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Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring with Added Notes on Bull and Badger Baiting - 1883 Pro Wrestling Book from London

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF CELEBRATED ATHLETES OF THE NORTHERN RING; TO WHICH IS ADDED Notes on Bull and Badger Baiting.

BY

JACOB ROBINSON AND SIDNEY GILPIN

Of all the athletic amusements of the people. Wrestling is beyond doubt the best. CHRISTOPHER NORTH.

LONDON: BEMROSE & SONS. CARLISLE: THE WORDSWORTH PRESS,

75 SCOTCH STREET. MDCCCXCIII.

TO THE MEMORY OF JACOB ROBINSON, THESE PAGES ARE GRATEFULLY DEDICATED,

BY HIS FELLOW-WORKER, SIDNEY GILPIN.

PREFACE.

EVERY dale and valley, every nook and corner,

throughout Cumberland, Westmorland, and North

Lancashire, at all likely to yield materials, has been

ransacked and laid under subservience in the compilation of this volume ; and it now becomes the

pleasant duty to record the fact, that not a single

instance of unwillingness was met with, on the part

of the multitude of narrators, who supplied the

items of the various events chronicled.

The local newspaper files have materially aided

our labours, in a variety of ways. Besides supplying

many passing incidents, we have found them, in

some instances, exceedingly useful in the way of

verifying and correcting dates.

A brief description of Swiss Wrestling was

promised, for the introductory chapter, by a native

of that country resident in London. This promise

yielded no fruit at the time, and it is a matter of

regret that it still remains unfulfilled.

Of Wrestling in France, we have not been able

to glean much information, although enquiries

were set on foot through the columns of Notes and

Queries and Belts Life in London.

For much information contained in the article

on Wrestling in Scotland, we are indebted to Mr.

Walter Scott of Innerleithen ; and for a few other

items we have to thank Mr. Robert Murray of

Hawick.

While the feats of many well known wrestlers are

to be found in these pages, the names of others

equally well known are necessarily omitted ; but we

may be able to publish a record of their achievements at some future time.

With a full consciousness of many imperfections,

we now leave our work to the judgment of those

impartial readers, who may honour it with a

perusal.

LOCAL WORKS ON THE SUBJECT.

Wreslliana : an Historical Account of Ancient and Modern

Wrestling. By William Litt. Whitehaven : R. Gibson,

1823.

Second Edition of the above, (reprinted from the " White-

haven News,") by Michael and William Alsop, 1860.

Wrestliana: a Chronicle of the Cumberland and Westmorland

Wrestlings in London, since the year 1824. By Walter

Armstrong. London : Simpkin, Marshall & Co., 1870.

Famous Athletic Contests, Ancient and Modern, compiled by

Members of the Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling

Society. (Reprinted from the Best Authorities.)

London : F. A. Hancock, 1871.

Great Book of Wrestling References, giving about 2000 different

Prizes, from 1838 to the present day. By Isaac Gate,

Twenty-five Years Public Wrestling Judge. Carlisle ;

Steel Brothers, 1874.

INTRODUCTION.

ANCIENT GRECIAN WRESTLING.

THE ancient Grecians were passionately fond of

festivals and games. In every particular State such

institutions were occasionally celebrated for the

amusement of the people ; but these were far less

interesting than the four public games frequented

by multitudes from all the districts of Greece. The

Pythian Games were celebrated at Delphi; the

Isthmian at Corinth ; the Nemaean at Nemaea in

Argolis ; and the Olympic at Olympia, near Elis.

We propose to give a brief account of the Olympic

games only, as being by far the most splendid, and

in which victory was reputed to be the most

honourable. The celebrity of these games was

extended for many centuries after the extinction

of Greek freedom, and their final abolition did not

occur until after they had flourished for more than

eleven hundred years.

The games were held in summer when the heat

was excessive ; and to add to the difficulty and

fatigue experienced, the more violent exercises

were performed in the afternoon, when even the

spectators were scarcely able to remain exposed to

the sun. To prevent the competition of such as

were unskilful, the candidates were required to

swear that for ten months before the commencement of the games they had made it their constant

study to prepare for the contest ; and during the

last thirty days they were obliged to reside at Elis,

and had to practise daily under the inspection of

the judges. Hence, the permission to contend at

Olympia was regarded as no inconsiderable honour,

and served in some degree as a consolation to the

vanquished.

Immediately before the commencement of the

different exercises, a herald led every candidate

separately through the assembly, and demanded if

any % one knew him to be a man of profligate

character, or to have been guilty of any notorious

crime. As numbers were present from every state

in Greece to some of whom each of the combatants

was known it rarely happened that any suspicious

character chose to expose himself to such a scrutiny.

The candidates were required to make a solemn

declaration that they would not endeavor to gain

the victory by bribing their adversaries, or by a

violation of the laws regulating the different contests;

and any person guilty of a breach of this promise

was not merely deprived of the olive crown,* but

* Daikles, the Messenian, was the first who had the honour

of being crowned with the simple wreath woven from the

sacred olive-tree near Olympia, for his victory in the Stadium.

ANCIENT GRECIAN WRESTLING. XI

was fined by the judges, and could never after

contend at the games. These regulations seem to

have accomplished the purpose for which they

were intended, since, during several hundred years,

only five instances occurred in which any improper

artifice was known to be employed by the competitors in the games.

The Greeks held the exercise of WRESTLING in

high estimation, which, in point of antiquity, stood

next to the foot race. The object of the wrestler

was to throw his adversary to the ground : but it

was not till this had been thrice repeated, that he

obtained the victory. Like all who contended in

the games, the Wrestlers were accustomed to rub

their bodies with oil, partly to check the excessive

perspiration occasioned by the heat and the violence

of the exercises, and partly from an opinion that

the oil gave the limbs a greater degree of pliancy

and agility. As the smoothness occasioned by the

oil would have prevented the combatants from

grasping each other with firmness, it was customary

for them, after being anointed, to roll themselves in

the dust of the Stadium, or to be sprinkled with a

fine sand kept for that purpose at Olympia. If in

falling, one of the Wrestlers dragged his adversary

along with him, the combat was continued on the

ground, till one of the parties had forced the other

to yield the victory.

The inhabitants of Hindostan, and of the countries constituting the ancient kingdom of Assyria,

xii INTRODUCTION.

have undergone a variety of revolutions; but

inactivity has always formed the leading feature in

their character. In every age they have fallen an

easy prey to invaders ; nor have the repeated

instances of oppression to which they have been

exposed, ever roused them to limit the exorbitant

power of their sovereigns. The Greeks, living in a

climate nearly as sultry as that of Asia, would

probably have fallen victims to the same indolence,

had not their early legislators perceived this danger,

and employed the most judicious efforts to avert it.

Among the means devised to accomplish this end,

none seem to have been so effectual as the public

games. It was not by any occasional effort that a

victory could be gained at Olympia. Success could

be obtained only by those who were inured to

hardship; who had been accustomed to practise

the athletic exercises while exposed to the scorching

heat of the sun, and who had abstained from every

pleasure which had a tendency to debilitate the

constitution and lessen the power of exertion.*

WRESTLING IN JAPAN.

IN Japan wrestling appears to be an institution of

greater importance than even in our own country.

The meetings for its exhibition before the public

are made quite important affairs. They are mapped

out and arranged annually by the ruling authorities.

* Hill's Essays.

WRESTLING IN JAPAN. Xlll

A distinct race selected from the native population

are brought up and trained in the practice from

their youth. This tribe profess to trace back their

wrestlings long before the Greeks held their Olympic

games on the banks of the Alpheus, At the present

day it is asserted that their Mikado or Emperor,

near seven hundred years before Christ, encouraged

wrestling; and during this long period century

after century it has been one of the most popular

amusements of this strange people. It might not

have continued to flourish so long had not the

government assisted in keeping the game alive by

introducing it into and regulating the proceedings

in all towns of any size. A large staff of professionals

is kept solely for this purpose, and outsiders cannot

enter and compete as is done in this country.

The Japanese, from all we can glean, do not

appear a race likely to be devoted to athletics.

Lighter amusements more suitable to their climate,

requiring less violent bodily exertion it may be

inferred, would be more to their taste or inclination.

Their mode of wrestling, however, has this advantage, that it does not necessitate active preparation.

Weight and bulk appear great, if not absolute,

requisites in the wrestling ring. To accomplish

these requirements, a fattening process is resorted

to in lieu of hard work training. Ordinarily the

male Japanese are not more than five feet five or

six inches in height. It is a remarkable fact, how-

ever, that in the wrestling class there are many six

feet men weighing fourteen stones and upwards,

some few eighteen or twenty stones. " I have

never anywhere," says Lindau, "seen men so large

and stout as these Japanese wrestlers. They are

veritable giants."

A concise description of one of their wrestling

meetings may not be altogether without interest.

A special department of the government is entrusted

with the duty of carrying out arrangements for

holding a series of meetings in all the principal

towns. A programme is annually issued, so that

any town set down for visitation has sufficient time

to make all needful preparations. A large plot of

ground for forming the ring is selected, and enclosed

with bamboos. Stages with seats are fitted up for

the aristocracy and richer classes, and a small

charge is made for admission. The ring is sure to

be well filled, one half frequently being females

gaily dressed for the occasion. The loud beating

of a drum gives notice that proceedings are about

to commence, and a dead silence reigns throughout

the great crowd. An official comes forward and

gives out, with a loud voice, the names of those

about to contend; and announces, too, a list of

places at which the fortunate ones have been

successful. The drum again sounds, and all those

appointed to wrestle enter and march round the

ring, appearing as if duly impressed with the

importance of the pending struggle. All are naked,

with the exception of a gaudy silk girdle round the

loins. After parading round the enclosure, the

combatants divide themselves into two equal sides,

and squat down upon their heels. A stage is

erected on four pillars in the middle of the ring,

and raised about half a yard. The manager calls

out the names of the first pair to contend, one from

each side, and at the same time announces his

opinion how the betting should run. These preliminary proceedings concluded, the two called on

step out and are greeted with cheers from all sides.

They sprinkle the ring with rice and water before

the more serious work begins ; rub rice between

their hands, and drink salt and water. These

curious proceedings take place in order, according

to a prevalent superstitious notion, to bespeak the

favor of the god who rules gladiatorial contests.

Four umpires, grave looking personages, are

appointed, and stationed, pipe in mouth, at each

pillar of the raised stage. A signal is given, and

the two wrestlers uttering loud defiant shouts, and

crowing like cocks, make a rush at each other, with

all the fury and violence of two rival tups in the

breeding season. The shock and noise of two such

weighty bodies meeting resound all over the ring,

and the spectators after a momentary holding of their

breath, give expression to their pent-up feelings by

ringing shouts of admiration. Blood, in almost all

cases, is seen to flow from both competitors as they

separate with the rebound, and slowly fall back.

Again and again they meet, each endeavoring with

his utmost power, to drive his antagonist off the

stage. After several rounds contested with the like

violence and determination, they for a moment

pause, and resort to a trial of a different sort.

They rush together and seize each other any-

where about the body or arms, incited and cheered

on by the. vociferous applause of the spectators.

The fiercely contested struggle becomes intensely

exciting, as the athletes close, and, locked together

breast to breast and shoulder to shoulder, continue

the conflict, each endeavoring to grasp the other

round the waist. This is effected, after pushing

and wriggling about for some time, by one or other

of the wrestlers. After securing a firm grip, shaking

his opponent, fixing his legs in position, and gathering

himself up for a final superhuman effort, he lifts his

now doomed foe high up in the air, and with what

Cornishmen would call a "forward heave," hurls

him clean off the stage, where he lies for some time

enduring a fire of bantering, and then walks quietly

off. Breathless, blood-stained, and perspiring from

every pore, the victor looks proudly about and is

greeted with cheers renewed over and over again.

After parading round the ring, with uplifted out-

stretched arms, he makes a respectful acknowledgment, and walks off to his comrades.

The manager again comes pompously forward

and summons another pair. Fresh animated betting

goes on while they prepare for the onset ; and it

may be this fondness for gambling common to

most eastern countries^which helps to keep up

the popularity of wrestling. The second couple go

to work precisely as the first; then another and

another, till finally the champion of the day is

proclaimed, and greeted with cheers that continue

for some time. Generally he is presented with a

decorated belt, and, with it fastened round the waist,

goes about the observed of all observers.

And this, as detailed, is Japanese wrestling. We

can hardly accord it the term as understood amongst

us, and cannot deem it entitled to be classed with the

honored back-hold pastime of northern England,

worthy of eulogy from the most fastidious-minded.

Christopher North would not applaud a Yedo

meeting with the hearty praise he gives to Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling on the banks of

Windermere ; neither would Charles Dickens have

gone away from the Ferry so delighted, if the

contests he witnessed had been such as the Japanese

delight in. Indeed, our readers generally will, we

imagine, be apt to consider the Eastern wrestling

amusement no better than something akin to our

mediaeval barbarism. Certainly, nothing in athletics

can be considered more strikingly different, than

one of our quick scientific harmless bouts, as

distinguished from the butting or tupping, the

pushing and hauling, the rough tumbling about,

and clumsy finale, in which victory is mainly due

to overpowering strength and weight.

INDIAN WRESTLING.

THERE is a great similarity in the wrestling in India,

and the same pastime in Japan. This similitude is

so close, that after a description of the latter, there

need not be much space devoted to a narrative of

the sport in our great Eastern Empire. The public

exhibition of the sport is, in a great measure, confined

to the soldiers of the native regiments of infantry.

Sometimes matches are made and come off which

create wide-spread interest, by men who do not

belong the service. So great is the interest taken

in the contests, that they often continue for the best

part of a day ; and during the whole time couple

after couple enter the ring, and continue to exhibit

their skill. There can be no doubt, the encouragement of such pastimes will exercise a powerful

influence in making them better soldiers, and more

attached to the service.

The wrestlers are lithe active young fellows, and

enter the ring in exuberant spirits. Before the

actual commencement of the struggle at close

quarters, each resorts to a ridiculous ceremony, in

order to propitiate some powerful deity to whom

they look for assistance to achieve success. The

act consists in simply touching the forehead with a

small portion of earth picked from the ground. On

the conclusion of this preparatory proceeding, they

return to the edge of the ring, and go through a

series of manoeuvres, which a stranger would look

at with astonishment, and which in reality can

exercise no influence on the struggle. They jump

about, first on one leg, then the other, bounding

backwards and forwards repeatedly, with great

agility. Loud bangs on the body follow, inflicted

by the hands with such violence as to make a noise

that resounds all over the ring. This is the opening

play, followed by sham attacks, till an opportunity

presents for close work. With surprising quickness,

the arms are grasped high up towards the shoulders,

and followed by violent butting of head against

head, accompanied by twisting and wrenching.

Meanwhile one of the two is thrown to the ground,

where the struggle is continued amid excited cheer-

ing, till one of the tawny coloured competitors is

forced on his back and securely held. This is

seldom successful, until three or four bouts have

been fought out, and a clear back fall gained.

The following account of a great wrestling match

between the Mysore hero and the Punjaubee cham-

pion, was written by an Englishman in Madras :

The Punjaubee champion is from North India. The

Mysore man has lately won a great match, and was highly

elated in consequence ; while the Punjaubee had such

confidence in his powers, that he pledged himself to give

up the Sikh religion and turn Mahomedan if he lost the

match. ' After waiting a few minutes the Punjaubee

was the first to put in an appearance ; he walked up amidst

scrutinizing glances and stood "within the ring. >: He was a

great big fellow, beautifully built, and splendidly developed,

with muscles standing out in knots on the arms and legs.

He was the same colour as most Punjaubee’s light brown ;

taken on the whole, he was rather a handsome man.

His opponent was not long in following him ; he stood up,

stripped, and stepped into the sand. He, too, was remark-

ably well built, but nearly black, and villainously ugly. He

was not quite up to the Punjaubee. His muscles were large,

and he looked the more wiry and active of the two ; but the

Punjaubee was the bigger and looked the stronger.

They begin by standing two or three yards apart, in an

inclined position, stooping towards each other, and advancing

as stealthily as cats, suddenly making a snatch at each other's

wrists and hands, and then drawing back with inconceivable

rapidity.

The neck was the great object of attack, and many attempts

were made by the native of Mysore to get hold of his antagonist's neck, while the Punjaubee made desperate efforts to

clutch his adversary by the neck, and force his head down into

chancery. After a good deal of dodging, and advances and

retreats, clutches at neck, head, and wrists, the Punjaubee, who

seemed the most eager of the two to finish the job at once,

and had been acting more on the offensive than the defensive,

suddenly made a rush in, tried to close and trip. Quick as

he was, his antagonist was quicker, and the Punjaubee hero

was foiled. Then time was called, and a short interval

allowed for breathing.

Round, number two, began in right good earnest ; each

man seemed thoroughly buckled to his work, and in a few

seconds the Punjaubee, who was in rare fettle, threw the

Mysore man on to his knees ; but the latter giving him a

sudden and well directed push, nearly caused him to change

his religion. Both men recovered themselves with marvelous

dexterity, and grasping each other, they struggled up together,

the Mysore champion getting upright a little the first ; but

almost immediately the Punjaubee gave his man a clean

throw forwards, and the native of Mysore was discovered

lying full length on his chest, with the Punjaubee kneeling on

his back.

From this time the contest resembled nothing so much as

a "grovel" behind goals for a touch down. For a time the

struggles of both men were intense, the Punjaubee having to

do all he knew to keep his man down at all ; and it seemed

quite possible that, if the Mysore native could not get up

himself, he would pull his opponent down, when the latter

tried to roll him over. Presently came a pause, which the

Punjaubee used to advantage, by covering his fallen foe with

sand, so as to get the better grip. Skilful as the Mysore

champion was, he could in no way retaliate when in this

distressing position. However, he continually made clever

attempts to regain his feet, and still cleverer ones to pull

down the Punjaubee when he was endeavouring to turn him

over. But finally the contest ended by the Mysore champion

mistaking his chance to get to his feet, and after a grand

struggle up to the very last moment, the muscular Punjaubee

turned him flat over, so that there remained not the slightest

doubt in the minds of all the spectators that both his shoulders

were resting on the ground, the one throw was given, and the

battle was won.

WRESTLING MATCH IN TURKEY.

THE following account of a modern Wrestling

Match in Turkey, is so graphically related that we

feel confident it will be perused with interest by

most readers. We may remark by the way, that

the gipsies who figure in the match are of the same

race as their namesakes in England and other parts

of Europe; but they preserve in Turkey more of

their Oriental appearance and character. The

writer is Lieut. -Colonel James Baker of the Auxiliary

XX11 INTRODUCTION.

Forces, who published a book on Turkey -in- Europe,

in 1877.

I passed through a fine town called Barakli-Djumaa, in

the middle of the plain [of Seres], and inhabited principally

by Christian Bulgarians. A great wrestling match was going

on just outside the town, and I stopped to witness the sport.

A circle about thirty yards in diameter was formed by the

men, women, and children, Turks, Bulgarians, and a plentiful

supply of gipsies all sitting closely packed together round the

circumference. There was the usual accompaniment of a

gipsy band, composed of a drum and a clarionet, which was

kept going continuously.

A competitor, stripped to the waist, steps into the ring

and walks round with a grand air as he displays his muscular

frame to the admiring gaze of the bystanders. Presently his

antagonist enters the ring, and both competitors shake hands

in a good natured way, and a little laughing and chaffing

goes on. They then commence walking round, every now

and then turning in to shake hands again, until suddenly one

pounces upon the other to get the "catch," and the struggle

commences. No kicking is allowed, and the throw must lay

the vanquished man upon his back, so that both shoulder-

blades touch the ground at the same time. The champion

was a burly Bulgarian of herculean strength, when at the

invitation of some black-eyed gipsy girls, a fine but slim

young fellow of their tribe entered the lists against him ; but,

although considering his youth he made a gallant struggle, a

quick throw laid him sprawling on his back, to the evident

chagrin and disappointment of the gipsy women. Their eyes

flashed with anger as they now held a hurried consultation,

when off started a very pretty girl evidently bound upon some

errand. She soon returned with one of the most splendid

specimens of humanity I ever saw. If, as is asserted, there

were princes and dukes amongst the ancient tribe of gipsies

who emigrated to Europe, this must certainly have been a

descendant of one of them.

WRESTLING MATCH IN TURKEY. XX111

His fair escort pushed him into the ring with an air of

pride and confidence, as much as to say, "Now, you shall

see what a gipsy can do. " The young man was about

twenty-five years of age, and nearly six feet high, with a

handsome, aristocratic, and cheery countenance ; and as he

took off his jacket and handed it to his fair one, and thus

stood stripped to the waist, there was a buzz of admiration

from the whole crowd. He was slightly made, but all was

sinew. Laughingly, and half modestly, he shook his powerful

antagonist by the hand, and then the walk round commenced,

the young gipsy talking and laughing all the time. It seemed

as though neither liked to be the first to begin ; when suddenly

the Bulgarian turned sharp upon his antagonist, and tried a

favourite catch, but quick as lightning the lithe figure of the

gipsy eluded the grasp, and a sigh of relief went up from his

clan. The excitement was now intense, and the young girl

perfectly quivered with nervous anxiety as she watched every

movement of her swain. She would have made a splendid

picture ! They were still walking round, and it seemed as

though the struggle would never begin, when, lo ! a simul-

taneous cry went forth from the whole crowd, as the great

Bulgarian lay sprawling, and half stunned, upon the ground.

The movements of the gipsy had been so quick, that it was

impossible to say how the throw was done, but the Bulgarian

was turned almost a somersault in the air, and came down

with a heavy thud. The young champion shook him by the

hand, lifted the heavy man high into the air, and then set

him on his feet. The face of the young girl, as she handed

back her hero his jacket, was pleasant to look upon. Lucky

man ! As she took him by the hand, and led him away to

wherever he came from, I began to think there might be

a worse fate than being a gipsy.

I was so attracted by the wrestling scene at Barakli-Djumaa,

that I lost much time, and had to push on quickly, in order

that we might reach a khan, perched up in a small village

amongst the mountains which lay between us and Salonica.

OLD ENGLISH WRESTLING.

OUR acquaintance or familiarity with Old English

wrestling is, as may be surmised, circumscribed.

We have therefore endeavoured, in part, to introduce

the southern ring in the introductory chapter. In

carrying out the attempt, considerable and important

assistance has been derived from having the benefit

of referring to a rare and curious work by Sir Thomas

Parkyns, a distinguished wrestler and writer in the

early part of the eighteenth century. According to

Dr. Deering, in his History of Nottingham, a copy

of Sir Thomas's work was forwarded to His Majesty

George I., with a manuscript dedication. Sir

Thomas further intimates : " I invite all Persons,

however Dignifi'd or Distinguish'd, to read my

Book." So say we, for a more thorough-going

and candid book we do not know; a book con-

taining many curious home-thrusts and quaint

sayings, bearing upon the art and mystery of

wrestling. We can fully endorse the words of the

Nottinghamshire baronet, when he says: "For my

own part, I transcribe after no Man, having practical

Experience for my Guide in this whole Art, and

intirely rely on Observations made with the utmost

Accuracy."

OLD ENGLISH WRESTLING. XXT

The art of wrestling in the present day is chiefly

confined to the lower classes of the people. This

is more especially the case in the south of Lanca-

shire. In the north, yeomen's sons and farmers'

sons are often exceedingly clever in the wrestling

ring. The sport was, however, more highly esteemed

by all classes of the ancients, and made considerable

figure among the Olympic games. In the ages of

chivalry, too, to wrestle well was accounted one of

the accomplishments which a hero ought to possess.

The inhabitants of Cornwall and Devonshire, we

are well assured, from time immemorial have been

celebrated for their expertness in this pastime, and are

universally said to be, in their style, the best wrestlers

in the kingdom. To give a Cornish hug, used to be a

proverbial expression. "The Cornish," says Fuller,

"are masters of the art of wrestling, so that, if the

Olympic games were now in fashion, they would

come away with the victory. Their hug is a

cunning close with their combatants, the fruit

whereof is his fair fall or foil at the least." They

learned the art at an early period of life, " for you

shall hardly find," says Carew, in his Survey of

Cornwall, 1602, "an assembly of boys in Devon

and Cornwall, where the most untowardly amongst

them, will not as readily give you a muster (or trial)

of this exercise as you are prone to require it."

"In old times," says Stow (in his Survey of London),

" wrestling was more used than has been of later years. In

the month of August about the feast of St. Bartholomew,"

I. c

XXVI INTRODUCTION.

adds this very accurate historian, "there were divers days

spent in wrestling. The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs

being present in a large tent pitched for that purpose near

Clerkenwell. * ' But of late years the wrestling is only

practised in the afternoon of St. Bartholomew's day." The

ceremony is thus described by a foreign writer, who was an

eye-witness of the performance. "When," says he, "the

Mayor goes out of the precincts of the city, a sceptre, a sword,

and a cap, are borne before him, and he is followed by the

principal Aldermen in scarlet gowns wilh golden chains ; and

himself and they on horseback. Upon their arrival at the

place appointed for that purpose, where a tent is pitched for

their reception, the mob begins to wrestle before them two at

a time."*

The following quaint and curious description of

the row, and destruction of property after the

wrestling, at the "Hospitall of Matilde" so different

from our peacably conducted northern rings

copied literally from Stow's Annals of England,

will, we opine, be interesting to our readers.

In the year 1222 Henry the III. reign, on St. James

daie, the citizens of London kept games of defence and

wrestling, neare unto the Hospitall of Matilde, where they

gotte the masterie of the men of the Suburbes. The Baihffe

of Westminster devising to be revenged, proclaims a game

to be at Westminster, upon Lammas day ; whereunto the

citizens of London repaired ; when they had plaid a while

the Bailie with the men of the Suberbesses, harnessed

themselves and fell to fighting, that the citizens being foullie

wounded, were forced to runne into the Citie, where they

rang the common Bell, and assembled the Citizens in

great numbers; and when the matter was declared everie

man wished to revenge the fact. The maior of the citie,

* Strutt's Sports and Pastimes.

OLD ENGLISH WRESTLING. XXV11

being a wise man and a quiet, willed them first to move the

Abbot of Westminster of the matter, and if he woulde promise

to see amends made, it was sufficient. But a certaine Citizen

named Constantine Fitz Arnulph, willed that all Houses of

the Abbot and Bayliffe should be pulled doune, which wordes

being once spoken, the common people issued out of the

Citie, without anie order, and fought a civill battaile, and

pulled doune manie houses.

On March 3ist, 1654, the Puritan parliament

passed "An Ordinance Prohibiting Cock Matches"

(i.e., cock-fightings) and likewise issued excom-

munications against well-nigh all classes of sports

and pastimes ; nevertheless, we find that Cromwell

relaxed the strung bow by times, and indulged

himself in witnessing some Hurling and Wrestling

matches in Hyde Park, as the following quotation

from the Commonwealth newspaper, The Moderate

Intelligencer, amply testifies :

Hyde-Park, May I, [1654.] This day there was a hurling

of a great ball, by fifty Cornish gentfemen on the one side,

and fifty on the other : one party played in red caps and the

other in white. There was present His HIGHNESS THE

LORD PROTECTOR, many of his privy council, and divers

eminent gentlemen, to whose view was presented great agility

of body and most neat and exquisite wrestling at every meeting

of one with the other, which was ordered with such dexterity,

that it was to show more the strength, vigour, and nimbleneea

of their bodies, than to endanger their persons. The ball

they played with was silver, and designed for the party that

won the goal.

The same newspaper continues : This day was more

observed by people's going a maying than for divers years

past, and indeed much sin committed by wicked meetings

with fiddlers, drunkenness, [ribaldry, and the like : great

XXV111 INTRODUCTION.

resort came to Hyde-Park, many hundred of rich coaches,

and gallants in rich attire, but most shameful powdered-hair

men, and painted and spotted women ; some men played

with a silver ball, and some took other recreation.

Later on John Evelyn's Diary furnishes us with

a view of wrestling for fabulous sums. We think a

hundred pounds, given at a meeting in the present

day, a large and tempting amount. The following,

however, taking into consideration the value of

money upwards of two hundred years ago, does

seem astounding: "1669 19 Feb. I saw a

comedy acted at Court. In the afternoon, I saw a

wrestling match for ^"loob, in St. James Park,

before His Majesty, a world of lords and other

spectators ; 'twixt the Western and Northern men ;

Mr. Secretary Morice and Lo. Gerard being the

Judges. The Western Men won. Many great

sums were betted."

After the foregoing brief notice of ancient wrest-

ling, we shall proceed to crave the reader's attention

to a similar pastime after the style practised in the

counties of Devon and Cornwall. In doing so, we

are fortunately enabled to gather important informa-

tion from a rare and interesting old book, by Sir

Thomas Parkyns, previously referred to, and first

published in the year 1713. This work was held

in such high estimation, that in 1727, a third

edition had to be printed ; and as the circulation

would, in a great measure, be confined to the

southern parts of the kingdom, such a rapid and

OLD ENGLISH WRESTLING. XXIX

numerous sale must be taken to indicate extra-

ordinary popularity. It will be gathered, the

manner of wrestling differs materially from the

scientific, manly, back-hold Cumbrian method.

The space, however, devoted to the "Cornish Hugg,"

even in a work professedly devoted to northern

sports, will it is confidently presumed prove accept-

able, particularly to readers who admire the "Art

of Wrestling," which the Nottinghamshire baronet

designates as " most Useful and Diverting to Man-

kind," and "Diverting, Healthful Studies and

Exercises." Such are the means by which he avers

" You will restore Posterity, to the Vigour, Activity,

and Health of their Ancestors ; and the setting up

of one Palaestra in every Town, will be the pulling

down of treble its Number of Apothecaries' Shops."

" Thus were our Britons, in the Days of Old,

By Sports made hardy, and by Action bold,

And were they, now, inur'd to exercise,

And all their Strugglings were for Virtue's Prize.

Man against Man, would not for Power contend,

No Lust of Wealth would Hugg a private End,

Nor Each would Wrestle to supplant his Friend. "

W. T., on Inn-Play, or the Cornish-Hugg.

Not content with this glowing eulogium on a

sport long dear to Cumberland and Westmorland,

and as emphatic as any ever uttered on the Swifts

at Carlisle, the enthusiastic baronet goes on to

say:

"No doubt but Wrestling, which does not only employ and

exercise the Hands, Feet, and all other Parts of human

XXX INTRODUCTION.

Frame, may well be stiled both an Art and Science ; however,

I will do my endeavour, both Hip and Thigh, that Wrestling

shall be no more look'd upon by the Diligent as a Mystery."

Sir Thomas finds " Wrestling was one of the five Olympick

Games, and that they oil'd their Bodies, not only to make

their Joints more Supple and Plyable ; but that their Antag-

onist might be less capable to take fast hold of them.

"I advise all my Scholars ne'er to Exercise upon a full

Stomach, but to take light Liquids of easy Digestion, to

support Nature, and maintain Strength only. Whilst at

Westminster, I could not learn any Thing, from their Irregular

and Rude Certamina, or Struggles ; and when I went to

Cambridge, I then, as a Spectator, only observ'd the vast

Difference betwixt the Norfolk Out-Players and the Cornish-

Huggers, and that the latter could throw the other when they

pleas'd. The Use and Application of the Mathematicks

here in Wrestling, I owe to Dr. Bathurst, my Tutor, and Sir

Isaac Newton, Mathematick Professor, both of Trinity

College in Cambridge."

He goes on to say : "I advise you to be no Smatterer, but

a thorough-pac'd Wrestler, Perfect and Quick, in breaking

and taking all Holds ; otherwise whene'er you break a

Hold, if you don't proceed sharply to give your Adversary

a Fall, according to the several following Paragraphs, you're

not better than one engag'd at Sharps, who only parries his

Adversary, but does not pursue him with a binding and home

Thrust."

The following warnings are especially worthy a wrestler's

attention : " Whoever would be a compleat Wrestler, must

avoid being overtaken in Drink, which very much enervates,

or being in a Passion at the sight of his Adversary, or having

receiv'd a Fall, in such Cases he's bereav'd of his Senses, not

being Master of himself, is less of his Art, but sheweth too

much Play, or none at all, or rather pulleth, kicketh, and

ventureth beyond all Reason and his Judgment, when

himself.

OLD ENGLISH WRESTLING. XXXI

Ffecundi calices quam non fecere Misellum.

