Read Ebook: Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing Volume 3 (of 3) Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers With Authentic Portraits Personal Anecdotes and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of t by Miles Henry Downes

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Round 1.--The appearance of Bendigo, on coming to the scratch, was of the first order, and as fair as a lily, whilst Looney displayed a scorbutic eruption on his back. Both seeming confident of victory put up their fives, caution and "stock-taking" for a few moments being the order of the day. Looney made a half-round right-hander, which told slightly on the ear. He then made three hits at the head and body, which Bendigo stepped away from, and dropped a little left 'un on the chin. Bendigo was not idle, but on the defensive, and succeeded in putting in two left-handers on the canister, and blood, the first, made its appearance from the mouth and under the left eye of Looney. This was a long round; in the close Bendigo was thrown.

Nothing particular occurred in the next six rounds; the throws, with the exception of one, being in favour of Bendigo.

REMARKS.--It will be seen by the above account that Bendigo won all the three events--first blood, first knock down, and the battle. He stands with his right leg foremost, has a good knowledge of wrestling, steps nimbly backwards to avoid, and hits out tremendously with his left. He was trained under the care of Jem Ward and Peter Taylor, who must have spared no pains in tutoring him, being much improved since he fought Young Langan; and no doubt will prove a troublesome customer to any 12-stone man who may meet him. He walked about a quarter of a mile to his carriage. A tint of black only appeared under his left eye, but his bodily punishment must be severe, as he could not bear to be touched on the left side. He arrived in Manchester the same evening per gig, and proceeded to Newton races the following morning. Poor Looney was terribly punished about the face, being cut under and over each eye, and his lips and nose terribly mangled: besides the loss of a grinder or two, he lost a great quantity of blood from nose, mouth, and other gashes in the face. He is possessed of most unflinching game, but is slow in his motions; he strikes very heavy with his right, but it is too long a time in arriving at its destination. All that could be done for him by his seconds, Molyneux and Birchall, was done. The ring was sometimes in great disorder, owing to want of attention on the part of the ring-keepers.

Fisher, Molyneux , and others now rushed into letter-writing, but Bendy kept up his claim and his price; and so ran out the year 1837 and part of 1838, the Championship remaining in abeyance, as Jem Ward had retired, and the Deaf 'un was still in America.

All, therefore, went merrily; the instalments were "tabled" as agreed; Bendy was a good boy, and took care of himself; Big Ben worked hard, and got himself down to 15st. 7lb. , as will be seen in our account of this tourney, which, according to the plan of our work, must appear in the memoir of the victor, BEN CAUNT , in the present volume. In this unequal encounter, after seventy-five rounds, Bendigo, who from a mistake had no spikes in his shoes, had the fight given against him for going down without a blow. Two to one was laid on Bendigo within four rounds of the close of the battle.

"BENDIGO AND CAUNT.--On the authority of a letter signed Caunt, we last week stated that this match was off by mutual consent; but we have since been informed by our Nottingham correspondent that such is not the fact, and that Caunt's deposits are forfeited. Our correspondent adds that Caunt's backer tried to get the match off, on the plea that it was a pity to see so little a man as Bendigo fight a giant like Caunt, who was anxious to enter the ring with Burke. He was, however, told that the fight must go on, and he promised to attend, but he neither came nor sent the deposit, but forwarded a letter to London stating that the match was off by mutual consent. As a proof that Bendigo's backers intended the mill to go on, the deposit was received from Sheffield on the Thursday prior to the Monday, and on that very day ?19 towards the next ?20 deposit was raised."

