Broadside regarding the boxing match between Robinson and Crosbie Transcription A Full, True, and Particular Account of the GREAT BATTLE fought by ROBINSON and CROSBIE, in a field near West Craigs, on Saturday last, the llth day of June 1825, for 200 Sovereigns. ON Saturday last, the llth of June, 1825, the great boxing match between Crosbie, the Glasgow pugilist, and Robinson, the Yorbshireman, for 200 sovereigns, took place hear West Craigs, about 23 miles west from Edinburgh. At about half-past 11 the Commissariat Department commenced operations in forming the ring, and at about 15 minntes before 1, Robinson, with his second, Tom Reynolds, entered, and modestly threw up his castor. He was received with considerable applause. Crosbie soon followed (loud cheering from the Glasgow bodies), and after bowing respectfully to the immense multitude collected, in imitation of Robinson threw up his beaver in token of defiance. Crosbie then shook hands with Robinson, and said, " he hoped he was well," observing, " that if he (Crosbie) was beat that day, he was beat in better condition than ever he had entered a ring before," Robinson, in reply, said, " I am glad to hear that you are well, that he was well himself,and hoped it would be a good fight." The men then commenced peeling. Dunn and M'Neill for Crosbie, colours blue, and yellow spot. Reynolds and M'Gee for York— crimson, and white spot. Betting even. Round 1. After some cautious sparring, Crosbie made feint, Robinson hit left on the listener, and Crosbie staggered nearly down, recovered, and came smiling up to scratch, but was floored by one-two, on the upper part of the head, that dropt him. 2. Crosbie dashed for the upper works of his antagonist; Robin- son parried and broke ground Crosbie next made a visit to the victualling officie, and it told slightly, but Robinson rallied, closed, and threw his man a severe cross buttock. 3. On Crosbie's coming to the scratch, the claret was seen slight- ly trickling down from his left lug. Robinson received a left hand- ed hit on the works that crimsoned the velvet.—Dunn cried out, " First blood ;" but Robinson pointed with his finger to his antagon- ist's listener. Crosbie broke into a rally, and received some severe hits about the neck, was closed, and thrown. 4. Crosbie made play for the body without effect. Robinson retaliated, by unmercifully administering the pepper box on the mug of his antagonist: it was claretted all over, and, a grand finale to the round. Robinson caught hold of his man and threw him with a terrific cross buttock. 5. Crosbie sported an ugly cut under his left ogle, the right in deep mourning, and the snuff box and potatoc trap very much the worse fore wear; yet he came smiling and as pleasant as if at play, his pluck was the admiration of the ring; for any person could see, even at this period of the fight, that he had no chance whatever, but his brave heart seemed to soar above the storm that was pelting round his head ; he dashed in and drew claret slightly from under Robinson's eye, but was floored by a left and right. 6. Robinson broke into a rally with both hands in distance, and, after giving some severe punishment, dropt his man. 7. The same as last. 8. Crosbie hit right and left, but stopped by Robinsod, tried it again, and again foiled and returned on severely. A rally, both down in a struggle for the throw. In falling they came down near Reynolds' legs, and Crosbie's seconds called out foul, and said Rey- nolds had saved Robinson from the severity of the fall, by placing his knee in the way; but the umpires declared they did not see any thing of the kind. 9. Robinson rallied right and left, hit his man to all directions of the ring. In fact, Crosbie was so chanceried that he did not know what he was doing, and sometimes turned his back to his man. He was sent down in a most distressed state. 10. Crosbie's daylights at this period of the battle were of little use, and from the exertions he had made to turn the fate of war, he merely came up (almost mechanically), his nature not allowing him to speak the dreadful word....enough ! 11. Robinson seemed resolved not to lose the advantage he had gained, for he milled his antagonist against the ropes, and from there to the middle of the ring and back again. Indeed, it appeared like Harlequin and the bat of magic milling the clown. Poor Crosbie was again floored, 12. Robinson again at work like a cooper round a cask. Cros- bie dropt as if shot. 13th and last round....Robinson would not give a half chance away, and went in as if he had just begun. Crosbie was again grassed in a manner that excited one general opinion....and that was that he ought to be taken away at the conclusion of the round. Crosbie's second said he should fight no more. Reynolds instantly thre w up the skull thatch, and Robinson, in a style that would have done, honour to a veteran pugilist, kindly shook hands with his fallen opponent, and expressed a hearty wish that he might soon recover from the effects of the battle. Printed for ALEXANDER TURNBULL—Price One penny.
