THE SYRACUSE HERALD: WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPT. 18, 1918.
James J. Corbett
Molineaux First American Fighter to Invade
England and Achieve Success.
Among the romances of the ring is that which deals with
Tom Molineaux, an American negro who went to Europe
more than a Century ago and gaine a wonderful reputation.
Molineaux was born into slavery on a Virginia plantation
and lived there during his boyhood and young manhood.
He matured at an early age and developed into a most
Powerful fellow. Although only 5 feet 9 inches tall he
possessed, uncanny strength and agility and soon became
recognized as the "King" among the negroes in his own
neighbourhood.
In another part of Virginia lived a giant who occupied
in his own district a position similar to Molineaux
The tales of Molineaux’s greatness annoyed him.He wanted to prove
He was the greatest battler in the state. So he begged
Of a few days from his master sought out Molineaux
And challenged him to a battle.
Molineaux obliged – and using the rough and terrible
Style of battling which was the popular American style
Of fighting in those days, almost annihilated his
Adversary.
Molineanx’s master was an interested spectator and
He was fond of pugilism. Molineaux’s natural fighting
Skill so impressed the plantation owner that he hired
A white man, who knew about the London Prize ring
Tricks to teach the Negro.Molineaux proved to be
An apt pupil. After being tutored for several
Months his master said to him:
“You ought to be a good fighter now if you ever
will be.I am going to give you a try out against
a bigger man than you are.And he’s said to be a
greater fighter than you. If you whip him
you can have your freedom: if you don’t
you remain a slave.”
Molineaux won with ridiculous ease.
A few months later Molineaux a free man
And possessed of a “Stake” which was given
To him by his former master sailed to London.
England scoffed at his claim as a fighter and for
A long time the Negro was, as a challenger, ignored.
Just as his funds were about exhausted the tide of
Fortune swung in his favour. He got a match with an
“unknown” in reality a prominent English fighter
of that era who figured it “easy pickins” to whip
Molineaux and win the $125 purse which a group
Of British sportsmen had hung up.
But the “Unknown” was accorded a rude surprise.
The fight , July 14, 1810, was a victory for the
American Negro.So easily and quickly did he
Triumph that his fame and name were heralded
Throughout England.
Soon afterwards he whipped Tom Blake in 8 rounds and
Met and defeated a half dozen “unknowns” for purses
Ranging from $10-$150. Sums insignificant with present
Day but “big money” in the days of Molineaux.
On December 18, 1810, Molineaux having established
Himself as a really great fighter was given a chance
At Tom Cribb, then champion of England. The men fought
In the open in weather that was bitterly cold. This which
Mitigated against Molineaux’s chances.Sleet began to fall
Soon afer the battle started and the Negro, born and
Raised in a warm climate, was chilled to the marrow.
Yet he fought a game and wonderful fight. Battling
Methodically Molineaux gradually beat Cribb to a point
Near exhaustion. From the 24 round to the 30 round it
Seemed an absolute certainty the Negro would win. He
Was in far better condition than his bleeding and
Battered rival. When the 31st began it seemed only a
Question of a few more rounds before Cribb would
Crumple to the turf- and stay there.
But in that round Molineaux after throwing Cribb
Stumbled and pitched headlong against one of the
Stakes. The impact came within an inch of smashing
His skull. His backers later insisted it did cause
A fracture which was never mended by surgical aid.
Molineaux was helped to his feet and resumed fighting
Within the call of time for the 32nd round.But he was
dazed and bewildered. Cribb almost exhausted himself
had no trouble throwing Molineaux. The Negro respondered
to the call of time for the 33rd round reeling and
staggering like a drunken man.
Cribb coming out from his corner needed only to bump
Into Molineaux to send him tottering to the earth.The
Negro made two feeble efforts to rise then fell back
And moaned “I can fight no more”
Some months later Molineaux asked for a return match
With Cribb and got it.The fight taking place
September 28, 1811.
The Molineaux who faced Cribb in that second fight
Was a far different warrior than the man Cribb had
Battered a year before.The blow to the head had
Affected hi permanently. The Negro never was the same
Fighter afterwards.Cribb had a rather easy time in
The return battle taking the lead at the start and
Winning in 11 rounds.
In 1812 Molineaux fought several battles with indifferent
Success and a year later was pitted against Jack Carter.
They had only fought one round when the police interfered.
His next big fight was with George Cooper on March 10, 1815
and Cooper whipped him.And this removed Molineaux from
the heights of pugilistic greatness and put into the
“has been” class the American who would have been
the heavyweight champion of the would if it hadn’t
been for the accident which he suffered just at the
moment when it seemed that victory was his.
Molineaux sickened a short time after his last
Fight but lingered for some time.Dying in the barracks
of the 77th regiment in Galway, Ireland on August 4, 1818.
Fight details of Tom Molineaux and Tom Cribb are available
On cyberboxingzone
TOM MOLINEAUX-SLAVE to BOXER
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the fight
NEBBASKA STATE JOURNAL,SUNDAY 31 MARCH 20, 1910
on the announced retirement of John.
Gully from the championship he had so
recently won, "Bob" Gregson, his sturdy
opponent in two battles, put forth a claim
to the title. He was matched with "Tom"
Cribb as the likeliest opponent, suffering defeat
in twenty-three rounds. Cribb was thus
elevated to the championship in 1808 and held
the title until his voluntary retirement in 1822.
Possibly no champion, has ever been such
a popular idol as the huge, good natured, clean
fighting "Tom" Cribb. He received many testimonials
throughout his career of the high regard in which he
was held by all followers of the sport and was not so
much the champion of England as a national institution.
Two of his hardest battles were fought with "Jem" Belcher,
the 'man who never could not learn -what defeat meant.
In 1810 he was matched with "Tom" Molineaux. an American
negro of great promise. Cribb won the victory after
thirty-three hard rounds, and the black
demanded another trial. The second fight -was
Cribb's last pitched battle, confirming him in
his title and in public esteem.
CAPTAIN, BARCLAY entered the tavern where
many of the distinguished amateurs and patrons
of the sport were to pass the night before the
great fight with no less a person than "Tom"'
Cribb himself in tow. Shouts greeted their arrival
and places were quickly made about the table.
Attention centred upon the fresh, lean face and stalwart
figure of the champion, who had kept himself out of
sight these three months. There had been many
rumors as to his condition and this was the first
opportunity the fancy had had to size up their truth.
"Why, Tom, man, you've fallen away,'' was the comment
of Major Mellish, as he looked the boxer over
critically. "Where's your girth? 1 suppose this is
your doing, Barclay, with the' diet and training nonsense
you've been dinning in our ears."
"Ay," said the Captain, with a proud smile. "I can
say it's my doing. You all know how I've gone a seeking
of a docile subject Well, I've found one now and
never could have wished a better patient than Cribb.
Look at him, will you, gentlemen" Thirteen stone six
pounds he weights, and as hard all over as your thick
head,Major."
"I very much doubt it," replied the Major, shaking that
member. "Thirteen stone six “Why,that's near
a stone under his weight when he met Molineaux last
trip. -Barclay, my good friend, I've a notion he'll be
wanting that stone to-morrow. .Most likely you've
taken all the poor. fellow's strength away with your
"milk and eggs and forty mile walks and sweatings.
What of it, Tom? I'll go bail now you're limp as a
cat under it all. Plain, easy living, rare beef and good
porter - there's the training for any boxer who ever
stepped."
"Oh, you'll find me fit enough," laughed Cribb
evasively: If these gentlemen wished to dispute over
his condition he -would have no part in it for there was
betting afoot or he was much mistaken. For himself
he had never felt better. The eleven -weeks of hard
training at Barclay's estate of Ury and in the Highlands
had brought him to the keen edge of bodily well being.
This was just the kind of discussion that Barclay
had hoped for. At a time when systematic training
of athletes was almost unknown he had devised and
practised a method of his own that had enabled him to
achieve notable feats of strength and endurance, such
as walking one hundred and ten miles in nineteen
hours and throwing a half hundredweight a distance
of eight yards. The battle of the morrow was to put
his theories to test once for all.
"There's still more to it, Major," he said. ",'When
Tom came to my place in July he weighed sixteen
stone, not a pound less. A loss of thirty-six pounds
and you have the net result."
Mellish threw up both hands and appealed to the
company. "Then he's a gone man. 1 leave it to any
gentleman if a fighter can afford any such sapping
of his strength. Barclay, I misdoubt you've done
him an ill kindness."
"Are you minded to place any bets on the outcome.
Major?" pnrred the Captain,with a twinkle.
"Um-m-m," grumbled Hellish, returning to his inspection
of Cribb. "You'll note, Barclay, that your
own information, volunteered just now, is an element
in the situation."
"Make the most of it," returned Barclay, stoutly.
“its every word of it true."
"What odds would you offer” asked the Major
cautiously. Bets Three to One.
"From your confidence I might have demanded
them of you," smiled the Captain. "But I'll give you
Three to one."
"Done, for £3,000," cried Melllsh excitedly.
"Done," answered Barclay, and the wager was recorded.
Cribb felt no uneasiness at the size of the obligation
assumed on his account by his friend and faithful
backer. More than any other he was in a position
-to. testify to the wonders -wrought by Barclay's training-
The champion had just completed his thirtieth
year. Born near Bristol, the birthplace of so many
holders of the title, he had served as a sailor in the
navy and had fought his first public battle
at the age of twenty four. After a single defeat
early in his career at the hands of a minor boxer
he had won his way steadily up the pugilistic
ladder by a series of notable victories.Unlike
Jackson or Gully “Tom” had been no favourite
Of fortune. Success had come to him only after
He had beaten down all obstacles with his
Mighty arms.
Of modest, unassuming nature, Cribb had gradually
won a following before he stepped into the championship.
No fairer or cleaner fighter ever held the honor.
He bad kept his record without, reproach. For
The rest he had attained hi superiority by
Hard work and careful study of the science.
No natural boxer like Belcher, he had shown
But mediocre ability at the start.he had been
Classed as a “slow hitter” and never developed
Into a remarkably swift or agile pugilist
.His best qualities in the ring were his excellent
generalship, his knowledge of the game, his wonderfully
sound wind and his rock founded courage.
In another inn of tbe vicinity the challenger. was
put up for the nisht before the big battle. "Tom"'
Molineaux bad been a slave on a Virginia plantation,
where he was born.Having found refuge in England,
he had presented himself as a candidate for pugilistic
fame under the auspices of "Bill"' Richmond, another
American negro who was well known to followers of
the sport as a second and a fighter of merit.
Two victories over minor boxers of the day
had recommended him as a fitting aspirant to the
championship and he had issued a. challenge to Cribb.
Cribb. after his second defeat of Belcher, bad practically
decided upon retirement. When the ambitious
defiance of the negro was presented, however, he bad
yielded readily to the wishes of his friends. The
situation was somewhat similar to that now existing
between jeffries and Johnson. Cribb was called upon to
uphold the supremacy of the race in the ring and gave
over his private arrangements for a quiet life in retreat
to respond to that call. As a newspaper of the day
put it:
"Some persons feel alarmed at the bare idea that a
black man and a foreigner should seize the championship
of England and decorate his sable brow with the
hard earned laurels of Cribb. He must, however, have
his fair chance.Although “Tom” swears that for the honour
of old England “He’ll be dammed if he will relinquish
a single sprig except for his life”.
