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_We
have this week to record the proceedings relative to the match between
these men, and heartily sorry are we that the affair did not
terminate in a more satisfactory manner. On Tuesday, owing to the
unpardonable delay that took place at Strood on the part of Sullivan's
backers, two
hours and a half were wasted, and to this may be attributed the reason
of the
contest not being amicably decided on the first day. When the
expedition
got under weigh it proceeded to a well-known spot, and with all
dispatch the ring was formed by Fred Oliver and his assistants. Billy
Duncan was as usual at his post, and had no sooner got the inner ring
in order, and
the privileged portion comfortably seated, than a solitary Bobby made
his appearance; the combatants, who were making ready for the tourney,
had to be at once taken out of the ring, and scarcely had the ropes and
stakes been removed than a strong body of the rural constabulary made
their unwelcome appearance, so that all had to re-embark as soon as
possible.
There being plenty of daylight, an attempt was made on fresh ground,
but the
police were too cunning. A council of war was therefore held and it was
agreed that the whole of the arrangement should be left in the hands of
the referee. By this functionary it was settled the men should meet the
following morning at ten minutes to eight o'clock, and go by the first
train to the place mentioned, and then at once have the ring pitched
and get to work. When this arrangement had been made, the belligerents
and their friends returned to Strood, when on landing a portion of the
wooden
bridge gave way, and some twenty persons, most of them "my peoplesh,"
got a dunking. Among these was the gallant Charley Lynch, who had a
narrow squeak for it.
_ Punctual
to the time named, the combatants and their backers were at the station
mentioned on Wednesday morning, and no sooner had they alighted from
the train than Fred Oliver made ready the ring, in order
that no unnecessary time should be cut to waste. Jack Sullivan has been
defeated by Charley Lynch (the American) after a gallant fight. Tom
Tyler is well known in the ring, having fought several battles, which
will be found duly recorded in Fistiana.
The combatants were not
restricted to weight, but Sullivan stated that on Monday, when he
scaled he pulled
down 117 1/2 lb. He is not yet out of his "teens," and is a well made
compact little fellow for his inches; and although he stated himself to
be
well, yet it could not be doubted he was too fat. Tyler, who is nearly
30, had all
the advantage in weight, length, and reach, but not withstanding this
he was not the favorite in betting, the odds being on Sullivan, and
when in
the ring on Tuesday the men made one bet on the result, Jack laying the
odds of 6 to 5. Tom had for his seconds Bos Tyler and Jack Lawley,
while Jack Hicks and George Crocket waited upon Sullivan. By twenty
minutes to ten o'clock all were in perfect readiness.
THE FIGHT
_ Round
1.
Both stood well, the muscular development on Sullivan's
chest and loins being very prominent; and from head to foot he looked a
sturdy little fellow. Tyler was in good condition, and appeared brimful
of
confidence. Both men were cautious. Tom in attempting to lead, sprang
forward on the toe, but Jack broke ground, and got to the ropes. After
more maneuvering the men got together again, when Sullivan feinted to
draw
his man. Tom broke away. In shifting the combatants again got to the
ropes; Tom tried to plant a left, but Jack got from his man. Tom, after
feinting, got the left slightly on the cranium, when Sullivan broke
ground. More sparring and dodging, but nothing effective done. As the
lads stood
eying each other Sullivan rubbed his hands and smiled, and again
getting to work they got home in a pretty counter, Jack on top of the
head, and Tom full on the dial. A deal more maneuvering, retreating and
advancing. Tom, in leading, planted a left at the mark, and after a
pause
administered one with the same mawley on the nose. Sullivan rushed at
his man and forced the fighting. Tom retreating to his own corner, when
they closed, and Tyler got down.
_ 2.
The men came up, and after a little sparring Tom planted the left
prettily, full on the mazzard, and got away, Jack, who appeared
slow to return, not being able to get on. After taking up fresh ground
Jack
opened fire, but in the exchange did not display anything like
precision,
hitting wild with both mawleys. Tyler with the left got well on the
dial, and
also made effective use of the right. In the close, both at the ropes
got
down.
_ 3.
