The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-25
FOrty-Seven Rounds Fought in One Hour
and Fourteen Minutes.
EDWARDS THE WINNER.
Characteristic Melees on the
Excursion Steamer.
SEVERAL RoUGHS SHOT AND STABBED.

ate encounter Of one hour and fourteen minutes,
during which time fOrty-seven rounds were fought.
OOllyer was badly bruised about the head and body
and was finally knocked out OF time, and Edwards
was hailed the champion of light weights OF America.
The latter not much marked in the face but his
body was much bruised.
ORIGIN OF THE FIGHT.
After the rage OF pusilism which was maintained
during last year-a popularity which delighted the
"pugs" while II startled the unadmring advocates of
peace and neutraity-it has during the present sum-
mer season fallen into sort of quiet-an nertness
which has rendered the 'sports" wreched creatures
indeed. The year opened brilliantly enough, 1t is
true. There were promises given OF several brilliant
affairs. Among the rest the great match between
AcCOOle and COburn doomed up in great proportions
This, however as well as mulutudnous matches OF
q minor character nzzed out most disagreeably
and left the admirers Of the ring in disguised
dition that can be neither imagined nor described,
but only appreciated when one is himself "sport''
and views the manly art of head-punchng reduced
TO Its last legs and its followers forced to adopt the
Fapian pOilcy OF waiting LII vain Tor some one to
"turn up" with.
During February when the excitement OF match
making was at its height, Sam C0llyer, the champion
1.-THE light weights, Kept in the back ground Several
ambitious pugs," with the apparent design OF STIR
ring MIN up slgnlfed their Willingness to meet him
In the ring. This finally succeeded in drawing q
grow from the little lion who thereupon stated that
could not break his theatrical engagements then and
there but that he formally challenged any them to
meet him in the month of August, 10y which time his
business engagements would have been fulfilled
This def was eagerly accepted by young Edwards,
an accomplished boxer and great favorte with the
sporting fraternity, who had applied TO him the sou
0TtQet OF the ''white headed whistler" The stakes
were made $1,000 a side and the first deposit was
sum, but Edwards thought the prize sufficiently
large to warrant the best effort of either man and so
the matter rested. On the oath OF February last the
following
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
were drawn up and signed by the men, thus making
The match In the eyes of the pugistic fraternity,
Articles OF agreement entered into this oath dsy of
FEBRUARY, 1865, between samuel Collyer and William
Edwards. The said Samuel Colyer and the said
William Edwards hereby agree to fight fair stand
mp fight according to the new rules Of the prize
ring, by which the said Samuel Colyer and the said
William Edwards hereby mutually agree to be bound.
The said fight shall be for the sum of 81, 900 sde
open for more, and shall take place the oath day
winning the toss to give the opposite party ten days
notice OF the place. The said Samuel Collyer and
William Edwards TO be confined TO l24 pounds and
to weigh on the morning OF the fight the oath day of
August, 1868, between the hours OF four and ten
shall forfeit the money deposited The men shall be
In ,e ring between the hours of six and ten O'Clock
The expenses OF the, ropes and stakes shall
We borne mutually. share and share alike.
In pursuance Of this agreement the sum OF
800 side is now deposited. The remaining depos-
ITS shall be made "a follows THE second, OF $50
side on tho LIST day of April, 1858; the succeeding
deposits of $3.50 side each To be made on the first
day OF each month, until the whole amount OF the
stake is deposited. The toss for the choice OF ground
to take place at the time OF putting up the last de-
post. The said deposits must be put up not later
than four O'Clock on the days aforesaid and either
party falling to make good the amounts due at the
time and place named shall forfeit the money down.
The referee TO be chosen on the ground In case OF
magisteral interference, the referee, If appointed.
s or o n e s ay r
In the same week. and either party falling to appear
at the time and place specified by that official TO lose
the battle money. The stakes not to be given up.
unless by mutual consent, until fairly lost by
Eight, and due notice shall be given TO both parties
Of the time and place for giving the money up
In pursuance Of this agreement we hereunto At
"'n 'O' nA'"''' WILLIAM WILLIAM EDWARDS.
The news OF this match spreading among the
'fancy" circles OF the city awakened considerable
interest, for both men had partisans who were con-
Armed In their admiration for their respective cham
pions. The prospect OF match between these
sions of pugilistlc society. The display made by
Edwards at the numerous sparring exhibitions al
which he had appeared had raised him considerably
IN the estimation OF those best qualified to Judge or
Me merits OF fighter. He had shown himself an
adept with the gloves, quick hard hitter, prompt
70 avail himself Of advantages, and an active, wry
agile antagonist whom the most accomplished
boxers found II dif1cult to face with more
,nsn Tsp sS GGw h Sa hs
entered the ring and his reputation was confined TO
the sparring hail. but the renown he had won with
set him in the 'front.' rank OF the light weights and
his increasing fame pushed him inevitably into q
collision with Coyer, the ''bright particular light"
of the ring. He preferred to aim high on his first
appearance In the ring rather than accept the gage
Of an humble and obscure antagonist whose defeat
Edwards was matched with the champion OF the
light weights and boldly undertook to battle for the
highest rank on mis- first appearance In the magic
ColIyer's record Is well known, his game and sue.
cessfui fights having formed the topic OF
ton In other than the select circles OF ordinary
votaries OF pugilism. His fights with Aaron and
Kelly are wei remembered, IA his reputation was
made perfect by these engagements from his well
known ability as hard hitter and most desperate
and determined fighter 1t was ioreseen with delight
by the partsans OF either that wen contested
battle was ON the tGpis.
PRELIMrSARIEs
The men nj once went into training for the mo.
,nentous day (the 2itn OF August named in the
agreement and after week W debating ana argrl-
the on a the par Almost al tue r Tenas
the greater interest awakened by the arrange
ments going on for the fight between
McCoole and Coburn, which never came or. The
disgust created by this izze did not leave sufficient
interest among the fraternity to warrant an inquiry
into the progress OF the smaller match. Both men
fore progressed favorably NJ 10 the day appointed
for the meeting between the famed eiadiators.
About fortnight before the day appointed the
sports aroused rom the stUpor INTO which they had
been thrown by The failure OF other matches, and
finding that this was really an earnest affair, and
WITS being pushed forward with eaRerness by both
parties entered into the spirit or the match, and en-.
lypnel the prclininnrles Win tncir Endorsements OF
the respective champions. Colyet's reputation,
however, operated IN his favor and bets were freely
made at one hundred TO forty on him.
Tup START FROM NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND srAB
BtNG AFFRAYs ON THE BOAT.
About eleven O'Clock sunday night the excursion
,sts lef ght street wharf Baltimore, in the steamer
Aietainora The ropes and stakes FOR the ring were
ON hoard. a. were also Collyer ana Edwards, with
their seconds. There were also on board probably
1--WE hundred OF the toughest looking men ever con-
rreqated together any occasion Prior TO passing
Annapos one Oh the rOughS by the name of Joe Beard
from Bat,lnore BEGAN quarreliiug with some other
party anu IN a moment amer twelve pistol shots
were heard in rapid succession Great confusion pre-
was guclled IL was discovered that the
man Beard was stabbed in the side and cut in the
len was shot in the right breast and stabbed in the
back and head Another, Billy Carroll OF Philadel.
phia had his finger shot or u was reported that
overheard, and although probable, " was Impossible