SAYERS - ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT ON WC
TOM SAYERS
Illustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review - Saturday 02 December 1865
ORIGINAL ANECDOTES OF SAYERS.
BY Mn. B. KIND, Ms BROTHER-IN-LAW.
At the age of fourteen years Sayers came to London to my wife, Louis's eldest sister, at Camden-town, where I was then residing. He was desirous of learning a trade, and the one he chose was that of a bricklayer. I found him a very sharp boy, and I thought he would make a bright man in the world. I put him along with the bricklayers and he soon got on, but after a little while I was told by some of them that he was always fighting with some boy or other. I used to talk to him and so did his sister, but all of no avail, for it appeared fighting was his delight.
I recollect that at some extensive works I was carrying on at the Hippodrome Race Course, Notting-hill, there was a poor Russian refugee, who could not speak English, and was constantly asking sue in his way to give him a job as a labourer. Tom asked me to take him on, and I did so, and the Russian had not been many weeks at work before he met with an accident, but was soon well and at work again.
There were on the works about sixteen navigators, and one of them one day at dinnertime, tormented the poor Russian. Tom took the Russian's part. The navvy told Tom if he did not hold his tongue be would give him "a slap of the head." Tom replied that "he had better try it on." Tom was then in his seventeenth year.
A ring was formed, and at it they went, and Tom gave the navvy, in about ten minutes, a severe thrashing. The navvy's Mate who seconded him, not being satisfied at Tom's thrashing his friend, challenged him, and at it they went, and in less than a quarter of an hour the other navvy was glad to say "enough" and succumb to a mere boy.
This gained Tom many friends among his mates, and he had several rough fights with fellows about that part, and always with bigger men than himself, but never failed to come off victorious.
After I completed the works Tom thought he could better himself, and left me for some time, but soon returned and asked me to give him a job; I did no, for at that time I had some very extensive works on Wandsworth Common.
One day the labourers were what is termed "having a run," which is to overload the scaffold with bricks and mortar. Among the gang of labourers there was a tall strong Irishman, and he shot a hod of bricks over Tom's feet. Tom spoke civilly to him and told him not to do it again; but he did it a second time and Tom again spoke to and he told Tom if he did not like it he would give him a slap of the head.
Dinner time came, and as the Irishman and mates began chaffing Tom a fight was agreed on. All the men started to the common, as I could not allow it on the works - the Irishman told Tom he would get him ready for his coffin - and a ring was formed. The two stripped, and the difference between them surprising. Tom a mere boy, not eighteen years old, and the other a man above six feet high.
The fight commenced, and during the first hour Tom was thrown tremendously. The ground was very slippery, and Tom could not keep his footing. He pulled off his boots, and at it he went, and, after fighting two hours and three quarters, the poor Irishman was laid for dead on the ground. Tom, with only a few bruises, commenced dancing, and was soon at his lodgings, while the Irishman was carried on a shutter to his lodgings, three doctors attending all night, for they did not know one hour from another but what he would die. He had never been beaten before, and had fought some very good men.
Towards night the police were after poor Tom, but his mates let him know of this, and he was concealed at Tooting in a stable in a large corn bin till three o'clock in the morning, when he came up to London under a load of hay. He went to his sister's, and was ready to go to work again in three days.
This fight got quite a name about Wandsworth and Tooting, and a waterman sent word he would fight him for £5. Tom's mates soon got the five pounds, but when man and money put in an appearance Mr. Waterman would not fight him, as Tom told him, if he could not got the money he would give him a chance, and fight, him to see which was the best man; but it was no go: no fight came off.
Another time, when Tom was at work on the Railway works at Chalk Farm, one Saturday evening a quarrel took place among the bricklayers. One of the number, a fellow who was considered a first-rate man, offered to fight the best man in the works. Tom was ready, and up he sprang to go out and fight him. The bricklayers laughed at the boy, but at it they went, and, after a severe battle of about three-quarters of an hour, the big man, for such he was, called enough.
Many more rough fights he had, but his first prize fight was with one Abraham Crouch for five pounds aside, whi.th is published in his career. I have often heard hint say that he would rather go out and have a fight than have his dinner or go to work.
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THE CLERGYMAN AND THE PRIZE FIGHTER.
A. clergyman residing in a village not twelve miles from St. Paul's, the other day missed the 'bus which was his usual means, of conveyance. He was in a burry, and did not feel inclined to walk three or four miles. In this dilemma . he applied to the landlord of the nearest public house. Boldface, who was Mr. W. P. Warner, of the Welsh Harp, Hendon, would assist him with pleasure.
There was a gentleman in the house who was going to start for Loudon immediately; would he give the clergyman a lift. Of course he would The clergyman was delighted, and away he and his newly-formed acquaintance rode. As they approached near town, it seemed to the clergyman that, every one was staring at them. He could not understand it. The more he thought of it, the more unintelligible did the general staring appear. At length he said to his driver, " can't see that there is anything peculiar about our appearance, yet every one appears, to be staring at you or me - can you explain that to me 7" "The truth is, " said the driver, "my name is Tom Sayers." "Oh, indeed, " said the clergyman, " "then perhaps you will have the kindness to set me down." "Indeed I not, " replied the hero of the Ring; "I promised to drive you to London - and to London you go along with me." And thus the worthy pair rode on - the mob greeting Sayers everywhere as a favourite - the clergyman feeling not a little out of place.
