320 



such occasions the peer and the corner-boy met on the common ground 

 of sport ; and very lively times they seem to have had, judging by the 

 description of the scenes. 



What extraordinary adventures were had by many who attended 

 prize-fights during the last years of their history ! One had to remain 

 up all night or to get up at two or three in the morning to be in time 

 for the special train which we were told was to start punctually at an 

 hour which was usually long before daylight. Provided with tickets 

 the day previous, as most were, we sallied forth in the dismal morning, 

 and in due time arrived at the station. There was encountered, no 

 matter how secretly might have been kept the rendezvous, oh ! such a 

 crowd of ruffians. In fact, the scum of the scum of London. These 

 rascals might perhaps let pass, without much molestation, any of the 

 respectable class or upper ten who they might know, but a man like 

 myself who was not honoured with their acquaintance would be 

 badgered for tickets, and upon his not giving money for or getting 

 them, he would, amidst the foulest abuse, be jostled and knocked about. 

 After elbowing his way on to the platform and securing a seat in a 

 first-class carriage, he would have to wait goodness knows how long before 

 the train would start, but before its doing so the carriage would often 

 be filled by representatives of the class met outside the station, many 

 without any ticket, the rest with third-class tickets. Needless to say 

 the conduct and language of these barbarians during the journey to 

 wherever the fight was to take place was of the most disreputable sort- 

 Arrived there, in the early morning, after a tedious and horrible 

 journey often of from two to three hours, we made the best of our way 

 to the scene of battle. 



First thing the stakes and ropes would be produced, and the ring 

 pitched. The seconds to the men would be selected beforehand, not 

 so the umpires and referee. As a rule, these officials were not chosen 

 until the ring was made, and over their nomination and election rows 

 and ructions at times took place. 



Well, in process of time these preliminaries would be arranged 

 and with a rope run through posts, stuck some few feet outside the 

 fighting arena, the inner ring was formed. This was the dress circle^ 

 and to it only those holding special tickets were admitted — at leasts, 

 during the beginning of the fight. I should have mentioned before 

 that for train-fare and admission to this exclusive circle a sum of from 

 one to three guineas had to be paid the day before. Men provided 

 with chairs accompanied the party, and those of the inner ring, 

 who desired the luxury of one was accommodated upon shelling out 

 four or five shillings extra. Outside the oipoiloi congregated. Between 

 the seconds a toss for corners was made, according to the result of 

 which they took up their places. Around the stake of their respective 

 corners would the colours of the combatants be tied. These con- 

 sisted of common cotton pocket-handkerchiefs, of whatever colour or 

 device each man might have chosen. They would be sold to those 



