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_ We
are indebted to Mr. Richard G. Berford, baggage
master of the M.O. Roberts' opposition California steam-
ship line for a San Francisco paper of the 18th ult.,
coming overland, containing full details of one of the
most desperate prize fights ever witnessed in this coun-
try. The contest was most spiritedly sustained by the
respective combatants, and the full and interesting re-
port will be read with lively interest by the whole sport-
ing community:
_ The
excursion boats that were to convey those desirous
of witnessing the mill between Walker and Dwyer to the
scene of the tussle, left their respective wharves a few
minutes before nine o'clock Tuesday morning. The fact
that considerable sums of money had been laid upon the
result of the battle, and that the military companies were
embarking for their camping-ground, attracted an im-
mense number of persons to the water front. The run-
ners were crying in stenterian voices the superior accom-
modations of their favorite boat, and the boys were either
purchasing tickets or quietly watching an opportunity of
"stealing a march" and obtaining sureptitiously a pas-
sage: some were waiting in hopes that the price
would be reduced. Finally, the boats pushed from
the shore. The dashaway taking the lead, was fol-
lowed by the Clinton. As the latter boat cast of her
lines and dropped into steam, a few who had been
procrastinating made a rush to get on board, and the last
man - there is always a last man - failed to connect; he
jumped, but could not reach, and fell floundering into the
bay. Instantly the fearful cry of "man overboard" was
raised, and the crowd pressed forward to see who the un-
fortunate person was, and in so doing came near pushing
several others from the boat. However, a line was
thrown to the involuntary recipient of a free plunge bath,
and he was hauled on board, dripping like a drowned rat
and puffing like a porpoise.
THE RUN TO THE BATTLE FIELD
_ The
bay was placid as a bride's temper; not a ripple
disturbed the sersnity of its bosom, and the boat, under
a full head of steam, "walked the waters like a thing of
---," while the crowd congregated in little knots and en-
tered upon lengthy dissertations relitive to the merits of
the contestants and prize fighters in general, and the pro-
babilities of their favorite being victor in the impending
conflict. A level piece of ground, about five miles this
side of Napa, had been selected as the battle field, and
persons had been sent forward a day or two previous to
make the necessary preparations.
THE CHAMPION
_ Walker,
with his trainer, had taken quarters at a farm
house near the battle field, and was consequently not seen
until he arrived at the ring, where he was received with
a number of hearty cheers. He is a man about twenty
six years of age, compactly built, and was in passable
condition; but having been unwell for several days during
the latter part of the training, he could not be brought
up to the highest state of perfection; his hair had been
cropped to conform to regulation rules, and take him for
all in all, he presented all the appearance of a regular
"pug," The Dashaway left the wharf and went ever
towards Angel Island, where Dwyer was awaiting her.
As she passed by, a small boat shot out from the shore
and rowed toward her, and the crowd took up the
cry of "there he comes." and crowded to the side of
the vessel in order to catch a glimpse of the buffer,
utterly regardless of the captain's reiterated requests
to "trim ship." Dwyer is an Irishman by birth,
and a "broth of a boy," about thirty years of age.
His muscles were like iron, and his flesh as hard as
marble. He has been in the ring before and won a re-
putation for bulldog tenacity and courage. He felt confi-
dent that he would win the battle, but expected to pay
dearly for the victory. His preparations for the fight
were commenced under the trainership of Harry Grib-
ben; but for some reason he was deposed, and Big Benny
and O'Donnell were engaged to complete the task begun
by Harry. Walker was conditioned and brought to the
scratch by Joe Winrow, one of the most noted of train-
ers. Both men reflected credit upon the pecuilar talent
of the men under whose charge they had placed them-
selves.
_ The
articles of agreement stated that the men were to
be in the ring between ten and two; but on account of
the slowness of the boats, neither party arrived on the
ground until after the hour. The Clinton arrived a few
minutes after three o'clock, and a ring was speedily
formed.
THE DASHAWAY AGROUND
_ In
coming up to the slough the Dashaway ran aground
and stuck fast. Finding that they could not get off, Dwyer
and his trainers took a plunger and proceeded to the battle
field, arriving a few minutes before five o'clock. In the
meantime the tide had been lenient towards the
grounded steamer, and she was again pursuing her
voyage.
