The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-26
Prize Fighting In the United States.

quite over. Revolvers and dirk knives have not
quite obliterated the practice of the manly and
brutal art of self-defence-for the tournaments
Of the prize ring are only exhibitions of q lower
grade of that spirit which prompted the knightly
encounters in the good old times when Sir Hill
dehrand gave general challenge to all other
true gentlemen to come out and have them
selves cleft to the chine in order to prove to
the world which was the best man to reign in
camp and court and ladies' bower. From
Rome the noble and brutal art Of boxing was
carried to England, where, under the rough
Saxon rule, 1t hath fourished bravely. We re-
ceived it by inheritance, and we shall see that
although not patronized by our whitc-livercd
aristocracy, the heroes Of the ring have ma
naged to shoulder themselves into more or less
prominence, according to their physical requi-
sites.
The honor or disgrace of introducing prize
fighting in the United States must be accord
ed to two enterprising gentlemen, named re-
spectively Hyer and Beasley. Hyer was
the progcnitor of the celebrated Thomas
who has lately received the reward Of a
grateful people, through the instrumentalty
of the republican Street Commissioner. About
the year 1926 several English prize fighters
honored the United States by taking up their
abodes with US, and during the next four years
they pummelled each other for the amusement
of that portion of the community who patronise
such exhibitions The late lamented Yankee
Sullivan, ESQ, fought no less than four times,
bled four pals full of blood, and reposed in
the intervals upon hi laurels at pleasant
retreat in Chatham street. In 1912 two men,
named Lilly and M'Coy fought at Hastings and
the latter was killed. The veracious chronicler
from whom we take these facts says, with
charming naiset, that prize fighting was brought
to stand still throughout the United States by
this catastrophe, but they (the fghters,) "soon
recovered their spirits" and in the next year
there were several fights at New Orleans.
The grandest encounter of all, however, took
place in February, lS49. Two distinguished
bruisers and gentlemen, to whom we have re-
ferred in the course of this article-Tom Hyer,
Esq, and Yankee Sullivan, Esq.-had a slight
personal difficulty, which resulted in severe
=
Hyer. Correspondence was exchanged between
the high contending bruisers, and they agreed to
beat, maltreat and main each other for Eve thou
sand dollars aside. The excitement among the
sporting and lower classes of Che community
throughout the country was intense. Probably
not less than half million of dollars were wager
ed on the event. The condition of the men was
watched, and reported week by week in the pa
pers. The fight took place in Maryland, notwith-
standing the fact that the police and militia did
their best to prevent it, and resulted in an easy
victory for Mr.. Hyer. The rush for the papers
containing the result has only been paralleed
ON great occasions. Indeed, there were sold
greater number of copies of the HERALD of that
day than on the occasion when we printed the
message of the President. The great Hyer was
received in Philadelphia and in this city with
all the honors Of returned conqueror, and has,
until his elevation to Office, enjoyed his o,iun
cum dignitate. Mr. Sullivan languished under de-
feat, and sought, in foreign travel, a balm for
his wounded heart. He journcyed to Califor-
nia-enjoyed for brief time the Inequalities
of his Majesty the King of the Sandwich
Islands-returned to California, and fell vic
tim to the Vigilance Committee. Fearing that
they would execute him, Mr.. Sullivan commit
ted suicide in his cell. He lived bad life, and
made a bad ending Of it.
After the Hyer and Sullivan fight the "pro-
fcssion' became quite "dull." There have
been. however, from time to time. some demon
strations by the lower order of bruisers who
have generally selected the Northern frontier as
the scene Of their operations. The latest fights
have been near Buffalo, by Lazarus and another,
where the men hammered each other from morn
ing till night, and then adjourned over till an
other day; and during last week, at nearly the
same locality, between two men, named Coburn
and Griffin, in which Coburn was the successful
bruiser
There has been lately quite revival Of prize
fighting in this country, and it may be accounted
for in part by the fact that the trade languishes
in London, many Of its noble and gentle sup
porters having been driven from the ring by
the force of public opinion. This has sent
many Of the bruisers to us. Others have been
expelled from California by the exceedingly
our city he il said that these injured innocents
have been received here with open arms sym
pathised and sootbed, fed with the spoils of
Office, they have rapidly recovered their serenity.
Time, the great mollifer, will undoubtedly re-
store 30 them their usual cheerfulness and sweet
mess Of temper. and an occasional fight or two
will prevent the possibility Of their being eqnu.
The prize fighter varies the exercise Of his
profession with other occupations. Sometimes
he may be found periodically and magnani-
mouSy arranging The details Of primary cleo
ton again you may see him interesting himself
in behalf Of the poor immigrant. or discharging
the duty Of civil officer Of the Corporation, or
assisting in the collection Of the revenues of
our mutual uncle. His wide experience of life
his polished. urbane manners his hard head his