Molineanx,had put up a terrific fight in his first
Meeting with the champion and had honestly won his
right to a return engagement. The black was a man
of great strength and not without science, which
he had improved by constant practice since his
arrival in England. was in no way an opponent to be
despised, a fact to which the intense interest of the
fancy and the almost unprecedented attendance at the
second battle amply testified.
The Battlefield.
The scene of action was Thistleton Gap,in the
Parish of Wymondham Leicestshire.. Thousand's
of fight followers had been gathering from all parts
of the country for a week, and on the night before
the meeting accommodation was not to be had for
twenty miles around. On the morning of September
28,1811 the throngs were on the move long before
dawn seeking advantageous places about the
ring.
A stage twenty-five feet square was erected in
the centre of a large stubble field Hold. To prevent
interference from the vast concourse a larger roped arena
surrounded the stage.
THE FIGHT
At twelve o'clock Cribb mounted the stage, followed
by his old friend, the former champion, Gully, as second
and the veteran "Joe Ward as bottle holder. His
appearance was the signal for a thunderous demonstration,
which was swept on. to .Molineaux a few moments
later, when he showed himself -in company with "Bill"
Richmond, us second and "Bill"' Gibbons as bottle
holder. The two fighters tossed up their hats in token
of defiance and began to strip to breeches; stockings
and pumps. At eighteen minutes past the hour the
umpires gave the signal and the boxers stepped forward.
Cribb now gave visual evidence of the benefit \of
Captain Barclay's training. Five feet ten and a half
inches in height, he was a man of ponderous frame,
with a natural tendency, to flesh. His present weight
of 188 pounds meant that he was all bone and muscle
and firm skin, at the exact line between the pink of
form and the point of dangerous firmness. He represented
the type of "the rugged, massive, deliberate
exponent of the art. secure in his solid strength and
endurance, prepared to give and take the blows of
Titans.
Molineaux was power carved in ebony. The negro
had, never been one to give proper attention to his
condition, but the watchers could pick no flaw in
him. He. too. had reduced weight since the last
meeting, though certainly not so healthily, and he
came to the mark ,at about 155 pounds. His height
was five feet eight and quarter inches.His most
striking., physical characteristic was his remarkable
reach, backed by arms of tremendous development.
"With gladiators of this kind in the ring there was
little chance of a sparring exhibition, and as the two
advanced to the handshake there were immediate
hostilities.it was known the black was keen for
revenge and many looked to see hime force the pace
from the set to.The opponents fell on guard for
an instant and battle was joined with a whirl
and a rush.The Negro hammering in for a brief
fierce attack against Cribbs cool effective
guard.
Cribb Starts Trouble.
Suddenly Cribb went upon the offensive. In the
first tentative clash which serves the alert tighter as a
clearing and defining of values he bad tasted his
superiority, sensed his own great ability and resources
once more. He drove in manfully with right and left
smashes.The first got home a glancing cut on Mollineaux
body the second was skilfully parried as the black
stepped into the opening and sent a large
lunge to the champions head.Cribb wavered not at all
but drove one , two again at the body.Mollineaux
was ready for him covered himself and they stood
knee to knee in some pretty exchanges.
It was nip and tuck for a full minute with
Some of the hardest rallying the two had ever
Tried.The crowd paid the Negro the tribute due to
His cleverness and good will. He never gave back
But stood up at blow for blow with the great
Champion.More than that he had just a trifle
The better of the session and ripped in a drive
To the forehead that all but snapped Cribb of
His balance. Cribb acknowledged the hit with
A grin. The black was a better boxer than ever
And it was a pleasure to mill with such a
Straightforward stand up opponent. So thought
the champion as he came back from the check
and waded in with increased speed.
They were fighting at distance for Cribb was
Not ready to break to close quarters and
Prefered to take his chance with the fists.
Mollineaux feinted at the body and swept
A cut at the headthat the champion deftly
Warded, countering to the ribs. The black stepped
Back at the battering ram drive, but Cribb
Followed him sending a neatly aimed straight
Arm to the throat that forced mollineaux
Over for a clean fall. The champion received
The roaring approval that was his due for
Bold scientific work, but the prevailing
Odds of 3 to 1 were not altered by the
Outcome of the round, the Negro being
Plainly unhurt.
Moliueaux opened the second round after the
manner of "Dutch Sam," the lightweight marvel and
whirl wind fighter of the day, with a bewildering and
ferocious attack. Cribb held him off for a moment,
but gave ground just in, time to break the force of a
wicked smash, to the mouth that drew first crimson.
The negro forced his lead. head held low. making
his reach count. Cribb backed another step, but
stopped there, taking a slam to the ribs and coming
back strong with a right hander that found its mark
on the chest and checked the African's impetuous
advance. Molineanx swung over the champion's
guard smoothly and landed hard to the head.
Cribb had now worked himself in to half arm
without seeming to have done so deliberately. He
foresaw much trouble if he permitted the black to
run the. fight at a distance with all the advantage of
reach. The champion carefully avoided showing'. his
adversary that he had no particular liking for the
long exchanges, but cleverly tempted him in closer,
taking body punishment willingly to achieve his end.
Mollinaux's first rush bad worn itself out. but he
had plenty' of steam and stopped two wicked hooks
to the jaw while getting home some slicing jabs. In
another swift exchange the black snaked through a
beautiful drive that did execution over Cribb's right
eye.
Having whetted the black's appetite for close work
by several openings the champion now cautiously put
into practice one of his favourite manoeuvres, which
was ever a distinctive part of his play. This was
milling on the retreat. He gave back slowly, tempting
his adversary to extraordinary efforts and exhausting
lunges, while watching craftily for his
chance and holding his powers in reserve. He found
his opening and came back with vigor. But Molineaux,
profiting by bis previous knowledge of the
champion's tactics, ducked under the blow and came
to grips.
The wrestle was long and contested with the utmost
fierceness,the big fellows stamping and straining
from rope's to ropes. Molineaux proved slippery
and Cribb could not catch him to advantage, while
the black's long arms wound to firm holds. Suddenly
the negro threw his weight to the side, tripping cleverly
and throwin the champion a heavy fall. It had
been evident from the first that the black bad few
real partisans in the throng, but. there was a spontaneous
outburst of applause at this exhibition of
dexterity. Odds fell to 5 to 4 on Cribb. It was clearly
the negro's round.
Molineaux Confident.
Cribb opened the third round and forced a stiff
rally, losing no time in coining well within the firing
line. His right eye was almost useless, but be found
that neither aim nor judgment had been impaired.
The showing made by Mollineaux was no surprise
and he had not fallen into the 'error of underestimating
his task. He set to work with perfect, confidence
and possession." If he knew anything of signs
the black was finding the bottom of his wind, and
this was a point upon which Cribb largely counted.
With bis magnificent equipment and preparation
Cribb himself was scarcely breathed. He bided his
time, meanwhile seeking to lure the negro with another
retreat.
Molineaux merely improved the opportunity to deliver
two long range smashes to the face and Cribb
bored back hastily. A terrific rally followed, the
champion beating down the others guard twice for
body blows and taking full receipt about the head.
To the 'spectators the negro had suffered nothing to
speak of since the start and there were impatient
cries, to the champion to make his mark upon his
man. Cribb was in no wise hurried, but launched
upon a one, two with irresistible strength. Mollineaux
turned one aside, but the next, sweeping through unchecked,
caught him a "doubler"' over the stomach
with resounding force. The blow was enough to
have laid out many a more stalwart one on the spot.
It sent him spinning across the ring and all but off the
stage. By desperate effort ho regained his balance
and kept his feet, before Cribb came up with him.
To the surprise of the crowd the black lost no time
in retaliating with a powerful swing to the ear. As
Cribb rushed in confidently Molliueaux sprang upon
him with renewed vigor, checked the advance and
milled back determinedly. He sealed the work he
bad begun upon the champion's right eye, ripped to
the chin and won back his lost ground. The champion
found that he had counted too much upon his
tremendous drive and sought to repeat it but Mollineaux
blocked and got right and left to the ribs.
Cribb retreated drawing the negro to several wrenching
misses and landed several times with his left
without damage... As he drew off for a' swing
Molineaux closed with judgment and caught a good hold.
The struggle was short and once more the champion
went crashing to the stage while the black stood
firm and safe.
'
Cribb was quite as Conscious as any. anxious friends
in the gathering that he was approaching the crucial
moment Of the battle. Molineaux ,as be was willing
to admit was his equal and a little more in science,
speed and strength. If the black could hold the
present pace the issue would almost certainly be in his
favor. But Cribb was convinced that he could not
hold the pace. At the clinch the black's 'chest had
labored in utmost distress, and the champion had felt
him wince at battering blows. Barclay had told him
that this fight would be won on condition alone if all
else failed him. and he believed in Barclay.
Cribb came to the mark strong and eager at the opening
Of the fourth round and led off with right and left
in body and head. Molineaux was too quick and bored
back slamming through the white man's guard and
landing to the face. His persistent high aim had
wrought great disfigurement and he continued to
center his punishment, about the eyes. They mixed
it fiercely neither yielding and both tacking short arm
jolts until Cribb once more tried to lure the black into
a pursuit. Molineaux stood his ground and shot
through two flush hits to the head with the left at long
range the last almost closing Cribb's sound eye.. This
was the negro's best blow and the champion's followers
began to look glum at the ease with which planted it.
But Cribb wasted little uneasiness upon immediate
reverses. Either Molineaux was failing fast or he
had fought his score of battles to no purpose. While
outwardly in bad case, fearfully cut and crimsoned
from a score of wounds, tbe champion had not
sacrificed wind, strength or temper. In the next rally
the negro showed plainly that he was losing his earlier
Steadiness and resolution. He missed a humming left
swing and caught a nasty clip to the mouth as he
flung up his guard. Instantly he lunged in with both
arms, crying Out angrily. The champion improved
the chance by coolly planting several telling smashes
to the ribs and the black danced back gasping.
Both Like Demons.
Cribb smiled, though the result was somewhat awry
and attacked with a ferocity and determination
that be had not yet shown. The spurt was well timed
to follow Molineaux's first break of weakness. The
champion walked in whirling sledge hammer blows
upon the black's guard and forcing him back with
right and left to the body and right and left to the
head. Molineaux outmanoeuvred and threatened by
another terrific ''doubler." retreated to the ropes
Here he made a desperate stand and some of the hardest
Fighting of the battle took place. Cribb broke
through repeatedly to the ribs,but seemed to make
little impression. Molineaux"s drives and swings to
the face was masterly, and Crlbb attempting to duck
a particularly savage one was hit off his balance by
the alert negro. Before he could recover Molineaux
had knocked him down with a 'swift rap under the
ear.
Both, men seemed bent upon decisive results from
the fifth round. They stepped instantly into a give
and take of heavy blows, but Cribb found that the
black was still a hardy customer. The negro peppered
him with hard -right and left smashes to head which
Cribb could not avoid. or properly return
and tbe exchange was altogether in favor of the challenger.
The champion fought. for a body drive, but
launched too slowly and came to grief from the
black's terrible left once move. The swing caught
him under the ear and staggered him while Molineaux
shot over a scientific right to the jaw immediately
afterward that sent him reeling. As Cribb
was falling the negro with wonderful quickness, put
in another straight arm to. the face.The crowd
quickly betrayed its partisanship by howls of
disapproval but the umpires, after a discussion decided
that the blow was fair, Cribb's hand having been
at liberty and not having touched the floor.
