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Show SKV T U-qfc. ? A A ffl lH ' u ENTERED THE ZENITH OF IIIS FAME AT FORTY, AND, IN 1789. DE I j. fMXf 1 I I I 11 ill II m WW 3 ff ,T IT-Sh 1 J fl SL JL. , FEATED FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP ISAAC PERRINS, A GIANT IK s.1 : . i T ' (Copyright, 10 10, by tho Now York Herald Co. All Ttlchls Reserved. ") ! UM -k.Hrll of ".luck" Broughtoii. iliMK n 1750. the cluimploii-hiSH&.sboul cluimploii-hiSH&.sboul and occasionally CNjBS'ic ii li'''l,,,r 01 ,?hseure JSMf Tfol until tlie rise of fcJkHaW a appear worthy W iHqiack was bcuten In 170 2JWdHEfNitled to George Moggs H''Tom" Jaelmu. "nill" 7 igHrL AVatCJinnn. Peter Uor-LXBW Uor-LXBW and "-hick" Unrrls. kF.N!Mw minor stars wi; vuSBF"son Ucsn" 10 i;onic ' SKlrniltiSl,nm against T.on-fnsufi'' T.on-fnsufi'' roTf Johnson ?S7lBMsliln will he ours." 2jHkMhfcor.lt and shouts of np-ftSHEiV'J.rr. np-ftSHEiV'J.rr. Pnvid Scth. a nJNTHtow cxpliilillnp to u eom-ifcfiHE' eom-ifcfiHE' nssoolnlcs tin- plans fckEHffor n clash between the 'vlHaDliced hr tlir ring by ,SSSrmrnglK(nK After the din 'QuH'thfc 'merchant continued: UNrHifcni Jacobs will he paired .IlHraln. Piekurd with George isHbrowcr. Faulkner with HtonthlM w'1'1 Hooper, the jfc ivill be the tournament. 'Ik!Kr held In Knglnnd and ujBnionslrato where Is bred fcfifcsiilsm"hns little to say HFof this matching of men 'briKie outcome of the battle '.itt JHberrln? and Tom Johnson 1 wSW-as seldom has been seen tWMI England was wrought WtaiBh and nion discussed the 2Hjs dlfcussed the approach-'HRecii, approach-'HRecii, Jeffrie? and John- siikf cf producing lighters toil to-il 'different from tliose r C?Hy nnd a quarter ago. .Vow lWZ.npknd. can Jeffries, nt W Jfimlfl lily own In the rlnir i 'rnhn? Age with lllin Is kit, iflHwidlcap, and ycL in "Hie mnHTjiien were not thouuht i Bfor llio ring before they saw-M-Kir. . . ...... ru , Tvfls born in imO, the -IKjfiw the downfall of the 7iinjclilpn and the neees-NHmfl neees-NHmfl real name tms Jack-ilSll'-tMt battle, that with ijKnis foutjht when he was MbIIoIIi year, and at that iKateriinj the r.enith of his t few months younger 'y'HKd been even slower than lyKVhls development. But of their clash renre-K(lcst renre-K(lcst schools that have BVHp" since men first met JlfBi--'rae:ins a pigmy, even B1WSECIC' depended fully aa Pje: Fight Between Tom Johnson and Hffll i W Pernns at Banbury, Oxfordshire. SEsfe Novinra, 1?89 . - ; ' , e jj 5rST Z From" an Engraving Published." in" j 7g " " Reproduced from "Pugilistica, the Hbtory of Britba ' . Boxing" 1111 en upo srienco as he did upon bin wcll-rcoogiiized ability to land a crushing crush-ing blow, .-omo th-re,were who regarded hlni pa tho Inferior of Bronghton In science. Others maintained that in Johnson John-son (he prize ring haI found Its master of science. TTIs height was two Inches under p!- feet and his lighting weight was fourteen stone 106 pounds. Quickness, Quick-ness, courage and a knack of throwing himself behind a decisive blow were the main characteristics that had brought him his laurels. b , Giant Per-rins. All these characteristics of tho champion were explained by David Peth. us ho ran over tiro possibilities of tho battle. V?"t,"t 1,0 'ontInued. "theVe are oilier lighters besides JohnSon who may rightly lay claim to the championship. Our own Isaac Porrlns. a. rugged mountain of a man. six feet two inclu-s hi height, and weighing seventeen stone 12P.S pounds), when stripped for action. Yet you who nave seen him know that he carries his ponderous llguro with all the ease xf a stripling. I have seen him lift eight hundredweight hun-dredweight of Iron into a wngou and perform other feats of strength almost beyond human credulity. And so. despite the reputation with which Tom Johnson will cpmo from fjondoij, wo