Chapter IX: Harry Broome (champion) (3)

5.――Orme, on coming up, showed marks of Broome’s
visitations on his right peeper, which was beginning to
close, while the marks on Broome’s ribs proved that
Orme’s right had done him good service in that quarter.
Broome dodged his man, and on Orme poking his head
forwards, instantly dashed in his left on the dexter
optic. He tried to repeat it, but was stopped. Both now
let fly out of distance, crept close, and Broome made
his one, two, on the right eye and side of Orme’s
canister. Orme returned with severity on the ribs, and
then on Broome’s mouth. A pause ensued, during which
Broome put down his hands. On lifting them again he
approached Orme, planted one hand on the forehead, and
the other on the left lug, and cleverly jumped away
from Orme’s return. Broome made two attempts to repeat
the dose, but Orme got quickly away. Orme now took a
turn, swung out his right heavily on the ribs, and got
away. Long sparring followed, during which the
perspiration came from Broome’s every pore――the sun was
insufferably hot for the time of year, and must have
been distressing to both men. Caution was now the order
of the day, until Broome got within distance, when he
sent out his left and caught Orme on the right eye, but
not heavily; this he repeated, when Orme again swung
out his right, catching Broome heavily on the ribs, and
jumped away. Some wild hitting out of distance
succeeded, but, on their getting steadier, Broome let
go his left spank in Orme’s mouth, and jumped away;
again he crept close, made his one, two heavily on the
left and right cheek, drawing claret from the latter.
On Orme attempting to rush in, Broome again turned tail
and ran across the ring. Orme followed him up, when
Broome jumped quickly round and delivered his left
heavily on the right cheek. Orme countered him heavily
on the mazzard――received another spank on the right
cheek, when Broome once more turned his back and
retreated. Long sparring for wind now took place, after
which there was some mutual stopping. Broome, at length
caught Orme sharply on the mouth and right cheek, which
brought them to a rally, in which Orme’s right was
excessively busy on Broome’s ribs, while the returns of
Broome did no execution. The repeated “thuds” on his
ribs made Broome wince, and screw himself up, evidently
with pain; he retired, blowing, while Orme (instead of
following him up) stood in the middle of the ring until
Broome recovered himself. The latter now popped in his
left on the right cheek, but Orme countered him with
the left heavily on the nozzle, drawing claret from a
cut on the bridge of that organ, which, in Harry, as
well as Johnny Broome, is slightly of the Roman order.
Orme also caught Broome another spank on the ribs with
his right, which led to heavy exchanges, in the course
of which Broome reached Orme’s mouth and right cheek,
while the latter caught Broome a tremendous hit on the
left eyebrow, with his right, inflicting a deep,
perpendicular cut, and drawing the ruby in profusion.
Broome retired, and wiped away the fluid as it ran into
his ogle, Orme again refusing to profit by opportunity,
and go in while his man was confused. Broome soon
recovered his presence of mind, went at his man, and,
after some rattling exchanges, Orme was down, amidst
the vociferous cheers of his friends, who considered
that in this round he had infinitely the best of the
hitting. It was a tremendous round, lasting sixteen
minutes, during the greater part of which time the
hitting was extremely severe.

6.――Both came up puffing, and their countenances
considerably changed since the last round. After a good
deal of sparring out of distance, Broome opened the
ball, just reaching Orme’s nose with his left. A second
attempt was frustrated by Orme jumping away and lunging
out his right most viciously at the body; luckily,
however, for the Champion, it did not reach him, or it
would most assuredly have “found him at home.” Broome
again crept up, caught Orme on the potato-trap with his
left, but was prettily stopped in a second attempt. He
tried once more, reached Orme’s left whisker-bed, but
napped it heavily on the sore spot, his left eyebrow,
from which a fresh tap was instantly opened. Broome
retreated to wipe away the carmine from his peeper, and
as Orme attempted to follow him up, he met him with a
straight shooter on the mouth, which opened up another
spring. This caused Orme to rush in wildly, when he
caught it severely on the smeller, from which more
claret trickled; Broome then closed, and, after a long
struggle, threw and fell heavily on Orme.