Thus pleasantly released from his engagement with his gigantic competitor, Bendigo instantly responded to the cartel of Deaf Burke, issued on his landing from the New World, in which the Deaf 'un defied any man in the Eastern or Western hemisphere to meet him for ?100 to ?500, within the twenty-four feet of ropes. ?100 was remitted to Peter Crawley to make the match; but lo! Burke had gone over to France with a "noble Earl," and at two several meetings, to which the Deaf 'un was summoned, though Bendigo's "ready" was there, there was no cash from across the water, and Jem Burn announced to Peter Crawley, that he had "a letter" from Paris that "Mister Burke," who was on a Continental tour, could not fight for less than ?200. In the midst of the ridicule and censure of this proposal, so inconsistent with his own published challenge, a gentleman offered to put down the other hundred himself for Bendigo. Crawley, however, declined to put down ?50 of Bendigo's money until guaranteed the ?100. Thus the matter fell through. The public feeling in this matter was not badly expressed in a contemporaneous "squib" entitled:--

HEROIC STANZAS FROM BENDIGO TO DEAF BURKE.

Why, truly, my nabs of the torpid auricular, Your conduct of late ha'nt been wery particular, And I tell you in werse, which I'm no hand at tagging, That I shrewdly suspect you of bouncing and bragging.

When a challenge you gave, and defiance was hurl'd To any professor of fives in the world, Of course I consider'd that nothing was wrong, Tho' I fancied you com'd it a trifle too strong.

I knew you were brave, and as strong as a horse, And remembered your sending poor Simon to dorse; And you told us how Yankees all quak'd at your name, And "guessed" they ne'er witnessed such bottom and game.

You swore as Jem Ward had retir'd on the shelf, Your mind was made up to be Champion yourself; And you dar'd all the world to contend for the prize, While you barred neither country, nor colour, nor size.

This was all wastly well, but how came you to trot Ere you knew if your challenge was answer'd or not, And to cut from your quarters in London adrift On the coming consarn between Adams and Swift?

I tell you, my Deaf 'un, without any flourish, Your conduct appears most confoundedly currish; And as straightforward dealing was always my plan, If you wish for a customer, I am your man.

You boast, my "Venetian," whoe'er may attack you, You have lordlings and dukes in attendance to back you; Well, as folks can't suppose you are telling us fibs, Pray, are these patricians to fork out the dibs?

I give you my word, Peter Crawley, my crony, On my part is ready for posting the pony; How is it, on yours, that your pal, Jemmy Burn, In spite of your chaffing, keeps dropping astern?

Presume not brave fellows henceforward to taunt, For though of my prowess I've no wish to vaunt, An out-and-out good one I fac'd in big Caunt, Who in stature and muscle match'd owld John of Gaunt.

But perhaps, arter all--such, believe me, my trust is-- I may not exactly be doing you justice; And when you're aware I will meet you at milling, At the scratch you may show yourself ready and willing.

It will give me much pleasure, my Deaf 'un, I swear, To see how you'll show off your attitudes there-- While I, glad to see you returned from your mizzling, As you're partial to statues, may give you a chiselling.

I trust that in Paris you show'd in prime feather, And that you and old Soult had a bottle together; I'd like to have seen how you sported your tanners, And mark the French polish you got on your manners.

But perhaps it is time to leave off, my prime feller, For I an't wery much of a writer or speller; Yourself and your pals of the Fancy arn't green, And will doubtless diskiver at once what I mean.

They may call me a fool, and the words won't affront, For 'tis sartain they can't say the same of my blunt; They may swear you are sartain to vanquish me--good-- But pray do not crow till you're out of the wood.

For the present farewell! May we soon have a shy, And if I don't floor you, my Deaf 'un. I'll try-- So off, without any desire to offend, I go, Remaining, in hopes the best man may win-- "BENDIGO."

