The BARE-Knuckle PUGILISTS

[Marchegiano]

hmmm, Awesome of course. I can't wait to get back into the mid 1800's. still there's lots to cover. Yankee Sullivan/James Ambrose/Frank Murray one of the baddest dude to ever live. MW & HW champ. Beat the living **** out of "Old Smoke" and walk off too bad ass for a belt any more. I can't remember right off which part is in my sig, Fisticuffs by Primus, but it's all Yankee.

Morrissey Lost to a fella named Poole. Then he killed Poole....gangster. Tom Hyer was probably the baddest guy around at that time though....John saw what the butcher did to James and wasn't about to have none.....gangster.

[McGoorty]

hmmm, Awesome of course. I can't wait to get back into the mid 1800's. still there's lots to cover. Yankee Sullivan/James Ambrose/Frank Murray one of the baddest dude to ever live. MW & HW champ. Beat the living **** out of "Old Smoke" and walk off too bad ass for a belt any more. I can't remember right off which part is in my sig, Fisticuffs by Primus, but it's all Yankee.

Morrissey Lost to a fella named Poole. Then he killed Poole....gangster. Tom Hyer was probably the baddest guy around at that time though....John saw what the butcher did to James and wasn't about to have none.....gangster.

This is all good stuff,. I love the surprises that I come across, TOM TOUGH is a bloke I never heard of, but he was a full-on all-action pre-Battling nelson - Jake LaMotta type. Tough eschewed the normal drcorum, had no time for the ceremonious type of thing and conformity of type, Tom was a fighter because he loved getting bruises as much as giving them........ man he's the god-father of the modern slugger, an Englishman who fought like a NOO York immigrant.

[McGoorty]

JEM WARD AND JACK CARTER

_ The second deposit for the fight between these men was made
good on Tuesday, at Frank Redmond's, in the presence of a strong
muster of the Fancy - casine and pugilistic. Carter was in high
spirits, and posted his blunt with good will, offering at the same
time, to put the whole down, if necessary. Ward's friends were
not quite so forward; but they did what was needful, and left the
rest till the proper season. It is to be hoped the friends of both
men will "do the thing that is *******," and that neither will
have to encroach upon his private funds. The fight will, no doubt,
be interesting, and may be had in any neighborhood where the
expences of the men are properly considered. Ward continues
in Liverpool, where he has some staunch friends, who will, no
doubt, come forward with the next deposit. Carter has set out
for Manchester and says he will fight Byrne, the Glasgow
Champion, if he can catch him "in the vein." The place of
fighting may be known at Reuben Marten's, and Harry Holt's,
tomorrow evening.

[McGoorty]

ACTION AND NICHOLLS

_ Tuesday is the important day for the decision of the match be-
tween these big 'uns. The distance is within twenty miles of
London, and those who "snuff the winds" of the "sweet South,"
fragrant with the savour of last year's Hayes, will not be far out
in their reckoning. Highly Addington, the late Under-Secretary
of State, was particularly partial to this part of the country. Both
men are in high condition - Nicholls the favorite, guiness to
pounds. Nicholls makes his first appearance in public, having
never before fought in the ring; he is a butcher by trade, and is
expected to "cut up" well. Action is farther advanced in the vale
of years, being six-and-thirty, and booked as rather stale. Still
he is a good one, and has got off much of his superflueus flesh.
His experience and staunch game are also in his favor. His most
celebrated battle was with Peter Crawley, on the 6th of May,
1823, which he fought with a degree of game and science that
raised him high in the estimation of the Fancy. He was, how-
ever, beaten in thirteen rounds, and sixteen minutes. He also
fought Kendrick, the slashing black boxer, losing the first, but
winning the second battle. His weirght may be about 13 stone,
and Nicholls is not far short of the same substance. Should Ni-
cholls win, he will be backed against some of the first rate stars.

