Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-05

He Had to Sacrifice His Life in Doing 1t
Succeeded in Driving Them from the
State.
William Herbert, who died in New
Castle on Thursday, was man whose
integrity and bravery were made known
all over the country. The action that
gained for him this reputation was his
interference and breaking up of the
prize tight, which was to have taker
place between Collyer and Kelly, the
famous pugilists, near Newark, Oh
Wednesday, November 9th, 1867 The
Delaware Gazette' Of December Sd,
1867, gives the following account of the
action of Mr.. Herbert, who was at
that time sheriff Of New Castle county:
1.-THE prize fight which we mentioned
in our last Issue came off in Chester
county, Pennsylvania, just beyond the
Delaware line, near Strickerville, and
about four miles from Newark, and our
State was saved from the disgraceful
exhibition Of brutality by the activity,
determination and nerve of our Demo-
cratic sheriff.
1.-THE fight was planned to. take place
near the mouth of York river, Vir-
ginia, on Monday, but the parties we're
driven from there by the military.
They then went to Baltimore, where
some of the party were arrested and
put under bonds not to fight in Mary
land.
'On Tuesday night they left Balti-
more in separate trains for Newark,
where most of the roughs (about $50
it is said) stopped. Collyer and his
trainer and seconds stopped at Elkton
Kelly and his friends came on and ar
rived at Wilmington on Tuesday night
at about II O'Clock. He and his seconds
stopped DIT the United States Hotel
A number of roughs remained at var
ious places in the city, and the next
morning were waiting at the depot to
take the train for Newark, for which
place Kelly and some others had started
in carriages at an early hour. Collyer
had left Elkton and arrived at the
Newark depot at about o'clock.
Those who spent Tuesday night in
Newark intfuded upon the Washington
House and also the hotel of Philip
Marvel. 1t is needless to say some Of
them departed from both houses with
out paying their bills. All could not
be accommodated at the hotels, and
some epdeavored to secure lodgings in
private residences; failing in this they
spont the night in the streets, and it
is said efforts were made by some of
them to set fire to the garden fence of
Rev. Mr.. Vallandigham.
son Tuesday night about 10 O'Clock
Sheriff Herbert, after he had retired
to bed at his residence in New Castle,
received telegram from Officer Will
liam Legg, whose services are required
nj ,x.f - -,
tended fight. On Wednesday morning,
as soon as the sheriff got his breakfast,
he started for Newark, taking with
They arrived at Newark about half-past
a. m. There they learned the prize
| fighters had gone to the depot where
the sheriff and his deputy arrived
shortly after 9 o'clock. Having securely
locked up his horse, he started for the
telegraph office, which he supposed he
was entering, when a man attempted
to prevent him. Just then another
man came up and also made some
objection. The sheriff seized this one
by the collar, and rushed in, at the
same time saying if they did not look
out he would take them to New Castle.
He then turned to look for the operator,
and found he had entered room adj
joining the the depot, instead of the
telegraph Office. The two men who had
attempted to keep him out were now
passing out pretty rapidly out the back
| way. Having effected his object in
teegraphing to Wilmington for assis-
lance, he learned that the one he had
taken by the collar was Collyer, who
| by this time had got some distance
| away in the fields, and was surrounded
| by crowd of roughs. The sheriff
made some effort to get assistance by
| summoning posse from such as he
knew in the crowd, but met with poor
success, nearly every one urging him
| to go away and let the fight come off,
saying it was impossible for him to
prevent it and that he was exposing
himself unnecessarily. This language
was the more discouraging to the
| sheriff, as it came from those from
whom he had right to look for aid
| and encouragement in his courageous
enterprise. Many of the friends of the
combatants also appealed to him by
| argument, persuasion, and every means
they could think of, not to interfere
To all of which he replied by saying
it was impossible-th fight could not
and should not take place in Delaware.
More than an hour was spent near the
Newark depot, during which these
attempts to overcome the sheritf's
scruples were made.
During this time he was eyed and
crowded upon SO that he could form no
combination for arresting the princi-
| pals, He was pointed to as the small
man with the white hat, and not un-
frequently the remark was overheard,
how in the hi is he going to prevent
| it?'
After the trains from Wilmington
and Baltimore arrived, the parties
started down the railroad track; the
sheriff followed, knowing at the
crowd would halt where the fight was
to take place. When they got about a
mile below the depot, and perh ,ps a
quarter of mile west of the railroad
track, near cluster of trees, they
came upon the ring. 1t was formed
with a rope and stakes and was about
I 100 feet in diameter. In the centre of
this circle was a square of about %
feet also formed with rope. The
crowd was expected to keep beyond
the circle. When they had got there
clamor was raised for the men, and
the different crowds showed that each
surrounded its champion, and prepara-
tions were being made for the com
mencement of the combat. The atten-
ton of the crowd was divided between
their favorites; but all eyes were
| directed toward the small man with
the white hat. who had firmly strided
forward 10 the square, and stood for a
few minutes with his hand resting
upon the rope A murmur Of disap-
probation ran through the crowd Of
roughs, and movement was made as
| thnnph the rhamninna mnra about tr