New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-23
The Great Fight for ts,e championship.
vi
LETTERS FROM MoRRfssEY AND KEENAN,.
From the New York Herald of the 18th we

T.
tract the following:
The grand international contest for the cham
pionship of the English prize ring is in all proba-
| bility, an event of the past. But some few days
must still elapse before the result is known to the
inhabitants of the Western hemisphere, and the
interval will, to sporting men as well as the gene
raj public, be productive of intense excitement
and anxiety.
The day originally fixed upon in the articles Of
agreement between Heenan and Savers for the
great international fight to take place was Monday
last, the 10th inst. There is every reason to be-
lieve that the contest would be decided on that day
although minors nave been prevalent that an alter
alton to the 18th had been agreed upon. As these
reports, however, were traced to parties whose
professions of superior knowledge and information
were proved 70 be false and unreliable little or no
gence from England, by the Persia has confirmed
the belief that no such change had ever been CON
tempated.
Presenting that the great fistc contest was de-
cded on the 10th inst, it is exceedingly probable
that we shall learn the result either On Tuesday,
the oath, or Wednesday, the 25th inst. The first
steamer that leaves England for America after the
fight, is the Vanderbilt, which sails from South
ampton for New York on the morning of Thursday
the 10th inst. She will in all probability pass Cape
Race on the Gath; and, if the weather is clear, will
be intercepted by the news yacht Of the Associated
Press stationed at that point and her news at
telegraphed TO Tins city, some four days in advance
of her arrival. These anticipations may, however
prove incorrect, as it may happen that the Wander
bilt may pass Cape Race in fog. or in the night
and thus all possibility Of Geographic communists
that no intelligence is received from Cape Race
by the 25th inst, shall have to await patiently
the arrival of the Vanderbilt at New York to learn
the eagerly anticipated result.
Betting in New York has undergone consider.
able fluctuations during the last few DAYS The
friends of Heenan, who the week previous were so
anxious to invest their loose cash on their cham
pion suddenly refused to back him for even money
a in a dc nf1 ~
refused. The Persas intelligence still further
increased the confidence of the English champions
friends, and 1000 to 500 were wagered two or three
times on his winning the fight. The largest taker
Of the above odds was gentleman who has
hitherto been one of the staunchest and heaviest
hackers of Sayers, but who has now learned good
reasons, as he judges, for &c hedging y his money
Still very heavy amount is waiting Investment at
evens on Sayers, with but little probability of
meeting with chance Of SO doing before the re-
suit is known. In Boston the Benicia Boy has
always been and still is the fayorite at slight Odds
and a large amount of money is there dependent on
the fight.
A novel wager was made the other evening be-
tween tive well known sporting men of this city
Louis Beren and Jenny Massey. Should sayers
be defeated, Massey agrees to sweep any crossing
on Broadway that Berell may select, for three
hours each day for three days or forfeit 5000. In
the event of Heenan being defeated, Berell is to
sweep the Bowery and Houston street crossing, in
front Of Masseys house, for one hour each day for
three days, or forfeit 5000 to Massey.
John Morrissey has addressed the following let
ter to Wilkes Spirit since his arrival in London,
and his visit to Sayers at Newmarket. He still adj
heres to his previously announced resolution to
challenge the Beniea Boy in the event of the latter
beating Sayers.
LONDON, March 30, 1s6O.-I send you letter
from this place according to promise, and avail
myself of the opportunity to make it answer for all
the friends who now cannot find time to write to
separately.
arrived at Liverpool on Monday last, after
very pleasant passage Of twelve days, with nothing
to complain of, either in the way of wind or
weather, and certainly nothing to complain of in
the way we lived, for ! stepped ashore a heavier
man by twenty pounds than was the day sailed.
had not the least idea l would be known in
Liverpool beyond the friends who had come over
with me, and the passengers on board the ship;
but had not gone far along the streets before
became aware that the people were directing
particular attention to me, which all the time kept
increasing. At length crowds commenced follow
ing us along the sidewalks, and when we stopped
to take look at St. Georges Hall-a very fine
building near the Great Western Railroad depot
suppose there was q thousand people swarming
close around us. The thing had now come to
head, for they broke in on me, and commenced
shaking hands and welcoming me to England as
the champion Of America. Finding this was get
ting rather hot for me, whirled round and made
move for o hotel near at hand; but as soon as
did this one fellow gave the signal and they gave
me off hand one of the stoutest cheers ever heard
in my life. After got to shelter the crowd kept
hanging around the door, waiting for me to come
out again, 50 I came to the conclusion that the
sooner got out of Liverpool the better One Of
my friends, therefore, went over to the station and
bought tickets for the party up to London, which
we struck early the same evening. On coming
out, however, from the inn where I had taken
refuge, another cheer welcomed us, and the crowd
followed us all along till they housed us to our
own headquarters. -
made il my first business on my arrival in Lon
don to look up Mr.. Wilkes and, as the nearest way
In dn at O n life
directed me to the Adelphi Hotel. 1t so happened,
however, that when arrived there he was out to
the theater, where he had gone, as the lady in the
office told me- to see the new piece about the Be-
niea Boy. Depositng with her the Racing Cal
enders and letters which had received from you,
then started off for Owen Swifts, under the direc
ton Of the driver who had taken care of me safely
thus far. entered Swifts alone. His wife and
very handsome young girl, who afterward learned
was his daughter, were behind the bar, and on my
inqnirng, they answered that Mr.. Swift was in the
back room. / walked in and looked around,
when small-szed, well-built, gentemanly looking,
miadle-aged man rose up and came toward me,
putting out his hand as he did SO, and said" This
Is Mr. Morrisey?' Yes" said |, a good deal sur
prised at this, and this is Mr. Swift2a
We both knew each other at once; and without
dealing in too many words | found him to be
everything that man would be proud of it in his
best friend. After while we went out together,
and then, after saw him back to his house, which
is one of the most respectable and best patronized
in London, / set out by myself to pay visit to,
what we could call at home, all the lighting tayerns
Of the town. / did not miss one, but served them
all alike, and l must say never was more cor
daily received better treated in my life. What
wasvery singular, they nearly spotted me as soon
went in and yet not one of them had any reason
TO believe that was in the country, much less
coming to see them that night. They all referred
to Heenan's refusal to show himself socially on his
first arrival and felt very about it. In almost
every place went saw your paper, and you need
give yourself no concern about 1t being recognized
as the sporting organ of America, for no other was
was alluded to during the evening, while the name
of Wilkes Spirit and Bells Life kept frequently
coming up in the conversation.
| had hard work to get away from each place.
But managed to get through by eleven o'clock,
when returned again to Owen Swifts. In the
course of the evening made bet ut his house of
$500 against $500 Cor to y that Umpire would
win the 1.-TWO thousand guineas,' if he ran for
them and as a matter of course, look out 9l00
note and handed it to Mr. Swift. as my share of the
stakes.
What is that for, Mr. Morrissey v said he.
My five hundred in that bet, said l.
tWel you can put that in your pocket was
his answer. :. 1t will be time enough to pay when
you have iost.n
. But am stranger here said ], still holding
the note in my fingers.
.If you arc, your character came here before
You! J" was his answer.
The next morning / found Mr. Wilkes at his
hotel and after that called the editor of Bells
Life, and of the Sporting Life and was most kindly