That Man's a Fool that hopes for Good,

From flowing Bowls and fev'rish Blood."

He goes on to remark that sticking to these observations will

enable a good wrestler to "stand Champion longer for the

Country, as appears by my Friend Richard Allen of Hucknall,

alias Green, (from his Grandfather, who educated him) who

has wore the Bays, and frequently won most Prizes, besides

other By- Matches, reign'd Champion of Nottinghamshire,

and the Neighbouring Counties for twenty Years at least,

and about 8 Months before this was Printed, he Wrestled for

a small Prize, where at least twelve Couples were Competi-

tors, and without much Fatigue won it. Whoever understands

Wrestling, will ne'er call the Out-Play a safe and secure Play;

besides the Inn-Play will sooner secure a Man's Person, when

Playing at Sharps, than the Out, which ought to encourage

Gentlemen to learn to wrestle."

In this learning to Wrestle our ingenious author turned

trainer will "admit no Hereditary Gouts, or Scrofulous

Tumours ; yet I'll readily accept of Scorbutick Rheuma-

tisms, because the Persons labouring under those Maladies

are generally strong and able to undergo the Exercise of

Wrestling. I am so curious in my Admission, I'll not

hear of one Hipp'd and out of Joint, a Valetudinarian

is my Aversion, for I affirm, Martial (Lib. vi. Ep. 54) is in

the Right on't, Non est vivere sed valere vita : I receive no

Limberhams, no Darling Sucking-Bottles, who must not rise

at Midsummer, till eleven of the Clock, and that the Fire has

air'd his Room and Cloaths of his Colliquative Sweats, rais'd

by high Sauces, and Spicy forc'd Meats, where the Cook does

the Office of the Stomach with the Emetick Tea- Table, set

out with Bread and Butter for's Breakfast : I'll scarce admit

a Sheep-Biter, none but Beef-Eaters will go down with me,

who have Robust, Healthy and Sound Bodies. This may

serve as a Sketch of that Person fit to make a Wrestler, by

him who only desires a Place in your Friendship. "

XXX11 INTRODUCTION.

The baronet's beau ideal of a Wrestler's bodily formation

is just such as we like to see in a northern ring. He "must

be of a middle Size, Athletic, lull-breasted and broad shoul-

der'd, for Wind and Strength ; Brawny-Leg'd and Arm'd, yet

clear-limb'd."

The following rules and regulations are some of

them especially worthy the consideration of those

who are managers in our northern rings, at the

present time.

Rules and Conditions, which were to be observed and perform' d

by all and every Gamester, who Wrestled for a Hat of

twenty-two Shillings Price; a free Prize, which was given

by Sir Thomas Parkyns of Bunny, Bart., for fifteen

Years successively. The Gamesters which were allow d to

Wrestle for the aforesaid Prize, were to have it, if fairly

won, according to the /allowing Rules.

1. The two Gamesters that Wrestle together, shall be

fairly chosen by Lot, or Scrutiny, according to the usual

Practice.

2. The said two Gamesters shall Wrestle till one of them

be thrown three Falls, and he that is first thrown three Falls

shall go out, and not be allovv'd to Wrestle again for this

Prize : And it is hereby ordered and agreed, that he who

first comes with two Joynts at once to the Ground, '(as Joynts

are commonly reckon'd in Wrestling) shall be reputed to be

thrown a Fall.

3. No Gamester shall hire another to yield to him upon

any condition whatsoever ; and if any such Practice be dis-

covered, neither of them shall be capable of the Prize.

4. But he that stands the longest and is not thrown out

by any one, shall have the Prize, provided he does not forfeit

his right, by breach of these Rules ; if he do, the Gamester

that stands the longest, and observes these Rules, shall have

it.

OLD ENGLISH WRESTLING. XXX111

5. If any Differences shall happen concerning the Wrest-

ling, they shall be determined by two Men, which shall be

chosen by the most Voices of the Gamesters, before they begin

to Wrestle ; and in case they can't decide such Differences,

then they shall be referr'd solely to the Decision of the said

Sir Thomas Parkyns as UMPIRE.

6. He that Wins the Prize and Sells it, shall be uncapable

of Wrestling here any more.

7. That none shall have the Prize, that Wrestle with

Shoes that have any sort of Nails of Iron or Brass in them.

8. He also that Winneth the Prize one Year, shall be

Excluded from Wrestling for it the Year following, but the

next year after that, viz. the third inclusive the first, he may

put in and Wrestle for the Prize again ; and ever after that,

unless he shall Win a second Prize, and from that time ever

after Excluded.

Sir Thomas Parkyns, Bart., of Bunny Park,

Nottinghamshire, the author of the ingenious and

singular work before us from which we have

quoted largely upon the Cornish Hugg, or Inn-

Play Wrestling, was a man who did not content

himself with a mere theoretical knowledge of the

art which he professed mathematically to teach.

There was scarcely a sinewy and dangerous problem

in his treatise, which he had not worked with his

own limbs upon the Nottinghamshire peasantry of

1705 when he was young, lusty, and learned,

and could throw a tenant, combat a paradox, quote

Martial, or sign a mittimus, with any man of his own

age or country. He was, it will be allowed, a

skilful wrestler, a subtle disputant, and a fair scholar,

XXXIV INTRODUCTION.

with certain eccentricities which he could afford to

indulge in. He passed a very reputable life ; doing

all the good he could to the peasantry of his neigh-

bourhood, both in body and mind; at once showing

how to be strong and enabling them to be happy.

Sir Thomas Parkyns was born about the year 1678

whether at his paternal seat, Bunny Park, Not-

tinghamshire, or in London, we are unable to

collect probably in London, as we find him early

at Westminster school, wrestling his way through

the classics, under the celebrated Dr. Bushby. The

epigrams of Martial appear, first, to have led him

to turn serious thoughts towards wrestling and he

does not relish the poet the less for finding that he

himself practised this healthy art after his daily

prayer and family business.

From Westminster, Sir Thomas after a due course

of little-to-do and Bushby, went to Trinity College,

Cambridge, and studied mathematics as we gather

afterwards for the chief purpose of making himself

an accomplished scientific wrestler. At the then

celebrated place of learning, " Students," he says,

" even at the Universities, give the Exercise of

Wrestling, and lie under a pecuniary Mulct for not

appearing in the Summer evenings appointed for

that Exercise."

Happy and long was the life which Sir Thomas

led at Bunny Park. A "bold peasantry, its country's

pride," by his advice and example grew up gallantly

around him. He gave prizes of small value, but

OLD ENGLISH WRESTLING. XXXV

large honour, to be wrestled for on sweet midsummer

eves upon the green levels of Nottinghamshire, and

he never felt so gratified with the scene as when he

saw one of his manly tenantry and tbe evening sun

go down together. He himself was no idle patron

of these amusements no delicate and timid super-

intendent of popular sports, as our modern wealthy

men for the most part are ; for he never objected

to take the most sinewy man by the loins, and try

a fall for the gold-laced hat he himself contributed.

His servants were all upright, muscular, fine young

fellows civil but sinewy ; respectful at the proper

hours, but yet capable also at the proper hour of

wrestling with Sir Thomas for the mastery ; and

never so happy or so well approved as when one of

them saw his master's two brawny legs going hand-

somely over his head. Sir Thomas prided himself,

indeed, in having his coachman and footman lusty

young fellows, that had brought good characters for

sobriety from their last places, and had laid him on

his spine.*

Lord Thomas Manners, who learned the art of

Broad-Sword exercise from Sir Thomas Parkyns,

thus addresses his master, on May 2ist, 1720, from

Belvoir :

" Happy is it for us that we have in this effeminate, weak

Age of powder'd Essence- Bottles, and Curled Coxcombs, a

Person of rough Manners, and a robust Constitution ; one that

can stand upon his own Legs, after Droves of those modern

waxen Things have fallen before him ; one that instructs

* Retrospective Review.

XXXVI INTRODUCTION.

Englishmen to deserve the Title, and teaches 'em to make

their Broad -Swords the Terror of all Europe. Men like you

liv'd, when Greece knew her happiest Days. It was a Spirit

like your's that instituted and supported the Olympic Games.

But when their luxurious Neighbours once taught 'em to sleep

till Twelve o' the Day, to pin up their Locks in Papers, to

come from the Boxes of their Chariots into the Insides of

'em ; to use Almond-Paste, and Rose- Water ; in short, to

quit Roast-Beef, and Hasty Pudding, for Soups and Ragouts;

the Empire of the World was taken from them, and translated

to the tough, sinewy Romans ; and when they ceas'd to merit

these Epithets, their Eagle drooped her Wings, and the

Brawny Britons were the Favourites of Mars."

A fitting conclusion to the preceding notice of

the much esteemed Bunny Park baronet, will be

come to by bestowing a passing notice on the

monumental memorial erected to his memory, in

Broadmore church, Nottinghamshire. The "ruling

passion" is made apparent, even after death had

given Sir Thomas the last "Hugg." On one side

of the monument he is represented in wrestling

attitude ; on another he appears thrown a back fall

by Time. The following is a free translation of

the Latin inscription :

" Here lies, O Time ! the victim of thy hand,

The noblest Wrestler on the British strand ;

His nervous arm each bold opposer quell'd,

In feats of strength by none but thee excell'd ;

Till springing up at the last trumpet's call,

He conquers thee, who, will have conquer'd all."

The inscription further depicts him as an estimable

landlord ; for it is recorded on the tablet, that with

OLD ENGLISH WRESTLING. XXXVll

his wife's fortune he purchased estates, and erected

for the tenants new farm houses.

Sir Thomas Parkyns died in 1751.

In his will there is bequeathed a guinea a year to

be wrestled for every midsummer day at Broad-

more.

We venture to surmise that our north country

readers more especially those interested in the

sport half a century ago will be struck with a

similarity in the wrestling career and character of

Sir Thomas Parkyns, and one of the great ornaments

and enthusiastic advocates of the northern ring,

namely, Professor Wilson. To us it appears there

is a striking similitude. One, like the other, ranks

amongst the cleverest and most scientific in their

different modes of wrestling; one, like the other,

had about the same social standing ; one, like the

other, somewhat eccentric in early life. One de-

lighted with encouraging and upholding his favourite

amusement in Bunny Park ; the other happy when

he could get together a goodly muster of athletes

from the villages, the valleys, and mountain sides

of the Lake district, at Bowness, Low Wood, or

Ambleside all within easy walking distance of

Elleray, his beautifully situate Windermere mansion.

WRESTLING IN SCOTLAND.

IN the year 1827, a society styled the "Saint

Ronan's Border Club," was established at Inner-

leithen, near Peebles, the object of which was to

revive the old martial spirit of the Borders, to

encourage the practice of out-door sports and

pastimes, and to yield amusement to the visitors of

this sequestered watering place. Lockhart, in his

life of Sir Walter Scott, (after giving an account of

the publication of the novel of ,/. Ronarfs Well,

in 1823,) thus proceeds to describe the establish-

ment of the annual gathering at Innerleithen :

Among other consequences of the revived fame of the place,

a yearly festival was instituted for the celebration of The

St. Kenan's Border Games. A club of Bowmen of the Border,

arrayed in doublets of Lincoln green, with broad blue

bonnets, and having the Ettrick Shepherd for Captain,

assumed the principal management of this exhibition ; and

Sir Walter was well pleased to be enrolled among them, and

during several years was a regular attendant, both on the

Meadow, where (besides archery) leaping, racing, wrestling,

stone-heaving, and hammer-throwing, went on opposite to

the noble old Castle of Traquair, and at the subsequent

banquet, where Hogg, in full costume, always presided as

master of the ceremonies. In fact, a gayer spectacle than

that of the St. Ronan's Games, in those days, could not well

have been desired. The Shepherd, even when on the verge

WRESTLING IN SCOTLAND. XXXJX

of threescore, exerted himself lustily in the field, and seldom

failed to carry off some of the prizes, to the astonishment

of his vanquished juniors ; and the bon-vivants of Edin-

burgh mustered strong among the gentry and yeomanry of

Tweeddale to see him afterwards in his glory filling the

president's chair with eminent success, and commonly sup-

ported on this which was in fact the grandest evening of his

year by Sir Walter Scott, Professor Wilson, Sir Adam

Ferguson, and Peter Robertson.

The Earl of Traquair was patron of the club, and

among the members not mentioned by Lockhart,

occur the names of the Duke of Buccleuch, Lord

Napier, Robert Gladstone of Liverpool, William

Blackwood, James Ballantyne, and Adam Wilson,

captain of the Six-Feet Club.* At a later date,

Glassford Bell, sheriff of Lanarkshire, took great

interest in these sports.

The games continued to be celebrated yearly in

the early autumn, and lasted two days, the second

day being mostly devoted to archery. Among the

various athletes who entered the lists, the following

are probably the most noteworthy. Professor

Wilson (Christopher North,) threw the hammer;

James Hogg tried his hand at the bow and the

rifle, but yet in despite of Lockhart's praise the

Shepherd did more doughty deeds with the grey-

goose quill than with either of those weapons.

Robert Bell, from Jed Water, was the champion

* Professor Wilson was anxious to get enrolled in the Six-

Feet Club, but could not manage it. He was just half-an-inch

too short

Xl INTRODUCTION.

"putter" of the stone, and could have been matched

against any man in the three kingdoms, in throwing

the sixteen or twenty-one pound ball he upon his

knees, and his opponent on his feet. An advertise-

ment appeared in a leading newspaper, to back him

for ;ioo against all comers, the challenge to hold

good for twelve months, but there was no one to

take it up. The Harper brothers, farmers near

Innerleithen, held several prizes for throwing the

hammer ; and Leyden of Denholme, the champion

leaper, could spring thirty-two feet, at three standing

leaps, including the backward and forward leaps

over the same ground.

The first competition was held at Innerleithen

on the 26th of September, 1827 ; and among other

prizes competed for, the Six-Feet Club of Edin-

burgh gave a silver medal to the best wrestler in

the back-hold style, as practised in Cumberland

and Westmorland. The introduction of this mode

of wrestling into Scotland, may probably be attributed

to the great interest which Professor Wilson took in

the formation of these games. The prize in 1827,

was gained by George Scougal, a native of Inner-

leithen. On one side of the medal was the following

inscription :

"Presented by the Six-Feet Club, to the St. Ronan's

Border Club, to be awarded to the best Wrestler, at their

first Gymnastic Competition, at Innerleithen, 26th September,

1827."

WRESTLING IN SCOTLAND. xli

And on the reverse side, the following quotation

from Waller :

" Great Julius, on the mountain bred,

A flock perchance or herd had led :

He who subdued the world had been

But the best Wrestler on the green. "

Gained by GEORGE SCOUGAL, Innerleithen.

Thirty-two competitors.

Scougal carried off, also, the head prize for

Wrestling, at the St. Ronan's Games, for the years

1828 and 1829. After performing these feats, he

was "outlawed" that is, he was excluded from

contending again in the same arena, for the three

years which followed. When past the prime of life,

he was induced to enter the wrestling ring again,

which he very unwillingly did, after much persua-

sion, and once more succeeded in bearing off first

honours.

In his day, Scougal was looked upon as the

champion wrestler on the Scottish side of the

Borders. At the St. Ronan's Games, he gained six

medals for wrestling and throwing the hammer;

and, likewise, a considerable number of trophies at

other local meetings. A stout massive built man,

he stood five feet eleven inches high, and weighed

from fifteen to sixteen stones. With little or no

knowledge of scientific wrestling, he nevertheless

proved more than a match for all comers, by the

herculean amount of power he possessed in the

shoulders and arms,

I. d

xlii INTRODUCTION.

His usual mode of attack was to gather an

opponent well to his breast, and then by sheer

strength keep him there until a favourable oppor-

tunity presented itself to rush him upon his back.

When excited or ruffled in temper, he gripped his

man quickly and firmly, and then, in spite of all

struggles or clicks, threw him over his hip. These

movements were the nearest approach to science

known to Scougal.

Scougal was a butcher by trade, and is thus

referred to in the Nodes Ambrosiana, in the Shep-

herd's parlance : " Geordie Scougal slauchered a

beast last market day at Innerleithen, and his meat's

aye prime." On one occasion, he actually felled a

bullock with a blow from his fist ; and in the

smithy, which adjoined his slaughter-house, he

not unfrequently exhibited feats of surpassing

strength, one of which was to lift a waggon axle

and two wheels, with a heavy man seated at each

end of the axle. His skill in throwing the

hammer was well known, and during his early

manhood he carried off most of the leading prizes.

At several meetings, the Harpers came into compe-

tition with him, but never approached any nearer

than second to the dual Border champion of

wrestling and throwing the hammer. Old people,

who remember Scougal's earliest efforts, describe

him as a veritable Goliath of Gath in strength, but

unless unduly excited as gentle as a woman in

manner and bearing.

WRESTLING IN SCOTLAND. xlill

After Scougal's three years had elapsed, Robert

Michie of Hawick, came to the fore as amateur

wrestler. Michie took the belt at St. Ronan's, and

kept it about two years. He was present at most

of the gymnastic gatherings on the Borders, and

carried off many prizes for wrestling and hammer

throwing. At the Hawick Border Games in 1831,

he threw Thomas Emmerson, from the neighbour-

hood of Carlisle,* after an exciting contest of some

duration. His hammer throwing at St. Ronan's

was inimitable, and has been described by the

Ettrick Shepherd in the " Bridal of Polmood."

Michie is introduced anachronically into the

" Royal Bridal," in Wilson's Tales of the Borders,

after the following fashion :

At a distance from the pavilion, was a crowd

composed of some seven or eight hundred peasantry engaged

in and witnessing the athletic games of the Borders. Among

the competitors was one called Meikle Robin, or Robin

Meikle. He was strength personified. His stature exceeded

six feet ; his shoulders were broad, his chest round, his limbs

well and strongly put together. He was a man of prodigious

bone and sinews. At throwing the hammer, at putting the

stone, no man could stand before him. He distanced all

who came against him, and, while he did so, he seemed

to put forth not half his strength, while his skill appeared

equal to the power of his arm.

The following notice of the wrestling at Saint

Ronan's, for 1831, is copied from the Edinburgh

Literary Journal:

* Emmerson was a powerful built man, a mason by trade, who

wrestled for several years in the Carlisle and other rings, with moderate

success. He won the head prize at Hawick in 1835.

xliv INTRODUCTION.

Wrestling is not a Scotch game, as will be conceded by

every one who has been present at the Carlisle and Saint

Ronan's games. There is strength enough among our peas-

antry, but it is the ore it has never been moulded for a

practical purpose. Men came forward on this occasion, who

never would have dreamed of thrusting their noses into an

English ring ; and they set to work in a slovenly unhandsome

way some of them armed cap-d-pi'e hat, coat, and shoes.

Still, amid the motley crew you might recognise men who

knew both how to seize and to wield their antagonists. The

art only needs encouragement ; and we trust next meeting

will witness a better turn-out.

There were other local athletes, who figured in

the ring at Saint Ronan's, almost a match for

Scougal. George Best of Yarrow, tailor, possessed

far more science than the Innerleithen butcher, and

was the holder of several prizes. Best, likewise,

finds a niche in the Nodes Ambrosiana of October,

1828, where the Shepherd is made to exclaim :

"Tibbie's married. The tailor carried her aff frae

them a' the flyin' tailor o' Ettrick, sir him that

can do fifteen yards, at hap-step-and-loup, back and

forward on level grun' stood second ae year in the

ring at Carlisle can put a stane within a foot o'

Jedburgh Bell himsell, and fling the hammer neist

best ower a' the border to Geordie Scougal o'

Innerleithen."

In which year of grace, we wonder, did Best

stand second in the Carlisle ring? Wilson's memory

must have proved treacherous when he penned this

sentence. At all events, if Best did wrestle second,

WRESTLING IN SCOTLAND. xlv

" ae year in the ring at Carlisle," it must have been

for some minor prize, long since forgotten.

Abraham Clark of Calzie, farmer, a man of

powerful frame, entered the ring after Scougal was

" outlawed," and did some noteworthy feats.

Another man, also remembered as a prize taker

in the ring at Saint Ronan's, was Walter Scott of

Selkirk, carrier.

At Miles End, in Northumberland, athletic games

were kept up until recently. Young men from both

sides of the Borders entered keenly into these

contests; and one noteworthy peculiarity of them

was, that of keeping up the old national character-

istic of Englishmen being pitted against Scotchmen,

and Scotchmen against Englishmen. This mode

of contesting was the means of producing many

splendid feats of agility and prowess, but was apt

to degenerate into mere exhibitions of warm blood,

which too frequently ended in blows being exchanged

by the rival combatants. Remnants of these con-

tests may be witnessed to this day, at the annual

fair at Stagshawbank, between the shepherds from

the Reed, Liddle, Coquet, and Tyne, and those

from the Slitrig, Jed, Oxmoor, Kail, and Teviot.

Wrestling was always a leading sport at these

gatherings ; single-stick, tilting, leaping, and foot-

racing, were also practised ; and hence the devotion

shown to these and similar athletic pastimes by the

sturdy race of people living on both sides of the

Cheviots.

IRISH WRESTLING.

THE " collar and elbow" is the national style of

wrestling in Ireland that is, to take hold of an

opponent's collar with one hand, and his elbow with

the other. The fall is won if an opponent touches

the ground with his hand, knee, back, or side, as in

the Cumberland and Westmorland style.

A wrestling match was witnessed in Phcenix

Park, Dublin, in the autumn of 1876, which may

serve to illustrate to some extent the manner of

proceeding. A ring was formed, around which

seven or eight thousand people gathered, and two

coats laid in the centre of the ring. Presently a

wrestler enters, and dons one of the coats, which

was a challenge for any man to take up the other

coat. Another wrestler shortly after enters, and

then, when due preliminaries are gone through, the

tussle commenced in earnest. But how it pro-

ceeded, or how it ended whether the struggle was

an arduous one, or the victory an easy one our

informant could not tell.

At the termination of the Cumberland and West-

morland wrestling held at the British Lion, Redcross

Street, London, on August 2ist, 1844, one Kelly,

an Irishman, challenged any native bf either of the

IRISH WRESTLING. xlvii

above counties, to wrestle for a sovereign, in the

collar and elbow style, the gainer of the first three

falls, out of five, to be the winner. This offer was

accepted by Edward Stainton, a native of Westmor-

land. And after three-quarters of an hour's good

play, Stainton had floored his man three times in

succession. Kelly was second in the leaping match

at the same sports.

[NOTE. We regret exceedingly the great paucity of our

information on the subject of Irish Wrestling. Enquiries

were made in many and various ways, without success. Any

information respecting two or three of the representative

wrestlers of the Green Isle, addressed to the local publishers,

will be very acceptable. ]

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

WRESTLING.

Wrestlers of Cumberland,

Good fellows all ;

Wrestlers of Westmorland,

Stout kds and tall :

Ye who are thrown to-day,

Rise more alert and gay,

Next year make the play,

Good fellows all.

King Arthur's Round Table Ballad, 1824.

IRESTLING, as a matter of course, occu-

pies a prominent position in our review

of Northern Pastimes, more especially

from the commencement to the end of the time to

which our notices extend. Some of the other

sports are now remembered only as illustrating the

habits of a byegone period. In this last are to be

classed Bull-baiting and Cock-fighting : condemned

now as cruel and torturing by all classes, but

deserving of record from their encouragement and

popularity in times past. Others of a less objection-

I. 1

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

able type are extinct as well. That almost all

were looked upon with disfavour by a considerable

portion of the community, in the old Puritan times

of Cromwell, the following curious extract will

abundantly testify. It is quoted from THE

AGREEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATED MINISTERS AND

CHURCHES OF THE COUNTIES OF CUMBERLAND

AND WESTMERLAND. London: Printed by T. L.

for Simon Waterson, and are sold at the sign of the

Globe in Paul's Churchyard, and by Richard Scot,

Bookseller in Carlisle, 1656.

" All scandalous persons hereafter mentioned are

to be suspended from the Sacrament of the Lord's

Supper : this is to say any person that shall

upon the Lord's Day use any dancing, playing at

dice, or cards, or any other game, masking, wakes,

shooting, playing, playing at football, stool ball,

Wrestling; or that shall make resort to any Playes,

interludes, fencing, bull baiting, bear baiting ; or that

shall use hawking, hunting, or coursing, fishing or

fowling ; or that shall publikely expose any wares to

sale otherwise than is provided by an Ordinance of

Parliament of the sixth of April, 1649

These Counties of Cumberland and Westmerland

have been hitherto as a Proverb and a by-word in

respect of ignorance and prophaneness; Men were

ready to say of them as the Jews of Nazareth, Can

any good thing come out of them?"

This intolerant anathema did not put a stop to the

practice of Wrestling, on fine summer evenings, at

WRESTLING. 3

nearly all the villages of Cumberland and Westmor-

land a practice, we opine, less detrimental to the

formation of a good rural peasantry than loitering

about or brawling in village ale-houses. It was,

however, upwards of a century and a half after,

before back-hold wrestling assumed the importance

it has attained. A passing notice of doings in the

ring, in a long ago period, may nevertheless be

interesting.

In King Edward the Sixth's time, somewhere

between 1547 and 1553, a gigantic youth of great

strength and in wrestling practice, resided at Trout-

beck, near Windermere. His name was Gilpin, or

Herd. His mother was driven away from Furness

with child generally asserted in the neighbour-

hood to one of the monks of Furness Abbey. The

mother afterwards led a tramping and begging sort

of life, and drew to a house in Troutbeck belonging

to the Crown. The house and some adjoining land

were conferred by the king on a retainer, who on

attempting to take possession, met with determined

opposition from the desperate woman, and her wild

son Gilpin, or, as he was familiarly called, the

"Cork Lad of Kentmere." This led to the "Lad"

then about twenty years old being summoned

to London. He set off on foot, in a home-spun

dress, and after many strange adventures and shifty

expedients, reached the end of his long journey.

Soon after arriving, the king held a meeting for

athletic contests. The wild-looking northerner was

4 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

present, and ascended the stage to contend with the

champion wrestler. He easily won the first fall.

In the second, he threw the champion clear off the

stage. After astonishing the spectators by several

other muscular performances, the king sent for him,

and enquired who and what he was, and where he

came from. He told the king he did not know his

own name, but "folk commonly co' me the Cork

Lad o' Kentmere!" The king desiring to know

the sort of food he lived on at home, received this

quaint reply, "Thick porridge an' milk that a

mouse might walk on dry shod, to my breakfast ;

an' the sunny side of a wedder to my dinner, when

I can get it." Being acknowledged champion,

the king wished to confer some reward as a dis-

tinction, and asked him to state what he wished.

He begged to have the house he lived in at Trout-

beck, and land adjacent to get peat off, and wood

from Troutbeck Park for fire. These were soon

made over to him. He did not enjoy the generous

gift for any lengthened period ; for at the age of

forty-two, he got so injured in attempting to pull up

a tree by the roots, that he died from the effects

Leaving no children or will, the estate reverted to

the Crown, and King Charles the First granted it to

Huddleston Philipson of Calgarth.

It appears that Kentmere Hall in Kentmere a

secluded pastoral dale, some dozen miles north of

Kendal, and running in another dozen miles up to

the steep sides of Hill Bell, Nan Beild, and High

WRESTLING. O

Street was built at the time the " Cork Lad " was

in the valley. During the building, he performed

a surprising feat of strength, by placing, without

any assistance, a huge beam on the walls. On a

Mr. Birkett being applied to by James Clarke, the

author of the "Survey of the Lakes," for particulars

respecting the well nigh incredible feat, he replied

in the following sensible letter :

" I have taken dimensions of the beam at Kent-

mere Hall, which is thirty feet in length and thirteen

inches by twelve-and-a-half in thickness. There is

no inscription on it, as you mentioned. I shall

inform you what has been given by tradition, (and

I had it from a man that was one hundred and four

years old when he died). When the Hall was

building, and the workmen gone to dinner, this

man, whose name was Herd, happened to be there,

and while they were at dinner, laid it up himself.

At that time the Scots made frequent incursions

into England. He with his bow and arrows killed

many of them in coming off the mountains, at a

place which still retains the name of ' Scot's Rake,'

which is about a mile from where he lived."

In the days of brave Queen Bess, lived Richard

Mulcaster, whose father represented the city of

Carlisle in Parliament. "By ancient parentage and

lininal discent," Mulcaster was "an esquier borne;

by the most famous Queen Elizabeth's prerogative

gift," parson of Stanford Rivers church, in Essex.

Being an earnest student, he became not only

6 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

proficient in the Greek and Oriental languages, but

also an expert archer, and thought it not unbecoming

to his cloth to shoot by times, at " the targets for

glory at Mile End Green." This good old clergy-

man loved athletic exercises so well, that among

other learned treatises, he issued one in 1581

entitled "Positions; wherein those Primitive Cir-

cumstances be examined, which are necessarie for

the training up of Children, either for Skill in their

Booke, or Healthe in their Bodie," which was

dedicated to his patron, Queen Elizabeth. In this

quaint old quarto volume, the author discourses on

the ancient art of "wrastling" as becometh one

reared on Cumbrian soil. "Clemens Alexandrinus,"

says he, "which lived at Rome in Galenus' time,

in the third book of his ' Pedagogue or Training

Maister,' in the title of exercise, rejecting most kinds

of wrastling, yet reserveth one as well beseemeing a

civill trained man, whom both seemeliness for grace

and profitableness for goode healthe do seeme to

recommende. Then an exercise it is, and health-

fully it may be used ; if discretion overlook it, our

countrey will allow it. Let us, therefore, use it as

Clemens of Alexandria commendes it for, and make

choice in our market. Wherefore not to deale with

the catching pancratical kind of wrastling which

used all kindes of hould to cast and overcome his

adversarie, nor any other of that sorte which continu-

ance hath rejected and custome hath refused, I

have picked out two which be both civill for use,

WRESTLING. t

and in the using upright, without any great stouping.

It is a friend to the head, bettereth the bulke, and

strengthened the sinews. Thus much for wrastling,

wherein, as in all other exercises, the training

maister must be both cunning to judge of the thing,

and himself present to prevente harme when the

exercise is in hand."

Leaving this loyal old parson to demonstrate still

further his "Positions" to the boys of the Merchant

Tailors' and St. Paul's, of both of which schools he

was head master, we come across another worthy,

Robert Dodd, commonly called "Miller Robin,"

who lived some years at Brough in Westmorland.

He was possessed of such bodily strength as to

be able to take a bushel of wheat, (a Carlisle

bushel of ninety-six quarts,) between his teeth, and

toss it over his shoulder. He would also lie down,

and with six bushels of wheat placed on his back,

weighing something like nine hundred and fifty

pounds, rise up with apparently little exertion. He

was also an expert wrestler, and very few who knew

the man would contend with him for the annual

prize belts. The following Epitaph on a Wrestler,

from Miscellaneous Poems, by Ewan Clark of

Standing Stone, near Wigton, 1779, is applicable

to " Miller Robin."

Here lies the man beneath this stone,

Who often threw, but ne'er was thrown :

Before him his antagonists fell,

As many a broken bone can tell ;

Death cry'd, "I'll try this man of strength !"

And laid him here at his full length.

8 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

Soon after Robin had succumbed, there came

out a Herculean wrestler, named John Woodall,

a small statesman, and a native of Gosforth in

West Cumberland. At Egremont sports, he came

against one Carr, a shoemaker. Carr gained the

fall, and at the King's Arms in the evening, began

charring Woodall, who in a fit of momentary excite-

ment, caught hold of his antagonist, and held him

up to the ceiling of the room ; and, by the waistband

of his breeches, hung him dangling and struggling

to a strong crook. We have alluded elsewhere to

a wonderful feat of bodily strength, by Robert

Atkinson, the Sleagill giant, in carrying a conveyance

called a "carr" out of a dyke-back, on to the turn-

pike road, near Kendal. This unlucky vehicle had

defied the efforts of three or four persons to drag it

out, by tugging at the shafts and wheels. Very

big men, since Atkinson's time, have somehow

ceased to be wrestlers.

Two stalwart Cumbrians will, however, be brought

under the notice of our readers in the following

description of Ancient Sports upon Stone Carr, near

Greystoke. This particular, and, at the time, highly

popular meeting, is introduced to show the descrip-

tion of sports that prevailed in numerous villages

throughout the two Northern Counties at the latter

part of last and the beginning of the present century.