YOUNG GAS AND REUBEN MARTEN
TO THE EDITOR OF BELL'S LIFE IN LONDON
_ SIR - As I was not so well as I should be when I last fought
Reuben Marten, I am prepared to make a fresh match with him
for 100L. a-side, to come off 3 months after my fight with Piefinch.
A friend of mine will meet him when and where he likes to sign
articles, and make a deposit. _ JONATHAN BISSELL.

YOUNG GAS AND PIEFINCH
_ Young Gas was in town on Thursday, on a visit to his friends,
anticipatory of his fight with Piefinch; he is looking extremely
well, and hopes his London friends will lend him a hand. Fifty
Pounds a-side of the battle-money is already down. The whole is
to be made good on the 1st of April.

DOBELL AND BAILY
_ These men post their third deposit on Tuesday evening next,
at Dobell's crib, on Saint John Street.

[McGoorty]

This and the last two posts is from the "Bell's Life In London", 16 MARCH 1828 - Boxing News..... how it were.GYBLETTS AND RUSSEL
_ This fight will come off on Wednesday next, within a few
miles of Lynn. Stockman and Old Peter Saunders have set
out the scene of action to wait on Gybletts.

BISHOP SHARP AND YOUNG DUTCH SAM
_ The Bishop will be prepared with the "needful" to accept
Young Dutch Sam's challenge in our last, tomorrow, at Joe
Fishwick's benefit. Wren will also be prepared to make a
match with Ned Stockman, or Frank Redmond, for 25L. or 50L.

BOB CASTLES AND PADDY FLYNN
_ The fourth deposit for the fight between these men will be
made good on Monday evening next, St.Patrick's Day, at Jack
Randall's, the Hole in the Wall, Chancery Lane. Both men are
going on well, and are improving in condition from close training.

NED SAVAGE AND KIRKMAN
_ The second deposit was made good on Thursday evening, at
the Hole in the Wall, gate-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, and the
day of combat was postponed from the 8th to the 14th of April.

M'CARTHY AND BALLARD
_ The second deposit for this fight was made good on Tuesday
evening, at John Hudson's, Leadenhall Market. The third de-
posit is fixed to be made at Dobell's, the Black Bull, in St. John
Street, on Tuesday evening next.

BENEFITS
_ Alick Reid's benefit at the High House, Pimlico, on Tues-
day evening, was a complete bumper, and the setting-to was
excellent.
_ Joe Fishwick, the industrious Commissary of the Ring, will
take a benefit at the Tennis Court, in the Haymarket, on Mon-
day next, when all the nobs to whom he has always been an ac-
tive friend, will set to for him. Bishop Sharpe has promised to
set with Jack Martin, and **** Curtis will try his hand with
his late opponent Coaly, as a wind-up.
_ Frosty-Faced Fargo has announced a benefit on the 25th,
at the Hope Tavern, in Blackmoor Street, Clare Market. All
the "right sort" will bring their fives into play for his advantage. -----------------------------FIGHTS TO COME.
March 18. - **** Action and Jack Nicholls, 25L. a-side.
March 25. - Harry Jones and Bill Savage, 25L. a-side.
April 2. - Bob Castles and Paddy Flynn, 25L. a-side.
April 8. - Brown and Sampson, 250L. a-side, half way be-
tween Birmingham and Bridgenerth.
April 8. - Piefinch and Young Gas, 100L. a-side - same ring.
April 8. - Dobell and Baily, 100L. a-side.
April 14. - Ned Savage and Kirkman, 25 gs. to 25L.
April 15. - M'Carthy and Ballard, 25L. a-side.
April 29. - Ned Neal and Baldwin, 250L a-side.
May 27. - Jem Ward and Carter, 50L. a-side.

