National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-08
LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONS
COyTERSITION WITH BILLY Ed
YARDS AND 4RTHUR CHAMBERS.

THE MUSCLE OF AMERICA AND ENGLAND
THE ARENIC CONTESTS OFPRIZE-FIGHT-
ERs-DETAILS OF VARIOUS BATTLES
STORIES OF HEROIC ENDURANCE -
SCHOOLS OF TRAINING-INCIDESTS AND
ANECDOTES OF THE RING-THE HEAVY
WEIGHTS-MONEY, AND NOT GLORY, THE
OBJECT OF FIGHTING.
Prom the days Of the fight between Cain and
Abel to the Olympic games and the sports OF the
Roman gladiators, all nations and tribes OF people
have been more or less interested in the many
art Of selfdefenee History dsclOses the fact tha5
from the English and Irish nations nearly all the
ETeat fighters Of modern times have come, but
America has produced few worthy TO stand In
the ring with any man. Whatever morallsIs
may say, the ring has powerful attractions Tor
large class Of people, and whole communities ue-
Tour with eager interest the accounts OF the
meetings Of noted champions OF the hstic arena.
The presence in Washington Of the lightweight
ehampions Of two great nations-Americs and
England-represented respectively by Mr.. VIII
liam Edwards and Mr.. Arthur Chambers, very
naturally uuckens the pulse Of the sporting ira
ternity, and where they "most do congregste
THE RING
forms the chief topic of conversation. Messrs.
Edwards and Chambers are, for the present, en-
usRed at the Theatre COmque, where they
nightly appear in the farce Of TON and jerry"
in which an opportunity is afforded for brilliant
and scientific display Of sparring. A few mo-
Inents last evening before their act came on a re-
porter Of TIE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN happened
20 meet them. They were cOstumed for the mimic
battle lust as they are when they enter the ring
for bloody contest for money, medals and fame,
with trifing exceptions. The complete ring COS
tune is a pair Of trunks buttOned at the knee,
strong belt long stockings and spiked shoes.
For the stage, in addition to this, they wore q
Sleeveless shirt and had on shoes without spikes.
In friendly chat with Billy Edwards the follow
ing information was obtained:
HIS CAREER.
Reporter when and where were you bOrn?"
Mr. Edwards. In England, December q, lS44"
"And when did you come to this country"
about ten years ago, and Immediately went
% work at my trade, that Of boiler making, at
CorreIs Dry Dock Iron Works, New York city,"
'And how did you become professional prize
fghter?'
81 was always fond OF sparring and boxing
from a child up, and;in London used to appear
for exhibitions in sparring at Jim Wards, Jem
Naee's Nat LaAgham's and other places at night
after my days work was over, and at all those
plsees l had set-to's with the principal Light
weight fighters Of England"
..YOu Quit your trade when you came here?"
.sYes, nearly nine years ago, and since then
have been in business and open to engagements"
stHOW did you urSt appear IN Iills country
alt was at Sol AarOn's benefit, brother OF the
celebrated Barney Aaron. The exhibition took
place at the corner OF Grand and Elizabeth
streets. in the Assembly rooms, think they
called them"
"And your next One?''
what do you want me to tell my whole his
tory? Well, the next time appeared was with
Nike CObUrn for his benefit at the same place.
Nike is a brother Of Joe COburn, and the next
was for Mr.. Davis benefit, a California cham
pion. and the third for the benefit of James Ell
Iiot; and, in fact 1 appeared with nearly all the
lightweight fighters who belong to the frater-
nifty"
"And with Sam. CoIlyer, tOo:'
Eyes, sir, with him. 1t was for his benefit. The
sparring took place at Thirty fourth street and
Eighth avenue, New York. I made him stop
right on the stage. He walked of, and would not
wind up the fight. This was just before his real
match with McGlade in which OOllyer was the
victor l also had sparring matches with Tim
Collins Barney Aaron, Jim Fox, DOOney Harris,
Billy Kelly, Teddy McAulitie and Peter Croker"
when and with whom was your first real
battle7"
"AIlow me, Mr.. Reporter, to suggest that you
be a little more technical-you should say ring
battle
Rather than have fight with you, ring bat
tIe,' them
"Why. it was with Sam ColIyer, at Cone river,
Va August q, 1868. The battle lasted one hour
and forty minutes. We fought forty-f or
forty-hve rounds. In the last one 1 knocked him
out Of time. Ny seconds were Barney Aaron and
Dooney Harris. COlIyer's were Johnny Noel and
Patsey Mealy. Jim Casey was the referee. The
fight was for 1000 a side and the lightweight
championship Of America"
Then what did you dO?"
