New Britain herald., 1915-01-02
Op0rfOgYaphy
BY "GRAN y.'

While battles in the old prize ring often lasted more than hundred rounds, and were measured in time by hours, pugilistic historians arc generally agreed that the seNerest bout ever fought was not one of these long dragged out engagements, but contest which lasted only eleven rounds and occupied only twenty-six minutes. It was eighty-eight years Jew Ward, the Black Diamond" champion of England. met Peter Crawley, known as Young Rump- steak" at Royston. Crawley, q butcher by trade. had been fighting since he was fifteen, but this was his first try for championship honors. At that period big proportion of the bruisars were butchers, and the cockneys of the London markets were always scrapping. At the time he was matched with Ward for the title, Crawley kept butchers shop, with boxing school on the second floor-a novel combination of busi- nesses.
 Crawley stood over six feet ;n height and had an advantage of three inches over Ward, but both weighed about the same.
 The memorable and ferocious bat tie began with a minute or two of sparring, but after that if was an exchange of smashing blows in rapid succession. Jem landed two punches to Crawley's one, but they lacked tho terrible force of the blows deliN cred by the butcher.
 In the first round, Ward blocked Peters first hard blow and countered with a smash which laid open the flesh above one of Peters eyes and stretched him on his back Craa- ley was covered with blood when he toed the mark for the second round. After rapid exchange. Crawley sa x an opening, and landed with the force of a mules kick on Wards temple. For a brief space it was thought the blow had killed Ward, but Jem quick ly recovered and faced his hard ait ting anra onist.
 Tn the third, fourth and fifth rounds Ward was felled by terrific blows on the nose and mouth. The rapid acton and terrible punishment were already telling on both men, and the sixth round ended when both tell together, after an exchange of sledge- hammer punches. A cross-buttock which sent Crawley to the grass momentarily unconscious ended the seventh round. Crawley appeared all in, and ten to one was offered against him
 Ward tried to land a knockout n the eighth, but so weariod himself that he fell forward on his face. The worn gladiators accomplished little in the ninth and tenth rounds, when both fell from sheer exhaustion.
 In the eleventh it was apparent that Ward was scarcely able to stand, and Peter, with a final summ moning of his strength, put all his waning power into a blow which caught Jem full in the mouth The champion was rendered senseless and deaf to the call of Time" and Peter Crawley, himself unable to stand, was pro- claimed champion of England.
 In a battle shorter in time than a modern ten-round bout, Jem Ward became an ex-champion. For hours he remained unconscious, and he was forced to spend several days in bed, while the victor's condition was little better. Hundreds of Wards packers were ruined by the result of this brutal contest. Although the right f,,1 an, ,,in rpGipneI his honors rather than defend them against Ward, and Jem resumed the title when he had fully recovered, Relinquishing the glories of the prize ring, Crawley retired to the humble position of a tavern keeper, and be- came a famous breeder and fighter of game cocks.