The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-05-25

course, Long Island. Hyer secured the
services of George Thompson and Joe
Winrow, and went into training at Pete
Dodge's hotel, near McComb's Dam. In
the meantime, February 7, 1S49, mid
winter, was named for the day of the
match. The fight was the topic of con-
versation on both sides of the Atlantic.
In fact, no contest, except the Interna-
tional at Farnsborough, between Heenan
and Sayers, which took place ten years
after, created so much excitement as the
Hyer and Sullivan fight. From the day
the two pugilists went into training
money was staked on the result at evens,
and many looked on Sullivan's success
as certain; yet Hyer's display with
" 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 "gaDg," for
they were a 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 fighting-ground should be Rock
Point, at the month of Still Pond Creek,
in Kent County, Maryland, just forty
four miles from Baltimore.
The adventures, fights and rows that
occurred in getting there would fill a
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 a
bad fix. A vessel was at hand, and the
crowd soon cut the haliards, 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 fifty five
pounds. Hyer's six feet two inches
seemed to tower over Sullivan, and the
weight of the former-one hundred and
eighty-five pounds-appeared TO be a
great advantage in comparison with Sui
livan's one hundred and fifty-five
pounds; but Sullivan's defiant looks and
plucky carriage as he faced the native
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, 1S49, the memorable fight began. S.
Van Nostrand was referee, and the UNI
pires were II. Colon and j. j. Way.
John B. Frink was the man who held the
$4,000 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 go a dash on
Hyer's nose with his left. Failing in
that he tried to get away from a prompt
counterfeit made by Hyer's left, and
partially succeeded in avoiding it.
Hyer then let drive his left, which landed
like 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 as
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
master. Hyer was taken to his corner
smiling, amid shouts of " Another round
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 was
allowed.
The second round was a desperate one.
Hyer punished Sullivan terribly, and
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 great
obstinacy until they closed, when Hyer
grasped Sullivan around the waist, and
hurled him with tremendous force to the
ground; in fact, the force with which
Sullivan struck terra .frma was enough
to knock the breath out of any ordinary
man.
The third round was another desper-
ate struggle, Sullivan became quite
reckless and lost all caution. He rushed
at Hyer and delivered some terrible
blows on his face, without a return.
Sullivan followed up his advantages
amid shouts of, Kill the big loafer,
Sully; now you have got him p" Drive
in your right" etc. Sullivan's friends
yelled with delight, and Sullivan's re-
markable smile of wicked glee illumin-
ated his knotty muscular features.
In the fourth round the betting was
even. Both exhibited cuts, bruises and
Jumps as the result of each others
handiwork, and Sullivan so far had been