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_We
have this week to record the proceedings relative to the
match be-
tween these men, and heartily sorry are we that the affair
did not terminate
in a more satisfactory manner. On Tuesday, owing to the
unpardonable
delay that took place at Strood on the part of Sullivan's
backers, two hours
and a half were wasted, and to this may be attributed the
reason of the con-
test not being amicably decided on the first day. When the
expedition got
under weigh it proceeded to a well-known spot, and with all
dispatch the
ring was formed by Fred Oliver and his assistants. Billy
Duncan was as
usual at his post, and had no sooner got the inner ring in
order, and the
privileged portion comfortably seated, than a solitary Bobby
made his
appearance; the combatants, who were making ready for the
tourney, had
to be at once taken out of the ring, and scarcely had the
ropes and stakes
been removed than a strong body of the rural constabulary
made their un-
welcome appearance, so that all had to re-embark as soon as
possible. There
being plenty of daylight, an attempt was made on fresh
ground, but the po-
lice were too cunning. A council of war was therefore held
and it was
agreed that the whole of the arrangement should be left in
the hands of the
referee. By this functionary it was settled the men should
meet the fol-
lowing morning at ten minutes to eight o'clock, and go by
the first train to
the place mentioned, and then at once have the ring pitched
and get to
work. When this arrangement had been made, the billigerents
and their
friends returned to Strood, when on landing a portion of the
wooden bridge
gave way, and some twenty persons, most of them "my
peoplesh," got a
dunking. Among these was the gallant Charley Lynch, who had
a narrow
squeak for it.
_
Punctual to the time named, the
combatants and their backers were at
the station mentioned on Wednesday morning, and no sooner
had they
alighted from the train than Fred Oliver made ready the
ring, in order that
no unneccasary time should be cut to waste. Jack Sullivan
has been de-
feated by Charley Lynch (the American) after a gallant
fight. Tom Tyler
is well known in the ring, having fought several battles,
which will be
found duly recorded in Fistiana. The combatants were
not restricted to
weight, but Sullivan stated that on Monday, when he scaled
he pulled down
117 1/2 lb. He is not yet out of his "teens," and is a well
made compact
little fellow for his inches; and although he stated himself
to be well, yet it
could not be doubted he was too fat. Tyler, who is nearly
30, had all the
advantage in weight, length, and reach, but not withstanding
this he was
not the favorite in betting, the odds being on Sullivan, and
when in the ring
on Tuesday the men made one bet on the result, Jack laying
the odds of
6 to 5. Tom had for his seconds Bos Tyler and Jack Lawley,
while Jack
Hicks and George Crocket waited upon Sullivan. By twenty
minutes to
ten o'clock all were in perfect readiness.
THE FIGHT
_
Round 1. Both stood well, the
muscular development on Sullivan's chest
and loins being very prominent; and from head to foot he
looked a sturdy
little fellow. Tyler was in good condition, and appeared
brimful of confi-
dence. Both men were cautious. Tom in attempting to lead,
sprang for-
ward on the toe, but Jack broke ground, and got to the
ropes. After more
maneuvering the men got together again, when Sullivan
feinted to draw his
man. Tom broke away. In shifting the combatants again got to
the ropes;
Tom tried to plant a left, but Jack got from his man. Tom,
after feinting,
got the left slightly on the cranium, when Sullivan broke
ground. More
sparring and dodging, but nothing effective done. As the
lads stood eyeing
each other Sullivan rubbed his hands and smiled, and again
getting to
work they got home in a pretty counter, Jack on top of the
head, and
Tom full on the dial. A deal more maneuvering, retreating
and advancing.
Tom, in leading, planted a left at the mark, and after a
pause administered
one with the same mawley on the nose. Sullivan rushed at his
man and
forced the fighting. Tom retreating to his own corner, when
they closed,
and Tyler got down.
_
2. The men came up, and after a
little sparring Tom planted the
left prettily, full on the mazzard, and got away, Jack, who
appeared slow to
return, not being able to get on. After taking up fresh
ground Jack opened
fire, but in the exchange did not display anything like
precision, hitting
wild with both mawleys. Tyler with the left got well on the
dial, and also
made effective use of the right. In the close, both at the
ropes got down.