Interesting, and informative, to see how many rounds were ended with a throw or trip. Almost like San Shou, without the kicks, eh? My impression was that a lot of the old-school boxers were also competent wrestlers too. Can anyone confirm or deny? Louie, where'd you find this? "Broadside"?
Yeah, all the stuff that Louie has posted indicates that old bare knuckle boxing was more like MMA than like modern boxing.
Great stuff thanks for sharing! I love the bit about shaking hands at the end. Nice to see that respect between fighters was important then as it is now.
Hi All Yeah, it was definately more MMA , The 'Broadside' was found in the National Library of Scotland website at; http://www.nls.uk/broadsides/ There's only one other broadside relating to a boxing match... Broadside entitled 'Dreadful and Fatal Pitched Battle' Transcription Dreadful & Fatal Pitched Battle. An account of a most dreadful and fatal Piched Battle which was fought on Monday last, at Childshill, near London, be- tween Davis and Winkworth, when Winkworth was killed, and warrants were issued against a number of pugilists, among whom were Byrne, Reynolds and Spring.—Glasgow, 4th August, 1820. Within the last fortnight, a match was made for L. 5 a side, beween Frederickt Winkworth and Jack Davis, known as the Slashing Painter, both from the vicinity of Tottenham Court-Road. The fight took place at Childshill, near London, where a ring being formed they proceeded to business. Davis has the best of the firs five rounds, and in the sixth he was sent down from a body blow, at which Wink- worth's friends were quite uprorious. Davis had the best of it until the eighteenth round, when good counter hits were delivered on both sides. Winkworth, hawer- er, was too far gone to take advantage of any success; still he fought, and was worsted up to the 24th round, when he repeated a dose upon the right eye of Da- vis. In the 27th round Winkworth again dropped upon Davis's already damaged eye, but could not keep his opponent out. In the 38th round Davis gave him a complete cross and fell upon him with all his weight, shaking his whole frame. In the 40th round he was sent down instanter from a right hander on the left jaw. It was now evident he had no further chance, but he still persisted in fighting on, which he did to the 58th round, when he could fight no more, Davis was conse- quently declared the victor. The qght lasted one hour and five minutes. Winkworth was conveyed to an inn where be was bled, but the unfortunate fellow lingered till the following day at 4 o'clock, when he expired. Information having been given to Messrs. Hoare and Bosanquet, Magistrates re- sident at Hampstead, those gentlemen immediately issued their warrant against six- teen persons, pugilists and amatecurs, who were recognised as having been present, and on Tuesday night Bill Eales (who was charged with being one of the men who kept the ring ) Paddy Flynn, one of the seconds, and Davis, were apprehended, and brought before them, charged with the murder of Frederick Winkworth. The Coroner's inquest was held, and a verdict of Manslaughter returned against Davies the principal, and the four seconds. The Coroner issued his Warrant for their committal to take their trials for the of- fence, and the Witnesses were bound over to prosecute and give evidence on the trial. On the next day Mr. Hoare, by whom Ealcs was committed, proceeded to Clerk- enwell prison and discharged him upon bail. He intimated, however that it was his ietention to prosecute all the parties against whom he had issued warrants for a misdemeanour. We understand that Tom Spring, who was present by mere acci- dent, Simon Byrne, Tom Reynolds, and several gentlemen are included in this threat. John Muir printer, Glasgow
Boxing Broadside 1825 OOPPSSSS! here's another boxing broadside of about 1825 This news report begins: 'A Full and Particular Account, of the Great Battle between JOHNSON and HALTON, on Monday the 7th March, 1825, in a Field, 12 Miles west of Edinburgh, for Fifty Pounds Sterling.' The broadside does not carry the name of the publisher or the place of publication. The striking thing about this account of a bareknuckle fight is its vivid use of colloquial expressions. These are numerous, but examples include the description of Halton as 'an ugly carrotty cropped Potatoe', the substitution of 'claret' for 'blood', and references to various parts of the body as 'smottock', 'puddingbag' and 'dexter ogle'. The spectators' disappointment with the fight is also memorably phrased: 'It was hunted that they had seen a better mill between a brace of haddy wives'. Halton was born in Dublin. He fought against the twice champion of England Jack Langan and was defeated by the renowned Jewish fighter Aby Belasco. Broadside ballad entitled 'Account of the Great Battle between Johnson and Halton' Transcription A Full and Particular Account, of the Great Battle between JOHNSON and