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_ On
Monday last, a mill took place for twenty-five sovereigns, in a field
in the parish of Grewell, a little village betwixt Waterend (an
attractive spot, well known to some of the Pets of the Fancy) and
Odiham, between a fancy Kid of Odiham, of the name of Thomas Stewart,
and a Yokel, of the name of Harding (better known by the appellation of
Hard'un, who, in the sequel, proved himself worthy of the name). The
men, in point of weight, were nearly on par - Hard'un, however, having
rather the advantage, and being the stronger man. The kid was superior
in length and science. The latter was attended by a knight of the hod
and a snob, the former by a Reading cove and a thorough-bred
Grewallion. The fight excited considerable interest, and drew an
immense number of spectators; The Kid being a favorite among the Fancy
of Odiham, and Hard'un the boast of Grewell - betting, 5 to 2 on the
kid.
THE FIGHT
_ Round
1. Little time was lost in sparring, when Hard'un made a desperate hit
at the body; but the Kid was awake, and got away. Hard'un made another
effort, which fell short; the kid went in, and nob'd his opponent,
right and left, in good style, and left the marks of his fives on
Hard'un's pbiz, and at length made him kiss his mother earth.
_ 2.
The Kid looked collected, while Hard'un seeming impatient, made another
effort at the Kid's body, but found him too leary; the Kid nob'd him in
fine style, and again sent him to the grass.
_ 3.
After a little ceremony, Hard'un tried again for his favorite hit, but
it was well stopped. " 'twont do," said the Kid, with a smile, and
peppered him again, right and left, on the left ogle. Hard'un fell, to
avoid further punishment.
_ 4.
The Kid came to the scratch smiling; Hard'un tried, with his superior
strength, to break down the Kid's guard; but the Kid would not have it;
an excellent rally followed when Hard'un caught the Kid by the hams*
and threw him a complete back fall, for which he celebrated.
_ 5.
Hard'un tried again for his favorite hit, "caught a tartar" from the Kid's left, and went down to avoid his right.
_ 6.
Hard'un now made a rush, but caught it as he was coming in, closed, and
from his superior strength, floored his opponent, but the Kid was
decidedly the favorite.
_ 7.
The Kid, finding he should not be able to do much at close fighting,
owing to Hard'un's superior strength, and being in a fair way of
closing his adversary's peepers, gave him to understand his intentions
of so doing, and to show a little of his activity, caught him on the
right ogle with his left, and retreated, Hard'un following, and
receiving a severe smeller and touch on the ear, which sent him reeling.
_ 8.
Hard'un's phiz now looked "beautiful" - it exhibited the various tints
of the rainbow - while the Kid appeared as fair as a lily, and without
a blemish. From this to the 21st round was in favor of the Kid -
Hard'un made several attempts to gain his point, but they were
fruitless, continually napping it on the phiz, till he became so
metamorphosed as to be a fit subject for the corner of "Comicalities."
_ 22.
This was an excellent round - Hard'un appeared regenerated, and came up
with the vigor of a young elephant; he resolved to break down the
Kid's guard, but 'twould not fit, and some good counter-hitting ensued,
in which some severe blows which made him stagger: this blow was placed
with such force were placed on each side, particularly one on Hard'un's
cannister, as to break one of the Kid's fingers on his right hand, and
dislocate his wrist. The round terminated with a close; the Kid got
Hard'un's head in chancery, and fibbed him til both fell, Hard'un under.
_ 23.
From this to the 27th round, Hard'un went down to avoid the punishment
of the Kid's left hand, which he occasionally placed on his old sores.
_ 28.
Hard'un still game, but nearly blind, made a rush, and for the first
time caught the Kid on the nose; a rally ensued, in which Hard'un made
his favorite hit, which was a prelude to worse for the Kid, and made
him look very serious; this ended in a close, and both fell, rolling
one over the other.
_ 29.
Hard'un, finding his opponent seriously injured in the wrist and
finger, availed himself of the opportunity of making the best of his
play, and went in to finish his work in quick time. He was as fresh as
a rose, but not quite so handsome; and made several desperate hits, but
the Kid still kept them off, tho' weak. Hard'un got it on the conk, and
went down.
_ 30.
Hard'un pursued his former system, bored in, and caught the Kid on the
side of the eye. The Kid returned the compliment with his left. In the
close, the Kid was thrown, Hard'un falling on him.
_ 31
and 32. Hard'un scarcely able to see how to place a blow, but rushing in at a venture, met the two reelers.
_ 33,
and last. The Kid weak, and right hand useless, went to the scratch,
and fought rather wildly; Hard'un headstrong, although dreadfully
mutilated, rushed in, caught the Kid twice on the ribs, with great
force. Still the Kid kept his footing, while Hard'un caught a grounder.
The Kid, feeling the severity of the two last blows, together with his
disabled hand, now thought it most prudent, on time being called, to
say "enough" - although, in point of punishment, Hard'un had the worst
of it. The Grewailians bore their hero away, with the stakes, in
triumph. The fight lasted forty-seven minutes.
_ *
This, according to Broughton's Rules, was "foul," and the Kid ought to have been taken away. - EDITOR.
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