The BARE-Knuckle PUGILISTS

[McGoorty]

Territorial Enterprise, April 1864

MARK TWAIN TAKES A LESSON IN THE MANLY ART
[by Dan DeQuille]

We may have said some harsh things of Mark Twain, but now we take them all back. We feel like weeping for him -- year, we would fall on his breast and mingle our tears with his'n. But those manly shirt front of his air now a bloody one, and his nose is swollen to such an extent that to fall on his breast would be an utter impossibility.

Yesterday, he brought back all our things and promised us that he intended hereafter to lead a virtuous life. This was in the forenoon; in the afternoon he commenced the career of virtue he had marked out for himself and took a first lesson in boxing. Once he had the big gloves on, he imagined that he weighed a ton and could whip his weight in Greek-fire. He waded into a professor of the "manly art" like one of Howlan's rotary batteries, and the professor, in a playful way he has, when he wants to take the conceit out of forward pupils, let one fly straight out from the shoulder and "busted" Mr. Twain in the "snoot," sending him reeling -- not exactly to grass, but across a bench -- with two bountiful streams of "claret" spouting from his nostrils. At first his nose was smashed out till it covered nearly the whole of his face and then looked like a large piece of tripe, but it was finally sc****d into some resemblance of a nose, when he rushed away for surgical advice. Pools of gore covered the floor of the Club Room where he fought, and he left a bloody trail for half a mile through the city. It is estimated that he lost several hogsheads of blood in all. He procured a lot of sugar of lead and other cooling lotions and spent the balance of the day in applying them with towels and sponges.

After dark, he ventured forth with his nose swollen to the size of several junk bottles -- a vast, inflammed and pulpy old snoot -- to get advice about having it amputated. None of his friends recognize him now, and he spends his time in solitude, contemplating his ponderous vermillion smeller in a two-bit mirror, which he bought for that purpose. We cannot comfort him, for we know his nose will never be a nose again. It always was somewhat lopsided; now it is a perfect lump of blubber. Since the above was in type, the doctors have decided to amputate poor Mark Twain's smeller. A new one is to be made for him of a quarter of veal.

[reprinted in The Washoe Giant in San Francisco, (George Fields, 1938), pp. 52-53.]

_____

Background info on this story by Dan DeQuille:

One day some imp induced Mark Twain to put on a pair of boxing gloves, and with them all the airs of a knight of the prize ring. He had no thought of boxing with any one. Having seen more or less sparring on the stage, a good deal of amateur boxing, and probably one or two prize fights, Mark had got some of the motions. No sooner had he the gloves on than he began capering about the hall. [George F.] Dawson observed his antics with astonishment not unmixed with awe. He evidently considered that they were made for his special benefit and intimidation. Perhaps he may have thought that he detected Mark regarding him interrogatively from beneath his bushy brows at the end of each series of cabezal rotations. At all events, in view of Mark’s movements of a supposed warlike import, Dawson kept a wary eye on him; never once suspecting that the ex-Mississippi pilot was merely making a bid for his admiration.

Presently Mark squared off directly in front of Dawson and began working his right like the piston of a steam engine, at the same time stretching out his neck and gyrating his curly pate in a very astonishing manner.

Dawson took this to be a direct act of defiance -- a challenge to a trial of skill that could not be ignored. Desperately, therefore -- and probably not without a secret chill of fear at his heart -- Dawson drew off and with full force planted a heavy blow squarely upon Mark’s offered nose, the latter not making the least movement toward a guard.

The result was a “plentiful flow of claret” and a nose “like an egg-plant,” which supposedly so embarrassed Clemens that he accepted a reportorial assignment outside ******ia City just “to get his nose out of town” (William Wright, "Salad Days of Mark Twain," San Francisco Examiner, 19 March 1893, pp.13–14. Reprinted in Mark Twain's Letters, Volume 1: 1853 - 1866.

[McGoorty]

Territorial Enterprise, April 1864

MARK TWAIN TAKES A LESSON IN THE MANLY ART
[by Dan DeQuille]

We may have said some harsh things of Mark Twain, but now we take them all back. We feel like weeping for him -- year, we would fall on his breast and mingle our tears with his'n. But those manly shirt front of his air now a bloody one, and his nose is swollen to such an extent that to fall on his breast would be an utter impossibility.

