338 SPORTING STORIES 



his greatest feat in the saddle was his match with another 

 Yorkshire sportsman, three miles on the flat, owners up, 

 for lOO guineas a side. Metcalf had a small stud of 

 his own at this time. The betting was 20 to i against 

 him, because it was thought the shape of the course^ — 

 a circular one — destroyed his chance. There were posts at 

 intervals, and at each post Metcalf stationed a man with a 

 bell. The sound of the bells guided him and enabled him 

 to keep the course, and he rode in an easy winner. 



Blind Jack was also a remarkable runner, as the following 

 anecdote will prove. The week before the York Spring 

 Meeting, Colonel Mellish, who was staying at the Dragon 

 Hotel, Harrogate, met a Captain Stancliffe, whose groom 

 was a celebrated runner. Metcalf happening to be at the 

 Dragon tap, and hearing some talk about the groom's 

 powers as a pedestrian, said he would run him to Knares- 

 borough Churchyard gate. Mellish (who had often heard 

 of Blind Jack) there and then backed Metcalf for ;^50 against 

 Captain Stancliffe's groom. The men soon got ready, the 

 groom in running costume; but Metcalf made no prepara- 

 tions. A tall, heavily-built man, with a slouching walk, it 

 looked as though the odds were 100 to i against him, even 

 if he had not been blind. They started, Eyes taking the 

 lead. No Eyes keeping close behind. All at once Metcalf 

 was seen to deviate to the right, and most of the people, 

 thinking that it was all over, turned back. The groom 

 kept on straight for the bridge over the Swale, while 

 Metcalf made for the river, into which he plunged clothes 

 and all, and, swimming across, reached the goal long before 

 his opponent. The way he had taken was three-quarters 

 of a mile shorter. 



Jack Metcalf was also a capital hand at bowls. He 

 managed in this way. A friend and confederate was 

 stationed close to the jack, and another midway. They 

 kept up a constant conversation, and from the sound of 

 their voices he guessed the distance. His dexterity at 

 cards, too, was wonderful. But perhaps his most extra- 

 ordinary achievements were as a boxer. He was a man 

 of magnificent physique, 6 ft. 2 ins. in height, and very 

 finely made. His want of sight might well have been 



