Chapter I: Tom Sayers (champion).――1849-1860 (1)

As seven cities contended for the honour of being the birthplace of Homer, so, _parvis componere magna_, half a dozen places, English and Irish, have been named as the spot of dull earth whereon the last Champion of England opened his sharp little grey eyes. Somers Town and Camden Town, his favourite haunts in later life; Pimlico, now a palatial precinct of Belgravia, and several other places, have been oracularly declared, in “Answers to Correspondents,” in sundry sporting journals, to have been the _locus in quo_ Tom struggled into what proved in his case literally “the battle of life.” A clever sporting writer (“Augur”) remarks with truth that “Ireland makes it her rule of faith always to claim the winner, be it man, woman, or quadruped. The ‘divided honours’ of Farnborough presented no obstacle to this. She adopted the maternity of Heenan out of hand, and with fair pretence, and now she has put in a _post mortem_ claim to Tom Sayers. A regular county Kerry genealogy has been found for him, including a maternal aunt, who, naturally and nationally attributes his valour to her family infusion of the ‘blood of the Fitzgeralds!’”

In the memoir in _Bell’s Life_, at the date alluded to (which to our knowledge was from the pen of a trueborn Celt), we read “Tom Sayers, whose parents came from Dingle, in the county of Kerry,” &c. This gossip we pass, being able to state from personal knowledge, not only that Tom was born at “Pimlico,” a place of “fish-like smell,” in the middle of Brighton, Sussex, on May 25th, 1828, but that his father, “Old Tom,” so called from the bronzed complexion he transmitted to his son, whom he survives, is a genuine Sussex man, born at Storrington, near Steyning, in that county, where he was baptised in 1793, and in 1819 married a home-born and home-bred Sussex woman. Tom’s pedigree, therefore, is indisputably that of an Englishman. How he passed his youth, pushing off the Brighton hog-boats from the shingly beach of London-super-mare, we may also pass. In due time he was placed out to the trade of a bricklayer, and we have heard him say his first “big job” was on the Preston Viaduct of the Brighton and Lewes Railway, a noble structure of stone and white brick, visible from the Brighton terminus, crossing the Preston Road. Tom quitted Sussex, and in 1848 he was following his vocation on the extensive works of the North Western Railway at Camden Town, a locality for many years a favourite with the departed Champion.

Sayers’s Ring career was doubtless one of the most remarkable on record, his fights extending over twelve years, 1849-1860, besides numerous earlier battles. They were, within the regular P.R. ropes, sixteen in number, including one defeat and a wrangled “draw;” and in all but three cases against heavier and bigger men; for soon after the opening of his career no professional of his weight and inches cared to tackle him.

Tom was in his twenty-third year when, having migrated in the pursuit of employment from Brighton to Camden Town, he was induced by the challenge of one Aby Couch, and the stake of a “fiver,” to meet his opponent “down the river,” in the ropes of old Commissary Oliver. The affair came off on March 19th, 1849, near Greenhithe, when Tom sent Couch to rest in less than 13 minutes. For more than a twelvemonth Tom’s friends looked in vain for a customer at 10st., or thereabouts, but could not find one, though they declared him not particular to a few pounds.

At length “Tom Spring’s waiter,” Dan Collins, whom we remember as a civil, smart, intelligent news-boy, petitioned his worthy master for a shy at Master Thomas, and articles were agreed for £25 a side, to fight on October 22nd, 1850. Dan was about an inch taller than Sayers, and a trifle heavier, though each on the day was under 10st. His known skill, too, from his exhibitions at Spring’s, made him the favourite, though he had been defeated by Ned Donnelly in the previous year. We well remember the surprise of the veteran Vincent Dowling (Editor of _Bell’s Life_ for more than its first quarter of a century), and of Tom Spring, not only at the tough resolution and remarkable endurance and strength of the “novice,” as the Camden Town hero was called, but at the gameness with which poor Dan, sadly overmatched, took his “gruel.” At Edenbridge, Kent, in the first ring, they fought nine resolute rounds in 27 minutes, when, the rural constabulary intruding, the belligerents retired to Red Hill. Spring considerately proposed to Dan to decline, saying “He had fought quite enough for his money,” but Dan earnestly entreated, and was indulged, when thirty-nine more rounds were fought in 1 hour 52 minutes, both men being heavily punished. Darkness now interposed, and the final trial was postponed to December 10th, to meet in the same ring as Young Sambo (Welsh) and Cross. This draught-board game proving a draw between black and white, burned out two hours and a half of the short daylight, and there was no time for Sayers and Dan to exhibit; so once more the decision was deferred.

On April 29th, 1851, Sayers and Collins met in fistic fray at Long Reach. The improvement of Sayers in skill made poor Dan appear to have fallen off, and though he struggled gallantly through forty-four rounds, occupying 84 minutes, the tide never turned in his favour. Collins scaled 10st. 2lbs. at this second meeting, Sayers 9st. 10lbs. If Tom reaped fame by this contest, there was but little profit in training three times for a quarter of a hundred “yellowboys.”