Yesterday, he brought back all our things and promised us that he intended hereafter to lead a virtuous life. This was in the forenoon; in the afternoon he commenced the career of virtue he had marked out for himself and took a first lesson in boxing. Once he had the big gloves on, he imagined that he weighed a ton and could whip his weight in Greek-fire. He waded into a professor of the "manly art" like one of Howlan's rotary batteries, and the professor, in a playful way he has, when he wants to take the conceit out of forward pupils, let one fly straight out from the shoulder and "busted" Mr. Twain in the "snoot," sending him reeling -- not exactly to grass, but across a bench -- with two bountiful streams of "claret" spouting from his nostrils. At first his nose was smashed out till it covered nearly the whole of his face and then looked like a large piece of tripe, but it was finally sc****d into some resemblance of a nose, when he rushed away for surgical advice. Pools of gore covered the floor of the Club Room where he fought, and he left a bloody trail for half a mile through the city. It is estimated that he lost several hogsheads of blood in all. He procured a lot of sugar of lead and other cooling lotions and spent the balance of the day in applying them with towels and sponges.

After dark, he ventured forth with his nose swollen to the size of several junk bottles -- a vast, inflammed and pulpy old snoot -- to get advice about having it amputated. None of his friends recognize him now, and he spends his time in solitude, contemplating his ponderous vermillion smeller in a two-bit mirror, which he bought for that purpose. We cannot comfort him, for we know his nose will never be a nose again. It always was somewhat lopsided; now it is a perfect lump of blubber. Since the above was in type, the doctors have decided to amputate poor Mark Twain's smeller. A new one is to be made for him of a quarter of veal.

[reprinted in The Washoe Giant in San Francisco, (George Fields, 1938), pp. 52-53.]

_____

Background info on this story by Dan DeQuille:

One day some imp induced Mark Twain to put on a pair of boxing gloves, and with them all the airs of a knight of the prize ring. He had no thought of boxing with any one. Having seen more or less sparring on the stage, a good deal of amateur boxing, and probably one or two prize fights, Mark had got some of the motions. No sooner had he the gloves on than he began capering about the hall. [George F.] Dawson observed his antics with astonishment not unmixed with awe. He evidently considered that they were made for his special benefit and intimidation. Perhaps he may have thought that he detected Mark regarding him interrogatively from beneath his bushy brows at the end of each series of cabezal rotations. At all events, in view of Mark’s movements of a supposed warlike import, Dawson kept a wary eye on him; never once suspecting that the ex-Mississippi pilot was merely making a bid for his admiration.

Presently Mark squared off directly in front of Dawson and began working his right like the piston of a steam engine, at the same time stretching out his neck and gyrating his curly pate in a very astonishing manner.

Dawson took this to be a direct act of defiance -- a challenge to a trial of skill that could not be ignored. Desperately, therefore -- and probably not without a secret chill of fear at his heart -- Dawson drew off and with full force planted a heavy blow squarely upon Mark’s offered nose, the latter not making the least movement toward a guard.

The result was a “plentiful flow of claret” and a nose “like an egg-plant,” which supposedly so embarrassed Clemens that he accepted a reportorial assignment outside ******ia City just “to get his nose out of town” (William Wright, "Salad Days of Mark Twain," San Francisco Examiner, 19 March 1893, pp.13–14. Reprinted in Mark Twain's Letters, Volume 1: 1853 - 1866.

[McGoorty]

The "First Known" Heavyweight Champion
James Figg, an Oxfordshire-born Englishman, is regarded as the first heavyweight champion in the sport's history and it is considered the first documentation of the first bare-fisted fight in history. According to news sources, in 1719, Figg helped popularize boxing by opening a training academy in London. [This is also the time when the word "boxing" first came to be used. It should be noted, that this earliest form of modern boxing was very different. Contests in Mr. Figg's time, in addition to fistfighting, also contained fencing and cudgeling. Source: Wiki] Figg taught the sport to countless pupils and accepted the challenges of all comers. He retired as undefeated champion in 1734. A series of British fighters held the heavyweight crown after Figg. One of the more prominent pugilists was James Broughton, who fought from 1729 to 1750. He was recognized as a heavyweight champion and he too was the proprietor of a successful boxing academy. He is also considered the father of boxing because he was the first to establish rules, encouraged the use of gloves and set up the bouts in an area between ropes. Broughton's rules touched off a chain of reform in boxing that led directly to the Marquis of Queensberry rules. The Queensberry regulations, established in 1867 and the foundation of boxing as we know it today, introduced three-minute rounds and helped facilitate the transition from bare knuckle fights to gloved contests. Figgs is the EARLIEST known fighter whose records still exist. [Source: Legends and Lores, ©Copyrighted - ibhof.com/brithvy.htm]