No doubt, the reader will be struck with the wide

difference in the value of the prizes, as compared

with those given in the present day, when the two

WRESTLING. U

Pooleys would get over forty pounds in money and

cups, at the Burgh Barony Races of 1877. Stone

Carr Sports had been held for many years previous

to 1787, and a similar list of prizes given annually

to these enumerated; and they seemed to give

entire satisfaction to the crowds who assembled

from Penrith, Keswick, and all the neighbouring

villages.

For the Horses - ist, a Bridle, value i 6s.

Do. do. - 2nd, a pair of Spurs o 6s.

For the Wrestlers - - - - A Leathern Belt

For the Leapers A pair of Gloves

For the Foot Racers - - - A Handkerchief

For the Dog Coursers A Pewter Quart Pot

Many other small prizes were given, and they

brought out a strong determined spirit of conten-

tion amongst the competitors. The one who had

finally after many sturdy contests the belt placed

over his shoulders, was regarded as quite a distin-

guished individual. If there were a dance in the

evening, it of course made him a personage of no

small account. Old and young regarded wrestling

science, wrestling distinction and strength, with keen

relish. The Sunday following victory, the champion

might be seen marching to church, decorated with

the belt, and on the Sunday following showing off

at another neighbouring church. And this was not

the only distinction : the lasses, one and all, looked

on him favourably. He had no difficulty in

10 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

getting a sweetheart, and matrimonial engagements

frequently followed the prize winning ; for amongst

rustics, as well as in the higher classes, distinction

is invariably looked on as a pretty good passport

to a lady's favour.

Sometimes disputes would arise for northern

blood at sports and fairs is soon up and then

probably a punishing fight ensues. This, how-

ever, rarely happens. When it does take place,

it is a fair stand up fisty-cuff fight. A very severe

contest occurred at the Stone Carr meeting, which

from the amazing stature and strength of the

combatants, is deserving of record. Mr. Andrew

Huddleston an enthusiastic admirer of rustic

sports threw up the belt as a competitor. The

country people for miles round about his own

neighbourhood gave him the sobriquet of " Girt

Andrew," from his giant-like stature and great

strength. He came against one Thomas Harrison

of Blencow, another Titanic specimen of humanity.

Probably no two of like Herculean proportions ever

stood together to take hold. "Girt Andrew" got

grassed with a tremendous thud, and directly offered

to fight his opponent. Harrison, no ways backward,

accepted the challenge, and both prepared for a

set-to. An unexpected interference occurred. A

Presbyterian preacher, then stationed at Penruddock,

persuaded them to desist, and apparently seemed

to have got the burly combatants to depart home

peaceably without a resort to blows. The feud,

WRESTLING. 11

however, proved to be glossed over, and not healed,

for even after jointly partaking of a friendly glass,

Mr. Huddleston again threw down the gauntlet, and

again it was taken up. The fight was obstinate and

terrific, both receiving fearful punishment. In the

end Harrison triumphed. In after years they

continued good neighbours, without any manifest-

ation of ill feeling.

Thomas Harrison had a brother named Launcelot,

residing at Penruddock, who followed the occupation

of a blacksmith. This man also possessed amazing

strength, and was of gigantic stature. When dead,

his remains were taken to Greystoke, and buried

there. Some years after, the grave digger, in making

another grave, dug into Launcelot's. He took out

the jaw bone, and it proved to be half as big again

as the sexton's, who was a stout six feet man.*

Another Penruddock champion died in 1791, at

the age of four score and six years, who was styled

at that date, "the last of the northern giants."

This was Matthias Nicholson, who, through a

lengthened period, stood unrivalled at all the

wrestlings and other athletic exercises and manly

sports, which took place in the neighbourhood.

His height was six feet two inches, and his bulk in

proportion.

The top of High Street, a mountain near Hawes-

water, in Westmorland, seems a strange situation

for holding Wrestlings, Jumpings, Horse Races, and

* Clarke's Survey.

12 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

other sports. This mountain is 2,700 feet above

the level of the sea a breezy elevation, forsooth,

for such pastimes. Nevertheless, they were held

annually on the loth of July for many years, and

long continued to be a flourishing institution. The

primary object of the gathering was this : On the

heaves or pastures of mountain sheep farms, stray

sheep are kept and cared for. The shepherds, on

the day appointed, drive them to the place of

meeting, and give them up to the rightful owners,

who identify them by certain marks. After this

important business has been gone through, a dinner

is set out, and washed down with libations of ale or

spirits, and, by the time keen appetites are satisfied,

numerous additions have increased the assemblage,

and then commence the wrestling, &c. It forcibly

illustrates the deep hold these pastimes have in

the minds of the rural population, when they are

indulged in at such meetings and in such situations.

From information which has been gathered from an

aged native of Kentmere, it appears that the High

Street gatherings fell into neglect, and were discon-

tinued about sixty years since. They have been

supplemented by similar ones minus the races and

wrestlings held annually in November at the little

road side hostelry on Kirkstone, and at the " Dun

Bull " in Mardale, where sports and wrestlings are

held annually on Whit-Monday. Mardale is at

other times a lonely, little frequented dale, at the

head of Haweswater. On one occasion the landlady

WRESTLING. 13

of the " Dun Bull," on being remonstrated with for

supplying sour porter in June, excused herself by

saying : "Why, that's varra queer ! It was freysh

enuff last grouse time ! "

Other places situate advantageously for holding

them have now their shepherd's gatherings. At

the High Street meetings a fox hunt was mostly

an important part of the day's proceedings. The

following fearful incident happened during a hot

chase. Blea Water Cragg is doubtless well known

to many summer tourists. It has a sheer fall of about

three hundred yards, and the rock in many places

appears to jut out even with the bottom. A man

named Dixon, from Kentmere, was following a hard

run fox, when he slipped and fell from the top of

the rocks to the bottom. He was carried home,

with no broken bones, but bruised and battered in

a shocking manner ; nearly all the skin and hair of

his head cut off by the sharp-edged rocks scalped,

in fact. In falling, he struck against the rocks many

times, and yet, strange to say, by his own account,

he did not feel the shocks from first falling over to

finally landing at the bottom of the perilous descent.'

Dizzy, stunned, and unable to stand, he had the

chase uppermost in his mind, shouting as well as he

was able to the first that got to him : "Lads ! lads !

t' fox is gane oot at t' hee end ! Lig t' dogs on,

an' I'll cum seun ! " Insensibility soon followed

this exhortation, and he was carried home, but

recovered ultimately. The rocks have since been

known by the name of " Dixon's three jumps."

14 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

Wrestling on High Street seems strange, but

stranger still is wrestling on the frozen surface of

Windermere lake. The one we have to record

happened in 1785, during an excessively severe

frost. When the ice had attained great thickness,

a project was started for roasting a large ox on it.

All preparations being made, " Rawlinson's Nab "

was fixed upon as the locality for carrying on

operations. The eventful day arrived without any

break in the frost, and a vast concourse from all

parts of the surrounding country assembled to enjoy

the unusual sight. Creature comforts, in the shape

of eatables and lots of beer, were not wanting.

The enlivening strains of a band of music from

Kendal, too, gave animation to the scene. The

wrestling was in clogs, such as country people at

that time generally wore. These primitive coverings

for the feet, though well adapted for sliding on the

ice, were clumsy to wrestle in ; nevertheless, the

falls were eagerly contested, and delighted the

throng of spectators. The final victor received a

belt.

From the interesting autobiography of Thomas

Bewick, the celebrated wood engraver, who visited

an uncle at Ainstable about the year 1776, we learn

the following particulars respecting the feats of one

of his cousins in the wrestling ring : " I remained

at Ainstable about a week, during which time I

rambled about the neighbourhood, visited my friends

at Kirkoswald and elsewhere, and spent what time

WRESTLING. 15

I could spare in fishing for trout in the Croglin.

I began to think of moving abroad; and

my cousin having occasion to go to Carlisle, I went

with him there, where we parted. At Lang-

holm, my landlord who was a Cumberland man

and knew my relatives there, was very kind to me ;

and among other matters concerning them, told me

that my cousin who had accompanied me to Carlisle

had won nine belts in his wrestling matches in that

county."

We next come to a curious, remarkable, and

noteworthy old custom at which, towards the latter

end of the eighteenth century, and the early part of

the nineteenth, wrestlings, and a variety of other

sports, were much patronised. The celebration of

BRIDEWAJNS or BIDDEN WEDDINGS were extremely

popular in Cumberland. All the people of the

country side were invited. For the amusement of

the spectators assembled, prizes were given for

sports of various kinds, as will be found described

in the graphic dialect poem of John Stagg, the

blind bard.

Some for a par o' mittens loup't,

Some wrustPd for a belt ;

Some play'd at pennice-steans for brass ;

And some amaist gat fell't.

Hitch-step-an'-loup some tried for spwort,

Wi' mony a sair exertion ;

Others for bits o' 'bacca gurn'd,

An' sec like daft devarshon

Put owre that day.

16 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

If any reader wishes for a full description of the

various incidents and details connected with this

old wedding custom, he is recommended to consult

Stagg's poem of The Bridewain, from which the

preceding lines are quoted.

The people of the district were generally invited

to these weddings by public advertisement, speci-

mens of which still exist in the files of one or two

of the earliest local newspapers. The following is

given as a curiosity in its way from the Cumberland

Pacquet.

BIDDEN WEDDINGS.

Suspend for one Day all your cares and your labours,

And come to this Wedding, kind friends and good Neighbours.

NOTICE is HEREBY GIVEN, That the Marriage of Isaac

Pearson with Frances Atkinson, will be solemnized in due

form in the Parish Church of Lamplugh, on Monday next,

the 3oth of May, instant immediately after which the Bride

and Bridegroom, with their attendants, will proceed to Lone-

foot, in the said Parish, where the Nuptials will be celebrated

by a variety of Rural entertainments.

Then come one and all,

At Hymen's soft call,

From Whitehaven, Workington, Harrington, Dean,

Haile, Ponsonby, Blaing, and all places between ;

From Egremont, Cockermouth, Parton, Saint Bees,

Dint, Kinneyside, Calder, and parts joining these ;

And the country at large may flock if they please.

Such sports there will be as have seldom been seen

Such Wrestling, and Fencing, and Dancing between ;

And Races for Prizes, and Frolic and Fun,

By Horses, by Asses, and Dogs will be run :

WRESTLING. 17

And you'll all go home happy as sure as a gun.

In a word such a Wedding can ne'er fail to please,

For the Sports of Olympus were trifles to these.

Nota Bene You'll please to observe that the Day

Of this grand Bridal Pomp is the thirtieth of May ;

When 'tis hop'd that the sun to enliven the sight,

Like the Flambeau of Hymen, will deign to burn bright.

Lamplugh, May 2Oth, 1786.

The next one which we shall quote, contents

itself with a plain prose description of the various

attractions.

Richard and Ann Allason present their compliments to

their Friends and the Public in general, and beg leave to

inform them that they intend to have a BRIDEWAIN at South-

waite, in the Parish of Brigham, on Thursday, the 25th day

of May, instant. There will be the following Sports such

as Horse Races, Dog Races, Wrestling, Jumping, and Foot

Races, &c., &c., &c., and various other amusements too

tedious to mention, to entertain them ; and they will think

themselves happy with their attendance.

Southwaite, 1st May, 1809.

The last Bridewain notice we shall give celebrates

the marriage of Henry and Sarah Robinson of High

Lorton, near Cockermouth, on June 6th, 1811.

This advertisement flows into sprightly verse as

follows :

'Tis Love, immortal Power ! gives birth

To healthful Sports and Sprightliest Mirth.

Awhile your Drudgery and Pains

Forego, ye jocund Nymphs and Swains.

We think it only Right to acquaint ye,

That each sort may get Sweethearts plenty !

For those who Pastime love and Fun,

We've Horses, Dogs, and Men to Run ;

I. 2

18 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND

Athletic Sports we'll set before ye,

And Heats renown 'd in Ancient Story ;

Leaping and Wrestling for the Strong,

Enough to please you Come Along!

Professor Wilson himself a proficient in the

noble pastime, and whose great literary attainments

assisted materially to elevate BlackwoocPs Magazine

to the proud eminence it attained in his time,

pays in its pages the following eloquent tribute to

Wrestling, which was, in his younger days, the

principal athletic exercise in the North of England.

It is impossible to conceive the intense and passionate

interest taken by the whole northern population in this most

rural and muscular amusement. For weeks before the great

Carlisle annual contest, nothing else is talked of on road,

field, flood, foot or horseback ; we fear it is thought of even

in church, which we regret and condemn ; and in every little

comfortable public within a circle of thirty miles diameter,

the home-brewed quivers in the glasses on the oaken tables

to knuckles smiting the boards in corroboration of the claims

to the championship of Grahame, a Cass, a Laughlin, Solid

Yak, a Wilson, or a Weightman. A political friend of ours

a staunch fellow in passing through the lakes last autumn,

heard of nothing but the contest for the county, which he had

understood would be between Lord Lowther (the sitting

member) and Mr. Brougham. But to his sore perplexity,

he heard the claims of new candidates, to him hitherto

unknown ; and on meeting us at that best of inns, the White

Lion, Bowness, he told us with a downcast and serious coun-

tenance that Lord Lowther would be ousted, for that the

struggle, as far as he could learn, would ultimately be between

Thomas Ford of Egremont, and William Richardson of Cald-

beck, men of no landed property, and probably Radicals.

' It is, in our opinion, and according to our taste,

WRESTLING. 19

not easy, to the most poetical and picturesque imagination,

to create for itself a more beautiful sight than the ring at

Carlisle Fifteen thousand people, perhaps, are

there, all gazing anxiously on the candidates for the county.

Down goes Cass, Weightman is the standing member ; and

the agitation of a thousand passions, a suppressed shudder

and an under-growl, moves the mighty multitude like an

earthquake. No savage anger, no boiling rage of ruined

blacklegs, no leering laughter of mercenary swells sights and

sounds which we must confess do sicken the sense at New-

market and Moulsey but the visible and audible movements

of calm, strong, temperate English hearts, free from all fear

of ferocity, and swayed for a few moments of sublime pathos

by the power of nature working in victory or defeat.

We may be allowed to supplement the foregoing

with a remark, that there are two things which

natives of the Lake Country, and the rural parts of

Cumberland and Westmorland, who have migrated

southwards, often in their absence sigh for. The

one is "a good stiff clim' amang t' fells;" and the

other, "a snug seat aroond some russlin' ring."

MELMERBY ROUNDS.

MELMERBY is one of the finest types of a fell-side

rural village left in Cumberland, with its cheerful

dwellings scattered here and there single or in

groups, its old manor hall and miniature church,

and its spacious green spreading over fully fourteen

acres of land. The village nestles close under

Hartside, one of the Crossfell range of mountains,

on the direct road from Penrith to Alston, over

which the pack-horse bell continued to tinkle, clear

and loud, to a much more recent period than it

did on the great highways of commerce. This

interesting fact has not been overlooked by Miss

Powley, in her Echoes of Old Cumberland.

MELMERBY ROUNDS. 21

When the staunch pack-horse gang of yore

The Fell's unbroken rigours faced,

With stores for miners 'mid the moor,

The Dane's stronghold at ten miles passed ;

Then up the steeps their burden bore,

For trackless, treeless, ten miles more.

When the staunch troop, with travel sore,

Passed up within the Helm-cloud's veil,

And 'scaped the blast yet heard it roar

Below in many a western dale ;

When they, to crown the march severe,

Denied through summits bleak and brown ;

With sudden speed, and louder cheer,

Came clattering down to Alston town,

Round which the wide fells darkly peer,

And grasping winter cheats the year.

The Melmerby folk to this day are pastoral in

occupation, intercourse, and habits. Their con-

versation, running for the most part on rural topics,

is plentifully interlarded with such expressions as

" Fetchin' t' kye heam," " Fodderin' t' sheep," and

"Takin' t' nag to t' smiddy." Occasionally, the

blood runs warmer with excitement and curiosity,

when a shrill cry like the following rings through

the village streets, "Run wid t' reapes, lad ! A coo's

i' t' mire !"

At the Gale, within a mile of the village, where

the land rests principally on a limestone bottom,

the produce of cream is not of that dubious quality

known to pent-up city dames, but so rich and thick

that a spoon will almost stand upright in it. The

cream of this dairy has frequently been tested with

22 MELMERBY ROUNDS.

one of the old copper pennies of George the Third

coinage, which formidable weight it always bore

triumphantly on the top.

For fully a century, and probably a much longer

period, Melmerby has been known as a noted place

for upholding the manly back-hold wrestling of the

North. On Old Midsummer Day that is, on the

5th of July of each year this village commenced

its annual two-days' sports, which consisted of prizes

for wrestling, leaping, foot-racing, dog-trailing, etc.

The wrestling took place on that part of the green

known as the cock-pit, where many a doughty

champion has been sent sprawling at full length on

his back. Although the amount given in prizes

was small,* the entry of names was always large,

from sixty to seventy being the average number ;

while more than four-score men have contended at

various times. By being held at the season of the

year when the days were longest, and when they

wore their sunniest aspect, Melmerby Rounds were

invariably attended by vast concourses of spectators.

The Alstonians used to muster remarkably strong ;

the miners and others coming over Hartside in

considerable droves from that town, and the neigh-

bouring villages of Nenthead and Garrigill-gates.

So great became the celebrity of the Melmerby ring,

that first-rate wrestlers have frequently travelled as

* "Melmerby Annual Sports will take place on Monday,

the 6th day of July, 1846, when the following Prizes will be

given to contend for : 2 to Wrestle for ; 2 for a Hound

Race ; and handsome prizes for Running, Leaping, and other

amusements, as usual. " [Advertisement. ]

MELMERBY ROUNDS. 25

far as thirty and forty miles to throw and be thrown

upon its village green. Buying and selling was a

thing unknown. One friend might give way to

another sometimes ; but, as a rule, it was purely the

honour of becoming victor, for the time being, that

emulated most of the competitors.

A veritable giant in height and strength, who was

in his prime about 1805, being ambitious to excel

as an athlete, attended these sports for several years,

but never succeeded in carrying off a single prize.

This was Teasdale Thompson of High Rotherup,

near Alston, whose height exceeded six feet two

inches, and whose weight was in proportion to his

height. Among well-known men who attended

these meetings, but failed to achieve success, may

be mentioned Robinson of Renwick, and William

Earl of Cumwhitton, the former of whom figured

several times.

About a quarter of a century ago, the squire of

Melmerby Hall interested himself a good deal in

establishing spring and "back-end" fairs in the

village, for the sale of cattle, sheep, &c.; and on

this account it was thought better to abolish the

annual Rounds. Accordingly this ancient gathering

came to a sudden and unexpected collapse, about

the year 1850, after having existed in an unbroken

link for fully a century.

The following is as complete a list of the winners

of the wrestling at Melmerby Rounds, as we have

been able to collect. The local newspapers were

24 MELMERBY ROUNDS.

carefully ransacked for intelligence, but being found

singularly barren in this respect, our information

had to be gathered in almost every instance from

aged fell-side chroniclers, who had either been

frequent or occasional attenders at these meetings,

the principal of whom was Mr. John Dodd of

Broadmeadows, Melmerby.

About 1788 Adam Dodd of Langwathby Mill,

won several years.

About 1798, James Fawcett, miner, Nenthead.

J799.

1800,

1801,

1802,

1803,

1804,

1809, Thomas Golightly, miner, Alston.

This wrestler afterwards removed to the West

Cumberland mining district; and in'February, 1819,

was killed by the fall of part of a roof in one of the

Whitehaven coal pits.

About 1810, Robert Rowan tree, shepherd, King-

water.

About 1815, Andrew Armstrong, farmer, Sowerby

Hall.

About 1816, Thomas Peat, farmer's son, Blencow.

1817, John Dobson, Cliburn.

1818, John Robley, Scarrowmannock.

1819,

Robley emigrated to America several years after

this date.

MELMERBY ROUNDS. 25

About 1820, Isaac Maughan, Alston.

1821,

Maughan settled in Newcastle-on-Tyne, where

he died during the cholera of 1832.

About 1823, J. Spottiswoode, miner, Alston.

1825, John Weightman, husbandman,

Hayton.

About 1826, John Weightman, husbandman,

Hayton.

Weightman won two years, and received a guinea

and the belt each time, these being the usual awards

to the victor at that date.

1828, Thomas Armstrong, Carlisle; Elliot (per-

haps of Cumrew) wrestled second. Bowman, of the

Gale, won the second day's wrestling.

About 1830, Joseph Graham, Dufton Wood,

Appleby.

About 1833, Jonathan Woodmas, Alston.

1838, Thomas Morton, farmer, The Gale, ist;

Isaac Farlam, Bowness-on-Solway, 2nd.

About 1839, Thomas Morton, farmer, The Gale.

On one occasion Morton wrestled through the

ring without taking his coat off.

About 1841, John Salkeld, land-surveyor, Huddle-

sceugh.

1844, First day: Joseph Elliot, Croglin, ist;

Thomas Teasdale, Ousby, 2nd. (Sixty-five names

entered, including John Buck, John Milburn, and

Joseph Morton.) Second day : John Nixon, Lang-

wathby, ist; John Slee, Blencow, 2nd.

26 MELMERBY ROUNDS.

About 1845, Joseph Shepherd, Crewgarth, Mel-

merby.

1847, Joseph Morton, farmer, The Gale, ist

John Milburn> VVeardale, 2nd.

Joseph Morton also won once or twice on the

second day. John Milburn stopped at Melmerby

on his way home from the Carlisle meeting, at

which latter place he carried off the head prize the

two following years.

About 1850, Joseph Morton, farmer, The Gale.

Morton threw Halliwell of Penrith, and, we

believe, Anthony Me. Donald of Appleby wrestled

up with him. This was the last Round held at

Melmerby.

27

LANGWATHBY ROUNDS.

LANGWATHBY, like its twin-sister Melmerby, is

strictly a rural village, made up of snug homesteads,

dropped here and there in picturesque confusion.

Crossing the bridge from the Penrith side, and

coming in sight of its modest church and spacious

green, the most familiar sounds which formerly fell

upon the ear were the lowing of cattle, the bleating

of sheep, and the barking of dogs. The pastoral

stillness which once prevailed, however, is now

abruptly broken by the shrill whistle of the passing

train, the snorting and screeching of engines, and

the heavy thuds which resound from the "shunting"

and reloading of railway waggons immediately

above.

This old-world village, with few chances and

changes to record, has found a native bard to plead

feelingly for the obscurity which the dim past has

wrapped around its history.

O ! spot of all the land alone

Unsung, unheard of, and unknown ;

Dim background of life's busy stage,

Scarce named in local history's page.

28 LANGWATHBY ROUNDS.

Neglected spot ! what hast thou done,

That, ever since the world begun,

Thy name proscribed hath seemed to be,

In legend, tale, or minstrelsy ?

That e'en no rustic bard hath owned thee,

And thrown a wreath of song around thee ?

However much the paucity of general incidents may

be felt in reviewing the past history of this Cumber-

land village, it is pleasing to note that Langwathby

and Melmerby vie with each other in antiquity as

promoters or "handers down" of local athletic

pastimes.

The famous Adam Dodd, "the Cock of the

North," lived and died at Langwathby Mill, which

place is still or was recently inhabited and owned

by the same family. The last Adam Dodd of that

ilk, was killed half a century after the death of the

first Adam, on his homeward journey with horse

and cart from Alston, while turning a sharp angle

of the road a little above Melmerby.

Langwathby Rounds, unlike those at Melmerby,

were held annually in the midst of "winter and

cold weather " that is to say, on New Year's Day

and the day following. Wrestling formed by far

the greatest attraction of these primitive gatherings ;

the yeomen, farmers, and husbandmen from the

neighbouring hamlets being the principal competi-

tors. The sports took place, as a general rule, in a

field close to the village which belongs to Mr. John

Hodgson ; but on some few occasions they were

held on the opposite or western side of the river

LANGWATHBY ROUNDS. 29

Eden. The prizes given were of small value, but great

honour. During the latter part of the last century,

a narrow leathern belt of meagre appearance, or a

pair of buckskin breeches, was almost the only

trophy given for wrestling. In the year 1816, when

James Robinson won, a couple of guineas was the

full amount offered; and this sum, we suppose, was

never exceeded till many years after the King of

Mardale and the Bishop of Lichfield's brother had

carried off the principal prizes.

About the year 1820, on New Year's Day, the

ground was covered with a coating of snow three or

four inches deep, when a curious scene took place

during the wrestling. It so happened that Isaac

Mason of Croglin, was drawn against Isaac West-

morland of Ousby. Mason well known for his

smuggling adventures and his numerous eccentrici-

ties entered the ring wearing an old home-spun

overcoat, so thick and patched that it set at nought

all Westmorland's attempts to clasp his arms around

it. No persuasion could induce Mason to try and

accommodate matters by stripping. He would not

move a jot; and in the meantime his opponent was

becoming quite numb and frigid with cold. At

length Mason showed signs of relenting, and

ultimately took off the obnoxious overcoat. Still

Westmorland's arms were found to be too short,

and refused to meet. Continuing therefore to "doff"

what was most cumbersome off went the coat,

then the waistcoat, and finally Mason stood stripped

30 LANGWATHBY ROUNDS.

to his "sark" in the snow, with nothing on but his

trousers, where his opponent managed to keep him

standing until he, in his turn, was nearly starved to

death !

Among other minor prizes at Langwathby, a pair

of garters was given to the boy who proved himself

to be the fleetest runner. About forty years since

this prize was carried off by a youth of the village,

who afterwards became a successful rower, and, as

one of the athletes of Queen's College, Oxford, won

the silver oar twice in succession.

A dance on the green among the village girls of

four or five years old, formed a pretty rural sight,

even when witnessed amid the cheerless snow. At

the conclusion of these jocund rounds, each little

maiden was presented with a bright ribbon such

mementoes being popularly spoken of as fancies.

And while the procession of fiddlers and villagers

were marshalling in order, it was no unusual thing

to hear an aged dame calling from her cottage

door : "Noo, honies, run an' git ytrz fancies J"

The boys' race and the leaping usually succeeded

the dancing on the green ; and by the time these

pastimes were concluded, daylight had either gone

or was fast fading away. Owing to darkness setting

in thus early, lanterns were frequently in great

request among the rough-spun frequenters of the

wrestling ring.

Following close in the rear of the New Year's

pastimes, came the ancient custom of slanging on

LANGWATHBY ROUNDS. 31

the Twelfth Night. A procession of young fellows

dressed in fantastic garbs as clowns, accompanied

by one in woman's attire, and preceded by a couple

of fiddlers paraded the village streets. Calling in

rotation at the various houses on their way, the

" woman " commenced operations by sweeping up

the fireside with a besom, which she carried for that

purpose, and then the leading clown delivered a

ludicrous speech to the inmates of the house. One

Brunskill, shoemaker and rustic humourist, is still

remembered as being by far the cleverest clown

who figured at these Stangings. To his credit let

it be mentioned that his mirth was always kept well

within the limits of decorum and decency.

The Langwathby Rounds continued to flourish

after the Melmerby ones had passed away, being

kept up for full twenty years longer, and conse-

quently extended over a still greater period of time.

The more intelligent dwellers at this hamlet give

it as their opinion, that so long as the Rounds

continued to be of a secluded character, and were

almost entirely taken part in by the villagers and

the rural population, living under the shadow of

Crossfell or Hartside, things generally went well and

smoothly ; and that it was reserved for these latter

days to open up new roads, offer larger prizes, and

introduce a greater influx of "riff-raff" and unruly

characters from the towns, after which period the

annual gatherings became more and more degraded

by tolerating unseemly abuses. About the year

32 LANGWATHBY ROUNDS.

1870, having sunk in social status, these Rounds

were finally given up, lest some riot or other un-

pleasant circumstance might crop up, as did at

Armathwaite, between the English and Irish navvies,

employed in cutting the extension of the Midland

line of railway from Settle to Carlisle.

The following is as full a list of the winners of

the wrestling at the Langwathby Rounds as we have

been able to collect together, from a variety of out-

of-the-way and other sources.

About 1788, Adam Dodd of Langwathby Mill,

won several years.

About 1809, Paul Gedling, Culgaith, ist; Isaac

Dodd, Langwathby Mill, 2nd.

Dodd broke a blood vessel in the wrestle up,

owing to which both men left loose ; the prize, of

course, being awarded to Gedling. Isaac Dodd

farmed Barrock Gill, near Carlisle, for many years

after this event.

1816, James Robinson, gamekeeper, Hackthorpe.

1817, Thomas Peat, Blencow, ist; George Rob-

inson, Langwathby, 2nd.

Robinson of Hackthorpe, and Joe Abbot of

Thornthwaite, also wrestled.

1818, Thomas Richardson, Hesket-new-Market,

known as "The Dyer," ist; John Dobson, Cliburn,

2nd.

About 1820, Isaac Mason, Croglin.

About 1824, John Holmes, King of Mardale.

About 1826, John Bowstead, yeoman, Beckbank.

LANGWATHBY ROUNDS. 35

Bowstead was one of the Bishop of Lichfield's

younger brothers.

1829, Joseph Thompson, Caldbeck, ist; Mil-

burn, 2nd.

Thompson was only an eleven stone man ; while

Milburn stood six feet two inches, and weighed

nearly sixteen stones. Thompson also distinguished

himself by throwing Ireland and Bird, both good

wrestlers.

About 1830, Matthew Dixon, Penrith.

About 1831, George Bird, farmer, Langwathby.

1832, First day: Thomas Dobson, SleagilL

Second day : William Warwick, Eamont Bridge.

About 1833, Richard Chapman, Patterdale, ist;

Benson of Hunsanby, 2nd.

About 1834, Richard Chapman, Patterdale.

1835, George Bird, farmer, Langwathby.

1836, Robt. Gordon, husbandman, Plump-

ton.

1837, George Bird, farmer, Langwathby.

1838,

1839, Moore, shoemaker, Melmerby.

1840, Thomas Morton, The Gale, Mel-

merby.

About 1841, John Spedding, husbandman, Skir-

with.

1842, Thomas Morton, The Gale, Mel-

merby.

About 1843, Anthony McDonald, Appleby.

1844,

I. 3

34 LANGWATHBY ROUNDS.

1845, First day: J. Shadwick, Lazonby, ist;

John Robinson, Langwathby, 2nd. Second day :

William Buck, Temple Sowerby, ist ; John Buck

Temple Sowerby, 2nd.

About 1846, Anthony Me. Donald, Appleby.

1847, First day : Anthony Mc.Donald, Appleby,

ist; John Shadwick, 2nd. Second day : Joseph

Halliwell, Penrith, ist; John Shadwick, 2nd.

About 1848, Joseph Halliwell, Penrith.

1849, William Buck, Temple Sowerby, ist; John

Shadwick, 2nd.

About 1850, Anthony Mc.Donald, Appleby.

1851,

1852,

Anthony Mc.Donald won seven times in all, some

of which were second day's prizes.

About 1 86 1, First day : John Wilkinson, Little

Strickland, ist; John Salkeld, Melmerby, 2nd.

Second day: Thomas Threlkeld, Langwathby, ist;

Isaac Dodd, Langwathby Mill, 2nd.

1862, First day: William Jameson, Penrith, ist;

T. Salkeld, Great Salkeld, 2nd. Second day : J.

Brunskill, Penrith, ist ; W. Watson, Winskill, 2nd.

About 1863, William Jameson, Penrith.

1864, First day: John Wilkinson, Little

Strickland, ist; John Atkinson, Little Salkeld, 2nd.

Second day: Isaac Lowthian, Plumpton, ist; Philip

Lowthian, Plumpton, 2nd.

About 1865, First day: Isaac Lowthian, Plump-

ton, ist; Thomas Sisson, Temple Sowerby, 2nd.

LANGWATHBY ROUNDS. 35

Second day. John Howe, Ousby, ist; William

Cheesebrough, Langwathby Hall, 2nd.

About 1866, First day: Andrew Armstrong,

Plumpton, ist; Isaac Lowthian, Plumpton, 2nd.

Second day: Adam Slack, Skirwith Hall, ist;

James Errington, Aiketgate, 2nd.

1867, First day: Adam Slack, Skirwith Hall,

ist; John Cheesebrough, Langwathby Hall, 2nd.

