Prize Fight in the Bush
All night long the rumbling of carts and traps never ceased along the road to Warrandyte. That morning Elijah White woke with a start as his brother shook him. "Come on Tiger" he whispered, "It's time to go". Elijah leaped out of bed and pulled on his clothes. The three brothers Sam, Harry and Elijah, called "Tiger", crept out of their house being careful not to disturb their father.
Henry White was a lay preacher of the church and they knew he wouldn't approve his sons watching a prize fight. They could hear the sound of traffic from down the hill and hurried along half running down the road. Turning into Warrandyte Road the boys crossed Deep Creel and then turned left where a track led into the bush.
Bare knuckle fighting had a great hold on the public in the seventies and word soon spread that Battling Carstairs was to challenge Harry Sellers for the middle weight Championship of Victoria. Sellers was an American, known as the "Happy Niggerî. Twelve years earlier he had been beaten by Tom Curran for the Championship of Victoria. For that match there had been a prize of 600 Pounds and after two hours Harry Sellers had been knocked out of the ring battered and blinded by cuts to the eyes.
The fight was to take place at dawn, in a valley, east of Warrandyte. The location was a ruse to mislead the police who might stop the fight and arrest the pugilists. Lookouts on Warrandyte Road, at Deep Creek, scrutinized arrivals and directed spectators to the clearing in the bush where the fight was to be held. When a large body of troopers galloped past, the lookouts vanished behind trees. A large crowd had gathered to watch the match.
It was a long and tremendous battle, full of raw courage. The fighters toed a line and then took turns to swing their powerful arms and drive their bare knuckles into each others bodies and faces. From a high perch up a gum tree the boys had a clear view of the whole contest and, in the end, saw Carstairs being led from the ring temporarily blinded after taking a terrible beating. The fighters were smuggled away just as the police burst through the bush. Finding that they had been duped about the location of the fight the troopers were returning to Melbourne when the shouts of the crowd led them to the ring.
Bare fist fighting was not considered acceptable by gentlefolk in the early days of Melbourne. In 1853, the Melbourne Morning Herald showed its disapproval in a report of a fight at South Yarra. It was described as a demoralising exhibition and the contestants' names were studiously avoided.
Prize fighting was considered as illegal, although there was no law to that effect. The police were very energetic in stopping fights and the contestants were charged with "breach of peace and riotous assembly". Fights were held at secret locations often in the bush, and during gold rush days near gold-fields. To keep order sometimes up to twelve men with whips were stationed around the ring.
These contests were conducted under English prize-fight rules. Rounds ended when one or other fighter was knocked down and as they generally fought to a finish, matches often lasted for as many as sixty rounds and took up to two or three hours.
In 1884, a fighter was killed during a bout. Bare fist fighting was then banned. After that, boxing contests with gloves were run under Marquis of Queensberry Rules and skill took the place of brute strength. Boxing then became a National Sport.
Irvine Green writing in 1984 03 DTHS Newsletter
Henry White was a lay preacher of the church and they knew he wouldn't approve his sons watching a prize fight. They could hear the sound of traffic from down the hill and hurried along half running down the road. Turning into Warrandyte Road the boys crossed Deep Creel and then turned left where a track led into the bush.
Bare knuckle fighting had a great hold on the public in the seventies and word soon spread that Battling Carstairs was to challenge Harry Sellers for the middle weight Championship of Victoria. Sellers was an American, known as the "Happy Niggerî. Twelve years earlier he had been beaten by Tom Curran for the Championship of Victoria. For that match there had been a prize of 600 Pounds and after two hours Harry Sellers had been knocked out of the ring battered and blinded by cuts to the eyes.
The fight was to take place at dawn, in a valley, east of Warrandyte. The location was a ruse to mislead the police who might stop the fight and arrest the pugilists. Lookouts on Warrandyte Road, at Deep Creek, scrutinized arrivals and directed spectators to the clearing in the bush where the fight was to be held. When a large body of troopers galloped past, the lookouts vanished behind trees. A large crowd had gathered to watch the match.
It was a long and tremendous battle, full of raw courage. The fighters toed a line and then took turns to swing their powerful arms and drive their bare knuckles into each others bodies and faces. From a high perch up a gum tree the boys had a clear view of the whole contest and, in the end, saw Carstairs being led from the ring temporarily blinded after taking a terrible beating. The fighters were smuggled away just as the police burst through the bush. Finding that they had been duped about the location of the fight the troopers were returning to Melbourne when the shouts of the crowd led them to the ring.