CHOOSING UMPIRES AND REFEREES
_ The
greatest trouble ensued relative to the choosing of
a referee, each party endeavoring to get a man who they
supposed would favor their champion. Many were
named, but rejected, and each party refusing to yield, the
stakeholder, James Mulloy, was declared referee, by the
rules of the prize ring. John Lazarus was then chosen
umpire for Walker, and Hugh Kelly for Dwyer.
ENTERING THE RING
_ Dwyer
came up and shied his castor into the ring, and
was soon followed by Walker. The friends of each man
welcomed him with a round of cheers, and the seconds
began preparing their men for the fight. William Clark
and Joe Winrow preforming these duties for Walker, and
O'Donnell and Sullivan doing the same for Dwyer. But a
few minutes elapsed before all things were in readiness.
THE COLORS
_ Walker's
colors were a blue ground, with white check
and border. Those of Dwyer's were plain green. They
were tied to the stake, by which the referee and umpires
stood, and were girded around the waist of the principals
and seconds. The men when stripped for the mill looked
well, but the flesh of Dwyer looked more solid and tough
than that of his antagonist.
THE FIGHT
_ All
things being in readiness, the men, with their se-
conds, advanced to the center of the ring, shook hands
and then retired to their corners. The timekeeper called
time and both parties came to the scratch. They put up
their hands in good style and showed that they were no
chickens.
_ First
Round - Walker sparred for a moment or two,
when he saw a good opportunity and let fly his right flip-
per, getting home upon Dwyer's beak and drawing the
claret, getting away from a plunger sent after him. He,
however, rallied and came back, when they closed and
Dwyer threw him. (Loud cheers from all sides)
_ Second
Round - Walker comes up to the scratch and re-
ceives an upper cut from Dwyer, and returns one upon his
conk. They close in and Dwyer gives Walker two or three
plugs on the ogle, when he throws Dwyer.
_ Third
Round - Both men to the center promptly, and
after some very neat sparring Dwyer sent his bunch of
fives into Walker's sucker and cutwater, turning on the
tap, receiving a ribber. They then closed, and Walker
threw Dwyer, falling heavily upon him.
_ Fourth
Round - Walker came to the center with car-
mine coursing down his cheek from a cut on the right
eye. They close almost immediately, and both go down,
Dwyer managing to be on top.
_ Fifth
Round - Both men apparently mean business;
they eye each other like basifisks, and wade in; Walker
receives a blow over the ogle, on the smeller and kisser,
and returns one on the nob, and sends a perfect sledge
hammer into Dwyer's bread basket. in the close and
struggle, Dwyer hitting Walker several severe licks in
the face, and throwing him. [At the conclusion of this
round both men appeared to be nearly out of breath.]
_ Sixth
Round - Considerable fibbing took place during
the first part of the round, during which Walker was the
recipient of a sockdologer which boxed his listener, they
closed and seperated, when Dwyer requested Walker to
come to the center. The request was complied with,
when Dwyer closed in and was thrown by Walker, both
men going down.
_ Seventh
Round - Walker delivered a slight tap upon
Dwyer's ivories, and was repaid by a telling blow upon
the snuffer, followed by one on the conk. While Walker
planted a breath loser upon his lungs, they closed and
Dwyer threw Walker, falling upon him.
_ Eighth
Round - Walker closed in upon Dwyer and got
several plugs on the left visual organ, and threw Dwyer,
but in the fall
_ Ninth
Round - Dwyer planted a mark upon Walker's
knowledge box, making it puff up like a mushroom.
Sharp counter-hitting, when Dwyer closed in. Walker
went down to save himself. [Walker's face begins to
show the severe punishment he had received.] Time,
sixteen minutes.
_ Tenth
Round - Walker reached out with a crusher, but
it was cleverly stopped by Dwyer, who immediately gave
him a note of hand, delivered at sight, nearly closing the
peeper. Walker with caution came on and levied a con-
tribution from Dwyer's kisser, when the latter closed in
and was thrown.
_ Eleventh
Round - This round was fought with great zeal
by both parties. Dwyer led off and had his hand upon
Walker's brain pan, causing the flesh to swell; the blow
was immediately followed by one on the chest, which
sent Walker to the grass.
_ Twelfth
Round - The last round had convinced Walker
that his antagonist was in earnest and meant business;
he approached with caution, and delivered one upon
Dwyer's chin, and stopped two or three aimed at his
conk. "I'll get you yet," said Dwyer, and sure enough
he did, for he planted a peeler upon Walker's nose, when
they closed and went down. Walker's face shows the
gruel he has been receiving, while Dwyer looks apparently
fresh. Time, twenty minutes.