As the boxers approached each other for the sixth
round the champion felt that his time had come
Molineanx' wonderfully clever work which had won
him the advantage in each of the last four rounds,
had been accomplished at a killing expense, of wind
and strength. The negro's chest and sides were
heaving painfully, and his actions, as they fell off
guard were those of an exhausted man in deep distress.
He lunged right and left, but wildly, and
Cribb avoided, countering with a hard hook that the
negro parried. They stepped into a rally and Cribb
jammed through another of his tremendous body
blows. Molineaux fell away like a broken reed, holding
his arms across his stomach. Cribb followed and
the negro met him half heartedly. The blow bad
found him out. For soe minutes the champion
vainly tried to find the black, who danced and led
him a chase all around the stage. Molineaux seemed
unwilling to risk more suffering, capered, hit short
and was nil abroad. Then Cribb caught, him, battered
him almost at will about the head and floored him
with a flush drive to the jaw.
To many the sudden turn in the tide of battle came
As a surprise. It was exactly what Cribb bad looked
for. The question now was one of endurance and the
negro had gone the length of his tether. Odds rose to
five to one on the champion.
Molinennx opened the seventh round in a rage, but
he had lost the power to make it dangerous. He reached
Cribb's jaw lightly and the champion drove
to the throat. Stepping back. Cribb parried rind repeated
to the throat. He got in the blow a third time
when the negro, charging wildly, wrenched himself off
his balance, stumbled and fell.
Molineanx attempted a brief rally at opening of the
eighth round, but either could not judge his distance
or feared to stop boldly into it. Cribb slammed him
about the face, then, rushing in. caught the negro's
head under his left arm and battered him until he
dropped.
In the words of one of the sporting writers present,
it was "Lombard street to a China orange. Moliniux
came up for the ninth round staggering and
wild. Summoning his failing forces, he made a mad
rush, which Gribb met neatly with his left. The blow
caught the black in mid career and sent him crashing
to the stage with a fractured jaw. Molineaux was
Unable to get up and his attendants raised, him with
difficulty. At the end of the half minute the black
was not yet in shape to continue but Cribb refused
to appeal to the umpires, wishing to give his opponent
every opportunity..
Finally the courageous negro came weaving to the
centre for the tenth round. He attempted to bore in.
but fell from weakness. Cribb gave him another
long interval, but Molineaux was too far gone. His
attendants carried him to the centre for the eleventh
round, and he stood there for an instant,, weaving
and helpless, then fell before a blow was struck. The
battle was accorded to Cribb amid thundering cheers,
and the champion,as the proof of his condition,
danced 'a Scotch reel with Gully abut the stage. The
fight, had lasted 'nineteen minutes ten seconds. Captain
Barelay won £10.000 from Mellish and others, but took
his chief satisfaction from the establishing of his.
training theories. Cribb's purse was £400. Before
the crowd had dispersed. John Jackson,as was his
kindly custom made a collection for the defeated
contestant and presented Moliueaux with £50.
on the announced retirement of John.
Gully from the championship he had so
recently won, "Bob" Gregson, his sturdy
opponent in two battles, put forth a claim
to the title. He was matched with "Tom"
Cribb as the likeliest opponent, suffering defeat
in twenty-three rounds. Cribb was thus
elevated to the championship in 1808 and held
the title until his voluntary retirement in 1822.
Possibly no champion, has ever been such
a popular idol as the huge, good natured, clean
fighting "Tom" Cribb. He received many testimonials
throughout his career of the high regard in which he
was held by all followers of the sport and was not so
much the champion of England as a national institution.
Two of his hardest battles were fought with "Jem" Belcher,
the 'man who never could not learn -what defeat meant.
In 1810 he was matched with "Tom" Molineaux. an American
negro of great promise. Cribb won the victory after
thirty-three hard rounds, and the black
demanded another trial. The second fight -was
Cribb's last pitched battle, confirming him in
his title and in public esteem.
CAPTAIN, BARCLAY entered the tavern where
many of the distinguished amateurs and patrons
of the sport were to pass the night before the
great fight with no less a person than "Tom"'
Cribb himself in tow. Shouts greeted their arrival
and places were quickly made about the table.
Attention centred upon the fresh, lean face and stalwart
figure of the champion, who had kept himself out of
sight these three months. There had been many
rumors as to his condition and this was the first
opportunity the fancy had had to size up their truth.
"Why, Tom, man, you've fallen away,'' was the comment
of Major Mellish, as he looked the boxer over
critically. "Where's your girth? 1 suppose this is
your doing, Barclay, with the' diet and training nonsense
you've been dinning in our ears."
"Ay," said the Captain, with a proud smile. "I can
say it's my doing. You all know how I've gone a seeking
of a docile subject Well, I've found one now and
never could have wished a better patient than Cribb.
Look at him, will you, gentlemen" Thirteen stone six
pounds he weights, and as hard all over as your thick
head,Major."
"I very much doubt it," replied the Major, shaking that
member. "Thirteen stone six “Why,that's near
a stone under his weight when he met Molineaux last
trip. -Barclay, my good friend, I've a notion he'll be
wanting that stone to-morrow. .Most likely you've
taken all the poor. fellow's strength away with your
"milk and eggs and forty mile walks and sweatings.
What of it, Tom? I'll go bail now you're limp as a
cat under it all. Plain, easy living, rare beef and good
porter - there's the training for any boxer who ever
stepped."
"Oh, you'll find me fit enough," laughed Cribb
evasively: If these gentlemen wished to dispute over
his condition he -would have no part in it for there was
betting afoot or he was much mistaken. For himself
he had never felt better. The eleven -weeks of hard
training at Barclay's estate of Ury and in the Highlands
had brought him to the keen edge of bodily well being.
This was just the kind of discussion that Barclay
had hoped for. At a time when systematic training
of athletes was almost unknown he had devised and
practised a method of his own that had enabled him to
achieve notable feats of strength and endurance, such
as walking one hundred and ten miles in nineteen
hours and throwing a half hundredweight a distance
of eight yards. The battle of the morrow was to put
his theories to test once for all.
"There's still more to it, Major," he said. ",'When
Tom came to my place in July he weighed sixteen
stone, not a pound less. A loss of thirty-six pounds
and you have the net result."
Mellish threw up both hands and appealed to the
company. "Then he's a gone man. 1 leave it to any
gentleman if a fighter can afford any such sapping
of his strength. Barclay, I misdoubt you've done
him an ill kindness."
"Are you minded to place any bets on the outcome.
Major?" pnrred the Captain,with a twinkle.
"Um-m-m," grumbled Hellish, returning to his inspection
of Cribb. "You'll note, Barclay, that your
own information, volunteered just now, is an element
in the situation."
"Make the most of it," returned Barclay, stoutly.
“its every word of it true."
"What odds would you offer” asked the Major
cautiously. Bets Three to One.
"From your confidence I might have demanded
them of you," smiled the Captain. "But I'll give you
Three to one."
"Done, for £3,000," cried Melllsh excitedly.
"Done," answered Barclay, and the wager was recorded.
Cribb felt no uneasiness at the size of the obligation
assumed on his account by his friend and faithful
backer. More than any other he was in a position
-to. testify to the wonders -wrought by Barclay's training-
The champion had just completed his thirtieth
year. Born near Bristol, the birthplace of so many
holders of the title, he had served as a sailor in the
navy and had fought his first public battle
at the age of twenty four. After a single defeat
early in his career at the hands of a minor boxer
he had won his way steadily up the pugilistic
ladder by a series of notable victories.Unlike
Jackson or Gully “Tom” had been no favourite
Of fortune. Success had come to him only after
He had beaten down all obstacles with his
Mighty arms.
Of modest, unassuming nature, Cribb had gradually
won a following before he stepped into the championship.
No fairer or cleaner fighter ever held the honor.
He bad kept his record without, reproach. For
The rest he had attained hi superiority by
Hard work and careful study of the science.
No natural boxer like Belcher, he had shown
But mediocre ability at the start.he had been
Classed as a “slow hitter” and never developed
Into a remarkably swift or agile pugilist
.His best qualities in the ring were his excellent
generalship, his knowledge of the game, his wonderfully
sound wind and his rock founded courage.
In another inn of tbe vicinity the challenger. was
put up for the nisht before the big battle. "Tom"'
Molineaux bad been a slave on a Virginia plantation,
where he was born.Having found refuge in England,
he had presented himself as a candidate for pugilistic
fame under the auspices of "Bill"' Richmond, another
American negro who was well known to followers of
the sport as a second and a fighter of merit.
Two victories over minor boxers of the day
had recommended him as a fitting aspirant to the
championship and he had issued a. challenge to Cribb.
Cribb. after his second defeat of Belcher, bad practically
decided upon retirement. When the ambitious
defiance of the negro was presented, however, he bad
yielded readily to the wishes of his friends. The
situation was somewhat similar to that now existing
between jeffries and Johnson. Cribb was called upon to
uphold the supremacy of the race in the ring and gave
over his private arrangements for a quiet life in retreat
to respond to that call. As a newspaper of the day
put it:
"Some persons feel alarmed at the bare idea that a
black man and a foreigner should seize the championship
of England and decorate his sable brow with the
hard earned laurels of Cribb. He must, however, have
his fair chance.Although “Tom” swears that for the honour
of old England “He’ll be dammed if he will relinquish
a single sprig except for his life”.
Molineanx,had put up a terrific fight in his first
Meeting with the champion and had honestly won his
right to a return engagement. The black was a man
of great strength and not without science, which
he had improved by constant practice since his
arrival in England. was in no way an opponent to be
despised, a fact to which the intense interest of the
fancy and the almost unprecedented attendance at the
second battle amply testified.
The Battlefield.
The scene of action was Thistleton Gap,in the
Parish of Wymondham Leicestshire.. Thousand's
of fight followers had been gathering from all parts
of the country for a week, and on the night before
the meeting accommodation was not to be had for
twenty miles around. On the morning of September
28,1811 the throngs were on the move long before
dawn seeking advantageous places about the
ring.
A stage twenty-five feet square was erected in
the centre of a large stubble field Hold. To prevent
interference from the vast concourse a larger roped arena
surrounded the stage.
THE FIGHT
At twelve o'clock Cribb mounted the stage, followed
by his old friend, the former champion, Gully, as second
and the veteran "Joe Ward as bottle holder. His
appearance was the signal for a thunderous demonstration,
which was swept on. to .Molineaux a few moments
later, when he showed himself -in company with "Bill"
Richmond, us second and "Bill"' Gibbons as bottle
holder. The two fighters tossed up their hats in token
of defiance and began to strip to breeches; stockings
and pumps. At eighteen minutes past the hour the
umpires gave the signal and the boxers stepped forward.
Cribb now gave visual evidence of the benefit \of
Captain Barclay's training. Five feet ten and a half
inches in height, he was a man of ponderous frame,
with a natural tendency, to flesh. His present weight
of 188 pounds meant that he was all bone and muscle
and firm skin, at the exact line between the pink of
form and the point of dangerous firmness. He represented
the type of "the rugged, massive, deliberate
exponent of the art. secure in his solid strength and
endurance, prepared to give and take the blows of
Titans.
