Webber, of Exeter, and Holmes, literally a
couple of chickens, presented themselves. The
former, an apprentice to a baker, and scarcely
eighteen years of age, has figured at our juve-
nile matches for some time, and acquired such
celebrity as to be dubbed '* The Champion,"
a. title he appears well to merit. He is of
snort stature, but strongly limbed, and well-
made, and came every thing so completely
a la Cann, that a delightful ring testified their
approbation by loud and continued plaudits ;
indeed, if he but ubes time to come, as he
appears to have done that which is past, the
day is not distant when he will compete with
the first wrestlers in Devon ; he is at present
the best copy of a master in the art, of whom
it seems we must take leave, that has appear-
ed. At the end of four minutes, Webber
gathered his man up in Abraham's best style,
and laid him flat as a pancake on mother
earth. He was called for at the booths, and
received an instant and well-merited reward
for his exertions. On the third day Webber
again entered the ring with George Clarke, of
St. Thomas, amidst loud cheers. Clarke is
also a stripling, but with advantage in point
of age. It was an excellent match, and the
baker, to the fullest extent, supported his
previous character he came it again after
Abraham's fashion, and the lock with the left
seemed his favorite this he essayed again
and again, but wanted a little more weight to
bring him over ; nothing daunted by failure,
he persevered, and at the end of thirty minutes,
locking himself firmly with the left inner, his
opponent gave way before the extraordinary
force applied, and was brought over in the
finest style, loud shouts testifying the appro-
bation of the spectators.

The final round brought Woolaway and
W re ford together; this was a treat worth
riding 100 miles to witness ; they are both
well known, and the odds were in favor of
Woolaway at setting to ; the foils, however,
changed the aspect of affairs ; and in eighteen
minutes Wreford laid his powerful opponent
on his back in the very first style.

The prizes were awarded as follows :
Wreford first prize, 12 ; Woolaway second,
8; Robert Underdown third, 5; Archer
fourth, 3; Bradford fifth, 2 ; and Westlake
sixth, 1 10s. The match closed at a quarter
to eight o'clock.

There was some excellent play at Paignton,
from the 29th to the 31st ult. The crack turn
cf the match was between Archer and Hyne.
Archer is a youth of extraordinary promise,
and possessing great good nature ; Hyne's
qualities every frequenter of the ring is ac-
quainted with. They are both severe pu-
nishers, and played in the most masterly
manner ; it was a succession of foils for one
hour and forty minutes, when a wish being
expressed that they should decide the matter



by a toss, it was complied with, and Archer
won. Ghaff had the first prize, of 8 ;
Archer the second, of 4; Pook the third,
of 2 ; besides which, each standard had 5s ,
and the first 10s. in addition.

In June, 1828, a match took place at the
Eagle Tavern, in the City-road, for 20, be-
tween the celebrated JAMES CANN, of Devon-
shire, and a young Cornishman of good repute,
of the name of OLVER. After a match for a
sovereign had been played between Copp and
Finney, which the former won, the two men
first named entered the ring, and, after shak-
ing hands, grappled each other. In a few
minutes it was evident that Olver was not only
the younger and stronger man, but that he
possessed equal, if not more, science and
quickness than his opponent. In a few
minutes he caught Cann up in his arms for
the heave, but the latter, though he could not
prevent the fall, contrived to save his back;
at least the Umpires decided that it was not a
fair back fall, although many of the specta-
tors thought otherwise. A number of foils
followed, mostly in favor of the Cornishman ;
but such was the dependance on Cann, that
2 to 1 on him could find no takers. After an
hour's excellent play, in which Cann was
foiled in all his efforts, Olver succeeded in
giving him a burster, in the shape of a somer-
set, his heels being tossed up in the air, by
which he was so much stunned that he leaned
against one of the posts of the ring, and finally
relinquished the contest, which was to have
been the first two falls out of three. This
unexpected event gained Olver much ap-
plause, as the Canns have heretofore carried
every thing before them. A medical gentle-
man bled Cann, who was conveyed home in a
coach, and it was some time before he re-
covered from the stunning effects of the fall.
Olver stated that his brother and himself
would wrestle with Abraham Cann and his
brother, for 50 a-side.

