The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-17

popular champion England ever had,
and one OF the best. In 1910. when the
Virginia negro. MolineauX went 10 Lon
don 10 fight him. nearly every man IN
England began TO tremble for the pu-
gilistlC honor OF his country. \ leading
journal of the time said: Some persons
feel alarmed that back man and
foreigner should seize the championship
OF England and decorate his sable brow
with the hard earned laurels OF Cribb.
He must however, have his fair chance,
though Tom swears that he Will be
-- before he will relinquish single
sprlg except with his life" The fight
took place on Copthall Common in Sus-
sex. The throne and the arlstocracy
were OF course represented among the
spectators. The Prince OF Wales was
there. and around him clustered the
Duke of Dorset and Lord George Sack
vile. who backed Mollneaux. Lord Am
herst. Sir John Rous. the Earl OF Gros-
venor. who subsequently became the
first Marquis of Westminster and who
was then the envied owner OF the finest
game chickens i'm all England. 1t was
desperate fight, ending in the defeat OF
Molineaux. They met again Sept, 2S
1911. In the ninth round Molineauxs
Jaw was broken by blow from Crib
and In the eleventh he was knocked
senseless The fight lasted about 20 min
utes. The friends OF Mollneaux claim
that he did not receive fair play. This
Is denied by the other side and the
question. OF course. can never be settled.
The joy in England was unbounded
and his admirers presented Crib with
a belt which was the first trophy Of
the kind that was ever made. Tom Crib
lived until 1Sts His friends erected a
monument In his memory. which would
not be unworthy the fame of yelling
ton or Nelson.
N ~.
CORONATION.
The part borne by prize fighters in
the coronation OF George Nv. Is one OF
the most curious pages In the history OF
England. That event, important to
George If not TO the world came off in
July. 1921. He had been the patron Of
prize fighters the best years OF his life.
and Ii was only natural that he should
desire to have them around him when
he went to Westminster to assume the
trappings of royalty There were,
however. certain reasons of state that
made the presence OF the pugilists de-
sirable as a matter OF precaution. Poor
Queen Caroline had her adherents: par
ty feeling rose high and there was a
possibility OF scene In the historic
hall not down on the bills To prevent
the entrance OF improper persons, 10
exclude with tact but with unfiinching
firmness all who had not tickets OF adj
mission, Tom Crib and II other pu-
gilists were called TO the assistance OF
the throne. Arrayed as pages these men
were stationed at the doors OF entrance
and In the corridors to act as doorkeep-
ers. maintain order and show the Dukes
and the Duchesses OF England to their
seats to wftness the ceremonial OF the
crousnlng of their King. jackson. Tom
Cribb and Tom Spring were at the door
OF the main hall where King George
Significantly bowed TO them as he
passed in.
The conduct OF these men," says one
OF the historians OF the King, wasl
admirable, and on the following day.
when the hall was thrown open to the
do credit to themselves" That is TO
say, they did not punch a single un-
rrly Lord or pound an offensive or IN
offensive citizen These extraordinary
pages were engaged by direction OF the
King and he was so Delighted WIN
their services that he directed his Lord
Chamberlain to send each one OF them
n letter of thanks. The Chamberlain
invited them all TO dinner and put up
TO be raffled for them one OF the gold
coronation medals. which was won py
Tom Belcher.
ONE OF SIR WAITER SCOTS
One OF the most famous OF English
fighters was John Shaw, the Life
Guardsman who was killed at WAFER
loo His reputation as a hghter rests
mainly on his defeat OF Painter IN a
hard contest on Hornslow Heath IN
1915. Painter had beaten Tom spring.
Cribbs successor as champion, and
had Issued n challenge to any man IN
England for the championship. be-
fore Crlbb or any one else could reply
ne was ordered 10 Belgium with ms
regiment His bravery there was so
remarkable that Sir walter scout
deemed IT worthy OF cemmemorauon In
both poetry and prose.
The next most important events In
Tho annals OF pugiiism were the three
remarkable fights between Zen Count
and Bill Thomson. better known as
"Bendigo." The FIRST battle took place
in 1895. and the one for the champion
ship IN 1915. Ten thousand persons
u Is said, we're present az this en-
counter. Counts chamvonsnp peIt
was exhibited. "Rendlgo.' put IL on
ana offered to bet his rival that he
could not win IL back. Al the end or
two hours and ten minutes "Bendigo
was declared the winner.
"Bendlrn." II Ia said. was educated
Tor the ministry. After fighting all the
great pug Xsts of his day. he Joined tn.
church and preached to the roughs ana
toughs OF London. doing good mission
AIRY work among them. owen swift,
"a little before this period. was famous
IN the ring. being q winner IN 10 out
OF II battles. In March. 1898, he Fought
Brighton Bnl." whom he punished SO
severely that he died IN n few days:
Swift had alradv suffered six months
irnr~is,umert on account OF the death
OF Noon. whom he had fought before
phVna After the latters death Swift
escapcd - France lie returned 10
england. however. was tried and ac-
ouitfef There was a terrih'e hRht ir
iSla between HAYES ana Madden. They
Fought 1S5 rounds During six houis
tbese brulsers stood up and pounded
each other. until decision was at last
given I'm favor of Hayes. The ring VAS
.hen. and had been for years, IN pad
repnte. THE champion i'm 1913 was
parker. BNl Perry. the rpton slash
ar" claimed me honor in 1850. lie was
heaf.n in 1881 bv Bro0me but Perry
ursl apain champion IN 1853 ow nT -
a.. ,..ftt.rf ~ Ufporug 10 nght ana nis