Hide Article Text (OCR)
-i H CMP HR E TS and M END 0 Z' -J.1 (Receiv'd by Expreft from Stilton at THREEo'Clock Tbit Morning.) .• • • •Tlie long cxpeftcd battle between Humphrey* and Mendoza yefterday took place at SuRpo/ A fpacious amphitheatre Was erefted for the purpofe of feeing this conieft in the Park.of Mr. Thornton, tt confifteftof an ereflion of feats round a fpace of forty tight feet in circumference, raifed One aboveanother, and capable of holding between two and three thoufand perfons. About that . number of fpeators were prefent, the higlieft feat was removed at the diftance of eighteen feet from the ground, and every man could .fee the combat clearly and diftinclly;Between one and two o’clock, Humphreys appeared on the turf, accompanied witlv Johnfon as his Second, and a pfirfon, whofe name we did not learn, as his Bottle-holder, and Mr. Coombs as his Umpire. Mendoza foon afterwards entered the field of aftion, attended by his Second, Captain Brown, his Bottle-holder Ryan, and his Umpire Sir Thomas Appryce. They Gripped, and on fetting-to, the feconds retired to the feparate corners of the inclofure, according to the previous agreemenc of both parties,Humphreys fir ft ftruck at his antagonift in the face. 1 he blow was (topped, and Mendoza re~ turned with great quicknefs, and knocked him down,^ The fecond and third rounds were terminated in exaftly the fame manner. And af. ter a conteft for about ferty minutes, in which Mendoza had evidently the ad vantage,-^generally catching his adverfary’s blows on his arm and knocking him down or throwing him—a ceffktion was put to the battle by .a cir«mdance which created much confufion among all parties.In the tvjenty-ficond round Mendoza (truck at Humphreys, on which the latter dropped. As the articles of agreement fpecified, that he who fell without a blow (hould lofe the battle, a general cry of “ Foul! Foul! ” took place, and Mendoza’s friends declared that he had won it. All thofe interefted, however, in the fate ©f Hums phreys exclaimed, “ that it was fair,” and the whole was immediately a fcene of uproar and confufion. Humphreys, as well as Johnfon, and part of the fpeftators, infilled that the blow was (topped before he fell; the partifans of the other fide were as vehement in avowing a contrary declaration. The matter, however, could not be decided, as the Umpire of Mendoza declared it foul, while that of his adverfary declined giving his opinien on the fubjedl. Captain Brown told Johnfon that he was a liar and a blackguard ; this aftertion wa3 anfwered by the other walking up to him with a (tern and menacing look; and it was a matter of difpute, whether a bye-battle would not have taken place between the feconds.Humphreys came feveral times to his antago* nift, an \ called on him to fight out the battle, but this Mendoza’s friends would not fuffer, oa which Humphreys threw up his hat and challenged him to the conteft. A number of' people exclaimed, that this went nothing towards deciding the point in difpute; and the battle would perhaps have been a drawn one, had not Mendoza, either advifed by his friends* or irritated at his adverfary’s coming fo often acrofs the ring, and taunting him witnot continuing to fight, confented to refume tjie conteft. On this they again fet to, and the two'firft rounds were terminated by Mendoza knocking down his antagonift. They fought for about half an hour* during which time Mendoza feemed evidently to have the advantage ; and at laft gained the battle by a violation, on the part of his antagonift, of the articles of agreement. After fome blows had pafTcd in the laft round,and Humphreys had given way, Mendoza followed him up, and was preparing to (Irike, on which Humphreys fell, and as it was obvioufly without receiving the blow, he was univerfally declared to have loft the battle.With regard to ikill in the conduft of this box-ing-match, Mendoza appeared evidently to have the fuperiority. His antagonift fuffered him to gain ground upon him during the whole pf the* conteft, and generally flinched, whenever he appeared • ready, ta make a blow. Mendoza, on. the contrary, flood up to him with great manlinef* and followed him with a coolncfs and refolution* which perhaps is more fervieeable than the ardour and impetuofity of fpirit* that iKfttnguiffted hit condu6l at the battle at Odihsra. Several ‘times• , V TVwhen Humphreys was in the afition of fetting« to, Mendoza walked up to him, and* inltead of Handing on his guard, .swith his - armt clofed, viewed him with a look of contempt. When 'Humphreys fell or was knocked down, Mendoza ltkewife pointed to him, and with an exprtffivc countenance feeifftd to fignify to tiff fpeSators the fame fem intents. j When Humphreys clofed like wife, he laid feveraltimes to Mendoza, “eery well indeed l.vy
Newspaper Details
London Diary or Woodfall Register
London, Middlesex, GB
Thu, May 07, 1789
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
David L.
WI, USA 21 Jun 2017
Other Publications Near London, Middlesex
Bingleys Journal
Arminian Magazine
London Daily Mail
London Stars and Stripes
London Daily Universal Register
