the
estimation of all who witnessed the fight, and already
speculation on that event has commenced. King has
improved in his fighting greatly since his encounter
last autumn with Truckle, of Portsmouth, and no doubt
he has learned a lesson or two in this encounter with
Broome. He is too impetuous in his rushes, in one of
which he got the cut under the left eye, as well as
several right-hand props, which at all times are
dangerous, a chance blow having, in many instances,
brought off a battle when all chance was apparently
gone. That he is thoroughly game there can now be no
question, and his steadiness in training, &c., is a
certain proof that he will in the eventful contest for
the Championship be as fit as man can be possibly
trained. Young Broome, although defeated, is by no
means disgraced, and his friends, to a man, are
satisfied with his performance, which has taken even
his warmest admirers by surprise. Rumours had been
flying about respecting Broome’s gameness, and he
having heard of the same, stated his determination to
be game on this occasion; that he most faithfully kept
his word, a perusal of the above account must prove.
After the sponge had been thrown up, Broome was
carefully attended to by his seconds, but,
notwithstanding all their attention, he soon became
blind. On reaching the first convenient domicile, he
was put to bed, when, despite the usual remedies, he
was attacked with a severe fit of cold shivers, which
could not be subdued for some time. At a late hour of
the afternoon he was recovered sufficiently to take his
departure for town, where, on his arrival, he met with
a hearty reception. His friends expressed their
intention to pay him for his colours the same as if
they were winning ones, and a benefit was arranged for
as a solace for his defeat. King left for town at an
earlier period than his opponent, and passed the
evening amidst his friends at the east end, but little
the worse for the encounter.

Both Broome and King rapidly recovered from the effects of their battle, Broome being able to visit Aldershot, on the Thursday, with Alec Keene. He was also present at the deposit for the Championship, which took place on Thursday, when he received some substantial recompense for his gamely contested fight.

The stakes were given up to King on the ensuing Tuesday, at Joe Phelps’s, the “Blakeney’s Head,” High Street, Islington, when a few admirers of Tom King ventured to lay evens on their pet for the great event in perspective; though 5 and even 6 to 4 was the price in the east as in the west.

King trained for the great encounter at Hastings, Mace near Norwich; the latter coming to town to be present at the fight between Bob Brettle and Jack Rooke, on the 31st December, 1861, for £200 a side and a bet of £300 even,[41] the moderate sum of £1,000 being dependent on the issue.

“Time and tide speed on their course, and wait for no man,” and the month of January, 1862, had reached its 28th day, when, on as cheerless and miserable a winter’s morning as combined damp, drizzle, mizzle, snow, sleet, and marrow searching cold could mix up, our bold aspiring young sailor met the practised and scientific Norwich boxer. How his “greenness,” despite his gameness, fell before superior skill, tact, and experience, may be found fully set forth in the preceding chapter.

As we have already said, there was one person, and that one a most important factor in the question, who thought he was beaten by an accident――his name was Tom King. Tom maintained, without any intention of disparaging for one moment the credit due to Mace for his skill and also his courage, that he felt convinced, if his friends would stand to him, he should be able to reverse the first verdict, or, at any rate, he would then acknowledge that Mace was the better man.

After the long and undecided battle between Joe Goss and Ryall, Goss was brought forward by his Wolverhampton backers, as a competitor with Mace for the belt. In April also, “the Benicia Boy” arrived from America, bringing with him a brother “Jem,” who was said by some Yankee paragraphists to have come “to pick up the belt.” We have already noted, in our life of Mace, that Heenan repudiated this newspaper bounce; and here, to avoid repetition, the reader is referred to the memoir of Mace for the circumstances under which the second match between King and Mace was brought about and carried to a conclusion.

Mace, at the time the articles were signed, was making hay after the manner of Tom Sayers, in travelling with an equestrian circus――that being the only ring in which he appeared to have a chance of a job. This employment he kept up for some time after the match was made. King, too, for a few weeks was tempted to “do the mountebank” with a travelling company; but Tom did not take kindly to the business of “busking,” and threw it up, returning to his London patrons.

As the time drew on, each man found it expedient to mingle more decidedly in sporting circles, and thus create a greater interest than had heretofore been exhibited, and this wise discrimination gradually had the desired effect. The match began to be talked about in all quarters, flocks of admirers followed the rival champions on every race course, or at any place of public resort, and soon the discussion of their respective merits led to a comparison of their deeds and their appearances with those of the heroes of the old ring.

The nearer the time approached the mystery observed as to the actual “where” tended not a little to foster anxiety, many of the intending spectators being kept in a ferment of funk lest they should be thrown over at the last. It was known it must be either at the end of November or the beginning of December, and as the fights between Hicks and Gollagher and Dillon and Reardon, both for high stakes, were fixed for about the same time, the chance of being put on a wrong scent, and arriving at the wrong ring side, redoubled the fears of the fidgety. The men themselves even were not made acquainted with the actual day until within a week of the time, and so well was the secret kept, that, until the previous Monday, we believe the number of persons “fly” to the arrangements might be numbered upon the fingers of the two hands.