[Early fighting had no written rules. There were no weight divisions or round limits, and no referee. In general, it was extremely chaotic. The first boxing rules, called the Broughton's rules, were introduced by heavyweight champion Jack Broughton in 1743 to protect fighters in the ring where deaths sometimes occurred.[7] Under these rules, if a man went down and could not continue after a count of 30 seconds, the fight was over. Hitting a downed fighter and grasping below the waist were prohibited. Broughton also invented and encouraged the use of "mufflers", a form of padded gloves, which were used in training and exhibitions. The first paper on boxing was published in the late 18th century by successful Birmingham boxer 'William Futrell' who remained undefeated until his one hour and seventeen minute fight at Smitham Bottom, Croydon, on July 9, 1788 against a much younger "Gentleman" John Jackson which was attended by the Prince of Wales. Source: Wiki]

[McGoorty]

The FIRST Reported "Fixed" Fight in History!

In documented news sources, the earliest allegations of a fixed fight was in England on May 18, 1771, when Peter Corcoran knocked out Bill Darts in the first round. Apparently, Colonel Dennis O'Kelly, a gambler paid Darts 100 pounds the day before the fight to lose the match, and that O'Kelly ended up winning several thousand pounds on the match.

[McGoorty]

First Fatality to Occur in America in Boxing
September 13, 1842

NEW YORK -In 1842 the news reported that on September 13, in Hastings, there was a prize fight between Christopher Lilly vs. Thomas McCoy. Over 2000 boxing fans came to witness this fight. The fight lasted 2.41 hours, when in the 77th round, McCoy collapsed and died. According to news sources, the coroner's investigation of McCoy's remains showed that fluid from wounds that he had received during the fight had drained into McCoy's lungs and that he had drown! It was the FIRST FATALITY in an fight that took place in America.

[McGoorty]

FUNERAL OF TOM SAYERS, THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2316, 30 January 1866, Page 7
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FUNERAL OF TOM SAVERS, THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
Tiie Daily News says a disgraceful scene occurred at the funeral of Tom Sayers, on tho 15Ah ZSTov : — "Soon after mid-day aorast crowd had assembled in High- street, Camdcn Town, where the ex-champion lived, and tho main road and pavement from the Mother Redcap, for Beveral hundred yards towards Hampstead, was infested by what lo6ked like an execution mob. Tho shops were nearly all closed, partly perhaps out of respect to the memory of Sayers, and partly, there can bo no question, out of deference to tho evidently prefatory instincts of tho crowd. Jesting, swearing, and rough chaff, wishes that tho music would come, jostling and horse-play were the occupations most in vogue. All the wt|y from High street to the cemetery the same class of people on foot, in carts, and on the roof and inside of over-laden cabs, were to bo seen steadily making for the hero's grave. At tho cemetery itself the gates were guarded by what seemed a strong body of policemen, who only admitted people who either 'gave tho nnmbcr of their tomb,' or otherwise justified their claim to enter. At two p.m. this crowd was easily kept ij^ order, but half-an-hour later a successful rush was made, and somehundred sturdy vagabonds carried the gates by main force, amid tho yells and shouts of their companions. The police succeeded in re-closing the gates, and in again exercising a discrimination as to whom they should admit. As it was tho tombs and covered crypts wero crowded with people who turbulcntly jostled and laughed, trampled on the. grass, and defiled tho graves with as little reverence for the place they were in as if it had been an old prize-ring. The succeeding two hours were taken up in watching the hand-to-hand combat between tho .police outside and tho rapidly-increasing crowd of roughs, in the arrival and admission of tavern celebrities,, each admission being the signal for a struggle on the part of those who wanted to force their way, and in securing vantage ground from which to see tho procession. Soon after four p.m. the sound of drums and trumpets was heard, and the hearse and mourning coaches struggled through the surging disorderly mob. Sayer's pony and dog cart, with his magnificent dog, the sole occupant of the latter, followed immediately after the hearse. The police contrived to keep back the attendant mob for a few moments : but as soon as the coffin was taken into tho cemetery chapel, and before the carriages had filed in, the crowd of thieves and blackguards proved too strong for those opposed to them, and the gates were again stormed. The members of the band, while in tho act of playing tho ' Dead March,' wero scattered pell-mell, their instruments flying overhead and themselves running for safety. Hundreds of tho foulest scum of the back courts and alleys of London, the creatures who only como to light in tho aggregate at an execution or racecourse, or an illegal betting ground, rushed in to hold saturnalia at tho grave side, Ifor a few minutes the police were completely overcome. They wero a mere handful of men against the enemy, but they subsequently ralliod, and once more succeeded in closing tho cemetery gates. Many of the roughs were trodden down in the raid, and after it was over the gasping, speechless forms stretched at no unfrequent intervals on the grass, or reared by their luckier comrades against the tombs, while neckcloths were torn open and animation restored, spoko to tho severity of tho conflict."