The great improvement of Sayers on this occasion was evident to every judge of boxing; he took a strong lead, was never headed, and won in a canter. If there was little profit in three trainings and three fights for one stake, Tom gained confidence and lots of friends. His weight, however――too heavy for the nine-stone men, and underweight for the “middles” and “heavies”――kept him without a match for nearly a year. The “empty praise” of his friends, too, kept him from the “solid pudding,” so that none of the 9st. men cared to meddle with him. Various challenges in the columns of _Bell’s Life_ show the impatience with which Tom bore this enforced inactivity. At length, to the surprise and delight of the Southwarkians, Tom had, what they thought, the presumptuous hardihood to offer to meet the renowned Jack Grant, for £100 a side. Jack was at the top of his renown. He had beaten James Haggerty, drawn with Mike Madden (daylight failing), beaten Alec Keene, and received forfeit from the talented Callaghan of Derby. Winning, and nothing else, was the idea of the Borough lads. The mill came off at Mildenhall, Suffolk, June 29th, 1852, for £100 a side. Grant was attended by Harry Orme and Jemmy Welsh; Sayers by Nat Adams and Bob Fuller the pedestrian. Betting 6 and 7 to 4 on Grant.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――On appearing at the scratch, the condition
and general appearance of Sayers was the theme of
admiration: there was not an ounce of superfluous flesh
about his body――he appeared all wire and muscle. His
phiz wore a good-humoured smile of confidence, and
there was a ruddy glow upon his cheek which told of
good health and condition. His attitude was graceful
and firm, and, to a good judge, it was apparent that if
he was as good as he looked the Borough Champion had
his work cut out. Grant seemed not quite up to the
mark. His arms, it is true, were muscular and brawny,
and his good-tempered mug looked healthy; but there
were certain accumulations of fat upon his chest and
ribs which sufficiently indicated that his exercise had
not been so severe as it might have been, and we were
informed that, instead of weighing about 10st. 2lbs. he
turned the scale at 10st. 6lb. Notwithstanding his
lustiness, however, he appeared to look upon the result
with quiet confidence, and to hold his adversary at a
very cheap rate. His position indicated the old
tactician――the arms well up, and not too far from his
body, his head back, and his eye fixed upon that of his
adversary, who stood well over him, and was longer in
the reach. After a little dodging, Grant, who was
anxious to begin, led off with his left, slightly
reaching Tom’s forehead, and jumped away from the
return. Sayers followed him up, when Grant tried to
repeat the dose on the forehead, but was prettily
stopped. Sayers at length got home with his right on
the ribs, which was followed by heavy counter-hits,
Grant on the left cheek, and Sayers heavily on Grant’s
nose. Ditto repeated, when Sayers gained “first blood”
from a cut over that organ. Grant then went in to force
the fighting, but Sayers stepped back, jobbed him again
on the nose, cleverly stopping the return. Counter hits
succeeded, Sayers catching a nasty one on the left side
of the head, and on getting back slipped down.

2.――Grant tried to lead off several times, but was on
each occasion well stopped. He returned the compliment
by twice stopping Sayers, and then lunged out his
right, catching Sayers heavily under the left ear. Tom
countered him with effect on the nose, and a close
following, both were down; Sayers under.

3.――Grant took the initiative, but Sayers jumped away
smiling; he, however, came again directly, and led off
with his left, but was stopped. He was more successful
a second time, and reached Grant’s damaged nose. Grant
closed for the fall, but Sayers would not struggle,
contenting himself with fibbing Grant on the nose and
left ear until both rolled over.

4.――Mutual good stopping, after which Sayers delivered
his left heavily on Grant’s ribs and jumped away.
Counter-hits with the left followed――Sayers on the
nose, and Grant on the ribs. A close, and some sharp
fibbing. A break away, and at it again, Grant
delivering his right heavily on Tom’s left eye. Slight
exchanges, Grant again getting it on the nose, and
Sayers slipped down.

5.――Both, on coming up, looked flushed. Sayers smiled,
while Grant looked grim. The latter led off, but was
twice stopped. They then got to work; sharp
counter-hits were exchanged, Sayers receiving heavily
on the left cheek, and Grant on the nose and jaw. A
close and struggle for the fall ended in Grant being
thrown, but not heavily.

6.――Sayers tried to lead off, but Grant was wary, and
stopped him. He was not to be denied; however, he made
another attempt, and again reached Grant’s smeller,
getting well away from the return. Sayers then repeated
the dose heavily with both hands, and followed this up
by one or two punches in the ribs. At length Grant
swung round his dangerous right, and caught Master Tom
a tremendous whack on the left ear, which staggered
him. Grant then closed, but Sayers declined to struggle
for the fall, and fibbed away at his man until he
allowed him to slip down.

7.――Sayers showed the effects of Grant’s visitation to
his left ear, which was considerably swelled. Grant
looked flushed from the taps on the nozzle. The latter
led off, but was quite out of distance, and Sayers
followed his example by delivering too high to be of
any service. Exchanges then took place, each catching
it on the right eye, Sayers’ delivery appearing to be
the heavier. In getting away Sayers slipped down.

8.――Grant took the lead, but was again stopped, and
caught an awkward one on the left listener for his
pains. He then succeeded in planting his left on Tom’s
forehead. Grant bored in, but Sayers stepped back,
administering an upper-cut, which led to a rally, in
which some sharp hitting took place, and Sayers
scrambled down.

9.――Both slightly blown. Tom stopped Grant’s attempts
to plant on him, and then delivered his left on the
nose twice in succession. Grant again made his right
sound against the left side of Tom’s head, and then
sent in a heavy one on the ribs. Sayers, nothing
daunted, was at him again, popped in his left on the
cheek and his right on Grant’s left ear, and this
bringing them to a struggle, Sayers letting himself
down easy.

10.――Grant tried to force the fighting by boring in,
but got it on the left eye rather heavily. Sayers,
however, had not the strength to stall him off. He
again went in, caught Sayers on the left eye, and in a
struggle which followed the latter again slipped down
to avoid being thrown.

11.――Grant led off, got well home on Sayers’ left ear,
and then closed, and both rolled over together.