Molineaux was power carved in ebony. The negro
had, never been one to give proper attention to his
condition, but the watchers could pick no flaw in
him. He. too. had reduced weight since the last
meeting, though certainly not so healthily, and he
came to the mark ,at about 155 pounds. His height
was five feet eight and quarter inches.His most
striking., physical characteristic was his remarkable
reach, backed by arms of tremendous development.
"With gladiators of this kind in the ring there was
little chance of a sparring exhibition, and as the two
advanced to the handshake there were immediate
hostilities.it was known the black was keen for
revenge and many looked to see hime force the pace
from the set to.The opponents fell on guard for
an instant and battle was joined with a whirl
and a rush.The Negro hammering in for a brief
fierce attack against Cribbs cool effective
guard.
Cribb Starts Trouble.
Suddenly Cribb went upon the offensive. In the
first tentative clash which serves the alert tighter as a
clearing and defining of values he bad tasted his
superiority, sensed his own great ability and resources
once more. He drove in manfully with right and left
smashes.The first got home a glancing cut on Mollineaux
body the second was skilfully parried as the black
stepped into the opening and sent a large
lunge to the champions head.Cribb wavered not at all
but drove one , two again at the body.Mollineaux
was ready for him covered himself and they stood
knee to knee in some pretty exchanges.
It was nip and tuck for a full minute with
Some of the hardest rallying the two had ever
Tried.The crowd paid the Negro the tribute due to
His cleverness and good will. He never gave back
But stood up at blow for blow with the great
Champion.More than that he had just a trifle
The better of the session and ripped in a drive
To the forehead that all but snapped Cribb of
His balance. Cribb acknowledged the hit with
A grin. The black was a better boxer than ever
And it was a pleasure to mill with such a
Straightforward stand up opponent. So thought
the champion as he came back from the check
and waded in with increased speed.
They were fighting at distance for Cribb was
Not ready to break to close quarters and
Prefered to take his chance with the fists.
Mollineaux feinted at the body and swept
A cut at the headthat the champion deftly
Warded, countering to the ribs. The black stepped
Back at the battering ram drive, but Cribb
Followed him sending a neatly aimed straight
Arm to the throat that forced mollineaux
Over for a clean fall. The champion received
The roaring approval that was his due for
Bold scientific work, but the prevailing
Odds of 3 to 1 were not altered by the
Outcome of the round, the Negro being
Plainly unhurt.
Moliueaux opened the second round after the
manner of "Dutch Sam," the lightweight marvel and
whirl wind fighter of the day, with a bewildering and
ferocious attack. Cribb held him off for a moment,
but gave ground just in, time to break the force of a
wicked smash, to the mouth that drew first crimson.
The negro forced his lead. head held low. making
his reach count. Cribb backed another step, but
stopped there, taking a slam to the ribs and coming
back strong with a right hander that found its mark
on the chest and checked the African's impetuous
advance. Molineanx swung over the champion's
guard smoothly and landed hard to the head.
Cribb had now worked himself in to half arm
without seeming to have done so deliberately. He
foresaw much trouble if he permitted the black to
run the. fight at a distance with all the advantage of
reach. The champion carefully avoided showing'. his
adversary that he had no particular liking for the
long exchanges, but cleverly tempted him in closer,
taking body punishment willingly to achieve his end.
Mollinaux's first rush bad worn itself out. but he
had plenty' of steam and stopped two wicked hooks
to the jaw while getting home some slicing jabs. In
another swift exchange the black snaked through a
beautiful drive that did execution over Cribb's right
eye.
Having whetted the black's appetite for close work
by several openings the champion now cautiously put
into practice one of his favourite manoeuvres, which
was ever a distinctive part of his play. This was
milling on the retreat. He gave back slowly, tempting
his adversary to extraordinary efforts and exhausting
lunges, while watching craftily for his
chance and holding his powers in reserve. He found
his opening and came back with vigor. But Molineaux,
profiting by bis previous knowledge of the
champion's tactics, ducked under the blow and came
to grips.
The wrestle was long and contested with the utmost
fierceness,the big fellows stamping and straining
from rope's to ropes. Molineaux proved slippery
and Cribb could not catch him to advantage, while
the black's long arms wound to firm holds. Suddenly
the negro threw his weight to the side, tripping cleverly
and throwin the champion a heavy fall. It had
been evident from the first that the black bad few
real partisans in the throng, but. there was a spontaneous
outburst of applause at this exhibition of
dexterity. Odds fell to 5 to 4 on Cribb. It was clearly
the negro's round.
Molineaux Confident.
Cribb opened the third round and forced a stiff
rally, losing no time in coining well within the firing
line. His right eye was almost useless, but be found
that neither aim nor judgment had been impaired.
The showing made by Mollineaux was no surprise
and he had not fallen into the 'error of underestimating
his task. He set to work with perfect, confidence
and possession." If he knew anything of signs
the black was finding the bottom of his wind, and
this was a point upon which Cribb largely counted.
With bis magnificent equipment and preparation
Cribb himself was scarcely breathed. He bided his
time, meanwhile seeking to lure the negro with another
retreat.
Molineaux merely improved the opportunity to deliver
two long range smashes to the face and Cribb
bored back hastily. A terrific rally followed, the
champion beating down the others guard twice for
body blows and taking full receipt about the head.
To the 'spectators the negro had suffered nothing to
speak of since the start and there were impatient
cries, to the champion to make his mark upon his
man. Cribb was in no wise hurried, but launched
upon a one, two with irresistible strength. Mollineaux
turned one aside, but the next, sweeping through unchecked,
caught him a "doubler"' over the stomach
with resounding force. The blow was enough to
have laid out many a more stalwart one on the spot.
It sent him spinning across the ring and all but off the
stage. By desperate effort ho regained his balance
and kept his feet, before Cribb came up with him.
To the surprise of the crowd the black lost no time
in retaliating with a powerful swing to the ear. As
Cribb rushed in confidently Molliueaux sprang upon
him with renewed vigor, checked the advance and
milled back determinedly. He sealed the work he
bad begun upon the champion's right eye, ripped to
the chin and won back his lost ground. The champion
found that he had counted too much upon his
tremendous drive and sought to repeat it but Mollineaux
blocked and got right and left to the ribs.
Cribb retreated drawing the negro to several wrenching
misses and landed several times with his left
without damage... As he drew off for a' swing
Molineaux closed with judgment and caught a good hold.
The struggle was short and once more the champion
went crashing to the stage while the black stood
firm and safe.
'
Cribb was quite as Conscious as any. anxious friends
in the gathering that he was approaching the crucial
moment Of the battle. Molineaux ,as be was willing
to admit was his equal and a little more in science,
speed and strength. If the black could hold the
present pace the issue would almost certainly be in his
favor. But Cribb was convinced that he could not
hold the pace. At the clinch the black's 'chest had
labored in utmost distress, and the champion had felt
him wince at battering blows. Barclay had told him
that this fight would be won on condition alone if all
else failed him. and he believed in Barclay.
Cribb came to the mark strong and eager at the opening
Of the fourth round and led off with right and left
in body and head. Molineaux was too quick and bored
back slamming through the white man's guard and
landing to the face. His persistent high aim had
wrought great disfigurement and he continued to
center his punishment, about the eyes. They mixed
it fiercely neither yielding and both tacking short arm
jolts until Cribb once more tried to lure the black into
a pursuit. Molineaux stood his ground and shot
through two flush hits to the head with the left at long
range the last almost closing Cribb's sound eye.. This
was the negro's best blow and the champion's followers
began to look glum at the ease with which planted it.
But Cribb wasted little uneasiness upon immediate
reverses. Either Molineaux was failing fast or he
had fought his score of battles to no purpose. While
outwardly in bad case, fearfully cut and crimsoned
from a score of wounds, tbe champion had not
sacrificed wind, strength or temper. In the next rally
the negro showed plainly that he was losing his earlier
Steadiness and resolution. He missed a humming left
swing and caught a nasty clip to the mouth as he
flung up his guard. Instantly he lunged in with both
arms, crying Out angrily. The champion improved
the chance by coolly planting several telling smashes
to the ribs and the black danced back gasping.
Both Like Demons.
Cribb smiled, though the result was somewhat awry
and attacked with a ferocity and determination
that be had not yet shown. The spurt was well timed
to follow Molineaux's first break of weakness. The
champion walked in whirling sledge hammer blows
upon the black's guard and forcing him back with
right and left to the body and right and left to the
head. Molineaux outmanoeuvred and threatened by
another terrific ''doubler." retreated to the ropes
Here he made a desperate stand and some of the hardest
Fighting of the battle took place. Cribb broke
through repeatedly to the ribs,but seemed to make
little impression. Molineaux"s drives and swings to
the face was masterly, and Crlbb attempting to duck
a particularly savage one was hit off his balance by
the alert negro. Before he could recover Molineaux
had knocked him down with a 'swift rap under the
ear.
Both, men seemed bent upon decisive results from
the fifth round. They stepped instantly into a give
and take of heavy blows, but Cribb found that the
black was still a hardy customer. The negro peppered
him with hard -right and left smashes to head which
Cribb could not avoid. or properly return
and tbe exchange was altogether in favor of the challenger.
The champion fought. for a body drive, but
launched too slowly and came to grief from the
black's terrible left once move. The swing caught
him under the ear and staggered him while Molineaux
shot over a scientific right to the jaw immediately
afterward that sent him reeling. As Cribb
was falling the negro with wonderful quickness, put
in another straight arm to. the face.The crowd
quickly betrayed its partisanship by howls of
disapproval but the umpires, after a discussion decided
that the blow was fair, Cribb's hand having been
at liberty and not having touched the floor.
As the boxers approached each other for the sixth
round the champion felt that his time had come
Molineanx' wonderfully clever work which had won
him the advantage in each of the last four rounds,
had been accomplished at a killing expense, of wind
and strength. The negro's chest and sides were
heaving painfully, and his actions, as they fell off
guard were those of an exhausted man in deep distress.
He lunged right and left, but wildly, and
Cribb avoided, countering with a hard hook that the
negro parried. They stepped into a rally and Cribb
jammed through another of his tremendous body
blows. Molineaux fell away like a broken reed, holding
his arms across his stomach. Cribb followed and
the negro met him half heartedly. The blow bad
found him out. For soe minutes the champion
vainly tried to find the black, who danced and led
him a chase all around the stage. Molineaux seemed
unwilling to risk more suffering, capered, hit short
and was nil abroad. Then Cribb caught, him, battered
him almost at will about the head and floored him
with a flush drive to the jaw.
To many the sudden turn in the tide of battle came
As a surprise. It was exactly what Cribb bad looked
for. The question now was one of endurance and the
negro had gone the length of his tether. Odds rose to
five to one on the champion.
Molinennx opened the seventh round in a rage, but
he had lost the power to make it dangerous. He reached
Cribb's jaw lightly and the champion drove
to the throat. Stepping back. Cribb parried rind repeated
to the throat. He got in the blow a third time
when the negro, charging wildly, wrenched himself off
his balance, stumbled and fell.
Molineanx attempted a brief rally at opening of the
eighth round, but either could not judge his distance
or feared to stop boldly into it. Cribb slammed him
about the face, then, rushing in. caught the negro's
head under his left arm and battered him until he
dropped.
