3:25 



denounced the treatment to which Heenan was subjected, unuational 

 as it was in every one particular. It was all occasioned by a clique of 

 goody-goodies and a handful of J.P.'s — custodians, no doubt, of the 

 peace, but assuredly devoid of ail notion of justice. 



Luckily, the haras3ing he got had no effect upon Heenan, for he 

 stripped on the morniog of battle in as fine condition and as grand a 

 specimen of a gladiitor as ever pulled off a coat. 



The first man who aspired to the title of Champion of England was 

 the celebrated Figg, w^ho, in about the year 1719, first wore the Belt. 

 Since then many scores of brave men have toed the scratch, and within 

 the twenty-four foot arena fought doggedly and scientifically for the 

 championship. Excitement, at times intense and widespread, prevailed 

 over some of these fights, but it may with safety be said that never did 

 any fight for the championship produce quarter the excitement and 

 enthusiasm as did that between Sayers and Heenan. Every paper in 

 the country, including those of the highest class journalism, opened 

 their columns to the all-engrossing topic and, to the credit of their 

 editors, by far the greater number abstained from adverse criticism, 

 while many gave to the great event friendly comment. 



The authorities as the day approached redoubled their efforts 

 to prevent the fight, and sought ddigently, luckily without success, 

 for the principals. With such publicity and with every man in 

 the kingdom talking about it, to keep secret to the last moment 

 when, but more particularly ivhere, the fight was to come off was a task 

 difficult in the extreme. Effectually, however, was it performed. The 

 day at last became generally known, but not until it had almost arrived. 

 To put the authorities off the scent no end of ruses were adopted, and 

 on many a wild-goose chase were hundreds of police sent to places 

 given out as being selected for the battle. 



Considering the amount of interest which had centred in this, a great 

 international contest, not alone from every part of our own kingdom and 

 America, but from, I may say, all over the globe, I do think the 

 heads of our authorities would have shown more discretion and 

 diplomacy had they shut one eye, at least, and let the great question be 

 decided without the worry which they occasioned. To have done so 

 would, at all events, have saved them from the ridicule heaped upon 

 them at the signal and huoiiliating discomfiture they happily sustained. 

 About one o'clock in the morning of Tuesday, April 17, 1860, the 

 rendezvous was made public. "London Bridge at four o'clock.'' The 

 scene at Owen Swift's and Harry Brunton's, at Nat Langham's and Alec 

 Keene's beggars description. It was known towards midnight that 

 the announcement would be made at these houses, and that tickets 

 would be issued, so each place was crammed. 



Two monster trains were prepared and in readiness at the station. 

 The first, consisting of no less than thirty carriages, was despatched, 

 full as it could hold, at 4.30. The second, nearly as long, and quite as 

 full, followed soon after. All along the line for nearly twenty miles 