[McGoorty]

DEATH OF SIMON BYRNE, THE PUGILIST
NATIONAL GAZETTE AND LITERARY REGISTER
PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1833
No. 1928, Vol. XII

DEATH OF SIMON BYRNE, THE PUGILIST
We noticed on Friday last, a prize fight which
took place between Simon Byrne, the champion of
Ireland, and Deaf Burke, at No Man's Land, in Hert-
fordshire, on the previous day, and which was pro-
tracted to the extraordinary period of three hours
and six minutes, during which time ninty nine
rounds were fought. Burke was the victor, and the
unfortunate Simon Byrne was conveyed in a state
of complete exhaustion to the Woolpack Inn, St.
Alban's, where he received every possible attention.
medical assistance was immediately called in; he was
bled, and everything which surgical skill could sug-
gest was done for his relief. On Thursday night he
was considered in great danger, but on Friday and
Saturday he rallied, and the strongest hopes were
entertained that he would have recovered. During
his illness he was constantly attended by a friend,
and was frequently visited by Tom Spring, to whom
he expressed the greatest gratitude. On Saturday
afternnon his symptoms became more alarming, and
on Sunday morning, on Spring, (who was at St. Al-
ban's,) being acquainted with the imminence of his
danger...

[McGoorty]

FIGHT BETWEEN TOM HYER AND YANKEE SULLIVAN


_ In compliance with the wishes and requests of many of our
readers, and because it was a notable instance of the relative
powers of certain elements in prize fighting, we re-publish in
this issue the report of the great fight between Tom Hyer and
Yankee Sullivan. The latter was a man whose game and fighting
powers had been tested in many lands, and who had never lost
a battle. He possessed great experience, unflinching game, and
tremendous powers of hitting. He had, too, in an eminent degree,
that wary craft which distinguishes the vulpine breed. On the other
hand, Hyer, though a comparative novice in the prize ring, had
those advantages which youth, length, height, and weight, in a strong
and symmetrical frame, must necessarily confer. Moreover, he was
known to be a fine, effective fighter, a cool tactician, and on of
undeniable game and endurance. In his first fight with McCleester
he had abundantly exhibited those qualities which have always
distinguished the great masters of the pugilistic art. He had won
a desperate and obstinately contested battle of 101 rounds, in
2 hours and 55 minutes. Both men had been severely punished;
but while McCleester was utterly beaten and exhausted, Hyer
was comparatively fresh and strong, with lots of fight still in him.
The battle, then, we think, was enough to justify his friends in
backing him against Sullivan or any other man in the world,
had they chosen to do so.

Fistiana.
THE GREAT PRIZE-FIGHT BETWEEN TOM
HYER AND YANKEE SULLIVAN, FOR $10,000
Won by Hyer in Seventeen Minutes and Eighteen
Seconds. Wednesday, February 7, 1849
_ THE GREAT PRIZE-FIGHT, which had been the standard topic of conver-
sation for many months in fighting circles, and which, to confess the truth,
had occupied a large share of the attention of refined society for the same
time, came off, according to the agreement, on Wednesday, the 7th of February,
1849, at Rock Point, mouth of Still Pond Creek, in Kent County, on the
eastern shore of Maryland, about 40 miles from Baltimore.

SETTING THE STAKES
_ At ten minutes past four everything was set, and notice was given to the
parties in the house that all was ready.IN THE RING
_ Sullivan, shortly after this summons, emerged from the house, being pre-
ceded by one of his seconds who carried a pair of hot bricks, which were
intended for his feet while waiting for the signal to begin. As he approached
the ring his appearance was hailed with cheers, and when he threw in his
cap, which was a velvet one of a rich dark green, the most enthusisstic shouts
were heard from his friends. He took his seat upon a chair that was provided
for him, and with his feet upon the bricks, waited for the entrance of his foe.
In two or three minutes more, Hyer came forth, borne on the brawny
shoulders of his friend Dutch Charley, and as he neared the ropes, he shyed
his castor, a foggy-looking piece of felt, into the arena before him. Another
burst of clamor then rent the sky, and amid increased enthusiasm, each man
tied his colors to the stake. That of Hyer was the spangled ensign of his country,
while Sullivan's was a green fogle with oval spots of white. Both men sat down
on their seconds' knees. and confronted each other while the final preliminaries
were arranged.
_ While thus awaiting the summons to the ordeal, the seconds, Joe Win-
row and John Ling, the first for Hyer and the latter for Sullivan, came for-
ward and made the toss for choice of ground. This was won for Sullivan,
who, thereupon, reserved the corner, where he already sat, giving to his
antagonist the bright and dazzling sun directly in his eyes. The seconds
now took their corners, Tom Burns taking the place of the captured Thomp-
son. Hyer's regular trainer, and Country McCleester supplying the absence
of Tom O'Donnell, on the part of Sullivan. Outside the ropes, in waiting
on the latter, was Stephen Wilson, acting as bottle holder, and on the other
corner, similary affixed, was the brother of the lofty champion. At twenty-
minutes past four exactly, Winrow asked the question: "Are you ready?"
"Yes," said Sullivan, rising and beginning to strip off his outer clothes, an
operation in which he was immediately followed by Hyer, and which was
accomplished by both with the celerity of a stage metamorphosis. In less
than a minute they stood stripped to the waist, and attired in their neat
fighting clothes. Such was the absorbing interest which held possession of
all minds during the proceedings, that but a single bet was offered and
made. Indeed $35 was the entire amount that was wagered on the ground,
and that bet was even.