7.――Broome led off with his left, but was neatly
stopped; he tried again left and right, and was again
parried, Orme returning a stinger with his right on the
left eye. Orme now took the initiative, dashed in
regardless of consequences, and was propped heavily on
the left eye. This led to tremendous counter-hits with
the left, each getting well home on his opponent’s
smelling-bottle. A ding-dong rally followed, both
getting it severely on the mouth and nose, left and
right, and Orme punching Broome’s ribs with great
severity. At length they closed, and rolled over
together, Orme under.

8.――Both came up much the worse for wear. They sparred
cautiously for wind, until Broome got close and sent
out his left, which Orme parried, and missed his
return. Broome led off twice in succession; the first
time Orme jumped away, but the second Broome paid a
visit to his right cheek. Orme then made his left on
the chest, Broome returning with both hands on the side
of his opponent’s nut and his right cheek-bone. Two
more attempts were cleverly stopped by Orme, after
which they rested a short time. Broome was first to
recommence, caught Orme on the left cheek, and received
another awkward reminder on the left eyebrow from
Orme’s right sledge-hammer. Heavy exchanges followed,
Orme getting well home on Broome’s mug and nose, and
Broome on the right ogle and mouth. Broome now resorted
to his old system of turning his back and running away,
Orme after him. Broome at length turned round, let out
his left, but was countered heavily on the nozzle and
mouth. Heavy hits were now exchanged, left and right,
and in the end Orme caught Broome full on the point of
his conk, drawing the ruby in profusion, and knocking
the Champion off his legs; “first knock-down” being
awarded to Orme amidst vociferous cheering. This round,
which, like the fifth, was extremely severe, lasted
twelve minutes.

9.――Broome came up snuffling; the crack on his
snuff-box in the last round had evidently been a
teazer. His left eye was fast closing, and the hopes of
the East Enders began to be in the ascendant. The
betting receded almost to even money, and it was clear
Broome had made the discovery that his adversary was no
such catch as people had expected. He, nevertheless,
opened the proceedings by dashing out his left, which
was well stopped. Counter-hits followed, Broome
reaching his opponent’s left cheek, and receiving in
return on the mouth. Broome next made play left and
right, caught the gallant Orme heavily on each cheek,
and then, closing, threw and fell on him. (One hour had
now elapsed.)

10.――Broome once more took the lead, but was prettily
stopped. Heavy counter-hits followed, Broome on the
nose and Orme on the left cheek. A close at the ropes
succeeded, when Broome hugged Orme round the neck.
Orme, however, punched away at his ribs until Broome
released him, and Orme retreated to the centre of the
ring, whither Broome followed him, and some heavy
exchanges took place, Orme reaching Broome’s nose and
left peeper, and Broome punishing him severely on the
mouth. In the end Orme got down.

11.――Broome, first to open the ball, caught Orme
sharply on the ivory box with his left, drawing claret
and loosening several of his head rails. Orme would not
be stalled off, but immediately rattled in, when some
heavy counter-hitting took place, each getting it
severely on the nose and mouth. A break away and at it
again. The hitting in this round was really tremendous,
both men staggering away after the counters, and each
having his cork drawn to some purpose. At length they
closed, and after a slight struggle Orme got down.

12.――Broome, in coming up, looked weak and distressed.
Orme was also by no means in good order; both his
cheeks were considerably swollen, and his mouth was
“reethur” out of shape. Orme led off, but was well
stopped. A second attempt from his right reached
Broome’s ribs very heavily, and caused the latter to
wince like a galled horse. He quickly got over it,
however, and dashed out his left on Orme’s mouth. He
tried again, but Orme stepped back, propping Master
Broome on the sneezer with his left as he came in.
Exchanges followed, Orme inflicting a fresh cut under
Broome’s left peeper, and receiving sharply on his
damaged kissing trap. In the end Orme got down to avoid
the fall.

