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Since the great fight, for the
championship of America
and one thousand dollars a side, between Joe Coburn, of
Philadelphia, Mike McCool, of St. Louis, in May last,
no event has created such wide-spread excitement in pu-
gilistic circles in this country as the contest between
Con.
Fitzgerald and Ed. Wilson, for the sum of one thousand
dollars, which came off yesterday at Fort Penn, in the
State of Delaware, about sixty miles from
Philadelphia.
THE FORMER EXPLOITS OF THE
COMBATANTS
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Both men had fought previously in the
prize ring, al-
though with different success, Fitzgerald having
defeated
his antagonist, while Wilson's terminated in a drawn
battle. Their relative merits as regards superiority of
pugilistic qualities was a disputed question among the
patrons of the "manly art," and ultimately culminated in
the arrangement of the match in question for five
hundred
dollars a side, to come off at Charlestown, Md.
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Ed. Wilson is a New Yorker by birth,
and a brass-
founder by occupation. He is now in his thirty-fifth
year, and his first essay in the ring was with Harry
Gribbin, of New York, April 24, 1860, when after a game
fight of nearly two hours, it was declared drawn by the
referee, both men being severely punished. This was
his only battle previous to the one we now record.
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His antagonist, Con. Fitzgerald, was
born in Albany,
New York, November, 1832, and is therefore in his
thirty-first year. He is the same height as Wilson -
five
feet eight inches - and about five pounds heavier. His
only fight in the regular ring before was with Hugh
Kelly, in Nevada Territory, in the year 1850
whom he defeated in eighteen rounds and thirty
minutes. Kelly was the favorite at two to one
but the heavy punishing hitting of Fitzgerald
enabled him to win without a mark. Since that time he
has remained perfectly quiet until the present match,
for
which he was trained by John Lawrence, Morrissey's old
trainer, at McComb's Dam, finishing off at the Suffolk
Park, near Philadelphia, the last ten days of his
prepara-
tion. Ed. Wilson trained at his own house at Weehaw-
ken, under the care of Hen. Winkle.
SELECTION OF THE BATTLE GROUND
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The place of fighting was origanally
named at Charles-
town, Md., but the recent interference of the Maryland
au-
thorities in the Lynch and Toal fight significantly
showed
that any more pugilistic contests would not be allowed
in
that section of the state. In this emergency the
co-opera-
tion and assistance of a well known influential sporting
gentleman of Philadelphia, Mr William McMullen, was
sought by both parties, and he promised to help them in
their difficulty. He guaranteed to take them to a spot in
the
State of Delaware, where the fight could come off
without
interference, and the management of the affair was
placed
in his hands. The steamers were chartered, one for the
public and the other for the principals, seconds and im-
mediate backers, for which the tickets were charged five
dollars each.
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At midnight on Monday all parties
embarked who had
secured tickets for the latter boat, at the Brown street
wharf, the other steamer sailing from the foot of Market
street. The destination was Fort Penn, in the State of
Delaware, about sixty-five miles from Philadelphia and
four from Delaware City, and this point was reached at
about seven o'clock the next morning.
RAID OF THE ROUGHS ON THE
DELAWAREANS
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The irruption of so many strangers
into the quiet ham-
let of Fort Penn alarmed the inhabitants,
who imagined that Mosby's guerillas had made
a raid into Delaware; and certainly the conduct of
some few roughs, who invariably managed to be present
on similar pugilistic excursions, justified them in
drawing
such a conclusion. They broke into one or two stores
and plundered them of their contents, and in one
instance
robbed the storekeeper of his pocketbook containing
some twenty-five dollars. It is but just to the others
who
were on the same excursion, to state that they strongly
condemned these lawless proceedings, and raised by sub-
scription, immediately they heard of the affair, a purse
of the same amount of which had been robbed by the
ruffians. These proceedings, as will be subsequently
seen, led to the arrest of a large number of the party,
and it is to be hoped the guilty ones are included among
them.