Bare fist fighting was not considered acceptable by gentlefolk in the early days of Melbourne. In 1853, the Melbourne Morning Herald showed its disapproval in a report of a fight at South Yarra. It was described as a demoralising exhibition and the contestants' names were studiously avoided.
Prize fighting was considered as illegal, although there was no law to that effect. The police were very energetic in stopping fights and the contestants were charged with "breach of peace and riotous assembly". Fights were held at secret locations often in the bush, and during gold rush days near gold-fields. To keep order sometimes up to twelve men with whips were stationed around the ring.
These contests were conducted under English prize-fight rules. Rounds ended when one or other fighter was knocked down and as they generally fought to a finish, matches often lasted for as many as sixty rounds and took up to two or three hours.
In 1884, a fighter was killed during a bout. Bare fist fighting was then banned. After that, boxing contests with gloves were run under Marquis of Queensberry Rules and skill took the place of brute strength. Boxing then became a National Sport.
Irvine Green writing in 1984 03 DTHS Newsletter
Craig Martin My Great grandfather Henry, or 'Harry', White and his older brother Samuel and younger Elijah. Mid seventies (1875) would have made them around 15, 21 and 8 respectively. I guess that the clearing mentioned would have been somewhere in behind where Beasleys' Nursery is today??
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| Tom Curran, champion of Victoria, Australia - National Library Trove |
Fighters
Two of Victoria's most popular fighters of the era were Lancashire-born Joe Kitchen and Tom Curran, from Jersey.Kitchen beat the black American Harry Sellars at Werribee in 1858, in a fight that lasted four hours and 12 minutes and comprised 110 rounds.
Curran beat Sellars two years later in a fight lasting two-and-a-half hours for which he earned £600.
Sellars later opened a gym in Port Melbourne. It competed for patrons with Tom Gurney's British Lion Hotel in Little Bourke Street, where boxing matches were conducted and private quarrels were frequently settled in the ring.
Gurney also offered dog-fights, cock-fights and rat killing contests.
Boxing in Australia by Kieza
The Fatal Prize Fight.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST. A SENIOR-CONSTABLE ARRESTED.The inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of the man Alexander Agar was commenced at 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon, at the South Sydney Morgue, Belmore Park, before Mr. Coroner Shiell and a jury of 12, of whom Mr. Robert Broughton was chosen foreman. Considerable interest appeared to attach to the proceedings. there being a large number hanging about outside the court. Sub-inspector Bremner was present on behalf of the police, and Mr. Roberts, senior, appeared to conduct the case on behalf of the Crown, and examined the witnesses. The coroner having stated briefly the circumstances: of the case, said there could be no doubt that if two persons went out to fight and one of them was slain the other was guilty of murder. Any persons aiding or abetting were equally guilty, such as seconds or ring keepers; although persons simply being spectators, and taking no part at all in the proceedings, would not be guilty, but persons cheering them on or encouraging them would be. It would not be necessary for him, at present, to say more on the subject, but he should address them on the whole case when it was con-cluded. There was at this stage some little delay, in conse-quence of the accused men not being present, although Sub-inspector Bremner had left word they should be brought to the court at 2 o'clock. The prison van arrived with the accused at 12 min-utes to 3. Mr. Inspector Anderson arrived with them. In addition to the five men whose names appear elsewhere, two additional prisoners were brought in, viz., Senior-constable James M'Vane and Michael Dooley, making seven in all. Jackson is a tall, powerful black man, fully 6 ft high; while Lawson is a mulatto of about 5ft 4in or 5in. E!e was the only one who seemed to feel his position, as he cried bitterly at times. His face bore some marks of punishment. Having viewed the body, the jury returned to court and the following evidence was taken : — Cornelius Connell, one of the accused, deposed : I live in Gipps street. Am a turf commission agent, and keep a skittle saloon. The coroner here cautioned the witness, and said he was not compelled to answer questions that might tend to criminate himself. Witness continued: The body I have just seen is that of a