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NEW YORK EVENING POST WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1802 BELCHER vs BOURKE

The following minute and technical description of a barbarous amusement, still kept up among the English, may be gratifying to some, as affording a specimen of the state of manners in that country. BOXING MATCH BETWEEN BELCHER AND BOURKE 1st Round was long; much sparring and squaring, hard blows struck, both parties dis- played much spirit but little skill. Bourke appeared to have a good chance, throwing in a blow which cut Belcher under the left eye; they closed and both fell, neither having the advantage. 2nd Round was decided, Bourke closing on Belcher without any sparring, and throwing him, both falling, Belcher beneath. 3rd Round - Smart and severe; sharp blows passing on both sides; Bourke aimed a great blow at Belcher's nose, which the latter op- ped with his right hand, and threw in a very hard straight forward blow with his left hand at Bourke's right eye, which took full effect; the blood gushed out, & the face swelled round the eye, in such a manner as nearly to close up the sight. Belcher immediately closed on Bourke, and gave him a severe fall. 4th Round - Much sparring; no blows took effect. Bourke closed on Belcher and threw him a dreadful fall, Bourke falling on Belcher with all his weight very heavily. In conse- quence of this fall, the betting, which had been 3 to 1 against Bourke, changed to 3 to 2. 5th Round - Squaring. Bourke followed up Belcher very quick, Belcher retreating till he came with some force upon the railing which enclosed the stage: Bourke close upon him. Those who backed Bourke were now in high spirits; but Belcher, when against the rails, laid hold of the rail with the right hand, and with this purchase swung himself round in such a manner as enabled to give Bourke, with his left hand, a doubly severe blow on the throat, immediately upon which the blood gushed out of his mouth in torrents; and Bel- cher instantly followed this by a sharp blow with his right hand on the left side of Bourke's head, the latter fell, Belcher upon him, Bourke having hold of Belcher's hands. The betting again became 2 to 1 in favor of Belcher. - Bourke sat down on his second's knee for about half a minute, water was given to wash his mouth, which, notwithstanding, continued to bleed very much; his face was also wiped with handkerchiefs, and means taken to refresh him. During this time, Belcher was walking about the stage. 6th Round - Bourke fell the first blow which took effect smartly on the cheek, just below the eye that had before been nearly clos- ed up. 7th Round - Bourke immediately arose, and early gave Belcher a blow with his right hand on the side of the head; Bourke closed on Belcher; a violent struggle took place; but Belcher had the advantage, throwing Bourke and falling on him; a rest of nearly a minute took place; Bourke appeared much exhausted. 8th Round - Bourke, with much spirit and energy threw a blow with his left hand, which took effect on Belcher's breast; Bourke closed and threw Belcher. 9th Round - Bourke's nose was cut open; he closed on Belcher, who threw Bourke; a heavy fall. This round was very decisive in Belcher's favor 10th Round - Belcher threw a blow at the eye of Bourke, which had been nearly closed up; the blow took effect; Bourke fell. 11th Round - Belcher threw in several blows on the breast, which seemed to severe. Previ- ously to this none of the body blows on either side were much worthy of notice. Bourke closed on Belcher and threw him with great violence, falling upon him. 12th Round - Both seemed rather exhaust- ed; Bourke closed early, a powerful wrestle; Bourke prevailed, Belcher falling under him, Bourke falling heavy. A rest of about half a minute took place. 13th Round - Belcher received a full blow on the breast, which made him stagger; Bourke closed and again threw Belcher, fall- ing heavily on him. A short round. 14th Round - Belcher cut Bourke's left cheek both closed and fell after a long struggle. Both displayed more science in this round than in any of the preceding. 15th Round - Several hard blows on both sides, though none of them seemed decisive; both closed and fell, Belcher uppermost. A rest of about half a minute. 16th Round - Bourke appeared very weak; he received another blow on the cheek; and one on the nose, were he had been struck before; Belcher's knuckles appearing to be buried in his nose. Still Bourke would not fall until he received a sharp blow under the right ear; the blood gushed out at his ear and 2at his mouth; he then fell. This round was decisive of the battle. After the first blow in this round, Bourke seemed enraged, and to have recovered all his strength; he struck Bel- cher several blows in the breast, but none of them severe, though they made Belcher stag- ger a little. Bourke's face was so smashed to pieces, and so besmeared with blood (his eyes nearly closed up) that he seemed to make a mad and desperate effort, regardless of conse- quences. This laid him very open to Belcher, who was now amazingly active, throwing in his blows with both hands. The friends of Bourke all cried that he should give in, as he was manifestly too severely beaten; but he would not yield, though he was unable, with- out assistance to rise, his second lifting him up by the waistband of the breeches. 17th Round - Bourke appeared to stand very firmly; but one severe blow throw on his nose, knocked him smack down. Bourke now gave in, and Belcher was declared vic- tor. At the termination, there were but par- tial plaudits, most of the spectators feeling for- Bourke's situation, sympathizing with him as a man of far more bottom than they expected.

_ A more severe contest never, perhaps; took place. And Bourke displayed every possible characteristic of determined courage and indefatigable perseverance. Their ap- pearance and a mode of fighting were very dif- ferent. Bourke was much superior in a point of weight, nerve and muscle - Belcher was su- perior in quickness of arm, activity of body, and a combination of movements which gene- rally prove successful over a single excellence, or requisite for the practice of pugilism. - Bourke frequently pushed his courage to fero- city, and sometimes struck at random; Bel- cher was, even in the hottest moment of the battle, master of temper, and seemed ne- ver to strike without a specific object. Bourke although absolutely exhausted, offered to con- tinue the fight, but he was over-ruled by his second and carried off the stage in a most wrenched condition. Belcher received several very severe blows, particularly in the body; but he bore them with great patience, and did not leave the ground for upwards of an hour after. The battle was for one hundred guineas a side, and some thousands depended upon its issue. _ Mendoza was to have seconded Bourke, but he was afraid if he did so, that he might loose the license of the public house he keeps in Mile End Road. _ Belcher having beat Bourke, has challenged Mendoza, and offered to fight him in a month for 200 to 300 guineas; to which bravado Mendoza calmly replied, that he had relin- quished the trade of fighting; that he support- ed a family of six children by his exertions as landlord of the Lord Nelson public house, in White-chapel; that there was one man he would fight; and that was Jackson, who, in consequence of his having behaved unhand- somely and unfairly in the former contest, had aroused Mendoza to satisfaction, if not to ven- geance. _ It is quite true, that Belcher is not a man of science, according to the rules of the pugilis- tic art; but he possesses a style peculiarly his own, which baffles a regular science. He is remarkable quick, springs backward and for- ward like lightning; you hear his blows but never see them; at the conclusion of a round his antagonist is beaten and bloody, but you did not see Belcher give a blow. This is in- deed a science peculiarly his own. It is one which none of the regularly bred artist can meet, it is felt, but not seen and means cannot be devised of mastering it. _ [Bourke very nearly paid the forfeit of his life in this affair. Belcher was arrested to abide the consequences if death had ensued.]

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