_ Thirteenth
Round - Both men begin to come down to
their work and peg away in earnest. Walker seems
unable to reach Dwyer with any amount of force. They,
however, close up, when Walker astonishes Dwyer's optic,
for which he is immediatly grappled, when after some
sharp fibbing, Walker slips down.
_ Fourteenth
Round - Walker brought a chopper upon
Dwyer's wig block, and followed it with one on the neck,
when they clinched, and Dwyer threw Walker.
_ Fifteenth
Round - Walker led out with his right, when
it was handsomely parried, and Dwyer closed in. After a
short tussle they seperated, but before Walker could con-
centrate he received one in the victualling department
which sent him through the ropes. [Great excitement
now prevailed, and the odds were offered in favor of
Dwyer.]
_ Sixteenth
Round - After several feints, Walker got one
home on Dwyer's spectacle beam, and in return accepted a
remembrancer which caused him to go to the grass.
_ Seventeenth
Round - Dwyer leads out and catches Walk-
er's squinter unawares, and partly closes it. Walker is
bleeding severely from the numerous cuts around his
nose and face; but his powder is dry, and he has no end
of ammunition in the magazine - but his forces are not
available against the repeated and rapid charges of the
enemy. Like Napoleon upon the battle field of Waterloo,
he wished that night or Blucher would come. They gave
a blow or two while standing off when Dwyer presses in
and gives Walker several short upper cuts before he goes
down. One of his eyes is now completely closed, and he
is covered with blood. Time - thirty five minutes.
_ Eighteenth
Round - It grows dark rapidly, and Dwyer,
in hopes of winning the fight, charges upon Walker and is
thrown.
_ Nineteenth
Round - Both men came to the scratch
slightly groggy, and Walker gets in one on Dwyer's nod-
dle, and was thrown by Dwyer, who fell upon him. [It
had now become so dark as to render it impossible to dis-
tinguish the features of the combatants.]
_ Twentieth
Round - Dwyer rushes in, and after a strug-
gle during which he gave and received some gruel, he
got Walker down.
_ Twenty-first
Round - Same as twentieth. Time, fourty-
two minutes
_ The
referee announced that it was too dark to continue,
and ordered the seconds to take their men from the ring.
The fight to be renewed at six o'clock the next morning.
RENEWAL OF THE FIGHT
_ A
few moments before six o'clock both the principals
were brought into the ring. Dwyer's face showed that
he had been indulging in a scrimmage. Walker's face
looked considerably bruised. The men were soon pre-
pared for the work they had before them. At the call of
time they came to the scratch, shook hands, and began the
fight.
_ Twenty-second
Round - Walker had come the ring
after having changed his base; his intention appeared to
be to keep out of reach and make his skill as a boxer
available. Dwyer led out with his right, and was stopped
by Walker, who returned one upon Dwyer's ribs. Dwyer
then closed in, and Walker went down.
_ Twenty-third
Round - Dwyer managed to get in one
upon Walker's cranium, and received a cuff on the hear-
er, closed, and after a few counters Walker went to the grass.
_ Twenty-fouth
Round - Walker gave Dwyer a slasher
on the noodle and got away safe. He returned and sent
one for Dwyer's eye, which was stopped in handsome
style; his peeper was made to feel the weight of Dwyer's
fist for being in range; Dwyer then clinched him
and gave him some excellent gruel, when Walker got
down.
_ Twenty-fifth
Round - This round was hotly contested.
Dwyer planted a couple upon Walker's peepers and
smeller, and accepted one on the cheek, returning a
chapper upon Walker's shoulder. Some rapid counter-
hits are made, and the essential oil coursed
down the cheeks of Walker, whose right eye
was rapidly closing. Walker managed to lodge one
on Dwyer's breadbasket, which caused him to grunt.
Then they close, and Walker goes down before he re-
ceives any punishment. [Walker appears to be laboring
hard; he shows his punishment, and clouds look lowering
upon the house. Fifty dollars to one hundred are offered
that Dwyer wins the fight; but everybody seems to be of
the same opinion, and no one accepts the offer.] Time
thirty minutes.
_ Twenty-sixth
Round - Walker's face is bleeding badly,
and presents a fearful appearance; but he comes to the
scratch smiling, and hands one to Dwyer's ribs and takes
one on the neck. They lock and get away, Dwyer re-
ceiving one on the grubbery; but marrying again, Dwyer
opens a couple of fresh cuts upon Walker's face, when
Walker gets to grass.
