Jem Mace vs. Tom Allen

Jem Mace vs. Tom Allen

By George Siler

Two Englishmen Scrapped Hard For the American Title

Jem Mace and Tom Allen clashed at New Orleans for a purse of $2,500

The important fistic event of the year 1870 was the battle between Jem Mace and Tom Allen For the heavyweight championship of America, which took place on May 10 near New Orleans for $2,500 a side. The peculiar thing about the scrap was the contestants were Englishmen, fighting for an American title. This came about as follows:

Allen bad been in the country several years and won his championship spurs by fighting Champion Mike McCoole. whom he defeated, but was robbed of the decision. Later he challenged! Mike, but as' he latter would not fight unless he had his choice of stakeholder and also referee, the affair fell through and Allen claimed the title by default. Mace came to this country the latter part of 1869 as champion of England and the two Britons were brought together to contest for the highest honors of the prize ring. The battle, because of the nationality of the principals, was not an International affair In the sense It generally Is taken, but It smacked of one nevertheless. As It was Mace's first fight in this country and the leading daily and weekly Journals In America had representatives on the ground, the fight by rounds probably will be appreciated.

Round 1

As they stood on guard, erect and defiant, their dresses unsoiled. their flesh glowing In the warm sunlight like polished bronze, as yet unpolluted and undefiled, an almost unconscious murmur of admiration ran through the anxiously waiting crowd. At the first glance it was evident that Mace had the advantage in condition, his flesh hard and healthy, while' that of his antagonist seemed a little too loose and flabby. Bets were now freely offered around the ring of $100 to $70 on Mace, but no reply was elicited. Jem and Tom both smiled beamingly on each other and then put themselves In position at the scratch. Mace's "walking beams" were In a constant state of terpsichorean movement, while his two formidable looking mawleys were most carelessly disposed. He fondled his chin, stroked his phiz, patted his "bellows," and conducted himself generally In such a mercurial sort of manner that to the unsophisticated observer gave no proof of the almost miraculous powers of the man. But his cunning was soon developed.

Allen, as' he stood like before his adversary, wary and watchful, looked the splendid athlete that he was. His feet were spread wide apart and-his bunches of fives held artistically. They smiled and joked In an undertone as they walked around each other, with eyes firmly set on eyes and every movement sharply watched This sparring, dodging, and feinting lasted several minutes, each too cautious to do more than feel his man. Mace now and then dropped his guard, drawing Tom around after him. Then came a few sharp passes, neatly stopped. Jem landed a pile driver over Tom's left eye and danced back, avoiding the return.

Again the scratch was toed, with another spell of cautious sparring, during which Allen shot a heavy one Into the ribs, which sounded all over the ring. Both men warmed to more rapid and serious work, exhibiting pretty science during a bout which wound up with Allen receiving a heavy hit on the nose, countering lightly on Mace's forehead. At it they rushed again. Jem making an ugly threat with his right, which Tom avoided, planting another ugly thud on his opponent's pumps, at which Mace clinched, a Quick tussle, and both fell, with Allen the under dog In the fight. Time, 5:3O.

Round 2

Several minutes passed In sparring for an opening. Mace rubbing his hands, folding his arms, and otherwise endeavoring to get Tom to lead off, followed by a few rapid feints, when, as quick as thought. Mace rushed In and delivered a poultice under the young "un's" right orb, raising an egg and springing back In time to catch only lightly a rib pulverizer from his opponent's, right. Jem grinned at his work and now fully understood Tom’s tactics. With hands down but ever ready to take advantage of any essay. Allen grew serious; he seemed, for the first time, to have properly appreciated his task and compressed his lips In a manner to show he was determined to throw all his energies Into the struggle and "die game," If .necessary. He planted another crasher on Jem's body in return for a nasty on the bad lamp, which now flickered, preparatory to being doused.

Another long: Interval of cautious sparring ensued, during which both men blew off steam and contented themselves with watching for an opening, grinning and joking with each other in an undertone. Mace resumed hostilities with a shot at Allen's neck, but It glanced off, and he napped a return rather too close to meat cellar to be pleasant. Claims of foul were made from the outside of the ring, but Mace gracefully disclaimed them and went In for the finish, giving Allen a smash on the proboscis which drew first blood for Jem. Tom returned it by a couple of rib benders and a clip on the jaw, but in return received a terrible Sockdolager on the right eye which sent him down making a wild attempt to counter as he fell. Allen was now toted home by his carriers, mace walking to his corner much pleased.

Round 3

Bets of $100 to $30 were offered on mace with no takers.Allen came up dejectedly with his right eye nearly closed and his left showing an ugly cut. This Mace took advantage of by keeping the damaged observation well in the sun during the cautious last sparring which opened the round. Allen now found that something had to be done to utilize the time fast slipping away and essayed at the head, but Mace proved to quick, dodging and it passed over his shoulder. In the rally mace slipped and stretched himself on terra firma. Allen again rode home, Mace footing it in the best of humor.