FORMING THE RING
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The ring was speedily and efficiently
formed by the
usual commissary, Boatman Tom, of Philadelphia, on a
suitable piece of turf, about a mile from the village.
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Fitzgerald was the first to enter the
ring, at a few mi-
nutes before ten o'clock, throwing in his cap in the
usual
orthodox manner. He was received with loud cheering.
Five minutes subsequently Ed. Wilson followed, and it
was noticed as a bad omen that the wind, when his cap
was thrown up into the ring, carried it outside again.
He also met a warm welcome. His seconds were his
trainer, Hen. Winkle and Barney Aaron and his colors
a handsome white silk handkerchief with colored eagle
and flower and blue striped border. Fitzgerald seconds
were his trainer, John Lawrence, and Dan Burns, both
of them Morrissey's old trainers. His colors were
green silk with white bird's eye. Joe Coburn and
Theodore Allen were Wilson's and Con's respective um-
pires, but a long delay ensued for referee. Mr McMullen
declined to act, on the ground that he was unaquainted
with the rules of the ring. Mr John McKewen also re-
fused, and ultimately Mr E.James, of the Clipper, agreed
to officiate. Lawrence won the toss for choice of ground
for Fitzgerald, and took the corner most sheltered from
the bitter keen wind that prevailed.
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Offers to bet one hundred dollars to
seventy-five on
Con. met with no response. Neither did Ed. Wilson's
offer
to bet five hundred against a thousand that he won, his
opponent offering five hundred to four hundred. A few
bets were made and shaking hands of the prinipals and
seconds, round time was called for.
THE FIGHT
_ ROUND
FIRST - As they stood facing each other,
sparring
for an opening, they appeared to be pretty evenly
matched,
both in height and weight. Fitzgerald position was
more artistic than his opponent's, and he appeared more
active in his movements, as might have been anticipated
from the advantage he possesed in point of youth. Their
condition was perfection itself, the muscles of their
arms and shoulders being splendidly developed and
standing out in bold relief. Neither of them seemed
to have an ounce of superfluous flesh, and a pretracted,
well contested fight was confidently anticipated
by the spectators. Some time was spent in spar-
ring. Con. at length leading off and both counter-
ing together on the face. Breaking fresh ground, they
again joined issue, the exchanges, where quick
and heavy, being in Con.'s favor, although Wilson won
the first of the three events by drawing first blood by
a
left hander on the nose. Fitzgerald, however, made the
balance even by knocking Wilson down by a heavy half
arm hit, amid loud cheers from his party, which were as
warmly responded to by Wilson's friends for his en-
couragement.
_ ROUND
SECOND. - Both prompt to the call of time,
Fitz-
gerald leading off, but was well stopped. He tried it
again, but with no better effect. More sparring, both
countering together and getting home on the face, Con.
at last finishing the round by sending Wilson to the
grass.
Loud cheers, and offers to bet seventy against one hun-
dred dollars that Wilson won.
_ ROUND THIRD.
- Neither of them showed any marks of
punishment as they came up for this round. Some time
was spent in sparring, Con. at last exclaiming, "Why
don't you fight, Ed.?" to which Wilson replied, "Why
don't
you start, Con.?" The latter was obliged to lead off,
but
was stopped twice in succession, Wilson being evidently
resolved to make Fitzgerald take the initiative. In his
third essay he was more successful, as he planted his
right, upon which he seemed to depend almost entirely,
fair on Wilson's nose, following it up with a second and
heavier hit on the same place, which knocked Ed. fairly
off
his feet. Loud cheering for Fitzgerald, and offers of
one
hundred dollars to fifty that he won.