take llttlo risk Inylng tho odds on Pen-ins." Of Isaac Porrlns. a historian of his time wroto: "ills tremendous breadth of chest and cleanly muscled limbs tell of perfect condition. J Us countenance, open and expressive, is lighted by a mild and friendly glance. No one has evir had had causo to say that Isaac Porrlns makes ill. uso of his power, lie Is gentle and considerate, con-siderate, and above all things seeks to avoid offense to those weaker than himself." him-self." And so the plans were made and tho arrangements set for the meeting between be-tween Johnson and Porrlns. Mr. Seth received re-ceived In person from Johnson a reply to a letter showing clearly enough the champion's readiness to accept any offer so well backed as that of Porrlns. AOor some further correspondence, It was agreed that the meeting should take place at Newmarket on the turf, for 2;i0 guineas a side, two-thirds of the gate receipts to go to the winner and the rest in tho loser The llrst arrangement was for October J. 17SD. but Interference by the I authorities resulted in a postponemept. and the men Unaliy clashed at Banbury In ( Oxfordshire. October 122. 17S0. ftomo. 5000 persons wero gathered In ami about tho Oxfordshire town whon the day caninr on which the champion was to defend his title against, tho Birmingham gla;it. Thft spot, chosen was an open field that sloped down slightly toward the center. Hero a stage was erected, iwon-ly-four feet jHiuaro and fivo foot above I bo ground. In accordance with a general gen-eral custom it was carefully covered with strips of turf packed and poundod solidly. The Birmingham followers of Porrlns had como down well supplied with money for the betting. They felt no doubt In the superiority of N'lolr favorito and were prepared to give two and oven three to. one. on hlni. Notwithstanding tho fact that Johnson's success bad been almost phenomenal, these enthusiasts could see no way by whieh he could stand against their mlghtly challenger. Johnson, more than any of his contemporaries, contem-poraries, "fought with his head." Observant Ob-servant followers of tho sport began to point hlni out at an oarly stage "of his career as a man wbA had a future. On encoring tho arena w wns his custom to study his adversary with caution, while remaining on tho defensive, -'socking to oppose tactics that would bo most) effective effec-tive aga Inst tins methods employed by an adversary, lie played,. usually, a winning game. In which his remarkable coolness. Judgment and control of temper gave him great advantage. . It was never Johnson's way to ' risk anything that could bo better gained by tiring an opponent. Repeatedly critics of the day had observed that he came through a grueling tight almost unscathed un-scathed and fresh In body and wind. Avoiding with scrupulous euro the least unfairness, he adopted every legitimate means td foil and baffle his enemy In such a way as greatly to try his conll-denro conll-denro and self-command. Tho man who allowed anger to master him while he fought with Tom Johnson was lost. John-sun John-sun himself never grew angry or vindictive vindic-tive or hurried He held off, calm, alert, nursing his reserve against the cruciul moment. He had found no flowery path to the ehnmplonship Entering tho ranks of tho boxers at the ago of twenty-three. without friends or record, be ha1 forced his way up by a series of difficult battles bat-tles against men superior to him in weight, strength and experience. lie had never been able to rush and overwhelm an opponent, and even a second-class competitor could stay in the ring with him for round after round owing to the slow method he was compelled to follow. Some of his hardest lights had been with Jnrvls "Death" Oliver. "Tho Croydon I)iof-v." Kry. "niir Warr and Michael Uy.tn. whom be mot