Second day: George Steadman, Drybeck, ist; Ralph

Pooley, Longlands, 2nd.

About 1868, First day: Ralph Pooley, Long-

lands, ist; William Cheesebrough, Langwathby,

2nd. Second day: Ralph Pooley, ist; John

Cheesebrough, Langwathby, 2nd.

Nine-and-a-half stone prize: Joseph Hodgson,

Langwathby, ist; John Errington, Aiketgate, 2nd.

1869, First day : Joseph Hodgson, ist; William

Cheesebrough, 2nd. Second day : Saunders Ged-

ling, ist; William Cheesebrough, 2nd.

Ten stone prize : Robert Me. Crone, ist; Thomas

Holmes, 2nd.

1870, George Steadman, Drybeck, ist; William

Pigg, Sceugh Dyke, 2nd.

Ten stone prize: Samuel Brownrigg, Clifton, ist ;

Robert Gordon, Plumpton, 2nd.

This was the last Round held at Langwathby.

There was only one day's sports.

JAMES FA WC ET T

OF NENTHEAD.

THE following brief memoir of JAMES FAWCETT of

Nenthead one of the most accomplished wrestlers

on record will carry the reader back to a byegone

period, when wrestling and various other amuse-

ments, which filled up the day's programme, were

far more a rural following than at present ; when

"Rounds" like Melmerby and Langwathby, when

West Cumberland " Bridewains," when country

meetings like Stone Carr, near Greystoke, produced

at stated periods an exciting animation in almost

all northern villages, and afforded a brief holiday to

a numerous body of small "statesmen" and farmers,

their sons, and servants. Such gatherings are

now, however, nearly all given up are only " lang

syne" remembrances, and wrestling meetings are

held mostly in the large towns, and considerable

sums offered to contend for. In many cases they

JAMES FAWCETT OF NENTHEAD. 37

are got up by innkeepers, who depend on "gate

money" to recoup the outlay. Whether this change

conduces to fair, manly, unbought wrestling, is a

matter of grave doubt. Wrestlings, we are afraid,

will never again be contests, like those of ancient

Greece and Rome -for honour and fame. We

cannot look on this change otherwise than as

unfortunate for the rural population of the northern

counties, who may justly asseverate

There never was a game like the old English game,

That's played 'twixt the knee and the tee ;

You may roam the world o'er, but the game at your door

Is the very best game you will see.

We regret being unable to furnish anything like

a detailed account of Jemmy Fawcett's feats in the

ring, or more than a meagre outline of the general

particulars of his life. But what we do know of his

career is so important in wrestling annals, that we

are inclined to believe it would be considered inju-

dicious to omit all notice of such a high class athlete.

Most of his achievements have become well nigh

traditionary, and yet, in many respects, his memory

is as green as ever it was in the northern counties,

and particularly so in a wide circuit round Alston

Moor.

Fawcett lived at Greengill, Nenthead, a mining

village in East Cumberland, four or five miles from

Alston town, where he worked at his daily occu-

pation, in what is called a "hush," connected with

the mines. His height was five feet seven inches,

38 JAMES FAWCETT OF NENTHEAD.

and his general wrestling weight from ten to ten

and a half stone. His modes of attack and defence,

and manner of disposing of his opponents, seem to

have been innumerable ; in fact, he appears to have

been an adept in turning the most unlikely emer-

gencies to account. He was as active as an eel,

could twist and wriggle like one, and was nearly as

difficult to hold. When an opening presented

itself, he was partial to getting his left side into play,

and then immediately ensued a decisive onslaught.

Robert Rowantree, a big six foot, fifteen-stone man,

who practised a slaughtering cross-buttock, used to

say that no man could so effectually stop it as

Jemmy Fawcett. Litt designates him, as "the very

best wrestler of his weight Cumberland, or indeed

the United Kingdom, ever produced." And again,

"Jemmy must have been the most wonderful

wrestler of his own or any other time."

It was about the beginning of the present century

that Fawcett attained his prime. His wonderful

success in carrying off the head prize at the Melmerby

"Rounds" for seven consecutive years, added con-

siderable celebrity to his other achievements. On

one of these occasions, he went to Melmerby in

company with his friend, John Woodmas of Alston,

with a full determination of winning. A great stumb-

ling block in the way to victory, presented itself in the

person of one " Pakin" Whitfield, who weighed from

sixteen to seventeen stones, and who had the repu-

tation of being, at that time, the strongest man in

JAMES FAWCETT OF NENTHEAD. 39

Cumberland. All went well and smoothly through

several rounds, until Fawcett and Woodmas were

drawn together. What was to be done ? Woodmas,

who weighed at least three stone heavier, argued

thus : "Noo, Jemmy, my man, what ! thoo can dea

nowte wid greit Pakin. Thoo's niver fit to mannish

him. Thoo'll just hev to lig doon to me !" "Nay,

nay," was the determined reply, " I'll lig nin doon to

thee, ner neabody else. I can throw him weel

eneuf, I know I can." When "Pakin" and

Fawcett came together in the next round, Woodmas

used to say afterwards : " Sist'e ! I fair trimmelt

agean for t' lile fellow. I thowt nowt but t'

varra life wad be crush't oot on him !" Standing

side by side in the ring, the contrast appeared so

great, that it looked as if the struggle was to take

place between a giant and a pigmy. When the

little man tried to span the back of the big man,

and failed to do so, derisive peals of laughter broke

out in various parts of the ring; and when the novel

spectacle was presented of the little one lengthening

his reach by the aid of a pocket handkerchief, the

risible propensities of the spectators were tickled to

a still greater extent. Getting fairly into holds, the

tussle, however, was not one of long duration.

" Pakin" commenced operations by making two or

three futile attempts to draw Fawcett up, so that

he could hold him more firmly ; but the latter being

fully prepared for any emergency, skipped about

nimbly, and evaded all the attempts made to grip

40 JAMES FAWCETT OF NENTHEAD.

him ; then he suddenly slipped under the big-one's

chest with his left side, "gat in amang his legs, an'

browte him neck ower heels." No sooner was the

immense mass of humanity rolled out on the green

sward, than the crowd went wild with excitement,

and "varra nar split Crossfell wid shootin' an'

hurrain' !"

The annual Easter sports, held at Lowbyre,

Alston, continued for many years to be a centre for

wrestlers to congregate, from the districts round

Weardale, Harewood, Knarsdale, Nenthead, and

Garrigill. To one of these meetings, came Cuthbert

Peart from Weardale, a powerful well built man,

weighing sixteen stones nine pounds. Being drawn

against Fawcett in one of the rounds, Peart lifted

him like a child, and while holding him dangling in

the air, asked, in a swaggering manner, where he

would like to be laid. Jemmy, however, "mannish't

to bit on his feet, like a cat ;" and then, quick as

lightning, down went the Weardale man, like a shot,

from the effects of one of Jemmy's deadliest chips.

"Noo," said Fawcett, with mock gravity, while

stooping over the prostrate figure of Peart, " thoo

can lig me whoariver thoo likes ! "

The brilliant manner displayed in carrying off

Peart, filled the fallen man with so much wonder

and amazement, that he declared Fawcett to be the

cleverest wrestler in Britain, and forthwith took him

over to Blanchland, on the borders of Northumber-

land and Durham. At that place he wrestled a

JAMES FAWCETT OF NENTHEAD. 41

match, with a sixteen-and-a-half-stone man, for a

pair of leather breeches, and won easily. On this

occasion he had again to resort to the use of a

handkerchief.

Another fall, similar in some respects to the one

with Peart, occurred at Nentberry sports, about

three miles from Alston, with one Thomas Stephen-

son, a man of considerable stature and bulk, who

was accounted a good wrestler in his day and

generation. On going into the ring for the final

fall, Stephenson repeated again and again, with

much confidence: "The little man must go down

the little man must go down, this time!" When

hold had been obtained, the big one led off very

briskly with the swing, but failing signally, Fawcett

at once introduced the buttock, and brought him

over so quickly and effectually, that as soon as

Stephenson had recovered from his surprise, he

burst out into passionate language, exclaiming :

" Jemmy Fawcett's nut a man, at aw ! He's a

divel a fair DIVEL ! an' neabody 'ill convince me

to th' contrary !"

Jemmy continued to wrestle occasionally till he

was nearly fifty years old. Litt speaks of him

figuring at Smaledale in Yorkshire, where he resided

about 1823.

During a lengthened career, Fawcett continued a

great enthusiast in wrestling matters. When lying

on his death bed, while wrestling with a foe sure to

triumph in the end, the "ruling passion" exercised

42 JAMES FAWCETT OF NENTHEAD.

a strange influence over him. He actually induced

his son and daughter to take hold in the room, for

a tussle, in order that the son might be benefitted

by his instructions, relative to certain favourite

chips. This anecdote is well authenticated.

Fawcett died at Nenthall, near Alston, aged fifty-

five or fifty-six years, about 1830.

43

WILLIAM RICHARDSON

OF CALDBECK.

"BELTED WILL."

WHEN Professor Wilson wrote a review of William

Litt's popular "Wrestliana," for Blackwood' s Maga-

zine^ he stated that WILLIAM RICHARDSON of

Caldbeck, the winner of two hundred and forty

wrestling trophies or "belts," was "better entitled

than old Howard of Castle Dacre himself to the

cognomen of 'Belted Will.'" From this sweeping

dictum of the presiding spirit of old Maga, we are

inclined to dissent. William Richardson doubtless

gained his formidable list of prize "belts" mostly in

well contested but harmless fields of strife, and is

fully entitled to the proud distinction of having

his familiar Caldbeck patronymic, "Will Ritson,"

elevated into "Belted Will." How, however, he is

"better entitled" than the grand border chieftain of

the Howards one of the most celebrated heroes

that shone in the long and deadly feuds which

prevailed for generations between the rival border

houses of Scotland and England we are at a loss

44 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

to conceive. Besides, they earned a similar desig-

nation in such different fields. One is rendered

for ever famous as one of the most renowned actors

in the fierce border raids that were wont to arise

between England and Scotland a historic celebrity

handed down to all time ; and whose sword and

belt still preserved amongst the Howard relics

astonish everyone attempting to handle them. It

is inconceivable that any one ever existed with

sufficient strength to wield such formidable weapons,

without we fall back to that giant of a "long time

ago," yclept Samson, or to the other strong man of

heathen mythology, Hercules. Richardson, holding

a high place in the wrestling arenas of the north,

and formidable from his overpowering strength,

contended only in fields where, it is true, there was

keen determined rivalry, but of an entirely harmless

description to life or limb plenty brought to

grass in a rough, tumble-down, unwelcome manner,

but not ending with the death-struggles of infuriate

moss-troopers, hating each other with a savage

bitterness almost inconceivable at the present day.

William Richardson was born at HaltclifT, in

Caldbeck parish, in March, 1780. In the rural

districts of Cumberland, families were frequently

numerous. The Richardsons were of this descrip-

tion the subject of our present memoir being the

eldest but one of thirteen children. In his own

neighbourhood, indeed almost throughout Cumber-

land, he became familiarly known as " Ritson," or

WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK. 45

"Rutson." In order to make his way in the world,

he was brought up to the occupation of a joiner,

and continued to follow the business for some years;

but having a strong inclination for farming, and

breeding Herdwick sheep, he gave it up, and settled

on an estate called Netherrow, near Caldbeck.

This farm was in the occupation of his father and

himself for eighty years.

Richardson measured in height, five feet nine-

and-a-half inches, and weighed fully fourteen

stones. He was a man well and strongly built

from "top to toe;" slightly round shouldered

and round backed; with a fine, broad, expansive

chest; possessing tremendous strength of arm; and

had a " neck like a bull." He lived till February,

1860, having attained his eightieth year; and it

became a common remark that up to nearly the

final shuffling off this mortal coil, he had the

lightest foot, and was the "lishest" walker of any

old man in the neighbourhood of Caldbeck. At

Faulds Brow sports, when a hale hearty stager of

more than three-score-and-ten years, he challenged

to wrestle any man in England of his own age. We

once witnessed, too, at Newcastle, in 1861, another

septuagenarian, named Thomas Fawcett, from the

neighbourhood of Kendal, challenge any man in

England or Scotland of a like age. He stood six

feet one inch, appeared uncommonly active, and

straight as a maypole. Real "grit" these, our

transatlantic cousins would say. Yes, it is such

46 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

men that make Cumberland and Westmorland

athletes superior to all the world.

The hype became Richardson's main chip; and a

favourite method of stopping an opponent at

which he was allowed to be a great adept was to

give him a sudden click "kind o' bear him off his

feet" and then lift and hype. If an opponent

should attempt buttocking, his unrivalled strength

of arm enabled him to gather his adversary up with

a vice-like grip, anything but pleasant. Indeed, he

never was buttocked but once, in the whole of a

long career, and that once by John Nicholson of

Threlkeld, in private practice one summer night in

the neighbourhood of Ouse-bridge.

"Will" scored his first prize when only eighteen

years old, at Soukerry, in his native parish. The

sports held there annually ranked amongst the

oldest and best local gatherings in Cumberland,

and being in the midst of a good wrestling country,

several noted men attended yearly. From the

manner in which the youngster disposed of all

comers, he was pronounced to be a promising

"colt" for future work. After gaining this, his first

victorious effort, in a strong entry, Richardson

wrestled with marked success through many rings

of course, like others, getting a "topple over"

now and then. When about twenty-one years old,

he entered into the spirit of the sport with wonderful

enthusiasm, and determination not to be beaten.

Two remarkable circumstances, in a prolonged

WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK. 47

career, are worth relating. He was never "felled"

a single fall, by any mortal man, between the age

of twenty-one and twenty-eight; that is to say, from

1 80 1 to 1808 or 1809, during which period he

attended almost all the sports held between Calder-

bridge on the south-west, Pooley-bridge on the east,

and all through the north to the Scottish borders.

And he was never "felled" two falls together but

once in his life, when a mere stripling, at Harrop

sports, between Embleton and Lorton. Job Tinnian

of Holme Cultram (one of a distinguished wrestling

and fighting family, a good striker, and proficient

with the buttock), and Richardson, were matched

for a guinea, the best of three falls. Job got the

two last, and his opponent the first. Tinnian

who measured six feet six inches in height doffed

his shirt, and had his back so thoroughly soaped,

there was no holding him. Previous to the match,

Richardson had thrown him for the head prize at

the sports, and then again next day at a "Bride wain"

at Southwaite, about two miles from Cockermouth,

on the Lorton road. Job Tinnian had a daughter,

who, we believe, grew to be such a giantess,

that she was taken about as a show, and exhibited

in the Blue Bell at Carlisle, and various other

places.

During the latter part of the last century, and in

the early part of the present one, the head prizes at

the various wrestling meetings were of a most

primitive description, consisting either of a homely

48 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

leather "belt" with an inscription, giving name of

place, date, and name of winner or a "brutches

piece," a suitable length of buckskin or broadcloth,

for making a pair of breeches ; and occasionally,

but very rarely, a silver cup. Unlike the present

day, liberal money prizes did not tempt competitors

on the village greens.

While the century was still young, some enter-

prising individual announced that a "golden guinea"

the first ever given in Cumberland for a like

purpose would be presented to the winner of the

head prize at Highmoor sports, near Wigton. The

offering of such a gilded bait quite a novelty

naturally drew together a strong field of active

young athletes. William Richardson of Caldbeck,

among the rest, put in an appearance. Much

resolute wrestling occurred, as round after round

passed over. When the ranks became thinner

and thinner, the two last stand ers proved to be

one Todd, a spirit merchant from Wigton, and

Richardson. The former was familiarly spoken of

in the neighbourhood as "Brandy Todd." He was

a powerful built man, nearly six feet high, and a

great enthusiast in wrestling, pedestrianism, and

dog-trailing. The two men should have been

matched on several previous occasions, and this

being the first, indeed, the only time they ever met

in any ring, the excitement became intense. The

Wigtonians being in great numbers, "crowed very

crouse." Some of the more boisterous ones tried

WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK. 49

to banter and upset the self-possession of Richard-

son, by shouting in derision " Browte up wid

poddish an' kurn milk ! what can thoo deu, I wad

like to know? Go bon ! Brandy 'ill fling thee oot

o' t' ring, like a bag o' caff!" The men stood up

ready for action. Holds were obtained, after some

delay in fencing ; a brief struggle ensued, and the

huge spirit-merchant measured his full length on

the green-sward. His friends were dumb-foundered

at the sudden fall of their hero. The opposite

party, highly elated, cried out, much to the discom-

fiture of poor Todd " Ha ! ha ! Codbeck kurn't

milk's stranger ner Wigton brandy efter aw t'

rattle ! "

When Richardson was in his prime, sports or

races were held at the Beehive Inn, Deanscale,

near Lamplugh. One Shepherd Pearson, from

about Wythop, made a curious and, to look at the

terms, foolish wager. He bet a ten pound note

that he would find a man to win the wrestling ;

another to win the foot-race ; and a hound to win

the dog-trail, at the Beehive sports. Now, it is well

known how very much odds increase on a double

event, but here are evens to win three events.

Exceedingly foolish ! but nevertheless the bet was

won. The chosen champion proved to be Richard-

son for the wrestling ; John Todhunter of Mun-

grisdale, near Threlkeld, for the foot race ; and

"Towler," belonging to John Harrison of Caldbeck,

for the dog-trail. Curiously enough, all three

I. 4

50 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

nominations succeeded in winning the head prize

in their respective entries ; and Pearson carried

off his risky wager with a triumphant flourish.

A feud of long standing, it appears, had existed

between William Litt and Richardson. This feud

no doubt gave a colour to various statements, and

places us on rather delicate ground in endeavouring

to do justice to both parties. Our object, however,

is to speak of each man truthfully and impartially

to let neither colour "the even tenor of our way."

The couple had met at several sports in West

Cumberland; and on one occasion, when drawn

together, Richardson had succeeded in disposing

of Litt. The latter, however, was, as he termed it,

in his "novitiate." No doubt the fall was highly

unpalatable to the loser, and at length resulted in a

challenge being given and accepted. The meeting

ended unsatisfactorily. Both men drew up to their

posts at the appointed time, Litt shewing unmis-

takeable signs of being "fresh i' drink." When

requested to make ready for the contest, he gave a

point blank refusal, saying he "wad nowder strip

nor russell !" Here was an awkward fix ! What

was to be done ? After a considerable amount of

"higgling" had been gone through, another match

was made, for ten pounds a side, to come off at the

Green Dragon, Workington Litt being backed by

his brother, a medical man of good standing. On

the appointed day, Richardson and his friends were

on the ground to the minute. For some reason or

WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK. 51

other, Litt did not put in an appearance. His

brother the doctor went into the ring, and held

his watch till the full time specified in the agreement

had expired, and then very honourably handed the

money over to Richardson, saying: "I can give

no reason why my brother has not fulfilled the

conditions of his engagement." In after years,

when the bitterness of old feuds was nearly, if not

altogether worn out, Litt expressed regret that he

had treated Richardson's merits as a wrestler some-

what scurvily in Wrestliana.

Rowland Long of Ambleside, an immense big,_

burly man, the winner, it was asserted, of nearly

one hundred belts, issued a challenge, that he was

open to wrestle any man in England. An enthusi-

astic Cumbrian, named Thomas Bell, residing at

Goose Well, near Threlkeld, took up the challenge,

not for himself, but with the understanding that he

should produce a man at the appointed time and

place. He first tried his neighbour, Tom Nicholson,

but Tom "thowt hissel rayder ower slender" to

engage such a giant as Rowland, and recommended

William Richardson of Caldbeck. Bell set off, and

after some trouble and delay, fell in with Richardson

at Rosley Hill fair, on Whit-Monday. Without

much ado the two agreed ; got a conveyance, and

drove off for Ambleside without further preparation :

a long course of training never being thought of in

those good old days. After reaching Ambleside,

they took a boat, and rowed down to Bowness,

52 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

where sports were held on the Tuesday. Richard-

son's name was entered for the wrestling, but being

stiff and tired with the long ride from Rosley, he

didn't, according to his own version of the affair,

"git weel away wid his men." He succeeded,

however, in working upwards till the final fall, and

then encountered John Long, a brother of Row-

land's. The two had a hard struggle for the prize,

but in the end the Caldbeck hero proved victorious.

Whether John Long considered the fall doubtful or

unsatisfactory, cannot now be ascertained; but he

said, tauntingly, to Richardson, after the tussle was

over, " If thoo can du nowte nea better ner that,

my man, thoo'll hev d d lile chance wi' oor Roan,

I can tell thee !"

On Wednesday the day following the match

with Rowland was appointed to come off on the

bowling green of the Salutation Hotel, Ambleside,

for, we believe, ten guineas a side, the best of three

falls. Richardson, looking from a window of the

hotel, got a first sight of his huge opponent, coming

up the street. After an attentive survey, and

noticing the awkward, heavy sort of rolling walk

that Long had, a smile stole over the features of

the Caldbeck man, who thought then he could win

easily ; setting it down in his own mind, that one

so slow and ungainly would not be quick enough in

his movements in the wrestling ring. This mental

calculation proved correct; the two first falls settling

WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK. 53

the match, and enabling the winner to walk away

with the amount contended for.

The two Cumbrians left Ambleside on Thursday,

and drove back to Threlkeld. Wrestling and other

sports were being held there the same day. The

victor in the match of the previous day was greeted

with hearty cheers, by a crowd collected on the

village green. A score or more of clamorous

voices were raised in pressing entreaties that he

would enter his name for the wrestling. Tired

with the three previous days' exertions, "an' nut

feelin' hofe reet, wi' gittin' sups o' drink of aw

maks," he didn't want to take any part in the

proceedings. He was, however, very reluctantly

persuaded to enter the ring, but "niver stripp'd nor

doff'd a thing off," Notwithstanding these draw-

backs, he again proved victorious, throwing in the

course of the day, both Tom Nicholson and his

brother John. On Friday the following day he

won at Soukerry, in Caldbeck parish ; and on

Saturday gained the head prize at Hutton Roof,

near Penrith ; thus finishing a heavy week's work,

by winning at four different places, and gaining an

important match besides.

On Ascension Day, at Kingmoor Races, Carlisle,

in 1809, the subscription belt was won by William

Richardson of Caldbeck ; and the Mayor's belt by

Joseph Stalker of Welton. At the first annual

meeting on the Swifts, Carlisle, where there was a

purse of five guineas to contend for, Richardson

54 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

was thrown, in the third round, by John Harrison

of New Church, who wrestled second to Tom

Nicholson. In the same year, at Penrith, in

October, the three favourites were Tom Nicholson,

William Richardson, and Harrison of New Church.

All three champions went down ; Richardson, after

throwing John Oliphant, James Lancaster, and

Joseph Brownrigg, was thrown in the fourth round

by John Nicholson of Threlkeld.'

At Carlisle in 1810 Tom Nicholson's second

year of winning Richardson got capsized by a

person of no note whatever; but succeeded in

winning the second day's prize, Joseph Slack of Blen-

cow being second. At Carlisle, in 1812, the head

prize was won by James Scott, Oarnlee, Canonbie,

throwing in the final fall William Richardson. On

the following day, the loser in the wrestle up

proved victorious, throwing finally John Forster of

Walton Rigg; William Mackereth of Cockermouth

being third. The winner received four guineas,

and the second two guineas. At Penrith, in

October of the same year, ten guineas a large

sum to wrestle for in those days was given to

contend for, where Richardson was thrown by

John Parker of Sparkgate, the winner.

At Carlisle, in 1813, for the chief prize, the

Caldbeck favourite threw William Waters, John

Cowen, Walter Phillips, and Samuel Jameson of

Penrith; and was thrown in the final fall by Robert

Rowantree of Bewcastle, after one of the severest

WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK. 55

struggles on record. Richardson's own account of

the fall was this : after having lifted Rowantree to

hype him, his foot slipped, owing to the wetness

of the day, and consequent slipperiness of the

ground; losing his balance, he fell clean backwards,

thus throwing away the fall. He had met Rowan-

tree on two or three previous occasions, and always

threw him. At Keswick, in 1820, the Caldbeck

champion was thrown by William Wilson of Amble-

side, said by a high authority to be the best man

Westmorland ever produced.

On the revival of the Carlisle wrestling in 1821,

after three years' cessation, Richardson, then forty-

one years old, drove to the meeting in a conveyance

with Tom "Dyer" and others. On leaving home

he had no thoughts whatever of wrestling "ower

oald" and withstood all the persuasions of his

friends, till reaching Durdar village, where he

consented once more to try. He wore at the time,

a pair of old-fashioned knee-breeches, which held

him too tight to wrestle in, and had therefore to

borrow an easier pair before entering the ring. The

gathering was an immense one. The numbers

assembled on the Swifts were estimated at twenty

thousand. A long array of highly respectable ladies,

including the Countess of Lonsdale, were interested

spectators. Sixty-four men entered, and nearly all

were calculated to weigh fourteen stones or upwards.

In the morning, when the Caldbeck party were at

Durdar, Tom "Dyer" one of the very best hypers

56 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

of his time, indeed, a first-class man altogether

was very full of winning. The first man called

into the ring, and the first that went down, proved to

be Tom, being thrown by one John Hetherington.

It is very probable there never met on the Swifts as

good a field of wrestlers. Richardson acknowledged

afterwards that he stood most in awe of Joseph

Robley of Scarrowmannick, from the exceeding

clever manner in which he swung his opponents.

Robley, by the way, has been credited with being

the first introducer of the swinging hype. They met

in the third round, and the Caldbeck veteran suc-

ceeded in disposing of the one he looked upon as his

greatest bugbear. The third round also proved fatal

to several other good wrestlers Jonathan Watson,

James Graham, and Joseph Abbot going down.

Weightman then twenty-two years old, all bone

and muscle, standing six feet three inches high, and

weighing fifteen-and-a-half stones fell in the fourth

round. Glendinning, (a rough tearing hand, from

the neighbourhood of Penrith, compared to whom

a bull in a china shop was as nothing,) fell in

the fifth round; leaving Ford of Ravenglass victor

over Weightman at Egremont, weighing over fifteen

stones, and measuring six feet two inches for the

final fall with Richardson. The latter succeeded

in throwing the young, formidable West Cumbrian,

and carried ofif the head prize amid much shouting

and cheering.

Richardson won the chief prize at Faulds Brow,

WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK. 57

near Caldbeck where annually some of the best

wrestling in Cumberland could be witnessed for

nineteen years in succession, a continued series of

successes unequalled in wrestling annals. Flushed

with victory crowning victory, he went with the

full determination of carrying off the prize for

the twentieth time, if possible, but the spell was

broken : fate had ordained otherwise. A raw-

boned rustic, unknown to fame, named Young,

(afterwards a publican at Dalston,) sealed his fate.

The stewards were inclined to bring the fall in a

"snap," but the vanquished man very honourably

declared himself to be fairly thrown. Nevertheless,

he was so chagrined at the untoward event, so

grievously disappointed at not having achieved this

highly prized distinction, that it was asserted he

fairly cried for vexation over it.

The wrestling at Faulds Brow always very

injudiciously, we think took place late in the

evening. On the occasion of "Belted Will's" final

discomfiture, it was not concluded till two or three

o'clock, in the cold grey atmosphere of a July

morning, many rounds being finished up by the aid

of lighted candles.

The following reply to a novel wrestling challenge,

which appeared in the columns of a Whitehaven

newspaper, explains itself without note or comment.

It is dated October i6th, 1843, and, we believe, it

proved to be the end of the matter :

58 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

SIR, A paragraph lately appeared in the Whitehaven

Herald, stating that Charles Lowdon, of wrestling notoriety,

who resides near Keswick, and is sixty years of age, would

wrestle a match with any individual of the same age. The

veteran William Richardson of Caldbeck, aged sixty-two

years, will be happy to accept the challenge, and wrestle Mr.

Lowdon, the best of five falls, for $ or 10 a side. The

friends of W. R. will be happy to meet the friends of his

rival, at the house of Joseph Ray, of the Royal Oak inn,

Cockermouth, on or before the 3oth instant, to make the

match, and to settle the other preliminaries usual on such

occasions. I am, Sir, yours, &c. J. M.

During the last forty years of Richardson's life,

he became noted as a good farmer on the Nether-

row estate ; and was remarkably successful in the

breeding and rearing of Herdwick sheep, a class

of animals peculiarly adapted to the mountainous

districts of Cumberland and Westmorland, which

are likewise held in high repute for the excellence

of their mutton. He obtained many local prizes

for different classes of fell sheep; and attended

the tup fair at Keswick regularly; but though

enthusiastic about his Herdwicks, his conversation,

it is said, had at all times a tendency to " bristle

o'er" with feats in the wrestling ring. A tale is

told of him which illustrates this tendency. Arriving

at Keswick, according to annual custom, to exhibit

and sell tups, he happened to meet an old crony

whom he had not seen for years. The two sat

down, "cheek by jowl," and soon became absorbed

in an animated conversation, in which " nowte but

russlers an' russlin' was h'ard, amang aw t' chang ;

WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK. 5$

an' t' tips was niver yance thowt on, till t' fair was

varra nar ower, an' theer was hardly sec a thing as

a buyer to be fund."

Richardson could be either a good friend or a

good hater, as circumstances might call forth. One

illustration of his kindly feeling and warmth of heart

towards a struggling neighbour, may be mentioned.

An industrious man, named Jeffreys a blacksmith

at the Caldbeck lead-mines either occupied a

field of lea grass, or had cut a few carts of peats,

high up the fell-side. During a dreary wet season,

when everything was spoiling, Richardson volun-

teered the use of a horse and cart to assist in

clearing the field on the first fine day. From some

unforeseen cause the horse took fright, galloped

down the mountain brow, and either broke its leg

by falling, or else was uniortunately killed. The

accident placed the poor blacksmith in an awkward

position, especially as the horse was a valuable one,

estimated at that time to be worth thirty or forty

guineas. He offered, however, to pay what money

he had, and clear off the rest by instalments.

" Nay, nay," said Richardson, " it was as pure an

accident as iver yan h'ard tell on, an' med ha'

happen't to anybody. I'll tak nowte frae thee

nut a fardin' ! "

A fell-side rhymer, named Richard Nicholson, of

Caldbeck, has done his best to embalm Richardson's

memory in verse, something after the following

fashion :

60 WILLIAM RICHARDSON OF CALDBECK.

" When youth bloom 't on him, few were as grand

His fame was spread through aw the land,

Wid active russlin' an' strang reet hand.

At Faulds Brow reaces, 'twas his profession

To run when young withoot intermission,

And prizes nineteen he won in succession !

The shipperds aroond med weel dred his name ;

For Herdwick tips oft the prize he'd claim,

Till far an' wide was spread his fame,

As ye may read :

But noo i' the dust lies his noble frame :

WillRitson'sdeid!"

Gl

WILLIAM LITT

OF BOWTHORN.

THE name prefixed to our present biographical

notice, is that of a gentleman who, by his writings

and conduct in the ring, has conferred greater lustre

on, and added greater distinction to the "back-

hold" wrestling of Cumberland and Westmorland,

than any other individual. His historical account

of ancient and modern wrestling Litt's Wrestliana,

was considered, in 1823, when Blackwood 's

Magazine was at the summit of its fame, worthy of

a highly eulogistic notice from the pen of Christopher

North. Litt's wrestling notices and anecdotes

have reference to the existence of the noble pastime,

and a record of its most famed heroes and their

contests, from 1770, and for the fifty years following.

Before this period, the names and places of

abode; the various and noteworthy achievements;

the distinctive excellencies of celebrated wrestlers ;

and the places where their triumphant contests

occurred, were little known beyond their immediate

locality; and the meagre information to be gathered

not invariably to be relied on had been handed

2 WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN.

down, and circulated mostly as village gossip, or

been derived from the tales of some one whose

knowledge rested on hearsay, and not from actual

observation. This arose in a great measure in

consequence of the slight intercourse that existed,

eighty or a hundred years ago, between places only

fifty or sixty miles apart. At present thanks to

William Litt's research and literary labours all the

great contests from 1780 to 1822, are familiar to us,

and can be resorted to, for furnishing those who

take a delight in the manly pastime of our fore-

fathers, with a perfectly reliable description of its

heroes, and their several peculiar excellencies.