13.――Broome, after a little cautious sparring, let go
his left and right, but was short, and Orme immediately
returned on his right peeper; Broome retreated, and as
Orme came after him Broome sent out his left on the
mouth again, drawing the cork freely. Broome now made
two attempts to get in his one, two, but on each
occasion Orme was too quick for him, and jumped away.
In a third attempt he reached Orme’s smeller, a heavy
nose-ender, which again tapped his best October. He
repeated the dose on the mug, whereupon Orme dashed in,
caught him on the left cheek with his right, closed,
and, after a short struggle, both were down.

14.――Orme feinted with his left, and then dashed in his
right on Broome’s left ogle, a very heavy hit. Broome
returned on the mouth, and then retreated; some
sparring at a distance followed, and on their again
getting close, Broome sent out both mawleys, but was
cleverly stopped. Orme then popped in his left on the
right cheek, and Broome, in getting away from further
visitations, fell through the ropes.

15.――Both slow to the call of “time,” and on reaching
the scratch they stood and looked at each other until
Orme advanced, when Broome tried to meet him with his
left, but Orme stopped him neatly twice, and at a third
attempt jumped away. Orme then again crept in and made
his right tell heavily on the ribs. Broome now sent
home his left and right on the left ogle and nose of
Orme, repeated the dose on the nose and mouth heavily,
and as Orme dashed in with his right on the ribs,
Broome caught him a tremendous upper-cut on the mark
with his right, and Orme fell.

16.――Orme, on coming up, appeared to have suffered
severely from the upper-cut in the last round; he was
evidently much shaken, in addition to which both his
eyes were gradually going. He nevertheless tried to
lead off left and right, but his blows wanted power.
Broome returned on the left cheek, and then on the
mouth, Orme’s return being out of distance. Orme still
persevered, but got propped heavily on the nose from
Broome’s left. Broome at length closed, when Orme
punched him heavily on the ribs, but Broome succeeded
in throwing and falling heavily on him.

17.――Orme led off left and right, but was stopped; he
then rushed in, and was propped heavily on the nose,
and got down. (Time, one hour and a half.)

18.――Broome rattled in left and right on the ogles of
Orme, and got away. Orme followed him up, reached his
chest with the left, and was propped heavily on the
left cheek. Broome closed, and catching Orme round the
neck, hugged him until Orme dropped on his knees. Orme
then put his hands round Broome’s thigh, but Broome got
away, and walked to his corner. A claim of “foul” was
made on the part of Broome, on the ground that he
(Orme) had attempted to pull him over by catching him
below the waistband. The claim, however, was not
allowed, the referee believing that Orme was utterly
unaware as to where he had caught hold of Broome.

19.――Broome again led off left and right, reaching
Orme’s cheek and mouth heavily. A close, and some
in-fighting in favour of Broome, followed by a
break-away, and at it again, Broome delivering heavily
on Orme’s nose and eyes, and drawing claret from
several bottles. In the end Broome closed, and threw
his man again, making the unpleasant addition of his
own weight.

20.――Both long in answering to the call of time, but
Broome first up. On getting close Orme caught Broome on
the ribs, and was countered sharply on the nose. Broome
then took the lead, and planted on his right cheek
heavily. This brought them to some sharp exchanges in
favour of Broome. In the end, Orme got down on his
knees, and Broome caught him on the _os frontis_ with
his left while in that position. A claim of “foul” was
now made by Orme’s friends, but it was clear Broome’s
blow had started before Orme reached the ground, and
could not have been withheld. The decision was again
“fair,” and the mill proceeded.

21.――Broome, after one or two feints, let go his left,
reaching Orme’s snuff-box with effect; slight exchanges
ensued, and Orme again got down weak.

22.――Broome, seeing his man was much shaken, at once
went to work, caught Orme heavily on the left cheek,
and closed at the ropes, where he hung on Orme; the
latter pegged away at Broome’s ribs until he let him
go, and Orme then planted his right heavily on Broome’s
left cheek. Tremendous exchanges followed, each
staggering from the effects of the blows, Broome
reaching Orme’s left eye and nose, and he receiving on
the left peeper and ribs. Broome then stepped back, and
as Orme came again caught him heavily on the left ogle,
and Orme fell. Both were now much distressed, and lay
on their backs on the ground until time was called.

