The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-24 00:00:00

TUE FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

The long-talked of fight between James Mace
and Joseph Goes for the champion's belt and 2001.
Bide took place this morning near Farningham
Bridge, in Kent The result was declared to be
eminently unsatisfactory by those present, for
the so-called fight resolved itself into an hour
mid a quarter's harmless posture-making,
after which the men shook hands, while the
seconds proclaimed " a draw." Of course
ender these circumstances all beta are void, and
anther man carries off either the champion's belt
or his opponent's stakes. Loud was the disappoint-
went and fierce the denunciations of those assembled
round the ring as quarter of an hour after quarter
of an hour slipped away, without either man strik-
ing a blow, and. when at length they were seen to
onilingly shake hands, the shouts and yells waved
louder, and the derision culminated in still more
frightful oaths. The ringside frequenters crave
for blood, and that neither Mace nor Goes
should have returned to town battered to pieces
is held to be a serious grievance against both,
if not an ineffaceable stain on their professional
reputation. There was no pretence at disguising
the disappointment and disgust of the spectators,
who were of all classes of society, and who had
reached the battle-field in perfect comfort in the

following way :
It was pretty generally known among those inte-
rested that tickets could be obtained at a public-

house near Leicester-square last night, and that
with these tickets all necessary information
would be supplied. Armed with one of these, for
which two pounds were paid, the holder presented
himself at the Ludgate-hill station before 5.30 a. m.,
and was promptly seated without crowding or in-
convenience in a train made up of first-class car-
riages. Nothing could exceed the order and regu-
larity with which this part of the proceed-
ings was carried on. A second train of
third class carriages was in waiting and to
this were relegated the people who took the
lower priced tickets issued that morning at the
station. An efficient staff of policemen, guards,
porters, and superior officials was in atten-
dance, and each batch of illegal travellers
was seated in one or other of the
two trains. These were subsequently made into
one, and punctually at half-past five a party some
six hundred strong, and composed of guardsmen,
dandies, pugilists, publicans, tradesmen, agricul-
turists, and turfites, started on their journey.
There was not a ragged or shabbily-
dressed figure amongst them, for the fare
had been rigidly exacted even from the per-
sonal attendants of the men about to fight,
and all present had paid heavily for the horrid
luxury they hoped to enjoy. No one knew exactly
where the place of fighting would be, but all were in
high spirits, for the perfection of the preliminary
arrangements inspired confidence and encouraged
hope, and all were full of joyous anticipation,
from the "swell" who looked anxiously after the
stowage of his well-stored pie-the basket and
hamper of champagne; to the vulgar red-eyed puffy-
faced tavern-keeper who passed from carriage to
carriage offering in a hoarse whisper " to lay six to
four on Mace." The tickets were inspected both
before and during the journey, and no precaution
was wanting to limit the day's pleasure to those
able and willing to pay. Boon after half-past 6
the train stopped by the side of a grassy field some
three miles beyond Faniingliam-bridge and its
occupants speedily hurried down the embankment
to make bets, exchange experiences, and keenly
criticise the turf. The first spot pitched upon was
declared to be too flinty, but the grass a
few yards further was pronounced beau-
tifully fit." This . was not until after it had
been patted and felt and scrutinised by
ruffianly harsh-voiced scoundrels, with as much
tender consideration as if they were prudent
housewives purchasing a costly dress. Then the
stakes and ropes were fixed and the ring formed.
Then came further claims upon the purse. Outside
the first enclosure, in which are the "corners" and
the combatants, runs a second rope, and for the
privilege of standing in the space between these
twain, " inner ring" tickets were sold at ss. a
head. This done, as the grass was damp with
the dew of one of the brightest May mornings of

the year, camp-stools and kitchen chairs were
offered to be lent out at half-a-guinea each. By the
time these all-important preliminaries were over,
and it was seen that all likely purchasers or
hirers were supplied, Goss threw in his cap, and
immediately afterwards was in his corner supported
by his seconds, Jack Hicks and Baldock, of Lon-
don. Goss is a powerfully-built young fellow, whose
sturdy limbs and muscular development speak
forcibly of strength and power. His neck is
short and thick, his shoulders broad and
well set, while the innate savagery of his face is
heightened by lips which turn outwards
and upwards in true animal fashion when
he speaks or smiles. He had been heard
to speak confidently of his own "fitness," but
wore an anxious look, as if fully impressed
with the responsibility of facing so re-
doubtable
a champion as Mace. The latter has a
rather handsome face, while the predominant ex-
pression is rather stern and determined than
brutal or cruel. It was remarked, however,
that his legs looked thin and " weedy," and
that superb as his condition was, "he was
not the man he had been." This was the
situation :—Goss, young, strong, and with a reputa-
tion for courage and dogged endurance ; Mace,
experienced, scientific, and with a character
of long-standing at stake. Beta of three to
one on the latter were loudly proffered ; but
with few takers ; though a few bets were
booked at two to one. It was within a fewminutes
of 7 a.m. when what is irony to call " the fight"
commenced ; and from that time until ten minutes
past 8, Mace and Goss danced about, squared,
feinted, countered, and shuffled, without fighting a
round, almost without giving a blow. The people
abbot, " patrons," pugilists, and the rest, were
first remonstrative, and finally furious, while the
four seconds perpetually transgressed the laws
of the ring by mock fighting and by
leaving their corners to dance round and yell de-
risively at the two half-naked figures in the hope
of exciting them with what is called "business."
" Yer a blank sight too smilin' and friendly with
each other for my taste, blank blank yer ; can't yer
get a little spiteful 1" was the genial admonition of
one of Mr. Mace's supporters ; while the friends of
Goss adjured him "to go in and smash the old 'un,
who had got no stamina, and was only bouncin' on
what he'd done when Goss was a baby."
It was all fruitless, however, and though those
versed in fighting phrases might distinguish between
one kind of feint, and another, the broad truth is
that the two inert having tired out the patience of
their fierce friends and backers, shook hands,
Goss without a scratch, Mace with a trifling
abrasion of the nose and right cheek. To describe
one byestander's expression is to describe all. How
Tom King, genteel and smart, and looking less like
a pugilist than ever, with his trimly kept whiskers
and moustache, explained that Mace "was
a very different man now to when he
knew him ;" how the veteran Jemmy Shaw
almost cried with vexation at " wot the
ring had come to, with two blessed champions in it
afraid to touch each other ;" how Jim Ward, with
&grizzled moustache, looking like a half-pay major,
shrugged his shoulders pityingly wh en asked what he
would have thought o' that sort o' game in his day ;
how Nat Langham looked on more in
sorrow than in anger ; how Rooke with
his recent scars all healed explained voci-
ferously what should be done,—must be left to
other pens. The one bit of consolation was
that a second fight would take place on the
lame day, which would certainly be " pretty ; "
and " pretty" it certainly was, if much hard hitting
and freely flowing blood give stifle to that word. Two
Young pugilists (light weights), had been matched
to fight, and were speedily at work in thering. Their
conduct was precisely the reverse of those preceding
them. Both were praised delightedly as " regular
little gluttons for punishment ;" and were rapidly
becoming black and crimson from bruises and bleed-

ing, when the police broke into the ring andl
the hateful proceedings terminated, by one of the
intruders being knocked down by half a dozen
ruffians, and afterwards cut and kicked about the
face and head until he lay weltering in blood.