The individual actors, too, in those great contests,

have become familiar to all who take an interest in

the northern wrestling ring. We are introduced,

not alone to the name and doings of Tom Nichol-

son, and a host of remarkable wrestlers, his con-

temporaries, and the surprising manner in which

they could, with consummate dexterity, grass an

opponent; but we have graphic descriptions of

many who, at an earlier period, became entitled to

the distinction of champions, in many a hard

contested ring in rings where pecuniary prizes

were rarely given, and if given at all, trifling in

amount The great incentives to successful com-

petition were honour and fame, typified by a gilded

leather belt, of no greater intrinsic value than the

laurel crown of the ancient Greeks. Sometimes

WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN. 63

on very particular and rare occasions there was

offered for the final victor a silver cup.

From Litt's description, we are familiar with the

best and most renowned men, whose stars were in

the ascendant, from 1780 to 1820. From Adam

Dodd, " the cock of the north," a prime favourite,

possessing all the requisites that go to the formation

of a first class wrestler; from the Rev. Abraham

Brown, a clergyman at Egremont, and previously a

Bampton scholar, to Tom Nicholson of Threlkeld,

another prime favourite, whose scientific wrestling

acquirements, and wonderful success in the ring, were

patent to Litt from frequent observation. The above

Abraham Brown better known in his day and

neighbourhood as "Parson Brown" is the self-same

individual that a well known " Professor of Moral

Philosophy" designated, "the most celebrated

wrestler that the north, perhaps, ever produced."

This gentlemen had no objection to show his

friends, or even a stranger, how easy it was for a

parson to upset a layman. The professor cannot find

the least fault for thus indulging in a friendly fall,

and stigmatizes his detractors for so doing, as "prim

mouthed Puritans," who may "purfle up their potato

traps," and hold their tongues till the arms of the

athlete are encased in lawn sleeves, and he becomes

a "Bishop."

Our readers, or a majority of them at least,

are doubtless aware, from witnessing the brilliant

falls resulting from a vigorously put in " buttock,"

64 WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN.

that it is one of the most showy and effective chips

that wrestlers bring into play. Nothing finer than

one of those dashing somersaults, that were wont to

electrify the opponents of James Little or John

Ivison. To the Barapton scholar Abraham Brown

before settling for life at Egremont, a remote

West Cumberland market town, is due the credit of

inventing and bringing "buttocking" into use. The

two men, Adam Dodd and Abraham Brown, were

certainly worthy representatives of the very best class

of wrestlers in the "olden times." They were close

upon six feet high, and fifteen stones weight ; were

especial favourites of the public, as well as the

historian of early wrestling. Both were straight

slanders, ready at taking hold, good with either leg,

and at work as quickly as possible, following up the

first attack with such rapidity, that their opponents

had but small chance of avoiding a final and fatal

stroke.

After all this deserved praise, however, we cannot

class them much, if any, superior to William Litt ;

and if Adam Dodd was justly styled "Cock of the

North," the other is almost equally deserving of

being hailed "Star of the North." In all their

contests, there is nothing to shock the most fastid-

ious moralist; nothing to outrage the feelings of

the most humane ; nothing that the most delicate-

minded need blush at. Unlike the scenes of

violence and fearful punishment depicted in the

records of the pugilistic ring now all but abolished

WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN. 65

they can be dwelt upon without any degrading

associations. Compare the description in Wrest-

liana, of the fight between Carter and Oliver at

Gretna Green the head of the latter, in the fourth

round, " terrifically hideous " and the author's

eleven bouts with Harry Graham, on Arlecdon

Moor, and the reader will not find anything

approaching to cruelty in one, while the other is

indeed "hideous."

WILLIAM LITT, the author of Wrestliana, was

born at Bowthorn, near Whitehaven, in November,

1785. His parents held a highly respectable

position in society, and he received a liberal

education, with the object of fitting him for a

clergyman in the Church of England. This in-

tention was, however, given up, in consequence of

a manifest tendency to out-door sports, and a

"loose" sort of life. The parents seeing that young

Litt had rendered himself in some measure unfit for

the Church, placed him with a neighbouring farmer

to get an insight into practical, as well as theoretical,

agricultural pursuits. On arriving at manhood, with

a vacillation much regretted in after life, farming

was neglected and abandoned.

Christopher North, in old "Maga," says, "Mr.

Litt is a person in a very respectable rank of

life, and his character has, we know, been always

consistent with his condition. He is in the best

sense of the word a gentleman," was an "honest,

upright, independent Englishman. We remember

I. 5

66 WILLIAM LOT OF BOWTHORN.

Mr. Litt most distinctly : a tall, straight, handsome,

respectable, mild-looking, well dressed man. If we

mistake not, he wrestled in top-boots, a fashion we

cannot approve of." Top-boots to contend in on

the Swifts, at Carlisle, at the present day, when

wrestlers make it a study to don a costume that

gives the greatest facility to freedom of motion,

both in the limbs and body, would undoubtedly be

considered by the whole ring, a strange spectacle,

and subject the wearer to no end of chaff.

We will now proceed to give a few incidents that

will establish Litt's undeniable claims to superiority

in the wrestling ring. We are not aware that he

ever contended in the Carlisle ring but twice in

the year 1811, and again a few years after that

date, on both of which occasions he was unsuc-

cessful. His appearance in 1811, was a foolish

act, for according to his own statement, he had

been unwell for some time in fact, out of form

for wrestling. After a keenly contested bout,

Joseph Bird, a well known wrestler from Holm

Wrangle, succeeded in throwing him. The same

year a match the best of eleven falls was entered

into with Harry Graham of Brigham, and arranged

to come off, on Arlecdon Moor, for sixty guineas

at that time a larger sum than had ever been

contended for in any wrestling ring. From the

celebrity of the parties, too, and the great amount

of the stake, the match created a greater interest in

the wrestling world than any hitherto contested.

WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN. 67

Harry was considered one of the most active men

that ever entered a ring ; indeed, a first rate man

in every respect, the favourite and pet of a large

district. He had contested many matches with the

best men going ; one of which was with the cele-

brated Tom Nicholson, in which he gained five falls

for the Threlkeld champion three.

When Litt and Harry appeared in the ring, the

former was desirous to postpone the contest, on

account of ill health ; but the Brighamites, with an

absence of that good feeling generally displayed by

wrestlers one to another, refused, and insisted that

the match should go on then and there. Harry

gained the three first falls, which so elated himself

and friends, that they looked on the final issue as a

foregone conclusion, and indulged in some unseemly

chaff. The defeat, however, served to rouse the

energies the courage and resolution of the loser,

and he easily gained seven out of the next eight

falls. John Fidler of Wythop Hall defeated Harry

at Cockermouth, and afterwards at Arlecdon. Litt

threw them both, and had the year before, when in

good health, thrown Harry with the greatest ease.

These repeated defeats of a man who could dispose

of such as Tom Nicholson, William Richardson,

and others, will go far to establish our favourable

opinion of the wrestling historian. Other, and as

strongly conclusive, testimony, is at hand to be

produced. John Lowden, from the neighbour-

hood of Keswick, who had thrown several of the

68 WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN.

cleverest wrestlers of his day -winner of a silver

cup at Carlisle was obliged to succumb to Litt.

Many of our wrestling readers will have heard of

the "public bridals," at Lorton, where some of the

best wrestling in the county might be seen. One

hundred and twenty names were entered in 1807.

For the final fall, William Armstrong of Tallentire,

an excellent wrestler, and winner the year before,

contended with Litt, and sustained defeat. At the

revival of Blake Fell races in 1808, there were two

good entries, and Litt carried off first prize on both

the first and second day, notwithstanding being

drawn against all the best men, including the two

Tinians, and other well known names.

We have now to notice a series of consecutive

successes, to which we believe there are few

parallels in wrestling annals. In the early part of

this century, the best meetings in West Cumberland

took place on Arlecdon Moor. The meetings were

numerously attended, and held two or three times

a year. For ten years, from 1805 to 1815, Litt

contended for all the prizes except in 1814, when

he omitted to enter his name and was never

thrown. Conceive a man being able to wrestle

successfully through a really strong ring upwards of

a score of times. After such a noteworthy series

of exploits, no further testimony need be adduced

no more satisfactory evidence wanted to prove

William Litt's claim to be ranked among the

brightest wrestling stars of the north.

WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN. 69

In concluding this notice, we should have been

glad to state that his career through the world, in

more important respects, had been attended by

gratifying results. The truth, however, is that from

the time he left the paternal roof, his course through

a checkered life to the bitter end, was marked by a

series of disastrous failures. Attending wrestling

and racing meetings unfits many persons for a

steady and attentive devotion to business. This in

a marked degree was the case with Litt. Farming

duties became neglected, and then given up. Next

he embarked in a large brewery at Whitehaven. A

collapse, and loss of nearly all the capital employed,

followed in little more than twelve months. He

then went to reside at Hensingham, finding part

employment in some triflingly remunerative paro-

chial offices, expecting daily that he would get an

appointment from the ruling powers at Whitehaven.

Disappointed in this expectation, he resolved on

emigrating to Canada, in 1832, and retrieve his

broken fortunes in taking the cutting of canals, and

works of a like description. A break down again

occurred, and he tried to gain a living by writing

for the Canadian journals. This failing, he became

a teacher. Suffering, however, from " home sick-

ness" a craving often fatal to natives of mountainous

regions his mental as well as bodily powers began

failing before attaining his sixtieth year.

" I gaze on the snow clad plain, see the cataract's foam,

And sigh for the hills and dales of my far distant home. "

70 WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN.

He died at Lachine, near Montreal, in 1847,

when sixty-two years old; regret and sorrow at

forced banishment from his native "hills and dales,"

no doubt, hastening decay and the destroyer's final

blow.

" Dearly lov'd scenes of my youth, for ever adieu,

Like mist on the mountain ye fade from my view,

Save at night in my dreams. "

The Emigrant.

ADDENDA.

The following extracts from letters, are quoted from a

controversy which sprung up between WILLIAM LITT and

some one who signed himself ATHLETICUS, in the columns

of the Carlisle Patriot, November, 1824:

Mr. Litt deems me but a "theorist in matters appertaining

to the ring. " His own athletic feats, as detailed in Wrestliana,

are heroic and numerous, and it would be presumptuous in

me to attempt comparison ; therefore, compared with Mr.

Litt, I must (borrowing a phrase from the ring) consider

myself as a fallen man. But, notwithstanding the vaunted

achievements of the champion of Arlecdon Moor, there are

those now living old enough to remember his being thrown in

the Carlisle ring by very ordinary wrestlers, when in the

zenith of his fame. The village green on a summer's evening

or during a holiday, is frequently the scene of many a rustic

amusement. And on this arena, when athletic exercises were

going on, I have often borne a part where the old men

inspired the young with emulation, by reciting the achieve-

ments of their youth and the applause of the rustic spectators

was the only meed of victory. Here, sir, I have seen many

WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN. 71

a manly struggle ; and though I have never entered a public

prize ring, I flatter myself I have gained something more than

a theoretical knowledge of athletic science. An ardent

temper, and the buoyancy of youthful spirits, no doubt gave

considerable zest to the sports, and my memory fondly recalls,

and dwells with peculiar delight, on the hours which I have

spent amidst happy villagers engaged in these rustic scenes of

innocent amusement. I will also venture to assert, that

amongst the peasantry assembled on the village green, not

only Weightman, Cass, Abbot, Wright, and the Dobsons of

Cliburn, but even Mr. Litt himself, imbibed his earliest

knowledge of the rudiments of wrestling.

ATHLETICUS.

"Athleticus" says, and thinks he is cutting deep when

doing so, ' 'there are those now living old enough to remember

my being thrown in the Carlisle ring, by very ordinary wrest-

lers, when in the zenith of my fame. " Now, Mr. Editor, do

you not think this is rather a stinging remark, as it relates not

to any point of issue between us, and was therefore as uncalled

for as unnecessary ? I never wrestled but twice in the

Carlisle ring, and never saw it when "in the zenith of my

fame." The first time was in 1811, when, as I have stated

elsewhere, I was thrown by Joseph Bird, who was surely no

very ordinary wrestler. When taking hold, Bird got below

my breast, and pinned my right arm close to the elbow, down

to my side ; and a person, ignorant enough, surely ! insisted,

that because he found by pulling my left arm over his back,

that he could make my fingers meet, I should either take hold

or be crossed out. I foolishly chose the first, thinking that I

perhaps might better myself after. I was mistaken ; though

those who are "old enough" to remember the circumstance,

may remember likewise that, considering the situation in

which I was placed, I was not disposed off easily. The

other time I entered the Carlisle ring, I met one of the

Fosters no ordinary men and I can only state that after

72 WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN.

our contest, I was ordered by one of the umpires to wrestle

the fall over again, and I waited until the end of the round in

expectation of doing so, when I found that a bet of half-a-

guinea made by the other umpire, (and which I was aware of

at the time,) had turned the scale against me. I can, if

required, name the umpire, and the person he betted with ;

which bet, however, he never recovered, and this circumstance

deterred me from wrestling the next day, and determined me

never to wrestle more at Carlisle. This was in 1815. My

best day was in 1806, 1807, and 1808; therefore the assertion

of "Athleticus" is doubly incorrect.

WILLIAM LITT.

Mr. Litt admits being thrown in the Carlisle ring by Joseph

Bird of Holm Wrangle, in 1811, which he says in Wrestliana,

was a "smartish contest ;" and he adds that his "best day

was in 1806, 1807, and 1808." But, sir, this is only three

short years past the time when Mr. Litt was in the zenith of

his fame ; so that even writing from recollection, my assertion

is not altogether incorrect, and certainly not intentionally so.

Mr. Litt and Joseph Bird had some dispute, it appears, about

taking hold : be this as it may, I was justified in stating that

Mr. L. had been thrown at Carlisle by ordinary wrestlers ;

for Bird was never considered more than a third-rate player

in the Carlisle ring. He was a powerful man enough, though

not heavier than Mr. Litt at that day possessed little or no

activity, and scarcely any science as a wrestler. I have no

account of the wrestling in 181 1 in my possession ; but I have

an account in 1815, and strange as it may appear, Mr. Litt's

name is never mentioned ! It would be well, sir, if my

opponent would recollect that his statements have to meet the

public eye. In the year 1815, Bird, in the first and second

rounds, came against Byers and Grisdale, both of whom he

threw, and was himself thrown in the third round by Thomas

Peat. Though I may admire Mr. Litt's general judgment on

athletic sports, I must again doubt it, if he deems any of the

WILLIAM LITT OF BOWTHORN. 73

Fosters first-rate wrestlers, or any more in the ring than

ordinary men ; for in the scale of athletic science, they were

not even so exalted as Bird. One of the Fosters fell in the

first round, and another in the second ; but I shall enter no

further into this part of the controversy, as Mr. L's. name

appears entirely unconnected with the wrestling of 1815.

When I recall to my recollection the feats of agility, science,

and pith, displayed by Thomas Nicholson in the Carlisle ring,

in carrying off with eclat, the first prize for three successive

years ; and when I also recollect with what facility this athletic

hero discomfitted Bird, Mr. Litt's opponent, I very much

doubt the truth of the panegyric which Mr. L. passes upon

himself in Wrestliana for his performance on Arlecdon-moor,

wherein he states (though in poor health and condition at the

time, ) that he defeated Harry Graham, the successful opponent

of the once celebrated Thomas Nicholson.

ATHLETICUS.

74

MILES AND JAMES DIXON

OF GRASMERE.

WHEN MILES and JAMES DIXON, whose doings in

the ring we are about to chronicle in a brief memoir,

were to the fore, wrestling was a great institution in

the Lake District. Patronized and encouraged by

Professor Wilson himself a host in upholding the

manly pastime ; and afterwards by Captain Aufrere

of Bowness, a distinguished and liberal patron; and

assisted by many of the resident gentry, it attained

deserved eminence in the northern parts of Winder-

mere. In reaching this eminence, the sport was

greatly indebted to the active exertions and judicious

management of the late Thomas Cloudesdale of the

Ferry hotel. Why the once popular pastime should

be almost entirely snuffed out round Windermere,

is a matter of surmise. The principal reason

assigned weighs heavy on the wrestlers themselves :

it is no less than glaring collusion, engendered by

unprincipled betting men.

For a long time, wrestling in the immediate

vicinity of lake Windermere, and the adjacent parts

of Westmorland, and North Lancashire, was kept

MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE. 75

up and followed more after the amateur fashion than

the professional. It was looked on more as a thing

to be enjoyed for the real love of the science, than as

a means of filling the coffers of speculators. In what

may be called its holiday aspect, the sport contrasted

favourably with the art as practised in the sister

county of Cumberland. The Windermere wrestlers,

in thus shaping their courses, probably escaped

many snares which those fell into who courted more

publicity, and were envious of achieving greater

fame. In fact, there were many good scientific

men at the palmy period of the lake wrestling rings,

who abstained from attending public gatherings

almost entirely, and yet were quite as good as those

who may be termed professionals.

One instance we can select from many, will

suffice to prove this. Jonathan Rodgers won

the championship of many local meetings in

his own immediate neighbourhood. He was born

and brought up at Brotherelkeld, the highest

farm in the vale of Eskdale. In his infancy,

it was a lonely farm, seldom visited by strangers,

but now well known to tourists crossing Hardknot.

His forefathers had held the fell farm a very-

extensive one, carrying between two and three

thousand sheep for generations. He once got as

far as the Flan, and won easily in a strong ring,

finally disposing of Joseph Parker of Crooklands,

a really good man, supposed to be the coming

champion of Westmorland. At another time,

76 MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE.

climbing Hardknot and Wrynose, he put in an

appearance at Skelwith-bridge, near Ambleside,

where Mr. Branker of Clappersgate, and a few

gentlemen, had got up a meeting. Singularly

enough, he came against four of the best men in the

north, and threw the lot, namely William Bacon

and Jemmy Little, both of Sebergham, Thomas

Grisedale of Patterdale, and finally Richard Chap-

man of Patterdale. Having every requisite, he

might have gone on winning but gave up ; and is

now the respected and prosperous tenant farmer of

Brotherelkeld.

Towards the close of the eighteenth and the

commencement of the nineteenth century, the most

distinguished exponents of wrestling in the Winder-

mere portion of the lake district, were John Barrow,

the Dixons of Grasmere, the Longs of Ambleside,

William Wilson of Ambleside, the Flemings of

Grasmere, well to do farmers and "Young Green."

We should have felt an interest in giving more

lengthy sketches of the more prominent men, but,

unfortunately, there exists a great paucity of infor-

mation. Every exertion has been made to gather

together whatever was available ; but the gleanings

are exceedingly imperfect and fragmentary. Local

newspapers did not then collect much local intelli-

gence ; and although they kept a keen eye to

business as regards wrestling advertisements, they

scarcely ever mentioned even the names of any

prize winners.

MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE. 77

The celebrated Windermere champion, John

Barrow, flourished in the wrestling ring in the

early part of the present century. The author of

Wrestliana one whose judgment may be relied on

pays him a deserved compliment, when he rates

him as "the most renowned wrestler of this period,"

and "a match for any man in the kingdom." He

stood fully six feet, and weighed fourteen stones.

His favourite chip was the inside stroke indeed, it

was generally considered he invented the inside

chip, and that "Belted Will" got it from Barrow.

Most assuredly, the pair have grassed scores with it,

and were quite as clever as Adam Dodd of Lang-

wathby, with the outside stroke. These two men,

and Abraham Brown, (afterwards the jovial curate

of Egremont,) were all about the same height and

weight: equally scientific; and all veritable "cocks

of the north."

Litt is astray with some particulars of John

Barrow's tragic fate. He makes it out he was

drowned in shallow water, and that he was an

"excellent swimmer." Now, the fact is, he was no

swimmer, and where the boat upset and went down,

the lake is of considerable depth. He was out

trying the sailing qualities of a new boat of his own

building. The mainsail being injudiciously fastened

to the belaying pin, a violent gust of wind struck

the boat ; it upset, and the strong man went down,

unable to wrestle with his remorseless foe. Two

plucky girls at Belle Grange, saw the accident ; got

78 MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE.

a row boat, and set off to the rescue. They were

successful in saving all in the boat, except the un-

fortunate builder. One of the persons in the boat

when it upset, was John Balmer, and he lived to the

patriarchal age of one hundred and one years.

After the boat went over, he managed to grasp and

keep hold of a floating plank, and was safely landed

near Gill-head, a little below Storrs Hall. The first

words he spoke after the disaster were, "Them 'at's

born to be hang't, is suer nit to be droon't !" This

proverbial saying came to be linked with his name,

and is still quoted in the neighbourhood as, " aid

Jack Balmer' sayin'." His portrait, painted by

Sammy Crosthwaite, a short time before his death,

is still preserved.

The sunken boat still remains at the bottom,

and is well known to the Windermere fisher-

men, who reckon to clear the wreck with about

twenty-five fathoms of netting out, and generally

catch when they let go an additional fathom or

two. Professor Wilson saw the catastrophe and

the rescue. This distinguished man had had, no

doubt, many boating excursions with poor Barrow,

and being himself a capital wrestler, and keen of

the sport, it is likely he would have many a tussle

with the VVindermere champion. It is said that on

one of his excursions out of Wasdale, to the top of

Scawfell, with Will Ritson, the cheery, popular, yarn-

spinning landlord of the well-known Wasdale-head

hostelry, that on arriving near the summit of the hill

MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE. 79

which is the highest ground in England the two,

surrounded on all sides by mighty mountains, had

several keenly contested wrestling bouts. The

writer remembers well the famed Professor, when

time had wrought a change in the manly form,

visiting the Flan in its palmy days, and receiving

respectful attention from all parties on the crowded

grandstand.

After this short digression, recording the fate of

" a great wrestler and a good man," we must return

to Miles Dixon. He was born in the year 1781, at

either "Far" or "Near Sawrey." They form two

villages, but are so little apart that they may both

be classed as "Sawrey;" and are situated half-way

between Hawkshead and the Ferry on Windermere.

No more beautifully located, clean, bright looking,

secluded villages are to be found in all the Lake

district. The most prominent and interesting view

from "Near Sawrey," is Esthwaite lake; and all

around to the south, south-west, and north-west,

there appears a wide extent of richly wooded undu-

lating country. From "Far Sawrey," there is a

view of the lower reaches of Windermere, and a

vast panorama of undulating hill and vale.

Miles's father followed the primitive occupation

of a wood-cutter, felling timber trees and young trees

of fifteen or sixteen years growth, called coppice wood,

used for making hoops and charcoal. While his

sons were "lile lads," he removed across Windermere

to the vale of Troutbeck, and then in a short time

migrated to Grasmere, where he settled.

80 MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE.

Miles Dixon's full stature was six feet three

inches ; and his general wrestling weight, fifteen-

and-a-half stones. His favourite move in the ring

was to lift his opponent from the ground one way,

then throw him quickly back the other and dispose

of him, so to speak, with a twist. His herculean

powers enabled him to do this effectually. He had

other tactics on which to fall back, but occasions

very rarely occurred when these had to be called

into action. His quiet habits, and mild enthu-

siasm for wrestling, often made him careless. Had

he possessed a greater amount of ambition, and

followed the wrestling ring more closely, we should

undoubtedly have had to record a much more

numerous list of achievements. Professor Wilson

hits off some of his leading characteristics very

happily when he says : " Honest and worthy Miles,

if put into good heart and stomach, and upon

his own dunghill, was, in our humble opinion, a

match for any cock in Cumberland."

Young Dixon won his first belt at Grasmere,

when only about sixteen years old. John Fletcher,

the village carrier, a powerful sixteen-stone man,

wrestled second. It so happened the carrier was

very ambitious of winning first honours, and feeling

sorely disappointed at being thus checkmated by a

beardless boy, tore the waistcoat off his opponent's

back, in a passion, and for a long time bore the

victor a grudge.

During one of the militia meetings at Kendal, a

MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE. 81

good deal of "braggin"' took place respecting the

wrestling abilities of one Harrison, a man who

stood six feet high, and weighed fully fifteen stones.

Miles Dixon was pressed to take Harrison's challenge

up, but gave his friends no encouragement that he

would do so, and seemed to be very careless and

indifferent about the matter. Ned Wilson and

William Mackereth at length backed Dixon, the

best of three falls, for a guinea, being all the money

they could muster between them. Harrison in the

match lost the two first falls easily, and was so

chagrined at the defeat, that he absented himself

from drill for several days.

At the Windermere gathering, held at Waterhead,

near Ambleside, in 1810, there was a considerable

amount of rivalry displayed as to whether the belt

should stay in Westmorland, or go to Cumberland.

John Wilson, the young squire of Elleray, then

fresh from Oxford, was the principal getter up of

the sports. He was all enthusiasm, and heartily

backed Westmorland. In Miles Dixon's absence

the previous year, Tom Nicholson had carried off

the first prize. He now returned again, to do all

that lay in his power to be the winner a second

time, bringing with him his brother John, and Joseph

Slack from Blencow. William Litt came over Hard-

knot and Wrynose, from West Cumberland, riding

on a good horse, and wearing a pair of high top

boots. H e called at Skelwith-bridge for refresi , 1 1 ent r

and stayed there all night, previous to the mtuing.

I. 6

82 MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE.

Getting a little "fresh" at the snug hostelry, as the

hours went on, he began to be communicative about

the morrow's proceedings, and laid down the law

with great precision. According to his theory,

Tom Nicholson would be first, and "yan Litt"

second : of this there could be no doubt whatever.

" Nay, nay," said mine host, not then knowing who

the traveller was, "Nay, nay, I think nit! Theear'

some Dixons o' Gersmer' meast sowan good 'ans

'ill be to fell first !" An old miller "com' ower t'

Raise,"* in the rear of the Cumberland men, on

purpose to bet, and rifle the pockets of the Westmor-

land lads. Tom King, owner of The Hollins, in

Grasmere, annoyed at the never ceasing din made by

the miller, said to Dixon : " Miley, if thoo's gaen to

du' thy best, noo, I'll away an' tak' yon aid fule up."

He forthwith went and bet guinea after guinea,

until the miller began to think it prudent to venture

no further.

Early on, Miles threw a Yorkshire waller, named

Harrison, a heavy man, and a good wrestler. He

was afterwards called out against William Litt, with

whom he had a hard tug. The excitement was

extreme. Curiously enough, the two men started

with the same tactics. "Te'an triet to lift, an'

tudder triet to lift," and both being heavy men, the

exertion became very irksome work. The result

was that Litt was thrown "lang streak't" on his

* Dunmail Raise, which divides Cumberland and West-

morland.

MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE. 83

back, amid deafening cheers. Like many men who

are losers, Litt complained in Wrestliana of "unfair

play," and brings half-a-dozen excuses forward as

the reasons why he lost the fall. In the case of

Miles Dixon and Litt having had another fall,

Professor Wilson says: "Whether Mr. Litt could

or could not have thrown Miles, can never be

positively known in this world." The final fall,

between Dixon and Tom Nicholson, was not of

long duration. No sooner were they in holds, than

the former lifted his opponent clearly from the

ground, and disposed of him easily with a twist.

The belt was then handed to Miles Dixon, by Mr.

Wilson, who complimented him warmly on the

victory he had gained. The future Professor of

Moral Philosophy took the belt to Edinburgh with

him. After the lapse of a couple of years, it was

returned to the winner, with the following inscrip-

tion engraved on a silver plate : " Won by Miles

Dixon, at a Grand Wrestling Match, between the

Westmorland, Lancashire, and Cumberland Lads,

1810." The belt is still in the possession of the

family at Grasmere. It is made of leather, about

two inches broad, and mounted with silver buckle

and inscription plate.

In 1811, Dixon did not wrestle at Ambleside.

In 1812, when thirty -one years old, he put in an

appearance again, and virtually carried off the first

prize. Litt says, "Miles Dixon and a butcher in

Ambleside were the two last slanders. They agreed

84 MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE.

to wrestle two or three falls for the gratification of

the gentlemen who had subscribed towards the

wrestling, and in this friendly trial Miles Dixon was

victorious."

Miles died in June, 1843, aged sixty-two years.

A headstone in Grasmere churchyard bears the

following testimony to his worth : " The uniform

integrity of his conduct, has induced one who

appreciated his worth, to erect this memorial."

His widow a thrifty, sensible, managing housewife

died in 1875, aged ninety -one years. Wrestling

meetings, and similar gatherings, she treated with

marked contempt. A frequent saying of hers, about

her husband as a wrestler, was : " Ivery shillin' he

wan, cost us two !" She used to compare those

who took part in such exercises to " a lot of potters

an' tinklers, 'at dud nowte but nip an' squeeze yan

anudder to deekth ! "

JAMES DIXON, brother to Miles, was born at the

before-mentioned village of Sawrey. He died at

Beck Houses, Grasmere, in 1866, aged seventy-

eight years. In height, he stood six feet three

inches, and his general wrestling weight was fourteen

stones. His favourite chip in the ring was an

outside stroke.

When young, he wrestled at a gathering of militia

at Kendal, and won. In 1809, at the Ambleside

meeting, he came against Tom Nicholson of Threl-

keld, in one of the latter rounds. According to

MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE. 85

the most reliable information we have been able to

gather, the latter lost fairly enough, but owing to

some oversight on the part of the umpires, they

decided it must be a wrestle over, to which course

of procedure Dixon naturally objected.

In 1811, he won the head prize at the Ferry

Inn wrestling, Windermere. Richard Luther

Watson, of Calgarth, a son of the Bishop of

Llandaff, officiated as steward. In addition to the

wrestling, which commenced early in the afternoon,

there was a regatta on the lake, and prizes were

given also for leaping and running. The belt won

at the Ferry is still kept, in a good state of preser-

vation, at Grasmere. It is made of leather, about

four feet six inches in length, by two inches in

breadth, with a silver buckle, and inscription plate:

" Presented by the Steward of the Windermere

Regatta, to the conqueror at the Grand Wrestling

Match, on the iyth July, 1811."

At one of the Windermere gatherings, with Miles

and James Dixon both thrown, a general buzz ran

round the ring that Roan Long was sure to be the

final victor. Just at the moment when this opinion

was prevalent, George Dixon, an elder brother,

very bow-legged, stepped into the ring, exclaiming,

" Tak' time, lads ; tak' time ! Aw t' Dixons errant

doon yet ! " Coming as a counter-blast to the

prevailing opinion, this saying created much merri-

ment among the spectators. Surely enough, the

current of the tide which had set so strongly against

86 MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE.

the Dixons, was turned, for Roan was cleverly

thrown. George was a stiff stander, difficult to get

at, and often very bad to move.

Besides prizes incidentally mentioned in this

narrative, the three brothers won many others,

records of which, it is to be feared, have passed

away with the contemporary generation who wit-

nessed and took part in them.

The Dixons were wallers by profession, and many

of the bridges in the immediate vicinity of the lake

country were built by them. One notable fact

relating to their bridge-building is worth mentioning.

About the year 1828, Muncaster bridge, over the

river Esk, near Ravenglass, was built by some one

whose name has not been recorded. The bridge

had a considerable span, and a high tide, and a

furious mountain torrent pouring down out of

Eskdale, washed it away. Another man then

undertook the rebuilding of it, but failed to carry

out the details, and finally gave up in despair. Lord

Muncaster being disgusted with the unsuccessful

attempts, and hearing of the celebrity of the

Dixons, sent to Grasmere for them. The three

brothers set about the work in good earnest, and in

the month of June, 1829, the keystone of the bridge

was fixed, with considerable ceremony. A hand-

some sum of money was collected, for a day's

festivity and sports, and the Dixons gave twa

barrels of ale. The prize for wrestling fell to one

William Dickinson of Langley Park, a farm on the

MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE. 87

Bootle side of the bridge. The foot-race and

leaping were both carried off by a young man from

Eskdale, named William Vickers.

Lord Muncaster was so well pleased with the

skill and persevering industry displayed by the

builders, that he caused the following inscription

which remains to this day to be placed on the

east side of the bridge :

MDCCCXXIX.

THIS BRIDGE BUILT BY MEN FROM GRASMERE.

Commercially speaking, Muncaster bridge was an

advantageous affair for the Dixons. The successful

accomplishment of the work spread their fame as

builders far and wide, and assisted materially

towards establishing them nicely in the world.

Miles and James became purchasers of estates,

through industrious and economic habits.

