Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-02
The Championship Fight.

The Championship Fight
The "Benicia Boy" has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the London Times:
Il am willing, first of all, to accept the
proposition made by writer in Bells Life.
that Sayers and should have a belt apiece
to be gotten up by public subscription, pro-
vidcd that the true champions belt remain
in the hands of the editor Of Bells Life, to
be fought for again, the best man to take it,
If that be not agreed to, | will accept the
proposition put forth in Punch, viz to di-
vide the belt to take one half and Sayers
to keep the other half will then head u
subscription to provide a new half for his,
and in this way think good feeling may be
preserved on both sides.
IF neither Of these propositions proceed
ing rs they do. from English sources) are
allowed me, then | shall claim that Sayers
meet me on neutral ground, where our late
battle may be properly resumed. Though |
am not yet quite ready to become 4 member
Of the Peace Society, | will cheertully vary
my propositions somewhat - suit him. As
the belt may be said to be equally owned
by both OF us, | will agree to run him Il foot
race from 100 yards to five miles for the
stakes and belt: or | will wrestle with him
for the belt; or | will row him for the belt; |
will swim mile with him for the belt; or |
will take hold of hands and jump from Il
housetup with him for the belt. If all these
offers will not do, | willagree in two months
To be ready to fight the four best men that
can be produced III England, beginning with
Savers, ut intervals Of thirty days apart, for
the belt | was told if won it could have
it. | would rather fight for it than any
thing else but am willing, under the pre-
sent state of public feeling, to accept of halt
of it. Ii that be denied me, and through the
exceptional action of the British authorities
| be denied the privilege OF another meeting,
| shall have no alternative but to go home,
refusing all English testimonials and sub
scriptions. and shall hereafter feel ut liberty
HAY, justified by all the equities OF the
late trausaction--tO 81 IN myself The Cham
pion Of the World Il remain sir, your
obelient servant.
"JonN G. KEENAN,.
"Saracen's Head Hotel, Snow Hill, London,
May A.
TO Which Savers responds as follows:
The ridiculous suggestion, put forward by
Mr.. Keenan, Of mutilating the belt, | laugh
to scurn, and could afford to treat it with the
contempt it merits, but that some good friends
Of minc-of the Peace Society-huye limo
Gently enough patronzed the notion.
The belt, sir have fought hard to obtain
striving for that prize, have within the
last three wears defeated some Of the best
men of my country,--anl, without intend
ing 10 cast. the slightest slur on my gallant
opponent, say that no American citizen,
nor foreigner from any other land, however
lowcry and sunny, shall bear it, or the
buckle of it, from old England while my arm
anI heart are capable OF defending IT. ;lttl
as ready rs Mr. llcenan to tighE again, and
rcpudia;e with Indignation the insinuation
that am not. In Il very short time the
champion' ) belt will be mine by ndeieasibIe
right and even if Mr. Iecnan had defeated
me. it would not be his. He would have 10 10
us have done-nlerC every asplrant to the
honor Of wearing it for three years, before he
would become the lawful po>sessor Of tn"
trophy. What, then, becomes Of the as>er-
ton made in Mr. tIccnan's letter, that the
belt is equally owned by both Of rs: There
is no such equality; but will do him the
Justice he appears DESTROYS of denying me,
by admitting his equality in valor
70 run, swim, or wrcStlc for the belt Of the
prize ring, is Il challenge SO eminently absurd
that one can hardly imagine it enrana:cs
from IL sane man, and the evidence OF abcr;l-
ton Of mind is greatly strengthened by TIA"
proposal to lump of Il house top. The same
proposition was once made by lunatIc, who
met his medical attendant alone on the roof
of the asylum. let us, said the mad pa
tent, SEEING the doctor with firm grasp.
Jump down." but the medical man, with
great presence of mind, replied, Nay any
body could jump down; let US 80 into the
street and Jump up" Like Teddy the 'I'iI"r.
| know something Of the roofs Of houses and
their foundations also and while | unqGcs-
tionably admit that lIccuan is Il "brick, |
hope always to be able tn say with truth, rs
| do now, that | am Il brIck-Eycr. The
offer to fight four men, III Intervals al 80
days, Savors Of bounce, and is unworthy OF
john Keenan, lie should remember that it
mi .ht take him the first month to yanqui$h
Tom SAVERS.
Gordon Hotel. Covcnt Garden, May Is.
TIE FINAL SETTLEMENT.
From the London Times, 18th May
Shortly after II o'clock, Tom Savers arriy-
cd ut the Bells Life office, accompanied by
his friend Mr.. Bennett, and others. Tom was
followed soon after by his gallant opponent.
the Boy" having also number Of friends
with him, including Macdonald. Preliml-
nnres having been arranged, IL long discLS
sion ensued, though in the most friendly
spirit, during which both men defended the
course they mad pursued siuce the memora-
bic contest, with regard to the claims the one
had to continue to hold the belt, and the
other to demand possession Of it. Various
proposals were made, discussed, amended,
and rejected, but ultimately an arran. cement
was come to which apparently gave Satisf:,c
ton to the parties concerned, and, it is to be
hoped will be equal V satisfactory to all other
persons who have IN interest in the affair.
The following are the heads of the arrange
ment, and which were signed by the prIn
cipas:-In the first place, both Tom Sayers
and the Benicia Boy are each to have a belt.
These belts, we understand, are to he equal
in every point OF value and maCnllicencc to
'rhe beit' itself, aud the cost OF their manu-
iacturc will be betrayed by public subscrip-
ton. 1t was also positively decided that
Tom Saycrs should never enter the ring
again. The most important question which
was settled by this agreement, vas that which
affected the disposal "t the ''champlon's
belt" This is to remain open, or to use
the words of celebrated member of the 7.