twice. He now siood'th- acknowledged head of the sport, without a single defeat bark of hlni. The morning of the light which wns to go down to pugilist h- history as one of tlx- hardest, cleanest and most brilliant bril-liant encounters that over took place came eleur and cold, nn Ideal day for the meeting. At an early hour Iho crowd began to surge out upon the downs and lake up positions within the roped space about tho stage. Men thrust and elbowed for advantageous points with the easy democracy of sport followers, ami the Increasing' hubbub rose with the sun toward to-ward the appointed time. Supporters of Johnson were not so numerous as those of Perrlns, and the odds of two and throe to oik- on the Birmingham boxer prevailed pre-vailed nmong the few who wero ready to venturo a wager before tho beginning of tho conlllct. Johnson was the first to anlvo hedged about by tho members of his little party, and drove through tho throng In the center cen-ter of a Hying wedgo. Mo climbed over I lie stage railing. fdllowed by "Bill" Warr, who wns to act as bis second, and "Joe" Ward for bottle holder. I'orrins appearod a few minutes lator, accompanied accom-panied by Pk-knrd as second and his brother us bottle holder. Established In opposite corners of tho stage, tho two men Hung their huts in the air, the customary cus-tomary signal of defiance. Colonel Tarleton had boon selected ns umplro for Johnson and Mr. Meadows of Birmingham was to perforin a like service serv-ice for Perrlns. Tho two gentlemen were stationed near the stugc whom they could call the half-mlnulO Intervals be-Iwoon be-Iwoon rotinds ynd decide all disputes. Just before lime was called one of those who occupied a favored position iu the front ranks pushed his way forward until he was within a few feet of Johnson. At his hall the champion turned and recognized Mr. Bullock, a wealthy Londoner, Lon-doner, who had led tho applauso for Johnson at many a ringside. Mr. Bullock Bul-lock signed lo him to lean down Hint he might speak lo him. "Tom." said Mr. Bullock. "I am going to hot heavily on you nt wha lover odds I can Mud " "Yes, sir," snid Johnson, with a grin. "I hope your Interest will not bo misplaced mis-placed " "Whal 1 wanted to say was, this I know yop will light no harder for It, but If you wjn and bring my wagers homo for mo you shall share in the profit." "Thank you, sir," said tho champion, "and handsomely offered. You are right to believe 1 will do my hent by all means, but If anything could put more, heart In mo ft. Would be your offer." Another man In the crowd, who bad overheard part of this conversation, lurnort courteously to Bullock when It ended. "Pardon inc." hi said. "I nm Mr. .Scth of Birmingham. I should be happy to accommodate you to any reasonable rea-sonable amount If vou caTO to bet. on Johnson after a few rounds." i "I shall seek no further for a taker," said Bullock, smiling, and the two stood side by side, ready for iho moment that should seem propitious to both. , Fight Is On. At the word from Iho umpires the two pugilists threw off their coills and advanced ad-vanced slowly it'ownnT tho center of tho stage, where the square vard wns rudely rude-ly marked upon the turf. 'When each should too hjs side of the square the hat-lln hat-lln would b Joined. They walked lightly and .confidently, allowing a moment for tho thunder of cheers that was tho In-troductory In-troductory tribute o( the waiting thousands thou-sands for Iho gallant spcclnclo they presented. pre-sented. The disparity In size between tho adversaries ad-versaries 'became startllnclv appafrmt ns they approached ' each other, and tho cheering died fo murmurs of astonishment, astonish-ment, every eye measuring tiro task which th.c, champion had undertaken. Perrins lowered high ahova his opponent, emphasizing by his nprlcht