23.――Orme was the first at the scratch, and attempted
to lead off, but Broome got cleverly away, and then
went at his man, delivering both hands on the mouth and
nose heavily, and jumped easily away from Orme’s
returns, which were sadly out of distance. Orme,
however, followed him up, and although Harry met him
full on the snout, he planted his dangerous right on
the ribs with astonishing effect. Harry then reached
Orme’s sinister peeper heavily, drawing more of the
Falernian, and finally shut up the shop. Rattling
exchanges followed, Broome getting well home on the
mouth, and receiving a slogging right-hander on the
jaw, from the effects of which he staggered back and
fell in his corner.

24.――Orme came up almost blind, but still he
persevered; he feinted, and tried to get on to Broome,
who stepped cleverly away, and waited for the attack.
Orme did not keep him long in suspense, but dashed out
left and right; the former was stopped, but the latter
reached Broome’s damaged peeper, drawing more blood.
Broome, however, by way of retaliation, cross-countered
him on the nose heavily, again drawing a crimson
stream. Broome now walked to his corner, took a sponge
and wiped his eye, and went at it again, caught Orme
heavily on the point of the nose with his left, and
Orme dropped on his knees, Broome again catching him a
snorter just as he reached _terra firma_, giving rise
to another appeal, which was not allowed.

25.――Caution the order of the day, both evidently
tired. Orme at last led off, and caught Broome with his
right on the side of his cranium, on which Broome
closed, and Orme immediately got down.

26.――Orme led off with his left, but was short. Broome
quickly returned one, two, on his left cheek and mug,
and got away from Orme’s return. Orme persevered and
bored in, but Broome hit him straight on the cheek,
Orme being again out of distance with his returns. At
last he reached Broome’s ribs with a heavy
right-hander, and Broome returned on the mouth. Both
now retired to their corners, and permitted their
seconds to wipe their phisogs for them, and took a pull
of “Adam’s ale,” after which refreshing ceremony they
once more returned to the scratch, and Broome let fly
his left on Orme’s left cheek, closed, and after a
short struggle both were down. (Two hours had now
expired.)

27.――Broome set a good example by dashing out his left
on Orme’s right cheek, which led to light exchanges at
the ropes. Orme then walked to the middle of the ring,
whither Broome followed, gave him a spank in the left
eye, and walked away. He again approached his man,
caught him heavily on the mouth, and in return received
another rib-bender from Orme’s right. Broome now made
his right tell on Orme’s ribs, and in getting away from
the return fell.

28.――Orme, although almost in darkness, led off with
his right on the ribs――he attempted a repetition, but
Broome caught him heavily on the mouth and then on the
nose. After some slight exchanges in favour of Broome,
they again retired to their corners and had a rest, and
came at it again; Orme was receiver-general, and in the
end got down.

29.――Orme again led off, but was well stopped; he tried
it yet once more, but from the style of his hitting it
was pretty clear he could scarcely see his adversary.
He, however, reached Broome’s ribs heavily after one or
two attempts, and Broome missed a well-intended
upper-cut in return. The latter, however, soon
approached his now fast-sinking adversary, delivered
his left and right heavily on Orme’s left ogle and
smeller, drawing a fresh supply of claret from the
latter, and knocking his man down.

30.――Orme came up very groggy and wild, but determined;
he led off with his right, but Broome laughingly
stepped on one side; he tried again but was stopped,
and received heavily on the left eye and mouth, and was
again knocked down. His backers and seconds, seeing
that it was useless to prolong the contest, wished to
throw up the sponge, but the gallant fellow would not
hear of it, and he laid on his back until time was
called, when he again went to the scratch for the