man known as Alec. Agar. He was aged about 27 or 28 years, and is, I believe, a native of the colony of Victoria. I last saw him alive on Thursday morning about a quarter-past 7 at the back of the Randwick Racecourse. I had gone out there just for a cart; but I went in a cart. I walked a part of the road and I rode a part of the road. A man drove me out in the cart. His name is Hancock. There were others in the cart. (Wit-ness declined to say who was in the cart beside the driver and himself.) I know James Lawson, the man before the court. He was not in the cart. I decline to answer whether deceased was in the cart. There were four in the cart altogether. I saw Agar on Thurs-day morning before I went out; but I decline to say whether it was at my house. The coroner said he was not sure witness could decline to answer these questions. He could only decline to answer the questions which might crimi-nate himself. Witness continued ; We were near the Buninyong road, at the back of the racecourse. On arrival I saw the deceased and Lawson there. It was then about half-past 5. I knew he was to be there about that time. Lawson was there first. Agar came up about five or ten minutes after me. We were all walking at that time— the whole crowd together, and Agar was in - the crowd. I could not answer the name of the gentleman who was with me, but he is a gentleman from Victoria. I started from Sydney with some object in view, and that object was to see a fight at the place mentioned between the deceased and Lawson. Mr. Roberts-. Well, on your arrival at the spot did you see a fight between the two men ? Witness.: I decline to answer that question. -Mr. Boberts: Was there a fight there? I think you may answer that question. Witness : Yes ; there was a fight. Mr. Boberts: How did they fight ? Was there a ring made ? Witness : There was no roped ring, but there was a ring kept. Two or three kept the ring during the progress of the fight. There were seconds to each man and time-keeper. Time was allowed to elapse between the rounds — a minute. On time being called the men faced each other and fought. Couldn't say how many rounds were fought. Mr. Roberts: Twenty or five-and-twenty ? Witness : -No. I don't think so many. About a dozen or fourteen. The deceased had trousers on. and was stripped to the belt. I know the name of the timekeeper. Mr. Roberts : How did the battle commence ? ' . Witness : Both men stood up in the ordinary man-ner. The Coroner: Well, we don't know what the ordinary manner is— at least, I don't. Witness : When time was called they toed the scratch— there was no scratch, but when time was called they came up in fistie fashion, and the fight then commenced. Mr. R: Do you know whether the fight was for stakes? Witness -. I decline to answer that question. I de-cline to say whether I went out to see a prize fight. Mr. R. : Did you hold any prize-money to abide the result? Witness : I did not, sir. Mr. R. : Do you know of any person who did? — I decline to answer that question. Mr. R. : Did you hear from anyone that they were to fight for money — that won't criminate you? — I heard some talk about it. How much were they to fight for a-side ? — I don't know, only that it was to be for money. From whom did you hear that? — I can't say exactly, but a lot of people. Did you see any stakeholders out there?— I decline, to answer that question. Did you know Lawson before that morning ?— I had seen him several times before during the last couple of months. Bid you have any conversation with him previously about the fight which was to take place on Thursday morning ? — I decline to answer that question. Had you seen Lawson frequently before the fight? — I had not seen him for a week. Did you see them together respecting the fight ? — No ; I End not seen them together about the fight, but I saw them together about four or five days before the fight. Did you know from either of them that they were going to fight for a money prize ? — I decline to answer the question. Who acted as second for Lawson, do you know?— Yes. And you know who acted, I suppose, as second for deceased during the fight ? — Yes. What number were there present as you were near the ground going up to it before the fight ?— About a hundred. What number would yon say were there during the progress of the fight ?— Well,- I should say about a hundred and fifty. The Coroner. - Evidently the arrangement had not been kept a profound secret. Mr. Roberts : Who took a part in forming the ring?— The whole one hundred and fifty shaped them selves into a ring, and three or four persons took an active part in keeping it clear, so as to enable the combatants to fight without interruption.