pose and up-l up-l ii mod chin the great advantage he possessed pos-sessed In -height, weight, breadth and length of limb. .Ills skin was pink, his flesh linn and-tho muscles stood out upon lUm In knotted masses. Ho carried the-Instunt the-Instunt Impression of a conqueror bv sheer superiority of strength as he looked upon his enemy with a quiet smile. He stood with his feet well apart. iTrmly planted, like one who means lo seek no retreat. . " Johnson's- lessor stature was inbro noticeable by reason of his stodp. Ho carried his head down and forward between be-tween his shoulders, while hlri knees wero licnt. ready. for assuring in or back. He seemed . In no wise daunted bv tho formidable figure before him. preparing ready. Johnson had worked out the weakness of his opponent by this tiipc and greatly Increased the speed of his movements, feeling that Porrlns, for all his agility, preferred hammer and longs to footwork. The Londoner begrfn to circle and dodge, darting In and out, Jumping hljher and yon with catlike rapidity. ra-pidity. Porrlns followed him with resolution, reso-lution, but, turning a trltlc loo slowiv, caught a crashing blow to tho ribs that sent him again toHho sod. Tho fourth round was very brier. Johhson repeating his innneuver and knocking his opponent oppo-nent down cleanly for the, fourth time. Kor all that the champion had hud so plainly tho best of It the Birmingham enthusiasts had not lost faith. Perrlns had aufreied but little in his falls. "Let him get In but one of those thumpers and Johnson Is done,'" was the comment that ran among the craning and excited spectators. When Perrlns toed the mark for the pi ll round It was evident that he fully Intended to "got In one of those thumpers." thump-ers." Johnson's prancing and shifting had finally Irritated him exceedingly and his brow had slithered in a frown. Rejecting Re-jecting tho camion with which he had played Ids part, thus far. he opened with a rush, pursuing his opponent with determined de-termined swings and lungo.'i which forced the. champion to glyo ground and guard closely. Taking two smashing blows to the face, he found his Chance and sent ldhnson spinning lo the lloor with a wicked blow to tho jaw. The champion's second and bottle holder hold-er ran to asslpt him in rising, and owing to his evident distress .took as much time as they safely might in carrying him off. This was a common method of Improving the opportunity offered under the rule which directed the umpires not to begin the count or lie- half minute until both lighters were seated In their respective corners. I'nless abused It was allowable. Johnson had been badly cut about the1 face and needed constant attention up lo the calling of time. Jic came to the center a I rifle unsteady. Perrlns opened tho sixth round as he had the last, with a crashing swing, which Johnson only partially blocked: The Birmingham man then varied his , method by closing with' his adversary aijd wrestling. Johnson was no match-for match-for hlni at this, and in tho fall the chain- to Bet Heavily on You" '' for combat with a calm though serious . mien. Beyond the d Iff on nee In sizo there was nothing to chooser between the two. Johnson was In tho, best of condition, looking unusually solid and lit. Ills closa friends knew Hint he had entered llils engagement with a full understanding of all the difficulties and that lie had trained long and faithfully. Iu attlludc the men dlspluyed equal oas and skill The tumult died ns wltii wntebful eyes the pugilists took position, left foot upon the mark, an'd shook hands. Neither was disposed to take Hie Initiative, Johnson through caution anil Perrlns because of some diffidence In tho presence of tho champion. At length Johnson began tho sel-to with a light swing that Porrlns bloekod neatly. The