The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-05
Il 1HAMPIOM, When the Game Had Fallen Into
AEva Ways. Defended His Title in a Name,
Worthy of the Golden Days of the Prize Ring

Worthy of the Golden
AVING won the championship and the belt
from Caunt on a foul. Bendigo evaded
the challenge Of William Perry, "the
Upton slasher," a powerful and dangerous but
unscien1i6c fighter. and retired from the ring
in 1850. Perry thereupon claimed the cham
%pionship.
THE Slasher," though he had been defeated
on a foul, in 1s42, by Charles Freeman, a seven
foot giant and the first white American to
enter the lists in England, undoubtedly stood at
the head of the sport at the time of B%endigo's
retirement. He did not hold the title long,
however. losing to Harry Broome on a foul in
1851.
Broome, after holding the championship for
two years. was matched to meet Harry orme.
who. next to 1.-The Slasher,' was regarded as the
hardest fighter of the day. Their meeting was
notable in a period when the game had fallen
upon evil ways. when the traditions of the
ancient heroes were forgotten and when talk,
r%owdyism and fouls were the order.
playwright. 1910, h- the New York Herald Co. All rights reserved,
IT. HE throng that gathered discreetly at the
Shoreditch station Of the Eastern Counties
Railway on the morning of April is, 1853,
was one TO warm the heart of old time fol-
lowers of pneiliSm. The proud title Of cham
pfon of England was once more at issue. and those
who had the matter in hand had determined that the
affair should be conducted with a dignity and decorum
wellnieh forgotten in connection with such events.
The immediate result was that distinguished patron
age had been revived, that the cudgel bands had been
kept at a distance and that only those genuinely in.
terested in unfolding clean sport were to have an
opportunity to participate.
The special train had been chartered for ian ex-
cursion of one hundred miles or thereabouts." a pro-
vision that served as a warrant against intrusion of
any kind. for the ultimate destination was known to
no one. The sixteen carriages were filed to capacity
when the start was made at half past eight. and a list
of the passengers would have read like a ringside
roster in the palmy days Of Tom Crib. At Bishop
Stortford a brief stop was made while Harry Orme,
the challenger. with his attendants. climbed aboard,
and Mt Elsenham. Broome, the champion. Joined the
party. At Ely. further on. a pilot who had been sent
ahead to investigate. reported that n large. unruly
crowd had focked to Mildenhall in expectation Of see
Ing the fight. and that constables were ready at
Lakenheath. The train ran past both these stations
and stopped at a secluded spot where Interruption was
impossible.
The ring keepers of the %pngilistic association pro-
ceeded to take and rope off inner and outer rings in
an open field. and by n quarter past one everything
was in readiness. Tickets were sold to the privileged
section and the general spectators grouped themselves
IN an orderly manner around the outside. Some two
thousand persons were present. Orlne vas the first
to toss his hat into the ring. and he was shortly fol.
lowed by Rroome. The challenger was attended by
Tom Sayers and Jack Grant: the champion by
Bill Hayman, Callaghan. Of Derby, and his brother,
John Broome. who was to be his second. The men
shook hands with the greatest good feeling before
stripping. aM. the crowd cheered them heartily. The
handkerchiefs. cages Of battle. were then tied to the
stakes, blue and white spots for Broome: green, with
white rings. for Orme.
The Men Are Marvels.
The appearance Of the respective combatants was
eagerly observed as they stepped forward to the
scratch in the twenty-four foot enclosure. Rarely
had the prize ring seen more resolute, more manly or
more promising material. Then men were of an age
twenty-seven years-and In strength. grace and con.
dition there seemed little to choose between them.
Broome. a Birmingham boy, had shown himself a
fast and scientific boxer, a remarkable general and an
honest opponent during bis rapid rise to highest
donors. His best qualities had ever been heavy bit
ting and an ability to nurse his strength. At no time
had he stained his record by questionable methods or
cowardly tactics. He was FIVE feet ten inches In
height and weighed 173 pounds. It was said by his
friends that business troubles had intcrfered seri-
Dusly with bis training and that In consequence be
was several pounds over his best fighting weight.
The surplus was noticeable, but did not extend to
n%abbiness, and he stood up rugged, clean limbed.
yolid and At for hard work.
The challenger, Orme. was a Londoner by birth and
had appeared but three times before the present
meeting as an aspirant to pugiistc fame, winning
each fight. His name was as clean as Broome's.
Suspicion had never tainted him and he was known
Tor an earnest. straightforward, even tempered fighter
who never did less than his best. Five feet eight
inches in height, he weighed 1872 pounds, but the ap.
parent discrepancy between the two in favor Of
Broome was Offset by Orme's massive frame and
wonderful muscular development. His skin was
dark, almost mahogany in color, and his round, hand.
some head was set upon a powerful neck. As a
gladiator his best points were indomitable courage
and the ability to land a terrific right handler. The
betting was from g and z to 4 to to / on the cham.
siaa-