Such an appeal had an immediate response. The match was made at Sheffield, Burke's friends proposing to stake ?100 to ?80, and a lively interest was soon awakened. On the occasion of the third deposit, on the 27th of November, at Jem Burn's, in Great Windmill Street, the aristocratic muster was numerous, and five to four was freely laid on Burke, who was present, full of quaint fun, for the Deaf 'un, as well as Bendy, was indeed a "character." Burke said he had "lowered his price by ?50, rather than not 'commodate Mishter Bendys, as he ses his frinds is backards in comin forards." The articles specified that the battle should take place within thirty-four miles of Nottingham, and the day to be the 15th of January, 1839. These articles were afterwards revised, and the fight postponed to February 12th, the stakes--?100 Burke to ?80 Bendigo. The Deaf 'un went into training near Brighton, but removed later to Finchley; Bendigo at Crosby, near Liverpool. Here, on Sunday, January 4th, Bendigo had a narrow escape of his life, as the following paragraph records:--

"NARROW ESCAPE OF BENDIGO.--During the storm on Sunday night Bendigo who is in training at Crosby, near Liverpool, narrowly escaped being 'gathered unto his fathers.' It appears that Peter Taylor went to meet Bendigo on Monday morning, but not finding him at the appointed place, proceeded at once to Crosby, when he discovered that the house in which he had left his friend on the previous evening was almost in ruins, the roof having been blown in, and nearly every window broken. Peter's fears were, however, soon allayed by ascertaining that Bendigo was at a neighbouring cottage, where he found him between a pair of blankets, and looking quite chapfallen. Bendigo said that he would sooner face three Burkes than pass such another night. He went to bed about nine o'clock, but awoke about eleven, by his bed rocking under him, the wind whistling around him, and the bricks tumbling down the chimney. Every minute he expected the house to fall in upon him, and at three o'clock the hurricane increased so much in violence that he got out of bed, put on his clothes, and made his escape out of the window. He had not left the house ten minutes before the roof was blown in. A knight of the awl kindly gave him shelter, and he has since obtained fresh quarters in the same village."

As the day approached, intense interest prevailed both in London and Liverpool, to say nothing of Nottingham, Birmingham, Derby, and Manchester, all of which towns sent their contingents of amateurs. Jem Ward undertook to give Bendy "the finishing touch," and reported him "in prime twig," while Burke was declared by Tommy Roundhead, his faithful red-nosed "secretary" and "esquire," to be "strong as a rhinoceros and bold as a lion."

According to articles, the men were to meet within 35 miles of Nottingham, and it was finally agreed that they should meet at the "Red Lion," at Appleby, in Warwickshire, on the Monday, to agree upon the battle-field. A centre of attraction having been thus appointed, the men were moved from their training quarters, to be near the scene of action. Burke, attended by Jem Burn, King Dick, Tommy Roundhead , and other friends, took up his position at Atherstone, while Bendy, under the fostering care of Jem and Nick Ward and Peter Taylor, approached in an opposite direction. The contest seemed to excite extraordinary interest, and the bustle of preparation was observable in all directions. In Atherstone, a most pugnacious town by ancient charter, Burke was hailed with great favour, as a precursor of the local sports of Tuesday; for, from time "whereto the memory of man runneth not to the contrary," on Shrove Tuesday the inhabitants of the village exercise a sort of prescriptive right to settle all disputes in fistic or other combat.

Long before dawn on Tuesday multitudes were progressing towards Appleby, and at nine o'clock the assemblage in front of Burke's domicile was immense. The crowd continued to increase steadily until the arrival of a cavalcade of "swell drags" from the direction of Leicester, which gave the signal for departure, as in and upon these were the patrician supporters of the Deaf 'un. On the arrival of these traps the Burke party instantly prepared for a start. Jem Ward and Bendigo, who were located about two miles off, were also in readiness, and lost no time in repairing to the trysting-place, which, to the dismay of the toddlers and the discomfiture of the prads, proved to be at least seven miles off. The ring was formed on the top of a hill, in the parish of Heather, which spot was not reached by the Deaf 'un, owing to various impediments, until half-past eleven o'clock. A vast crowd had preceded him, and hailed his approach with cheers, but it was evident that thousands were yet to arrive, and fortunately for them an unexpected delay in the arrival of Bendigo proved favourable to their hopes, by protracting the commencement of hostilities.

