Tom S])rin(js Back Parlour, 13 



the spectators. Jem Turner introduced them : " Ben 

 Gaunt, gentlemen ; Bendigo, gentlemen ; both champions 

 of England. No applause, gentlemen. Mum as oysters, 

 gentlemen. If you please — time ! " That was something 

 like a set-to, and Bendigo gave Gaunt a regular hammering? 

 and hit him just as he pleased. 



I went to many benefits with Spring, or by his advice, 

 at the Westminster Baths and elsewhere, but I never but 

 once went to a fight, as it was very expensive work in the 

 first place, and very rough work, as a rule, in the second. 

 The fight I saw was between Keen and Grant, and I met 

 Spring on the ground by appointment, and I certainly 

 would go a hundred miles to-morrow to see it over again. 

 The fight took place in the autumn of 1849, on the borders 

 of Hants and Surrey. Spring told me that it was sure to 

 be a good fight, as he knew that the money was found by- 

 men in the Household Brigade, who could afford it, and 

 that strict orders had been given by both sides to take 

 either man away if fairly licked. I can recall every inci- 

 dent of that day as if it occurred yesterday. The arrange- 

 ments were perfect, and a special " way in " at the railway 

 station was reserved for the excursionists ; and the police 

 made no bones about it, but kept on calling out, " This 

 way for the fight, gentlemen ; this way for the fight — two 

 pounds and a pound." A poor old lady, a venerable third- 

 classer, made a mistake and thought she was going to Ports- 

 mouth, and it was only discovered just in time. I was in 

 a second-class carriage, full of old ring-goers, and was 

 amused to see the enthusiasm with which they recorded 

 past battles. One old gentleman in tops and corduroys, 

 and a large mackintosh and low-crowned hat (who need net 

 have informed us that he was a cowkeeper, as there was 

 an aroma about him which disclosed the fact), who had 

 seen one of the men every morning during his training. 