_ ROUND
FOURTH. Wilson's seconds sent him up
compari-
tively fresh and clean, and he smiled grimly at his
oppo-
nent as they toed the scratch. After some little
feinting
Con. got home on the cheek, and as Wilson returned on
the body he delivered a terrific right hander on the
nose,
which caused the crimson fluid to spout like a torrent,
and
breaking it like an eggshell. He followed it up by a
second
sledgehammer hit with the right under the ear, which
evidently confused Wilson, and terminated the round by
a third tremenous facer, which floored him like a shot,
Wilson going down like a log in his own corner. So un-
mistakably apparent were the effects of Con.'s heavy
hit-
ting in this round, that one hundred dollars to twenty
against Wilson were offered without any takers.
_ ROUND FFTH.
- Wilson came up so weak that Con. at
once forced the fighting, sending Wilson to the grass by
a
lefthander on the nose, which caused the blood to flow
in
increased torrents. Odds of one hundred to five offered
on Fitzgerald.
_ ROUND SIXTH.
- To the surprise of every one, Wilson
came up promptly and gamely at the call of time. Con
dashed in, and with a heavy blow on the face knocked
him on the ropes in his own corner, and followed it up
with the right and left on the same spot, and knocked
him off his legs, amid loud cheers from his friends.
_ ROUND
SEVENTH. - The fight was now virtually over,
for
although Wilson came up with the most undaunted game-
ness it was only to receivve punishment, without being
able to inflict any corresponding harm in return. Con at
once forced the fighting, in accordance with his
second's
instructions, delivering his right very heavily on the
old spot, and knocking Wilson off his legs.
_ ROUND
EIGHTH. - Wilson, although suffering from
the se-
vere hitting he had received, came up as game as ever tp
time. Con dashed in, napping a couple of body hits for
his temerity, which, however, were deficient in power to
do any harm, and delivering in return a rapid and effec-
tive one, two and three on the head and face, which made
the blood stream again in profussion, and knocking him
off his legs. One hundred dollars to two were offered in
one quarter on Fitzgerald, without any one accepting it.
_ ROUND NINTH.
- Wilson was still able to be on hand at
the
call of time, but all chance of success had vanished
long
ago, and it was only his unflinching game that made him
continue the hopeless contest. He came up to the
scratch to be hit all over by those terrific
righthanders of Fitzgerald's, and knocked down
weak, powerless and bleeding. At the finish there were
loud cries for his seconds to take their man away, as he
was being literally cut to pieces by his opponent's
severe
sledgehammer hitting; but he himself would not listen to
the advice tendered, and persisted in coming up.
_ ROUND TENTH
AND LAST. - Weak from loss of blood, and
staggering from his tremendous pluck. Con was appa-
rently determined to finish off his opponent at once,
for
he rushed in, and disregarding the feeble blows he gave,
administered his right and left with stinging severity
on
the face, sent him so heavily to the grass that his
second,
seeing the hopelessness and cruelty of continuing the
fight, and afraid of a fatal termination if persisted
any
longer, threw up the sponge in token of his defeat, al-
though strongly against the wishes of the brave fellow
himself, who was deeply mortified at his defeat.
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The fight lasted excatly sixteen
minutes, and in every
round Wilson was knocked down.
REMARKS
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But little comment is necessary on
this fight. Wilson
proved himself as brave, game fellow that he has always
been considered, but he showed also that beyond game-
ness he has none of the requisite qualities of a boxer.
He is deficient in science, connot lead off at all, and
did
not know how to take advantage of the many openings
that were offered him. Fitzgerald has a good deal to
learn before he can be considered perfect as a boxer. He
is very active on his legs, hits tremendously heavy and
straight, especially with his dangerous right, and is one
of
the fairest fighters we ever witnessed. His defence,
however, is not very strong, as he preferes leading off
with his right, which he uses with effect, instead of
re-
serving it as a guard or to cross counter, and thus lays
himself open to a scientific antagonist. This is a fault
that can be easily rectified, and which, if he is
matched
against Joe Coburn - of which there was some talk after
the fight, Con. declaring his willingness to meet him
for
two thousand dollars a side - he will be compelled to
remedy. As it is, he entirely satisfied his friends by
his
performance on this occasion
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