The Bulldog. 209 



paid for a dog of this variety. In the opinion of 

 many persons he was so much a cripple as to 

 be unable to stand properly in the ring, which 

 was a fact. However, the judges under whom 

 the dog in question came, appeared blind to his 

 defects, and time after time he was placed over 

 more perfect animals. Then a match was made 

 between Dockleaf, the dog above alluded to, and 

 another well-known prize-winning bulldog, called 

 King Orry, owned by Mr. G. R. Murrell. 



The novelty of the contest caused considerable 

 interest to be taken therein, and it was arranged 

 under the following conditions : " Each dog to be 

 led and make the best of the way from the Roebuck 

 Hotel, Lewisham, to Bromley Town Hall and back, 

 the distance being about ten miles. The competitors 

 might have as much rest as appeared desirable, but 

 'lifting' from the ground was disqualification. At 

 seven o'clock, when the start was made, a big crowd 

 was in attendance, a portion of which accompanied 

 the dogs on their journey. King Orry went off with 

 the lead, and was nearly 400 yards ahead when a 

 mile or more had been traversed. Soon after 

 Dockleaf showed signs of fatigue, but continued on 

 his journey to a couple of miles from the start, when, 

 being fairly beaten, Mr. Woodiwiss withdrew him from 

 further competition ; his opponent was then far in 



p 