_ Twenty-seventh
Round - Some light sparring; both
down, Dwyer on top.
_ Twenty-eighth
Round - About the same as last.
_ Twenty-ninth
Round - Dwyer got a slight tap from
Walker and threw him, falling upon him.
_ Thirtieth
Round - Considerable counter-hitting and
parrying; a tussle, and the cataract was renewed from
Walker's peeper, and he went down.
_ Thirty-first
Round - Dwyer now begins to force the
fight into Walker's corner: the latter sends a couple in,
which land upon the optic and listener, bringing the ruby,
and causes the optic to swell. Dwyer catches Walker and
throws him upon the ropes, and gave him a punch. [The
cry of foul was raised, but not allowed.]
_ Thirty-second
Round - A few exchanges, when Walker
gets in a stinger on Dwyer's nose, and then throws and
falls upon him.
_ Thirty-third
Round - Both parties rush on, and after a
short struggle, Walker goes down, laughing.
_ Thirty-fouth
Round - Close work, when Walker puts
Dwyer down.
_ Thirty-fifth
Round - Some little sparring, when Dwyer
closes up and throws Walker. The indications that some
thing has been done are plainly visible upon both parties,
but the outcroppings are the most distinctly upon the
features of Walker, who goes down as soon as Dwyer
catches hold of him.
_ Thirty-sixth
Round - Dwyer rushes in as soon as time is
called, and manages to get Walker down.
_ Thirty-seventh
Round - Walker pops his mauleys into
Dwyer's peeper, who seizes and gives it to him in a rough
manner until he gets down. [Foul claimed by Clark, but
not allowed.]
_ Thirty-eighth
Round - A short round, and fought with
spirit. Dwyer goes in, and Walker goes down as a stra-
getic movement. Time - one hour and five minutes.
_ Thirty-ninth
Round - Dwyer caught Walker on the hip
and threw him into his own corner.
_ Fortieth
Round - A few hits, but no damage, when they
embrace, and Walker gets to the grass.
_ Forty-first
Round - Both men come up promptly to the
scratch. Walker's eyes, which were nearly closed, have
been benifitted by the flow of the cochineal, and he looks
better. He, however, got one upon his peeper, which
wasn't good for his wholesome. As soon as Dwyer took
hold of him he went to the sod.
_ Forty-second
Round - Some neat sparring. Walker don't
court the fight, but appears desirous of doing a good thing
upon the first appearance of an opening. He again goes
to the ground upon finding himself in Dwyer's clutches.
_ Forty-third
to fiftieth Round - During these rounds the
men would come up at the call, and soon after a few passes,
close, when Walker would hit the sod. Time, one hour
and twenty minutes.
_ Fifty-first
Round - They stood and slogged away for
some minutes, the blows being handsomely parried. The
round was ended by Walker going down.
_ Fifty-second
Round - Walker's eyes looked decidedly bad,
one of them is entirely closed; he, however, got it upon
Dwyer's lug and threw him.
_ Fifty-third
Round - Dwyer sends his flippers into the
squinter of Walker and puts him down upon the ropes;
but in doing so, administers some gruel. [A foul was
claimed, but overruled.] Time, one hour and twenty-five
minutes.
_ Fifty-fouth
Round - Walker hits Dwyer on the bred
receiver and goes down when clinched.
_ Fifty-fifth
to Fifty-eighth Round - Walker gets down
every round as soon as possible. His face is badly bruis-
ed, and is covered with blood; but he is always ready.
Time, one hour and forty minutes.
_ Fifty-ninth
Round - Dwyer manages to copper the
ivories and play the ogles to win. He keeps going for
them, and they are not the most pleasing objects to be
hold. In this round Walker went down.
_ Sixtieth
to Sixty-seventh Round - These rounds were
nothing more than a series of sparring matches, clenches
and falls, Walker invariably going down as soon as he
could after a clinch. but not before he gave and received
some gruel. Time, two hours.
_ Sixty-eighth
Round - The sun had now got up and was
shining down with considerable fierceness. Dwyer
managed to crowd Walker around so that it would fall in
his eyes. Slight fibbing took place after a clench; when
both went down.
_ Sixty-ninth
Round - Dwyer placed a soggy one on
Walker's frontispiece, causing him to reverse his engine.
They came together, and Walker received one for going,
which caused a cry of foul by Mr. Clark; but it was de-
cided against him. After being carried to his corner,
Walker proceeded to replenish the inner man with a glass
of something from a jug.