31st and last round.――It was evident that he came up
only to receive, and that he was struggling against
nature; he was all but blind, and tremendously punished
about the head, but was still tolerably strong on his
pins. He led off wildly, but of course was out of
distance. Broome then went to him, administered the
_coup de grâce_, in the shape of a gentle tap on the
nose, and the brave fellow went to earth almost
insensible. Tom Sayers now threw up the sponge, and
Harry Broome was proclaimed the victor, and still
Champion of England, amidst the vociferous cheers of
his friends. The battle lasted exactly _two hours and
eighteen minutes_. All being over, all at once made for
the station to which the train had been removed, the
vanquished man being conveyed there on a truck. The
only personage left behind on the ground was Jem Burn,
who, being still a martyr to the gout, declined
attempting to walk a good mile along the railway to the
station, and intimated his intention of remaining on
the field of battle all night. All necessity for his
imposing on himself such a penalty as this was,
however, avoided by the engineer taking the engine and
tender which had been attached to the train down the
line to the place where “my nevvy” was located, and
bringing him up, sitting on a heap of coke, to the door
of the carriage in which his patrons were already
seated. All now quickly ensconced themselves in the
train, and the homeward journey was commenced about
half-past four o’clock, and the Metropolis was reached
about eight o’clock, after many stoppages. On the
homeward passage a collection was made for the game and
resolute Orme, which reached the handsome sum of £22,
and this was considerably increased at the giving up of
the stakes.

REMARKS.――This battle took everybody by surprise. On
the one hand, there had been continual rumours that
Broome never intended fighting, that he could not
possibly get himself anywhere near fit, and that the
match would end in a juggle. On the other, it was
asserted that Orme had overreached himself, and was
flying at too high game; that he would never be able to
reach Harry Broome, and must be beaten in half an hour.
Our readers will perceive, by the foregoing account,
that the “croakers” were far from the mark. The fight
was the best we have had for years between two big men.
Broome has lost none of his scientific acquirements. He
is a good straight hitter, clever at stopping, an
excellent wrestler, and quick on his pins. He is,
however, remarkably awkward in getting away when in
difficulty――instead of jumping back, as we are
accustomed to see others do, he turns his back and
runs, leaving himself open to severe punishment from a
cleverer tactician than Orme. Although he was much out
of condition, and was hit very hard, both in the ribs
and on the frontispiece, and several times was in great
difficulties, he persevered most gamely throughout, and
took his punishment like a thorough glutton. Should he
make another match, he ought to commence training much
earlier than he did on the present occasion, and reduce
himself certainly to 11st. 10lb., which is the outside
weight at which he ought to fight. If he does this, we
think, looking at the way in which he fought on Monday,
he will prove himself a tough customer to all comers,
and the man who wrests the laurels of the Championship
from him will have reason to be proud of his
achievement. Orme, since his last battle with Aaron
Jones, has wonderfully improved in science and
quickness. On Monday, for a considerable length of
time, Broome found it exceedingly difficult to get on
to him; he could stop well, get away sharply, and,
directly he saw an opening, was ready with his
dangerous right, which, as will be seen above, proved a
dreadful teaser to the flesh-covered ribs of Broome. We
consider him to be the severest hitter of the present
day, and did he but understand leading off with his
left, instead of giving his head, as he must
necessarily do when he makes play with his right, would
be “hard to beat.” The knock-down blow on Broome’s nose
and jaw, and one or two of the punches in the ribs,
administered early in the fight, were of such a nature
as for the time to reduce Broome to a standstill, and
had Orme only possessed the requisite skill to follow
up his advantage, things might have presented a very
serious aspect as regarded Broome’s chance of winning.
By saying that Orme did not possess skill, we do not
for an instant impute to him a want of ordinary boxing
capability, but a want of tact in knowing when to
“force the pace,” and prevent his opponent recovering
wind and strength. Had Orme been capable of pursuing
that system, the result might have been “a horse of
another colour.” This only applies to the earlier part
of the contest. After the upper-cut administered on the
mark in the 15th round, a great deal of the steel was
taken out of Orme, and we are informed that he felt
sick during the remainder of the fight, while Broome
slowly, but surely, improved his position. Although
Orme now and then got again on the damaged ogle and
ribs, Broome almost invariably met him on the eyes and
mouth, gradually reducing his chance, until, in the
last round, he was completely blind, and nature had
deserted him. Some remarks were made on the novelty of
the men retiring to their corners, and “taking a drink”
during the rounds. We do not recollect ever witnessing
a similar scene before; but the want of condition on
the part of Broome, combined with the heat of the day,
was a very good excuse for his adopting such a plan,
and as it was resorted to by one, there could, of
course, be no reason why the example should not be
followed by the other. The battle, from first to last,
was a manly, upright struggle for pre-eminence――neither
man attempted to take an unworthy advantage――and had it
not been for the ridiculous appeals made by the seconds
on each side, would have been a model mill in every
sense of the word. Such a fight for the Championship
has not been seen for very many years.