_
3. On coming up Sullivan had a lump
on his forehead the size of a walnut
as proof Tyler had already been there. In coming from his
corner Jack dis-
played all that sang froid for which he is so
conspicuous, and on being met
they at once went to work. Tom after a little sparring, went
dashing at his
man, but from want of precision did not get well home. On
getting to
distance he planted the left on the mark, when Sullivan
broke. The men
paused in the center of the ring, and on again getting at
it, Jack pointed
the toe, as though bent on mischief. Tom also weaved himself
to distance,
and planted a fine one-two on the jaw with the left. Tyler
retreated, and
the men again paused in the middle of the ring. The men
after maneuver-
ing, got within range, and countered, Sullivan getting well
on the top of
the knowledge-box and Tom on the right cheek. Tom, in
getting away,
got down, but on the instant jumped up to renew the
fighting. Jack, with
impetuosity, rushed his man, planted a rib-warmer on the
body, and in
the fall both went to the grass. Tom having all the
best.
_
4. After a little sparring Jack
opened fire left and right, getting well on
the side of the nob. Tom, as Jack forced the fighting, got
on the dial with
the left, and, in getting from his man, went down.
_
5. No sooner had Sullivan came from
his corner than he went to force
the fighting; he dashed out with both mawleys, but missed.
In the counter
hitting he planted the left on top of the pepper-castor, and
in return
napped it on the right cheek. These exchanges got the men to
the center
of the ring, when Sullivan wanted to close, Tyler went down.
There
was an appeal made to the referee of foul, but no notice was
taken.
_
6. Rapid fighting with both mawleys,
all in favor of Tyler, and in the
rally the combatants got to the ropes, when Tom got down on
his knees.
While in this position Jack, it was alleged, used the right,
and an appeal of
foul was made, but with no result.
_
7. This was a fine round. Tom took
the initiative, and with the left got
full on the physiognomy. As he broke Jack followed, when he
again re-
ceived some left-handed powder on the dial. Sullivan was not
to be de-
nied, for, finding himself outgeneralled at points, he
dashed to in-fighting,
and in a magnificent rally, in which both men used the right
and left alter-
nating, they fought round the ring. Jack, in breaking from
his opponent,
slipped down on his hands and knees.
_
8. Sullivan came rattling up, and
went into Tom's corner to force the
fighting, when, after a slight exchange, Tom broke and took
up fresh
ground. Cautious sparring, and as the stood in the center of
the ring the
crimson was flowing from Jack's smeller, although the event
was not claim-
ed for Tyler by his seconds. The combatants, after being
here and there
round the ring, paused in the center. Jack now tried to
plant the left on
the head, but Tom got out of measure. More maneuvering round
the ring,
Sullivan hitting wildly left and right. As Tom retreated
Jack follow-
ed, and after some pretty exchanges they closed. In the
short-arm hitting
Tom got well over the os frontis, and in the fall
both went down, Tom hav-
ing all the best of it. Forty-five minutes had now
elapsed.
_
9. As Sullivan came up he pulled
himself together, and with characteris-
tic resolution, faced his man. Tom, with the left, planted
another beautiful
one on the damaged peeper, and got well away. Sullivan
followed up, and
swung out the right with tremendous force, but was too
round. In a rally
they fought to a close, when Jack went down on his hands and
knees.
_
10. After maneuvering here and there,
and dodging round the ring. Tom
let fly the left, and got home on the mouth. Jack, finding
it useless to
outfight, rushed at his man, and in the exchanges both got
home on the
head with the left. At the ropes they closed, when Tom put
on the crook,
and Sullivan being in great difficulties, struggled to
break. Tom near the
ropes, held the top one, but in shifting Tyler got on them,
and in falling,
Jack, who had all the worst of the bout, fell on him.
_
11. Both came up simultaneously,
Tyler being a little too flashy in action.
After feinting and weaving to distances, Tyler planted full
on the nose, from
which there was another supply of the ruby. Again they went
to work
Tom, as his opponent advanced, retreating round the ring. At
last Tom, in
getting to distance, planted a left on the nose. Jack, who
hit out wildly,
rushed at his man, and in the close they struggled, Tom, who
gave the back
heel, having the best of the fall.
_
12. Both came cheerfully from their
corners, when Sullivan tried to open
the ball, but as Tom broke, could not weave to distance. As
they shifted
position Jack slipped, but recovered on the instant, and led
left, which
was well stopped. Tyler got home the left in the middle of
the head, but
in again attempting to repeat the dose was not up to the
mark. In break-
ing, the men got to the ropes, when Sullivan led the left,
but was not there.
Tom, in return, administered the right on the head. Jack
dashed at him, and just
missed planting another rattler from the right side of the
head. At
the ropes Tyler administered a left-hander on the chin.