It was nearly half-past twelve before the actual arrival of Bendigo was made known, and at that time, upon a moderate calculation, there were not less than 15,000 persons present of all degrees, the aristocracy forming no inconsiderable portion.

From some inexplicable delay it wanted only a quarter to one when Burke entered the ring, attended by King Dick and Jackson, and if good humour and confidence could be taken as indications of success his friends had no reason to grumble. While waiting for the arrival of Bendigo an incident occurred which produced considerable laughter: it was the approach of a well-dressed and not unlikely woman, who, forcing her way through the well-packed mass of spectators, ran up to the roped arena, and, seizing the Deaf 'un by the hand as an old acquaintance, wished him success, and, but for the intervening rope, would no doubt have added an embrace. She then seated herself in front of the inner circle, and waited the issue of the battle, subsequently cheering her favourite throughout his exertions. Shortly before one o'clock Bendigo made his salaam amidst deafening shouts, attended by Peter Taylor and Nick Ward, and, walking up to Burke, shook him heartily by the hand. The men then commenced their toilets, and on being stripped to their drawers a subject of much contention arose; Bendigo, on examining Burke's drawers, discovered a belt round his waist, which he insisted should be taken off. In vain did Burke and his friends assure him it was merely a belt to sustain a truss which he wore in consequence of a rupture, and, as it was below his waist, was of no importance; in vain, too, did the referee pronounce it to be perfectly fair; Bendigo was not to be driven from his point, and it was not till the obnoxious belt was taken off that he was satisfied. The belt was exhibited, and fully corroborated the opinion of the referee as to its perfect inutility as a means of defence.

The signal having been given, the men threw off their great coats, and, advancing to the scratch, threw themselves into position; and now, for the first time, a superficial estimate of their condition could be formed. Burke presented all that fine muscular development for which he is famed, but he was pale, and it struck us most forcibly that his flesh wanted that firmness and consistency, the sure consequence of perfect training, and to the attainment of which the mode in which he passed his time was anything but conducive; still he was playful and confident, and regarded his adversary with a look of conscious superiority. Bendigo, in point of muscularity, was inferior to Burke, especially in the shoulders, arms, and neck, but he appeared in perfect condition, and firm as iron. The colour of his skin was healthful; his countenance exhibited perfect self-possession, and wore an easy smile of confidence. The current odds, on setting to, were six to four on Burke, with plenty of takers. In Nottingham, where the physical qualities of Bendigo were better known, the odds had been as low as five to four.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.--The position of Burke was easy and unconstrained. He stood rather square, his left foot in advance, and his arms well up, as if waiting for his antagonist to break ground. Bendigo, on the contrary, dropped his right shoulder, stooped a little, and, right foot foremost, seemed prepared to let fly left or right as the opportunity offered. After a little manoeuvring, he made a catching feint with his left, but found the Deaf 'un immovably on his guard. They changed ground, both ready, when Bendigo let go his right, and caught Burke on the ribs, leaving a visible impression of his knuckles. More manoeuvring. Bendigo tried his left, but was stopped. The Deaf 'un popped in his right, and caught Bendigo on the ear, but soon had a slap in return from Bendigo's right, under the eye, as straight as an arrow. Both steady. Bendigo made two or three feints with his left, but did not draw the Deaf 'un. Each evidently meaning mischief, and getting closer together. Counter hits with the left, when both, by mutual consent, got to a rally, and severe hits, right and left, were exchanged. The Deaf 'un closed, but Bendigo broke away, and turning round renewed the rally. Heavy exchanges followed, when they again closed, and trying for the fall both went down in the corner.

