The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-24
THE PRIZE RING.

. AND TRAINED FOR THE CONTEST.
While for the last few years interest in the pugil-
lshc science and prize ring encounters has been
senslbly decreasing in England, in the States it has
as visiblr increased, and Young America seems bent
on eclipsing the gloryof John Bulls fast sons in
their palmiest DAYS. Prize fighting is punishable
by law in the States and s.M P's'' watch closely
secret meetings Of shoulder hitters' in the coun-
try: Notwithstanding in the principal cities of the
Union there is no lack of opportunity of acquiring
'the manly art' from professors of "the science" J"
The greatest contest so expected of any vet had in
this free country 'comes off, on the goth of Oc-
tober next, somewhere in Canada, for the ''chanl-
pionship Of America" The aspirants for this honor
are John Morrissey, young man of twenty-eght
years of age, an lrish-American, and John C. Hee-
nan, about twenty-five years of age a native of this
State. The former is developing sinew and muscle
at Lanslngburg, the latter at the operation up
town, at 10th street.
The Clipper presents to its readers the "boiling
down process to which Morrissey is daily sub
lected The editor, relating his visit to Lansing
burg, saws:
1t being now halfpast eleven, the usual time of
Mr.. Morrissey to return from his mornings walk of
nine or ten miles, we accompanied Shepherd (prin-
cipal trainer) on the road to meet him After pro
ceeding short distance we met Dan Burns (as-
sistant trainer) returning, and shortly after Nor
rissey himself, well wrapped up in warm clothing,
passed us run, he usually finishing his long
mornings walk (if we may be allowed to use the
Hibernicism) with halfmile "run in" After be-
ing well rubbed down, he jumps into bed between
the blankets, and remains there about quarter of
an hour or twenty minutes, to facilitate the in
creased secretion of prespiration arising from his
prolonged walking exercise.
After again being well rubbed down, he changes
his clothes and commences "fghting the bag" In
this exercise he pair of dumb bells, and fin
ishes off with his "bunch of fives," the hands being
protected by pair of leather gloves. He then
takes a twenty minutes turn in practising with
new and ingenious apparatus for raising heavy
weights, an which is constructed and arranged
as to call into exercise and develope the muscles of
the arms and shoulders, well of the chest, and
bring them into every possible form Of play. He
then, at o'clock, takes a for dinner along
with which he partakes of small glass two of
the finest sherry wine. This meal he partakes of
leisurely, avoiding the too common practice of
"bolting," which is so universal among us.
We must, however, 'hark back little, until
we show how the earlier part of the day, before
arrived, was spent; the experience of one day, in
fact being that Of ALL at least at this period of the
training. The subject of our notice rises at five
O'Clock, A. NJ, and after washing and sponging in
cold water, and undergoing thorough rubbing, he
dresses and commences practising with dumb bells
and the weight machine, which we have noticed
above. After half hour thus spent, he, accom-
panied either by Burns or Lawrence, his assistant
trainers, starts off on a four or five mile walk be-
fore breakfast
On his return, after being thoroughly rubbed,
and having changed his clothes, he quietly awaits
the hour of breakfast, eight O'Clock. AT this matt
tudnal meal he partakes of cup of tea, with
yolk of an egg beaten up in it, and mutton chop,
without fat and at nine O'Clock he again starts
the long mornings walk, which we have already
alluded to- During this pedestrian tour he occa
sionally imbibes glass of fine old ale, which he OBJ
tans at a house on the road On such occasions he
omits the glass of sherry at dinner In those walks
he changes his route nearly every dav; fro the
number of roads in every direction in this locality,
he can vary his walks, and thus avoid the mon
otony which is naturally associated with the same
route
After dinner he rests an hour, and then again
starts aresh in his pursuit of the acquisition of mus
Gle, and the necessarily conseqent reduction of
obesity and fat. Attended either by Shepherd,
Burns or Lawrence (who assisted him when in
training for his fight with Sullivan), he takes
eight mile tour through the adjacent coun-
try, and his long, regular and rapid stride, the
suit of such continued practice, makes it matter
of difficulty for his companion to keep alongside
him. On his return he again changes his clothing,
and after being well rubbed down and resting
short time, he again exercises with the weight ap-
paratus, stuffed bag and dumb bells, diversified
with set tos with his trainer, Shepherd, with the
gloves. In the art of sparring, Morrissey has ac-
CURED great degree OF proficiency and his train
informs that he has never witnessed quicker
counter hitter He also has improved surprisingly
in stopping and getting away, and his theoretic
knowledge of the art of boxing will be found widely
different to his exhibitions in his previous contests
with Sullivan and Thompson.
After these varied exercises at six o'clock, he is
summoned to light supper, in which, as at the
preceding meals, his trainers join him. At this
meal he partakes of light and easily digested food
with young and tender chicken, and light boiled
eggs occasionally. An interval of rest ensues and
then he is summoned again to his work. This con-
sists of rowing exercise. The Abbey Hotel stands
the banks of the Hudson, with beautifully sha-
ded lawn extending from the house to the river and
here, convenient of access, the boats belonging
to the hotel, in which Mr. Morrissey takes his row
ing exercise. In these boating excursions he is gen
orally accompanied by his trainer, Mr.. Shepherd,
and in the delightful and athletic recreation of row.
ing, an hour or two insensibly passes.
The value and Importance of the practice of the
oar is not sufficiently estimated among trainers
One of the principal authorities of the science of
physiology, DR.. Andrew Combe asserts that there
is no exercise, without exception, which tends to
develope many muscles of the body, and so
equally in their action, as that of rowing. Aware
OF this fact from experience, it is not to be wonder
ed at that Mr.. Shepherd makes the regular prac-
tice of the Indispensable article with his pu-
pill. Thus the day passes, and shortly after eight
O'Clock, p NJ, Mr.. Morrissey, in most proper con-
dti0n to court 'natures sweet restorer, retres to
his viruous couch, to prepare for the repetition
the succeeding day, of all the of prepa-
ration which we have family attempted to describe
above.
The editor of the Clipper appears from his state
ment to have been initiated into other parts of the
training SYSTEM but, "being communicated in con-
fdence," he keeps the curtain down. He thinks,
no doubt the above operation a certain for the
gout and dyspepsia, and assures the friends OF Nor
rissey that ''his slightly approaching adermanic
corporation has entirely disappeared" No doubt
of it. In three weeks he has decreased from 205
pounds to 1917 pounds and before the day of battle
is expected to lose ten or twelve pounds more.