Star.
London, England, 1824-05-26 00:00:00

THE FIGHTS, AT SHEPPERTON RANGE.

The Fancy.were again sadly alarmed yesterday, when, on arrival
at the old spot of Moulsey, they were informed that a Magistrite
had determined to stop the fight, not only there in person, but had
instructed a constable to attend for the same purpose at Shepperton
—the nearest military position. Colnbrook was thought of in the
dilemma, and a few set off for a ten-mile chace, to get good ptices;
hut, on further consideration, some hints %%re thrown nu!, by
which the constable might be rendered inoptr.niee, and on the en-
gagement of an old soldier to enlist Dogberry for the morning, the
chief body proceeded with full pomp to the said Shepperton Range,
about twenty miles from town, where the ring was prepared, and
the men soon in readiness. The situation was particularly pic-
turesque, on a fine level, within five hundred yards of the banks of
the Thames. Doubts, however, having been entertained in town
that these might be some little difficulties to encounter, the muster
was by no means numerous. There were, nevertheless, several
Corinthians present, and the Commarst/er.itt•C'hici at his post—as
his presence generally indicates " fair play"—as well as acme,
more regularity :than is generally observed in his ahsenca. A few who
went to Coluhrocke on the first alarm, had a long and tiresome re-
trograde to make before they could participate in the sports, and then
they lost the first fight. At one o'clock, O'Neale and Gayner,
threw up their hats, us the parties far the firs: battle. O'Neale
better ltta.wn as the Streatham Youth, is a good bustling lighter,
and Gaynor, the Bath unman, had great fame in the country, but
untried in town. The odds were two and three to one on O'Neale ;
and on stripping, his fine condition justified the backers. Gaynor
looked queer and out of order, and was below the Youth in every
point. Hudson and Holt were with O'Neale, and Ben Burn and
Collis assists d Gaynor to the scratch.
THE marl% _ _

Round I. Town and Country began cautious, and seemed both
determined not to give away a chance. The Itnetic was afr.iid of
the Citizen, and O'Neale evidently :aught by rule. Several minutes
were spent in idle sparring. O'Neale sheaved his simple head, by
losing his side, and getting the sun in his eyes. Gaynor let fly at
the head and then at the body—both stopped clean. O'Neale hit
short with the left, and made his right heavy on the ear of the 'ful-
mar,. A close and a struggle, and bald fibbing at Gaynor', head,
who was thrown heavily, first taking a rattling punch on the kidnies.
2. Gaynor tried hard, but, from want of judgment, all his blows
fell short. O'Neal ran at him, and missed a heavy right-banded
round hit. Ile got the best of the fall—Two to one current.
3. O'Neal stopped uncommonly well, but seemed shy of return-
ing—never once tried a counter hit, or stood to fight. Gaynor hit
short, and was sadly abroad. O'Neale placed a heavy chatteret on
the head, but was obliged to take a mouthful in return. Both Po-
tions, no Mains about them. Gaynor was closed with, after a vain
attempt at the wind, and got his head into the cage, where it paid
dearly for lodging.—Gaynor down again.
Twenty-five minutes were taken up with this mockery of a fight.
O'Neale had the best of it in every point, and was blamed for not
going in to his work, and also his want of clean strait hitting.
4. This was also a long stupid round. O'Neale kept his guard al-
ways ready, and Gaynor might as well have hit at St. Paul's. A
great trial for ►trength and struggle for the fall. O'Neale, nearly
down, recovered his feet, and jobbed the Tinman unmercifully en
the mouth. Gaynor fought it out like a good one, and drew great
applause by throwing his man cleverly.
r. O'Neale, more alive, went to work with his heavy rounded
bits, and then using his legs well, tripped the yokel from his centre.
6. Gaynor, unwilling to go in, was spoke-to by Ikat Bums—
" Fight away, Gaynor; are you asleep?" Ile fought away ; but
O'Neale get away, and all his blows were short. O'Neale let fly
with the left, straight and well meant. Gaynor ducked and saved
his head. The Tinnum went down like a sack.

7. A long struggle for the fall, which ended in Gaynor's favour.
8. This was the only real fighting round in the battle. Both men
set to work and fought to the ropes, and strange enough, passed
through them, and a determined rally took place out of the ring,
while the whips of the keepers were at work to get space in the
crowd. Several good counter-hits took place. O'Neale got a share,
but dealt out severe punishment to the countryman, and brought
him down like a gond marksman.
9. Gaynor, dropped his head, and went away to save his calfskin.
10. Gaynor made a clean hit on the head, but received left and
right chattering facers in a rally. lie was hit away, and felt for
the ground in a bustle.
11. Gaynor went down to avoid punishment.
12. O'Neale stopt Gayaor's left hand, and planted a body blow
and a facer, to some purpose. The l'iuman was hit on the ropes,
but recovering his legs, made a good struggle for the fall, and
threw the Youth heavily.—(" Bravo, Gaynor-!" at all sides.)
5. O'Neale touched the Tinman's wind, and unsettled his chin
with a teazer. Gaynor losing blood and much distressed. (A second
fight, between Stockman and White-headed Bob, was kept up *out-
side the ropes during this round. It was soon quelled; and the order
of the ring restored.)
14. O'Neale got the Tinman's head under his arm, and played the
devil's tattoo till he tired. Gaynor going fast.
The Demon of Fighting seemed let loose; Belasco and Western
picked a quarrel, and fought during the last round until parted, for
a more convenient place.
From the ISth to the 18th round, O'Neale led and Gayner fought
like a brave man, but all hopes oT winning had left him.
In the next three rounds Gaynor received slaughtering knock-
down blows; and after the 21st round, though unwilling himself to
give in, Ms backers, with becoming humanity, took him away—after
an hour and five minutes fighting.
Biala es.—Gaynor had no chance from starting, but O'Ntale
has done himself no credit by the conquest. Ile ought to have won
in fifteen minutes, and not wasted more than an hour to get the best
of a countrynian less in weight, skill, and experience. Ile has put a
hundred pounds in his pocket by the fight, and the man who wins
may be allowed to win his own way. The proposed match between
him and White-headed Bob (Baldwin) will be a good trial for both.

SECOND FI G