[McGoorty]

THE MEN
_ As the antagonists stood up, all ready for the strife, there was a marked
disparity in the appearance of the men. Hyer stood six feet two and a half
inches, and Sullivan but five ten and a half. The weight of the former,
woreover, was in the close neighborhood of 185 lb., while the avoirdupois
of Sullivan was rated no higher than 155 lb., making the difference of thirty
pounds in Hyer's favor. As to condition, both seemed equal. They were
as finely developed in every muscle as their physical capacity could reach,
and the bounding confidence which sparkled fiercely in their eyes, showed
that their spirits and courage were at their highest mark. Sullivan, with
his round compact chest, formidable head, shelving flinty brows, fierce
glaring eyes, and clean-turned shoulder, looked the very incarnation of the
spirit of meschievous genius; while Hyer, with his broad, formidable chest,
and long muscular limbs, seemed as if he could almost trample him out of
life, at will.

THE FIGHT
_ Before coming to the scratch, the umpire for Sullivan, asked the seconds
of his side if they intended to examine Hyer's shoes, but they declined the
formality as a matter of little consequence, upon which the word was given
and the men came up. According to rule they were obliged to shake hands
before they began, but they performed the ceremony warily, and at ex-
treme arm's length. It was the business of the seconds next to do the same,
but before they could reach the scratch to go through the idle ceremony,
the eager crowd shouted them back, and they gave way at once to the glad-
iatorial show.
_ Round 1. Sullivan with his arms well up and every muscle swelling with
it's preparation, darted towards Hyer, who stood resolutely awaiting for him
with his body well forward and in formidable readiness; and coming up to
him with a sort of run, let fly with his left at Hyer's head, but did not get
it in; he then got away from a short attempt of Hyer to counter with his
left, but Hyer followed the effort with an instant discharge of his right in
Sullivan's forehead, which made a long abrasion on the scalp, but which,
notwithstanding the power of the blow, showed neither blood nor discolor-
tion at the time. Gathering himself for a return, Sullivan then rushed in
at the body, and after two or three ineffective exchanges clinched his an-
tagonist with the underhold and struggled for the throw. This was the
great point on which was to depend the result of the fight. Sullivan relied
mainly for success upon his superior wrestling, and it was calculated by his
friends and backers, that a few of his favorite cross-buttocks would break
his young antagonist in his lithe and graceful waist, and not only render
him limpsey with weakness, but stun him with the falls. The most terri-
ble anxiety therefore existed as to the result of this endeaver. In its
fierce agitations, the spectators, who stood in an outer ring of plank laid
over the snow some feet distant from the ropes of the arena, involuntarily
rushed forward and swarmed against the ropes. Two or three times did
Sullivan knot his muscles with an almost superhuman effort, but all served
only to postpone his overthrow; for when he had spent his power by these
terrible impulsions, his iron adversary wrenched him to the ground with
the upperhold, and fell heavily, prone upon his body. This decided the
largest part of the outside betting in favor of the upper man, and shouts of
the most terrific joy went up for Hyer. The depression of Sullivan's friends
was equal in degree, and they began to get an inkling that they had under-
rated their opponent.