In the words of one of the sporting writers present,
it was "Lombard street to a China orange. Moliniux
came up for the ninth round staggering and
wild. Summoning his failing forces, he made a mad
rush, which Gribb met neatly with his left. The blow
caught the black in mid career and sent him crashing
to the stage with a fractured jaw. Molineaux was
Unable to get up and his attendants raised, him with
difficulty. At the end of the half minute the black
was not yet in shape to continue but Cribb refused
to appeal to the umpires, wishing to give his opponent
every opportunity..
Finally the courageous negro came weaving to the
centre for the tenth round. He attempted to bore in.
but fell from weakness. Cribb gave him another
long interval, but Molineaux was too far gone. His
attendants carried him to the centre for the eleventh
round, and he stood there for an instant,, weaving
and helpless, then fell before a blow was struck. The
battle was accorded to Cribb amid thundering cheers,
and the champion,as the proof of his condition,
danced 'a Scotch reel with Gully abut the stage. The
fight, had lasted 'nineteen minutes ten seconds. Captain
Barelay won £10.000 from Mellish and others, but took
his chief satisfaction from the establishing of his.
training theories. Cribb's purse was £400. Before
the crowd had dispersed. John Jackson,as was his
kindly custom made a collection for the defeated
contestant and presented Moliueaux with £50.
-
robert.snell1
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: 16 Oct 2003, 07:56
1811
thanks barry pleased you found it of interest. I have an 1811 UK article which I will have done soon which although short is very good.
Also have a good one about the man himself John L Sullivan which is a great read.
Also have a good one about the man himself John L Sullivan which is a great read.
-
robert.snell1
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: 16 Oct 2003, 07:56
info
I you wish you could email me and i can send some of the articles i have to you. some great bits of artwork on the pages
re:yankee sullivan
new to the forum. maybe im not old enought but i havent heard of yankee sullivan. when you get that research finished let me know more.
re:yankee sullivan
new to the forum. maybe im not old enought but i havent heard of yankee sullivan. when you get that research finished let me know more.
re:yankee sullivan
new to the forum. maybe im not old enought but i havent heard of yankee sullivan. when you get that research finished let me know more.
-
robert.snell1
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: 16 Oct 2003, 07:56
articles
hi lex
I will send you some material which i hope you find interesting - as you asked 3 times!!!!
cheers cheers cheers
I will send you some material which i hope you find interesting - as you asked 3 times!!!!
cheers cheers cheers
-
robert.snell1
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: 16 Oct 2003, 07:56
news report 1811
Linconshire paper 1811-10-07
A little before twelve the seconds and bottle holders
Made their appearance on the stage and their arrival
Increased the anxiety of the immense crowd
Present relative to the approaching fight. They stripped.
And put on jackets in preparation for their principals.
About twelve Molineaux appeared within the ropes, but
His antagonist Crib was the first to spring on the stage,
which he did with great gaiety, and made his obeisance
to tbe spectators . Molineaux followed, and actively
jumped over tbe railing. Crib seemed to stand about
six feet high – looked smiling and confident and appeared
in high condition. Molineaux is mot so tall a
man as his opponent but is of Ajax make broad and
brawny, capacious of chest and with arms formed
for hammering
He eyed Crib with a vengeful sulky look, and seemed bent
on doing desperate things.
The battle,although short, was most desperate,
four more such rounds as the first would have given
Crib his belly full but his excellent training and
Determined courage enabled him to recover himself
while the black,who was by no means in such high condition
and was moreover thrown of his guard by passion, rapidly
lost his wind, and exposed himself to his adversary's
murderous hitting.
The beating he received to his throat occasioned him
To bleed internally: and it was plain at times that he
Was almost suffocated by the blood rising. The blow
On the side, which he received when falling descended?
Like a stroke from a hammer; it was heard distinctly
At the extremity of the crowd, and its deadly
Effects were very visible during the next round.
It must however be that the Moor fought well.Crib
Himself, we understand says, that he hits with a
Strength which no other man possesses , and the face
Of the champion bears ample testimony to the truth
Of his assertion. He is very much disfigured.
Mollineax sparred neatly early in the fight, but he
Lost his science after he had been a good deal punished
We must confess it struck us the Moor shyed his
Adversary :he seemed from the very first to be
Afraid of him – and with the inclination to rush
In and sacrifice him to his rage, to couple
A dread of the consequences.
During the last rounds he fought like a frantic
Fellow and fell like a log, his seconds had to
Lift him up as they would a lump of lard and
Load him to his man as they would a child.
After the 11th round he could not again, by any
Means, be brought up and Crib was proclaimed
Victor by shouts which rent the skies. The black
After the fight lay extended on the stage
In a most pitiful manner, as if dead.
The surgeon he brought from London bled him and
After some time had elapsed he was enabled to
Crawl to his chaise, supported by his two
Friends with his body bent like an S.
The victor when his conquest was announced
Sprang up from the stage and cut several
Capers to show that he was yet in condition
To take and give more hammering.
“No one can say that in this battle Molineaux
had not fair play shown him.We would however suggest
that the cries of exultation, which proceeded from
the champions numerous friends when the advantage
seemed on his side, must have had the effect
of vexing the Baltimore man. We think in
decency they ought to have been omitted.
Molineaux it is said had provoked a good deal
Of feeling against him by savage denunciations
Of vengeance and vapouring professions of what
He would do to crib.These are certainly
Sufficiently disgusting and repugnant to
The Englishmen. But it ought not to be
Forgotten that Molineaux is a stranger – that he
Gave proof of his courage by offering a general
Challenge – and that he came to the fight
Unsupported by friends of note; while the champion
Had all the flash-men in his train
A little before twelve the seconds and bottle holders
Made their appearance on the stage and their arrival
Increased the anxiety of the immense crowd
Present relative to the approaching fight. They stripped.
And put on jackets in preparation for their principals.
About twelve Molineaux appeared within the ropes, but
His antagonist Crib was the first to spring on the stage,
which he did with great gaiety, and made his obeisance
to tbe spectators . Molineaux followed, and actively
jumped over tbe railing. Crib seemed to stand about
six feet high – looked smiling and confident and appeared
in high condition. Molineaux is mot so tall a
man as his opponent but is of Ajax make broad and
brawny, capacious of chest and with arms formed
for hammering
He eyed Crib with a vengeful sulky look, and seemed bent
on doing desperate things.
The battle,although short, was most desperate,
four more such rounds as the first would have given
Crib his belly full but his excellent training and
Determined courage enabled him to recover himself
while the black,who was by no means in such high condition
and was moreover thrown of his guard by passion, rapidly
lost his wind, and exposed himself to his adversary's
murderous hitting.
The beating he received to his throat occasioned him
To bleed internally: and it was plain at times that he
Was almost suffocated by the blood rising. The blow
On the side, which he received when falling descended?
Like a stroke from a hammer; it was heard distinctly
At the extremity of the crowd, and its deadly
Effects were very visible during the next round.
It must however be that the Moor fought well.Crib
Himself, we understand says, that he hits with a
Strength which no other man possesses , and the face
Of the champion bears ample testimony to the truth
Of his assertion. He is very much disfigured.
Mollineax sparred neatly early in the fight, but he
Lost his science after he had been a good deal punished
We must confess it struck us the Moor shyed his
Adversary :he seemed from the very first to be
Afraid of him – and with the inclination to rush
In and sacrifice him to his rage, to couple
A dread of the consequences.
During the last rounds he fought like a frantic
Fellow and fell like a log, his seconds had to
Lift him up as they would a lump of lard and
Load him to his man as they would a child.
After the 11th round he could not again, by any
Means, be brought up and Crib was proclaimed
Victor by shouts which rent the skies. The black
After the fight lay extended on the stage
In a most pitiful manner, as if dead.
The surgeon he brought from London bled him and
After some time had elapsed he was enabled to
Crawl to his chaise, supported by his two
Friends with his body bent like an S.
The victor when his conquest was announced
Sprang up from the stage and cut several
Capers to show that he was yet in condition
To take and give more hammering.
“No one can say that in this battle Molineaux
had not fair play shown him.We would however suggest
that the cries of exultation, which proceeded from
the champions numerous friends when the advantage
seemed on his side, must have had the effect
of vexing the Baltimore man. We think in
decency they ought to have been omitted.
Molineaux it is said had provoked a good deal
Of feeling against him by savage denunciations
Of vengeance and vapouring professions of what
He would do to crib.These are certainly
Sufficiently disgusting and repugnant to
The Englishmen. But it ought not to be
Forgotten that Molineaux is a stranger – that he
Gave proof of his courage by offering a general
Challenge – and that he came to the fight
Unsupported by friends of note; while the champion
Had all the flash-men in his train
-
robert.snell1
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: 16 Oct 2003, 07:56
ballard
ballad written at the time
A brave man is Molineux, from America he came,
And boldly tried to enter with Cribb the lists of fame.
The Black stripp'd, and appeared of a giant like strength,
Large in bone, large in muscle and with arms a cruel length;
With his skin as black as ebony and Cribb as white as snow,
They shook hands like good fellows, then to it they did go.
******************************************
The Black's strength forsook him, he'd not a chance to win;
He fought like a brave fellow,but was forc'd to give in.
Ye swells, ye flash, ye milling coves,who this hard fight [did] see
Let us drink to these heroes,come join along with me,
A bumper to brave Crib, boys, to the Black a bumper too,
Tho' beat, he proved a man my boys, what more could a man do
A brave man is Molineux, from America he came,
And boldly tried to enter with Cribb the lists of fame.
The Black stripp'd, and appeared of a giant like strength,
Large in bone, large in muscle and with arms a cruel length;
With his skin as black as ebony and Cribb as white as snow,
They shook hands like good fellows, then to it they did go.
******************************************
The Black's strength forsook him, he'd not a chance to win;
He fought like a brave fellow,but was forc'd to give in.
Ye swells, ye flash, ye milling coves,who this hard fight [did] see
Let us drink to these heroes,come join along with me,
A bumper to brave Crib, boys, to the Black a bumper too,
Tho' beat, he proved a man my boys, what more could a man do
-
sockdolager
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1455
- Joined: 17 Jun 2005, 08:57
-
robert.snell1
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: 16 Oct 2003, 07:56
hi
I have posted quite a few of these sort of articles so if you do a list of my posts you should find them easy enough.if you want copies of the original article email me with details
-
sockdolager
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1455
- Joined: 17 Jun 2005, 08:57
Re: hi
thanks robert. I actually have searched your posts in the past and have come across several other articles.robert.snell1 wrote:I have posted quite a few of these sort of articles so if you do a list of my posts you should find them easy enough.if you want copies of the original article email me with details
-
HomicideHenry
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 18722
- Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43
The misconception, by some historians, is that the Molineaux-Cribb fight was the first fight of note between a black man and a white man---this is absoloutely not true as Molineaux's trainer and handler Bill Richmond, years before had fought Cribb and lost twice. "The Black Terror" Bill Richmond can be said to be the first black pugilist of major improtance.
-
robert.snell1
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: 16 Oct 2003, 07:56
another
Thanks guys..this is another report of thefight which has some rather wording but thats what they would write in those days.Also found a good drawing which i will post later if possible
KNUCKLES AND GLOVES
BY
BOHUN LYNCH .
WITH A PREFACE BY
SIR THEODORE COOK
First Impression, October, 1922
CHAPTER VIII
TOM CRIBB AND MOLINEUX
WITH those whose charity begins and ends at the farthest possible point from home, with those who, to be more particular, born of British blood, cannot speak of the British Lion without referring to mange, who never refer to British traditions or institutions without a sneer, the present writer has little patience.
It is necessary to say that at some point in this chronicle in order to avoid misunderstanding. Tutored by Pierce Egan, Borrow, and other and later writers, we are apt to lose all sense of perspective in regarding that one-time wholly British institution ,the Prize-Ring. Further, other sources of enlightenment, and especially our schoolmasters, have blinded us to any flaw in the tradition of British Fair Play, the love of which, as already said, is an acquired and not an inherent virtue.
And if in this and other chapters some account is given of events where the love of fair play was conspicuously lacking, and which perhaps tend to show that a great tradition can be, after all, but a great superstition, that will not, I trust, be taken as evidence of the writer's anti-English proclivities. At this time of day, the truth, so far as one can discover it, can do no harm if indeed it ever can.And with that much by way of explanation and warning, we proceed to some account of the two immortal battles between Cribb and Molineux, the black.
The history of the person in Boxing has yet to be fully explored. From the time of Bill Richmond and Molineux (thefirst black boxers whose names have come down to us) till the time of Jack Johnson, negroes in this country have fought, with certain exceptions, under the severe handicap of unpopularity.
Without entering too deeply into the Colour question, we may say that this unpopularity comes also from tradition. The vast majority of negro boxers had been slaves or the descendants of slaves. In early days and in the popular imagination they were savages, or almost savages. Also it was recognised from the first that the African negro and his descendants in the West Indies and America were harder-headed than white men, less sensitive about the face and jaw; most black boxers can take without pain or trouble a smashing which would cause the collapse of a white man. Occasionally this is balanced by the person's weakness in the stomach but, one thing with another, the white man is at a disadvantage. But physical inequality is not the only point of difference. Niggers are usually children in temperament, with the children's bad points as well as their good ones.
The black man's head is easily turned, and when his personal and physical success over a white man is manifest he generally behaves like the worst kind of spoiled child. In extreme cases his overwhelming sense of triumph knows no bounds at all, and he turns from a primitive man into a fiend. His insolence is appalling. When the black is in this condition ignorant white men lose their heads, their betters are coldly disgusted. There have been exceptions, the most notable of whom was Peter Jackson, whose exploits will be found in the second part of this book. Peter Jackson was a thoroughly good fellow. As a rule, however, it is far better that negroes, if fight they must, should fight amongst themselves. No crowd is ever big-hearted enough, or "sporting" enough, to regard an encounter between white and black with a purely sporting interest.
Thomas Molineux was born of slave parents in the State of Virginia. He himself had been legally freed, and he came over to England, without friends, with the idea of earning a living with his fists. " Thormanby" the pen name of the late W. Wilmott Dixon) tells us that he had been in the service, in America, of Mr. Pinckney, subsequently United States Ambassador at the Court of St. James's; and he was a good friend to the lonely black on his arrival in London. Molineux put himself in the hands of Bill Richmond, a fellow negro who had been taken into the service of the Duke of Northumberland when that nobleman was campaigning in America, and, later, educated at his expense and by him set up as a carpenter. Richmond appears to have been a very well-behaved fellow, and at the time of Molineux's arrival was keeping an inn in the West End of London.
By all that is fair, even in love and war, Molineux should have won the first of the two battles he fought with Tom Cribb. He was aiming high, for his conquests, previous to his challenging the champion, were few and insignificant. However, Tom could do no less than accept, though he underrated the black: and a match was made for £200 a side. The place chosen was Copthall Common, near East Grinstead, in Sussex, and the day December 10th, 1810. Vast numbers of people came down from London to see the fight, travelling through a downpour of rain which made the ring into a mere pool of mud. Cribb was seconded by John Gulley and Joe Ward, and Molineux by Bill Richmond and Paddington Jones. " Time " was kept by Sir Thomas Apreece.
Bets were made that Molineux would not last for half an hour and, as the event proved, lost.
The men were splendidly matched. Cribb stood 5 feet 10 ½ inches and weighed 14 stone 2 lb.: Molineux was two inches shorter and almost exactly the same weight. Neither man was in absolutely first-rate condition. Cribb was always inclined to be " beefy " and the Moor (as Egan calls him) was a somewhat dissipated customer. Indeed the majority of fighters in those days were plucky enough in battle, but lacked the higher and more enduring courage to go through a long period of arduous training.
Owing to Gentleman Jackson's perspicacity, the ring had been formed at the bottom of a hill, so that the great crowd of spectators could get an excellent view of the proceedings. Nothing of any importance occurred in the first four rounds. Molineux was thrown in the first and drew first blood from the champion in the second. The wet ground made foothold precarious, and on that account a comparatively light blow knocked a man down. Even so it was Cribb who did the most knocking. The fifth round was very fierce. Each in turn had some little advantage. The round was a long series of rallies, quick leads neatly stopped, hot counters, one of which landed on Cribb's left eye. There was no betting at the end of this round. In the eighth the champion had a good deal the worst of it, but stood and took his gruel like the man he always was. Egan's description of the ninth round may be quoted in full as being typical of that
author, with his numerous exaggerations and underlinings.
" The battle had now arrived at that doubtful state, and things seemed not to prove so easy and tractable as was anticipated, that the betters were rather puzzled to know how they should proceed with success. Molineux gave such proofs of gluttony, that four to one now made many tremble who had sported it; but still there was a ray of hope remaining from the senseless state in which the Moor appeared at the conclusion of the last round. Both the combatants ppeared dreadfully punished; and Cribb's head was terribly swelled on the left side; Molineux's nob was also much the worse for the fight. On Cribb's displaying weakness, the flash side were full of palpitation it was not looked for, and operated more severe upon their minds upon that account. Molineux rallied with a spirit unexpected, bored in upon Cribb, and by a strong blow through the Champion's guard, which he planted in his face, brought him down. It would be futile here to attempt to portray the countenances of the interested part of the spectators, who appeared, as it were, panic-struck, and those who were not thoroughly acquainted with the game of the Champion began hastily to hedge-off; while others, better informed, still placed their confidence on Cribb) from what they had seen him hitherto take".
By the thirteenth round the betting had changed to 6-4 on the Moor. But the fight remained extraordinarily level until the end of the eighteenth round, when both appeared to be exhausted. They were both heavily punished, and on the whole fight perhaps Cribb had been the more severely handled. Both were unrecognisable, and their colour only distinguished them.
In the nineteenth round, during which the half-hour from the beginning was up, Cribb, who for some time past had been " milling on the retreat," tried to land a desperate blow at the moment when Molineux had him up against the ropes. These were in three rows, the top one being five feet from the ground.The black dodged the blow, and, seizing the top rope on either side of Cribb with his two hands, pressed upon the champion with all his might. Cribb could neither hit, nor fall. The seconds on either side argued the propriety of separating the men: but the umpires decided that no such interference was allowable. One of the combatants must fall before a second touched either. At that moment about two hundred of the
onlookers, infuriated at the black man's behaviour, rushed the outer ropes and pressed upon the ring-side. Several men snatched at Molineux's fingers, which still clung to the top rope, and tried to dislodge them. Some say that one or more of the black's fingers were broken, others that they were at least injured.
But all the time Molineux was resting and getting his wind, his head down on Cribb's chest, his weight thrown forward upon his body. At last, what with his own efforts and the people plucking at his opponent's hands, Cribb got free and retreated towards the nearest corner. A less courageous man would have contrived to slip down. As it was, Molineux caught him, and, avoiding a hard left with which Cribb lunged at his body, seized the champion's head under his arm and proceeded to punish him with short, jolting blows, from which presently Cribb fell exhausted to the ground. He brought Cribb down again the next round as well. The twenty-second round, Egan tells us, was "of no importance," and he leaves it at that, whilst we sadly reflect how many rounds of nowadays, tediously described in detail, deserve the same fate.
It was at the end of the next round that Molineux should have won, though Pierce Egan entirely omits the incident from his full account, merely observing, in another volume of Boxiana(where he makes a note upon the negro's death in Ireland):
" His first contest with Cribb will long be remembered by the Sporting World. It will also not be forgotten, if Justice holds the scales, that his colour alone prevented him from becoming the hero of that fight."
The following is Egan's exact account of the twenty-third and twenty-fourth rounds:
" TWENTY-THIRD. The wind of both the combatants appearing somewhat damaged, they sparred some time to recruit it, when Cribb put in a blow on the left eye of Molineux, which hitherto had escaped milling. The Moor ran in, gave Cribb a severe hit on the body, and threw him heavily. “
“TWENTY-FOURTH. Molineux began this round with considerable spirit, and some hits were exchanged, when Cribb was thrown. The betting tolerably even."
Now at the end of the twenty-second round Molineux was doing better than the champion, and the betting was 4-1 on him. The crowd at the ring side shouted: “Now, Tom, now! Don't be beat by the person." But all the same Cribb went down at the end of the twenty-third round utterly done. What followed throws no shadow upon the character of Tom Cribb himself. From all we can gather he was a perfectly straight and honest bruiser. But he had been badly knocked about, and Joe Ward, one of his seconds, was desperately afraid that he would never get him up to the scratch by the call of time. There seems to be, indeed, no doubt that Cribb was, but for the squeezing against the ropes, fairly beaten. Ward was a clever rascal, and he ran across the ring to Molineux's corner and accused Bill Richmond of putting bullets into his principal's hands. He must have known perfectly well that this was false, just as he must have known, incidentally, that such foul play would do far more harm to the striker than to his opponent. But the altercation achieved its purpose, and Cribb got a good deal more than his due thirty seconds in which to recover.
Immediately after this the black got a fit of shivering, as by now, despite the pace at which they had been fighting, the chill of the December day had got into his bones, fresh as he was from a warm climate. Molineux weakened rapidly, though, urged by his seconds, he fought on till the fortieth round. Of the end of this battle Egan says:
" This (the 34th) was the last round of what might be termed fighting, in which Molineux had materially the worst of it; but the battle was continued to the 39th, when Cribb evidently appeared the best man, and at its conclusion, the Moor for the first time complained, that ' he could fight no more ! ' but his seconds, who viewed the nicety of the point, persuaded him to try the chance of another round, to which request he acquiesced, when he fell from weakness, reflecting additional credit on the manhood of his brave conqueror, Tom Cribb."
What additional credit is reflected by knocking down an exhausted man, I find it a little difficult to perceive. Whether we like the fact or not, Molineux should have been Champion of England that day, a day which is indeed black for the fair name of good sport. No possible good can come of trying, as Pierce Egan did, to disguise it. The referee was grossly unfair in not stopping Joe Ward's trick, which he can hardly have failed to see. It should also be added that the crowd hooted and jeered at Molineux throughout the fight but then, crowds are like that. Crowds are seldom genuinely sporting in the finest sense. It should be said, however, that the Stock Exchange gave the black a warm reception after the fight, and sent him away with a present of £45.
We may be sure, however, that Tom Cribb himself treated his antagonist with chivalry. This is manifest in the fact that Molineux in after years did his utmost in support of the champion, sparring at his benefit performance, and, unasked, selling tickets for it.
At the time the black man was anxious for another trial ; and the following letter appeared in The Times for Christmas Day, 1810:
"
ST. MARTIN'S STREET,
" To MR. THOMAS CRIBB.