12.――Sayers’ left ear and left side of his head were
much swollen; still he smiled, and calmly awaited the
attack, which was not long in coming. Grant dashed in,
and commenced hitting away with both hands; he drew
blood from Tom’s mouth by a heavy spank from his left.
Sayers delivered on the left cheek, and the round
finished by both falling together at the ropes.

13.――Grant made his right with severity on the ribs,
getting away from Sayers’ return. Sayers followed him
up, and some sharp hits were exchanged left and right,
both catching it on the nose and cheek, and Grant at
length got down.

14.――Grant dashed in resolutely, but twice was well
stopped. Sayers then delivered his left and right on
the nose and left eye. Grant, not liking this, bored
in, made his right on Tom’s left cheek, closed, but
Sayers catching well hold of him, threw him a
cross-buttock and fell on him.

15.――Both, anxious to get to work, led off at the same
time, and each got it on the left eye. Grant was then
neatly stopped twice in succession, but at length
closed, and some sharp in-fighting took place, Sayers
catching it on the left eye, and Grant on the left ear.
The round ended by both going to grass. (Forty minutes
had now elapsed, and those who had backed Grant to win
in an hour began to look blue.)

16.――A capital round. After some excellent stopping and
manœuvring on both sides, they got close together, and
some sharp exchanges took place, each catching it on
the nose and left cheek. A close ensued, followed by a
break away, and both at it again, left and right, until
Grant got down, somewhat blown, his want of condition
evidently beginning to tell.

17.――Somewhat similar to the last, each catching it
severely on the side of the head. The hitting appeared
rather in favour of Grant, who drew more claret from
Tom’s mouth. Both were eventually down.

18.――Grant dashed in and closed for a fall, but Sayers
declined the struggle, fibbed him severely on the left
ear several times, and Grant slipped down. He lay on
his back where he fell, blowing like a grampus until
time was called, when he was carried to his corner,
from whence he walked to the scratch.

19.――Some good exchanges, Sayers on the right eye, and
Grant on the nose, removing the bark, and drawing a
fresh supply of the ruby. Quick exchanges, but both
apparently hitting open-handed, were followed by Tom
getting down cleverly.

20.――Grant, whose ear had been lanced, came up bleeding
from that organ, which was much swelled from the blows
in the 18th round. He rushed in, but Sayers caught him
heavily on the damaged listener. Grant, still
determined, persevered, caught Tom on the left side of
the head twice in succession; exchanges followed in
favour of Grant, and at last Tom got down.

21.――Sayers’ left eye began to show symptoms of
adopting the early closing movement. He tried to lead
off, but was stopped by Jack, who made his left again
on the closing peeper, and then closed. Sayers fiddled
away at his left ear until both were down.

22 and 23.――Both slow but steady, and the rounds ended,
after a few exchanges, in the men slipping down at the
ropes. In the latter round Grant pursued Sayers, who
ran round the ring until he got to his own corner, when
he turned sharp round, caught Grant left and right on
the nose and left eye, which led to the close and fall.

24.――Grant came up bleeding from a cut over his left
eye. Sayers attempted to take the lead, but was well
stopped, Grant making his right heavily on his left
ear, and Sayers fell through the ropes.

25.――Sayers was again neatly stopped, and in stepping
back from Grant’s return, caught his heel and fell.

26.――Mutual good stopping, Sayers evidently the more
active; he caught Grant again on his left ear, which
was terribly swollen, received a heavy thump on the
ribs from Grant’s right, and dropped on his south pole.

27.――Grant dashed in with his left on the mouth, and
then his right on the side of Sayers’s head.
Exchanges――Grant drawing blood from Tom’s nose. Some
good in-fighting in favour of Sayers, and Grant got
down.

28.――Good counter-hits, each catching it heavily on the
nose. They now went to work in earnest; the hitting on
both sides was tremendous, but owing to the excellence
of Sayers’s condition, he did not show it much, while
Grant, who received principally on the left ear and
nose, looked considerably the worse for wear.
Eventually Sayers slipped to avoid Jack’s friendly hug,
and Grant, who fell over him, cleverly avoided touching
him with his spikes.

29 to 32.――In these rounds Grant led off, but his want
of condition prevented his being as quick as he
otherwise might have been, consequently he was often
stopped, and of course exhausted himself by throwing
away his blows. When, however, they got at it he gave
as good as he got, and the rounds ended by Sayers
slipping down. In the 32nd, however, Grant threw
Sayers, and fell heavily on him.

33.――Grant came up bleeding from the mouth and left
ear; he tried to lead off, but was stopped. Sayers
popped in his left and right on the mouth and throat,
getting it in return on the nose heavily, more of the
bark being displaced, and in the end both were down.

34.――Grant planted both hands, but the steam was gone;
Sayers returned on the mouth and left eye. A rally,
Grant delivering on the damaged cheek-bone of his
adversary, and receiving another gentle tap on his
nose, which drew more fluid. A close struggle for the
fall, and both down, Sayers under.

35.――One hour and a half had now elapsed, and both
appeared fatigued from their exertions. Grant stopped
several well-intentioned deliveries, and returned on
Tom’s left eye and nose, drawing blood from both. Good
exchanges led to a close, when both were down.

36.――Sayers came up weak, while Grant had slightly
recovered. The latter led off, was twice well stopped,
but ultimately sent home his right on Sayers’ left
cheek and the latter slipped down.

37.――Sayers, whose left cheek and eyebrow were much
swollen and discoloured, led off, and caught Grant on
the left eye and nose, but not heavily, and in
retreating fell.

38.――Grant took the lead, but was propped in the throat
by Tom’s right. Grant, however, found out the side of
his head with effect. Exchanges followed, both
receiving on the nose; but Sayers, who was the weaker,
got down on the saving suit.

