The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-09-21
THE PRIZE RING.
>9c-~~>~>~~-~~~~~~~~~
Fight for the Championship OF
America.
MCOOL AND DAVIS THE CONTESTANTS
M,COOL THE VICTOR.
~~~-~~~~~o~-~~--~->~-~-~~
Thirty-five Rounds i'm Thirty
four Minutes.
>->~-~>~~~,->~~~-~~~~-~~~~-
History Of Prize Fighting In the
United States. -
-~~~er~~-o0>~>~>~-~~~----
SKETCHES OF THE MEN.
sc. sc. sc.

Davis, for purse Of $780, the championship and the
champions bel took place on Chateau Island about ten
miles above this city, at four o'clock this afternoon
Two steamboats, took the spectators the field McCoo
The fight in hiry-fve minutes thirty -four rounds
being fought
OF THE nIsc
Prize fighting is believed to have been OF the
earliest institutions Of remote antiquity, al least in
vogue early the siege Of Troy At the funeral games
in honor Of Patrocus the friend OF Achilles who
killed by Hector find wrestling and boxing occupying
conspicuous places Homer must have been somewhat
Of amateur himself as he has described the exercises
most graphically.
aLADIAToRs
The Romans at the height OF their national fame, en-
couraged the 'rnany art by attending the amphtheare
10 witness the contests Of the gadators, who were
trained the highest degree, and the plaudits of patr
and pebeians alike given the victor When
julius Caesar to Britain he found ''hardy race
there who then little inferior TO the Romans
in single combat The Norman soldiers OF the Ccnqueror
and his Successors were frequently beaten at scus by
the tnoy 10 have conquered, and from
that time so the present strong and stout hearts
have ever been found ready and willing 10 battle for
superiority.
INAUGURATION BRITAIN.
Fighting IL the prize ring inaugurated in Great
Britain about century and half ago, and the first
champions were rgg Slack and Broughton Since that
time until year ago, England has had her champions
in regular succession but by the retirement Of Tom
King who defeated Keenan, and the repeated failures Of
fights 10 come of, England is now practically with
out champion, and from degeneracy of the tight
ing material in that realm she s likely remain without
for some time TO come.
FIGHTING UNITED STATES.
Prize fighting introduced into the United states by
the adven, Of George Kensett an Engishman, little
forty years ago He fought Ned Hammond at Coney
Island n " After severe struggle Hammond was de-
the victor after receiving foul blow from Kense
Anuuber OF asprauts quickly sprung up for 1sc honor
and afterwards linn Sanford fought Bill Hatled
Jim Sanford and Ned Hammond at Belevle, N. j.,
and several other minor affairs came of in rapid success
Although we had plenty Of fighting material ~
such Harrington, Frank speighi, Abe vandorzee
Jn Reed, Andy Mc6lan and others, The prize ring Nas
not very popular until tho arrival Of Yankee sal.
van. As soon he reached shores an impetus
was at once given 10 the rne, and several prize fights
brought on, tho principal onoe teing his
contests with Vince Hammond, OF Philadelphia; Bin
Bcll Of Brooklyn; Tom sccor Of New York; Bob Caunt
u England, and Tom Eyer and John Morrissey. We
have had besides several other great lghts such the
fatal encounter between Lily and Mccoy, Hyer and Nc
Clcskey; Reed and Mccain. Harrington and Mccain
oRourke md Gallagher Deaf Burke and oconnel Mat.
Risk ard rrceand, Coburr and Price Price and Austria
liam Kelly Harry Lazarus aud Dennis Horrgan, twice:
Ward and King, Kerigan AMI Kelly, Cobnrn and Mccoo,
Dunn and Elliott, Dunn and Davis, Kernqan and Phelar
Kelly aud McAus, besides several ctLeys Of minor I'M.
sortance. g'g--z * Il. III - 81. ~ -
I'M TrlEt OF CHAMPION AMERICA
The iitle Of champion Of America first given 20
fon Hyer after bis ocleal OF Yankee sullivan but
he did make lighting profession he relinquished
lie title 10 Mofisse after The latter defeated Keenan,.