Can you say if the men present were there ? — Yes. William Pretty - was present, also the men who give the names of Lawson, Peter Jackson, Charles Davis, Nicholas Dooley, James M'Vane. I heard a lot of talking about betting, but did not see any money pass. They wanted to have a bet on Lawson and on the deceased. They said they would bet a pound or two. This was while they were fighting. How long were they fighting ?— Between 30 and 40 minutes. Did yon see Agar receive many blows?— Agar re-ceived a few blows, but not many. Then was a lot of sparring done. Did you see him receive blows about the head? — About the face, but not about the head. Did yon see Agar receive many throws?— He did not receive one, but each scrambled to the ground, after every round, now Lawson, and now Agar. How did the fight terminate?— By Agar giving in. How did he give in?— By saying be was done; Where was he at that time ?— Sitting on the second's knee. Did you see the condition he was in then? — Yes, sir. He was unable at that time, was he not, to con-tinue the fight— utterly unable ?— No, sir, he was not. Was the fight oontinued?— No, there was no more fighting. Did yon observe at that time that he was in a dying state ?— No, sir, I did not, but I saw him go off the second's knee in a fit after the lapse of a minute after he had said he was done. Well, what was done to him ? — There were a lot of people there who assisted him. They applied water to his forehead. He rallied about 10 minutes after-wards, but he could not walk. I did not hear him speak. Di you see him die ? - I did not. What did you do with him ? - I did nothing with him. Did you not try to restore animation ? - I gave a bottle of water to a person to give to him. thiMatfftfis'f— t dea't now wIs there a person called a bottle-holder engaged in these affairs ? - I don't know whether there was in this. The bottle was one that had been used by one of the seconds. What became of the deceased. - I saw him put into a cab and driven away. Do you know the cabman?— I would know him if I saw him. [The cabman Sydney Denham was here brought in and identified.] Mr. Boberts: Did any of the people before the court put him into the cab? — No. Did you?— No. Do you know whether any of the men before the court went into the cab with him? — No. None of the men before the court went into the cab. The man who went with him is not here. Were both these men sober when they were in the ring fighting?— To the best of my belief, yes. And on the several occasions you saw Agar before the fight, did he appear to be in good health? — Yes, he made no complaints to me. On the evidence being read over, the witness said the only person he saw assisting to put deceased into the cab, was the accused Lawson. Further examined : Lawson had a pair of drawers on, and was naked from the waist up; the same as the other man. Mr. Roberts; Is that the usual costume ?— There are different ways ; some have loose pants and others tight drawers. All strip to the buff. The Coroner: What do you mean by the buff? Is the buff the waist?— No, the buff is the skin. Mr. Roberts : Gave you ever seen a prize fight? — Yes. Was this fought according to the rules of the ring? —No. What was the difference ?— In a prize fight there is a roped ring and no person is allowed in the ring. That is the only difference. And with that exception, were the rules of the prize ring carried out? — Yes, sir. The prisoner Lawson declined to ask any ques-tions. By prisoner M'Vane: I am certain I saw you there. I have no ill will or old grudge against you., (At this stage M'Vane cried a good deal.) Jackson declined to ask any questions. By prisoner Pretty : I don't know you to be con-cerned in this fight in any way whatever. You simply only saw me on the ground? — Yes, as a friend of his. Yon don't know me at all ? - I have seen you once or twice only previous to Thursday. You never heard me speak on the ground?— I did not. The Foreman : You said as a "friend of his" who do you mean? — The deceased. The Coroner : What makes you say as friend of the deceased . What are your grounds for saying so ? — My grounds are that he comes from Victoria, from the same place as deceased came from. Is that the only reason? — Yes. Sydney Denham was the next witness examined by Mr. Roberts. He deposed : I am a cabman, residing at 68, Riiey-street. On Thursday morning I went out to Randwick about 5 o'clock. I started from my own place. I had been engaged on the previous night by a person whose name I know. I was to drive him out to Randwick at the hour men-tioned. I took the person who engaged me on the previous night and another person, whose name I also know. We went to the Bunnerong-road, at the back of the course. On arrival I saw a number of persons assembled about 100 yards off the road. It was just getting daylight. After being there about a quarter of an hour, I saw some arrangements being made for what appeared to be a fight. The people formed a circle, and I saw two men stripped to the waist. They were both strangers to me at that time. Lawson, now before the court, is one of the two, and the dead body I have just seen of Alexander Agar was the other. They were attended by seconds during the fight. I think one of Lawson's seconds was a man named Charley Campbell. Two seconds were attending to each man. I don't know who was the other second to Lawson. The man before the court, who gives the name of John Cornelius Connell (the first witness) was one of the deceased's seconds. The other was a stranger to me, and I don't see him before the court. I thought Pretty was the other at first, but I would not swear to it. When deceased fell he was picked up, usually by Connell. I did not see a sponge applied, but I saw bottles of water used. When Connell picked him up he placed him on his knee at the end of every round, and the same rule was observed with regard to the other combatant. There was a timekeeper, but I don't know his name. He had a watch in his hand. The ring was kept clear during the fight by a man with a