New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-01
A pRIzE-noHrER TURNED PREACHER.


STORY or Ills CONVERSION Az TOLD To LONDON
CONGREGATIONS
A converted prize-fghter, known as "Bon-
digo" has recently attracted much attention in London
as a speaker at religious meetings He Is ca years
old having spent nearly quarter OF n century OF
his life in the "rng" lie enjoys tho distinction OF
having whipped Tom Paddock" and OF having fought
matched fights up to his 4Oh year. ono OF which
lie holds in posse s5iOn three belts IN
oludlng tho champOns and several prizes and testi
monias shape Of silver cups etc. Iu addition TO
his lighter. no has become famous as skill
full fisherman. and his record shows that he has served
% in Jail for drunkenness and disOrdcry conduct
He IL said resemble in aspect an English country
squire who has vcd life or unbroken serenity" and he
bears only q few Of the marks that usually distinguish
men OF hs calling lie boasts that in all his battles no
never received a black eye, but admits broken thumb,
broken finger the loss OF tooth and part OF ono car,
broken knee-Cap and blow that natenod tho bridge
OF his nose flo Is o brOadsbOuldered man, light OF
foot aud exceedingly active with his arms" As ho
tells his story, no tho youngest OF family OF
81 children. oil OF whom are now dead save himself
o was early In life forced TO exert himself TO secure
the necessities OF life lie docs not think he took TO
fighting" because he likGd IT, but he had mother to
support and could get living eaeiOr in this way than
in any other. Uis mother encouraged him, and he
easily fell into the business Before engaging
ia a fight it was his custom to got his knees
aud say, Let mo win this Hght, so that 1 may
have money keep my old mother out OF tine work
house" This 10 meant prayer to bis dead fathor
who no believed could help him VIM
He began life In nottingham. whore most OF his OK
plot. were performed He was the most notorious
man in the town. and frequent line in the papers
Bendgo in trouble again" His account Of his last
term in Nottingham Jail and Of his conversion IS rather
striking His last imprisonment was not he says, Tor
thieving. To his own language:
81 was never rs had that. Whom wasa Roy. and
up ~ the timo when was Young fellow, my ne was
a rough 'un. and II saw any chap eating. aud was
hungry. I'd take bis grab away from him. o. yes ~
u drink I'd think nothing OF making free with some
body else: but, dye understand me-. | never would
what YOU might call steal anything Well, this % a
time tor the old game IL was ~ one OF the public
houses where they were SET against me. and wOuldrS
serve me win strong drink even though had the
topay for 3d. somebody got PM OF al9 ior
come along and knocks the jag clean out Of my
hand Wen. sooner was he knocked down him
self than ia come tho policeman ami there row."
He was taken before the bench Of magistrates, who
knew him well and who had often dealt with him.
There was one Of Them" continues Bondlgo, "a
hearty John Bull Kind OF man, that took likn' TO-
managed It, putting matter to him III man.toIgau
kind Of way, aye s,c; bg; there was anGthct vine
me. Well mazda my story out pretty well, AMI made
'em laugh bt, ani thought l. snail got on ngRt
Benico when you're sober s0n are ono u the INCEST
men iu nottingham. but when you're drink you amt
therefore you Will 20 10 prison for two months ara
aftcrward give bail to keep the peace for three months
longer Well somehow that sentence seemed to kgOck
me more than any Of the q had served before,
and 1 took to thinking what fool was not to 1--we
man. Yes h; pound Week-that'S what Two got 10
live Did save 1t upi Not |; couldn't save No
what did when was making heap OF money III the
ring hand 1t over to my brother on CONDITION
that he always give me pound week. ana thatS
how IL comes"
While In prison he attended the regular religious
wee every Sunday AMI first had lis attention attracted
by the minister's account Of the setto between David
and Goliath" He became 50 absorbed IN hearing how
David the little IN noored the giant and killed him."
that forgot where he and shouted out, BrayvoI
I'm glad the ite won" When he got to his cell he
began to think seriously about what he had heard. aud
could avoid the conclusion that somebody mast
have helped David TO lick the giant"
"WelI" he continues, st singular as though it
done purpose. The very next SIndlg tae par
preached another sermon. wlch seemed hitting at
nc harder than the one tho week before IT, was all
W. WI ~" Ind ron, b.int bum on ves Pyo heard
about that since Il wasn't exactly BsndigO who was
tho third man but the name sounded Ike IL 10 me- anu
took II "a such though dblnt SAY anything t. any
nOdy. n BcndigO can be saved why not another,
sndav efirr SUNDAY looked out Tor something about
me Ia the sermon, and there it always was. After the
one about the fiery furnace came one about the twelve
fishermen Now Pm fisherman myself Bless you
1 should rather think was ono Of tho best IN England
hundred lcfthandcI men in the Book of judges and
am . lefthauicd msn. or course l am. IL was that
what heat the knowing onos nave had to stand gp
against Wen, 1t was THIS always gong on t1At MADE
me mako up mind 10 turn as so0l a. ever got CUT:
1t was "a Thursday, and In the WINTER ana when
let out at the i"ol door lhefe was ihy Oid
friends kindly come 20 meet mr. Come along.
Bendy, Old boy, they said, we've got somcthng TO eat
and something 10 drink Tor You AL ready. Come along
But HAD made up my mn ana wasn't TO be shook so
turned round and sea- Look here never VIII eat
drink along Win you OK along Win any un ia pun
c-house again as long a. ave; rye done Win IT, IT.,
make it But there was Que man amongst 'em
named wator., and be sed, Beniy, VIII You come
along with me Tn eOul 10 ioestou. And knew II
went with him should De al right, and went. And
there met another friend WHO wished me WELL and
a. le Kpt ~ nat do N,.LV
ioUigEi 10 hear Gndannted DcfF Who's he says
Il never heard Of Hun It's DcH Weaver. says he, a
now converted and S turned Fsa'6 os Of n.y. s SS6
aud there coild hear ERA: Why, how this there's
Bendso up t.re; Look, look there's old Bendy' Bus
/ took no nOco; On'y sat quiet aud listened Well,
next night w's there agsin, snd heard What ala me
good than ever II vas bid weather ana showing
hard and had 10 make home late at night across
park; and when was half way across couldn't hold
out any longer. so, IN tho dark and with the snow
I'LL o,,tio so wthout aIs. mad one half pint he.
tween then aud sunday aud then went TO the chapel
az n o." rs tterr knrit doi,n and told 'em how
WAS changed aud how that nothing should tempt mo
Ia go wrong gain. aud I've kept my word and mean
~ o. an lcennc H. Ever since that time not drop OF
n,er or splts has passed my lip, and never felt
heal1hior, stronger, or more h'ely 'hah do now"
BendigO Is orator; he cannot even read bat his
meetings beon LARGELY attended especially oy per
SUM Of ~. own css who sten Win rapt attention TO
s story OF his conversion and his evidently sincere
Lor.ation. TITO meeting, have been held at the Cab.
n1u, Mission Han the Dals, and nj other places
m notorious nclghborhoods In London Many who have
heard mu have been Impressed with his earnestuess,
his honest purpose, and his simplicity aud power OF
speech 10 anuOnn,e' his Willingness 90 spend the
rest of ms days VI the PLATFORM petshdnS men 10 EN-
brace Tel .iou. IIi- proper namo ID william Thompson
He Is nov WORK upon bis primer trying to learn MS
ABCs