REMARKS.--Perhaps no battle on record offers a stronger illustration of the consequences of vanity and headstrong confidence than that which we have just recorded. Burke, puffed up by his former successes, and flattered by the good-natured freedom of young men of fashion, placed himself beyond the pale of instruction and advice. He was self-willed and obstinate, and quarrelled with all who presumed to guide him in the proper course. His repeated acts of imprudence while in training called forth the strongest remonstrances, but in vain; and thus he has found, when too late, that "a man who will be his own adviser" on such occasions "has a fool for his client." Nothing but the most decided want of condition can account for the slowness which he exhibited; and, when his career from the time he went to Brighton till the day of the battle is considered, that state of constitution is sufficiently explained; and yet those besotted friends who knew all this were as prejudiced in his favour that they blindly pinned their faith to his former reputation, believed no man alive could beat him, and risked their money, as well as stultified their judgment, on we issue of his exertions. But then say these wiseacres, opening their eyes with well-feigned astonishment, "We could not have erred. It is impossible, seeing all that we have seen, and knowing what we have known of the Deaf 'un that he could have made so bad a fight, and be beaten so hollow by a countryman!" Oh no! this could not be--and what follows? Why, the old story--the honest Deaf 'un has all at once turned rogue--he had been bought and fought a cross!--he has sold his friends, and must be consigned to degradation. Why, from the third round it was seen by the merest tyro in the ring that he had not a chance. He was completely paralysed by the unexpected quickness of his adversary, who has, as Jem Ward foretold, proved himself a better man than has for some years appeared in the ring. This has been Ward's constant cry, and had his advice been taken all the odds that were offered would have been taken. But no; the Londoners were not to be beaten out of their "propriety." Twos to one, sevens to four, and sixes to four have, as is well known, been offered over and over again in sporting houses without takers, and many who lamented the impossibility of "getting on" before the fight, have now, after it, the consolation of feeling that they have "got off" most miraculously. And yet this was a cross; and the cunning concoctors of the robbery had the generosity to refuse the hundreds which were, as it were, forced under their noses. Verily this is "going the whole hog" with a vengeance; but from the little we know of such speculations we are inclined to think that those who hazard such an opinion will be deemed greater flats than they have proved themselves. It is an accusation unjust towards a weak, but, we believe, an honest man, and still more unjust towards Bendigo, who, throughout, proved himself, in every respect, a better fighter, as well as a harder hitter, than Burke, and who, in no part of the battle, was guilty of an act which would disentitle him to the honour and profit of his victory. But some facts seem to be altogether lost sight of in forming a just estimate of poor Burke's pretensions, for, independent of his want of condition, it seems to be forgotten that instead of fighting or sparring for the last two years he has been confining himself to the personification of "the Grecian statues," forsooth--anything but calculated to give energy to his limbs--added to which he is ruptured. We are also informed on medical authority that the patella or knee-pan of his right leg is as weak from the fracture which he sustained in the hospital some time back that he is obliged to support it by double laced bandages, and he has been altogether precluded from taking strong walking or running exercise, never having walked more than ten miles in any one day of his training. For our own part we think his day is gone by, and, like many other great performers, he has appeared once too often; but that he intentionally deceived his friends we believe to be a most ungenerous calumny, although his friends may have deceived themselves. After the fight, Burke, who was sufficiently well to walk from the ring, returned to Appleby, and from there to "foot-ball kicking" Atherstone, where the annual sports were merrily kept up in his absence. The same night he returned to Coventry, and arrived by the mail train in London the next morning, none the worse in his bodily health from the peppering he received, however mentally he was "down on his luck." He complained much of his arms, which, from the wrists to the elbows, were covered with bruises, the effects of stopping--and stopping blows, too, which, had they reached their destination, would have expedited his downfall. Bendigo returned to Nottingham the same night, decorated with his well-earned laurels; and it is to be hoped he will enjoy his victory with becoming modesty and civility, bearing in mind that he has yet to conquer Caunt before he can be proclaimed Champion of England.