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TOM SAYERS'S DOG IN THE 011UTORES OF THE LONDON DOG STEALERS.
A short time previous to last Christmas Day, Tom Sayers was on a fraternal visit at Brighton and Wt his dog at his stables in Camden-town, under the guard of his stableman. Those impudent varlets, the London dog thieves, had often threatened, in Tom's hearing too, to " lift " the hound, early or late, and Were invited to try and do their best, as Torn had that the dog would tear to atoms any stranger who might have the temerity to take liberties with the brute. More than one of the scamps had frequently followed Tom from sporting houses to "drums" where Tom usually dropped in at, but as the dog when left on the trap outside, attracted much attention, the dog-imps found their prey too well guarded to attempt to raid upon. By some means a worthy child of Autllyeus, rejoicing in the title of " jack-the-kid, ".and hailing from Golden-lane, ascertained that Tone was at the sea-side, and had left his dog in town, and it was not long before the animal changed his snug quarters for the kennel of Daddy-longlegs, in Golden-lane, where his arrival created quite a stir amongst the gang of dog prigs, who at once set the price. of "fifty quid" upon the dog, and ', min& were advanced upon the expectant reward by the dogs' pawnbroker, and drink in wine, toasting Tom's jelly good health, and better luck to him next time. Tom had a telegram of the " rieving, " and to the astonishment of the, 4 sc h„ e l, , , a reward of three pounds was only offered. The dog's necklace the school valued at more than Tom's proffered reward, and this was at once taken from the animal's neck. A London banker, a well-known friend to Tom, next interested himself in the recovery of the dog, and some of the dog chaunters waited upon that gentleman, offering to restore it for £.50. They were assured that Tom would give no more than three pounds, as he well knew the longer the dog was kept the greater its burthen to the gaolers. Days and weeks elapsed and Tom called into his services Mr. William Kendillon, formerly a superintendent of police, and afterwards employed by royalty and the nobility, to recover lost dogs. Kendillon advised Tom not to pay one farthing, and Tom left the matter entirely in the ex-officer's hands. In a very short time, Torn was directed to meet two of the gang at a certain hostelry, and received his boat favourite, minus the necklace, and not liking to break his word, gave one of the fellows the three pounds, but ere the thieves left the place, the money was spent, and by way of a finish, one of the scamps was shook of ether loose cash, by standing him on his head. For once, the school were done, and the dog pawnbroker ranked of six quid, beside the expense of maintaining Tom's elephant some thirty-four days.
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IN MEMORIAM THOMAS SAYERS. .I.OONISTX 001IONATI, QUI NATUS EST, A.D. ' 1826; OBIIT, A.D. 1865 ANNO /I.;TATIs SUE, 40.
Who not seen the "Octoroon, " And shudder s d, when the knife Forth from the collar of each " coon " Flash'd for the deadly strife? Who has not read, as foreign news, uf brave won, stiff and stark Pierced by stilettoes, spite of thews And sinews, in the dark? Who has not heard; in courts of law Of men whose teeth uproot Noses and lips? who lash, till raw, Infants, from head to foot? Who has not heard of, read of, seen, A stand-up English fight? No weapon but the fist, I wenn, And "God defend the right!" No dastard's blow unfairly struck, But Englishmen's " Pair play!" Down with brute force! "ris English pluck And science win the day! One who thus fought (the eye grows dim) Has found an early grave: English - aye, every inch of him - And bravest of the brave. All honour to the glorious scars the wounded soldier shows! All honour to the gallant tars Who scatter England's foes . Honour to him, whooo Heaven-made pair Of pistols ne'er hung tiro I Heroic, honest bricklayer, In Nature's own attire. The gentleman who laughs to see A hero of ouch stuff, Deserves - ) he deserves to be " Well punish'd " by "a rough." Did not of old Olympia sound (As every scholar reads) The praises of her champion, nrow n, d For lees heroic deeds " 'Tis irreligious." Theo, my lord, 'rue warrior's trade eschew; written: They, who take the sword Shall perish by it too." Shall we (policeman-like), while A r t Her teachers loves, shout " Hence, Ye skill'd professors, who impart The Mt of Self-Defence?" No! Absit oineul Stand aside, While heroes of the fist that humble name with pride, , 4 Tom SAYERS, Pugilist." May we all fight, without a foe, Stiletto, teeth, or knife, Ac Sayers fought at Farnborough The Battle stern of Life. CAuourfi.
TOM SAYERS AND HIS CIRCUS.
Tom, when a little boy, had a the "riders," as the circus people were great penchant for seeing called, and more than he received a " lorruping" for cutting a hole in the canvas to gratify his curiosity. Tom never forgot this, and when he had a of his own (which he said he would have some day, and had it) he never forgot his youthful longings. We have seen him repeatedly smuggle in a ragged lad, lift up the canvas, and allow the youngster to crawl in, and with his well known good-humoured merry laugh at having deceived, or "kidded" his own check-taker. The anecdote is nothing, but it shows the pure and simple mind of the man.
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