39.――Grant dashed in with his right on Tom’s left
cheek, who closed, fibbed him heavily on his damaged
ear, and then slipped down.

40 to 42.――In these rounds but little mischief was
done, both sparring for wind, and eventually Sayers got
down cleverly.

43.――Grant, who seemed to have got second wind, led off
quickly, but Sayers jumped away. Grant followed him up,
caught him on the ribs, heavily with his right, and
then on the nose with his left. Sayers returned on the
throat, and some heavy deliveries on both sides took
place, both standing and hitting away for some time
without an attempt at stopping, and there appeared to
be no decided advantage on either side; at length
Sayers slipped down exhausted. This was unexceptionally
the severest round in the fight. The men appeared to
think this was the turning-point, and each wished to
make some decided impression on his game adversary.

44.――Both were the worse for the exertions in the last
round. Grant’s left ear bore marks of having been again
severely visited, and we believe his seconds again
found it necessary to lance it. Sayers did not show
such decided marks of Grant’s handiwork, but this was
mainly accounted for by his excellent condition. His
left eye was, however, closing, and his left cheek much
swollen. Both unwilling to begin, and some slight blows
having been exchanged, Sayers slipped down.

45.――Grant went into mill, but napped it on the left
ear and nose with severity. Good exchanges followed,
and Sayers again slipped down.

46.――Grant still first to fight, but was cleverly
stopped by Sayers, who was getting more active. They
quickly got to in-fighting, when after a few exchanges
they rolled over, and Grant excited the admiration of
all by the careful manner in which he avoided falling
on his man with his feet or knees.

47, 48.――Grant took the lead in both these rounds, but
was stopped in each instance, and received deliveries
from Sayers’s right on his left ear. He nevertheless
succeeded in each round in planting on Sayers’s left
ear with his dangerous right; but the blows had not
that vigour we have seen him exhibit on former
occasions. Both were down in these rounds.

49.――Some rattling exchanges took place in this round;
Grant getting it on the throat and ribs, and Sayers on
the chest and mouth and eventually slipping down.

50.――Sayers made play on the ribs with his left
heavily, Grant returning on the nose with his left;
Grant then stopped two attempts on the part of Sayers,
made his left and right on the nose and left cheek, and
Sayers slipped down.

51.――Grant again popped in a spank on Tom’s nut,
receiving in return on the smeller heavily, and losing
more claret. Good exchanges followed, when Grant rushed
in and bored his man over the ropes.

52.――Sayers attempted to make the running, but was
stopped by Grant, who went in to mill, and planted both
hands, one on the nose and the other on the left side
of the head heavily. Another on the nose succeeded,
which opened the claret jug again. Sayers only planted
his left once on the nose and slipped down. This round
was decidedly in favour of Grant.

53.――Sayers made his left on the ribs, and tried to
plant the same hand on the nose, but was well stopped.
He received one from Grant’s right on the side of his
head; this brought on a rally, in which he caught it on
the eyebrow heavily, and slipped down.

54.――Grant, thinking the game was now his own, again
rushed in, but Sayers was with him and in the exchanges
which followed he visited Grant’s left ear with great
severity, catching it slightly on the side of the head,
and then getting down cunning.

55.――Grant again first, but stopped; he however, made
good his right on the ribs directly afterwards, and
then his left on the right eye of Sayers, who sent home
his right on the neck, and his left on the left ear.
Grant bored in again, received one on the left ear,
which bled freely, and Sayers slipped down.

56.――A close, and Sayers got down.

57.――No mischief done. Some slight exchanges, and
Sayers slipped down.

58.――Sayers caught Grant as he came in on the nose and
throat, and then on the mazzard heavily, drawing more
of the ruby. Grant then closed, struggled, and both
fell heavily to the ground――Sayers uppermost.

59.――Grant, who seemed weak and exhausted, was twice
stopped; but in a third attempt caught Sayers on the
left ear with his right, and the latter slipped down.

60.――Grant led off, reached Sayers’ left eye, received
one on his damaged listener, and slipped down.

61.――Grant appeared determined to finish the matter off
hand, rushed in left and right on Sayers’ cheek and
nose. Sayers put in both hands on the left eye and
nose; a rally, close, and short struggle, both again
coming to the ground heavily――Grant under.

62.――Sayers tried to lead off, but was short; Grant
just contrived to reach his nose, but the blow had no
steam in it, and Sayers in getting back slipped down.

63.――Both slow to the call of time, and both evidently
exhausted. Grant was first up, but he looked much
flushed; his face was much swollen, his nose anything
but Roman in its appearance, and his left ear
presenting an unpleasant spectacle. He rushed in, but
Sayers, whose good-natured mug still bore the ghost of
a smile, although nearly on the wrong side of his
mouth, stopped him cleverly and got away; Grant
followed him up, got home with his right on the side of
his head, receiving, in return, on the left ear. A
close, and long struggle for the fall, which Grant got,
throwing his man and falling on him.

