The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-16

as certain, YET hyef ulspldy Will
Country McClusky made his friends
sanguine, and they put up wagers like
stacks of bricks that he would whip
Sullivan.
The battle-ground selected was Pool
Island, in the upper part of Chesapeake
Bay, near the States of Maryland and
Virginia. The Baltimore authorities,
however, turned out large force, and
the pugilists and principals had to make
hasty departure and change the fight
ing-ground. Some very curious adven-
lures fell to the lot of the "gang," for
they were set of choice spirits, and
among them mingled all classes, grades
and shades of men, from the wealthy
banker to the rough whose hands had
been hardened by the use of the revolver
and bowie-knife. 1t was finally agreed
that the fghting-ground should be Rock
Point, at the month of Still Pond Greek,
in Kent County, Maryland, Just forty
four miles from Baltimore.
The adventures, fights and rows that
occurred in getting there would fill
volume. During the trip Sullivan's
trainer, ODOnnell, and Hyer's trainer,
Thompson, became unavoidably sepa-
rated. Tom Burns, who afterward kept
the Nautilus, on Staten Island, was sub
tituted for Thompson, and Country
McCluskey for O'Donnell.
The parties had left all their ropes and
stakes at Baltimore, and they were in
bad fix. A vessel was at hand, and the
crowd soon cut the halliards, and pine
billets were substituted for the stakes.
The day was bitter cold, and hot
bricks were placed in the ring for the
great pugilists to stand on to keep their
feet warm when they first arrived.
Both men were trained into the pink
of condition, especially Hyer. Sullivan
stood five feet ten and half inches, and
weighed one hundred and ffty-five
pounds. Hyer's six feet two inches
seemed to tower over Sullivan, and the
weight of the former-one hundred and
eighty-fve pounds-appeared TO be a
great advantage in comparison with Sui
livan's one hundred and fifty-ive
pounds; but Sullivan's defiant looks and
born giant made him appear capable of
sustaining the great ordeal of endurance
and strength he was about to undergo.
The toss of choice of corners was won
by Johnny Ling for Sullivan, and this
advantage which Sullivan gained caused
the tall, herculean Hyer to take the
corner in which the sun glared full in his
! face
Hyer's seconds were Joe Winrow and
Tommy Burns. Courtney and McClus-
key and Johnny Ling seconded Sullivan
Hyer's colors were the stars and stripes !;
Sullivan wore green fogle with oval
spots of white. After the men stripped,
no time was lost in arranging the pre-
liminaries, and at 4 20 p. M, February
7, 1849, the memorable fight began. S.
Van Nostrand was referee, and the um-
pires were 81. Colon and J. J. Way.
John B. Frink was the man who held the
10000 stakes which were fought for
In the first round Hyer was wary, while
Sullivan was on the dash, and eager to
deliver good auctioneer on Hyer's nose
to make up the sound beating he had re-
ceived on Broadway. After Yankee had
made several feints he let 20 a dash on
Hyer's nose with his left. Failing in
that he tried to get away from a prompt
counter-hit made by Hyer's left, and
partially succeeded in avoiding it
Hyer then let drive his left, which landed
like a blow from a steam hammer on
Sullivan's forehead, staggering him and
raising bruise and lump from which
the blood twinkled. Sullivan then rushed
at Hyer like mad bull at gate, landed
some terrific blows on the giants body
and both clinched. Hyer threw him al
he would child, and managed to fall
with his whole weight, one hundred and
eighty-five pounds. upon him.
The hopes of Sullivan's friends had
been fixed mainly on his great wrestling
abilities, but now he had found hii
master. Hyer was taken to his corner
smiling, amid shouts of " Another rounc
like that. Tom, will settle him." Bully
for Park Row." Sullivan was bleeding
from the forehead, and Tommy Burns
shouted first blood for Hyer, which wa.
allowed.
The second round was a desperate one
Hyer punished Sullivan terribly, ant
the latter also damaged Hyer's left eye
and opened cash on his neither lip
from which the blood ran in streams
The fighting was continued with grea
obstinacy until they closed, when Hye
, grasped Sullivan around the waist, ant
hurled him with tremendous force to tn
ground in fact, the force with whici
! Sullivan struck terra frmd was enougl
. to knock the breath out of any ordinar
,, man.
= The third round was another despel
ate struggle, Sullivan became quit
! reckless and lost all caution. He rushe
o at Hyer and delivered some terribl
blows on his face, without return
Sullivan followed up his advantage
$ Sully; now you have got him p" Driv
|, in your right" etc. Sullivan's friend
q yelled with delight, and Sullivan's r,
markable smile of wicked glee illumi1
II ated his knotty muscular features.
n In the fourth round the betting ws
. even. Both exhibited cuts, bruises an
> Jumps as the result of each other
. handiwork, and Sullivan SO far had bee
9 receiver-general. This was another de
y perate round. Hyer landed a terrif
y blow on Sullivan's forehead, and Su
q livan countered with a tremendo,
\ clean hit on Hyer's nose, which sent tt
/ claret flying in streams. Both clinche
4 and again Hyer, by summoning all h
l. strength, threw Sullivan and fell heavi
,r on topof him. Hyer laid his full weigl
a on Sullivan and made no effort to 9
up. Intense excitement then prevaile
n and Sullivan's friends shouted "foul
j. ana the affair promised to end in fr
n fight.
a Van Nostrand, the referee, on beil
e. appealed to by McCluskey, decided tn
E. it was their look out to hurry and pi,
" up their man, and ordered the fight
sr proceed. From this round Sullivan
. gan to show signs of fatigue from Il
er falls and Hyer's weight-falling on t,
8, of him. He nevertheless was confide
~ he could win, and, Spartan-like, game
Ut faced his burly opponent round aft
" round. In the sixth round Sulliv;
u opened deep cash over Hyer's left ey
i'll but was fought down. In the seven
y round Sullivan's legs, from lodging al
y dropping tactics, began to get weak.
the eighth round the fighting was d.
IL perate. Sullivan had the advantae
ne and Hyer's left eye began to close. T
ErrkA 4 L II n