On coming up Sullivan had a lump on his forehead the size of a walnut
as proof Tyler had already been there. In coming from his corner Jack
displayed all that sang froid for which he is so conspicuous,
and
on being met they at once went to work. Tom after a little sparring,
went dashing at
his man, but from want of precision did not get well home. On getting
to distance he planted the left on the mark, when Sullivan broke. The
men paused in the center of the ring, and on again getting at it, Jack
pointed the toe, as though bent on mischief. Tom also weaved himself to
distance, and planted a fine one-two on the jaw with the left. Tyler
retreated,
and the men again paused in the middle of the ring. The men after
maneuvering, got within range, and countered, Sullivan getting well on
the top
of the knowledge-box and Tom on the right cheek. Tom, in getting away,
got down, but on the instant jumped up to renew the fighting. Jack,
with impetuosity, rushed his man, planted a rib-warmer on the body, and
in the fall both went to the grass. Tom having all the best.
_ 4.
After a little sparring Jack opened fire left and right, getting well
on the side of the nob. Tom, as Jack forced the fighting, got on the
dial
with the left, and, in getting from his man, went down.
_ 5.
No sooner had Sullivan came from his corner than he went to force the
fighting; he dashed out with both mawleys, but missed. In the
counter hitting he planted the left on top of the pepper-castor, and in
return napped it on the right cheek. These exchanges got the men to the
center of the ring, when Sullivan wanted to close, Tyler went down.
There was an appeal made to the referee of foul, but no notice was
taken.
_ 6.
Rapid fighting with both mawleys, all in favor of Tyler, and in the
rally the combatants got to the ropes, when Tom got down on his knees.
While in this position Jack, it was alleged, used the right, and an
appeal of foul was made, but with no result.
_ 7.
This was a fine round. Tom took the initiative, and with the left got
full on the physiognomy. As he broke Jack followed, when he again
received some left-handed powder on the dial. Sullivan was not to be
denied, for, finding himself outgeneraled at points, he dashed to
in-fighting, and in a magnificent rally, in which both men used the
right and left
alternating, they fought round the ring. Jack, in breaking from his
opponent, slipped down on his hands and knees.
_ 8.
Sullivan came rattling up, and went into Tom's corner to force the
fighting, when, after a slight exchange, Tom broke and took up fresh
ground. Cautious sparring, and as the stood in the center of the ring
the crimson was flowing from Jack's smeller, although the event was not
claimed for Tyler by his seconds. The combatants, after being here and
there round the ring, paused in the center. Jack now tried to plant the
left
on the head, but Tom got out of measure. More maneuvering round the
ring, Sullivan hitting wildly left and right. As Tom retreated Jack
followed, and after some pretty exchanges they closed. In the short-arm
hitting Tom got well over the os frontis, and in the fall both went
down, Tom having all the best of it. Forty-five minutes had now elapsed.
_ 9.
As Sullivan came up he pulled himself together, and with characteristic
resolution, faced his man. Tom, with the left, planted another
beautiful one on the damaged peeper, and got well away. Sullivan
followed up, and swung out the right with tremendous force, but was too
round. In a rally they fought to a close, when Jack went down on his
hands and knees.
_ 10.
After maneuvering here and there, and dodging round the ring. Tom let
fly the left, and got home on the mouth. Jack, finding it useless to
outfight, rushed at his man, and in the exchanges both got home on the
head with the left. At the ropes they closed, when Tom put on the
crook, and Sullivan being in great difficulties, struggled to break.
Tom near
the ropes, held the top one, but in shifting Tyler got on them, and in
falling, Jack, who had all the worst of the bout, fell on him.
_ 11.
Both came up simultaneously, Tyler being a little too flashy in action.
After feinting and weaving to distances, Tyler planted full on the
nose, from which there was another supply of the ruby. Again they went
to work Tom, as his opponent advanced, retreating round the ring. At
last Tom,
in getting to distance, planted a left on the nose. Jack, who hit out
wildly, rushed at his man, and in the close they struggled, Tom, who
gave the
back heel, having the best of the fall.
_ 12.
Both came cheerfully from their corners, when Sullivan tried to open
the ball, but as Tom broke, could not weave to distance. As they
shifted position Jack slipped, but recovered on the instant, and led
left, which was well stopped. Tyler got home the left in the middle of
the head, but in again attempting to repeat the dose was not up to the
mark. In breaking, the men got to the ropes, when Sullivan led the
left, but was not
there. Tom, in return, administered the right on the head. Jack dashed
at him,
and just missed planting another rattler from the right side of the
head. At the ropes Tyler administered a left-hander on the chin.