Once again the Old Tipton made public his “grievance,” declaring that the award of “foul” in their former encounter had deprived him of the honour of the belt and the profit of the stakes, and that the bold Harry held the Championship by “a fluke.” Harry accepted his offer, and articles were entered into, but when £25 were posted, Broome forfeited the money down; his plea being that he had an engagement with Aaron Jones (this went off), and another with Paddock. Forfeits seem to have been in fashion in 1855. On February 20th, 1855, Harry Broome forfeited £180 to Tom Paddock, and on March 12th, £10 to the same. In March, 1856, the Tipton received £70 forfeit from Aaron Jones; and on October 2nd, 1856, he also received £80 forfeit from Tom Paddock. Pleasant times for the _bonâ fide_ backers of men!

It would have been well for Broome’s fame had his hard-won victory over the gallant Harry Orme been the closing scene of his Ring career; his increasing bulk, as was evident to all who knew him, forbade the absolutely necessary reduction of weight which must precede anything like fitness for a pugilistic contest of a prolonged and severe character. Not so, however, thought Harry Broome. On the 12th of December, 1855, he signed articles with Tom Paddock, for £200 a side, for a meeting on May 19th, 1856, and on that day experienced his final defeat, of which the full details will be found in the Memoir of PADDOCK in our preceding chapter (pp. 294-303).

From this time forth Harry fell out of the rank of claimants for the “blue riband” of the P.R., leaving the struggle for supremacy to Paddock, Aaron Jones, the Tipton Slasher, and the little pugilistic phenomenon of 10st. 12lbs. who successively beat all three of them, and whose exploits form the subject of our next chapter.

Harry left London in 1856, and became the landlord of the Albion Tavern, in Warblington Street, Portsmouth, which was soon famous as a sporting rendezvous. From this house he backed several good men, the best known of whom was the unlucky Bill Bainge, or Benjamin, who as “Broome’s Novice” was twice unsuccessfully brought out to check the upward and onward career of Tom Sayers to the eminence of the Championship. For a few years following Harry was a public caterer and attendant at the principal race-meetings. The last time we met him in the flesh――and he had then too much of it――was at Epsom in 1865, in Gladiateur’s year, when, in reply to an inquiry after his health and prospects, he told us he was “in charge” of the Count Lagrange’s invaluable horse; we suspect as a “watcher,” for which he was formidably well qualified, physically as well as mentally. He was, however, aptly described by a friend as “all to pieces,” and this was shown by his death, which soon followed, on the 2nd of November in the above-named year, at the early age of 39 years.[27]

[27] It may interest some readers to know that we are
indebted to Harry Broome’s early opponent, Joe Rowe, for the
original of the portrait which faces the first page of this
memoir. In our search after authentic likenesses, we learned
that “Joe” still flourished as the proprietor of a cigar and
tobacco store in Sun Street, Finsbury. Thither we bent our
steps, and there we found a pleasant-spoken and
young-looking specimen of the fair sex, who, in answer to
our inquiries, announced herself as Mrs. Rowe. Our first
impression was that we had chanced upon “Young Joe’s” bride;
but no, it was the spouse of “Old Joe,” who was “kicking up
behind and before,” and in his sixty-second year is
proprietor of the lady and the “Sultan Cigar Stores.” A
shake of the hand and a recognition, a smoke, and a
“liquor-up,” renewed acquaintance; and as Joe has a
portfolio of “sporting celebrities,” he cheerfully placed
them at our disposal, for which we thus record our thanks.