The Deaf 'un, who showed on the Friday at Jem Burn's, with the exception of his "nob" was all right. He complains most of having been stripped of his belt, which was attached to his truss by a loop, and the absence of which filled him with apprehension. This, combined with his admitted want of condition, he declares placed him on the wrong side the winning post. He is, however, most anxious for another trial, and instructs us to say that he still has supporters who will match him once more against Bendigo for ?100 a side, the fight to come off in the same ring with Hannan and Walker; Burke to be permitted to wear his belt, as in the case of Peter Crawley and Jack Langan. It is needless to say that Burke never again faced Bendigo in the ring, getting on a match at this time with Jem Bailey.

For several months the newspapers were rife with challenges from Caunt to Bendigo and Bendigo to Caunt; each "Champion" roving about the counties in which he was most popular upon the "benefit dodge," each with a star company, and each awakening the city or town where his company performed with a thundering challenge, while each pugilistic planet revolved in his own peculiar orbit without giving the other a chance of a "collision."

In this interval Jem Ward presented a "Champion's" belt to Bendigo, at the Queen's Theatre, Liverpool, amid great acclamations, and again the tiresome game of challenging and making appointments for "a meeting to draw up articles," at places where the challenged party never attended or meant to show, went on. Brassey, of Bradford, too, having in the interim beaten Young Langan, of Liverpool, and Jem Bailey, put in his claim and joined the chorus of challengers. Burke also offered himself for ?100, which Bendigo declined, according to his published challenge. In the latter half of 1839 we read as follows:--

"SIR,--Caunt states that he has been given to understand I wish to have another trial with him for ?200 a side, and that his money is ready at any sporting house in Sheffield. Now, Sir, I have been to many houses that he frequents, and cannot find any one to put any money down in his behalf; and as he was in Sheffield for a fortnight previous to my going away to second Renwick, I think, if he meant fighting, he would have made the match when we were both in Sheffield. Now, Sir, what I mean to say is this--I will fight Caunt, or any other man in England, for from ?200 to ?500 a side, and I hope I shall not be disappointed, as I mean fighting, and nothing else; and to convince the patrons of the Prize Ring that there is no empty chaff about me, as I am going to leave Sheffield this week, my money will be ready any day or hour at Mr. Edward Daniels', 'Three Crowns,' Parliament Street, Nottingham. Or if Burke wants another shy, I will fight him for ?150 a side.

"WILLIAM THOMPSON, alias BENDIGO."

This certainly looked like business, yet the next week we find Caunt declaring "I will make a match with Bendigo for ?200, and I will take a sovereign to go to Nottingham, or give Bendigo the same if he will meet me at Lazarus's house at Sheffield." This was in July, and shortly after Bendigo writes:--

"MR. EDITOR,--Having sent a letter to Caunt accepting his challenge on his own terms, and not receiving an answer, I wish to put that bounceable gentleman's intentions to a public test. I am willing to fight him on his own terms, and I will give him the sovereign he requires to pay his expenses in coming to Nottingham to make the match, and let it be as early as possible. As to Deaf Burke, he is but of minor importance to me. I have no objection to give him another chance to regain his lost laurels, and will fight him for his 'cool hundred,' as he calls it, providing he or his friends make the first deposit ?50, for my friends are not willing to stake less. Should the above not suit either of these aspirants for fistic fame, I again repeat I will fight any man in the world for ?200 or ?500, barring neither weight, country, nor colour. I am always to be heard of at the 'Three Crowns,' Parliament Street, Nottingham.

"WILLIAM THOMPSON, alias BENDIGO. "August 3rd, 1839."

Soon after we read:--

"CAUNT AND BENDIGO.--Bendigo went to Nottingham to make the match with Caunt on Saturday week, but the latter could not find more than two sovereigns to put down as a deposit. Caunt, before he indulges in bounce, should reflect that he only disgraces himself and gains nothing by his 'clap-traps.' These benefit humbugs must be suppressed."