aoTrisseys refusal meet Keenan, q second time lost
bm the championship, and Hcenan carried the honors
10 the field Of Marlborough, whore lie TO unto
them with those or England. He failed, however, and
not returning maintain his title IN this country Co.
uurn and Mccool fought for the championship cobum
the renown, but not caring 10 hold the honors by
aghtng he resigned his title TO give others chance
WIN In the magic arena; and hence the present nght
Since that time Coburns gdsco with Mace lfeland-in
which, probably, both partly blamehas
matter II fstc history but grea, 6gh has come or
In America since Coburn aud Mccools contest Davis
Of the present combatants, matched TO 6ght Jim
Elliott, but the affair ended In smoke, the men never
coming together.
.RRAScnmSrs ron rss uoHr
The arrangements for the present light we're made
about three months ago by the signing Of articles 20
Eight In q twenty-ionr foot ring, the 18th Of Sep
tember, or " nterfered with that day then VS. soon
thereafter as the could conveniently be brought
together by the stakeholder who had the power name
the time Since that time the have been prepaT nc
themselves for the conflict and there Is denying the
fact that both were in the finest possible condition for
protracted encounter Each has sfudousiy attended
to the requirements OF bis trainer and performed his
arduous duties with chSerfulness and alacrty and Ly
severe work has been considerably reduced In flesh
since the making ofthe match and both presented mont
of bone aud muscle equal any emergency The hard
work they have performed during the past three months
would have been % much moro value had II been ap
piled 10 any other Object but the honor OF possessing
The champions belt had 10 be by hard knocks and
stand the would No 20 win the baube led these
athletes TO enrure all the toll and consequent self
denas for o. that much coveted object Of tie
puglsts oftlesl ambition.
The belt for which Aic' cole and Davis fought Is bran
new one OF gold and richly ornamented. II made
very lately, and was paid Tor by subscription among
Davis friends, who proposed 70 present II TO him
accept tbs belt personal an and generously LETT Il
20 be fought for The belt = about three inches in
width and elaooracly chased Around Il devices
embemetlc OF the rinx. II has been exhibition the
past rev days IN - Louis, and attracted grcnt deal Of
attention and excitement REGARDING The neht
Michael McCoo Is Irislnan nv birth and an Amers-
can by citizenship Gore ~ 1897, he Is consequently
twenty nine years I'D " Tour wears younger than hs
opponent Hs FIRST appearance in the ring was with
VIM. Blake. known Dublin Trcks.n d 81 Louis
McCoo az that time hallng from Louisville Ky, where
lie was engaged In tie business Of s,eamboatnun
The match was Tor 500 side and OF at
Twelve Nile Island, near Louisville June ~ 1859
Mccool wnuiag Il lhlriy one minutes and lweniy-nne
rounds In This nshi he showed thai. although
a bard hitter and game man, Ne possessed no
science. His av1catinn Of river boannn carrying
him frequently 10 Now Orleans hc thcrc met Tom Jcn
nnss, who had u-i returned from Unsuccessful visit
70 New York 20 got on match either with Price or
aaron Jones several sonllcmen, aware Of Macs abl
tess boxer, aud anxious iest jennings boosted
powers. induced The former 70 conclude match with
Jennings Tor 500 side They met up tho river
New Orleans, Aay isto. Ao,oo. whiie IN swpfs for
tue place ssgnaea lavux narrowly escaped in
consequences ~ the rnihves taking possession OF the
steamboat he and ~ friends had engaged He was
compelled 70 wax distance OF eighteen miles 90
each We place q nsh'ng and then had
second him Entering the ring, which was surrounded
ny Jennings part no found himself almost alone
sna without Trends; but on his publicIy appealing 10
.s.wo 70 give him fair show. which ell he
s"'Ieul caused change 81 feeling towards him. and
ns . ~ assured that fair play should b shown The
ose .sea th'rtyshree minutes during which, twenty.
hocy bows mr. wess Tough. wnsn The heavy, killing