NEW YORK EVENING POST
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1802
BELCHER vs BOURKE
The
following minute and technical description
of a barbarous amusement, still kept up among the English, may be
gratifying to some, as affording a specimen of the state of manners in
that country. BETWEEN BELCHER AND BOURKE 1st Round
was long; much sparring and squaring, hard blows struck, both parties
displayed much spirit but little skill. Bourke appeared to have a good
chance, throwing in a blow which cut Belcher under the left eye; they
closed and both fell, neither having the advantage. _ A
more severe contest never, perhaps took place. And Bourke displayed
every possible characteristic of determined courage and indefatigable
perseverance. Their appearance and a mode of fighting were very
different. Bourke was much superior in a point of weight, nerve and
muscle - Belcher was superior in quickness of arm, activity of body,
and a combination of movements which generally prove successful over a
single excellence, or requisite for the practice of pugilism. Bourke
frequently pushed his courage to ferocity, and sometimes struck at
random; Belcher was, even in the hottest moment of the battle, master
of temper, and seemed never to strike without a specific object. Bourke
although absolutely exhausted, offered to continue the fight, but he
was over-ruled by his second and carried off the stage in a most
wrenched condition. Belcher received several very severe blows,
particularly in the body; but he bore them with great patience, and did
not leave the ground for upwards of an hour after. The battle was for
one hundred guineas a side, and some thousands depended upon its issue.
2nd Round was decided, Bourke closing on Belcher without any sparring, and throwing him, both falling, Belcher beneath.
3rd Round
- Smart and severe; sharp blows passing on both sides; Bourke aimed a
great blow at Belcher's nose, which the latter opped with his right
hand, and threw in a very hard straight forward blow with his left hand
at Bourke's right eye, which took full effect; the blood gushed out,
& the face swelled round the eye, in such a manner as nearly to
close up the sight. Belcher immediately closed on Bourke, and gave him
a severe fall.
4th Round - Much sparring;
no blows took effect. Bourke closed on Belcher and threw him a dreadful
fall, Bourke falling on Belcher with all his weight very heavily. In
consequence of this fall, the betting, which had been 3 to 1 against
Bourke, changed to 3 to 2.
5th Round -
Squaring. Bourke followed up Belcher very quick, Belcher retreating
till he came with some force upon the railing which enclosed the stage:
Bourke close upon him. Those who backed Bourke were now in high
spirits; but Belcher, when against the rails, laid hold of the rail
with the right hand, and with this purchase swung himself round in such
a manner as enabled to give Bourke, with his left hand, a doubly severe
blow on the throat, immediately upon which the blood gushed out of his
mouth in torrents; and Belcher instantly followed this by a sharp blow
with his right hand on the left side of Bourke's head, the latter fell,
Belcher upon him, Bourke having hold of Belcher's hands. The betting
again became 2 to 1 in favor of Belcher. - Bourke sat down on his
second's knee for about half a minute, water was given to wash his
mouth, which, notwithstanding, continued to bleed very much; his face
was also wiped with handkerchiefs, and means taken to refresh him.
During this time, Belcher was walking about the stage.
6th Round - Bourke fell the first blow which took effect smartly on the cheek, just below the eye that had before been nearly closed up.
7th Round
- Bourke immediately arose, and early gave Belcher a blow with his
right hand on the side of the head; Bourke closed on Belcher; a violent
struggle took place; but Belcher had the advantage, throwing Bourke and
falling on him; a rest of nearly a minute took place; Bourke appeared
much exhausted.
8th Round - Bourke, with much spirit and energy threw a blow
with his left hand, which took effect on Belcher's breast; Bourke
closed and threw Belcher.
9th Round -
Bourke's nose was cut open; he closed on Belcher, who threw Bourke; a
heavy fall. This round was very decisive in Belcher's favor
10th Round - Belcher threw a blow at the eye of Bourke, which had been nearly closed up; the blow took effect; Bourke fell.
11th Round
- Belcher threw in several blows on the breast, which seemed to severe.
Previously to this none of the body blows on either side were much
worthy of notice. Bourke closed on Belcher and threw him with great
violence, falling upon him.
12th Round -
Both seemed rather exhausted; Bourke closed early, a powerful wrestle;
Bourke prevailed, Belcher falling under him, Bourke falling heavy. A
rest of about half a minute took place.
13th Round
- Belcher received a full blow on the breast, which made him stagger;
Bourke closed and again threw Belcher, falling heavily on him. A short
round.
14th Round - Belcher cut Bourke's
left cheek both closed and fell after a long struggle. Both displayed
more science in this round than in any of the preceding.
15th Round
- Several hard blows on both sides, though none of them seemed
decisive; both closed and fell, Belcher uppermost. A rest of about half
a minute.
16th Round - Bourke appeared
very weak; he received another blow on the cheek; and one on the nose,
were he had been struck before; Belcher's knuckles appearing to be
buried in his nose. Still Bourke would not fall until he received a
sharp blow under the right ear; the blood gushed out at his ear and at
his mouth; he then fell. This round was decisive of the battle. After
the first blow in this round, Bourke seemed enraged, and to have
recovered all his strength; he struck Belcher several blows in the
breast, but none of them severe, though they made Belcher stagger a
little. Bourke's face was so smashed to pieces, and so besmeared with
blood (his eyes nearly closed up) that he seemed to make a mad and
desperate effort, regardless of consequences. This laid him very open
to Belcher, who was now amazingly active, throwing in his blows with
both hands. The friends of Bourke all cried that he should give in, as
he was manifestly too severely beaten; but he would not yield, though
he was unable, without assistance to rise, his second lifting him up by
the waistband of the breeches.
17th Round
- Bourke appeared to stand very firmly; but one severe blow throw on
his nose, knocked him smack down. Bourke now gave in, and Belcher was
declared victor. At the termination, there were but partial plaudits,
most of the spectators feeling for Bourke's situation, sympathizing
with him as a man of far more bottom than they expected.
_ Mendoza
was to have seconded Bourke, but he was afraid if he did so, that he
might loose the license of the public house he keeps in Mile End Road.
_ Belcher
having beat Bourke, has challenged Mendoza, and offered to fight him in
a month for 200 to 300 guineas; to which bravado Mendoza calmly
replied, that he had relinquished the trade of fighting; that he
supported a family of six children by his exertions as landlord of the
Lord Nelson public house, in White-chapel; that there was one
man he would fight; and that was Jackson, who, in consequence of his
having behaved unhandsomely and unfairly in the former contest, had
aroused Mendoza to satisfaction, if not to vengeance.
_ It
is quite true, that Belcher is not a man of science, according to the
rules of the pugilistic art; but he possesses a style peculiarly his
own, which baffles a regular science. He is remarkable quick, springs
backward and forward like lightning; you hear his blows but never see
them; at the conclusion of a round his antagonist is beaten and bloody,
but you did not see Belcher give a blow. This is indeed a science
peculiarly his own. It is one which none of the regularly bred artist
can meet, it is felt, but not seen and means cannot be devised of
mastering it.
Bourke very nearly paid the forfeit of his life in this affair.
Belcher was arrested to abide the consequences if death had ensued.
Historic boxing newspapers and articles.