Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-12-30
I'm a Fighting mumor.

The 'fancyn haze fresh subject for
gossip. Mr.. John. C. Heenan, the bruIs-
ing 'sBenecia Boy" has published for
NAL challenge to Mr.. John Mornssey; 70
fight for purse of ten thousand o9i'a
more or less. The challenge Is w0loeu ~
such terms that we suppose the "boy Is
extremely anxious to provoke another en-
counter with the redoub:able victor IN the
Contest for the championship. But we
have Monissey's decided assurance that be
will never enter the prize ring again, and
he has formerly resigned all claim to the
belt. Of course the "Boy" understands
that no man who refuses to fight all COM
ers can be considered the champion of the
ring. 1t shows rather bad spirit to en-
deavor to persuade or provoke a man to
return to business be has publicly aban-
doned for more peaceful and decorous pur-
suits. By Heenan's card, we are led to
believe that he has determined to become
regular pugilist. He says that since he
has been induced to enter the ring, be de-
sires to achieve reputation as lighting
man; AID therefore, if Morrissey will
not accept his gauntlet, is willing to ex-
tend the challenge to any man in Ameri-
ca or Europe. Probably he is looking
forward to bout with the indomitable Tom
Sayers, champion of England. But be
had better restrain his ambition within
reasonable bounds; at least until be has
become more accomplished in the tacticts
of the ring. 1t would require something
more than hard hitting to whip the man
who conquered the gigantic Upton slasher,
and scarcely received a scratch in the bat
tie. Aaron Jones, the former opponent Of
Sayers, is said to have expressed an opino-
ion, that, with proper training, the aBoy"
would prove irresistible in the ring. But
Jones is very naturally prejudiced against
the English champion. We await further
developments in the way of another "brutal
exhibition" Where is the use of trying
to interpose legal Instructions when men
are running over with fight? The best
remedy for an excess of pluck is a good
humping, and if the battle should end in
the death of one of the contestants, why,
the total loss to the community is just one
candidate for the penitentiary or the gal
lows. There are pugilists who are not
mere bullies and rowdies, but they are very
scarce in this country.-National Police
Gazette.
Speaking of the fighting mood of the
Benecia Boy, we have the following toler-
ably conclusive answer to his conclusive
challenge" We cannot vouch for the re-
sponsibility of the writer, but he seems to
be one of the rough and ready kind.
THE BENEc1A BOYS CONCLUSIVE cHAL-
LENGE CoNoLusIvELY ACCEPTED.
SPRINGFIELD, Clarke Co., O., Dec. l, '5s.
EDS. CoM:-UnderstandiDg that Mr..
Heenan has challenged any one to fight
him for ten thousand dollars, and although
I never fought in the ring, nor do not
make practice of fighting for living,
still I am willing and ready to fight him
for the sum of ten thousand dollars at any
time he may name, at some place west of
the Mississippi river-and after the fight
is over, am willing to fight him with
bowie knives or pistols. Ny money is
ready. Respectfully,
GEO. S. SIBBuRT.