64 and last.――Grant came up looking very groggy. The
falls in the few last rounds had evidently shaken him.
He appeared to be suffering from cramp, but still was
determined. He led off, getting slightly home on
Sayers’ left cheek bone. Tom retaliated on the left
ear. A few sharp exchanges were succeeded by another
struggle for the fall, and ultimately both came very
heavily to the ground――Grant being undermost――Tom
falling across his stomach. Both were immediately
picked up and carried to their corners, and on time
being called, Jemmy Welsh, on the part of Grant, threw
up the sponge in token of defeat. On our inquiring as
to the cause of this rather unexpected termination of
the affair, we were informed that Grant was severely
suffering from cramp, and had moreover injured some
part of his intestines in such a manner that it was
feared he was ruptured, and he was in such pain that he
could not stand upright. Sayers went up to his fallen
but not disgraced adversary and shook him kindly by the
hand, and was proclaimed the victor amidst the shouts
of his friends. Grant was conveyed on a railway truck
to a small public-house in the neighbourhood, where
every attention was shown to him, but he continued in
great pain for some time afterwards. The poor fellow
was not actually ruptured; but he had received a severe
internal strain, which caused him considerable
uneasiness for some time. Grant met with an accident
some time before at Manchester, which always rendered
him weak in the muscles of the stomach, and he
considered that being not fully up to the mark, he was
more than usually susceptible of injury. The fight
lasted exactly _two hours and a half_.

REMARKS.――The great length to which our account of this
“model mill” has extended imposes upon us the necessity
of being brief in our remarks. Tom Sayers by this
victory established for himself a reputation as a man
of science, courage, and endurance, for which few were
disposed to give him credit. The manner in which he
stopped the determined attacks of his adversary, and
the judgment with which he extricated himself from
difficulty, and continually refused to struggle for the
fall with a man stronger than himself, proved that his
headpiece was screwed on the right way, and that
although, compared with his opponent, a novice in the
Prize Ring, he was perfectly acquainted with the theory
of his art, and only wanted the occasion to arise to
put that theory into practice. He proved himself a very
hard hitter, and managed to get on to his opponent so
frequently that even Grant’s iron mug displayed such
bumps and contusions as the gallant hero has seldom
exhibited in his former engagements. Sayers is a
good-tempered, well-behaved young fellow, and bears a
high character for honour and integrity. He is by this
victory nearly at the top of the tree, and we trust
that by his future conduct he will show that prosperity
has not, in his case, as it has in many we could name
in his profession, had the effect of destroying his
good principles. Grant, although not destined on this
occasion to wear the crown of victory, was not
disgraced by his fall. He manfully disputed every inch
of ground with his clever opponent, and showed that his
qualifications as a sparrer were quite equal to those
of Sayers. His stopping and wrestling were universally
admired, while the manliness and care with which he
avoided falling upon his adversary in such a way as to
cause any dispute, obtained for him the repeated
plaudits of the surrounding throng. The fight, as we
have before observed, was conducted throughout in a way
to leave nothing to be desired.

Tom now remained idle until January of the following year, 1853, when a game, resolute fellow, named Jack Martin, who had disposed of several countrymen, and grown into high favour with Ben Caunt, was brought forward by “Big Ben” to uphold the honour of the “Coach and Horses.” Tom’s standing challenge was accordingly accepted for £50 a side, and Wednesday, January 26, 1853, named as the day of battle. A foggy trip per steamer landed the voyagers in Long Reach, and, the preparations being made, the men stood up and shook hands; Alec Keene and a friend, for Sayers, and Tom Paddock and Jerry Noon as seconds for Martin, joining in the friendly ceremony.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――On toeing the scratch it was clear to all
that Sayers was a bigger man than his adversary; and,
if possible, in better condition. His eye had resumed
its brightness, and there was a hardness in his general
appearance which made him look all over a perfect
gladiator. Martin, who was shorter in the reach than
his opponent, showed great muscularity of arm and
thighs, but elsewhere he was not nearly so well
furnished. He was pale, but there was a good-humoured
smile on his mug, which showed that the word fear was
unknown in his vocabulary. Little time was lost in
sparring――Sayers led off, catching Martin slightly with
his left on the nose. Martin immediately rushed to
in-fighting, when some heavy hits were exchanged, each
catching it on the left eye, and each showing claret at
the same moment from cuts on the brow. After a few
random shots both were down together. “First blood” was
claimed by each party, but was decided by the referee
to be a drawn event.

2.――Both bleeding from the left eye, Sayers appearing
to have the worst of it. He was undaunted, smiled, led
off with his left, catching Martin on the right cheek.
Martin again went in, and commenced pegging away with
both hands. Sayers was with him, hitting with most
precision, and the round ended in both again falling
together.

3.――Sayers commenced the ball, caught Martin a spank on
the right cheek, received slightly on the body, and
then catching Martin full with his left on the nose,
sent him to grass, a clean “knock-down blow,” and thus
won the second event.

4.――Martin came up bleeding from the nose, but with a
smile of confidence. Sayers led off, but Martin jumped
cleverly back. He then stepped in, caught Sayers on the
damaged optic, drawing more of the ruby. Heavy
exchanges followed; Martin delivered his right heavily
on the ribs, Sayers returning with effect on the nose.
A close at the rope followed, and both were quickly
down.

5.――Martin attempted to take the lead, but was neatly
stopped; he then swung round his right at the body, and
immediately closed for the fall. Sayers, instead of
struggling, fibbed away at Martin’s head until Martin
forced him down.

6.――Sayers led off on the nose with his left; Martin
countered on the side of the head. A tremendous rally
followed, the hits on both sides succeeding each other
with great quickness. Each caught it on the side of the
head, but the blows of Sayers, from his superior reach,
told with most force. In the end both were down.

7.――Martin led off, was well stopped, and received a
nasty one on the nose; he then closed, but Sayers
refused to struggle with him, and got down, Martin
following suit.

8.――Sayers commenced by planting his left on Martin’s
nose with effect, and immediately repeating the dose.
Martin returned on the left eye heavily, enlarging the
old cut; and Sayers, in stepping away, slipped down.

