Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-03-27

the wake; You nave nardly yet seen the
commencement we have more manly
sports for you TO look upon. Come, now,
and see the great champion fight
There is amongthe small towns of Eng
land an eternal spirit ofrivalry in existence,
and the anniversary of the wakes is the
time fixed upon for deciding the superiorl-
ty and proves among the champions
From the time most remote in the recollec-
ton of the 'oldest inhabitan,,' had the
heighboring town Of Darlaston elected a
man, once year, to uphold its pugilistic
precedence over Wednesday,. The man
now chosen was bullheaded fellow,
named John Butler. The Wednesday,
champion was man of the same stamp,
called Ostler' The place appointed for
the combat was deep hollow, made by
an excavation for sand, and surrounded by
hills. Twenty pounds aside were wager
ed by the hackers of the puglists, and
little before twelve o'clock hundreds of
people were moving towards the ring
On arriving there we found about two
thousand men, clad in velveteen Jackets, or
rough flannel coats, armed with heavy blud-
geons, and seeming fearfulIy iIl-tempered.
A sullen, logged silence pervaded the
dark mass, as>if each party knew the in
fanmable nature of the other, and was I'M
willing to provoke an outbreak; and so
spoil the sports Of the day. In the centre
of the hollow ring was formed, by
stakes driven into the ground, and ropes
attached to their tops. A set of truculent
fellows with clubs were keeping guard
over its precien,s, and circles of men were
seated upon the ground at little distance
from it. There were fash-dressed men on
horseback, and butty' collier on pit hor-
ses, offering and taking bets on the event
of The fight; all was anxious expectations.
The ring was within a stones throw of
the church yard walls, and as the clock
struck IL, six men leaped into ii, and a hat
was thrown up as token of defiance by
the foremost party-which was answered
with a similar process by their opponents.
The two combatnts peeled, the bot,e-hol-
ders threw off their coats, and produceed
bottles containing gin and brand pals
of water and sponges were forthcoming al
$50.
The seconds took off their coats, and
kneeled upon one knee, made seats of the
other for their men, on which the princi-
pies placed themselves, while man who
held stop watch in his hand, tied their
coIors to the stakes after this was done,
he called time and the two men walked
to The centre of the ring, and shook hands,
smiling upon each other very good humor-
edy. They then commenced sparrlng,
and lodging, and hitting, and parrylng for
five minutes, until one struck the other a
slight blow, when the man who was struck
sunk upon his knee, and they both retired
to their seconds. In half a minute time
was again called, and they went to work
in earnest, rushing and striking furious!y,
until the Wednesday, hero knocked his
oppnnent down, when his friends raised
a loud shout, and claimed in his favor
first drawn blood and she first knock
down.
So it continued for about an hour; the
same man was knocked down every time,
and still came up battered and bloody.
smiling like an idiot, and shaking his
arms and his head, and assuring his friends
that she would come round bye-and-bye.'
The fact was afterwards proved that some
villains had administered large doses of
Iandanum in brandy TO the poor wretch.
The excitement became intense-the men
who were seated had risen up thousand
bIudgeons were brandished i'll the air, and
storm of oaths and horrid imprecations
were poured from all sides on the unfortu-
nate man, by his friends who had betted
on his success. In the midst of all. he still
exhibited the same senseless grin, as he
was dragged up every half-mlnute. i shall
be better just now-it will come right bye
and-bye.'
The man now could not stand; his head
dropped upon his shouider-his pale coun-
tenance was streaked with blood. and he
had all the appearance of bruised and
battered corpse.
The man can fight no longer said
spectator on horseback, who was knocked
down from his horse the next moment.-
He is selling u.s. roared hundred vol
ces. He is fighting cross shouted
others. Bring him up-curse him he'll
come round byeand-bye.' cried another
set. Time said the man with the watch.
and the mans two friends almost carried
him to the Scratch His opponent for
very shame would not strike him. but Civ
ing him slight push on the body. suffer-
ed him to fall His second dragged him
up and placed him on his knee, sponging
his face and giving him brandy.