The San Francisco call., 1910-03-06

He twisted away, but some of those about him began
to murmur and he faced again.
viii you fght?' 1 asked him. He gru1nbed Aye,
l will
Then hold your tongue between your teeth come
the time to misname the man who beats YOU l told
him. the surly deg"
You did we'll Jack" said the duke You will
fight him in your amphtheator?"
Two weeks hence" said Broughton unless on
sober thought he takes to his heels. To hold him
put up the whole house as purse. If not thrash
him will have no losers sweets hold my stomach,
with him fresh from beating by George Taylor. He
has friends to back him goo he says. covered that
as side. Is your hghness minded to venture on
me?"
Every farthing I can find taker for answered
the duke enthusiastically
Bets on The Battle
Captain Cleveland was watching the champion
keenly Two weeks is none too long i'll which to lose
some of the weight on that great body of yours,
Broughton,@ he said
The boxer flushed. Slack will find me light and
heavy enough and you too, Captain Cleveland if you
care to wager on the butchers chances"
Cleveland held his peace. but he not convinced
Broughon to a careful eye was trife too portly for
fast work in company with vigorous youngster like
Slack 1t was evident, moreover, that the champion
despsed his adversary and would make efforts to
bring himself to condition The captain promised him
self to have look at Slack before he risked money
on the outcome
On April 10 1850, the day before that set for the
battle Broughon of his supporters to the inn
where Slack had put up. The messenger carried 10
guneas which he presented the pugilist explaining
that Broughon desired to cinch the arrangement be-
yond any possible doubt
Does he think shall fail be there, then? asked
Slack pocketing the ceins
He feared you might draw out said the envoy.
Tell him l keep his money to bet against him.
said Slack And let him rest easy. Jack Brough-
ton Will have cause to know that am knee to knee
with him"
Slack who then at the Height OF his powers,
had been a butcher in Norwich He had fought a
straight series of victories through the provinces and
had come to London in the preceding January try
his fortune with the members of the notable group
that gathered about Broughton. His first trial had
ended in defeat the hands of George Taylor after
a desperate contest
He was fully three inches shorter than Broughton
though his weight was nearly equal to che champions
in his prime. His build rather compact than
graceful with thick ankles and wrists and extraor-
binary width of chest. He had learned the various
blows and methods of guarding as first devised by
Broughton but had developed style of his own being
remarkably agile and quick of eye. 1t was said OF
him that he never gave back in a rally and that he
stood ready to meet knockout blow if he could
not stop it, rather than jump cut OF range.
For all Broughton's scorn of him Slack had not the
slightest streak of the coward He had stood up to
Taylor until flesh and bone could 90 After
that crushing deea with his star checked and falter
ing in its upward course the butcher had determined
upon plan that testified both to his shrewdness and
to his undeterred ambition Beaten by Taylor, he
aspred obtain a match with the conqueror of Tay-
lor and snatch the the father Of the sci
ence behavior had been directed to that end, and
Broughtons fear of his withdrawal amused him
nightly
At o'clock of Wednesday morning the doors of
Broughton's amphheaer were thrown open to the
swarm of men and boys that had gathered in Oxford
road These early comers the spectators of the
pit The champions were not to meet until noon, and
the weather. patrons of the sport arrived until
shortly before that time.
In the center of the amphheaer stood the stage,
ring, % feet square, and raised five feet from
the ground. The space about this the pit. At
the sides rooted the boxes and above them
gallery. The stage and pit open to the
air. Some 5000 spectators could be accommodated
within the walls.
The GIadiators
The duke of Cumberland was among the first to
appear in the boxes, and as acquaintances began to
arrive his betting tablets in requisition. He
looked upon any wager on Slack as found money and
gave and 6-to with great willingness. His alacrity
did not meet with its proper response however since
the company generally felt that the relative chances
of the adversaes could be better judged after
two. Broughton's retirement and Slacks rather
obscure record left little room for judgment. Captain
Cleveland hand early. but ventured money
though the duke made him several tempting offers
A few minutes before noon there was a commotion
in the crowd and the combatants. each followed by
his second, entered the amphheater from the retr-
ing They mounted the ladder to the stage, and
clambering over the rails chose their corners The
pit greeted them with OF applause, the boxes
and gallery with handclapping and braves they
stood bowing
Two finer gladiators never faced each other Ihan