We have heard it stated that Lady Richardson

of Lancrigg the wife of the arctic explorer

once contemplated writing an account of Miles

and James Dixon (who, by the way, are both men-

tioned in the interesting memoir of her mother,

MRS. FLETCHER). How she intended treating

the subject-matter of their lives, we cannot tell;

probably more in their domestic relations to the

people of Grasmere vale, than as athletes in the

wrestling ring.

After John Barrow and the Dixons, it is somewhat

singular and remarkable to note the large number

88 MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE.

of first-rate lake-side wrestlers that came out ; and

it may not be amiss to bestow a passing notice on

the foremost. Before the Dixons had retired, the

two Longs Rowland, commonly called Roan, and

John the one a giant in size and strength, and

the other a big burly man figured in the ring;

then most renowned in the galaxy William

Wilson of Ambleside. He appeared all over the

beau ideal of a heavy weight wrestler; "lish as

a cat," straight as a wand, good shoulders, and

long arms. When about his best, there had never

before been seen such a consummate master of

the hype ; and no one since can claim to be his

equal. His action was so quick and irresistible,

that his opponents went down as if completely

helpless. In 1822, William Richardson of Cald-

beck, a most successful hyper, had not "the

shadow of a chance" with Wilson; he also struck

down the gigantic Mc.Laughlin of Dovenby, in

such a style as "no other man in the kingdom could

have done." In appearance he resembled William

Jackson of Kinneyside, with the same gentlemanly

conduct in the ring, and the same good tempered

bearing to his opponents. Unfortunately, this bright

particular star became subject to a wasting disease

when hardly at his best, and was soon lost to the

wrestling world, and a large circle of admiring

friends.

Then followed Tom Robinson, the schoolmaster,

Richard Chapman, George Donaldson, Joseph Ew-

MILES AND JAMES DIXON OF GRASMERE. 89

bank, a Haweswater lake sider; William Jackson,

an Ennerdale lake sider; and Thomas Longmire

men whose names and deeds will be cherished as

long as "wruslin"' is a household word in the north.

These have all gone hence, or are " in the downhill

of life." At present there is not one man of note on

the immediate borders of Windermere, Ullswater,

or Derwentwater.

90

ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG

OF AMBLESIDE.

ROWLAND LONG, generally called "Roan," may

be considered one of the biggest of our northern

athletes, but by no means one of the most distin-

guished for science and activity an immense,

but somewhat inert, mass of humanity. He was

born and brought up at Graythwaite, a beautiful

country of woodland slopes and green dells, laying

contiguous to the west side of lake Windermere,

in North Lancashire. The father of John and

Rowland, farmed a small estate of land under the

ancient family of Sandys of Graythwaite Hall.

Rowland was born about the year 1778. While

even a lad, he developed into gigantic proportions

of body, limbs, and bone. When only seventeen

years old, he weighed seventeen stones, and was

looked on at that time as a wonder by all the

country side, for size and strength. On arriving at

maturity, his full stature reached six feet two inches,

and he weighed never less than eighteen stones.

In truth, a man of colossal appearance, looking "as

breead as a yak tree across t' shooders," as big

limbed and heavy footed as Goliah of Gath, and

ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG OF AMBLESIDE. 91

with a grip like the hug of a polar bear. His

principal move in the ring was to make a rush at

his adversary, push him backward, and throw in the

"ham''; then, if well got in, woe to the unlucky wight

who felt the crushing weight of eighteen or nineteen

stones.

From a well known deficiency in points of science

and activity, it may naturally be conjectured that

most of his achievements were gained by main

strength, on one hand, and stubborn standing on

the other.

In one sense, Roan Long's career is the most

perplexing one with which we have to deal. The

fact is pretty well established, that he won no less

than ninety-nine belts ; and at various places he

tried hard to make the number up to an even

hundred, but laboured in vain. The perplexing

point is where, and at what dates, did he win those

belts ? We may take it for granted that the field

of his operations was confined principally to Win-

dermere and its neighbourhood ; and that his

successful career as a wrestler commenced about

the year 1796, and ended in 1812. Most of the

details during those sixteen years are, unfortunately,

not forthcoming.

We learn incidentally that he "yance hed ater'ble

hard day's russlin' at Bouth fair, whar he fell't three

or fower o' t' biggest chaps he iver fell't in his life."

Probably this was the time he had the fearful tug

with Arthur Burns, one of the Ullater family, near

92 ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG OF AMBLESIDE.

Rusland. Burns stripped off a tall, active, well

built, six-foot man, who stuck to the giant most

determinedly, and tried hard to get him to make

play without effect, until the struggle became one of

mere animal strength. The upshot was that Burns

came to grief, and unluckily came out of the ring

so much mauled about the ribs, that he never

recovered fully from the punishment inflicted.

At one of the village gatherings, held at Gras-

mere, Tom Ashburner, a "statesman" of the valley,

entered his name among the wrestlers for the sole

purpose of trying a round with Roan. Being

fortunate enough to be called against him, and

having succeeded in getting the fall, he retired

from further contest, saying as he did so, to the

younger hands : " Noo, lads, I've clear'd t' rooad

for yee : work yer way ! "

In 1811, Roan, then about thirty-three years old,

attended the third annual meeting held at Carlisle,

but was singularly unfortunate. He was thrown in

the first round, by John Watson, who the next time

over laid down to Tom Nicholson.

At the Windermere Regatta, held at the Ferry

hotel, in July, 1812, he won his ninety-ninth and

last belt. Previously he had won several belts at

the same place. No part of this final trophy is

left, but the inscription plate in the possession of

Mr. Backhouse, farmer, near Low Wood which

runs: "To the Hero of the Regatta, on Winder-

mere, 1812."

After this date, we obtain passing glimpses of

ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG OF AMBLESIDE. 95

Roan entering various rings, and trying in vain to-

make up the hundredth prize. In 1824, the old

veteran having then contended more or less for

twenty-eight years was thrown at Low Wood

Regatta, by one Hodgson, who wrestled third; and

even as late as 1828, he wrestled at Ambleside fair,

where he was disposed of by John Holmes, a tall

six-foot tailor. This proved the last time he ever

contended for a prize saying, as he bade farewell

to the ring, "I think it's time to give ower, noo,

when a bit iv a tailyer can thra' me !"

Roan's match with William Richardson of Cald-

beck will be found described in the sketch of

Richardson's career.

Many years elapse, and Roan is sitting among

the onlookers of the wrestling, at Ambleside sports.

After Longmire had carried off several big men

with the swinging hype eliciting the admiration of

all beholders old Roan said to the young aspirant,

in a drawling tone of voice : " Thoo cudn't ha*

trailed me by t' neck i' that way, my lad ! "

If Roan Long was deficient in science and

activity, and did not cut the brilliant figure in the

wrestling ring that some of his contemporaries did,

he, nevertheless, habitually maintained through a

long span of existence, many points of much greater

importance, in a social view such, for example, as

plodding perseverance, singleness of purpose, and

sturdy independence of character traits in them-

selves truly commendable, and far above any merely

94 ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG OF AMBLESIDE.

nominal honours which the wrestling arena could

bestow.

Roan's occupation was that of a wood-cutter and

wood-monger. In company with the Robinsons of

Cunsey two brothers he worked in the woods

around Windermere, for many years. Robert

Robinson, one of the brothers, was a very powerful

man, nearly six feet high, with broad massive

shoulders, and herculean thighs. During the height

of the wood-cutting season, these men toiled and

wrought from daybreak to dusk, more like galley

slaves than free-born Englishmen ; often continuing

their laborious employment half through moonlight

nights. On certain occasions, when arriving at the

woods before daybreak, they have been known to

sit down and eat their dinners " while they'd time,"

as they phrased it, in order to keep themselves

"frae hankerin' efter 't throo t' day." With coat,

waistcoat, and shirt off, Roan used frequently to

yoke himself in a cart, heavily laden with wood,

and had to "snig" like a horse, while the two

Robinsons placed themselves behind the cart, and

regulated their motions according to the necessity

of the case.

One time, in Finsthwaite woods, when going

down a steep hill, so "brant" that horses were

practically useless, the Robinsons let go the cart

for nothing else but pure devilment, and off went

Roan, taking giant-like strides, until he could hold

on no longer; and was obliged to throw the cart

ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG OF AMBLESIDE. 95

over into the steep incline below, and extricate

himself as best he could. After having been a

considerable time in partnership, he began to think

the Robinsons were not doing the clean thing by

him, in some other matters, and in consequence

dissolved all connexion with them.

Later on, Roan who through life was a pattern

of industry and integrity kept a nursery and vege-

table garden at Ambleside. While so occupied, it

was his wont to overlook operations from a small

wooden house in the garden, where he sat as closely

wedged up almost as a veritable Gog or Magog.

A few days before his death, he sent for his

neighbour, John Cowerd, a joiner by trade, to give

him instructions about the making of his coffin.

"Noo, John," said he, "I s' nit be lang here, I

kna' I shallant ; an' I want to speeak to yee about

my coffin. Mak' me a good heart o' yak yan, an'

nowt but yak. Noo, mind what I's sayin'; I want

nin o' yer deeal-bottom't sooart nin o' yer dee&l-

bottom't sooart for me/" repeated the dying man

again and again. Many coffins had been made in

the same shop, but never one anything like Roan's

for size. It measured two feet three inches across

the breast, inside measure. A custom prevailed in

the workshop to try most of the coffins made, by

the length of some workman. On this occasion,

one Michael Rawlinson, the biggest man employed,

was press-ganged into Roan's coffin, but scarcely

half-filled it, and presented a very ludicrous picture

for the time being.

96 ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG OF AMBLESIDE.

Roan's death took place at Ambleside, about the

year 1852 ; aged seventy-four years.

JOHN LONG, born also at Graythwaite in Furness

Fells, about the year 1780, formed in many respects

a marked contrast to his brother Roan, and was

considered by good judges to be much the better

wrestler of the two. In height, he stood five feet

ten inches, and weighed about fourteen stones. In

his prime, he was a remarkably fine built man:

firm, compact, and well developed in every part,

with clean action ; in fact, from head to foot he

might be said to be symmetry typified.

John had the credit of winning many prizes on

the banks of his native Windermere; but not having

the ambition of his brother for wrestling distinction,

he never rambled far from home in search of adven-

ture ; nor did he follow the sport for anything like

the same lengthened period. We are sorry that

no available and reliable means can be come at

touching his feats in the ring. His well known

accomplishments as a wrestler richly entitle him to

a more extended notice than it is in our power to

give.

At the Ambleside wrestling, in 1811, John Long

was second to William Mackereth, the winner, a

young man from Cockermouth, a friend and com-

panion of Tom Nicholson. Nicholson had grassed

the well known John Lowden of Keswick, but

suffered a grievous defeat in the fourth round when

ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG OF AMBLESIDE. 97

he met John Long. This of itself must be con-

sidered sufficient to stamp the victor a wrestler of

considerable ability, as Tom was then at his best,

and was looked upon by his admirers as a match

for any man in the kingdom.

In early life, John followed wood-cutting through

the spring and winter months; and in autumn, he

generally went off to the "shearings" in Low

Furness and West Cumberland. For a lengthened

period he was chief boatman at the Ferry inn,

Windermere, in which capacity he is well remem-

bered. When up in years, he displayed a good

deal of ready wit and droll humour. He has been

spoken of by the most successful wrestler that

Windermere has produced as "a queer sly aid dog,

'at nin o' t' young 'ans cud reetly mak' oot, whedder

he was in fun or earnest."

In the Folk-Speech volume of dialect stories and

rhymes, Alexander Craig Gibson describes the

sturdy figure of the old wrestler as follows, and

then proceeds to make him relate the tale of the

" Skulls of Calgarth," in his native patois.

And Benjamin's chief ferryman was stalwart old John Long,

A veteran of the wrestling ring, (its records hold his name,)

Who yet in life's late autumn was a wiry wight and strong,

Though grizzly were his elf-locks wild, and bow'd his giant

frame.

Yes; though John Long was worn and wan, he still was

stark and strong,

And he plied his bending "rooers" with a boatman's manly

pride,

I. 7

98 ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG OF AMBLESIDE.

As crashing past the islands, through the reed stalks crisp

and long,

He stretch'd away far northward, where the lake spread fair

and wide.

"Now rest upon your oars, John Long," one evening still

said I,

When shadows deepened o'er the mere from Latterbarrow

Fell;

For far beyond broad Weatherlam the sun sank in the sky,

And bright his levell'd radiance lit the heights around Hillbell.

"And tell me an old story," thus I further spoke, "John

Long,

Some mournful tale or legend, of the far departed time ;

The scene is all too solemn here for lightsome lay or song,

So tell, and, in your plain strong words, I'll weave it into

rhyme. "

Then old John Long revolved his quid, and gaunt he look'd

and grim

For darker still athwart the lake spread Latterbarrow's

shade

And pointing o'er the waters broad to fields and woodlands

dim,

He soberly and slowly spake, and this was what he said, &c.

John Long died at the little hostelry on Kirkstone

Pass, the highest inhabited house in England, about

the year 1848.

99

TOM NICHOLSON

OF THRELKELD.

AMONG the distinguished athletes of a byegone

period, not one in the long list has conferred a

more enduring celebrity on the wrestlings of the

north, than the Threlkeld champion, Tom Nichol-

son. He owed this high position not to over-

powering strength and weight, but to what lends

its principal charm to back-hold wrestling science

and activity. These, added to entire confidence

and fearlessness, rendered him a match for any of

the big ones of his day.

In youth he was a wild, harum-scarum sort of a

fellow, hardly ever out of one scrape before he was

floundering into another. A fight or a fray seemed

always welcome. "He cared for nowte." A Jem

Belcher of the wrestling ring and the pugilistic ring,

too, of the north; one who never feared the face

of man, and had so much confidence in his own

powers, that whoever he chanced to meet in the

ring, whether as " big as a hoose side," or " strang

as a yak tree," he felt confident he could throw

him.

He stood close upon six feet ; lean, muscular,

with broad and powerful shoulders; had remarkably

100 TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD.

long arms, reaching when at full length, and

standing perfectly upright down to his knees ; his

weight never exceeding thirteen stones ; without an

ounce of superflous flesh. He generally commenced

the attack by striking the back of his opponent's

heel with the right foot.

Tom was born at Threlkeld, near Keswick, about

the year 1785, and died at Keswick in February,

1851. His father, "oald Ben Nicholson," acted as

parish clerk and sexton at Threlkeld for many years,

following, too, the occupation of a builder. He

brought up his two sons, Tom and John, as builders,

or in the vernacular of the district, "wo'ers." Tom

was the elder brother, and a much more powerful

man than John. The latter, in the opinion of many

good judges, was superior both in science and

quickness. Being a light weight, his name does

not appear with much prominence in the wrestling

records of the time. Special prizes were not then

given for light weights ; and in consequence, John

did not often become last stander. The two

brothers were, however, sometimes first and second.

It was not alone in wrestling that Tom became a

noted character. He could probably display more

feats of activity in his day, than any man in the

north of England. He has been known to " hitch

an' kick" ten feet high: that is to say, if a hat were

placed on a pole, or hung on the ceiling of a house

ten feet high, he could leap up, and hit the hat with

one foot, without falling to the ground. Among

TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD. 101

other places, this was done at the Red Lion inn,

Grasmere, in 1810, where Miles Dixon, Harry

Chapman, and other athletes were onlookers.

Another feat of his consisted in covering twelve

yards in three leaps of three rises, measuring from

heel to heel. This he often did, leaping the full dis-

tance forwards, and then turning round and leaping

the same distance back again. A frequent saying

of his was, that he could " stand a yard, stride a

yard, an' tak' a yard under ayder arm."

We have no reliable means of recording all

the victories Tom achieved; and we suppose no

chronicler is left who can tell where he gained his

first belt. We know he became such an enthusiast

as to rise often at three or four o'clock in a morning,

in order to get his day's work finished by noon ;

and afterwards has travelled a dozen miles, to

wrestle for "a lal bit iv a ledder strap, nut worth

mair ner fifteen-pence." Luckily, there is a record

of the more important prizes gained at Carlisle, in

1809, 1810, and 1811 a succession of unbroken

victories seldom accomplished by a thirteen-stone

man.

In the year 1809, Nicholson, then twenty-three

or twenty-four years old, attended some sports or

merry-making at Penrith. While there, he chanced

to see an advertisement setting forth the liberal

prizes for wrestling, offered on the following day at the

Waterhead, Ambleside. Having some little acquaint-

ance with the Dixons of Grasmere, through working

102 TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD.

with them at the Bridge-end, Legberthwaite, Tom

felt a strong desire to attend the meeting. After

dancing all night at Penrith, he left by way of

Patterdale and Kirkstone Pass. Having reached

Ambleside, he found the head of the lake crowded

with pleasure boats and yachts ; flags flying, drums

beating, and an immense gathering of people assem-

bled in holiday attire, anxiously waiting to witness

the sports.

Being overcome by fatigue and want of rest, he

went into one of the tents for some refreshment,

and soon fell fast asleep in a chair. A waller,

named James Benson, who belonged to Ambleside,.

chanced to hear one of the Dixons say incidentally

to the Longs : " I suppooks Tom Nicholson's here.

If we don't mind what we're duin', he'll fell us aw !"

Seeing a stranger asleep soon after, Benson went

and gave him a tap with his foot, saying: "Do they

co' yee Tom Nicholson?" Being thus aroused,

Tom started hastily to his feet, and replied in the

affirmative. " Well, then," said Benson, " if ye've

come to russel, ye'll hev to be stirrin' yersel' !

They're thrawirf f belt up for f last time!"

Hastening to the scene of action a small field

near the lake Tom got his name entered in the

list. No doubt, the previous fatigue and consequent

exhaustion would, in some measure, detract from

the dash and force of his wrestling. Notwithstanding

this, he managed to pull off the chief prize, throwing

both Rowland and John Long. Two of the Dixons

TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD. 103

George and James of Grasmere, also contended,

and both came against the Threlkeld man. The

former was unmistakeably thrown; but the latter,

in the opinion of a great many spectators round the

ring, ought to have had the fall. The umpires,

however, came to the conclusion it was a dog-fall,

and Dixon felt so chagrined at the decision, that

he refused to re-enter the ring.

In after life, Nicholson used to "brag" that at

this Ambleside gathering, he threw four of the

biggest men he ever grassed in one day in his life,

namely, Roan and John Long, and George and

James Dixon. In relating this exploit, however,

the fall with the last mentioned had always to be

passed over as quietly as possible, lest some " un-

believing dog" should think proper to retort, and

mar the harmony of the relator's narrative.

Next year, Tom again attended the Ambleside

meeting, accompanied by his brother John, and

Joseph Slack from Blencow. William Litt also

figured, as one of the West Cumberland great guns,

but had to succumb to Miles Dixon. Slack laid

down to Tom, who threw Roan Long and his

brother John. Coming against Miles Dixon, for

the final fall, he was cleanly lifted from the ground

without any difficulty, and thrown with a twist.

In 1811, we find Tom at the Ambleside meeting

for the third and last time. William Mack-

ereth of Cockermouth accompanied him on this

occasion. Tom had an arduous struggle with

104 TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD.

John Lowden of Hussecar in Newlands, " a stoot

good russeler," who had then scarcely reached

maturity. Lowden always claimed the first fall, but

acknowledged that he lost the third one fair enough

the second one being a dog-fall. In the third

round, Tom again disposed of Roan Long, but was

cleverly thrown by John Long the next time over.

It will thus be seen, the Threlkeld champion suc-

ceeded at Ambleside once only in the three years

of his attendance ; while at Carlisle, where he also

contended three years, he came off victorious in

each entry. This is strong testimony to the celebrity

of the Windermere wrestlings.

For two years previously, John Wilson of Elleray

had encouraged the wrestlings at Ambleside, by

subscribing liberally, and taking a personal interest

in so conducting the sports as to render them worthy

of the patronage of the neighbouring gentry. All

who have attended wrestling meetings, cannot but

be aware that occasions will often occur, when the

presence of such gentlemen as the squire of Elleray

is of great use. There is ample evidence to show

that he was devotedly fond of the sport. When he

left the lakes to make Edinburgh his permanent

place of residence, the wrestlings at Ambleside,

which had attained extraordinary celebrity, declined

for a time, but again shone with renewed brilliancy

at Low Wood, Bowness, and the Ferry.

Before taking leave of Nicholson's Windermere

exploits, we must record a fracas he had once

TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD. 105

with John Wilson, at the "Nag's Head," Wythburn,

a little wayside inn, eight miles from Ambleside,

lying immediately under the shadow of the "mighty

Helvellyn," and much frequented up to the present

time by pedestrian tourists. Some sports wrestling

being the principal, of course were held at the

above out-of-the-way hostelry. At that time, con-

siderable rivalry existed between the wrestlers of

Cumberland and Westmorland. The Elleray squire

freely backed the Westmorland men, and Tom

Nicholson was not a whit behind-hand in as freely

backing the Cumbrians. Now, it so happened, they

both got excited over a doubtful fall. The future

literary luminary insisted that his man had got the

fall ; while Tom vehemently maintained an opposite

opinion, and bandied ugly words very freely.

In a fit of momentary passion, Wilson struck

Tom over the shoulders with his stick. This

bellicose style of argument instantly led to a

violent scene, and there appeared every likelihood

of a most determined contest. Wilson was at

that time a match for almost any man in the

kingdom. A professed pugilist, after receiving a

sound thrashing from him on the banks of the Isis,

had been heard to say : " This must be either the

devil or Jack Wilson !" And Nicholson had proved

the victor in many a hard fought contest. A battle

between the two disputants at the " Nag's Head,"

would have been a fearfully punishing affair to both

of them. This was happily avoided, in consequence

106 TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD.

of their friends stepping in, and putting a stop to

any further infringement of the peace.

The ball thus set rolling at Ambleside for two

years of giving handsome money prizes was

followed up at the Carlisle Races, where the first

annual wrestling on the Swifts took place in the

month of September, 1809. The successful estab-

lishment of the great northern wrestling meeting,

was due principally to the endeavours of Mr. Henry

Pearson, solicitor, Carlisle.

The following extract from the Carlisle Chronicle,

will demonstrate the gratifying result of what may

be called the first metropolitan meeting :

The athletic sports were superior to anything ever exhibited

in Carlisle. The wrestling commenced on Wednesday

morning, at ten o'clock, in a roped ring, thirty-five yards in

diameter. There were present on the occasion not less than

five thousand spectators, who came from all parts within a

circuit of thirty miles, to see these gymnastic exercises. This

was probably the best wrestling ever seen in Cumberland, as

each competitor had been the winner of a great number of

belts in the respective parts they came from. Every round

was most severely contested, but the last one was the finest

struggle ever seen : each of the combatants having given the

other the cast three or four times ; and they respectively

recovered in a most surprising manner, to the astonishment

and admiration of every one present. At length Nicholson,

who comes from Threlkeld, gave Harrison the knee, and

gained the prize.

The following is a list of those men who wrestled for the

Purse of Five Guineas, on the Swifts, on Wednesday, Sep-

tember 1 3th :

TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD. 107

FIRST ROUND.

Stood. . Fell.

Robert Rowntree. Thomas Allison.

Younghusband. John Rowntree.

Joseph Dixon. John Thompson.

Thomas Nicholson. Daniel Wilson.

Goodfellow. John Waugh.

John Watson. John Jorden.

Matthew Armstrong. Moses Hodgson.

Frank Moor. John Relph.

Thomas Dickinson. Thomas Cowen.

John Nicholson. Joseph Bird.

John Dawson. William Douglas.

Joseph Slack. Thomas Burrow.

William Ritson. Matthew Dickinson.

William Hodgson. James Phillip.

John Harrison. John Hudless.

Michael Hope. Romney.

SECOND ROUND.

Robert Rowntree. Younghusband.

Thomas Nicholson. Joseph Dixon.

John Watson. Goodfellow.

Matthew Armstrong. Frank Moor.

John Nicholson. Thomas Dickinson.

Joseph Slack. John Dawson.

William Ritson. William Hodgson.

John Harrison. Michael Hope.

THIRD ROUND.

Thomas Nicholson. Robert Rowntree.

John Watson. Matthew Armstrong.

John Nicholson. Joseph Slack.

John Harrison. William Ritson.

108 TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD.

FOURTH ROUND.

Stood. Fell.

Thomas Nicholson. John Watson.

John Harrison. John Nicholson.

FIFTH ROUND.

Thomas Nicholson. John Harrison.

Mr. HENRY PEARSON, Head Manager.

Mr. CHRISTOPHERSON, { ri ,

Mr. J. ARMSTRONG, j c

Mr. TOPPIN, Umpire.

At the Penrith Race Meeting, in October, 1809,

Tom Nicholson contested in the wrestling ring, but

his career was soon cut short. In the first round,

he threw Thomas Matthews ; and in the second

round, had to succumb to one Joseph Dixon, who

was disposed of afterwards, in the fourth round, by

John Gowling, the victor on that occasion.

At the Carlisle Wrestling, in October, 1810, there

was an immense gathering of people on the Wed-

nesday morning, to witness the wrestlers compete for

two purses of gold. Sixty-four almost all picked

men entered the ring, the head prize awarded

being six guineas. This sum at the time considered

an important prize fell a second time to Tom

Nicholson, who threw again the formidable Robert

Rowantree of Bewcastle, and the no less celebrated

John Earl of Cumwhitton ; and, in the final fall,

floored Joseph Slack of Blencow. In connexion

with the races, a ball on a grand scale was held

TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD. 109

attended by more than three hundred ladies and

gentlemen. The amusements of the week were

concluded on Friday, by the Carlisle pack of harriers

throwing off at Whiteclose-gate, when three hares

were killed, and some excellent sport witnessed.

Tom and his brother, John, again figured at

Carlisle in 1811, when Tom succeeded in carrying

off the first honours for the third time, in the most

difficult of all rings. The money prizes amounted

to twenty pounds in all, and the sport was enjoyed

by a dense mass of nearly twelve thousand people.

The Earl of Lonsdale, the Marquis of Queensberry,

Sir James Graham of Netherby, and various other

gentlemen, were spectators. In the first round,

Tom Nicholson threw John Forster easily. In the

second, John Watson laid down. In the third

round, he threw John Jordan of Great Salkeld. In

the fourth, William Earl of Cumwhitton. In the

fifth, John Douglas of Caldbeck; and, finally, John

Earl of Cumwhitton.

John Nicholson threw John Taylor in the first

round ; and was thrown in the second by Joseph

Richardson of Staffield Hall, a first-rate wrestler,

and winner of the second day's prize.

Immediately after the general wrestling, Tom

Nicholson was defeated in a match with Harry

Graham of Brigham, an event which broke in

somewhat abruptly upon the three consecutive

victories gained by him on the Swifts. A lengthy

account of this match will be found in Litt's

Wrestiiana,

110 TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD.

The Carlisle ring of 1 8 1 1 was the last in which Tom

Nicholson contended for a prize. Whether he desired

to retire, and rest upon the laurels he had gained,

or not, we cannot say. He was rendered totally

incapable of competing at Carlisle the following

year, by having accidentally dislocated his shoulder

at the Duke of Norfolk's jubilee, held at Greystoke

Castle, in the middle of September, 1812. He

married in 1815, and went to live at Keswick, where

he settled down as a builder. Some years after he

joined the firm of Gibson and Hodgson, builders,

as a partner ; and as a tradesman, was respected by

all who knew him.

Tom used to say he could wrestle best at twenty

years old. When at this age, and for some time

after, he used to practice with George Stamper of

Under-Skiddaw, an excellent wrestler ; but being of

a retiring, quiet disposition, he very seldom entered

a ring. "Gwordie" could, however, get quite as

many falls as Tom, out of a dozen bouts.

Some years after Tom had given up contending

for prizes, he chanced to be at Cockermouth, with

his friend and former pupil William Mackereth,

and the conversation running a good deal on

wrestling topics, they agreed to adjourn to a

field in the vicinity, in order to try a few friendly

bouts. After having had two or three falls,

"Clattan " a gigantic athlete was noticed to be

leaning listlessly, with both arms over the wall,

looking at them. "Come, Clattan," shouted

TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD. Ill

Mackereth, "an' thee try a fo'. I can mak' nowte

on him !" Thus invited, "Clattan" gathered up his

huge carcass six feet six inches high, at that time

bony and gaunt-looking and went stalking into

the field, saying: "I's willin' to try him ya fo'; but,

mind's t'e, nobbui yan." In taking hold, the giant

tried to snap, but didn't succeed in bringing Tom

down. After this they had two or three falls, in all

of which Clattan was worsted. In referring to this

incident, the victor always said he felt certain it was

a made-up thing between Mackereth and the big

one, that the latter should be "leukin' ower t' wo',"

at a given time and place, as if by accident.

There is still another science in which Tom

Nicholson excelled, namely, the art of self-defence ;

but as we have no sympathy whatever with any

form of pugilistic encounter, except that which

resolves itself into the purely defensive order, we

shall only touch lightly on the subject. As a boy,

Tom's undaunted courage, daring spirit, and sur-

passing activity, made him dreaded as a combatant;

and from the time he thrashed "Keg," (McKay or

Mc.Kie,) the Keswick bully, when trying to ride

rough-shod over the Threlkeld youths, his fame as

a boxer was fully established in his own neighbour-

hood.

In the summer of 1812, two Irishmen who were

paring turf in Skiddaw forest, came to Keswick,

and asked Joseph Cherry, the landlord of the

Shoulder of Mutton, for Tom Nicholson. Tom

112 TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD.

being sent for, was soon on the spot ; when one of

the Irishmen thus addressed him : " Shure, an' I

suppose you're the champion of Cumberland?"

" Well," replied Tom, " I don't know whedder I is

or I issn't." "Faith ! but I'm afther telling you,

you are," said the Irishman, very crousely; "and by

jabers ! me and my mate are ready to fight anny

two men in Cumberland !" "I know nowte aboot

nea mates," replied Tom, whose spirit would never

allow him to brook an unprovoked insult " I know

nowte aboot nea mates ; but I's willin' to feight t'

better man mysel', if that 'ill satisfy ye ! " Accord-

ingly, a wager was made for five pounds, and the

two combatants went into the market-place without

further parley no county police to interfere at that

time and set to work in good earnest. Pat was

beaten in nine rounds; and Tom, who sustained

little injury, finished up "as fresh as a lark."

In the encounter on the Carlisle race ground,

with Ridley, \heglutton, in 1814, the issue was of a

very different character, although the Threlkeld

man was never in better "fettle" in his life. After

half-an-hour's severe fighting, during which time the

waves of victory flowed sometimes to one side, and

sometimes to the other, the constables interfered,

and very properly put a stop to the brutal sport.

As some palliation for the part which our hero

took in the combat, Litt says : " We have the best

authority for saying, that when Tom left home for

Carlisle, he knew nothing of the match in question;

TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD. 113

and that the behaviour of Ridley, who was on the

look-out for him, and the wishes expressed by some

amateurs to witness a trial of skill between them,

made Tom erroneously think that his character was

at stake, and that he could not decline the contest

without incurring the charge of having 'a white

feather in him.' "

Tom's love for daring adventure, or sport, seems

never to have forsaken him. Even in middle life,

when between forty and fifty years old, this idiosyn-

crasy would manifest itself. Among other pursuits,

he has been known to follow salmon poaching in

the river Derwent and its tributaries. Once when

working at Mirehouse, for Mr. Spedding, he was

joined by Pearson of Browfoot, John Walker,

weaver and boatman, and four or five other men

from Keswick, as lawless as himself, and almost as

daring. The meeting had been previously arranged

at the Shoulder of Mutton, then kept by Betty

Cherry. Having chosen Tom as their captain, the

gang started for Euse bridge, at the foot of Bassen-

thwaite lake, which place they reached a couple of

hours after night-fall. Operations were commenced

by placing two sentinels in commanding positions,

one on the bridge, and the other John Walker

on the opposite side of the hedge, a little lower

down the river.

A "lowe" being "kinnel't," the stream was found

to be literally swarming with fish. Little more than

laying out their nets had been done, however, when

114 TOM NICHOLSON OF THRELKELD.

Walker shouted out: "Leuk oot, lads! they're

comin' !" And just at that moment, a strong body

of river watchers, numbering something like a dozen

who had evidently been laying in ambush

rushed pell-mell upon them. Walker being the

first within reach, was knocked down and kept

down ; and the fight soon swayed fiercely from side

to side. Maddened at the treatment of their mate,

the poachers broke through the hedge which inter-

vened, and fought desperately. Tom Nicholson

punished one of the watchers, named Cragg, so

severely, that the man had good reason to remember

it for many a long year after. Walker being rescued,

and the keepers chased from the ground, the

poachers again took to the river, and returned

nome heavily laden with spoil.