Sullivan, in fol-
lowing his man up, got home left and right on the head; this
was succeeded
by some more pretty exchanges. On shifting position, the
combatants
again went to work; rapid counters with the left, all in
favor of Tom, at
the ropes, Sullivan bleeding, and after some more exchanges
they closed,
jack in the half arm administered twice on the body, and in
the fall both
down at the ropes.
_
13. In the exchanges Tom got full on
the head, Jack, who, however, hit
round, being by no means idle. As Tom broke, Sullivan
advanced, and
missed investing another fine right hander on the cranium.
After a slight
pause they again went at it, and in a fine, manly manner,
fought with both
mawleys round the ring to the ropes, when in the close Tyler
went down
on his knees.
_
14. Sullivan, who forced the
fighting, planted the right on the ribs. Tyler,
in breaking, got to the ropes, when Jack, in hitting out,
missed the right,
and nearly hit the stake. As Tom shifted, Jack followed, and
after some
more exchanges in favor of Tyler, they closed. Tom tried the
back heel,
and the men fell in the center of the ring.
_
15. Sullivan went to his man in his
corner, and, after left-handed ex-
changes, in which Tyler got home effectively on the mug,
they closed,
when in the struggle Jack, in extricating himself, went
down, and Tom also
fell in the middle of the ring.
_
16. Sullivan dashed at his man, and
after some heavy exchanges, in which
both got home, Tom on the right cheek and left peeper, they
closed at the
ropes, when Tom went down. While down, it is alleged he
pulled Jack's
snout, but nothing of the kind was witnessed by the referee,
who had his
eye off the men on the finish of the round.
_
17. Sullivan rushed at his man, and
planted on the head with force. Tom,
in shifting, went down, but on the instant he was again on
his pins, and re-
sumed the battle. Bos Tyler at this moment crossed the men
in a most im-
proper manner. No sooner had Tyler recovered his
perpendicular than at
it they went with a will. Tremendous milling with both hands
round the
ring, in favor of Tyler, who planted heavily in the middle
of the head, and
in the close Tom went down.
_
18. Sullivan dashed at his man. Tyler
on the ropes, and in a ticklish
position, being partly down with one knee on mother earth
and after a
severe struggle, in which both pegged away merrily, they
went to grass.
_
19. Sullivan, making the fighting,
rushed at his man with his head bent
forward in a most unartistic manner. Tom met the rush with a
left-handed
tile-popper. As Tom broke, Jack followed round the ring, and
after some
more exchanges, got the right round Tyler's neck, who got
away and went
down.
_
20. Tyler home with the left on the
head, and Jack came dashing at
him he slipped and went down. On the instant he recovered
his equilibrium
and renewed the fighting, and in a rally they fought to
Tom's corner, when
Tyler went down.
_
21. Sullivan dashed at his man to
force the fighting, and after some ex-
changes Tom, in retreating, slipped down. On the instant he
was again on
his plus, and after some more exchanges they closed and fell
forward on their
faces.
_
We have thus far given a detailed
description of the contest, but so similar
were the remainder of the rounds, and so completely
one-sided was the bat-
tle, that it would be superfluous to attempt to give any
lengthened account
of the contest. Tyler, from the commencement of the
hostilities, proved
the better out-fighter and tactician, and this enabled him
from the first to
be very busy about the nob of his indomitable opponent, than
whom a
gamer man never entered the ring, although instead of having
improved
since he met Lynch, he appeared to have got slower. As the
contest pro-
gressed, Sullivan, who was heavily punished about the head,
appeared to be
at a loss what to be at, and Hicks had repeatedly to whisper
to him not to
attempt out fighting, but to go in and make use of both
mawleys. Willing
to do his utmost, Sullivan at once responded, and although
the tide of battle
had now set, irrevocably against him, still the brave fellow
was anxious to
do all that a game man could to turn it in his favor. It
was, however, not
possible for him to gain any permanent advantage, for
although there were
one or two momentary fluctuations, still the hope they
infused among his
partisans was but transitory. As drowning men will catch at
straws, so the
appeals on the part of Sullivan towards the close of the
battle became the
more frequent, the seconds of Jack trying their utmost in
this critical state
of affairs to snatch a verdict. The referee, seeing what was
intended, twice
went to Tyler's corner to tell him to be cautious and not
throw away a
chance. In the whole, 58 rounds were fought, and in the last
ten or twelve
of these so hopeless did Jack's chance of success appear,
and so hopeless in
reality was it, that many of his own friends cried "Take him
away." Gil-
lam, who had worked like a trojan for him, advised his
backers to let this
be done, and both Hicks and Crockett informed the referee
that Sullivan
would not allow them to give in for him.
_
Two rounds before the unwelcome
appearance of the police, one of Jack's
Israelitish backers threw up the sponge in a token of
defeat, but Jack, al-
though terribly punished about the head, exclaimed, "You
shall not give
in for me," and on the instant dashed at his man to renew
the hopeless
struggle. For several rounds there appeared to be something
the matter
with his right leg, for it was as stiff as though he could
not bend it, and
nothing but the indomitable pluck of this brave fellow
enabled him to
meet his clever antagonist. Had the battle been allowed to
progress, it
could not, under any circumstances, have lasted many more
rounds. On
the termination of the 58th and last round, however, the
battle having
lasted two hours and fifty minutes, the police came on the
ground, when
hostilities had to be suspended, and on leaving the ring
Jack, as proof that
he was not physically weak, although so punished, ran along
the embank-
ment. There still being plenty of time, the referee had to
make a selection
of fresh ground to recommence hostilities the same day if
possible. The
spot having been chosen, the referee went to inform Oliver
and the men of
his intentions. He found that although Tyler and his friends
were close at
hand, Sullivan had been taken across the water, and
proceeded personally
to inform the gallant Jack that he intended the ropes and
stakes to be again
pitched, and that he should expect him to come at once and
follow. Sullivan
said, "I'm ready to fight, sir;" and so far as his pluck,
there could be no
question about his willingness, but that he was fit is quite
another question.
To the jetty he was followed by his Israelitish friends, and
a policeman.
On the pier a scene of great confusion arose between the
respective backers
of the men, mingled with cries of "Fight on Saturday." The
referee,
being desirous to fulfill his duties in an impartial manner,
ordered Sullivan
to get in the boat, when the policeman came forward and
stated that if he
(Sullivan) was going to commit a breach of the peace he
would take him
into custody. Again the referee ordered Sullivan to the
boat, when the
policeman jumped into on of the many alongside of the pier,
and said that
he would follow the men wherever they went.
_
A scene of indescribable confusion
now took place between the backers
and partisans of the men, Tyler's party being vehement in
their assertions
that on the part of Sullivan's friends undue influence had
been used with
the police. The referee, by the backers of Tyler, was called
to award the
stakes to Tom on the plea that the police had been caused to
interfere by
improper means; and because that functionary did not do so
he go shame-
fully abused. The referee then ordered the men to meet the
following day,
when, after a stormy discussion, in which Bos Tyler (not
Tom) used most
insulting language, and otherwise misconducted himself, not
only to the
referee but also to other gentlemen present, the referee
ordered the men to
meet on Saturday. Subsequently, however, a meeting took
place, at which
Mr. Lipman, the chief backer of Sullivan, agreed to give
Tyler £5 to post-
pone the match until Monday, April 9, when they are to fight
according to
the original articles. Tyler was by no means heavily
punished, although his
hands were much puffed, and had it not been for their tender
condition,
there can, we think, be little doubt he would have been able
to have given
his opponent the coup de grace before the police made their
unwelcome
appearance, as the punishment he kept administering towards
the close of
the battle would have been much more
_J.
Mace, of Norwich, is most anxious to have another shy at his
old op-
ponent, Bob Brettle, for £100 a side. Mace not feeling
satisfied with the
last result, trust Brettle will give him the chance to
reverse the last ver-
dict, at 147 lb., or catch-weight, or by any one else who
may fancy him.
Mace will take his benefit at the Baronial Hall, West End
Retreat, Norwich
tomorrow (Monday). Hicks and Haley, of London, will attend,
and the
wind up between Mace and Travers, who will fight their
battle over again.
Jem Mace's benefit, at the Apollo Music Hall, on Tuesday
evening, realized
the handsome sum of £47.
_ BRETTLE AND
MACE&endash; Mr. Editor: I had hoped
that my fighting career
was over, and that I never should again have to reply to a
challenge; but
as Mr. Mace is not satisfied with his last encounter with
me, and has thought
fit to challenge me or any man at 147 lb., for £100,
and has mentioned my
name in particular, I beg to inform him that I will meet him
at your office
any day he may name, and make a match for £100 a side,
to fight at what
weight and time he may please to name; if he does not mean
business, but
bouncing, I hope he will not challenge me again.
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