9.――Martin showed a bump on each side of his nose from
the heavy blows in the last round. He tried to take the
lead, but was well stopped. Ditto repeated. After which
he bored in, Sayers catching him heavily on the left
cheek. Martin succeeded in reaching Sayers’ damaged
brow; good exchanges followed, Sayers getting, however,
on Martin’s right eye, and Martin on the ribs with his
right. Another tremendous rally followed, each getting
heavy pepper, Martin, however, having the worst of it,
and receiving on the mouth and left eye with great
severity. At last they got close together, and, after a
short struggle, Sayers eased himself down, and Martin
fell on him.

10.――Martin, on coming up, showed marks of the efficacy
of Sayers’ handiwork in the last round. His right eye,
which was previously “all serene,” was now completely
closed, and his right cheek much swollen, while Sayers
appeared little the worse for wear. Sayers led off, but
was short; Martin then made an attempt, but failed in
like manner. Counter-hits followed; Sayers again
reached the right ogle of his adversary, who took all
in good-humour, and still smiled with one side of his
face. He now dashed in, and more exchanges took place,
Martin succeeded in inflicting a cut over Sayers’ right
eye, which had been hitherto unscathed. At length,
after some sharp in-fighting in favour of Sayers,
Martin slipped down on one knee. Sayers, who might have
hit him, laughed and walked away, amidst cries of
“Bravo” from both sides.

11.――Sayers led off with his left, reaching the side of
Martin’s nose. A rattling rally followed, at the end of
which Sayers threw his man, and fell heavily on him.

12.――Martin came up bleeding at all points, but still
the same good-humoured fellow as ever. Sayers led off
short, ditto Martin; Sayers in on the ribs with his
left. Counter-hits, Sayers on the nose, and Martin on
the cheek, drawing more of the ruby fluid. A close
followed, and some more heavy infighting, after which,
Martin contrived to swing Sayers over.

13.――Sayers on coming up was bleeding rapidly from a
severe cut on his left hand, evidently inflicted
against Martin’s teeth. The men quickly got to it,
counter-hits were exchanged, Martin on the ribs, and
Sayers on the right cheek, followed up by two spanks,
left and right, on the nose and mouth. More heavy
pounding in favour of Sayers, who hit at points, while
Martin hit round, and principally at the body. At
length they closed, and both were down, side by side,
each looking at his adversary and smiling.

14.――Martin led off with his left, but was out of
distance. Sayers, with great quickness, let go his
left, and reached his opponent’s mouth. Martin merely
grinned at the visitation, bored in, but only to
receive another severe prop on the right eye and a
spank on the nasal organ. Still he was determined, and
again went at his man, who, in getting away, slipped
down.

15.――Martin’s phisog in anything but picturesque
condition, his right cheek much swollen and bleeding,
and his mouth completely out of kissing condition.
After a few passes, slight counter-hits were exchanged,
Martin getting home on the body, and Sayers on the left
cheek. Martin, not to be stalled off, rushed in and
delivered a heavy round hit on the ribs with his right;
Sayers was with him, and visited his damaged smeller
with severity. This led to another good rattling rally,
in which Sayers inflicted more heavy punishment on poor
Martin’s nose and right eye, while Martin only
succeeded in delivering some sounding punches on his
ribs. They broke away, again got at it ding-dong, and
finally, in the close both were down. Martin apparently
as strong on his legs as his opponent.

16.――Good counter-hits with the left, each catching the
other on the mazzard. Sayers now stopped one or two
attempts on the part of his adversary very neatly, and
returned heavily on the nozzle. An attempt to repeat
the dose was unsuccessful, Martin quickly jumping back.
Martin came again, and swung round his left on the
ribs, but napped it again on the nose for his
imprudence. More mutual punching in favour of Sayers
followed, but still Martin’s deliveries were
occasionally severe. A close, in which both fibbed away
hammer-and-tongs. Sayers reaching Martin’s remaining
optic, but not with sufficient force to put up the
shutter, and Martin drew more claret from his
opponent’s left ogle. A break away, and at it again,
until Martin slipped down on one knee; Sayers again
walking away smiling. This round, which was one of the
best fighting rounds we have seen for many a day,
elicited universal applause.

17.――Martin came up piping, and rather slow, but still
smiling, as well as his damaged phiz would allow. He
endeavoured to lead off, but was easily stopped. In a
second attempt he reached Tom’s left cheek, but Sayers
countered him on the left eye heavily, his superior
reach giving him the advantage. Martin, not to be
cowed, popped in a heavy right-hander on the ribs;
received again on his left eye, and, in retreating,
slipped down.

18.――Sayers let fly his left, but was short; both
appeared fatigued from the quickness with which they
had worked, and sparred a few seconds for wind. Sayers
at length again led off, and caught Martin on the left
eye, Martin returning on the same suit with
considerable quickness. Both were now short in their
deliveries. Martin at length bored in and reached Tom’s
ribs with his right. Sayers returned on the right
cheek, and both slipped down.

19.――Sayers again out of distance. He soon crept
closer, however, sent out his left, was neatly stopped,
and cleverly got away from Martin’s return. Martin
followed him up, caught him on the left cheek, and then
on the body, receiving a nasty one in return on the
left eye. In the close which followed he succeeded in
throwing Sayers heavily, amidst the cheers of his
friends, who did not think he had so much strength in
him.

20.――Sayers led off, caught Martin on the mouth, was
unsuccessful in a second attempt, and then caught a
heavy right-hander on the ribs. Martin sent out his
left and was stopped, Sayers returning with effect on
the right eye, and then on the left, from which he drew
more claret. Martin, whose head was much swollen, again
planted a rib bender, closed, and after a short
struggle both were down.

