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FRIEND SPIRIT:&endash; I trust that
you will pardon my thus thrusting myself
so unceremoniously upon your attention; and probably as I
proceed you
will find no sufficient justification on my part for doing
so. I am not a
sporting man myself, nor do I consider myself in the least
au fait in the
mysteries of the profession. I read the SPIRIT regularly,
and try to keep
myself posted in matters relating to the sporting world. I
see that the ex-
citement, in regard to the coming "set-to" between the rival
champions&endash;
Heenan and Sayers is increasing. Here in this little village
nothing else
is talked of. This, as you are of course aware, is the
birthplace of Mr. John
C., and as such I trust that a communication from it will
not be devoid of
interest. I am well acquainted with Mr. Heenan, Senior. He
has been em-
ployed in the Watervliet Arsenal here for the last thirty
years and now
occupies the position of master-blacksmith; in other words,
"boss of the
smithies." He has another son, Timothy by name, who follows
the same
trade as his father, and who is nothing loth to try his hand
at a "knock-
down" argument. As far as regards Mr. John Heenan,
personally I am not
acquainted with him. I have seen him, however, and a
finer-built man I
never had the good fortune to come in contact with. His
manners are also
very gentlemanly. It is somewhat hazardous to risk an
opinion on the
coming fight; but any loose change I may wish to bet will
most assuredly
take the odds against Sayers. I am happy to say that the
odds are heavy
here on Heenan; he is looked upon as a sure thing. The
Cricket and Base
Ball Clubs are beginning to move, both in the village and
Troy, getting
ready for the summer campaign. If anything in your line
occurs this way,
and this first essay pass your critical examination, I will
write you again.
Till then, adios.
_______________________________
JUNIOR
ED. WILSON"S BENEFIT.&endash; We learn
that it is the intention of Ed. Wilson,
of Weehawken, who is matched to fight Harry Gribbin for
$1,000, to give a
grand sparring exhibition at the National Concert Rooms
(formerly the Na-
tional Theatre), on Tuesday evening, when he will be
assisted by a host of the
best sparrers in the city, as well as by the regular company
of the establishment.
From the attractive character of the evening's
entertainment, we have no doubt
but that Wilson will have a bumper benefit.
THE LATE FIGHT NEAR GOSHEN,
N.Y.
_ DECKER AND
KIMBER.&endash; A correspondent, signing
himself "Bellsmasher,"
replies to "Bellringer's" description of the fight between
the above named
parties, and says, "the fight did not last thirty minutes,
nor the half that
time. Neither did Kimber lead off or throw Decker. Decker
received
only one blow, and that after he had put down his guard,
when arrested
by the village officer. Two or three cat-scratchers were
visible on his face,
the only injury on him, while Kimber did not manifest such a
'crowing'
disposition as the Paddy remarked. I have no doubt but that
Decker will
cross 'Rio Grande.' or any other Grande with him whenever
Kimber feels
voracious, or wishes a few more teeth extracted."
_ GRIEBIN AND WILSON'S
MATCH.&endash; This match is proceeding in
the most
satisfactory manner, and both men are in active training,
and getting into
first-rate condition. We have now received $700 on account
of this match,
and the next deposit (the eighth) of $50 a side will be made
at Edwin Will-
son's, the Woodbine Hotel, at Weehawken, on Thursday, the
5th April, be-
tween two and six, P.M. The ninth and final deposit of $100
a side, will
be made at James Massey's, on Thursday, the 18th April,
between two and
six o'clock, P.M., when both men will be present.
_ CHALLENGE TO
MORRISSEY.&endash; We have received from
Thomas Hyde, of
Staleybridge, the sum £10, on behalf of Sam Hurst (the
Staleybridge
Chicken), who wishes to fight Morrissey for £100 or
£200 a side; or, if Mor-
rissey declines fighting on his arrival in this country,
Hurst can be backed
against Heenan, win or lose with Tom Hayers, or against Jem
Ward's big
Unknown.
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