During the latter part of his life, Nicholson

officiated frequently as umpire or referee in the

Carlisle and other rings. Having dislocated his

ancle by accidentally falling on the ice, his appear-

ance in the capacity of umpire, impressed spectators

with the idea that they looked on the shattered

and broken-down frame of a muscular built man,

supporting himself while moving about with a stout

walking-stick. The last trace we have of him as

umpire, was at the match between Jackson and

Longmire, which came off at Keswick, in 1845.

115

WILLIAM MACKERETH

OF COCKERMOUTH.

WILLIAM MACKERETH "built like a castle," being

broad and massive from head to foot was born

and bred at Cockermouth. He was a pupil of

Tom Nicholson's ; but Tom could never teach him

his own favourite chip of "clickin" t' back o' t' heel,"

and used to resort to that move when he wanted to

throw him.

Mackereth was a good hyper ; and threw Harry

Graham of Brigham twice in succession, the first

time that Litt and William Richardson met to

wrestle the match at Workington, which never came

off. He also threw John Long in Westmorland,

and won. In speaking of Roan Long, Mackereth

used to say his own hand was like a child's hand,

compared to that of the giant's.

A common saying of his was, that he "was

nobbut a thurteen stean man." To this Tom

Nicholson generally retorted by saying, "7 niver

kent the', Will, when thoo was thurteen stean ! "

Tom called him fourteen stones, good weight.

Mackereth was brought up to the building trade,

and ultimately became keeper of the gaol at Cocker-

mouth for many years. He had an only daughter,

who married and settled in Ireland, in which country

he died about the year 1859.

116

HARRY GRAHAM

OF BRIGHAM.

HARRY GRAHAM was a clogger by trade, at Brigham r

a pleasant but irregularly built village, whose square

church tower catches the eye of the passing tourist

between Cockermouth and Workington. Born and

bred in the heart of a district which has produced

many noted wrestlers, and practising the art from

boyhood, Graham possessed rare abilities as an

athlete; but was either too indifferent, or else of

too petulant a disposition, to take his chance in the

ring, like his compeers.

The most famous victory gained by Graham

and we know of no other of any moment was the

one over Tom Nicholson, in 1811, which goes far

to prove him to have been, for his inches and

weight, one of the best men West Cumberland has

produced. Litt speaks of his having wrestled more

matches than any man in the county, but fails to

single out any others, wherein Graham was the

conqueror, than the two mentioned in this brief

notice.

Harry attended the annual meeting at Carlisle,

in 1811, for the first and last time, and com-

peted for the head prize. In the first round, he

HARRY GRAHAM OF BRIGHAM. 117

threw one Thomas Hoodless, said by Litt to be

"of some celebrity," but long since forgotten;

and in the second round, he came against John

Jordan of Great Salkeld, waller,* and fairly won

the fall, without even going down. For some

cause or other, the umpires decided it a dog-fall ;

and on taking hold a second time, Jordan won.

This exasperated Harry's friends, who felt confident

his rare science, quickness, and activity, rendered

him a match for any man existing.

Be this as it may, a match was struck up with

Tom Nicholson the taller man by three inches

who backed himself for three pounds to two, the

best of five falls. Harry lost the first and second.

This made Tom's supporters cock-sure of winning

the match. The third was disputable, and decided

a dog-fall, although a great majority of the spectators

insisted Harry won. The fourth and fifth he gained

cleverly. They were then equal, with the dog-fall

in dispute. After some squabbling, they began

again afresh ; and Harry won the match by scoring

first, third, and fourth falls.

Graham's match with William Richardson which

* Litt speaks unguardedly when he calls Jordan "a noted

wrestler from the Penrith side," as there was nothing worthy

of note about any of his performances in the ring. Nature

had endowed him with a considerable amount of strength, but

being almost destitute of science, he had only one mode of

dealing with opponents, and that was "just to tew them

doon !" One who knew him well, described him as "a greit

rammin' sixteen-stean man. creuk't back't, an' varra i

fishin' !"

118 HARRY GRAHAM OF BRIGHAM.

he won, and which Litt sets forth as one of some

importance was merely the result of a drunken

spree at Cockermouth. It took place in a garden

belonging to the Old Buck inn. Among the handful

of people who witnessed the scene, was John Mur-

gatroyd, at that time a growing youth interested

in the sport.

Harry left the locality of his native hills in i822 r

and settled in Liverpool, where he brought up a

family in a manner which reflected much credit

upon himself. When more than sixty years old, he

took a voyage to Australia, to join his eldest son, a

graduate of Dublin university, who was following

the scholastic profession, with a considerable amount

of success, at the antipodes.

Graham died in November, 1878, at the venerable

age of eighty-eight, and was buried in Shooter's-hill

cemetery, near London.

119

JAMES SCOTT

OF CANONBIE.

Noo, Jamie Scott o' Cannobie,

He hied to Carel toon ;

And mony a borderer cam to see

The English lads thrawn doon.

Border Ballad.

JAMES SCOTT was the lightest man who won the

head prize in the Carlisle ring about his own time ;

and what is much more curious, the only Scotchman

who ever accomplished the same feat. Indeed, it

seems up to Scott's time, and since, too, that the

borderers on the Scotch side did not take as much

pleasure in the pastime as those dwelling on the

English side.

Scott was born and brought up at Oarnlee, in

the picturesque parish of Canonbie, in Dumfries-

shire, within a few miles distance from the roofless

tower of Gilnockie, the ancient stronghold of the

noted border free-booter, Johnny Armstrong, of

whose tragic fate in the presence of the Scottish

king, the old minstrel thus sings :

But then rose up all Edenborough,

They rose up by thousands three ;

A cowardly Scot came John behind,

And run him through the fair bodye.

120 JAMES SCOTT OF CANONBIE.

Said John, "Fight on my merry men all,

I am a little wounded, but not slain ;

I will lay me down to bleed a while,

Then I'll rise, and fight with you again.

James Scott stood about five feet nine inches

high, and weighed between eleven and twelve

stones. Litt surmises that he was more than

thirteen stones ; but according to the most reliable

authorities, this is much beyond the mark. He

was a " tight built, straight, beany mak' iv a fellow,

withoot a particle o' lowse flesh aboot him." In

the ring, he became noted as a quick striker, and

bore the reputation of being a good scientific

wrestler.

He never went much from home to contend,

and, excepting in the Carlisle ring, is only known

to have wrestled at the village gatherings, along the

borders. He does not figure among the thirty-two

men, who wrestled at the first annual meeting at

Carlisle, in 1809. In the following year, when

double that number contended, we think it hardly

likely that he put in an appearance ; but on this

point we cannot speak with any amount of con-

fidence, as there is no list of names known to be in

existence.

In 1811, however, he did good service in the

Carlisle ring, by throwing Joseph Wilson, John

Hall, Joseph Coates, and William Richardson of

Caldbeck ; but sustained defeat at the hands of

John Earl of Cumwhitton, in the fifth round. For

JAMES SCOTT OF CANONBIE. 121

the second prize of the same year, he was cleverly

thrown by George Little of Sebergham, (and not

again by John Earl, as stated by Litt.)

At the Carlisle meeting held on Tuesday, the

2Oth day of September, 1812, the favourite north-

country pastime attracted an immense gathering of

spectators to the Swifts. Although the prizes offered

amounted in all to the handsome sum of twenty

guineas, there was a noticeable falling off in the

attendance of wrestlers. Only forty-eight names

were entered for the principal competition the

most noteworthy absentees being Tom Nicholson,

(who was suffering from an accident at the Greystoke

festival,) John Earl of Cumwhitton, Robert Rowan-

tree of Bewcastle, and Harry Graham of Brigham.

Scott, who was then in his twenty-fourth year,

turned up on the Swifts "i* grand fettle," and

wrestled through the ring with much spirit, tact,

and determination. The unexpected fall of William

Mackereth of Cockermouth, the first time over,

removed at least one formidable rival. John Jordan

of Great Salkeld, falling in one of the subsequent

rounds, left the coast as good as clear to Scott and

Richardson, who ultimately came together in the

final fall. Although wanting in the height, weight,

and experience possessed by his veteran opponent,

the wiry borderer had the advantage of youthful

suppleness and activity on his side.

A good deal of time was wasted by the combat-

ants ; both tenaciously endeavouring to obtain the

122 JAMES SCOTT OF CANONBIE.

better hold. Meanwhile a tall, red-haired, gaunt-

looking Scotchman, made himself somewhat officious

and troublesome to the umpires, by running to and

fro into the ring, "wi' a wee drap whuskey, an' a

hantle o' advice," in order to cheer up the spirits of

the Canon bie lad. When holds had been obtained,

after acting on the defensive for some time with

much wariness, Scott managed to catch Richardson's

heel, and by this means succeeded in carrying him

off precisely in the same manner as he had done

the preceding year. No sooner had the burly

figure of the Caldbeck man kissed the greensward,

than the air resounded again and again with lusty

cheers for the Canonbie hero.

Everybody seemed astonished when " lal Jamie

Scott" fought his way through the ring; and prob-

ably no one was more astonished than himself.

With eight bright guineas in his pocket, he received

a hearty welcome on going back again, from all the

"weel kent" faces he passed on his "hameward"

journey to "Canobie lea."

Having gained first honours, Jamie inherited too

much of the "canny" and prudent disposition of his

countrymen, to risk tarnishing the victory which had

thus fallen under somewhat favourable circumstances

to his share. The Carlisle ring of 1812 was, we

believe, the last one in which he contended for a

prize.

Scott was a joiner by trade, and worked for

several years at "Kirkcammeck," (Kirkambeck,) in

JAMES SCOTT OF CANONBIE. 123

Stapleton, on the English side of the border. At

the local gatherings in after years, he made a point

of backing David Potts of Haining a rather tricky

customer against John Blair of Solport Mill. Scott

recommended Potts to rosin the inside of his pockets

well, and rub his hands in them before taking hold

of an opponent. "And than," said he, bestowing

a hearty thump on his pupil's back, "no a man i'

Cummerland need thraw the', if thou nobbut fews

ony thing like !"

His cheerful and jocular disposition led him to

be widely known on both sides of the border as

"Canobie Jamie." He was specially fond of rural

and field sports. In speed of foot he surpassed

most of his companions. Many stories are told of

the practical jokes and harmless tricks he used to

play off on his neighbours and acquaintances; a

few examples of which we may perhaps be allowed

to relate as illustrative of his character.

"Canobie Jock," a well known voluble neighbour

of his, partial to keeping up a breed of terriers and

foxhounds of the right sort, had one of the former

which he boasted was the fleetest dog of its kind

in the parish. For a trifling wager, Jamie offered

to run a race with Jock's terrier. The distance

chosen was from one end of a good sized field to

the other, through part of which a broad deep ditch

extended, and had to be crossed. After starting,

our hero found there existed every likelihood of his

canine competitor leaving him some distance behind.

124 JAMES SCOTT OF CANONBIE.

This induced him to hasten towards that part of

the field where lay the deep ditch. With a single

bound he cleared the distance in capital style.

Meanwhile, before the poor terrier had time to

swim the water, climb the banks, and shake itself,

Jamie had got so far ahead as to be able to win

easily which he did, much to the discomfiture of

the owner of the dog.

As an additional illustration of his nimbleness of

foot, it may be mentioned that on another occasion,

in coming "owre the hills frae Hawick," he ran

down a cub fox, which he took home with him to

Canonbie, and kept there in a tame state, until it

became so troublesome and destructive among the

hen-roosts of the neighbourhood, that he was

obliged to put it down.

Jamie, and a cousin of his, were once invited to

a wedding in the neighbourhood of Liddesdale, and,

as it chanced, they could only muster a single horse

between them. Under these circumstances, Scott

thought it might be as well to give the natives of

" Copshaw-holme," (Newcastleton,) something to

amuse themselves with. Accordingly, he placed

his cousin on the front of the horse, in the usual

way, while he mounted behind, facing the opposite

direction, with a straw rope drawn round the

animal's tail for a bridle. In this comical fashion,

the two men rode through the large open square of

the old border village, amid the laughter and jeers

of young and old.

JAMES SCOTT OF CANONBIE. 125

One other story, and we must take leave of Jamie.

When crossing a wild part of the country, it so

happened that through being benighted, he was in

danger of losing his way. Nearing a farmstead,

the pleasing sound of a fiddle fell on his ears, which

ultimately turned out to proceed from an adjoining

barn, where a dancing school was held. On

entering, Jamie met with a warm reception from

the people assembled, and enjoyed the scene before

him with much glee. Getting communicative with

those around, he threw out some broadish hints that

he thought he could dance a hornpipe or jig better

than the dancing-master himself. To such a belief

as this the teacher entirely demurred ; and the

difference of opinion thus set forth paved the way

for a friendly contest. Notwithstanding being a

good deal fatigued with travelling, Jamie managed

to trip about with so much gracefulness and agility,

that he was acknowledged by all present to have

quite outrivalled the professor of the calisthenic

art.

James Scott died at Oarnlee in the year 1854,

aged sixty-six years.

126

ROBERT ROWANTREE,

OF KINGWATER.

ROBERT ROWANTREE, the subject of this brief

memoir, was one of the big stalwart athletes of the

wrestling ring in the "olden time," when wrestlers

six feet high, and fourteen stones weight, were

plentiful amongst the competitors of the northern

arena. Rowantree was not so much distinguished

for science as William Jackson, Richard Chapman,

or the Donaldsons of more recent times ; but was

formidable from possessing great strength, a long

reaching muscular arm, much supple activity, and

no end of endurance in a keen, protracted struggle

with an adversary. Remarkable instances of this

fierce endurance are to this day commented on,

particularly in his memorable bouts with John

Richardson of Staffield Hall, "Belted Will" of

Caldbeck, and the celebrated bone-setter, George

Dennison.

Rowantree was born in the vale of Kingwater, in

the year 1779. The place of his birth, and where

he continued to reside for a long series of years, is a

lonely and sterile region, inhabited chiefly by sheep-

farmers, situate between the green woodland slopes

of Gilsland, and the then wild unclaimed wastes

ROBERT ROWANTREE OF KINGWATER. 127

of Bewcastle ; and was doubtless in the long ago

border marauding times the scene of many a bloody

raid; and later, too, of many smuggling affrays in

getting across the border untaxed whiskey. Mail-

land's Complaint gives a vivid description of the

lawlessness prevalent :

That nane may keip

Horse, nolt, nor sheip,

Nor yet dar sleip,

For thair mischeifis.

"The lordly halls of Triermaine," in the vale ot

Kingwater, supplied the title to one of Sir Walter

Scott's poems ; but the once "lordly halls" are now

reduced to a mere fragment.

Like William Jackson of Kinneyside, Rowantree

was brought up a shepherd, and followed this

pastoral occupation, with scarcely a break in the

chain, throughout an extraordinarily prolonged life.

He stood fully six feet one inch, his general wrestling

weight being fourteen stones. " A lang-feac't,

strang, big-limb't man, carryin' varra lile flesh on

his beans," was the description given of Rowantree

by a brother athlete, who, like himself, had carried

off the head prize once from the Carlisle ring.

Litt speaks of him as attached to loose holds,

and as being an extremely awkward customer to

get at. It cannot be said that he was a quick,

good, scientific wrestler, being too strong limbed

and heavily built throughout, for excelling in these

requisites. Nevertheless, he had tremendous powers

128 ROBERT ROWANTREE OF KINGWATER.

when he could get them set agoing in full swing.

His famous cross-buttocks in the Carlisle and other

rings, which made men fly upwards, like a bull

tossing dogs, are spoken of to this day. When

young, like many another, Rowantree was such an

enthusiastic follower of the wrestling ring, that he

frequently went on foot twenty miles to wrestle in

the evening for a common leather belt, not worth

eighteen pence.

He won his first prize at "Mumps Ha'," Gilsland,

at that time a noted hedge ale-house, whereat border

farmers most of them nothing loth to spend a

jovial hour or two when happening to meet a neigh-

bour used to stop and refresh themselves with a

"pint" or two, and enjoy a "good crack." The

hostelry was at that time kept by a daughter of old

Margaret Teasdale, immortalized as "Mumps Meg,"

in Sir Walter Scott's Guy Mannering.

Rowantree afterwards attended some sports at

Stanners Burn, in North Tyne; and in the final

wrestle up, he came against an exceedingly powerful

man, named William Ward, a rustic Titan, with a

grip like a giant, resident in the neighbourhood. In

the previous rounds the stranger from Kingwater

had astonished the North Tyners, by disposing of

his men without the least difficulty. In the last

round, Ward lifted Rowantree clean off his feet,

and caused much amusement among the spectators

by crying out, whilst holding him in that position :

"Hey, lads! See! I can baud him, nool" No

ROBERT ROWANTREE OF KINGWATER. 12S>

sooner, however, did Rowantree set foot on terra

firma, than in an instant the position of the two

men was reversed, a sweeping cross-buttock sending

Ward's feet "fleein* i' the air," amid loud plaudits

the loser being sadly crestfallen by this unexpected

turn of the wheel.

As a general rule, Rowantree did not go far from

home to attend wrestling meetings ; his principal

ground being along the wild tract of Cumberland

lying to the north-east of Carlisle. Occasionally,

however, he strolled away from Kingwater and the

adjoining country. In the year 1810, he had a trip

"wid Nanny, the priest' son, o' Haltwhistle, ower

th' fells," to try his luck at the noted gathering,

known far and wide as "Melmerby Round." Along

with the priest's son a promising youth in his way

for "a bit of a spree" he entered his name. The

Haltwhistle youth came to grief in one of the early

rounds, being thrown by John Morton of Gamblesby

(father to Tom Morton of the Gale) ; but Rowan-

tree succeeded in working his way through the ring,

and carrying off the head prize.

We next come to record worse luck, in a match

with Thomas Golightly, a miner, who belonged to

the Butts, in Alston town. Rowantree, though a

much heavier and taller man, was overmatched

by the 'cute Alstonian, and had to succumb to

him. Golightly one of a wrestling family was a

thoroughly all-round, scientific, first-rate wrestler;

and though weighing only twelve stones, and

I. 9

130 ROBERT ROWANTREE OF KINGWATER.

standing five feet nine inches high, gained many

head prizes in the neighbourhood of Alston, Work-

ington, and Whitehaven. The match took place

probably at Alston sports, then held annually on

Easter Monday and Tuesday on the same days

that a two-days main of cocks was fought.

Rowan tree attended the first annual wrestling

meeting held at Carlisle, September, 1809, and in

the first round he threw Thomas Atkinson ; in the

second, one Younghusband, (who in the previous

round had thrown John Rowantree, a brother of

Robert.) In the third round, he had to face the

celebrated Thomas Nicholson of Threlkeld. The

first was a disputed fall ; but in the second, Tom

was easily victorious. At Carlisle, in 1810, Nicholson

again threw him.

Next year, John Richardson of Staffield Hall,

near Kirkoswald, gained the second prize on the

Swifts. For the first prize, he came against Rowan-

tree, and after one of the most desperate and

determined struggles ever seen in any ring, the

latter won with a half-buttock, after giving his

opponent a shake off the hip. In all the recorded

meetings of athletes in the rings of the north, it has

seldom happened that the spectators had the grati-

fication of witnessing two men step into the arena,

equal in stature and muscular power to Robert

Rowantree and John Richardson. The latter stood

six feet three inches high, and the former six feet

one inch. Both weighed upwards of fourteen stones,

ROBERT ROWANTREE OF KINGWATER. 131

and on stripping, presented remarkable specimens

of athletic formation. Armstrong, familiarly known

as the "Solid Yak," another gigantic Cumbrian, was

also grassed in the same entry, by Rowantree.

At Carlisle, in 1812, when James Scott, the

Canonbie man, won, we do not find that Rowantree

contended. No record is known to exist, giving

the names of those who entered for the prizes,

and, therefore, nothing definite can be stated.

The following extract from the Carlisle Journal,

will show that the prize twenty guineas given in

1813, was held to be something remarkable in

wrestling annals, and created a wide-spread sen-

sation throughout the north. At the present day,

a considerably larger sum is given; but whether

this profuse liberality has improved the morale of

the ring, is a very doubtful matter.

On Friday, the 8th of October, the great prize of twenty

guineas was wrestled for on the Swifts, in a roped ring of

seventy yards in diameter, in the presence of the largest

concourse of people we ever saw on a similar occasion.

Notwithstanding the day was extremely wet during the whole

of the contest, the curiosity that had been excited through all

ranks of society, overcame every obstacle ; and we were

happy to see on the ground the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquis

ofQueensberry, the Earl of Lonsdale, H. Fawcett, Esq.,M.P.,

together with a large number of gentlemen from all parts of

the county, and from Scotland, to witness one of the finest

exhibitions of activity, muscle, science, and resolution, ever

seen in the north of England. The wrestling was of the most

superior kind ; many of the combatants having been struck

by their antagonists from the ground upwards of five feet.

132 ROBERT ROWANTREE OF KINGWATER.

Robert Rowantree, the Cumberland shepherd, gained the

first prize, having thrown the noted William Richardson and

George Dennison, in two of the severest struggles we ever

saw. We are happy to add that their peaceable and civil

deportment to each other has been the subject of much

commendation.

On the morning of the wrestling, Rowantree

walked from Butterburn, a lone farm-stead, north-

east of Gilsland, and fully twenty miles from Carlisle,

as the crow flies ; and then wrestled through an

exceedingly strong ring a proof of lasting endu-

rance and pluck seldom parallelled. Seventy-two

men entered the ring for the head prize ; exactly

twenty-four more than in the previous year. In the

first round, Rowantree threw Joseph Richardson ;

in the second, James Gibson ; in the third, Thomas

Gillespie; in the fourth, William Earl of Cumwhitton;

in the fifth, George Dennison of Stainton ; and in

the final fall, William Richardson of Caldbeck.

It is somewhat singular that Rowantree, an enthu-

siastic follower of wrestling, should not again enter

the ring of the Border City, or, indeed, any other

ring, where winning might be considered to confer

distinction. Soon after achieving at Carlisle, the

highest distinction k wrestler can attain, he won his

last belt in the same arena where he gained his first

one at "Mumps Ha'," Gilsland. He got the belt

without contesting a single fall ; no one thinking

proper to try the chance of a single tussle with him.

Shepherding was his daily pursuit during the

ROBERT ROWANTREE OF KINGWATER. 133

greater part of a long life; and at times he per-

formed some extraordinary feats of pedestrianism.

We regret, however, being unable to give exact

data of the time and distances. They would have

been interesting additions to his wrestling career.

For many years he lived on an extensive sheep

farm at Wiley Syke, near Gilsland, with one of his

brothers. During the great storm of November,

1807, when the snow drifted in some places to the

depth of nine and ten feet, Rowantree's brother

John, lost four-score sheep, and at one time upwards

of two hundred more were missing. A neighbouring

shepherd, named James Coulthard, perished in

attempting to fold his sheep in Scott-Coulthard's

Waste.

At one time, Rowantree was tempted to enter

the service of the Earl of Carlisle, as a game-watcher,

on the Naworth Castle estates, and continued to be

so occupied "a canny bit."

When more than four-score years old, Rowantree

went to live with a relative Mr. Wanless, of the

Bay Horse inn, Haltwhistle under whose roof he

spent the last twelve years of his life ; and died

there in April, 1873, at the patriarchal age of

ninety-four. Some nine or ten months before the

latter end the final closing scene of a long life

he " hed sair croppen in," and was in fact nearly

bent double. But previous to that time, his appear-

ance was so fresh and animated, his step so firm

and active, his intellect and memory so clear and

134r ROBERT ROWANTREE OF KINGWATER.

retentive, that no stranger would have taken him to

be anything like his real age.

While living at Haltwhistle, if the old Kingwater

athlete could only manage to fall in with any

wrestling, dog-trailing, or hunting, or could get off

shooting with a dog and gun, either by himself or

in company, he was in the height of his glory.

When sitting by the side of a wrestling ring, during

this latter period of his life, as an onlooker, it was

only natural he should become garrulous, and

almost, as a matter of course, cynical in his remarks.

* : Sec bits o' shafflin' things," he used to say, " git

prizes noo-a-days ! If they'd been leevin' lang syne,

we wad ha' thrown them ower th' dyke !" At other

times, when a wrestler had laid down in favour of

an opponent, he would exclaim : " Ah ! ah ! that

wullent dea at aw, lads ! Theer was nea sec lyin'

doon i' my time. It was aw main-strength an' hard

wark, than !"

John Stanyan Bigg's rhyme, in the Furness

dialect, slightly altered, presents a very apt picture

of Robert Rowantree, as a cheerful and hearty old

man, verging on ninety years :

Auld Robin Rowantree was stordy and strang ;

Auld Robin Rowantree was six feet lang ;

He was first at a weddin', an' last at a fair,

He was t' jolliest of aw, whoiver was there ;

For he keep't a lad's heart in his wizzen'd auld skin,

And work'd out his woes as last as they wer' in ;

Ye'd niver believe he'd iver seen trouble,

Tho' at times t' auld fellow was amaist walkin' double.

135

WILLIAM DICKINSON

OF ALSTON.

ALSTON, the capital of a lead-mining district of East

Cumberland, stands very conspicuously perched on

the side of a hill, overlooking the river Tyne, which

flows eastward through a narrow valley below, on

its course to the populous towns of Hexham, New-

castle, and Shields, and is then lost in the German

Ocean. The miniature town of Alston has a

market cross of the quaintest order, and a main

street so "brant" and twisting, that strangers watch

with amazement the ascent and descent of any kind

' of conveyance or vehicle, which may chance to be

stirring. As a people, the Alstonians are thoughtful,

studious, and intelligent. There are few places in

Britain where a healthful class of literature, and

general knowledge, are sought after with greater

avidity, than by the mining population of the town

and neighbourhood.

At one time the district was fruitful in producing

good wrestlers. Thomas Lee, the publican, Jemmy

Fawcett of Nenthead, powerful John Horsley, Tom

and Frank Golightly, William Dickinson, Tom

Todd of Knarsdale, and other stars of lesser

136 WILLIAM DICKINSON OF ALSTON.

magnitude, rose and set in succession. At a period

after those enumerated, the neighbouring valley of

Weardale was equally celebrated in the production

of a whole host of good wrestlers. Among them

may be noted, John Milburn, Tom Robson, James

Pattinson, John Emmerson, Joseph Allison, and

many others. And we can bear testimony to their

general conduct in the ring as being eminently

praiseworthy.

WILLIAM DICKINSON was born at Spency-croft,

near Alston, about the year 1792, and brought up

in Alston town. He followed the trade or occu-

pation of a lead miner. In height, he stood five

feet ten-and-a-half inches, and weighed fully thirteen

stones. In appearance, there was every indication

of a stout compact built man, well made from top

to toe, with nothing cumbersome about him. He

had fine expansive shoulders, good loins, and was

rather light built about the limbs. He usually

appeared in the ring, dressed in a pair of Cashmere

trousers, light coloured stockings, and high tied

shoes. Though a great enthusiast at wrestling,

Dickinson was generally considered to be indifferent

about other recreations, and was rather easy about

following his daily occupation very closely. Some

of the more pugnacious Alstonians tried various

means to get him enlisted among them as a fighter,

but in this they were disappointed. "D n thy

snoot !" shouted a jeering comrade to him one

day, "thoo can grip a chap's back smart eneuf;

WILLIAM DICKINSON OF ALSTON. 137

but thoo darn't hit a body for thy life ! Thoo's far

ower muckle shoo'der-bund for a trick like that !"

Dickinson's career proved to be exceedingly brief,

and few particulars are now remembered respecting

him. While still in his teens, he excelled in his own

neighbourhood as a strong athlete, and succeeded

in carrying off several minor prizes. We cannot

learn whether he attended the then noted gather-

ings at Melmerby or Langwathby. However, in

October, 1812, when twenty years old, we find him

figuring at a great meeting held at Penrith, where

a sum of fifteen guineas, subscribed for by the Earl

of Lonsdale, Squire Hasell of Dalemain, and

others, was given to contend for. From the first to

the third round, Dickinson threw Thomas Parker

of Pallethill, John Nicholson of Threlkeld, and

John Harrison of Horrock-wood, and was himself

toppled over in the fourth round by some one

whose name is not now known. The head prize

ten guineas was won by John Parker of Sparkgate,

and the second by James Lancaster of Catterlan.

In 1813 the following year Dickinson attended

the Carlisle wrestlings, where he attained consider-

able distinction. For the head prize, he threw <

Thomas Graham, Robert Forster, and Frank

Watson. In the fourth round, he was thrown by

Samuel Jameson of Penrith. On the second day,

the young Alstonian beat down all opposition, and

carried off the chief prize amid great applause. He

threw in quick succession, and in a masterly manner

138 WILLIAM DICKINSON OF ALSTON.

the following men, namely John Forster, John

Hope, Robert Forster, Simon Armstrong, and, in

the final fall, John Lowden of Keswick, a really

formidable opponent.

In 1814, he attained the highest wrestling dis-

tinction, by carrying off the head prize at Carlisle.

It was calculated, from the amount of money

taken at the gate, that not less than 15,000 people

witnessed the wrestling on the Swifts. The meeting

was disgraced by one pugilistic encounter, which

did take place, and by the foreshadowing of another

which did not take place. It appears a match had

been arranged between Carter, a Lancashire man, and

one Cooper, both professional boxers. The latter,

for some cause or other, did not turn up, and

Carter gave an exhibition of pugilistic science, in a

large room at the Blue Bell inn, in the presence of

the Marquis of Queensberry and a crowd of people,

drawn by curiosity to witness the performance.

The fight which did take place, was for a purse

of thirty-five guineas, between two local men Tom

Ridley, seaman, a native of Carlisle, commonly

known as the "glutton," and Tom Nicholson of

Threlkeld, wrestler. The battle was fought in a

roped ring on the Swifts, used for wrestling. The

severe blows dealt by the "glutton," told much in

his favour, while Nicholson baffled and punished

his opponent materially, by bringin \ him frequently

to mother earth, with a heavy "soss." After the

contest had lasted for half-an-hour the Threlkeld

WILLIAM DICKINSON OF ALSTON. 139

man being much punished about the head, and

Ridley about the body the constables interfered

and put an end to the combat.

We gladly resume our account of the wrestling.

Sixty-six men entered the ring, to compete for

various prizes. Dickinson came upon the Swifts in

excellent trim, looking every inch a man as he

stripped for the contest. Although Tom Nicholson,

William Richardson, Robert Rowantree, John Earl,

and James Scott, failed to put in an appearance,

still a good field of dangerous hands met to

contend.

In the first and second rounds, Dickinson threw

John Baillie and John Routledge ; and in the third

had a keenly contested struggle with John Watson

a well known athlete in the early annals of the

Carlisle ring and succeeded in throwing him.

Among others who came to grief in the third round

were Tom Richardson, " the Dyer" then a strip-

ling in his teens, and Joseph Bird of Holm Wrangle.

Turning out as fresh as a lark, in the fourth round,

Dickinson grassed William Ward; and in the

fifth, James Routledge; the latter of whom had

previously done good service by disposing of John

Nicholson of Threlkeld, William Earl of Cum-

whitton, and Joseph Peart. In the sixth round, the

hero of the day was fortunate enough to be odd

man ; and then at the last faced George Dennison,

(who had previously carried off William Slee of

Dacre, with a clean hype.) The final fall was a

140 WILLIAM DICKINSON OF ALSTON.

singular one. "Dennison," says Litt, "threw in

his left side with much force, intending to buttock

his opponent ; Dickinson left go, and Dennison,

disappointed of his object, staggered forward a

considerable distance, but could not save himself

from going down on his hands, otherwise he would

have won the fall, as he had preserved his hold."

The head prize a belt, and eight bright guineas

was then handed to Dickinson, amid much

cheering, especially from the Alstonians, and some

commotion from the disappointed friends and

admirers of Dennison.

After tracing Dickinson's career, until his brow

was decked with the green bay of victory, in

the foremost wrestling ring of the kingdom, there

ensues a sudden collapse. The Carlisle ring of

1814, was probably the last one in which he

figured, for afterwards we lose sight of him alto-

gether as a wrestler.