Birmingham man countered easily nnd they exhlbltctl some pretty sparring. Porrlns showed that ho could foot It swiftly for all his weight, and shout after shout greeted the clever shifting and rallying. Five minutes passed In this dalliance, which served to provo tho science and mettle of both. Meanwhile the blows gat bored power as each man fell for the upper bund. Perrlns opened the real hostilities with a ramming thrust to the chest that cheeked ono of Johnson's nimble rushes. Instantly tho tension tightened and tho shouting crowd fell silent again, for blood was up and the time for lighting como. The champion was not slow In answering tho move, and.' ducking, ho .smashed two quick jolts to the body. Porrlns. llmllng his enemy well within reach, swept a tremendous right at the Jaw. Johnson ducked again and coming up caught Porrlns under tho ear. Perrlns, not yet recovered from his futllo blow, stumbled and fell whllo a burst of cheers greeted ,tho prowess of tho champion. At the opening of tho next round Johnson, John-son, still testing tho abilities of his opponent, op-ponent, rushed In and camo lo grips, striving for a cross buttock. A very brief strugglo was onough to assure hlni that his advanlago did not Ho that way. Porrlns was too firm on his foot and far loo heavy to risk n fall wllh so early In the game. Displaying groat doxtor-llv, doxtor-llv, tho champion twisted away from the Birmingham man and returned lo his former taclics.' Ilirtd blows wore ox changed, though tho champion very carefully care-fully avoided the full sweep of Perrlns's mighly list. Hurtling past tho other's guard In an opening, he snnppcd bade the giant's chin and once more Perrlns measured his length. Both Aro Strained. Both men wero somewhat breathed after af-ter this round, and as they sat on the liners of thrlr seconds were onrol'nll.x washed and spru.vod h. their bolth-hold or-i, They nine lo the mark at the end of the hulf minute, however, fresh and pion wns-underneath, though be was able to rise quickly. The seventh round Perrlns Per-rlns Introduced and ended with one tor. rilic Jab that caught Johnson full on the mouth and hurled hlni lo tho side of Hie stage with crimsoned face. Tho sltuntlon now appeared to bo reversed, re-versed, and loud was the actlalm of the Birmingham supporters But Johnson' friends wore encouraged to s-o hi 1 iW spring into the next round 'with reiiowi j WJ X n'-v of Perrlns's blows. H, H ho wnJ0,?? Jww' had "'J"red him. ui j M ho was tlow recovered from Its eifei, . jS tioC?.I1.l,n,."-(1. '! H -swlft anrl baffling t.j. IjB ir , ,lls eemys dangerous off on. WA milst soon wear upon his strength. P.' i - Wffl E; st ' flecking to plant n of h - Wt ti. ?tlHl.,mprn'- mari0 fullI ait:mp , iff i.VvV 0 c"aniplon's guard. Angn .f Q IK.,." tS"3'S,S'"J ",c .'' H &, Sissa ;!Kc,v.'l; h Mo, lowered his arms an Inch too f.,t 1 and Johnson answered fflfi taunt by leaping In with one of hn H of'hlHISi,nv7 ftal. c.arr,cd vrlint M thniLt with b hi11 ' ', cpl'iff aIdc U..J H uirusi with which the other bucht to HI lop him. His right tlst caught Pe-Vi i s ttl H clashing Htroke over the left ei-o -ind W mi1. a shrewd blow and ono of th- fl i ne a3j. rhe biK mans vohrow v.tn MM In lei open and -his left eye was cosed r D bo0rolde,.U,C' 'lSh,- 11,8 nd a$ now io liolder worked over tho hurt In Ul i nwP?n'5n3 scorned well on the roa HI bv r l1? nro,;'JPrt','l o oven scor.i H uhMe tho clevertBt moves of Iho H An wlthnnhl '!av,,lfc' t" n too B oon with a body b ow the Blrmlnclnm WI lS nde&l 1 "ck hanergthamt H n -Mr., nff0nhiTohr"s?11 V'ght eye. knock- II m nini off his feet. When they facet with a-oeininf0L.1,,e nm round5 ltf"wtti B vwwi a sound eye apiece. jH Ending- the Battle. H pen-! ,hnrmftl0n nad ,earned at some ex- B pense that It was too fcoon lo adoot of- MM ho ?re,Uu rne1 C1 W,th '! "'' and H no re iu tried to caul on, Inisbandln his HI Sis1 air,dniEhiih ami Vi' Mrt, & I wiVr,, 1 .whlr- l"J managed to oscaiwi without damage. Tho value of this wan IB Ten" .u?na rf,,nt' tov P-rtns was I.roa t Idng So oVmC2 V??. Knxotul for fbemrV.