In the above month, also, a Wrestling
Match which excited the Irish part of the
Fancy to attend at the Wellington Ground,
Chelsea, to witness a trial of skill and strength
between PHILIP GAFFNEY and GEORGE SAUN-
DERS (a Cornish man) for forty sovereigns.
On entering the ring, at half past five, it was
at once seen that Gaffney was not only taller,
but also considerably heavier than his antag-
onist. Betting, 2 to 1 on Gaffney,

The articles being read, two of three fair
back falls, the men set to without shoes, and
after some very cautious play, a close took
place, and both fell Saunders under. On
again meeting, the men gripped each other,
'aunders endeavouring to obtain a favourite
hold; but Gaffney foiled his attempts, and
seizing him round the body threw him heavily,
but only a side fall. (The Patlanders in ex-
tacies "Isn't he a broth of a boy? Sure
that was a fair side fall !") After a short
pause, the men again grappled, and some ex-
ceeding good play followed, in which the



332



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



strength of Gaffney gave him every advantage,
and Saunders was again thrown heavily, but
not fairly on his back. (Shouts from the Irish
gentlemen, and 10 to 1 on Gaffney.)

After a lapse of a few minutes, the men
met again, shook hands, and prepared for the
tug of war anew ; and Saunders was again
undermost, but on his side. Gaffney now
appeared determined to end the business at
once, and commenced a furious attack, which
was met with uncommon skill and coolness by
Saunders, whose exertions were loudly and
deservedly applauded. After a struggle of
very long continuance, the strength of Gaff-
ney again befriended him, and he had the best
of a foil; but when on the ground, he forced
his antagonist's head to the earth in rather an
unfriendly way, which was observed and fol-
lowed by a shower of hisses. Gaffney now
began to be more cautious, and puffed a little,
seeming anxious to recover his wind. Several
others followed, in which " Fair! foul ! fair !"
was bandied about on both sides, but only
one of which was at all in favour of Saun-
ders, who, at the expiration of an hour and a
half, was thrown another burster, which re-
sounded through the ring, and from the effects
of which he remained on the earth in a state
of total insensibility.

A medical gentleman, who was on the
ground, immediately opened a vein in his right
arm, and after taking a considerable quantity
of blood from him, he showed signs of return-
ing animation, and was removed into the Wel-
lington, and put to bed.

Saunders was completely overmatched, and
Iud not half a chance from first to last. Had
the match been with a fair shoe and stocking;,
the match would have been more equal the
heavy kicking of Saunders acting as a coun-
terpoise to the Herculean strength of Gaffney.

A bye-match between little Avery, the
merry little baker (always first on the ground,
and the last to leave it), and young Pardue,
was worth a score such matches. Avery was
victor.

The parties met at Tom Cribb's on Friday
evening, when Gaffney demanded the stakes.
Cribb produced a letter from the backer of
Saunders, interdicting his giving up the
stakes, on the ground that offers of money had
been made to Saunders to lose the match ; but
of this there was no attempt at proof what-
ever, and Gaffney received the stakes, while
all bets were paid. James Cann was present,
and offered to wrestle Gaffney the best two in
three fair back falls, with fair shoe and stock-
ing, for 50. Gaffney objected to his wrest-
ling with anything but a light shoe ; Cann
would not accede, and the business went off.

Indeed the Wellington Ground throughout
the whole of the last week in June, presented a
lively scene for the admirers of athletic sports.
The two first days of which were devoted to
making standards; and on Wednesday the
double play commenced, in the presence of
upwards of one thousand spectators, one hun



dred of whom were noblemen and gentlemen
of the first distinction, among whom were
Earls Grey and Talbot ; Lords Falmouth,
Clanwilliam, Elliott, H. Kerr, Valletort,
Wallscourt ; Honourable John Fortescue,
Hon. Grey, Sir John Shelley, Bart., Sir
Charles Lemon, Bart., Sir George Bampfylde,
Benett, Esq. M. P. for Wilts, Rice Tre-
vor, Esq. M. P., General Sir H. Vivian, M.P.,
E. Pendarves, Esq., Praed, Esq., Captain
Handley, &c.

Shortly after two o'clock the ground was
opened, and lots were drawn to determine
which men should oppose each other, there
being exactly 13 Cornishmen, 13 Devonshire-
men, 1 Irishman, and 1 Cumberland man,
double players, making 14 couple, the Irish-
man being taken on the side of Cornwall,
and the Cumberland man on the side of Devon ;
after which the men entered the ring in the
following order : Randall and Batstone, the
former was quickly thrown Trenery and
Kerslake, a tedious bout, which, after fifty
minutes' duration, was decided by a toss
which Trenery lost Trewicke and Andrews,
the latter was thrown after a short but good
turn Warren and Pyle, the former was
thrown Finney and Steers, the latter was the
victor Austin and Perry, the former of whom
is a tall strong man, and the latter a diminu-
tive man, but remarkably strong built, pulled
each other about for a considerable time and
then tossed for it, which was won by Perry
Avery and French, the latter was thrown
Johnson and Knight, the latter was thrown
Giver and Tucker, the former threw his
man in such quick time as gained the applause
of all present Thorn and Bennett, the latter
was thrown James Cann and Bowden, the
former of course was victorious Copp and
Julyan, the latter was thrown, but received
great applause for the manner in which he
played Copp, as he was considerably advanced
beyond the grand climacteric -Cocks and
Middleton, the latter was thrown.

Thus ended the double play, considerably
in favour of Devonshire, the winners being as
follows :

DEVON. J. Cann, Thorn, Batstone, Kers-
lake, Steers, Pyle, Copp, Mossop (Cumber-
land), Perry, Avery.

CORNWALL. Olver, Trewicke, Johnson,
and Cocks.

Lots were again drawn, and the men en-
tered for the triple play in the following
order: James Cann and Olver. It was
generally supposed that these were the best
men of each county, and much interest was
excited by the match. Great strength, agility,
and science were displayed by both the men.
Cann played much better than when he last
played with Olver, and succeeded in one
instance in throwing him, according to the
opinion of many round the ring, but the
umpires decided against its being a fair fall ;
but Cann had quitted the ring, and refused to
enter again, considering he had fairly won it.



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



333



At the request of several of the noblemen
present, however, he again entered the ring,
and was thrown. Johnson was then thrown,
by Thorn, Batston by Cocks, Kerslake by
Trewicke, a rattler in quick time ; Perry by
Steers, Avery by Pyle, and Mossop by Copp.
The latter was an excellent turn ; Mossop is a
remarkably strong young man, and gave Copp,
who is one of the best Wrestlers in London,
much trouble ; but Copp finally succeeded in
throwing him, when the approach of night put
an end to the sports.

On Thursday the play was concluded. The
seven following men were the only ones that
had to play for the five pi izes, viz.

For CORN WALL Olver,Trewicke and Cocks.
For Devon Steers, Copp, Pyle, and Thorn.
Lots were drawn for the odd man, and also
for the manner in which the remaining three
couple were to enter the ring. It fell to
Pyle's lot to be the odd man, and the remain-
ing six men entered the ring in pairs, as
follows : Olver and Thorn " a horse to a
hen" the latter thrown in five minutes.
Trewicke and Copp ; several foils took place
between these men, but the strength of Tre-
wicke proved irresistible, and every time he
threw Copp he injured him, till he at length
fell an easy victim. Cocks and Steers ; the latter
was now the only hope of Devon, and though
a very clever wrestler, and a fine young man,
he found a troublesome customer in Cocks,
and for a long time the point was doubtful
between them ; at length Steers succeeded in
throwing him, for which he was loudly ap-
plauded.

The winning men of both counties were
now brought to a level, there being two for
each county, viz. : Olver and Trewicke for
Cornwall ; and Steers and Pyle for Devon.

Trewicke and Pyle first entered for the quin-
truple play. Pyle, as usual, played cautiously,
but had not sufficient strength to resist his
powerful opponent, whose wonderful strength
was the admiration of the ring, and finally
gained him a fall ; it was, however, so much
disputed, that the men again hitched, when
Pyle was decisively thrown.

OLVER AND STEERS. These men excited
considerable interest ; they were both fine
young men, but Olver appeared to have con-
siderably the advantage in point of strength
and bulk ; he had also dispatched the last
man he had wrestled with in quick time, and
frith little or no exertion ; while Steers, on
the contrary, had had much trouble in bring-
ing his opponent (Cocks) to his back, and
when called upon, had not recovered from the
fatigue of his first encounter. He played
Olver, however, with great animation and
spirit, and received much applause ; but he
was ultimately thrown, and thus all opposi-
tion on the part of Devon was at an end.

Olver and Trewicke being now the only
remaining men unthrown, were called upon to
contend for the first and second prizes ; but
Trewicke resigned the point in favor of Olver,



declaring his inability to contest it with him,
but expressed his willingness to play if the
gentlemen required it. After this explanation
it was considered unfair to require it, as they
were both from one county ; and the prizes
were adjudged as follows : Olver, the first,
12 ; Trewicke, the second, 6 ; (Steers and
Pyle tossed) Steers, the third, 3 ; Pyle, the
fourth, 2; and Copp, the fifth, 1. The
double players received 5s. each.

Early in the month of October, 1828, a
wrestling-match took place at the grounds of
the Eagle Tavern in the City Road, between
OLVER and FINNEY, the former a noted wres-
tler from Cornwall, who has floored all who
opposed him since his arrival in London, and
the latter an Irishman, who, though he could
neither fight, wrestle, or play at single-stick
in first-rate style, yet, nevertheless, he has
often proved a troublesome customer to sci-
entific professors in all the above games.
With but little knowledge of the art of wrest
ling, Finney accidentally, but fairly, threw
Abraham Cann, at Leeds, and having lately
supposed himself to have had the best of
Olver in a trial of skill at the wrestling-rooms,
he challenged him for twenty sovereigns
a-side, which Olver accepted, and on Tues-
day the men met to decide the point. About
four o'clock, after some minor matches, the
two principals entered the ring, and began to
peel. Olver did not appear to be in good
condition, and seemed to lack that confident
superiority with which he used formerly to
enter the ring. He attempted, as usual, to
smile, but it was the smile of disdain at being
called upon by one who, without much chance
of throwing him, might foil his best endea-
vours. Finney, while "stacking his duds,"
conveyed no very cheering hope to his backers
he was remarkably pale, and altogether out
of condition. They advanced to the centre of
the ring, shook hands, and commenced by
violently kicking each other. During the
first half hour Olver was said by good judges
to have missed two or three opportunities of
throwing Finney, and was once near being
thrown by him. For forty minutes the play
was of the most uninteresting and tedious
description, during which Finney appeared
to have imparted to the scientific movements
of Olver that awkwardness which accom-
panied his own. At length Finney, who ap-
peared nearly winded, and found no good
result from the unmerciful kicking which
took place between them, accused Olver of
having extra padding under his stockings ;
this the latter did not deny, but insisted on
his right to have it, which was denied by the
partisans of Finney, and a warm altercation
took place, during which "foul, foul!"
" fair, fair!" was bandied about by their re-
spective partisans, and all wtis getting "con
fusion worse confounded," when the articles
were called for, and read by a person in the
ring. By them it appeared that the match
was to be decided by the first two fair back



334



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



falls out of three, with fair shoe and padding,
and Olver was adjudged to slip down his
stockings, from out of which two pieces of
padding were withdrawn. Before this point
was decided a heavy shower of rain delayed
the proceedings for another half hour, and
threw an additional damp on the previously
dissatisfied spectators. At length, the rain
having abated, the men again set-to upon
equal terms with regard to padding ; but bet-
ting, as at starting, was 2 to 1 on Olver, who
finally succeeded in giving Finney the first
fall ; but it was one of a most unsatisfactory
nature, as the receiver did cot emit one of
those hearty ejaculations which proceed from
paviors when handling a rammer, and which
convey so much gratification to the amateurs
of wrestling : it was given, however, against
Finney, who shortly after received another of
a similar description, which ended the match
in favor of Olver, but redounded little to his
previous credit ; indeed, he has fallen in the
estimation of many for not having defeated
Finney in a more masterly manner, and several
challenges to both will be the result of their
exhibition. Many, however, commented on
Olver's play, who would stand little chance
in his hands ; for, however it may be attempted
to deride Finney for his want of skill, it must
be allowed that he is a difficult man to throw,
and many who will not allow it would find it
to be so upon trial. A match between Avery,
the journeyman baker, and a young Cornish-
man, wound up the sports of the afternoon,
and afforded more gratification to the specta-
tors than the principal one. The Cornishman
appeared to have too much beer on board for
an active display of his powers, and lost the
match, when Avery threw a mock somerset,
which was followed by a challenge from Fin-
ney to Olver, to fight him for the same sum
(40), to which no reply was given, and the
company separated.

In February, 1829, a Wrestling Match be-
tween OLVER and SAUNDERS, both Cornish-
men, at the Eagle Tavern, in the City Road,
which excited considerable interest amongst
the supporters of the above Old English
Sport.

About three o'clock in the afternoon the
grounds were well filled with spectators ; and
after two or three minor matches had been
played, Olver and Saunders entered the ring,
to contend for the first two fair back falls out
of three, for thirty sovereigns. It was agreed
that they should play with their shoes on,
and without padding, and a violent kicking,
bout was expected ; the friends of Saunders
relying principally upon his punishing abili-
ties with the shoe, which, they conceived,
Olver would not be able to withstand. On
coming to the scratch Saunders appeared in
fine condition, and in high spirits ; but Olver
seemed much out of condition, and advanced
to shake hands with his opponent with a very
desponding aspect. After five foils, and a
fine dismay of science, which occupied nearly



half an hour, Saunders succeeded in throwing
Olver a fine fall. On setting-to again, Olver
showed symptoms of great weakness he tot-
tered like a child ; but his mode of playing
was greatly admired. He several times at-
tempted to put in practice those masterly
heaves by which he gained so many prizes and
so much applause last summer ; but, though
Saunders is a comparatively light .man to some
of those whom he had so served, he was un-
able to lift him from the ground. After fifteen
minutes' play, however, he succeeded in
throwing Saunders; but the fall was much
disputed by the partisans of Saunders, and a
violent altercation took place round the ring.
The Umpires, however, decided the point in
favor ~f Olver. During the resting-time be-
tween the falls, Olver's backer took him into
the house, and procured him some refresh-
ment ; Saunders remained in the ring. On
the return of Olver, the trial for the last fall
was resumed with more confidence on the
part of Olver, who tried to carry Saunders
over with the inner crook, but failed ; he then
struck him with the fore hip, but in this he
failed also; at length he seized Saunders by
the middle, and, by a desperate effort, turne'i
his heels up in the air, and threw him will.
great violence a fine fall, amidst the enthu-
siastic acclamations of the spectators, many
of whom declared they had never seen a finer
fall. The friends of Saunders blame him for
not having kicked him enough; but injustice
to Olver we must say that he never once
flinched from the punishment inflicted on him,
nor was the kicking on either side so violent
as was expected.

Early in March, 1829, the second Wrestling
Match for the season also took place at the
above Tavern in the City Road, and the
muster was very strong of Cornish and Devon-
shire patrons. The match was betwixt James
Copp, a Devonian, and Francis Olver, of
Cornwall. Fifteen sovereigns a-side was the
sum to be contended for, the two first back-
falls of three, and to be played in the Devon-
shire style, with fair shoe and padding. Copp
was the favorite with nine-tenths of those
present ; but the well-known tactics of his
adversary prevented much betting. Several
minor bouts for small prizes were first played
to amuse the spectators ; and, at four o'clock,
Copp, who showed prime condition, threw his
hat into the ring, amidst loud cheers. Olver
followed his example, but was not so well
received. He, however, looked confident,
and much better than when he played Saun-
ders. After shaking hands, a sharp turn at
off-kicking took place, each man waiting an
opportunity to make a favorite hitch. After
several feints Olver succeeded in getting a
hold, and they both grappled, Olver playing
for the fore-hip, and Copp using his best cau-
tion as a preventive. In this manner several
foils took place, and at length Olver was oi
the point of trying the heave, when Copp,
whose fingers had become twisted in his uu-



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS



335



tagonist's jacket, and one of his nails torn
down to the quick, cried out, in some little
agony, "stop, stop." In an instant Olver
resigned his advantage, and left his man at
liberty. On again setting-to, Copp went to
work, but Olver was immovable, and showed
himself the stronger man: after a severe
struggle Copp was thrown on his side, Olver
falling at the same time. In another attempt
to strike the fore-hip, Olver suffered Copp
again to make his inner crook, the movement
on which he depended for ultimate success ;
but it was all wrong, for Olver, being unable
to extricate himself, by a masterly manoeuvre
hooked Copp's other leg, and giving him at
the same time a peculiar turn, threw him flat
on his back in his own play, and fell rather
heavily on him. The Coppites cried "foul,"
but both Umpires decided it a fair back fall.
The second turn commenced after a lapse of
ten minutes, and, for a short time, the off-
kicking was again resorted to. The bout
lasted half-an hour, and was equally well
contested with the first, the foils being nearly
equal, and the play very superior to what is
generally seen ; but the fall was ultimately
won by Copp, who made his lock as usual,
and Olver was brought down in attempting
the successful manoeuvre practised in the
previous turn. The friends of Copp offered.
sliirht odds on his winning the third fall,
which \vrre taken. When the third bout