whip. I don't see any of the men before the court who were doing that; Davis and Dooley were not, and I never stated they were. I saw Jackson there, but did not see him keeping the ring clear. Dooley and Davis were there during the fight. l saw the accused Pretty there. I did not see him till he came to my cab from the crowd. I did not see M'Vane there. I saw the commencement of the fight. They fought for about half an hour. I did not see very much punishment, I saw some blows about the body, and occasionally some about the head. The little fellow— the deceased — was knocked down almost every round, but Lawson only two or three times. Deceased was knocked down a dozen times. He seemed to come down pretty heavily. I can't say how many rounds were fought. Lawson seemed to throw him by being the stronger man of the two, and that he overpowered the other man and threw him by superior strength. How did the fight end?— It ended by the deceased falling at the end of one of the rounds. I can't say whether it was by a blow or not, but he appeared to me to fall heavily. He did not come to time, and I heard the crowd say it was all over. I then walked - over and saw him lying on his back on the grass ; Connell and others were assist-ing him. Connell was fanning deceased, and giving him some liquid. Deceased did not seem to revive, and looked very bad. He seemed to be speech-less, and appeared to be insensible, but alive, although breathing very heavily. I was called upon to take Agar away in my cab. Two men placed him there, and told me to drive off to the Infirmary. I said, 'I am not going to take him myself,' and two men got into the cab with deceased. After going about a hundred yards one of them said ' Stop — he is dead.' He then got out, and said he would not go any further, but the other man remained in the cab and went to the hospital. The men who brought him to the cab came from the fight. I have not seen either of those men since. Mr. Roberts; Then you weren't paid?— No, I was not. The Coroner -. I suppose the party you took out paid you?— Oh, yes. On arrival at the hospital they told me to go to the police station, and I was then told to bring the body on to the morgue here. The accused Pretty is the man who went with me to the hospital ; I don't see the other man. Pretty never spoke to me on the way to the infirmary. When he left me he said, ' You will get paid all right.' By Mr. Roberts : Did you hear any betting going on ?— Yes. How was it going ?— It was level money. Was that at the commencement of the fight? — Yes. But towards the end of the fight the betting altered. I heard one of the men in the crowd offer to lay 5 to 4 on the dark one. I don't know who he was; but he is a Jewish looking man. Was Davis offering to bet ? — Yes ; he was offering to bet with the Jew, but there was a barney about the stakes being held, and no bet was made. Davis offered to back deceased, and the Jewish looking man offered to back Lawson. I suppose you didn't know at night that you were going to a prize fight ? — No ; I thought it was to go to the early gallops at Randwick. The man holding the watch called 'time ' at the commencement of every round, when the men faced each other and fought, and there were three or four cabs at the fight, and several carts and buggies. Was there much excitement during the progress of the flght? — Not much. Was there no cheering or encouragement?— No, not much. I hoard them say, 'Ah, that's a good hit ' when a good blow was made. They said 'That's the way, walk into him,' and that sort of thing. I saw Agar get a pretty hard blow on the forehead. He did not fall from the blow. Was this a fight with naked fists throughout? — Yes. It was not a glove fight ?— No. Did each appear to you to deliver the blows with as much severity as he could, to gain a victory over the other?— Yes. By the Coroner : Connell acted as second to de-ceased. He had an assistant. He used to wipe him down and sometimes gargle his month with, water, and when time was called again brought him up to face his opponent. The Coroner: I believe you have been already ap-prehended by the police Mr. Connell, but I must again request you to take your place in custody with the others. Connell then moved to the other side of the room with the other prisoners. Witness (in answer to the Coroner) : Connell and another tallish man took the deceased in the ring at the commencement of the fight and placed him in position. By Prisoner Pretty : I did not see you previous to your ooming up to the cab to put the deceased into it. By Prisoner Davis: I first saw you shortly after the commencement of the fight. I did not see you as you came through the scrub to the fight. I don't re-member seeing you at the gallops of a morning. I think it was you and the other party had a barney about the wager. I heard you tell him to shut up, that he had too much to say. I did not see you with any money. The man with the Jewish features had a lot to say. He waa talking all the time. You were very orderly, merely looking on. By prisoner Connell: I have been driving a cab five or six years. There was a person keeping time there. I have sworn I don't know his name. I would know him if I were to see him. I have sworn that you and the other nan were picking up the deceased. I don't know the other man's name. I would not know the first man who acted as second, but I would know the man that relieved him. I would know the third and last one, too. I saw you pick the deceased up and put him on your knee. The other prisoners declined to ask any questions. By- the jury: I did not see any referee there; except it was the timekeeper. I did not see M'Vane there: at all... At this stage of the proceedings, it being now a few minutes to 6, the inquiry was adjourned until 9 o'clock next Wednesday morning.
1884 'The Fatal Prize Fight.', Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), 19 April, p. 5. , viewed 02 Nov 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109867644
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