No wonder that the much-enduring editor should thus express himself. Nevertheless the "benefit humbug," like other humbugs, exhibited irrepressible vitality; 1840 wore on, and Caunt, who seemed to prefer a tourney with Brassey or Nick Ward , did not close with Bendigo. Had there been a real intention, the subjoined should have brought the men together:--

"SIR,--I agree with you that there is more 'talk than doing' among the professors of 'the art of Self-Defence' of the present day--more challenges than acceptances--evidently for the purpose of giving to the members of the Ring, for benefits and other interested purposes, fame and character which they do not always possess--I allude particularly to Caunt and Bendigo, 'the Great Guns of the day.' Each talks of being backed, but each, in turn, avoids 'the scratch.' Now to the test: I am anxious, for the sake of society, that 'old English Boxing' should not decline, because I am sure it is the best school for the inculcation of 'fair play,' and the suppression of the horrible modern use of the knife--and of this I am prepared to give proof. Bendigo says he will not fight Caunt for less than ?200, which sum I presume he can find, or he, too, is carrying on 'the game of humbug.' Caunt says he is equally ready to fight Bendigo, but cannot come to his terms. Now to make short work of it--if Caunt can get backed for ?100, I will find another ?100 for him, and thus come to Bendigo's terms. Let him communicate with Jem Burn, in whom I have confidence, and the money shall be ready at a moment's warning. I wish for a fair, manly fight and no trickery; and my greatest pleasure will be to see the 'best man win.' In and out of the Ring prize-fighters ought to be friends--it is merely a struggle for supremacy, and this can be decided without personal animosity, foul play, or foul language, all of which most be disgusting to those who look to sustain a great national and, as I think, an honourable game.

"I am, &c., "A MEMBER OF THE NEW SPARRING CLUB AT JEM BURN'S."

Early in 1840 Bendigo was in London, with his head-quarters at Burn's, where Nick Ward exhibited with him with the gloves in friendly emulation. The brother of the ex-champion, however, was averse to any closer engagement. Bendigo returned to the provinces, and the next week the public was informed that "Caunt's money, to be made into a stake of ?200, was lying at Tom Spring's, but nothing has been heard from Bendigo!" The conjunction of circumstances is curious, for in the same week the subjoined paragraph appeared, which records an accident which certainly crippled Bendigo for the rest of his life. Indeed the author, who at this period saw him occasionally, did not consider him well enough to contend in the ring up to the time of his crowning struggle with the gigantic Caunt.

"ACCIDENT TO BENDIGO.--William Thompson, better known by his cognomen of 'Bendigo,' has met with an accident which is likely to cripple him for life. On Monday he had been to see the military officers' steeplechase, near Nottingham, and on his return home he and his companions were cracking their jokes about having a steeplechase among themselves. Having duly arrived nearly opposite the Pindar's House, on the London Road, about a mile from Nottingham, Bendigo exclaimed, 'Now, my boys, I'll show you how to run a steeplechase in a new style, without falling,' and immediately threw a somersault; he felt, whilst throwing it, that he had hurt his knee, and on alighting be attempted in vain three times to rise from the ground; his companions, thinking for the moment he was joking, laughed heartily, but discovering it was no joke went to his assistance and raised him up, but the poor fellow had no use of his left leg. A gig was sent for immediately, in which he was conveyed to the house of his brother, and Messrs. Wright and Thompson, surgeons, were immediately called in. On examination of the knee we understand they pronounced the injury to the cap to be of so serious a nature that he is likely to be lame for life.

This serious mishap, which befell him on the 23rd of March, 1840, was the result of those "larking" propensities for which Bendy was notorious. It shelved our hero most effectually, leaving the field open to Caunt, Nick Ward, Brassey, Deaf Burke, Tass Parker, and Co., whose several doings will be found in the proper place.

THE FINE OLD ENGLISH PUGILIST

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