[McGoorty]

TOM SAYERS ON LONDON 'CHANGE.
Published: May 8, 1860
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From the London Observer, April 23.

The neighborhood of the Stock Exchange on Saturday presented an unusual appearance of activity; crowds of persons were assembled in all the thoroughfares leading to this place of business, anxious to witness the arrival of the Champion of England, who, it was announced, would be received by the members of the Stock Exchange, to be presented with a purse of 100 guineas, which had been subscribed for him as a mark of approbation by its members of the great courage which he had displayed in the recent pugilistic contest. The hour stated for the arrival of the Champion was 2 o'clock, but SAYERS made his appearance at a quarter to 12; but although two hours earlier than the hour appointed there were large numbers of persons present. TOM SAYERS, with one of his backers, Mr. BENNETT, was introduced to the Stock Exchange by one of its most active members. Immediately on his entering the room all business was suspended; the brokers now left their desks and crowded around their now celebrated visitor, anxious to catch a glimpse of the man who has been the subject of conversation for the last four days in every part of the Kingdom. TOM was somewhat taken aback by the extraordinary reception given to him, and, as he was conducted round the room, was evidently much surprised at its warmth. After having made the tour of the room, SAYERS was mounted on a table in the French market, and gracefully acknowledged the repeated cheers of the members, and, in a few homely, earnest words, thanked those present for the Kindness they had displayed towards him. He seemed even affected by the extraordinary scene before him, and his appearance showed no signs worth mentioning of that tremendous castigation which he was stated to have experienced; and but for having his arm in a sling, there was nothing whatever to indicate that he was disabled. One of the members of the Stock Exchange expressed his surprise that he should be looking so well after the 20 knock-down blows he was said to have received, and to this SAYERS replied that it was a bit of a wonder to himself, but he said he was sorry he had not had ten minutes more with his opponent. The "house" was unusually crowded on the occasion, and Sir ROBERT CARDEN and most of the principal members were present. On leaving the Stock Exchange, SAYERS was accompanied to the cab by one of the members of the Exchange most active in getting up the subscription, and a bag containing 100 guineas was handed to him.

[McGoorty]

The Old One-Two: Boxing in Regency England

Boxing was easily one of Regency England's most popular spectator sports, enjoyed by kings and commoners alike. The men who taught it were called the emperors of pugilism, and those who practiced it were called the Fancy. At one match alone, over 200 thousand pounds were wagered on the outcome. It was not uncommon for twenty thousand people to view a match.

By far the most famous of the Regency era boxers was "Gentleman" John Jackson. Born in 1769 to a Worcestershire family of builders, John decided at age 19 to become a boxer, much against his parents' wishes. At 5 feet 11 inches tall and 195 pounds, his body was said to be so perfectly developed (with the Regency idea of "perfection" being the statues of the Greek gods), that artists and sculptors came from all around to use him as a model. He dressed well (although he favored bright colors) and spoke in cultured tones, making him the darling of the ton. His two flaws in looks, I learned, were that he had a sloping forehead and ears that stuck straight out from the sides of his head. Presumably, the sculptors and artists used someone else to model the head.

Although the acknowledged king of the ring, Jackson actually only fought professionally three times, loosing once. However, as the other two times he fought men who were considered the top champions, he was considered in his time the heavy-weight champion of England. He is credited with a scientific style of boxing, which he taught three times a week during the London Season from his rooms in No. 13 Bond Street. Lord Byron was an avid student. This style included nimble footwork and the principle that a hit was not effective unless the distance was judged correctly. It also included adopting a posture of a slightly bent body, head and shoulders forward, and knees slightly bent and at ease with fists well up. He taught that fighting with the entire body (scrapping or bullying) was ineffective against the power of a well-trained fist, proving his point by having his students attempt to attack him and fending them off with fists alone.

He also is credited with keeping the sport honest in a time when bouts were often fixed. He developed the equivalent of the Boxing Commission in the Pugilistic Club, which collected subscriptions from wealthy patrons and sponsored fights several times a year. For each fight, a Banker was appointed to hold the purse as well as many side bets that might be made. Jackson was often nominated for this position.

[McGoorty]

Besides teaching and arranging fights, Jackson also arranged pugilistic demonstrations for the aristocracy, including fights before the Emperor of Russia, King of Prussia, the Prince of Wales, and the Prince of Mecklenburg. At the 1821 coronation of George IV, Jackson furnished a group of pugilists to act as guards to keep lesser mortals from attending the event. Other Regency era professional boxers were Tom Belcher, Tom Cribb, and Mendoza, the man whom Jackson beat to become champion.