21.――Martin took the lead, but Sayers jumped away
laughing; Martin returned the grin, and again sent out
his left, which was easily stopped. Sayers once more
reached his adversary’s blind side, and Martin slipped
down weak.

22.――Any odds on Sayers, who was as fresh as possible.
Martin made an effort to turn the tables, but was
stopped several times; he at length reached Tom’s ribs,
and the latter stepping back, steadied himself, waited
for Martin’s rush, and then sent out his left with
terrific force, caught poor Martin on the right jaw,
and the latter tumbled over on his face apparently out
of time. It was thought all over, and the poor fellow
was carried to his corner, but when time was called, to
the surprise of all he came up for round

23, and last.――He was evidently all abroad, and
staggered about the ring. Sayers went up to him,
delivered his left on the right cheek, and following
this with a right-hander on the nose, down went Martin
for the last time, and Sayers was proclaimed the winner
after fighting 55 _minutes_. Sayers, although severely
handled about the mug, was still fresh on his pins;
both his eyes were fully open, and it was evident that,
had it been necessary, he was good for many more
rounds. Martin, on being conveyed to his corner, was
laid upon the ground, and every effort made to restore
consciousness, but it was fully five minutes before he
could be made to understand what had happened. As soon
as possible he was conveyed on board the steamboat, and
made as comfortable as could be expected under the
circumstances.

REMARKS.――A few more such battles as that we have just
recorded would go far to restore the fallen fortunes of
the Prize Ring. It was, in truth, as we have styled it
above, a mill of the old school. More punishment was
inflicted in 55 minutes than we have seen in two hours
in any encounter during the last few years. There was
not a single appeal to the referee, nor was there a
single action on the part of either man throughout the
fight at which the greatest stickler for fair play
could take exception. Both had evidently made up their
minds to a fair and manly struggle for victory, and
their friends ably supported them in their laudable
resolution, by rigidly abstaining from any
interference. In fact, the only thing at which we felt
inclined to cavil was the manner in which Jerry Noon
seconded the losing man. A good second always remains
quiet until the round is over, then picks his man up,
carries him to his corner, and cleans him as tenderly
as possible. Roughness, or interference during the
round, only tends to confuse a man’s ideas and lead him
into jeopardy. As to the merits of the men, there
cannot be two opinions. Martin was clearly overmatched.
He was opposed to a taller, longer and stronger man,
one, moreover, possessing greater knowledge of the art
of self-defence than himself. That he (Martin) is a
game, resolute fellow no one will deny. A greater
glutton we have seldom seen. He is, also, an
exceedingly fair fighter, scorning to take the least
advantage, and is possessed of that greatest of all
requisites to a boxer――unwavering good-temper. The
terms of praise in which he was mentioned by all
clearly showed that his conduct was appreciated as it
deserved to be. Of Tom Sayers, and his manly,
good-tempered style of fighting, we have before spoken
in the highest terms, and it is only necessary for us
to state that his conduct was as upright and his
tactics were as fair as ever. He, on several occasions,
refrained from punishing his adversary when he was down
on one knee only――a position in which he was perfectly
entitled to strike him, and one in which he might have
administered pepper with effect. He used his left hand
with greater precision than in his battle with Grant,
and his deliveries appeared altogether heavier than in
that encounter. As we have before observed, the ring
was exceedingly well kept throughout, and all had an
uninterrupted view of the encounter from its
commencement to its conclusion. As soon as possible
after the event was decided, the crowd that had
assembled took its departure――some returning by the
boat, while others, who did not fancy a return trip up
the river in the dark against an ebb-tide, struck
across the marshes to Dartford, and thus reached town
at seven o’clock by the North Kent Railway. Among the
latter was our eccentric friend, Bendigo, who quite put
out the pipe of the milling orator and poet, Charley
Mallett, as, while waiting at the station, he composed
and sung a long extempore poem, descriptive of the
day’s sport, and laudatory of the heroes and of
himself, which elicited uncontrollable laughter and
applause from his Corinthian auditors, and sent all
back to the Metropolis in perfect good humour, caused
as much by the ready wit and “hanky-panky” performances
of that eccentric individual, as by the extraordinary
treat they had enjoyed on the field of battle.

The year 1853 was not to expire without witnessing the first and last defeat of the gallant Tom.

Nathaniel Langham, for many years known as “mine host” of the “Mitre,” in St. Martin’s Lane, Leicester Square, whose biography illustrates a former portion of this volume, was, as the reader is already aware, of that unlucky weight, 11st., which is so difficult to match when accompanied by first-class pugilistic capabilities. Too heavy for the light men, whose average lies between 9st. and 9st. 10lbs., and too light for real “big-uns,” provided they possess skill and pluck, men of this size can find fair competitors only among men of their own weight and inches. Nat’s earlier combats, therefore, as we have already seen, were with heavy men; and his only defeat had been by Harry Orme, his superior by more than half a stone, under circumstances fully detailed at page 244 of this volume. Two years had elapsed since Nat’s defeat, and public talk had prophesied in fistic circles of “the coming man” in the person of the conqueror of Jack Grant. “Ould Nat,” who seemed for the moment laid on the shelf, pricked up his ears when he heard that Tom, whose motto was “Excelsior,” was ready to make a match with the “Champion of the Middle-weights.” Nat picked up the gauntlet, and all was soon arranged. At Lakenheath, Suffolk, on the 18th October, 1853, they met, with the result already recorded.

Defeated, but not disgraced, Tom lost no time in challenging Langham to a second trial; but the latter, for good and sufficient reasons, which we have fully set forth in our memoir of that boxer (_ante_ p. 251), declined the invitation.

Sayers was, therefore, on the look-out for a new competitor, and although Tom “proposed” to several of the provincial “ten stunners” and upwards, none listened to his suit.

