Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-09-12

mer by MeSSrS. Debenham, StOrr q
Sons at ing street, Covent garden, Lon
don, recently, was the silver belt pre-
scented to the famous American pugi-
list, John c. Heenan (the Benecia Boy),
after his knuckle fight with Tom Say
ers at Marlborough, on April II, 1850
The trophy, which was manufactured
by Hancock & Co., is of silver and rep
resents roped and staked ring. The
center is inscribed as follows:
Presented to John c. Heehan by F.
S. Bowling, Esq, referee and editor
Bells Life, in London, May go 1860"
This is flanked by model of the rit
ish lion, two pugilists facing each
other, one of them being a picture of
Heenan and other adornments emblem
attic of the celebrated fight. Starting
with "a bid of SIS, the lot speedily rose
to 6 So at which price it was sold to
Mr.. Hemming. This is just SIC SIS
more than was obtained for the fac
smile presented to Savers at the same
time. and disposed of shortly after his
death.
We understand that the buyers of
Heenans belt can obtain a profit on his
purchase if he wishes to dispose of the
trophy, which. although the prize ring
is now thing of the past, naturally
possesses a sentimental value in the
estimation of Englishmen, and more
particularly with those old enough to
remember the sensation that the en-
counter created throughout the whole
oft he kingdom. Messrs. Debenham
also sold a Savers handkerchief, which
realized lbs, and four pictures, one of
which was plate of the fight between
Savers and Heenan, for G10.
What the history of Heenan's belt
has been during all these years, and
where the facsimile of it presented to
Sayers is now, it is impossible to say.
The trophy sold, it should be pointed
out, was not the championship belt
fought for by Savers and Heenan, for,
as most people know, the fight ended in
draw, and thus the disposition of the
championship and it's attendant honors
still remained in allegiance. There was
very protracted argument as to what
should be done for Heenan and Sayers
after their battle. E. T. Smith, who
was then producing Italian opera at
Her Majesty's, and suffering from Sc
| we're competition at Drury Lane and
Covent Garden, made an announce
ment that Sayers and Heenan would
attend the opera-in bruised state"
They went to Her Majesty's Mr.. Ma
pleson relates, and appeared in a box
h,,t oil
| omini was signing in La Traviata'-
just as Melba was last evening at Gov
ent Garden-she failed to hold the
| fighters, who had had enough of grand
opera before the first act concluded,
| and left the house.
After a long period-the men all this
while being made heroes--it was de-
cided to end the matter by presenting
both Heenan and Savers with a fac
simile of the championship belt. AS
to the latter it may be mentioned that
it was next won by Sam Hurst THE
Stalybridge Infant" by his defeating
| Tom Paddock. The presentation to
Savers and Heenan took place at the
Alhambra on May 81, 1860 This came
about midway between the evening S
program, a Mr.. Caldwell introducing
the matter by stating that Savers and
Heenan We're the bravest men who had
met in a field since Wellington and Ma
poleon. Mr.. Bowling, who had acted
as referee of the fight then presented
Heenans belt, remarking that it was
an exact facsimile O. the championship
belt of England, and of precisely SINH.
lar value. having been purchased by
public subscription. to which Tor
Savers had contributed f25.
Heenan. who also received an adj
dress on vellum, DOTTED his coat ant
then put the belt on. Mr.. Wilkes. thu
editor of the New York Spirit of thu
Times. followed with similar pre-
sentation to Savers afterwards walked
round the circus arm in arm with hee-
man, Along with the two trophies wer'
1 red morocco cases, the outside belni
the words: Champion of England il
gold lettering.
The excitement and interest create'
by the fight between Heenan and Say
ers has never had a parallel in the his
tory of either knuckle fighting or box
Hing. An elderly lady, who at the tlm
resided in the Old Kent road, said Onl
the other day, according to. the Lon
! don Sportsman. that when, after tn
! battle at Farnborough. the men wer
brought up to the Bricklayers Arr
station. which is now closed there wa
an enormous crowd that followed ther
into the Swan public house. Whsthe
Heenan was such a great fighter as hi
/ world wide reputation would indicate
is perhaps open to doubt, for his rim
/ battles were limited to three-wlt
/ John Morrissey. Tom Sayers and ToI
/ King-and in none of them was he vic
torious. Morrisey defeated him at Lon
Point, Canada. his fight with Sayer
after thirty-seven rounds. which Taste
i two hours and six minutes, ended in
draw, and in the contest with King h
/ was defeated after twenty-four rolne