The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-29 00:00:00

WRESTLING.

Yesterday afternoon theg7Lnaiof the Eagle Tavern were
filled with spectators, to witness the exertions of some of the belt
wrestlers that could be collected from Devonshire and Cornwall,
two of :the moat' noted counties. in England for this species of
gymnastic exercise.
The sport was commenced about two o'clock, by two Devonshire
men, one of whom (Clarke) soon threw the other, when another
Devonshire man, stained Pyles, entered to oppose Clarke; much
skill was displayed by both, but no fall took place between them,
and eight minutes (the time allowed) having elapsed, Clarke was
obliged to withdraw for another trial. Pyles remained, and threw
the next man that entered, thereby entitling himself to the double
play.
Warren, a Cornishman, and Burgoyne, a Devonshireman, next
entered the ring, alien Warren threw Burgoyne almost instantly.
Great exultation was manifested at this event although it was not
exactly Devon against Cornwall, jealousy existed between them.
Great difficulty was here experienced to procure a competitor for
Warren, no person appearing to relish him for a customer, as Bur-
gnyne, the man he had thrown, was not only a known good
wrestler, but a remarkably strong and heavy min. Warren re-
tnained in the ring eight minutes, when no person coming forward
to oppose him, he withdrew for another trial, great hopes being ea.
tertained by the Cornishman of his obtaining the highest prize.
Uarrup, a'Cornisinnon, and Hutchins, a Devonshireman, then
entered, but the eight minutes expired without a fair back fall. Har-
cup withdrew, and Hutchins was opposed by Moyle, a Cornishman,
who threw him and Knipp, a Devonshireman, and was the second
person entitled to double play.
Gray, a Cornishman, and "Babb, a Devonshireman, next entered,
when Gray was thrown by Babb, being the first Cornishman yet
thrown, and Warren. the Cornishman, who had thrown Burgoyne,
re-entered the ring, and threw Babb. Thorn, a Devonshireman,
then opposed Warren, who appeared to us to be the crackiren of
each county. They were both timed out without a fall, which en-
titled Warren to double play, having thrown Babb, and held out
with two others the required time.
Several other matches followed, and much excellent wrestling
took place, till seven o'clock, when the following men were placed
on the list as double players, viz.:-
1. Pyle, Devonshire I ti Clarke, Devonshire
2. 3ioyle, Cornwall 7. 3liddleton, ditto
3. Warren. ditto 8. Avery, ditto
4. Thorn, Devonshire I 9. Spargoe, Cornwall
5. Babb, ditto 10. Batson, Devonshire.
Twenty-tour double-players being wished for, the wrestling
will commence at eleven o'clock to-morrow (this day), and the
double play at two precisely. The utmost decorum and Whiny
prevailed.

We hear that the Messrs. Acramans have it in view
again to experiment the freight of a vessel from hence to
the East Indies, taking in her light goods, of course, at
Liverpool. When will the clay arrive that poor Bristol
will once more he able to make up an assorted cat go proper
for any market ?—Bristol Parr.
The parish of Vadenay, in the department of the Marne,
has sulferetl severely by a tremendous water-spout, which,
in a short time, occasioned the water to rise ten feet, and
roll in torrents. Twenty houses were washed down, and
many others seriously damaged. At the same moment a
heavy shower of hail destroyed the crops not gathered in ;
and the water flowing upon the territory of Bouy and
Grandee Loges, both these places were inundated. A family
of three persons narrowly escaped being drowned. The
loss at Vadenay is estimated at 80,000 fr.
Awry!. CATASTROPHE.—On Sunday afternoon last,
Thomas Platt, who was a weaver in this town, accompa-
nied by his brother-in-law, George Mawdsley, paid a visit
to his aged parents, who reside at Holme Barn, near
Dean Church. After they had been in the house .a short
time, Mawdsley reached down a gun, and whilst he was
in the act of handling it, and expressing his admiration of
the workmanship, it unfortunately exploded, and lodged
the whole of the contents in the back of Platt, who was in
a stooping position at that moment. The wounded man
immediately dropped. and in the course'of two minutes
breathed his last. The gun had been brought into the
house the preceding night by the nephew of the deceased,
after having been used for the purpose of killing sparrows
in the corn-fields, and the whole of the family were igno-
rant that it was charged. The deceased was an amiable
and inoffensive character, and has left a wife to deplore his
unfortunate death. As may be supposed, poor Mawdsley
is quite disconsolate, and almost frantic at the sad event,
for the deceased and he were on the most friendly and
affectionate terms. A Coroner's inquisition was held on
the body on Tuesday last, at Dean Church, and a verdict
of Accidental Death returned.—Bolton Exjne.rs.
EXECUTION OF W. MILLS AND T. GARDINER.—These
two victims to the offended laws of their country terminated
their mortal career upon the scaffold, on Saturday, as we inti-
mated in our last. Their behaviour, up to the fatal moment,
was strictly in unison with that contrition and repentance
which they had manifested from the time of condemnation,
an interval which they devoted almost exclusively to the
duties of religion. They made a full confession of their
crimes, acknowledged the justice of the fate they were about
to undergo, and, as the hest proof of the proper state to
which they had subdued their minds, repeatedly expressed
their entire forgiveness of the accomplice whose testimony
had led to their conviction. With Mills particularly the
latter feeling was predominant, and he frequently intimated
a wish to have a friendly interview with his brother before
he suffered. This, however, did not take place, as Thomas
Mills could not be induced again to face his miserable
brother and associate. On the day previous to his execu-
tion, Mills took a final leave of his wretched parents. The
old man was dreadfully affected, but the mother did not
manifest a similar degree of feeling. On Saturday morn-
ing both culprits attended in the chapel, where, after the
usual service, the sacrament was administered to them.
They afterwards again made confession of their offences,
and about half-past twelve o'clock were ushered to the fatal
beam, where their earthly sufferings were terminated in
the presence of an immense concourse of spectators. After
• , hanging the usual time, the bodies were taken down, and
delivered to their friends fur interment.—Gloacater