Sullivan, in
following his man up, got home left and right on the head; this was
succeeded by some more pretty exchanges. On shifting position, the
combatants again went to work; rapid counters with the left, all in
favor of Tom,
at the ropes, Sullivan bleeding, and after some more exchanges they
closed, jack in the half arm administered twice on the body, and in the
fall
both down at the ropes.
_ 13.
In the exchanges Tom got full on the head, Jack, who, however, hit
round, being by no means idle. As Tom broke, Sullivan advanced, and
missed investing another fine right hander on the cranium. After a
slight pause they again went at it, and in a fine, manly manner, fought
with
both mawleys round the ring to the ropes, when in the close Tyler went
down on his knees.
_ 14.
Sullivan, who forced the fighting, planted the right on the ribs.
Tyler, in breaking, got to the ropes, when Jack, in hitting out, missed
the
right, and nearly hit the stake. As Tom shifted, Jack followed, and
after some more exchanges in favor of Tyler, they closed. Tom tried the
back heel, and the men fell in the center of the ring.
_ 15.
Sullivan went to his man in his corner, and, after left-handed
exchanges, in which Tyler got home effectively on the mug, they closed,
when in the struggle Jack, in extricating himself, went down, and Tom
also fell in the middle of the ring.
_ 16.
Sullivan dashed at his man, and after some heavy exchanges, in which
both got home, Tom on the right cheek and left peeper, they closed at
the ropes, when Tom went down. While down, it is alleged he pulled
Jack's snout, but nothing of the kind was witnessed by the referee, who
had his eye off the men on the finish of the round.
_ 17.
Sullivan rushed at his man, and planted on the head with force. Tom, in
shifting, went down, but on the instant he was again on his pins,
and resumed the battle. Bos Tyler at this moment crossed the men in a
most improper manner. No sooner had Tyler recovered his perpendicular
than at it they went with a will. Tremendous milling with both hands
round the ring, in favor of Tyler, who planted heavily in the middle of
the head,
and in the close Tom went down.
_ 18.
Sullivan dashed at his man. Tyler on the ropes, and in a ticklish
position, being partly down with one knee on mother earth and after a
severe struggle, in which both pegged away merrily, they went to grass.
_ 19.
Sullivan, making the fighting, rushed at his man with his head bent
forward in a most unartistic manner. Tom met the rush with a
left-handed tile-popper. As Tom broke, Jack followed round the ring,
and after some more exchanges, got the right round Tyler's neck, who
got away and went down.
_ 20.
Tyler home with the left on the head, and Jack came dashing at him he slipped and went down. On the instant he recovered his
equilibrium and renewed the fighting, and in a rally they fought to Tom's corner,
when Tyler went down.
_ 21.
Sullivan dashed at his man to force the fighting, and after some
exchanges Tom, in retreating, slipped down. On the instant he was again
on his plus, and after some more exchanges they closed and fell forward
on
their faces.
_ We
have thus far given a detailed description of the contest, but so
similar were the remainder of the rounds, and so completely one-sided
was the
battle, that it would be superfluous to attempt to give any lengthened
account of the contest. Tyler, from the commencement of the
hostilities, proved the better out-fighter and tactician, and this
enabled him from the
first to be very busy about the nob of his indomitable opponent, than
whom a gamer man never entered the ring, although instead of having
improved since he met Lynch, he appeared to have got slower. As the
contest progressed, Sullivan, who was heavily punished about the head,
appeared to
be at a loss what to be at, and Hicks had repeatedly to whisper to him
not
to attempt out fighting, but to go in and make use of both mawleys.
Willing to do his utmost, Sullivan at once responded, and although the
tide of
battle had now set, irrevocably against him, still the brave fellow was
anxious to do all that a game man could to turn it in his favor. It
was, however,
not possible for him to gain any permanent advantage, for although
there
were one or two momentary fluctuations, still the hope they infused
among his partisans was but transitory. As drowning men will catch at
straws, so
the appeals on the part of Sullivan towards the close of the battle
became
the more frequent, the seconds of Jack trying their utmost in this
critical
state of affairs to snatch a verdict. The referee, seeing what was
intended,
twice went to Tyler's corner to tell him to be cautious and not throw
away a chance. In the whole, 58 rounds were fought, and in the last ten
or
twelve of these so hopeless did Jack's chance of success appear, and so
hopeless in reality was it, that many of his own friends cried "Take
him away." Gillam, who had worked like a trojan for him, advised his
backers to let
this be done, and both Hicks and Crockett informed the referee that
Sullivan would not allow them to give in for him.