HALTON, on Monday the 7th March,1825, in a Field, 12 Miles west of Edin- burgh, for Fifty Pounds sterling. YESTERDAY being the time appointed for this momentous en- counter, and being Saint Monday besides, every son of Crispin, and every knight of shrens and patches was early on the more for Winchburgh, lrishman fight for pleasure, Englishmen for ' fame, and Scotchmen when they can't help it. The last love to look on however. The place of rendezvous,through fear of unchivalrous beaks, had been kept a profound secret to all but the knowing ones. In the morning, however, the humbler friends of the fancy scented the odour of preparation. The circle action was a comfortable lea field, on the farm of kirkland on the souchren bank of the Union Canal, nearly midway between Winchburgh and Broxburn. The ground was soon covered by an immense concourse of spectators. All sorts of drags were in tremendous requisition, from the potent chariot and four, followed by unnumbered pupils of the quoniam at- tachiamenta down the humble apple cart of our Irish hucksters. Not a few of the peepers were of rank enough to feel queer should they have been suspected of any vulgar predilection for a mill. But the love of claret levels all distinctions. At a few minutes before two o'clock, Gypsey Johnson threw his castor into the ring with the air of a Hector, amidst the applauses of thousands. His second imme- diately attached his ensign, in the shape of a blue Belcher, to the ropes of the ring. In ten minutes after, Halton, au ugly carrotty cropped Potatoe, made his bow, and was received with similiar plau- dits. His second unfurled a green wipe, in honour of the grassy bills of his country Both men, on peeling, seemed prime meat, Johnson carried at least a eouple of stones more than Hallon. But Paddy was a perfect Longimanus ; his feelers being about the dimen- sions of a couple of ordinary flails. The candidates having skyed a copper for the sun, came to the scratch at two o'clock. Round 1.—Johnson opened the budget but seemed queerish ; act- ing on the defence ; made the periphery of the ring. Halton came up, however, and tipped him a touch on the trunk; this was well met and returned by a teaser on the capitol, which Halton .gracious- ly acknowledged by an instaneous prostration, Johnson above. Old England for ever. 2. A short round. Jolmson shewed first claret from the snot- -****; a smart rally; some tolerable weaving; much outerhouse practice, both down, Gypsey; undermost. Huzza for Old Ireland. 3. Halton tried an experiment on the Gypsey's puddingbag; but the enemy was too quick for him. Johnson tried a return ; but the compliment waa met by a tap on the magazine, that hurled him out of the ring. Johnson kissed the sod beyond the ropes.—The Hill of Howth to a frosted potatoe for Pat. 4. Halton examined the Gypsey phrenologically ; felt him on the mount of bumps ; Johnson shy and retiring in his habits. Hal- ton, however, wanted pluck, and did not go in. A good deal of straggling play, but no game. At lenth both down, Johnson up- permost.—Well done Gypsey ; that's a presser. 5. A well contested round, and lasted four minutes. Jonnson still fighting shy, followed round the ring by Halton, who got his dexter ogle obnubilated by a discharge from Johnson's maniple.— Hurra for Johnson ; come it quick, and you'll win. 6. Johnson alive ; made good play : sent a shaker after Patrick's knowledge box. Pat shyed the favour, however, and caught the com- pliment on his shoulder; Halton turned quaker; a sharp rally; both down, Johnson under.—Shouts for either. 7. Johnson aimed a tremendous corporation hit; Pat returned by a facer : both turfish. 8. and 9. Lots of sparring, but no harm ; both down. 10. A hard fought round; Pat, put in his favourite facer, and stopped a right-handed return from Johnson. Halton punished his adversary round the ring, close to the ropes. The Gypsey made a desperate effort. The enemy skulked, but the suspension was re- fused, with costs against Halton. Johnson fell from a tingler on the left Ing, that rendered him deaf to time. Halton was proclaim- ed victor, with small punishment. This terminated the battle, certainly much to the disappointment of the gapers. It was hinted that they had seen a better mill be- tween a brace of haddy wives,. The fight lasted only twenty mi- nutes. Johnson seemed more exhausted; and neither were hurt. Some hints went round of a cross. Halton is an open flighter and a good man. Johnson was either very cool or much afraid. He does not stand firm on his pins, but was continually shifting his ground. Good order and humour prevailed ; the bets were few; Sawney afraid of being called on to fork the blunt.
Keep it coming, I love the language! I wish modern sports-journalist could be anywhere close to this level of commentary; at least in Norway, I suspect the journalists ending up covering sport were the ones that allmost fluked journalist-school :woo:
