Tom Spring v John langan - 1824
Posted: 29 Dec 2005, 17:01
I have taken this from the Nebraska State Journal – March 1910
It actually runs to around 5000 words but in my opinion well worth the read. The following is part of the story and I shall add the rest quite soon so people can print the entire document. If anyone wants the actual page please email me. It is a very clear image.
SPRINGS LAST and GREATEST FIGHT
SEVENTY SIX TERRIFIC ROUNDS
By favor of popular demand and common consent among pugilists "Tom" Cribb, the I "Ould Champion," was allowed to hold the title long after his fighting days had passed. When he formally retired the honor was left pen to competition and was contested by "Tom" Spring and "Bill" Neat as the two most promising candidates. Spring capped a long uphill career by winning handily in eight rounds.
A new challenger was found in the person of John Langan, a courageous Irishman who held the title for his own country. Spring defeated him at Worcester in the presence of 50,000 spectators after a fight of eventy-seven rounds, which was marred by constant interference from
the crowd.
The result was so unsatisfactory and Langan represented so forcibly that he had not had fair play that another meeting was arranged.
If there was a London fight follower who was not on the road to Chichester or already In the vicinity of that city by early morning of June 8. 1824, he had set up as a hermit and a lone dweller from his people.
Those who had witnessed the first meeting between Smith and Langan, who were this day to submit once more to the issue of battle, knew that the prize ring could show no better sport than what lay forward. It was Ireland against England, and the better man to be champion of the world.
"Tom" Spring, the champion, whose real name was Thomas Winter, was twenty-nine years old and the veteran of a score of desperate encounters in which he had proved that persistence and courage may outweigh a lack of natural aptitude for athletic success. A bull dog tenacity and an inability to yield any fight while he could stand had brought him through with but one defeat, that at the hands of "Ned" Fainter, before he attained the title.
John Langan, the challenger, was a fearless. generous, scientific boxer in bis twenty-sixth year. Born In Clondalton, county Kildare, he had won his way through the ranks of the Irish fighters to a point where none dared accept his open offer to dispute the title he had assumed. After having served with honor in a military expedition to South America he had come to England with further triumphs in view to receive his first check from Spring.
Chichester was humming like a hustings at dawn. Hewlings, mine host of the Swan Inn, had become the pioneer magnate of the ring by taking upon himself all arrangements for the fight. he had purchased this privilege for £100 paid to each of the gladiators, selecting an open field about three miles out of town as the scene of action.
The field was cut off by a canal spanned by a single bridge, and it was here that the far sighted promoter designed to reap his harvest in contravention of slack custom, which permitted any outsider to enjoy a combat if he could but squeeze near enough.
Within the field farmers of the neighborhood had drawn up their carts and wagons to form an outer ring about the stage. In accordance with the article of agreement particularly demanded by Langan the twenty-four foot stage had been built six feet from the ground and planked with three inch deal without turf.
He had held this as his right, since in the previous contest the crowd ad swarmed up and over at pleasure. In place of the usual ropes three rows of rails surrounded the platform, which, with the posts, were smoothed and rounded to prevent Injury.
At eleven o'clock the throngs began moving across Hewlings' bridge to the field, and two hours later Mr. Jackson, the former champion, who acted as marshal of the day ordered that the lists be opened. Spring,guarded on one side by his backer, Mr. Sant, and on the other by a Baronet, wedged through the press at the heels of Cribb and Painter, respectively his second and bottle holder. Cribb had ever been Spring' s chief supporter and admirer, and his presence now in attendance upon "his boy" aroused a storm of applause.
The champion tossed his hat over the rails to the stage, a traditional gesture of defiance, and climbed the ladder nimbly. While he stripped Cribb and Painter strapped on kneecaps of padded leather, it having been
charged that during the former meeting they had sought secretly to injure Langan after a fall.
Langan arrived a few minutes later, accompanied by Colonel O'Neil, his backer, "Tom" Belcher as his second and "Big" O'Neal as his bottle holder. He ascended the stage and modestly dropped his hat over the rails, then untied a black silk neckerchief and affixed it to one of the posts as his display o£ colors. , Spring intertwined a blue scarf with Langan's as his own gage of battle, a circumstance which moved the fancy to heavy witticisms about the juxtaposition of black and blue. There had been a dispute at the first meeting of the men as to the weight of the belts worn. and Spring, stepping forward, showed Langan that he had no belt about him on this occasion. Langan thanked him and demonstrated that he vas equally without protective leather. A moment later time was called and they advanced to the salute, Cribb at the same, time shaking hands with Belcher and Painter with' O'Neal. The attendants then retired and the boxers fell on guard.
The Two Gladiators.
Spring was in his best form. – weighing 186 pounds, and trained well but not too closely. .Langan weighed about ten pounds less and was nearly two inches under the other's height of five feet eleven and a half inches. The Irishman was magnificently developed as to chest and arms, though a trifle too slender in the legs and about the loins. Both men came to combat smiling and eager. There was no undercurrent of ill will between them. Each knew his adversary for a fair, high spirited fighter, ready to do his utmost but above taking undue advantage. Spring's attitude was with body and head well back, balanced upon his rear Coot. Langan's tendency was to hold his head rather low and forward.
They stood a moment while each caught and held the glint of his opponent's eyes, then they circled, watching cautiously for the lead. A little light sparring was Quickened when Langan drove for the face, Spring stopping neatly and countering with a swing which got home on Langan's head. The Irishman bored in quickly, reaching for the wind, and Spring rushed to grips. The struggle was a plain trial of strength, not complicated with wrestling tricks. The champion was forcing his adversary back when Langan dexterously broke away and slammed in with right and left, which Spring guarded.
The champion wasted no lime in feints, but suddenly struck a fast pace and they milled fiercely, Spring planting a hard to the face. Langan found the distance unprofitable.and again sought to bore in to close quarters where he could hammer the ribs. Spring met him the same way as before, clinching and struggling for a throw. as they tramped and whirled Langan slipped to his knees. Spring patted him on the shoulder approvingly
and they went to their corners.
Langan had warmed into his style and opened the second round with slashing tactics, sweeping a left hook to the jaw and hammering Spring's guard. The champion showed himself nimble footed and evaded a
terrific drive, stopping the rush with neat parries and clipping in to the head. They mixed It freely, taking punishment on both sides. Spring's guard was excellent and be was remarkably fast. He had a little the best of the milling and Langan, nobbed with a driving left hander, danced out of the melee . Spring followed, but both were cautious and winded.
They sparred for some minutes, when Langan stepped in and broke an opening through which he shot a hard right to the mouth. Spring gave ground and the Irishman tried to repeat, but the champion, smiling, warded easily and they came to short arm, driving jolts to the body. Langan found this expensive and closed. They struggled desperately, when the Irishman by clever .shifting of his weight hurled the other backward to the boards and fell upon him. A sweeping cheer from Langan's partisans greeted the turn of fortune, but the odds of two to one on the champion remained unchanged.
This slight advantage was just what Langan had needed. Though no braver boxer ever mounted a stage, he was apt to yield to discouragement in the face of continued failure and a dash of success was a tonic to him in action. He left his second's knee cheerfully at the opening of the third round and walked snappily into the first rally. He slid a clever swing over Spring's guard, but the champion jumped aside and they joined for a hot mill that showed the spectators some of the prettiest work of the flight.
The guard of both seemed impregnable and it was hit, ward, counter and hit with the precision of clockwork. Langan suddenly shifted and slammed through a drive to the ribs that made trouble, but the champion fought him to a pause without giving ground
Langan Shows Courage.
Spring now went upon the aggressive, ripped home a blow to the jaw and drove the Irishman into a corner , following hard. Langan fought out cleverly with body blows, parrying a swing that bid fair to demolish him with a skill that set the throng cheering.
Bracing for retaliation, he feinted to the head and flung himself forward with a haymaker at the ribs that Spring was just able to stop. Langan held stubbornly to his advance and peppered Spring's guard, launching a tremendous drive at the face. The champion ducked In time and danced away from the determined Irishman.
Langan went after him again and kept the champion footing it merrily and dodging swings until, cornered In his turn, he came out manfully. He smashed a Terrific clip with the left to the face that sent Langan spinning, followed it with another and a third to the same spot, and .reversed the situation. Langan again retreating to the corner. The Irishman rallied and they fought to a standstill. Langan started again, but the champion got his dangerous left to the face once more and on the retreat the Irishman closed. After a brief struggle Spring threw his man, ending a round of nearly seven minutes amid deafening applause. Langan had suffered severely about the face but had not lost heart. He felt that he had firmly withstood the worst Spring could deliver and that his returns did not lack effect. The half minute treatment from Belcher and O'Neal freshened him greatly and he jumped into the fourth round in whirlwind manner. Spring was slow in defence for an instant and the, Irishman pounded two to the ribs and one to the ear that drew crimson. He held to his pace, fighting with the agilily of his weight and hammering the champion once and again to the jaw. Spring gave before the slashing Irishman, but calmed him with a flush hit to the mouth. They mixed it at high speed, when Langan closed and putting forth, all his
strength threw
the champion, landing on top.
It actually runs to around 5000 words but in my opinion well worth the read. The following is part of the story and I shall add the rest quite soon so people can print the entire document. If anyone wants the actual page please email me. It is a very clear image.
SPRINGS LAST and GREATEST FIGHT
SEVENTY SIX TERRIFIC ROUNDS
By favor of popular demand and common consent among pugilists "Tom" Cribb, the I "Ould Champion," was allowed to hold the title long after his fighting days had passed. When he formally retired the honor was left pen to competition and was contested by "Tom" Spring and "Bill" Neat as the two most promising candidates. Spring capped a long uphill career by winning handily in eight rounds.
A new challenger was found in the person of John Langan, a courageous Irishman who held the title for his own country. Spring defeated him at Worcester in the presence of 50,000 spectators after a fight of eventy-seven rounds, which was marred by constant interference from
the crowd.
The result was so unsatisfactory and Langan represented so forcibly that he had not had fair play that another meeting was arranged.
If there was a London fight follower who was not on the road to Chichester or already In the vicinity of that city by early morning of June 8. 1824, he had set up as a hermit and a lone dweller from his people.
Those who had witnessed the first meeting between Smith and Langan, who were this day to submit once more to the issue of battle, knew that the prize ring could show no better sport than what lay forward. It was Ireland against England, and the better man to be champion of the world.
"Tom" Spring, the champion, whose real name was Thomas Winter, was twenty-nine years old and the veteran of a score of desperate encounters in which he had proved that persistence and courage may outweigh a lack of natural aptitude for athletic success. A bull dog tenacity and an inability to yield any fight while he could stand had brought him through with but one defeat, that at the hands of "Ned" Fainter, before he attained the title.
John Langan, the challenger, was a fearless. generous, scientific boxer in bis twenty-sixth year. Born In Clondalton, county Kildare, he had won his way through the ranks of the Irish fighters to a point where none dared accept his open offer to dispute the title he had assumed. After having served with honor in a military expedition to South America he had come to England with further triumphs in view to receive his first check from Spring.
Chichester was humming like a hustings at dawn. Hewlings, mine host of the Swan Inn, had become the pioneer magnate of the ring by taking upon himself all arrangements for the fight. he had purchased this privilege for £100 paid to each of the gladiators, selecting an open field about three miles out of town as the scene of action.
The field was cut off by a canal spanned by a single bridge, and it was here that the far sighted promoter designed to reap his harvest in contravention of slack custom, which permitted any outsider to enjoy a combat if he could but squeeze near enough.
Within the field farmers of the neighborhood had drawn up their carts and wagons to form an outer ring about the stage. In accordance with the article of agreement particularly demanded by Langan the twenty-four foot stage had been built six feet from the ground and planked with three inch deal without turf.
He had held this as his right, since in the previous contest the crowd ad swarmed up and over at pleasure. In place of the usual ropes three rows of rails surrounded the platform, which, with the posts, were smoothed and rounded to prevent Injury.
At eleven o'clock the throngs began moving across Hewlings' bridge to the field, and two hours later Mr. Jackson, the former champion, who acted as marshal of the day ordered that the lists be opened. Spring,guarded on one side by his backer, Mr. Sant, and on the other by a Baronet, wedged through the press at the heels of Cribb and Painter, respectively his second and bottle holder. Cribb had ever been Spring' s chief supporter and admirer, and his presence now in attendance upon "his boy" aroused a storm of applause.
The champion tossed his hat over the rails to the stage, a traditional gesture of defiance, and climbed the ladder nimbly. While he stripped Cribb and Painter strapped on kneecaps of padded leather, it having been
charged that during the former meeting they had sought secretly to injure Langan after a fall.
Langan arrived a few minutes later, accompanied by Colonel O'Neil, his backer, "Tom" Belcher as his second and "Big" O'Neal as his bottle holder. He ascended the stage and modestly dropped his hat over the rails, then untied a black silk neckerchief and affixed it to one of the posts as his display o£ colors. , Spring intertwined a blue scarf with Langan's as his own gage of battle, a circumstance which moved the fancy to heavy witticisms about the juxtaposition of black and blue. There had been a dispute at the first meeting of the men as to the weight of the belts worn. and Spring, stepping forward, showed Langan that he had no belt about him on this occasion. Langan thanked him and demonstrated that he vas equally without protective leather. A moment later time was called and they advanced to the salute, Cribb at the same, time shaking hands with Belcher and Painter with' O'Neal. The attendants then retired and the boxers fell on guard.
The Two Gladiators.
Spring was in his best form. – weighing 186 pounds, and trained well but not too closely. .Langan weighed about ten pounds less and was nearly two inches under the other's height of five feet eleven and a half inches. The Irishman was magnificently developed as to chest and arms, though a trifle too slender in the legs and about the loins. Both men came to combat smiling and eager. There was no undercurrent of ill will between them. Each knew his adversary for a fair, high spirited fighter, ready to do his utmost but above taking undue advantage. Spring's attitude was with body and head well back, balanced upon his rear Coot. Langan's tendency was to hold his head rather low and forward.
They stood a moment while each caught and held the glint of his opponent's eyes, then they circled, watching cautiously for the lead. A little light sparring was Quickened when Langan drove for the face, Spring stopping neatly and countering with a swing which got home on Langan's head. The Irishman bored in quickly, reaching for the wind, and Spring rushed to grips. The struggle was a plain trial of strength, not complicated with wrestling tricks. The champion was forcing his adversary back when Langan dexterously broke away and slammed in with right and left, which Spring guarded.
The champion wasted no lime in feints, but suddenly struck a fast pace and they milled fiercely, Spring planting a hard to the face. Langan found the distance unprofitable.and again sought to bore in to close quarters where he could hammer the ribs. Spring met him the same way as before, clinching and struggling for a throw. as they tramped and whirled Langan slipped to his knees. Spring patted him on the shoulder approvingly
and they went to their corners.
Langan had warmed into his style and opened the second round with slashing tactics, sweeping a left hook to the jaw and hammering Spring's guard. The champion showed himself nimble footed and evaded a
terrific drive, stopping the rush with neat parries and clipping in to the head. They mixed It freely, taking punishment on both sides. Spring's guard was excellent and be was remarkably fast. He had a little the best of the milling and Langan, nobbed with a driving left hander, danced out of the melee . Spring followed, but both were cautious and winded.
They sparred for some minutes, when Langan stepped in and broke an opening through which he shot a hard right to the mouth. Spring gave ground and the Irishman tried to repeat, but the champion, smiling, warded easily and they came to short arm, driving jolts to the body. Langan found this expensive and closed. They struggled desperately, when the Irishman by clever .shifting of his weight hurled the other backward to the boards and fell upon him. A sweeping cheer from Langan's partisans greeted the turn of fortune, but the odds of two to one on the champion remained unchanged.
This slight advantage was just what Langan had needed. Though no braver boxer ever mounted a stage, he was apt to yield to discouragement in the face of continued failure and a dash of success was a tonic to him in action. He left his second's knee cheerfully at the opening of the third round and walked snappily into the first rally. He slid a clever swing over Spring's guard, but the champion jumped aside and they joined for a hot mill that showed the spectators some of the prettiest work of the flight.
The guard of both seemed impregnable and it was hit, ward, counter and hit with the precision of clockwork. Langan suddenly shifted and slammed through a drive to the ribs that made trouble, but the champion fought him to a pause without giving ground
Langan Shows Courage.
Spring now went upon the aggressive, ripped home a blow to the jaw and drove the Irishman into a corner , following hard. Langan fought out cleverly with body blows, parrying a swing that bid fair to demolish him with a skill that set the throng cheering.
Bracing for retaliation, he feinted to the head and flung himself forward with a haymaker at the ribs that Spring was just able to stop. Langan held stubbornly to his advance and peppered Spring's guard, launching a tremendous drive at the face. The champion ducked In time and danced away from the determined Irishman.
Langan went after him again and kept the champion footing it merrily and dodging swings until, cornered In his turn, he came out manfully. He smashed a Terrific clip with the left to the face that sent Langan spinning, followed it with another and a third to the same spot, and .reversed the situation. Langan again retreating to the corner. The Irishman rallied and they fought to a standstill. Langan started again, but the champion got his dangerous left to the face once more and on the retreat the Irishman closed. After a brief struggle Spring threw his man, ending a round of nearly seven minutes amid deafening applause. Langan had suffered severely about the face but had not lost heart. He felt that he had firmly withstood the worst Spring could deliver and that his returns did not lack effect. The half minute treatment from Belcher and O'Neal freshened him greatly and he jumped into the fourth round in whirlwind manner. Spring was slow in defence for an instant and the, Irishman pounded two to the ribs and one to the ear that drew crimson. He held to his pace, fighting with the agilily of his weight and hammering the champion once and again to the jaw. Spring gave before the slashing Irishman, but calmed him with a flush hit to the mouth. They mixed it at high speed, when Langan closed and putting forth, all his
strength threw
the champion, landing on top.
8) ... also could you give me the email address of the Nebraska Journal which you got it from, ...is it free?... 
8) 
:x :x .. and I'm afraid most of the time its happened while I'm sober!.. 