_ Seventieth
to Eightieth Round - During these rounds
Dwyer made frequent applications of his mauler to
Walker's optics, causing them to gradually close. One of
them was completely shut, and and the other nearly,
yet he came to time as spry as a kitten, ready
and willing to take punishment, hoping there-
by to win the fight by either a chance blow
or by some lucky crusher which would knock his oppo-
nent out of time. In these rounds, though he succeeded
in nearly closing Dwyer's left eye, he was badly beaten,
and began to show exhuastion. At the close of every
round he was permitted to take something to drink.
_ Eighty-first
Round - Walker came to the scratch at the
call of time, and slogged at his opponent; his mug showed
that Bill had been there, and his eyes began to show
signs of closing business. Dwyer got another on Walker's
nose, and had it returned upon his dominoes. Time, two
hours and twenty minutes.
_ Eighty-second
and Eighty-third Rounds - Both ended in
favor of Dwyer.
_ Eighty-fourth
Round - Dwyer, in putting his foot for-
ward for the purpose of forcing the fight, inflicted an ugly
wound upon Walker's shin. "Do you want to cut me all to
pieces?" asked Walker. "No, Johnny, I didn't do it on pur-
pose, it was an accident. I wouldn't hurt you for any-
thing." As he said so, he delivered another note-of-hand
at sight, and closed in, Walker getting Dwyer down.
_ Eighty-fifth
Round - Dwyer, after a short sparring
match, gave Walker a side-winder on the larboard listener,
and got a return on the nozzle, when they closed, and
Dwyer threw Walker, falling upon him.
_ Eighty-sixth
Round - Dwyer cut in and threw Walker.
Time, two hours and thirty minutes.
_ Eighty-seventh
Round - Dwyer opened a couple of fresh
cuts upon Walker's dial.
_ Eighty-eighth
Round - Dwyer pushed forward his forces
and threw Walker upon the ropes and struck him. Clark
claimed a foul. The referee decided that the fight could
go on, but declared that if it was repeated, he would rule
against them. One of Dwyer's backers offered to bet $20
to $10 that the referee was wrong in his ruling, and in-
sisted upon it that Dwyer should be allowed the privilege
of beating his opponent when across the ropes. The
referee refused to act further, and considerable excite-
ment obtained, and the progress of the fight was stopped;
finally the referee was induced to continue.
_ Eighty-ninth
to Ninety-first Round - The fates were in
favor of Dwyer, who kept going after Walker's peepers, in
hopes of blinding him. Time, two hours and forty-five
minutes.
_ Ninety-second
to Ninety-seventh Round - Dwyer gave a
number of telling blows upon various parts of Walker's
phiz, all of which did execution. Walker now looked
frightful - his face was beaten into perfect jelly and re-
sembled an uncooked beefsteak. Time, two hours and
fifty-five minutes.
_ Ninety-eighth
to One Hundred and Second Round -
Walker received much additional punishment and was
striking very wildly, Dwyer watching for an opportunity
to go in and win.
_ One
Hundred and Third Round - Dwyer hits Walker on
the ogle and closes upon him; both go down. Time, three
hours and ten minutes.
_ One
Hundred and Fourth Round - Dwyer watched his
chance and put another on the goggle, which again
started the home brewed.
_ One
Hundred and Fifth Round - Walker's eyes are
completely closed, but he has not exhausted his supply of
ammunition; he comes to time nimbly, receives a blow,
closes in and is thrown.
_ One
Hundred and Sixth and Last Round - Walker comes
to the scratch, holding his eye open with the thumb and
finger. When he gets in range, he sails in and clutches
Dwyer, and is thrown. His seconds carry him to his
corner, and tell him it is useless to fight any longer, as he
has no earthly chance to win. He begs to be permitted
to go on; but when time is called, the sponge is thrown
up by Clark. This is followed by a rush of the crowd
into the ring, and three cheers for the victor. Walker
seated himself upon Winrow's knees, and cried like a
child at being debarred from continuing the struggle.
_ The
battle was one of the best ever fought in America,
and both men proved their capacity for receiving and
giving punishment, and gave entire satisfaction to those
of the fancy who were present. During the return to the
city, the passengers made up a purse of two hundred
dollars for the purpose of presenting it to Walker. Dwyer
announced his intention of contributing one hundred dol-
lars from the stakes, as soon as they are given to him.
The boys, in discussing the merits of the mill, became
very warm, and two of them had a fight. Otherwise there
would have been no outside troubles.
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