Round 4

Allen looked worried and his face exhibited marks of severe punishment, bleeding profusely from a cut beneath the left optic, while his right look out was rapidly being shut by purple clouds. During the preliminary sparring Tom accidentally trod upon and spiked Jem's foot, but apologized, a courtesy which was loudly applauded. After an elaborate overture of feinting, guarding, and dodging, Mace suddenly, darted out his right and gave Allen a roaster on the damaged eye, distilling the ruby afresh and going down partly from the recoil just In time to escape a well intended receipt in full.

Round 5

After the usual Introductory fiddling about, Mace led. put with his left at the young "un's" neck, which the latter avoided, Mace going down from the force of his own blow. Foul was claimed, but not allowed. Jem quickly recovered, however, and faced Tom, who sent his left on a voyage of discovery, landing on Jem's ribs and getting a heavy return on the dial from Mace's left, who followed it up with a rush, clinched, and threw Allen heavily, adding his weight to the fall.

Round 6

The fight was now evidently all one way. Allen was game enough and glutton enough, but his Inferiority to Mace In sparring and In wrestling was plainly, not to say pitifully, apparent. Odds of $100 to $15, with no takers, were offered on Mace. Allen seemed freshening, while Mace was as smiling as a basket of chips. A few friendly passes preceded a clinch by Mace getting the young un in chancery and fiddling sharply with his right. Jem hung on like death but with one gigantic almost superhuman effort Allen turned the tide and went down heavily on top of Mace amid great applause, in which even Jem’s friends joined.

Round 7

Time now told badly on Allen’s telescopes, the right being entirely darkened and the other gradually followed suit. Mace’s face on the other hand was unmarked. Neither appeared to have suffered either in temper or in endurance. After another long spell of sparring Mace landed on the breast receiving an exchange on the ribs and countered on the mouth with severity.Tom dashed in, but Mace avoided his essay, clinched and they went down in a close and loving embrace.

Round 8

Allen was evidently tired and not at all hopeful but desparate.mace lively as a cricket, danced about his man, who waited for an opportunity to drive a spike into Jem’s boilers. He succeeded at last and got in two crashes, but mace squared accounts by hitting him heavily in the face thrice. They then rushed to a clinch and went down with a light fall. Jem underneath.

Round 9

Mace ,scathless and smiling, Allen with a head on him like a wrecked capstan , but exhibiting a dogged and praiseworthy determination to see it out to the bitter end. That the game was well nigh up was apparent to all and the only chance Tom now had was to plant a blow sufficiently forceful to knock sir Jem out of time. The prospects of this were not encouraging. Mace seeing that he had everthing safe was contented to bide his time and not force matters, by doing which he might lay himself open to accident. He now went about his work like an artist. He visited Tom lightly upon the face thrice, evidently picking out the soft spots with great delicacy and discrimination. Allen in return always at the ribs, but not heavily .Jem now gathered himself for a finisher and aimed for the throat, but Allen parried it and catching the champion of balance with a swing under the right ear sent mace clean of his feet amid uproarious applause

Round 10

Both men answered promptly and came up eager and determined.Allen with the exception of a bad eye, actually looked better and more dangerous than at any time during the fight.He still clung to the defensive policy as he did throughout the whole fight, not manifesting any desire to take the initiative. Both settled to hard work, Allen following up Mace as the later danced around him .An offer by Jem at the head was neatly parried and Tom dropped his right heavily just above the belt. Neither seeming In a hurry to resume serious work. They did get at it, however, and rattled away so fast that it was impossible to keep count of the blows. Mace had all the best of It, punishing Tom badly about the eyes and escaping: several vicious attempts. This could not and did not last long, and the men gradually edged away toward their respective corners, where they were refreshed outwardly and Inwardly, by their seconds. Mace had now 'gotten Allen's only useful eye in- proper eclipsing condition and It calmly awaited sunset.

Allen, however, gamely marched up to the music, which opened with sparring. Tom finally got home on the breast—a crack Which made Jem wince and visit Tom’s right lamp spitefully. The men now closed and some terribly severe work at half, arm distance was in order, Jem finally getting Tom's head in chancery and slashing away at It with serious effect.This was not relished by Allen, who in order to stop it, clinched for the fall.

The struggle was fearful like giants they swayed back and forward but Mace was to fine a wrestler for his game opponent. Holding Allen firmly in his vice like grasp, slowly but surely he bore his head down to the ground and threw him a complete somersault. Tom alighting upon his right shoulder with great force nearly dislocating it. Mace falling heavily upon him. Tom gave an awful groan and all ground the ring rose to their feet, thinking his neck bad been broken. Full of alarm, the seconds of both sides rushed up and he was carried to his corner. The Injury was not as feared, however, but was sufficient —the jig was up—-and when time was again called Coburn walked to the scratch and tossed up the sponge. Time of fight. 44 minutes.

As soon as the referee had given his decision Jem walked over and shook hands with his opponent and while Tom groaned in agony he patted him on the back and said “Tom you are a game man and I wish you well.”