Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-05-04
TUE FIGHT FOR THE BELT.

The human bulldog exhibition between
Hesnan and Savors, which has excited the
attention ofs1 many on both sides of the
ocean. and if reports are true, in all quarters
Of the globe, came of on the 18th of April,
near Farabor0u.h, England. The late English
papers give long accounts of it, from which
we take a few extracts.
The london Times liverts 70 the time when the
champions Up &c England was an Office which con-
farrei honor ol the highest, when 'Iarmion
Lori of -crjve,h5ye.of Tamworth toweran town. -
held grant 20 the lands Of P0lesworth on condi-
zion If doing battle in single combat against all
suis1tlv enemies Of his King The fashion Of
this Office, however has passed away with the DAYS
of chivtlry, and lance and battle-axe have been
Lard aside 70 become mere Things Of show, and no
more usei by men. The Dymocks are still extant.
hut the modern champions Of England know them
not. and the pageant warrior " no threw down the
gauntlet Co some hundred ladies and gentlemen in
Court dress at coronation, his been succeeded bv
2 race u Of brawny and muscular fellows, men
who "mean fighting and nothing but it, and who
vie with the qtiitr Of old In their rigidity of
trimming and immense powers of endurance At
first there was no lack Of Royal patronage for the
new race Of champions.
Those were the good Cd days. the "paImv
davs' Of the ring, about which the sporting Jour
mails are always SO pathetic as having gone bv-we
are glad to say, never TO return. The new Police
act has been the death Of pugilism. It's greatest
professors now lead hole-and-corner life while
training, issue forth their challenges in uvste-
rious terms From this rapid downfall, il has been
Just now for time arrested by the first attempt to
carry Of the Champions belt into another coun-
try-and, Of course, that country was America
We need scarcely enter on any recapitulation of
the events which led to this match, all of which
may be summed up in the few words that Savers
holds ''the belt as the Champion of England, and
in virtue Of his Office, while he retains it. is bound
for three years to accept all challenges. no matter
from whom. This challenge accordingly came
from America on Heenans part and in spite Of
the immense natural advantages of his challenger.
Sayers was bound at once to accept it. All relat-
ing to the day and place fixed for the match, was.
Of course. kept profound secret, as the police to
do them justice, left means untred TO prevent
its taking place Nevertheless in spite of all pre-
cautions, special train was hired which started
from London-brldge at n. yesterday morning
The train was one Of immense length, containing
some thousand persons, all of what are called the
upper classes, though each person was muffl ed up
to the eyes in shawls and wrappers, that it was
hard to say whether your c0npGgHos q. voyaqe was
or was not the redoubtable Savers Heenan him
self. All along the line police posted. with
mounted patrols, at regular distances; but the
train turned off at Reigate, and after a long run
came cut in the Marlborough station, close to
Aldershott. In an instant after all were ont in
the fields, following the men who with ropes and
stakes led the way.