Boxing matches, referred to in Colonial Queensland as pugilistic
encounters, were popular events, whether they were prize fights or privately organised
grudge matches to settle some score.
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| Poster for a Colonial Prize Fight |
One fight of the latter variety took place in the rough and tumble world
of South Brisbane in 1846. Strangely they were mates and remained so after the
bout. The physical contest seemed to be
the only honourable way to settle a dispute.
As was the habit of the day, it was an open ended contest with no set
number of rounds. No gloves were worn.
After about forty rounds, the match was stopped by the police, but the
two men later completed their trial by combat in the nearby bush.
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| Pugilist with Trophy |
Accordingly at the appointed hour a number of their
backers as well as a great many other persons assembled to witness the contest.
As we were not present on the occasion, it is out of our power, even if we had
the inclination, which we have not, to furnish an account of the hits and
knocks which were exchanged between the pugilists in about forty rounds of hard
fighting; suffice it to say, that as soon as the Chief Constable got
information of what was going on, he proceeded to the scene of action; his
appearance with the other "traps" was the signal for an immediate
cessation of hostilities and the parties retreated to the scrub, where they
finished the battle.
The battle-worn chums presented a comical sight in the Court the next
day. Supporting one another they
declared that honour had been satisfied on both sides and the dispute was now
resolved. They were sent on their way with a fine.
The combatants appeared before the Bench on the following
morning, with their frontispieces beautifully decorated with cuts, as the
publishers say, and each with one eye in mourning. "Well," says the
Police Magistrate to the defendants, "you appear to be two very reputable
characters, what have you got to say for yourselves?"
One of the parties
thus questioned replied, "that he and his friend did not fight for money -
nothing so low as that besides," says he, "there is no one in court
can say that our noddles have not been disfigured by accident" (here the
speaker tried to wink with his damaged eye, but failed most lamentably in the
attempt).
His friend then put in a word, and said that they were
both perfectly satisfied now, and were the best of cronies, having,
"buried all unkindness." Whereupon, the Bench ordered them to find
bail to keep the peace for three months, themselves in £10, and two sureties in
£5 each.[1]
A rather less gentlemanly display occurred north of the river in 1848.
The correspondent was horrified not so much by the fury of the
encounter but by the sight of an enthusiastic clutch of women urging them on.
PUGILISTIC DISPLAYS. - A correspondent in calling our
attention to a desperate fight which took place in North Brisbane on Tuesday
last, between a soldier and a sawyer, says:- "I counted no less than eight
women who were present, looking on with great interest; and one disgrace to her
sex was actually cheering and goading the men on by applause, oaths, and
shouts! The virago was the wife of one of the combatants."
O tempora, O
mores![2]
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| Classic Pugilistic Stance |
A pugilistic encounter took place yesterday morning at
seven o'clock, about four miles from hence, between James Smith, a Scotchman by
birth, but having arrived in the colony as a child, commonly called "the
Native" and William Jones, better known as "Black Bill." The
match was for £50 side; it caused great excitement among the "Fancy,"
many of whom came a long distance to witness it; and on Monday evening the time
appointed for settling preliminaries, our town was crowded with strange faces -
all was bustle and preparation during the whole night, and about daylight in
the morning the road leading to the scene of action was for at least a mile
dotted with groups of twenty and thirty, equestrians and pedestrians, all
flocking to the "mill".
Along with horse races, prize fights were accompanied by heavy wagers.
The partisans of each of the belligerents were about
equally divided, bets consequently ran high. Shortly after seven the fight
commenced but not withstanding the apparently friendly grip given at the
commencement of these encounters, there was evidently a latent grudge existing
between the parties, they therefore went at it pell mell, science being first
kicked out the ring. Thirty-two rounds, which occupied only forty-two minutes,
were fought with varied success, until the last round, when an unlucky blow on
the jugular from the brawny fist of the "Native" left the hitherto
victor of our northern settlement hors de combat[3].
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| Early View of Ipswich from Limestone Hill |
After "Black Bill"
is unable to continue, it is agreed to continue the match the following
morning. Accordingly many of the crowd
decided to stay over in town and enjoy the hospitality of the local inns. Inevitably,
a few over-indulgers found themselves guests in the town lock-up for the night.
On their return to town a large sum was, again,
immediately subscribed for Jones to challenge his conqueror, but rounds has not
been decided. As fighting was the order of the day during the whole forenoon of
Tuesday, the "small fry" or backers of each party, considered that
they might as well amuse themselves with a "turn up”, but as all had been
sacrificing pretty freely to the Jolly God[4],
it invariably ended with a shake hands and "another glass" saving the
unfortunate wights[5]
who happened to fall aboard of the officials, and were kindly accommodated with
a night's lodging, for the trifling gratuity of eleven shilling to the funds of
the Benevolent Society.[6]
Postscript:
No further mention of a rematch is mentioned in The Moreton Bay Courier, so it is reasonable to speculate that, for
whatever reason, it did not eventuate.
© K. C. Sbeghen, 2012.
[1]
The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 19
December 1846
O
tempora, O mores! - Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! (Latin) Cicero.
[3] Out
of fight, disabled from fighting (French) i.e. unable to continue.
[4]
Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and merriment.
[5] A
living being in general. OED
[6] The
Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 4 March 1848
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