_ Two
rounds before the unwelcome appearance of the police, one of Jack's
Israelitish backers threw up the sponge in a token of defeat, but Jack,
although terribly punished about the head, exclaimed, "You shall not
give in for me," and on the instant dashed at his man to renew the
hopeless struggle. For several rounds there appeared to be something
the matter with his right leg, for it was as stiff as though he could
not bend it,
and nothing but the indomitable pluck of this brave fellow enabled him
to meet his clever antagonist. Had the battle been allowed to progress,
it could not, under any circumstances, have lasted many more rounds. On
the termination of the 58th and last round, however, the battle having
lasted two hours and fifty minutes, the police came on the ground, when
hostilities had to be suspended, and on leaving the ring Jack, as proof
that he was not physically weak, although so punished, ran along the
embankment. There still being plenty of time, the referee had to make a
selection of fresh ground to recommence hostilities the same day if
possible. The spot having been chosen, the referee went to inform
Oliver and the men
of his intentions. He found that although Tyler and his friends were
close
at hand, Sullivan had been taken across the water, and proceeded
personally to inform the gallant Jack that he intended the ropes and
stakes to be
again pitched, and that he should expect him to come at once and
follow.
Sullivan said, "I'm ready to fight, sir;" and so far as his pluck,
there could
be no question about his willingness, but that he was fit is quite
another
question. To the jetty he was followed by his Israelitish friends, and
a
policeman. On the pier a scene of great confusion arose between the
respective
backers
of the men, mingled with cries of "Fight on Saturday." The referee,
being desirous to fulfill his duties in an impartial manner, ordered
Sullivan to get in the boat, when the policeman came forward and stated
that if
he (Sullivan) was going to commit a breach of the peace he would take
him into custody. Again the referee ordered Sullivan to the boat, when
the policeman jumped into on of the many alongside of the pier, and
said
that he would follow the men wherever they went.
_ A
scene of indescribable confusion now took place between the backers and
partisans of the men, Tyler's party being vehement in their
assertions that on the part of Sullivan's friends undue influence had
been used
with the police. The referee, by the backers of Tyler, was called to
award
the stakes to Tom on the plea that the police had been caused to
interfere
by improper means; and because that functionary did not do so he go
shamefully abused. The referee then ordered the men to meet the
following
day, when, after a stormy discussion, in which Bos Tyler (not Tom) used
most insulting language, and otherwise misconducted himself, not only
to the referee but also to other gentlemen present, the referee ordered
the
men to meet on Saturday. Subsequently, however, a meeting took place,
at which Mr. Lipman, the chief backer of Sullivan, agreed to give Tyler
£5 to
postpone the match until Monday, April 9, when they are to fight
according
to the original articles. Tyler was by no means heavily punished,
although
his hands were much puffed, and had it not been for their tender
condition, there can, we think, be little doubt he would have been able
to have
given his opponent the coup de grace before the police made their
unwelcome appearance, as the punishment he kept administering towards
the close of the battle would have been much more
_J.
Mace, of Norwich, is most anxious to have another shy at his old
opponent, Bob Brettle, for £100 a side. Mace not feeling satisfied with
the last result, trust Brettle will give him the chance to reverse the
last
verdict, at 147 lb., or catch-weight, or by any one else who may fancy
him. Mace will take his benefit at the Baronial Hall, West End Retreat,
Norwich tomorrow (Monday). Hicks and Haley, of London, will attend, and
the wind up between Mace and Travers, who will fight their battle over
again. Jem Mace's benefit, at the Apollo Music Hall, on Tuesday
evening,
realized the handsome sum of £47.
_ BRETTLE AND MACE Mr. Editor:
I had hoped that my
fighting career was over, and that I never should again have to reply
to a challenge;
but as Mr. Mace is not satisfied with his last encounter with me, and
has
thought fit to challenge me or any man at 147 lb., for £100, and has
mentioned
my name in particular, I beg to inform him that I will meet him at your
office any day he may name, and make a match for £100 a side, to fight
at what weight and time he may please to name; if he does not mean
business, but bouncing, I hope he will not challenge me again.
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