[McGoorty]

2. As soon as time was called, both men hurried to the scratch, Hyer
working to the upper slope of the ring, where stood the judges and the re-
feree, and thus slanting the sun between his body and that of his opponent,
instead of taking its beams directly in his eyes. As Sullivan came up this
time, the blood from the scratch upon his forehead made crimson confession
of its severity, and elated the friends of the tall one with shrieks of "first
blood for Hyer!" Sullivan at this hosanna rushed desperately in, and meet-
ing Hyer where he paused to receive his charge, delivered a heavy blow
with his right on Hyer's left eye. taking a counter on his opposing ogle in
return. Sullivan kept close up, and both kept striking with the rapidity of
two ****s as they fly together, rendering it almost impossible to see where
or how the hits were discharged. It was evident, however, that the rally
had not been attended with serious effect to either side. A feint from Sul-
livan, and a dodge from Hyer, intervened; when another rally followed,
Sullivan taking in return for a couple of body blows two severe discharges
on the left eye, by a sort of half upper cut with the right hand, which brought
the blood again. Sullivan then rushed in and clinched; he caught the un-
derhold again, but efforts were nought, and he was twisted to the ground
as if he had been a man of grass, his huge antagonist falling upon him as be-
fore with his entire weight. Shouts for Hyer.
_ 3. The hopes of Sullivan's friends were now fading fast, and indeed he
seemed impressed himself with the idea that he was over-matched. He
looked at his opponent with a sort of wild astonishment as he came up; but
with a desperate courage, as if conscious nothing but the most reckless
policy alone could help him, he rushed up to the scratch, and gathering
cautiously after a wicked pause, he softened his apparent intention with a
feint, but finding Hyer would not be drawn out, he let fly right and left,
and catching Hyer with the latter blow upon the body (some say neck)
staggered him backwards a couple of steps, and brought him to a sitting
position on the ground. The shouts now went up on Sullivan's side, and
amidst the uproarious glee he went smiling to his corner.
_ 4. Both came up this time with the upmost alacrity, Sullivan encouraged
by his success, and Hyer showing the upmost eagerness to get even. Sul-
ivan hurried up, and led of without getting in, and Hyer, in his excite-
ment, not only returned short, but openhanded. This excited the atten-
tion of the former's backer, who, while on the point of crying out, "Now,
you've got him, Jim," discovered that Sullivan was open-handed too. The
warning, however, brought both of them to their senses, and made them
close their fists. Hyer then hit out right and left, executing with the latter
on the old spot, and taking a body blow in return. Sullivan then ran in
and clinched, but his hold did him no good, for he was thrown in the same
manner as before, Hyer falling on him and laying across him for several
seconds, until his henchmen could come slowly and take him off. Expres-
sions of dissatisfaction here broke out from Sullivan's friends, and the um-
pire of that side claimed "foul," on the score that the upper man was not
sooner removed. The question was put to the referee, who, however, de-
ided "fair."
_ 5. Sullivan, who suffered considerably in the last round by his eager-
ness to improve the advantage he had gained in the third, led off with the
same reckless spirit, and with the same desperate aim. He struck wildly
right and left at the head, but getting stopped, next tried the body. His
incautiousness, however, received a heavy punishment in the shape of a
tremendous right-hand Paixhan on the left eye, which hit him down upon
his hand, with one knee touching the ground. Hyer rushed forward to hit
again, but checking himself, he raised his hands as if afraid of being
tempted to a foul blow, and moving backwards, turned towards his corner.
At this moment Sullivan's umpire, supposing the round at an end, dropped
his eye to his watch and started his time. It happened, however, that as
Hyer had turned away, Sullivan, apparently wild, had risen, and recom-
menced the round; whereupon Hyer turned upon him, and pressed him by
main strength to the ground. While this supplementary struggle was going
on, the umpire raised his eyes, and supposing Hyer had turned to attack
Sullivan after the round had finished, as he had marked it, called out "foul."
The character of the renewal was explained to him, however, whereupon he
withdrew his complaint.