" LEICESTER SQUARE, "
Dec. list, 1810."
" SIR, My friends think, that had the weather on last Tuesday, the day upon which I contended with you, not been so unfavourable, I should have won the battle: I, therefore, challenge you to a second meeting, at any time within two months, for such sum as those gentlemen who place confidence in me may be pleased to arrange.
"As it is possible this letter may meet the public eye, I cannot omit the opportunity of expressing a confident hope, that the circumstance of my being of a different colour to that of a people amongst whom I have sought protection will not in any way operate to my prejudice.
I am, sir,
“Your most obedient, humble servant, "
T. MOLINEUX."
Witness, J. Scholfield."
The announcement of Cribb's acceptance of the challenge was given in The Times for December 29th, and the match was made for a purse of 600 guineas.
It took place at Thistleton Gap, in the county of Rutland, on September 28th, 1811, and though a much shorter affair, the second battle is hardly less famous than the other. The final blow of this encounter is depicted in a print published less than a week afterwards, a reproduction of which will be found in this book.
This time Captain Barclay trained Cribb to a hair, so that all his beef was gone. His system was a savage one and must have killed some men, would certainly kill many boxers of the present day. But it agreed with Cribb, much though he is said to have disliked the process at the time. Cribb's preparation lasted for eleven weeks, and his weight was brought down from 16 stone to 13 stone 6 Ib. He was probably the first really trained man that ever stepped into a ring.
If the truth is to be known, Barclay had a special reason for making a good job of the champion's training. He was a good amateur boxer himself, and was used to put the gloves on with the pros at Jackson's rooms in Bond Street. But, "Thormanby" informs us, he kept a special pair of gloves there for his own use.
Whether they were harder than the ordinary we do not know, but they were probably much lighter! The day on which he had arranged to spar with Molineux he arrived after the black, who was already wearing his special mufflers. He could not very well say: " Here, those are my particular gloves," and so had to be content with the regulation puddings. The result was that Molineux broke one of his ribs ; and now he wanted to be even with him, though by proxy.
Molineux did not train. As already suggested, he was a self-indulgent fellow and a spoiled child. He went on a sparring tour round the country with Tom Belcher (Jem's brother), and Bill Richmond. They were not strong-minded guardians, and only just before the fight the black ate a whole chicken, and an apple pie, washing them down with a prodigious draught of porter.
When the men met before a huge crowd of about 20,000 people, the black was so amazed at Cribb's appearance that at first he could hardly recognise him. The simple blackamoor had not believed in the virtue of getting fit: his strength, skill, and undoubted courage were enough for him. And here, shaking him by the hand, was a hard-faced fellow without an ounce of tallow on him, all bone and long, rippling muscles a very different Cribb to the well-larded customer he had fought on Copthall Common. And none of the champion's strength or stamina was gone rather the contrary. Cribb had Gulley and Ward in his corner again, while Bill Gibbons and Richmond looked after Molineux. There is little to be said of the battle itself. It was fought on a stage this time, twenty-five feet square. Cribb scored the first knock-down. Captain Barclay recommended his man to let the black beat himself and to hold back. In the third round Molineux by an overhand blow closed Tom's right eye, the fist hitting him on the cheek bone, immediately under the eye, so that the swelling took an upward direction. On his side Cribb was perfectly confident, but too old a hand not to be extremely careful, and wisely he gave most of his attention to Molineux's body always a good policy with a black man, especially when he is out of training. He nearly doubled up the Moor with one terrific right, and yet the plucky fellow pulled himself together immediately afterwards and threw Cribb heavily to the boards.
In a short while Cribb showed severe signs of punishment about the head and face, but he kept smiling amiably, which drove his adversary to madness, so that in the sixth round he was literally capering about in sheer frenzy, hitting the air wildly.Cribb came up to him and knocked him down. Again and again this happened, though at intervals Molineux regained his composure and fought well. In the ninth round, with a tremendous right-hander, the champion broke his jaw, after which he failed by half a minute to come up to time. But this was overlooked, and at the end of the eleventh round, when the battle had only lasted nineteen minutes and ten seconds, he sent home a left which knocked Molineux clean out of time: and the black was carried senseless from the ring.
Cribb made about £400 out of this fight directly, though no doubt this sum was largely increased by perquisites later on .Captain Barclay, by judicious betting, made about £10,000. And " through the kind interference of Mr. Jackson," as Egan puts it, a collection realised £50 extra for the black, whose share of the purse would be £200.
It was on the occasion of this battle that the editor of the Edinburgh Star wrote :
" When the amount of money collected for the relief of British prisoners in France, now suffering for the cause of their country, scarcely amounts to £49,000, there is Blush, O Britain ! there is £50,000 depending upon a boxing match . The Champion Cribb's arrival, and on a Sunday, too! On a visit to a gentleman of Aberdeen (we should be glad to know what kind of gentleman he is) as if he, the meritorious Cribb, did honour to the City of Aberdeen by his presence!
"
(The gentleman of Aberdeen was Captain Barclay, who had property in that county and brought Cribb up there to train.) There are two sorts of amusement to be derived from this quotation, and one of them, having regard to recent memories, is a very bitter sort.
After this, Tom Cribb retired from the Ring, and became, like the majority of successful bruisers of his own and of later times, a publican: and thenceforward the Union Arms in Panton Street, Haymarket, became a very popular house of call with all members of the Fancy.
KNUCKLES AND GLOVES
BY
BOHUN LYNCH .
WITH A PREFACE BY
SIR THEODORE COOK
First Impression, October, 1922
CHAPTER VIII
TOM CRIBB AND MOLINEUX
WITH those whose charity begins and ends at the farthest possible point from home, with those who, to be more particular, born of British blood, cannot speak of the British Lion without referring to mange, who never refer to British traditions or institutions without a sneer, the present writer has little patience.
It is necessary to say that at some point in this chronicle in order to avoid misunderstanding. Tutored by Pierce Egan, Borrow, and other and later writers, we are apt to lose all sense of perspective in regarding that one-time wholly British institution ,the Prize-Ring. Further, other sources of enlightenment, and especially our schoolmasters, have blinded us to any flaw in the tradition of British Fair Play, the love of which, as already said, is an acquired and not an inherent virtue.
And if in this and other chapters some account is given of events where the love of fair play was conspicuously lacking, and which perhaps tend to show that a great tradition can be, after all, but a great superstition, that will not, I trust, be taken as evidence of the writer's anti-English proclivities. At this time of day, the truth, so far as one can discover it, can do no harm if indeed it ever can.And with that much by way of explanation and warning, we proceed to some account of the two immortal battles between Cribb and Molineux, the black.
The history of the person in Boxing has yet to be fully explored. From the time of Bill Richmond and Molineux (thefirst black boxers whose names have come down to us) till the time of Jack Johnson, negroes in this country have fought, with certain exceptions, under the severe handicap of unpopularity.
Without entering too deeply into the Colour question, we may say that this unpopularity comes also from tradition. The vast majority of negro boxers had been slaves or the descendants of slaves. In early days and in the popular imagination they were savages, or almost savages. Also it was recognised from the first that the African negro and his descendants in the West Indies and America were harder-headed than white men, less sensitive about the face and jaw; most black boxers can take without pain or trouble a smashing which would cause the collapse of a white man. Occasionally this is balanced by the person's weakness in the stomach but, one thing with another, the white man is at a disadvantage. But physical inequality is not the only point of difference. Niggers are usually children in temperament, with the children's bad points as well as their good ones.
The black man's head is easily turned, and when his personal and physical success over a white man is manifest he generally behaves like the worst kind of spoiled child. In extreme cases his overwhelming sense of triumph knows no bounds at all, and he turns from a primitive man into a fiend. His insolence is appalling. When the black is in this condition ignorant white men lose their heads, their betters are coldly disgusted. There have been exceptions, the most notable of whom was Peter Jackson, whose exploits will be found in the second part of this book. Peter Jackson was a thoroughly good fellow. As a rule, however, it is far better that negroes, if fight they must, should fight amongst themselves. No crowd is ever big-hearted enough, or "sporting" enough, to regard an encounter between white and black with a purely sporting interest.
Thomas Molineux was born of slave parents in the State of Virginia. He himself had been legally freed, and he came over to England, without friends, with the idea of earning a living with his fists. " Thormanby" the pen name of the late W. Wilmott Dixon) tells us that he had been in the service, in America, of Mr. Pinckney, subsequently United States Ambassador at the Court of St. James's; and he was a good friend to the lonely black on his arrival in London. Molineux put himself in the hands of Bill Richmond, a fellow negro who had been taken into the service of the Duke of Northumberland when that nobleman was campaigning in America, and, later, educated at his expense and by him set up as a carpenter. Richmond appears to have been a very well-behaved fellow, and at the time of Molineux's arrival was keeping an inn in the West End of London.
By all that is fair, even in love and war, Molineux should have won the first of the two battles he fought with Tom Cribb. He was aiming high, for his conquests, previous to his challenging the champion, were few and insignificant. However, Tom could do no less than accept, though he underrated the black: and a match was made for £200 a side. The place chosen was Copthall Common, near East Grinstead, in Sussex, and the day December 10th, 1810. Vast numbers of people came down from London to see the fight, travelling through a downpour of rain which made the ring into a mere pool of mud. Cribb was seconded by John Gulley and Joe Ward, and Molineux by Bill Richmond and Paddington Jones. " Time " was kept by Sir Thomas Apreece.
Bets were made that Molineux would not last for half an hour and, as the event proved, lost.
The men were splendidly matched. Cribb stood 5 feet 10 ½ inches and weighed 14 stone 2 lb.: Molineux was two inches shorter and almost exactly the same weight. Neither man was in absolutely first-rate condition. Cribb was always inclined to be " beefy " and the Moor (as Egan calls him) was a somewhat dissipated customer. Indeed the majority of fighters in those days were plucky enough in battle, but lacked the higher and more enduring courage to go through a long period of arduous training.
Owing to Gentleman Jackson's perspicacity, the ring had been formed at the bottom of a hill, so that the great crowd of spectators could get an excellent view of the proceedings. Nothing of any importance occurred in the first four rounds. Molineux was thrown in the first and drew first blood from the champion in the second. The wet ground made foothold precarious, and on that account a comparatively light blow knocked a man down. Even so it was Cribb who did the most knocking. The fifth round was very fierce. Each in turn had some little advantage. The round was a long series of rallies, quick leads neatly stopped, hot counters, one of which landed on Cribb's left eye. There was no betting at the end of this round. In the eighth the champion had a good deal the worst of it, but stood and took his gruel like the man he always was. Egan's description of the ninth round may be quoted in full as being typical of that
author, with his numerous exaggerations and underlinings.
" The battle had now arrived at that doubtful state, and things seemed not to prove so easy and tractable as was anticipated, that the betters were rather puzzled to know how they should proceed with success. Molineux gave such proofs of gluttony, that four to one now made many tremble who had sported it; but still there was a ray of hope remaining from the senseless state in which the Moor appeared at the conclusion of the last round. Both the combatants ppeared dreadfully punished; and Cribb's head was terribly swelled on the left side; Molineux's nob was also much the worse for the fight. On Cribb's displaying weakness, the flash side were full of palpitation it was not looked for, and operated more severe upon their minds upon that account. Molineux rallied with a spirit unexpected, bored in upon Cribb, and by a strong blow through the Champion's guard, which he planted in his face, brought him down. It would be futile here to attempt to portray the countenances of the interested part of the spectators, who appeared, as it were, panic-struck, and those who were not thoroughly acquainted with the game of the Champion began hastily to hedge-off; while others, better informed, still placed their confidence on Cribb) from what they had seen him hitherto take".