- u.l,?n. 1 Ms optVn knee. Jn th lhir- havmnw."'. Johnson 'rlppeg horn" a l.bf- onnr, ".PPcrcjit that slashed ope). s opponent's cheek and noo and KJ ba.'.K a h0VJ of aPPlawe from J.l, v lift n wm ',n ,,s;,nR ranid'i'- tl,e odd- 1 in t m-o? al7.V- cvi' ro,,n(1- AL 'hi" H "If vm ? tili ui h 1t,,rf-'1 to ;dr.Bullock .am ,wiVis"khi,:f a waser "ow 1 m r?o,I. ,,1'. l :I hastened breath. H .Bopeatlng his jn ev ous success wh.-r iB nerved xy a timok. Porrlns nore i f n h'nn101"1',1 w,th hammertnp s -Ik Bot, , L'1, '0lo'', ''ohnson-s sound o' Both now showed the effect of tho h-irl 1 pace and (h odds fell to even r to lb. forty-first round the,-,, w-a ttiVehoi e u the situation. Johso l "l U0 7. velop more f ominous for cms ng -md H knock d--.. el y!ynU- nVn,,,ed A 1 rtn2atn.l.,Vy ,okj,,r''- the second for Per- H fe ns,u,d- "J.J'V mn- "v'e Hnlm H.o B light on a foul." ho yelled, and the Mir- IH mlnghan. followers- look n0' r: WM umpires considered the matter WnT ie 1 elded that the Iiplu would" weed Piokl " K w'" his Mshts accord! g LI r,,,p',,"t the umpires held that He rule could not bo appealed to H articled "L becn Incl"dei In tho H On the resumption of the struggle Per- H ? 'Jfin,,l,rat,clj;, li.,lnrcd "'Is style of lighting In Imitation of his opponent B stoonlng low and attempting to shirt H quickly and foot It. . The -hauin on H meanwhile bad at last decided " g" definitely upon the offensive, anil the next llfteen rounds were the inost o- MH vere of the terrific strugglo. In the HN sixth round Perrlns landed a chopping HI back-nanded sirokn to tho face that near- ' Hi ly ended tho contest. At ibis point cadi Hj remained on the sod whenever he fell mid allowed Ids attendants to earn- him ftB to his corner It was also necessa'rv for ftHI tho seconds to support the eornba'trnts flH and lead them to their marks in-opening 9BI a round. Ifll Both the men wore verv weak in the MB next rounds, cut In a score of. places and IRH wheezing. Perrlns was iu the greater HR distress, his huge chest laboring like a H bellows. .Several times he got homo hN ' H back-handcrs. but Johnson learned to guard agolnst them. Frequently per- jfil rlns was carried to the sod bv the form H of. his own inls-spent blows. Kacb Hmo Johnson watched him falling and bit H h'm. falling at the same time himself. S I ho champion was landing almost at M will, but wcukly. 1 H Whon led to the center for tlv ?iv- Hi second round the combatants wore weav- HI lug on their legs, almost blind. It was H plain to all that ono or both hud ap- H prouched the limit of endurance. John- 1H son was a trlilc the stronger. As thov HI fell on guard Porrlns aimed a lieaw W swing nt Johnson's head. It missed and jH Johnson planted a straight smash tu his HB adversary's face. It was the stage of the contest wiun Hi such a blow. Ineffectual earlier in tin- IB strugglo. must riwo decisive. Porrlns H staggered and fell, unable to routlmn . H after having made one of the most H courageous tights In the annals of bo- H ing. The contcsi had lasted an hour H and a quarter. WM Johnson shook hands with his fallen DH rival as soon as the latter was able, to flH stand, while the crowd cheered to do- UH llrlum. Ao champion had ever defended 1H1 his right to the title more conclusively Hll or against a nobler, opponent, and everv Hb man on tho field know it. HW While Johnson was leaving the stag imU Mr. Mullock mot him and handed to him WBbI 1000 In recognition of his victory. Ills WHI slfare of the g"ato money was Slo'AZ. WBcl And so London triumphed over Blr- MOn mlnghnm. (HUl |