[McGoorty]

6. Sullivan now began to show his punishment and fatigue in a slight
nervousness of his legs, but still he ran bodly up for desperate fighting, as
game as a pebble, and as resolute as if the battle was still within his reach.
Several rapid exchanges were then made, Sullivan catching it on the right
eye-brow, in a counter to a body hit. Hyer then fought Sullivan to the
ropes, and bent him backwards over them. Some sharp fibbing took place,
which, proving rather unpleasant to Hyer, he seized Sullivan and threw him
and fell on him, with his arm across his neck. He remained in this position
for some moments without interference by his seconds, who saw that it was
to his advantage, whereupon a claim of "foul" was made by Sullivan's
judge. The referee, however, decided "fair." It was likewise claimed that
in rising Hyer had pressed improperly on Sullivan's neck, but the claim was
not made out.
_ 7. Sullivan, breathing short and exhibiting much fatigue, came up the
same as ever, and Hyer, as before stood on the slope to forbid his passage
one inch upon his ground. The little man, as he approached his huge an-
tagonist, seemed as if dispirited by the decision of the referee, while he
was nearly spent with the severe exertions that he had made to hit and get
away. But he hit with no effect, while the blows of his powerful antagonist
made the blood flow profusely down his face, although they had really less
effect upon the unfortunate left eye than it seemed. Several exchanges
were made, all against Sullivan, when he rushed in and again at his wrestling
hold, and found the ground as he had done in these close encounters every
time before.
_ 8. The hit in the eye which Hyer received in the second round, now
showed its colors, and puffed up with dirty pride and vanity over the sur-
rounding flesh. Sullivan's left eye was no better; indeed worse, and bore
many testimonials in crimson crevices of Hyer's black and long knuckles.
Sullivan again made play from the jump, but got nothing in. As he hit out
at the body, Hyer struck short with the left, as was his custom every time,
when he meditated mischief with his right hand, and then let go with his
dexter mawley, driving the blood out from the left eye in gory spray, but
still not knocking his staunch opponent down. Sullivan finding that he
could not perry off these terrific hits, ran in again, but was thrown as before,
Hyer falling on him, and lying with his breast across Sullivan's chest, neck,
and face. Hyer's seconds were again slow in coming up to take him off,
upon which another appeal of "foul" was made to the referee, who, how-
ever, decided "fair," though he admitted he could not see at all times, in
consequence of the crowd getting between him and the men, and jostiling
him about since the first round.
_ 9. "Time" came around quick at this "call," as much of the thirty seconds
was consumed while the men were on the ground. Both men came up
bloody to the scratch; Sullivan being literally clotted with gore, while the
clear crimson smoked on Hyer's chest, from a lance wound which had been
made undr his right eye to prevent it from closing out his sight. He was
also dabbled with the drains which ran from Sullivan, and which painted
his arms and bosom every time they closed. Sullivan walked up to the
scratch this time with a freshened vigor, and showed the same determina-
tion as when he commenced the battle. Hyer, who was cool and apparently
unfatigued, at once saw the real condition of his man, and concluding that it
was now time to change his tactics, led off for the first time. The Yankee
seemed better capable of resisting this mode of warfare than making a suc-
cessful aggression, and dodged two wicked looking blows; but in endeavor-
ing to return with a rush, he brought Hyer to his usual defensive position.
He then took Sullivan's blows without wincing or endeavoring to stop them,
being satisfied to take advantage of the right-hand counter, which from the
first had told with such terrible effect. Sullivan rushed in again to save
himself from punishment, and was thrown, with Hyer on him.
_ 10. Sullivan came up with his hands open and showing distress. He led off
with ineffectual passes, which only served to provoke punishment, and give
him the return of a wicked right-handed hit in the old place, which stag-
gered him to the ground.