Both Mace and King being sober, steady fellows in their habits, and both being pretty well in their prime, and accustomed to hard work, there was no inconvenience felt by either in their training in consequence of the uncertainty as to the day of milling――both being well up to the mark, and, indeed, almost fit to fight before they went into training, which they did some seven weeks before the eventful Wednesday; Mace at Newmarket, at the old training quarters of Tom Sayers, under the care of Howard, the Bradford jumper; and King at the “Baldfaced Stag,” near Woodford, Essex, under Harry Harris. It is creditable to the respective mentors of the men, that nothing was left undone which could ensure the respective champions being in a meet state for the arduous task they had set themselves.

Although there was so much excitement, and so much pleasurable anticipation of the mill, it cannot be concealed that mixed up with it was a taint of suspicion that all was not quite serene and square, arising from the fact that the respective backers of the men had changed sides since January, and that King, formerly an Eastern sage, and then an enlightened West Ender, had relapsed into his original form; while Mace had, after a fall from West to East, once more started Westward, and was backed from the Haymarket, with at any rate a side wind help from his former patrons. Some people imagined that nothing could be square under such circumstances as these. They shut their eyes to ascertained facts, and then, by a series of winks and knowing grins, strove to create a prejudice which spread, no one knows how, and finally gained for the Ring and its _protégés_ that pleasing character they labour under among those who at all seasons, and on all possible occasions, do all they can to decry the old manly sports of their country.

The acting representatives of the men on this occasion were Mr. Richardson, of the “Blue Anchor,” Church Street, for King, and Mr. Coney, of Panton Street, for Jem Mace, who was partly backed by some old fanciers. To these diplomatic managers the stakeholder in due course communicated the actual day he had determined for the fray, but he declined to fix a scene for the performance, as he considered an arena could be better settled by the agents themselves, who could consult other parties likely to have a finger in the pie, and without whose aid there would certainly be no getting to the rendezvous, and without whose judgment that rendezvous could not be determined on without great risk. The plan turned out a wise one, and thanks to the energy and discrimination of those concerned, all was satisfactorily arranged without let or hindrance.

We have alluded already to the difficulties which beset the managers of Ring affairs at this period, and on the Monday morning Messrs. Richardson and Coney received the unwelcome information, that the officials of a certain railway company, with which they had made all pleasant for the “excursion,” had decided to cancel the arrangements, and that no special train would be provided. Here was a pretty fix for the executive. An alternative line was immediately decided on. All ticketholders would be conveyed by ordinary train to Thames Haven, where two commodious steamboats would be ready for the conveyance of the voyagers to a _terra incognita_. While these arrangements were perfecting on the Monday and Tuesday, the uncertainty added to the excitement, and telegrams flew over the wires from every point of the compass from “country cousins” seeking the “straight tip,” and town friends anxious to communicate the same. The sporting houses, East and West, were thronged, reminding some of the olden days when “Le Boxe,” as Alphonse calls it, was an “institution.”

As we have given an instance of “clerical” interest in Ring sports, on another occasion, in the sister island, we may here note that a high Anglican Church authority entered itself among the “tipsters” on this; the _Record_ giving a prominent place to the following paragraph:――

“The fight between James Mace and Thomas King is to take
place on Tuesday next in the neighbourhood of Aldershot.”

We hope the “tipster” who so egregiously sold the reverend editor, as to day and place, did not add dishonesty to his pious fraud. At any rate we fear, as we did not see him in his accustomed position, that our right reverend friend, “the Bishop of Bond Street,” may have been misled by ecclesiastical authority; we believe the police were――of course we were not.

By four o’clock on Wednesday morning the approaches to Fenchurch Street were alive with intending excursionists, who on arriving at the station found the entrance crowded by a strong posse of roughs and thieves, always to be found at their posts on such occasions. These gentry had a good time of it, and so strong and daring were their forces, that the few ring keepers engaged to protect the public were completely overpowered, and, in many instances, eased of their own property. Bob Travers, among others, was attacked and forcibly deprived of all he had about him. Many lost their tickets, and many gentlemen were so intimidated that they declined facing the ordeal, and returned home. The scene was, on the whole, disgraceful. The managers of the undertaking were great sufferers, and were loud in their complaints that the conduct of these roughs prevented their reaping the harvest they had anticipated. Although the company commenced assembling at four o’clock, it was fully seven before there were any signs of a start, and the impatience of the early birds, although extreme, was fully justifiable. There was no help for it, however, as all was in the hands of the railway officials.