One evening, after some “chaff,” George Sims, a long-limbed professor of the art, immensely fancied by some of the “locals,” threw down the gauntlet to Tom, professing regret that £25 was all he could raise for the experiment, and that Tom could easily post £50. Finding that the professor was serious and “meant business,” Sayers, who declared himself “blue mouldy for want of a bating,” accepted the chance, as he said, “to keep his hand in.”

The day fixed was the 2nd of February, 1854, and on a miserably foggy morning the principals and their friends took steamer to Long Reach, below Gravesend, and soon were face to face, near the river wall. Sayers, who weighed 10st 6lbs., looked remarkably well. Sims, who stood over him, was 5 feet 10 inches, and said to be under 11st. We doubt if he were so light, despite his leanness. Sims was waited upon by Jemmy Welsh and Harry Orme, so that he had talent behind him; Sayers had Jemmy Massey and Bob Fuller as counsel. 7 to 4 and 2 to 1 on Sayers.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――Sims was so much taller than Sayers that he
seemed quite a lath before him, and, as soon as he held
up his hands, displayed such awkwardness that it was
evidently “sovereigns to sassingers” on Sayers, and Dan
Dismore immediately offered 4 to 1 on him, which was
taken by Jem Burn on the off chance. Sims, after a
little unartistic squaring, lunged out awkwardly, and
caught Tom on the chest with his left. Tom, who was
evidently waiting to find out what his adversary could
do, returned smartly on the mouth, and in getting back
fell on his corybungus.

2.――Tom grinned, dodged his man, and, on the latter
wildly sending out his left, countered him on the
nozzle heavily. Sims immediately closed, and Tom,
seizing him round the neck, pegged away with his right
at the ribs and left eye until both fell.

3.――Sims led off, evidently without any settled plan;
he caught Tom slightly on the mouth, and the latter
again countered him heavily on the nose, deciding the
first event in his favour by producing an excellent
supply of the best crimson dye. Sims did not like this,
and again closed, when Tom fibbed him heavily on the
proboscis, drawing more of the ruby, and then on the
left eye, and both again fell.

4th and last.――Sims on coming up looked much flushed;
his left ogle winked again as if it saw so many bright
stars as to be perfectly dazzled. He attempted to lead
off, but was countered with the greatest ease by Tom on
the left eye and mouth. He retreated as if bothered,
and then went in again, when Tom let go both hands, the
left on the smeller, and the right with terrific effect
over the left brow, inflicting a deep cut, and drawing
a copious supply of the best double-distilled. Sims was
evidently stunned by the hit; for, as Sayers caught
hold of him, he fell back and rolled over him. It was
at once perceptible that it was all over; poor Sims lay
perfectly insensible and motionless. His seconds did
their best to stop the leak in his _os frontis_, but
for some time without effect; and, as for rendering him
capable of hearing the call of “Time,” that was quite
out of the question, and Tom Sayers, to his own
astonishment and the disappointment of those who had
expected a rattling mill, was declared the conqueror,
after a skirmish of exactly five minutes. Sayers was so
bewildered that he could not make it out; he evidently
did not know he had made so decided a hit, and
displayed considerable anxiety to ascertain the fate of
his less fortunate opponent. A medical gentleman was
present, who soon did the needful for the poor fellow,
and in about five minutes more he was himself again,
and was able to walk about. He was quite dumbfounded as
to the result, and expressed a strong wish to be thrown
into the river; but, after some persuasion from his
friends, became more calm, and thought it better “to
live to fight another day.”

REMARKS.――A few words are all that are called for in
the shape of remarks on this mill. Sims was from the
first overmatched. He is a civil, well-behaved,
courageous fellow, ridiculously over estimated by his
friends. Tom Sayers and his tactics are too well known
to require comment. He did all that was required of
him, and left the ring without a scratch. We never saw
him in better fettle; and if he ever had a day on which
he was better than he ever had been before, that day
was Tuesday. An easier job never fell to man’s lot; and
the best wish that his friends can express is, that he
may never have a worse.

This brief episode left Sayers literally without a chance of continuing the main story of his battles, of which this could be hardly reckoned more than “_un affaire_,” as French _militaires_ would call it. Tom looked round and round, he sparred, and challenged, and travelled, but he was not fancied as a customer by either Londoners or provincials. He was too good a horse, and handicapping him was not so easy. There was much “talkee, talkee” about a match between himself and Tom Paddock, then claiming the Championship, and a proposal for Paddock to stake £200 to Tom Sayers’s £100, Paddock weighing 12st. 8lbs. to Tom’s 10st. 1lbs., or thereabouts. It came to nothing, however; and Tom, in despair, announced his intention of going to Australia.

Harry Poulson, of Nottingham, whose three tremendous battles with Paddock, in the first of which he was victorious, though defeated in the second and third encounters, had raised his fame deservedly, was now talked of, and Tom was induced to match himself against him. Here, again, Sayers was giving away “lumps of weight;” for Poulson, though an inch shorter than Sayers (namely, 5ft 7½in.) was a perfect Hercules in the torso, weighing 12st. 7lbs. in hard condition. He had thrashed, in provincial battles, all comers, and was known as one of the coolest, most determined, and game fellows that ever pulled off a shirt. True, he had come into the London Ring rather late in life, having been born in 1817, but his endurance and strength were considered an overmatch for Sayers. So, too, thought Jem Burn, a staunch friend of Poulson, and he proposed to stake £50 on his behalf. Sayers accepted it, and Bendigo, who was Poulson’s friend and adviser, snapped at what he declared to be “a gift” for his townsman Harry.