New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-02-24
An English cuagell,ng Match.

As to the backsword play, the stage was strewed
with splnters Of stick and pieces of broken BASKETS
and many young gamester has had his first broken
head in public. But, for the chief PRICE matters are
going hard with Berks and Willis. The Somerset
shire old gamesters have won two heads to one, and
as they have six men in, and Berks aud Willis only
four the odds all in favor of the cider county and
against the drinkers. In good time up gets an old
gamester who looks like the to do credit to the
Royal county. 1t is Harry Seeey, Of Shrivenham,
the only Berkshire man in for there has been some
difference between Berks and Willis, and Harrys two
mates hav'nt entered at all. So, he, being one of
the true bulldog breed, is in for his head against
all odds, and is up to play the next Somersetshire
man. Harry is fine specimen Of an Englishman.
Five feet eight high, with bullet head and light
blue eyes; high.couraged, cool, and with an abso
lutey imperturable temper He plays in blue Shirt
thin from age and wear, through which you may see
the play OF his splendid arms and chest. His oppo-
but great contrast to Harry, for he has savage
and sly look about him. They sshake hands"
throw themselves into position and the bout begins
Harry is clearly the finer player and the adversary
feels this at once and the shouts Of anticipated VIC
tory in the Berkshire tongue rouse his temper. Now
comes turn of the savage play, which ought never
to be seen on age Tho Somerset man bends far
back, and strikes upper cuts at the face and arms,
and then savagey at the body He ia trying to main
and COW, and not to win by fair brave play. The
crowd begin to get savage too; uppercnttng is
not thought fair in Berks and Wits a storm begins
to brew hard words are bandied and cry of Foul
| auu VII ul,u uohu, 10 uedIu HlUTt tuaH once,
and the committee man. who watches from below, is
the point Of stopping the bout. But nothing puts
out old Harry Seeley; no upper-cut can reach his
face, for his head is thrown well back, and his guard
is like rock aud though the old blue shirt is cut
through and through, he makes no more of the wets
of the heavy stick than ii it cats tail. Be.
tween the bouts his face is cherry and confident and
he tells his friends to hold their noise and let him
alone to tackle the chap" as he hands round
his basket for the abounding coppers. Now Icould
see well enough why the parsons don't like these
| games. 1t gave me turn to watch the faces
round the stage getting savage, and could see
what it might soon get to- if there was much of this
wild work. And there Master George and the two
shouting till they hoarse for old Seeley and as
savage and wickedlooking as any of the men round
them: setting such bad example, too. as thought
whereas it didn't matter for fellow like me- who was
nobody-so shouted, and threw my coppers to Oh
Seeley, and felt wild any of them, do believe
Three bouts, four bouts, pass Harrys stick gets il
oftener and oftener. Has the fellow no blood il
him? There 1t comes at last In the fifth bout Harrvi
stick goes fishing in again, fair down blow from th
wrist which puts the beyond all question as tb
Somersetshire man staggers back the stage tn
blood streaming from under his hair. Loud are III
shouts which greet the tinetempered old gamester
he pulls on his velyeteen coat and gets down from
the stage. !" Why, Harry, thaudst broke his yea
says Harry, dogmasically, you see, mates, there
no cumulaiion Of blood belongs to thay cider-irink
ing chaps, as there does to we as drinks beer. Be
sides, thay drinks vinegar allns for aweek af0r
1playin which dries up most o. the blood as thay ba
got; SO it takes 'nazn' sight Of cloutin to brea
their yeads as should be. ERambles Of Londol
lClerk.