="Retired Oh my Iaurels for some time. Visited
ihold Hingland,' and came back in 1859 COllyer
do frns M at oh
with him in 1870. We fought for $1,000 aside and
the li2ht-weight championship at Mystic Island,
Connecticut March 2 1870. We fought fOrty-one
rounds in fOrty-fve minutes. 1t was a terrible
cold day, and we fought very fast. knocked
him out Of time with Highlander on :he last
round 1t was half an hour before he opened his
eyes and il fact, his friends carried him away
for dead"
who was your next match with?"
alt was with Tim Collins, Nay 25 1871, on Long
Island. This match, too, was for $1,000 and the
lightweight championship. Collins is gOoC
man-one Of the best that ever came from Eng
land. The hight lasted two hours and hfteen min
utes when darkness came on, and it was ended
in draw In the second round disabled ny
yeft hand badly was arrested for this hghl
and sent to BlackwelTs Island for twelve months
and ordered 20 pay fine OF $1,000. The fine wa!
RENTED, and was released in six months
"Ifwe recollect right, you had a difficulty will
Collyer previous TO this:'
Eyes: he failed To keep another match with me
and / received forfeit from him Of $500. He sue
me for it and got IL hack. 1t was u most ungen
tIemanIy proceeding, for we have strict rules an
articles and the man who does not abide by theI
must lose it. for money, sir, is what We fight fol-
more than glory
And now. MI Edwards, with whom did 20
have your next hght?'
1T was with
NY DEAR FRIEN u, ARTHUR CHAMBERS.
The match was fought September !, 1872
Squirrel island, Canada. for $1,000 side and tn
light weight championship. Mr.. Chambers WO
the fight by FOUL
well, this is interesting. What did you
next?"
"In 1871 again went to England, this tim
with Jim Mace, POoley Mace and Barney Aaro
There met Kenney the shoe black, in a glo'
fight. licked him in twenty minutes, and aft
fighting i've rounds. March IL, 1873, fougI
, Faucitt. Of Birmingham. at Manchester. tt
battle lasted one hour and hfty-hve minutes, al
on the forty-hfth round I knocked him out
time. Faucitt was supposed at thai time to
about the best man in England. He had foug
ten fights, and all with good men. left Engla!
Christmas day and arrived again in New Vol
January s, 1874
'sThen, we take it, your next match must ha,
been the late one with COllyer at H.ill Creek"
.sTbat,sit. ColIyer frequently challenged Il
&c fight him again, but told him l would IA
10 notice Of his challenges until he had Ina
good the $500 recovered from me in the law So
Re followed me round everywhere, at Philad
phia. Pittsburg. &c, where l had benefits.
last a man in Philadelphia came forward a
promised TO make the $500 good on the morning
the fight felt SAFE and accepted his challenI
This gentleman was Mr. W. J. Gilmore, manag
of Mortimer's Varieties, in Philadelphia II
hght was for q. 900 side, at catch weight, Al
The lightweight championship. Collyer WoI
not bar that. Ny seconds were Tom Allen
Arthur Chambers: his were Johnny Newell a
Barney Aaron. The fight took place on the L
Of August. We fought eleven rounds in TWEEN
four minutes had the best Of the affair all {
way through, and in the second round won
first blood and the first knock down. A foul "
claimed on account Of my having little
VENICE TCRPENTINE
on my hands. There Is no harm in it. 1t is
poison at all; you can eat it. The referee order
the fight to 90 on. COllyer then said he would
fight any more. After the referee orders a m
to fight and he refuses, he loses the battle