The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-27
Letter from Hoenan-wI,hdra~AI o. hi.
Hoalish Challenge.

The following lettor, from John c. Hecnsn
has been addressed TO WILKES SrtaIr OF IN
1IMEs
jjS BROADWAY, NEw YORK, Doc. %, 81.
MIR. WHITES Sir Some three months arc
isNed, through your pipor, challenge I,
ht tho bcst man IN EHoLind-thc deht 10 com,
OF oithor IN ENGLAND or Cansda ~ their op,io,
on equal trfms, for $40 600 si!o. The ling
lrh papers commenting on II, said Il was nor,
mJi cy than any nghtirg mm in Eupl,ni cault
81 lacked for, vhsieuGon my irield, NJ. !
McnonNlo, oiiored TO mako thc nitch. a.. M
simc terms Tor five ihouaaut q, llars. A!..y,l n
much ,iscussod am lrg the aapiran 4 for The
Chamnlonship, ard freely comm II ei ON by the
Epgli5h pt,ss, uei' bcr Of those CHALLENGES y lv,
be, n accepted. | row Witidruo those a iir,yc,
-rottha' have Tie mos iemo,c id,a Of to.
ol them beng accepted IN good ,(;ih. Ny
70 ison must hA obvious 10 ull, ir | coui MOI
got ieir pl'y in NY tgtt with Siyors, or Justice
after It WA over, at timo whoa T. tl'shmon
aud Americans were ON the mos, ftiennly terma
Nhat chauc, would I or N, other Am, tirau
nave to obtain "fair-play" row that tho tuu
countries are almost on tho verge Of open hos
tliues My Ghalltngos are, therefore, wi h.
drawn.
II 1t is not trcspassrg to- much cn your
space, sir, | wish tO make a isw words Of OK.
planaion In reference to my challengo, and
somo OF tho comments that have been msdo
thereon. After my return from EnglaLd. ro-
solved noycr 20 tight atain for money az nsither
the Prize Ring or ia associa,io ions arc In any
way congeni1l to my habits or inclinstons. At
tho termination OF my engagement with Messrs
Wood Nixon quit all associations that |
thought would have tendency to atain in-
volyc mo in prize hight, and doyo,od my
tlf s,dulously, TO other pursuits. This
fact became known to tho profession u
fighting men in England and one Of
them, Second rate MN (Nho Accidentally he.
came Champion hy whipping big iOnf who has
but little more action than barnum's hippopota-
mus), thinking probably hc could makr . ipital
out Ot il IN his exhibitions, with his cups and
bdt', vaun,iugy declared no wished particu-
lerly 10 fight me- aud would fight mo (Jr anu
amount " money and tho English sporting
prcsa thereon, as ~ their wont, set up a general
howl, and avcrrcd that "Mtco could vhip
lleenan' az easily "a they had 80 often made
Sayets do Il on paper before tho fight at Farm
borough. Still slnariing under keen romom-
brancc Of ths wrongs had endured in England
q unjust atd malicious comments of th5 Eng
lish press ir1itatod me, for thoy well know that
had | not forced Say0rs to ruinquiah tho belt
Mace now holds, Mace would never have dared
to challenge Sayors for It, and IL he had, could
never have ToH u. Encouraged by tho press Of
my own country, and acting with tho advice
some OF my beet T. lends, and stimulated by q
slumboring desiro in my own heart to prove TO
the world that was able TO "win and wear, "
against all comers, tho trophy was so fouliy
wrongcd and robbed Of at farnbororgh, issued
ny challenge 10 fight the best man in EagiInd
The challenge has never beer accepted, which
fact is, of itself, virtual acknowledgement of
the Englieh people that they have not a man in
sst tSsE Aat s9e 70 prevent their
my hands whore II properly belongs.
In commenting on those challenges, some OF
the American papers said that II twas really
anxious TO fight an opportunity was offered; |
could tender my services TO the Government,
and assist in putting down the Southern robel.
lion. To that ! make this answer: have had
Mother intention ror inclination 10 take part in
tho unfortunate and unhappy strlo that now
convulses our common country; but tho day
may probably be near at hand when a strong
ann and willing heart may 10 Of service to my
country in repelling and resonting the aggres-
sions Of powerful foreign foe. Whom that pro-
liability becomes certainty tho frat vOluReer
will bc Very respectfully yours,
JoHN G. HEEEAa.