A boxing match in Regency times was markedly different from what we know today. While practicing the sport was allowed, actual matches were frowned upon by the magistrates, and often had to be held out of town, sometimes in open fields. Instead of an elevated ring as we know it, an eight-foot square was roped off on the ground with stakes at each corner. Each fighter had a knee man and a bottle man, who also kept time on the rounds and breaks. The former knelt with one knee up for the boxer to sit on between rounds. The latter provided water for the boxer to drink, a sponge to wipe him down, and an orange to provide a quick burst of energy. Brandy was supposed to be used only for emergencies. A pair of umpires, usually former fighters themselves, kept the two fighters apart and agreed upon how to deal with questionable practices like holding a man’s hair to keep in him place to be hit. A referee was only used if the two umpires could not agree.

The bouts consisted of rounds; each round lasted until at least one of the men was knocked or thrown off his feet. A fight could last up to 50 rounds. If you do the math like I did, that means that someone was hit hard enough to fall down up to 50 times in one fight. And breaks between these rounds (after each hit) were only 30 seconds. In addition, bouts were fought with bare knuckles and bared chests. This was definitely not a sport for the squeamish!

Understandably, proper women were not supposed to attend boxing matches. However, some came in disguise and others less concerned with their reputations came openly. In addition, some women took boxing lessons in the privacy of their own homes. The practice was thought to provide an excellent exercise for young ladies, keeping them nimble and healthy. Apparently practicing was considered better than actually viewing the sport.

Near the end of the 19th century, improvements in the sport brought boxing closer to the sport we know today. Although boxing gloves were invented in the late 1700s, they were not required to be used until 1867, when the Marquess of Queensberry drew up rules of boxing. These rules also included shortening the rounds to a timed period, providing longer breaks between rounds, and limiting the kinds of blows that could count as a hit. During the Regency, however, boxing remained the no-holds-barred, no-quarter given kind of fight that made the aristocracy and the common folk cheer.

[McGoorty]

Gentleman John Jackson and Daniel Mendoza: Heavy Hitters of Regency Boxing
By LAURA BOYLE | Published: JULY 17, 2011.............................................. ............... -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------John Jackson
“Gentleman” John Jackson (28 September 1769 – 7 October 1845) was a celebrated pugilist of the late 18th century.

He won the title Champion of England in a fight on 15 April 1795 in which he beat Daniel Mendoza. It was one of the shortest main battles ever fought, lasting in all but ten minutes and a half; and for its time quite the hardest ever fought at all. Mendoza was badly cut up; the new champion was hardly hurt.

Seven years after the encounter recorded above a letter appeared in the Daily Oracle and Advertiser which purported to be a challenge from Mendoza to Jackson for a return match. As a fact, the letter was a practical joke; but a part of Jackson’s reply is worth quoting, as it is so characteristic of all we hear of the man.

“. . . for some years,” he wrote, “I have entirely withdrawn from a public life, and am more and more convinced of the propriety of my conduct by the happiness which I enjoy in private among many friends of great respectability, with whom it is my pride to be received on terms of familiarity and friendship. . . .”

Jackson never fought again, and one of the greatest reputations in the annals of the championship that have come to us is based upon a pugilist who only entered the ring thrice! One other champion was in precisely the same case, and that was John Gulley, whom we shall come to in due course.

No doubt Jackson attracted to himself a good deal of attention apart from the eccentricity of his good behaviour. He was a man of prodigious strength and is said to have written his name whilst an 84 lb. weight was suspended from his little finger.

After his retirement he took rooms at 13 Old Bond Street, creating Jackson’s Saloon, a boxing academy which became a regular and fashionable house of call for the young bloods of the day.

It became the correct thing to take a course of boxing lessons from John Jackson. Byron, who was a keen boxer despite his infirmity, used to go there to keep down the fat of which he ever lived in terror. In his diary for March l7th, 1814, he swrote: “I have been sparring with Jackson for exercise this morning, and mean to continue and renew my acquaintance with my mufflers. My chest, and arms, and wind are in very good plight, and I am not in flesh. I used to be a hard hitter and my arms are very long for my height.”—which was 5 ft 8J inches—” At rate, exercise is good, and this the severest of all ; fencing and broadsword never fatigued me half so much.”

Byron regarded John Jackson as a friend whom he greatly admired. He wrote letters to him on several occasions.

Jackson had innumerable pupils and was about the first real instructor of boxing for amateurs. He went to his grave in Brompton Cemetery old and honoured in 1845.

Jackson died in 1847 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. ---