Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-24
IFrom the London Sporting Journal
A PUGILISTIC SOLDIER-THE BRIT
ISH LIFE GUAR OSIAN.


~
The Fnst Regiment of the English Life
guards, commonly called the "Cheesemong-
ers" by the Londoners, and the members Of
the pugilistic corps may reasonably divide
the applause and emotion which always at
tend the recital of the simple story of John
Shaw. He was a native of Wolaston, in
Nottinghamshire, where he was in the occu-
patton Of farmer until eighteen years of
age, when he listened to the seductive voice
of recruiting sergeant, and intoxicated
witE honor and glory, enlisted in one OF the
famous regiments of horse-guards, who after
ward, upon the sanguiGary field of Waterloo,
smote the cuirassiers of Napoleon hip-and-
thigh. BE became recruit upon the 10th
of October, 1907, but prior to that period he
had cistinpuished himself with the fist upon
several occasions. Upon one of these, while
be- mere STRIPPING, was fighting " ith man
forty pounds heavier than himself he at
tracted the attention of the famous Jem
Belcher, who happened to be at Nottingham.
The Champion stepped to the side of young
Shaw, and gave him such sound advice as
to the tactics he should pursue, that ia the
course of few more rounds he took de-
cided lead, and finally won the battle in great
style. Soon after his arrival in London, and
when he bad undergone the drill necessary
to nuke him the alert and active as well as
powStul cavalry soldier, he made his first
appearance as sparrer, at the Fives Court.
He was introduced to the notice of the
pugilists and amateurs by Colonel Barton,
the patron and backer of Jack Randall. In
his first exhibitions he was considered rather
slow in his movements, but practicing with
the most experienced and scientific boxers
caused rapid and permanent improvement
in bis method OF attack.
His public displays were soon considered
far above mediocrity, and at length he got
81, 90 IN Iog
glove encounter. 1t was now that three of
The best judges in England of the points of
8 boxer set to work to study and estimate
those Of Shaw, with view to backing him
in the pIize-ring. These were Colonel Bar
ton, Captain Barclay, and Mr.. Jackson, who
had defeated Mendoza, and was champion
when he retired. They found that Shaw
possessed all the requisites to make first
rate pugiiist He was six feet and half an
inch in hight, and weighed, when stripped,
2l0 pounds. AS part of his military dis
cipline, be had been accustomed to use heavy
dumb-bells, and from this he had derived
great benefit; while the continual practice of
the brOGd-sWord exercise had not only given
great strength and elasticity to his wrists
and shoulders, but made him an accurate
Judge of time and distance. His three
judges, then, came to the conclusion that he
ought to be capable of administering very
effective punishment ard they determined
to have trial set-to at MIR. Jackson's rooms,
in Old Bond. street, between Shaw and the
famous Captain Barclay.
The latter, so celebrated for his pedestrian
performances, and as the trainer of Tom
CIibb, for his great battle with Molyneaux,
was himself man of great strength and
science He never shrank from punishment
in sparriDg, nor ever hesitated to inhict it
upon his adversary; and in his person the
trying tackle for Shaw was considered first
rate. A few of the aristocratic and wealthy
amateurs, besides Col. Barton and Mr.. Jack
son, were present at the trial-test between
Captain Barclay and the young Life Guards
man. After it was over, they unanimously
agreed that he was one of the thorough bred
sort. He was very cool, and all resolution.
1t was next to impossible to hit him without
being returned upon; in retreating, he made
fine effective use of his left hand; and his
quiet temperate manner of closing with his
adversary was compared to that Of the
steady and indOmitable Cribb. Captain
Barclay had been used to say, the beauty
of Tom is, you can't make him lose his tenn
per. Hit him how and where you will, he
IS always steadily on his guard while on his
legs" This was found to be one of Shaw's
characteristics, and this famous set to be-
tween him and the Captain was settled by
tremendous blow on the mouth, which shook
the teeth of the gentleman, and caused the
quisitiOn on the spot. The conclaVe broke
up, highly pleased with the display they had
had of Shaws powers, and with determine
alton 10 back him as soon as an opportunity
offered. Meantime, however, three big fell
lows quaIreled with Shaw, in the neighbOr-
hood of Portman-square, and applied some
opprobrious epithets TO his regiment. He
forthwith administered severe whipping TO
the three, one after the other and then took
his seat at the table, cool and impassive.
Colonel Barton, Captain Barclay and Mr..
Jackson were not the men to leave Shaw
long without match and on the 18th of
July, 1912, he made his regular debut with
Burrowes, a West cOuntryman, of game and
sturdy qualities. He must have been a good
one, for he fought Tom Molynaux for above
an hour, when that renowned pugilist was
in the prime Of his strength. But, to the
amszement Of those not in the secret, who
had not been present in Jaekson's rooms,
BuIIoWes stood no chance whatever with
Shaw. He hit him as he pleased, so often
and so heavily that his blows on the West
eountTyman's head resounded like the clank
of the saEer at his own heels, when he
msrched through the paved courts Of St
- James Palace. In seventeen minutes, dur.
ing which thirteen rounds were fought
Shaw had SO dresdfully punished his mar
about the bead, that be was led out of the
ring stone blind. The Life -Guardsman wa:
scarcely touched himself. He had not 4
mark upon his face, and Burrows drew nc
blood from him.
Three years elapsed before the young sol
dier entered the ring again, and it was ex
actly two months before that memorable da.
whose close saw him stretched ION that tielt
Of his fame, fresh and CORY" During tn
interval be had praetieed much with tn
gloves, and was held TO be, by long odds, tn
best man IN the three regiments Of Horse
guards. Those who have seenlda troop o
these stalwart men, mounted on their BIZ
black horses, will scarcely forget the idea o
immense physical power they convey, ant
time ont Of mind they have been noted 70
their skill and activity in athletic exercises
The battle In which Shaw made his secon'
and last Appearance IN the prize ring, va
with the famous Ned Painter, who afterwar
defeated Tom Spring, Il was fought on tn
18th Of April, 1915, on Hounslow Heath, an
be won again with consummate ease, Il
twenty eight minutes. Painter was waite
upon by Tom Cribb and Tom Oliver. II
Get 70 with alacrity, and continued 10 fiRh