By the thirteenth round the betting had changed to 6-4 on the Moor. But the fight remained extraordinarily level until the end of the eighteenth round, when both appeared to be exhausted. They were both heavily punished, and on the whole fight perhaps Cribb had been the more severely handled. Both were unrecognisable, and their colour only distinguished them.
In the nineteenth round, during which the half-hour from the beginning was up, Cribb, who for some time past had been " milling on the retreat," tried to land a desperate blow at the moment when Molineux had him up against the ropes. These were in three rows, the top one being five feet from the ground.The black dodged the blow, and, seizing the top rope on either side of Cribb with his two hands, pressed upon the champion with all his might. Cribb could neither hit, nor fall. The seconds on either side argued the propriety of separating the men: but the umpires decided that no such interference was allowable. One of the combatants must fall before a second touched either. At that moment about two hundred of the
onlookers, infuriated at the black man's behaviour, rushed the outer ropes and pressed upon the ring-side. Several men snatched at Molineux's fingers, which still clung to the top rope, and tried to dislodge them. Some say that one or more of the black's fingers were broken, others that they were at least injured.
But all the time Molineux was resting and getting his wind, his head down on Cribb's chest, his weight thrown forward upon his body. At last, what with his own efforts and the people plucking at his opponent's hands, Cribb got free and retreated towards the nearest corner. A less courageous man would have contrived to slip down. As it was, Molineux caught him, and, avoiding a hard left with which Cribb lunged at his body, seized the champion's head under his arm and proceeded to punish him with short, jolting blows, from which presently Cribb fell exhausted to the ground. He brought Cribb down again the next round as well. The twenty-second round, Egan tells us, was "of no importance," and he leaves it at that, whilst we sadly reflect how many rounds of nowadays, tediously described in detail, deserve the same fate.
It was at the end of the next round that Molineux should have won, though Pierce Egan entirely omits the incident from his full account, merely observing, in another volume of Boxiana(where he makes a note upon the negro's death in Ireland):
" His first contest with Cribb will long be remembered by the Sporting World. It will also not be forgotten, if Justice holds the scales, that his colour alone prevented him from becoming the hero of that fight."
The following is Egan's exact account of the twenty-third and twenty-fourth rounds:
" TWENTY-THIRD. The wind of both the combatants appearing somewhat damaged, they sparred some time to recruit it, when Cribb put in a blow on the left eye of Molineux, which hitherto had escaped milling. The Moor ran in, gave Cribb a severe hit on the body, and threw him heavily. “
“TWENTY-FOURTH. Molineux began this round with considerable spirit, and some hits were exchanged, when Cribb was thrown. The betting tolerably even."
Now at the end of the twenty-second round Molineux was doing better than the champion, and the betting was 4-1 on him. The crowd at the ring side shouted: “Now, Tom, now! Don't be beat by the person." But all the same Cribb went down at the end of the twenty-third round utterly done. What followed throws no shadow upon the character of Tom Cribb himself. From all we can gather he was a perfectly straight and honest bruiser. But he had been badly knocked about, and Joe Ward, one of his seconds, was desperately afraid that he would never get him up to the scratch by the call of time. There seems to be, indeed, no doubt that Cribb was, but for the squeezing against the ropes, fairly beaten. Ward was a clever rascal, and he ran across the ring to Molineux's corner and accused Bill Richmond of putting bullets into his principal's hands. He must have known perfectly well that this was false, just as he must have known, incidentally, that such foul play would do far more harm to the striker than to his opponent. But the altercation achieved its purpose, and Cribb got a good deal more than his due thirty seconds in which to recover.
Immediately after this the black got a fit of shivering, as by now, despite the pace at which they had been fighting, the chill of the December day had got into his bones, fresh as he was from a warm climate. Molineux weakened rapidly, though, urged by his seconds, he fought on till the fortieth round. Of the end of this battle Egan says:
" This (the 34th) was the last round of what might be termed fighting, in which Molineux had materially the worst of it; but the battle was continued to the 39th, when Cribb evidently appeared the best man, and at its conclusion, the Moor for the first time complained, that ' he could fight no more ! ' but his seconds, who viewed the nicety of the point, persuaded him to try the chance of another round, to which request he acquiesced, when he fell from weakness, reflecting additional credit on the manhood of his brave conqueror, Tom Cribb."
What additional credit is reflected by knocking down an exhausted man, I find it a little difficult to perceive. Whether we like the fact or not, Molineux should have been Champion of England that day, a day which is indeed black for the fair name of good sport. No possible good can come of trying, as Pierce Egan did, to disguise it. The referee was grossly unfair in not stopping Joe Ward's trick, which he can hardly have failed to see. It should also be added that the crowd hooted and jeered at Molineux throughout the fight but then, crowds are like that. Crowds are seldom genuinely sporting in the finest sense. It should be said, however, that the Stock Exchange gave the black a warm reception after the fight, and sent him away with a present of £45.
We may be sure, however, that Tom Cribb himself treated his antagonist with chivalry. This is manifest in the fact that Molineux in after years did his utmost in support of the champion, sparring at his benefit performance, and, unasked, selling tickets for it.
At the time the black man was anxious for another trial ; and the following letter appeared in The Times for Christmas Day, 1810:
"
ST. MARTIN'S STREET,
" To MR. THOMAS CRIBB.
" LEICESTER SQUARE, "
Dec. list, 1810."
" SIR, My friends think, that had the weather on last Tuesday, the day upon which I contended with you, not been so unfavourable, I should have won the battle: I, therefore, challenge you to a second meeting, at any time within two months, for such sum as those gentlemen who place confidence in me may be pleased to arrange.
"As it is possible this letter may meet the public eye, I cannot omit the opportunity of expressing a confident hope, that the circumstance of my being of a different colour to that of a people amongst whom I have sought protection will not in any way operate to my prejudice.
I am, sir,
“Your most obedient, humble servant, "
T. MOLINEUX."
Witness, J. Scholfield."
The announcement of Cribb's acceptance of the challenge was given in The Times for December 29th, and the match was made for a purse of 600 guineas.
It took place at Thistleton Gap, in the county of Rutland, on September 28th, 1811, and though a much shorter affair, the second battle is hardly less famous than the other. The final blow of this encounter is depicted in a print published less than a week afterwards, a reproduction of which will be found in this book.
This time Captain Barclay trained Cribb to a hair, so that all his beef was gone. His system was a savage one and must have killed some men, would certainly kill many boxers of the present day. But it agreed with Cribb, much though he is said to have disliked the process at the time. Cribb's preparation lasted for eleven weeks, and his weight was brought down from 16 stone to 13 stone 6 Ib. He was probably the first really trained man that ever stepped into a ring.
If the truth is to be known, Barclay had a special reason for making a good job of the champion's training. He was a good amateur boxer himself, and was used to put the gloves on with the pros at Jackson's rooms in Bond Street. But, "Thormanby" informs us, he kept a special pair of gloves there for his own use.
Whether they were harder than the ordinary we do not know, but they were probably much lighter! The day on which he had arranged to spar with Molineux he arrived after the black, who was already wearing his special mufflers. He could not very well say: " Here, those are my particular gloves," and so had to be content with the regulation puddings. The result was that Molineux broke one of his ribs ; and now he wanted to be even with him, though by proxy.
Molineux did not train. As already suggested, he was a self-indulgent fellow and a spoiled child. He went on a sparring tour round the country with Tom Belcher (Jem's brother), and Bill Richmond. They were not strong-minded guardians, and only just before the fight the black ate a whole chicken, and an apple pie, washing them down with a prodigious draught of porter.
When the men met before a huge crowd of about 20,000 people, the black was so amazed at Cribb's appearance that at first he could hardly recognise him. The simple blackamoor had not believed in the virtue of getting fit: his strength, skill, and undoubted courage were enough for him. And here, shaking him by the hand, was a hard-faced fellow without an ounce of tallow on him, all bone and long, rippling muscles a very different Cribb to the well-larded customer he had fought on Copthall Common. And none of the champion's strength or stamina was gone rather the contrary. Cribb had Gulley and Ward in his corner again, while Bill Gibbons and Richmond looked after Molineux. There is little to be said of the battle itself. It was fought on a stage this time, twenty-five feet square. Cribb scored the first knock-down. Captain Barclay recommended his man to let the black beat himself and to hold back. In the third round Molineux by an overhand blow closed Tom's right eye, the fist hitting him on the cheek bone, immediately under the eye, so that the swelling took an upward direction. On his side Cribb was perfectly confident, but too old a hand not to be extremely careful, and wisely he gave most of his attention to Molineux's body always a good policy with a black man, especially when he is out of training. He nearly doubled up the Moor with one terrific right, and yet the plucky fellow pulled himself together immediately afterwards and threw Cribb heavily to the boards.
In a short while Cribb showed severe signs of punishment about the head and face, but he kept smiling amiably, which drove his adversary to madness, so that in the sixth round he was literally capering about in sheer frenzy, hitting the air wildly.Cribb came up to him and knocked him down. Again and again this happened, though at intervals Molineux regained his composure and fought well. In the ninth round, with a tremendous right-hander, the champion broke his jaw, after which he failed by half a minute to come up to time. But this was overlooked, and at the end of the eleventh round, when the battle had only lasted nineteen minutes and ten seconds, he sent home a left which knocked Molineux clean out of time: and the black was carried senseless from the ring.
Cribb made about £400 out of this fight directly, though no doubt this sum was largely increased by perquisites later on .Captain Barclay, by judicious betting, made about £10,000. And " through the kind interference of Mr. Jackson," as Egan puts it, a collection realised £50 extra for the black, whose share of the purse would be £200.
It was on the occasion of this battle that the editor of the Edinburgh Star wrote :
" When the amount of money collected for the relief of British prisoners in France, now suffering for the cause of their country, scarcely amounts to £49,000, there is Blush, O Britain ! there is £50,000 depending upon a boxing match . The Champion Cribb's arrival, and on a Sunday, too! On a visit to a gentleman of Aberdeen (we should be glad to know what kind of gentleman he is) as if he, the meritorious Cribb, did honour to the City of Aberdeen by his presence!
"
(The gentleman of Aberdeen was Captain Barclay, who had property in that county and brought Cribb up there to train.) There are two sorts of amusement to be derived from this quotation, and one of them, having regard to recent memories, is a very bitter sort.
After this, Tom Cribb retired from the Ring, and became, like the majority of successful bruisers of his own and of later times, a publican: and thenceforward the Union Arms in Panton Street, Haymarket, became a very popular house of call with all members of the Fancy.
Re: re
barry wrote:I've been becoming more and more interested in the bareknuckle era of late. Good article.
The bare-knuckle era is very interesting indeed.
There are pletny of good books on the subject, I recommend the following for starters:
- "Bare Fists", by Bob Mee
- "The Manly Art" by Elliot Gorn
- "Black Genesis" by Kevin Smith
There are also some good bios available on several early bare-knuckle champions.
Happy reading!
-KOKid-