About this date he married Sarah Eals, of Alston,

innkeeper, who proved a shrew. Not living happily

with her, and being himself a man who loved

quietude and peace of mind, more than strife and

contention, he left both the neighbourhood and

his shrewish partner behind him, somewhat sud-

denly, and went into Scotland, where he lived

for some time employed as a gamekeeper. He

afterwards emigrated to America; and although

doomed to be an exile from Alston and his native

district, it is said he returned again to England,

and died many years ago.

141

GEORGE DENNISON

OF PENRITH.

FOR more than thirty years from 1808 to 1840

George Dennison was a well-known character in the

north ; trusted and esteemed by all classes as a

skilful bone-setter, all over Cumberland, West-

morland, and a great part of North Lancashire.

Whenever a bad case of broken limbs or

dislocated joint befel an unfortunate individual,

throughout this wide district, the first move in

most cases was either to, "Send for Dennison,"

or else, " We must go to Penrith."

He succeeded Benjamin Taylor, another dis-

tinguished bone-setter, who sprang from New

Church in Matterdale. Dennison, we believe,

originally entered Taylor's service in the capacity

of a servant, and was often called in to assist in

holding patients. Being of a shrewd and observant

disposition, he picked up many points connected

with bone-setting, and soon became very useful to

his master. At that time Taylor had a pupil under

his charge, as stolid and slow at learning as any

one well could be. It was hard work to get any-

thing driven into his dull pate. Taylor often lost

temper altogether, and used to exclaim : " Thoo

142 GEORGE DENNISON OF PENRITH.

blinnd divel ! thoo can see nowte nowte at aw ;

an' theer' tudder chap actually larnin' faster than

I larn't mysel' ! I can keep nowte frae him /"

Dennison practised bone-setting for a life-time,

throughout the north, with great success. And by

concentrating his skill on one particular branch, he

out-distanced the whole of the college-tutored

doctors, far and near.

" Cocking" was then a pastime much followed,

and Benjamin Taylor's breed of game cocks were

noted for their fighting properties. They were,

however, (says Professor Wilson,) outmatched when

sent over to Westmorland to fight in a main at

Elleray. Several of the Dennison family, too,

about that date, were likewise great "cockers."

William Dennison, uncle to the bone-setter, by

trade a nailer, figured conspicuously for several

years at the Easter fights held at Alston.

GEORGE DENNISON was born and brought up

at Penrith, one of the pleasantest small towns in

the north country. In height, he stood five feet

nine-and-a-half inches, and weighed fully thirteen

stones; all over an athlete in appearance, a compact

and well made man. He was an excellent striker

with the right leg, effective with the "hench," and

clever, also, at hyping. The most successful feat

he achieved in the ring, was at Carlisle, in 1814,

when he 'wrestled up with Dickinson of Alston ;

and at the same meeting, carried off chief prize on

the second day. He did not continue to follow

GEORGE DENNISON OF PENRITH. 143

wrestling for any lengthened period, but wisely

kept an eye steadily towards the vocation for which

he was so eminently fitted.

He figured more as an amateur in the ring than

as a professional, especially after the excitable

youthful stage was passed. At an early period in

the outset of his career, he distinguished himself

by throwing the noted John Harrison of New

Church, Matterdale, twice in the wrestle up at some

neighbouring country sports ; and at Morland,

in Westmorland, he threw Savage of Bolton, near

Appleby, who was at one time looked upon as the

don of a wide country-side.

In July, 1812, there was a great gathering at the

village of Newbiggin, a place which had become

famous for the keen rivalry displayed at its annual

wrestling contests. In this year, Armstrong, better

known as "Solid Oak," (provincially "Solid Yak,")

put in an appearance, and came swaggering into

the ring on the village green, boasting he would

soon clear the deck for them. On stripping,

he presented a gigantic mass of humanity, that

certainly looked exceedingly formidable. He

stood upwards of six feet, weighed fully eighteen

stones, was solidly built from head to foot, and

apparently carried no superfluous flesh. But as

the Fates would have it, bounce and swagger,

height and weight, and amazing strength, all proved

of no avail in the scales, for in one of the early

rounds, the "Yak tree" was dexterously carried off

144 GEORGE DENNISON OF PENRITH.

by the valiant bone-setter, and grassed amid the loud

taunts and jeers of the assembled villagers. At the

Penrith gathering, in October following, Dennison,

then of Sockbridge, threw David Harrison of New

Church, in the first round, and was thrown next

time over by Joseph Bellas of Parkhouse.

We have no list to show that Dennison attended

the Carlisle meeting in 1812, but the following

year his achievements were very creditable. He

wrestled successfully, for the head prize, as far as

the fifth round, throwing in succession Robert

Cowan, George Young, John Glendinning, and

Robert Langhorn, and after one of the severest

struggles on record was brought to grass by one

of Robert Rowantree's slaughtering cross-buttocks.

In the second round, two young men, Tom Rich-

ardson, "the Dyer," and George Forster one of

three brothers, all wrestlers were drawn together.

The "Dyer" buttocked his opponent, and, in the

fall, Forster unfortunately had his shoulder dislo-

cated. Dennison being in attendance, there was

no need to send for any bungling practitioner,

or even to convey the sufferer off the Swifts.

The work of setting the shoulder to rights, in the

presence of 12,000 wondering spectators, was not

of long duration, and the operation so successfully

performed, that Forster could hardly be restrained

from trying his luck for the minor prize.

On the second day, at Carlisle, Dennison, in the

second round, threw George Little, a clever scientific

GEORGE DENNISON OF PENRITH. 145

wrestler, but immediately after, had to succumb to

the superior strength and weight of John Lowden

of Keswick.

In 1814, Dennison made his last and most

successful appearance in the Carlisle ring. He

had worked himself through the three first rounds,

for the head prize, without meeting with anything

like a dangerous rival. In the fourth, he came

against his fellow-townsman, Samuel Jameson, a

cartwright, considered to be one of the best of his

trade in the county. He was a strong, bony, five

feet ten man, an extremely dangerous customer to

deal with. His fame as a wrestler has, however,

been totally eclipsed by that of his son, William

Jameson, the champion of a later period. Having

successfully disposed of Jameson, Dennison next

came in contact with another equally good man, in

the person of William Slee of Dacre, and proved

again victorious. The next and final struggle

occurred with William Dickinson of Alston. A

reference to a description of the fall, a few pages

back, in Dickinson's memoir, will show how the

head prize was lost to Dennison, by the merest

accidental slip on his part.

Having missed first honours, he resolved to fight

hard and perseveringly for the second prize. This

was won bravejy. Only eighteen wrestlers entered

the ring, and the men who competed in the last

two rounds, with the victor, were Joseph Peart and

Francis Wilson, the latter named being second.

I. 10

146 GEORGE DENNISON OF PENRITH.

After the year 1814, Dennison then about thirty

years old determined to bid farewell to the

wrestling ring, excepting sometimes trying. an odd

bout when officiating in the capacity of umpire.

An increasing profession engrossed his attention,

and he began to stick more assiduously to it. It

is not often that talent is hereditary, but in the

Dennison family it proved to be eminently so.

His sons, George, John, and Joseph, have all

distinguished themselves in the same honourable

vocation.

The cures that Dennison wrought in bone-setting

were numerous and effective, and it is almost

needless to remark, conferred more honour and

distinction on him than any success gained in the

wrestling arena. One remarkable cure may be

mentioned ; and as it was wrought on one of our

most renowned wrestlers, it will fit in appropriately.

Richard Chapman, when between ten and eleven

years old, had a thigh bone badly broken. As a

matter of course, Dennison was sent for, and the

cure effected was simply perfection. Any one

seeing the fine elastic form and marvellous activity

of Chapman, would hardly imagine or give credence

to the fact, that a few years before he had had a

broken thigh bone. George Dennison, sitting or

standing, as the case might be, among the multitude

round a wrestling ring, and delightedly witnessing

the Patterdale champion, tossing about his oppo-

nents like shuttlecocks, with a science and activity

GEORGE DENNISON OF PENRITH. 147

rarely paralleled, used to exclaim, in the well

understood vernacular of the north : " Leiik, lads,

leuk ! Theer' yan o' my cures of a brokken thie' !"

At the Keswick annual sports, held in Crow

Park, in 1833, a somewhat singular coincidence

occurred the meeting of two athletes, and both

of them indebted to Dennison for being able to

appear. John Spedding of Egremont, a clever

wrestler, and Richard Chapman, were called to-

gether. Now, it so happened, the former had

had a dislocated hip-joint set to rights by

Dennison, just about the same time the accident

occurred to the latter. Some little excitement was

caused by these two stripping into the ring in

perfect form, when they doubtless presented a

gratifying spectacle to the skilful bone-setter, who

was among the throng of onlookers : "Noo, than!"

he exclaimed, " leuk at my twea men. I'll bet on

brokken thie'-bean, agekn hip-joint !" His opinion

was quickly corroborated. "Thie'-bean" won

cleverly, and afterwards disposed of John Nichol

of Bothel, a formidable opponent, in the final

fall, for the head prize. The winner then went to

Greystoke, and won both the wrestling and high

jumping ; a neighbouring squire asserting : " Upon

my word, Chapman can jump higher than any

horse I have !"

Twenty years or more had elapsed, since Den-

nison and William Richardson of Caldbeck, had

been brought to grief, in the Carlisle ring, by the

H8 GEORGE DENNISON OF PENRITH.

Kingwater champion, Rowantree, when they met

by chance at Springfield, on the road between

Penrith and Keswick. The latter was returning

homewards from Patterdale sheep fair. It so

happened that both were rather "fresh i' drink."

Nothing would do but they must have a fall or two.

Each got one, when Dennison complained his arm

was lamed. One of the byestanders, chaffing him,

said : "It maks nea matter, Gwordie, aboot thy

arm ! If it is brokken, thoo can seun set it

agean, thoo knows ! "

The two veterans chatted over old times, and

Dennison working himself up to boiling point,

in reference to the Carlisle wrestling of 1813,

exclaimed : "Wully ! we sud beath been weel bray't

aw t' way heam, for lettin' greit Robin Row'ntree

fell us. Confoond the numskull ! Efter he'd

carriet me off, I dud think 'at thoo wad ha' stopt

his gallop for him ! "

George Dennison justly regretted throughout

the north died May, 1840, aged fifty -five years.

149

JAMES ROBINSON

OF HACKTHORPE.

CARLISLE, the principal, the most influential and

attractive wrestling ring in Cumberland and West-

morland, and the Lowther family the leading one

of the two counties were /or a considerable period

closely allied. William, Earl of Lonsdale, was a

most munificent patron of the ring, from its com-

mencement in 1809, and for fully a quarter of a

century afterwards. On several occasions, this

nobleman subscribed the sum of twenty guineas,

the full amount of prizes then given at the Border

city; besides holding meetings at Clifton, near

Lowther, and other places, for the entertainment of

his guests. It is not to be wondered at, therefore,

that his gamekeepers, wood-foresters, hinds, grooms,

and other domestics, should be sometimes found

practising the art and mystery of buttocking, hyping,

swinging, and back-heeling, on sunny evenings in

summer, under the shadow of some stately oak or

sycamore, in the park surrounding Lowther Castle.

Of JAMES ROBINSON, one of the Earl of Lons-

dale's gamekeepers, we have not been able to glean

many particulars. He was a stout built, muscular

man, rather low set, stood about five feet ten inches

150 JAMES ROBINSON OF HACKTHORPE.

high, and weighed fully fourteen stones. He

became a clever and effective buttocker; but

excelled, we understand, more in defence, and as a

stiff sturdy stander in the ring, than from any great

amount of science he possessed.

The earliest mention of Robinson, as a wrestler,

which we can find, occurs at the great gathering at

Penrith in 1812. In the first round there, he

threw one J. Graham of Thomas Close, but owing

to imperfect reporting, his name does not appear

again in the list.

In 1815, the Committee of the Carlisle wrestling

ring circulated the following advertisement through-

out Cumberland, Westmorland, and the northern

counties :

TWENTY GUINEAS. To be Wrestled for at the Carlisle

Races, on Wednesday, the 4th of October, 1815, the sum of

Twenty Guineas, in the following Prizes : First Prize,

8. 8. o. (He that wrestles the last fall with the winner to

receive i. I. o.) Every wrestler, who throws his man in

the first wrestle, will be permitted to contend for the second

class of prizes, with the exception of the winner of the first

prize, in whose place a wrestler will be chosen by the Clerk,

to make the dividing number even.

Second Prizes : First, 4. 4. o. ; Second, 2. 2. o. ;

Third, i. II. 6.; Fourth, i. n. 6.; Fifth, IDS. 6d. ;

Sixth, IDS. 6d. ; Seventh, los. 6d. ; Eighth, IDS. 6d.

No person to be permitted to contend for any of the above

prizes, unless he enrols his name with the Clerk, on the

Swifts, before ten o'clock in the morning of the said 4th of

October next, as the wrestling will commence precisely at

that hour. Any person making the least disturbance, or

attempting to force the ring, will be taken into custody, as

JAMES ROBINSON OF HACKTHORPE. 151

constables will be specially appointed for that purpose. All

disputes to be determined by Joseph Richardson, Esq.,

umpire.

The weather during the races proved exceedingly

favourable, and the ground was in excellent con-

dition. A greater concourse of people assembled

than had been seen for years. The leading families

of the two counties were represented. There were

the Lowthers, the Vanes, the Grahams of Netherby

and Edmund Castle, the Broughams, the Salkelds,

the Crackenthorpes, the Senhouses, the Briscoes,

the Hasells, the Wyberghs, and others.

Sixty-eight men entered the wrestling ring to

contend for the principal prize. Included in the

list were a fair sprinkling of old veterans, and a

whole bevy of young aspirants of considerable

promise; namely, Robinson of Hackthorpe, (his

first appearance, we believe,) William Slee of Dacre,

Tom Todd of Knarsdale, Tom Richardson "the

Dyer," Joe Abbot of Thornthwaite-hall, Andrew

Armstrong of Sowerby-hall, Thomas Peat of Blen-

cow, Thomas Armstrong, the "yak tree," and the

three Forsters of Penton, being among the number.

Robinson entered the ring in excellent spirits, and

threw his men generally very cleanly and cleverly.

In the first round, he gained an easy victory over

John Copley. The next time over, in coming

against Armstrong, the "yak tree," all his activity

and skill had to be brought into play, before

the compressed mass of eighteen stones could be

152 JAMES ROBINSON OF HACKTHORPE.

brought to grass. In the third round, he toppled

over Edward Forster of Penton, in capital style;

and, in the fourth round, James Richardson of

Hesket-New-Market, brother to "the Dyer." The

fifth time over, George Forster, another of the

Penton brothers, (who had thrown Tom Todd in

the previous round,) came quickly to grief, under

the gamekeeper's brisk fire. Up to this point the

Hackthorpe man had shown some really good

play; but, says the Carlisle Patriot, before the final

struggle commenced, Robinson and William Slee

of Dacre had agreed to divide the first prize between

them, so that they only played for honour. The

"honour" of carrying off the head prize then fell

to Robinson's share.

On New Year's day, 1816, the annual meeting at

Langwathby was numerously attended. A con-

tributor to one of the local papers says: "Most

of the distinguished wrestlers of Cumberland and

Westmorland were on the ground, and there never

was displayed more skill in the art of wrestling

than on this occasion. James Robinson, the noted

champion, who won the first prize at Carlisle races,

was also successful at Langwathby, and we think

he bids fair to excel any man in the kingdom, in

this species of amusement. He is a strong-boned,

athletic man, but not tall. Before the wrestling

commenced, considerable bets were made : the

east against the west side of the Eden, which was

won by the latter. The purse contended for, was

JAMES ROBINSON OF HACKTHORPE. 153

two guineas. It is intended next year to give a

much larger sum, as Langwathby is likely to become

a distinguished place for wrestling, being situated in

a neighbourhood abounding in first-rate players."

In October, 1816, Robinson again attended the

Carlisle meeting. Owing to being the victor of the

previous year, a high chair was placed for him to

sit upon, from which elevated position he com-

manded an uninterrupted view of the various falls.

Entering his name among the contending parties,

he threw Joseph Batey, in the first round ; Joseph

Brown, in the second ; and William Rome in the

third round. Coming against a miller, named

William Clark "a tight built lal fellow" from

Hesket-New-Market, in the fourth time over, Rob-

inson was very adroitly brought to the ground,

amid the deafening cheers of the assembled crowd.

No sooner had Clark achieved this unexpected feat,

than he created much laughter by marching up to

the place of honour, with a dignified swagger,

saying, as he sat down : " I think I's fairly entitled

tiv a seat i' t' chair, noo, when I've thrown the greit

champion ! "

The wrestling at Carlisle in 1817, was held in

Shearer's Circus and not on the Swifts as previ-

ously when James Robinson, Tom Todd, John

Mc.Laughlan, and John Liddle, were looked upon

as the principal champions. As it turned out,

however, Mc.Laughlan stalked through the ring an

easy victor, none of the other three mentioned

154 JAMES ROBINSON OF HACKTHORPE.

being able to make any headway against the

enormous reach and height of the Dovenby giant.

This is the last record known to us of the Hack-

thorpe gamekeeper as a wrestler.

Robinson has been described by those who

knew him, as a sturdy bullet-headed sort of fellow,

whose ideas seldom soared above the velveteen

coat and corduroy-trouser order of mortals ; a rare

hand at either creating a row or quelling one;

probably more accustomed to the former than the

latter. Nevertheless, he is still remembered in his

capacity of gamekeeper, as being an active and

trustworthy servant to the Earl of Lonsdale : a

terror to all midnight prowlers and others addicted

to trespassing among the game preserves at Lowther.

He took a prominent part in suppressing a riot

among the navvies employed in making the new

road near Lowther, about 1818 or 1819.

As Robinson advanced in years, intemperate

habits appear to have gained upon him ; and for

some time he led an irregular, harum-scarum sort

of life. He either possessed an estate, or had

some interest in one, at Hackthorpe, near Lowther,

which he sold, and then foolishly set to work and

squandered the money. Ultimately, he became

reduced to considerable destitution, and at times

fell into such sad states of despair, that one can

easily conceive of similar thoughts passing through

his mind, to those embodied in Miss Powley's

pathetic ballad, " The Brokken Statesman " :

JAMES ROBINSON OF HACKTHORPE. 155

O, the fule rackle days ! when in wild outwart ways,

I spent time but i' daftness, wi' raff an' expense.

Then the auld land's neglect, an' my friends' lost respect,

While I scworned to tek counsel I ne'er rued but yence !

When drink bed browt sorrow fresh money to borrow,

Wi' deep debt o' the riggin', puir crops o' the hill ;

Wi' life at the barest, heart sorrow fell sairest ;

Yet e'en then I thowt Cummerland caps them aw still.

In November, 1834, James Robinson was found

drowned in Armathwaite bay, eight or nine miles

from Penrith, and about the same distance from

Carlisle. The waters being very full at the time, it

was presumed he had missed his way in the dark,

and fallen into the river Lowther, near Brougham

a tributary of the Eden. An inquest was held

upon the body, but no evidence appeared to the

jurors as to how or by what means he was drowned.

At the time of this unfortunate event, Robinson

was forty-five years old.

156

THOMAS RICHARDSON

OF HESKET-NEW-MARKET.

THOMAS RICHARDSON, commonly known as "the

Dyer," one of thirteen children, was born at Cald-

beck, about the year 1796, and brought up in the

neighbouring village of Hesket-New-Market, situate

between Penrith and Wigton.

Richardson's father held situations at Rose

Castle, under Bishops Vernon and Goodenough.

The latter prelate, taking an interest in the welfare

of young Richardson, sent him to be educated,

under the Rev. John Stubbs, formerly master of

Sebergham grammar school ; a man of considerable

classical attainments, and of a very jovial dispo-

sition. The bishop intended his protege for the

Church ; and, to attain such distinction, most of

our readers will be aware, was the anxious hope of

many middle-class families in Cumberland and

Westmorland. In this case, the wish and aspiration

were destined not to bear fruit. The lad steadily

rejected all offers of advancement in that direction,

his own oft expressed wish being to be brought up

to husbandly, and to excel as an athlete. While

the father and mother were not averse to his

following agricultural pursuits, they were strongly

THOMAS RICHARDSON 157

against his wrestling proclivities. Whenever such

gatherings were attended, the youngster had to

"slipe off" unknown to his parents.

On arriving at maturity, Richardson developed

into a fine manly-looking man, standing five feet

eleven inches high, and weighing from thirteen to

thirteen-and-a-half stones, with broad massive chest,

good length of arm, and strongly built throughout.

In the ring, he excelled greatly at hyping, and if

this chanced to miss, generally followed up with

the "ham."

The question has often been asked, how Richard-

son came to be familiarly spoken of as "the Dyer."

It occurred after this manner. In the parish of

Caldbeck, there happened to be several families,

at one time, of the same name. This rendered it

necessary to distinguish them by such appellations

as "Fiddler Richardson," "Dyer Richardson,"

and "oald Jwohn Richardson" the last named

being "Belted Will's" father. John Richardson,

Tom's grandfather, was a dyer at Caldbeck, and

became much famed for his blue dyes. At that

time, blue-and-white checked shirts were generally

worn in country districts, by middle and lower class

persons ; and the women donned blue linen aprons,

and blue linsey skirts. These now disused and

durable fabrics, were manufactured extensively at

Ulverston, Kendal, and, on a lesser scale, at many

other places in the north. It was a sine qua non

that the blue colours should be "fast."

158 THOMAS RICHARDSON

John Richardson served his apprenticeship in

Kendal, under the Wakefields, and was there

during the rebellion of '"45." When the first

section of the Pretender's army retreated northwards

through Kendal, it was market-day, and as a matter

of course, a multitude of people were collected

together, who mobbed the rear-guard of the troops.

During the excitement which prevailed, one of

Wakefield's dyers seized a gun belonging to a High-

lander, and boldly and determinedly wrenched it

from his grasp. This only proved the forerunner

of more direful onslaughts. As the rebels were

turning down the Fish-market, a musket shot fired

from a window above, brought one of them lifeless

from his horse, and two others were taken prisoners.

Being thus provoked, the Highlanders turned about

and fired on the multitude. A farmer, named John

Slack, of New Hutton, was killed in the open street;

and a shoemaker, and an ostler, were seriously

wounded. When the Duke of Cumberland's army

had passed through Kendal, John Richardson

having proved himself a trustworthy servant was

decorated with a cockade, and employed to carry

despatches between the Wakefields and Colonel

Honey wood, who was wounded in the skirmish on

Clifton Moor, near Penrith.

In after life, Tom Richardson's father kept an

inn, and the blue flag which floated over his tent

at wrestling and other meetings, was the means of

indicating his whereabouts to friends and cus-

tomers.

OF HESKET-NEW-MARKET. 159

In the year 1813, when Richardson was about

seventeen years old, he felt a strong desire to attend

the races and wrestling at Carlisle. His father

being much against the outing, some bickering took

place between them. However, after breakfast, on

the morning of the races, watching his opportunity,

the lad slipped out unseen, and had to run part of

the way, in order to be in time the full distance

to the border city being something like thirteen

miles. Reaching Carlisle, he succeeded in getting

his name entered for the head prize. This effected,

he was soon called out against Joseph Slack of

Blencow, a skilful wrestler, but getting past the

meridian. After an exciting tussle, the youngster

proved victorious. Next time over, he met George

Forster of Denton, and buttocked him cleverly.

Forster's shoulder was unfortunately put out in the

fall, but set again quickly, as described in the

sketch of George Dennison's career. In the third

round, Richardson's further progress was cut short

by one Robert Langhorn. Our youthful aspirant

for fame, then entered for the second day's prize,

but was thrown in the second round, by Simon

Armstrong.

The following year 1814 he again attended

the Carlisle wrestling, and met with about similar

success as before. For the head prize, Samuel

Jameson of Penrith disposed of him in the third

round. In the second day's entry, William Slee of

Dacre did the same in the first round.

160 THOMAS RICHARDSON

In 1815, the "Dyer" appeared in the Carlisle

ring for the third time. He threw Andrew Arm-

strong of Sowerby-hall, in the second round ; and

was thrown next time over by Tom Todd of

Knarsdale, near Alston. For the second day's

prize, he disposed in succession of his neighbour,

William Clark, the miller, Joe Abbot of Thorn-

thwaite-hall, and Robert Forster of Denton; and

was brought to grief by Edward Forster, a brother

of the last mentioned.

The weather at the Carlisle meeting held in

September, 1816, turned out to be extremely wet

and uncomfortable, on both first and second days.

As a natural consequence, there was a much thinner

attendance than ordinary. The Earl of Lonsdale,

the Marquis of Queensberry, Sir Philip Musgrave,

and others of the nobility and neighbouring gentry,

were present ; but after the first day, scarcely any

equipages, and very few ladies, were to be seen on

the course. There was a fair average of good men

entered ; but the account we have to give of the

wrestling is conflicting and unsatisfactory, presenting

a finish lame and impotent in the extreme.

In the first and second rounds, Richardson was

called out against John Earl of Cumwhitton, and

John Weightman, respectively. He succeeded in

throwing both of these formidable antagonists.

The former was an old veteran in the Carlisle ring,

and the latter a powerful young man of twenty-one,

with an eventful career before him. In the fourth

OF HESKET-XEW-MARKET. 161

round, Richardson and Joseph Graham were drawn

together, and had an unsatisfactory bout. Res-

pecting this fall, Litt says : "Being a spectator that

year, we do not hesitate to say that the conduct of

the umpires was extremely blameable. In the

course of the wrestling, a fall between Thomas

Richardson of Hesket, and Joseph Graham from

Ravenglass, was given to the former. We assert

that Graham was not allowed a fair hold, that it

was a manifest snap, and after all it was a complete

dog-fall. On wrestling when there were but four

slanders, Richardson was indisputably thrown ; but

such was the gross partiality shown towards him,

that he was allowed to compound with the person

who threw him." Disposing of George Coulthard,

in the fifth round, Richardson was then called

against Tom Todd of Knarsdale, to wrestle the

final fall.

As a somewhat different statement has been sent

abroad in Wrestliana, we think it only right that

the " Dyer's" own plea should be set forth. Well,

after Todd and he had stood fronting one another,

in the ring, for some time, but had not been in

holds, '"turney" Pearson called Richardson to one

side, and offered him a considerable sum of money

if he would only take his coat, go out of the ring,

and say he ''darrent russel," or he "dudn't want

to russel." To this proposal, Richardson indig-

nantly replied : " No ! I'll nowder dezl sec a lilce

thing for yee, nor nivver a man i' Carel toon ! " It

I. 11

162 THOMAS RICHARDSON

was currently reported, by the way, that Pearson

had bet a good deal Todd would win the prize.*

After some further squabbling, a row took place,

and the ring was completely broken up.

It was then given out that the two men were

to wrestle next morning the following day being

Thursday. When Thursday morning, however,

came, the meeting was put off till next morning.

When Friday came, it was again put off, on account

of the great fight between Carter and Oliver, at

Gretna. Richardson stayed three whole days in

Carlisle, over the affair, and never received a penny!

Whatever "gross partiality" might be shown towards

him in wrestling through the ring, he seems only to

have fared badly in the end. Let those who can,

answer for the treatment he received. The second

prize advertised by the Carlisle wrestling committee,

curiously enough, was not contended for at all ;

why so, was best known to the committee them-

selves.

During the years 1817-18-19-20, there was no

wrestling at Carlisle, in connection with the races.

* Henry Pearson, solicitor, was a rare upholder of wrestling,

but too much given to betting to do full justice to all parties.

It was currently reported he ventured so large a sum on Carter

at the Gretna fight, that when Oliver was likely to win during

the earlier rounds, he evinced a state of the greatest nervous-

ness imaginable. An old stager has a distinct recollection of

him as he stood "fumlen wid his fingers iv his inooth,"

betraying the nervous "twitch" peculiar to men undergoing

great mental excitement, and looking as if he might have gone

off at any moment like touchwood or tinder.

OF HESKET-NEW-MARKET. 163

The proprietor of a circus certainly filled up the

gap creditably, in 1817 ; but the three remaining

years following were entire blanks.

At the Langwathby annual Rounds, held on New

Year's day, in 1818, Richardson carried off the

head prize of two guineas, finally throwing John

Dobson of Cliburn.

While wrestling seemed altogether defunct at

Carlisle, it was taken up with renewed vigour at

Keswick. In August, 1818, the head prize offered

was a purse of five guineas, which brought a great

gathering of spectators, and all the best athletes of

the day. The onlookers had the gratification of

witnessing many keenly contested falls. The last

two standers were Richardson, and William Wilson

of Ambleside, then just coming out. Before going

into the ring for the final struggle, some chaffing

took place, the "Dyer" saying to Wilson in a

swaggering sort of way, " I'll throw thee, noo, thoo'll

see, like I threw t' last chap !" After a good deal

of higgling, on Richardson's part, about wanting a

"good hod," the two men finally closed, and Wilson

being impatient to be at work at once, lifted his

opponent to hype him, but missed his stroke.

Some manoeuvring then took place, and the "Dyer"

having materially improved his hold, threw in the

"ham" quickly, and curiously enough succeeded

in bringing over his dangerous rival, in the very

manner he had "bragged" of doing.

In answer to a paragraph which appeared in

164 THOMAS RICHARDSON

the Cumberland Pacquet, Richardson issued the

following notice :

SPORTING ADVERTISEMENT. Thomas Richardson, who

won the principal prize at the last Keswick Regatta and

Races, having observed it mentioned in the Whitehaven

paper of the first instant, that he refused to "play again with

the man he threw, for five guineas, though challenged," begs

to contradict such statement, as being a gross falsehood ; and

he is sorry such an offer was not made to him. He now

challenges his opponent, alluded to in the Whitehaven paper,

to wrestle him for ten guineas, at any time or place. Hesket-

New-Market, Sept. 2nd, 1818.

As this match never came off, it is impossible to

say what the result might have been ; nevertheless,

we have strong leanings to the belief that the "Dyer"

would have gained nothing, at that date, by coming

into personal contact with Wilson, the best of five

falls. As a hyper, the "Dyer" was admirable, and

dangerous, too, among even the best Cumbrian

wrestlers ; but, in this particular respect, he was far

behind Wilson in quickness of stroke and brilliancy

of execution.

On one of the days after the races at Keswick,

Richardson had a match with Tom Lock of Raven-

glass, and threw him cleverly.

Some years after, the " Dyer" rambled away from

home as far as Low Wood, to attend the annual

wrestlings at Windermere. For some reason or

other, he entered his name "Thomas Porter," and

passed quietly through two or three of the earlier

rounds as an unknown hand. Being called against

OF HESKET-NEW-MARKET. 165

Joe Abbot of Bampton, the latter bounced into the

ring very full of stopping the further progress of

the stranger. No sooner had they approached one

another, than Joe opened his eyes very wide, stood

as one petrified for a moment, and then exclaimed,

"D n ! it's thee, Dyer, is it!" The two then

took hold, but Joe made no effort towards getting

the fall, and "Thomas Porter" obtained fall after

fall until he succeeded, we understand, in carrying

off the belt.

Liberal prizes for wrestling and other sports were

given at Greystoke Castle, by the Howards, and

the meetings were always well attended by the

nobility and the neighbouring gentry. Richardson

won there one year, William Earl of Cumwhitton

wrestling second.

A close acquaintance existed between Richardson

and Weightman. The former was master at the

beginning of their career, but afterwards the latter

became too powerful for him. In all they met

eleven times, and out of that number of falls, Weight-

man scored six, and Richardson five. Among

other places, the latter threw the Hayton champion

at one of the Kirkoswald "worchet" meetings, and

got the compliment returned at Wreay soon after,

where the fallen man lamed his side.

Sitting among the crowd that lined the Carlisle

ring one year, the " Dyer" was called out against a

big, raw-boned fellow, an awkward-looking cus-

tomer, but one, nevertheless, who appeared young

166 THOMAS RICHARDSON

and inexperienced. " What's t'e gaen to mak' o'

yon 'an, Tom?" asked Weightman. "Oh," replied

the "Dyer," in a tone of mock humility, "I's just

gaen to fell him reet off hand, an' than he can ga

heam till his mudder, pooar lad !"

On another occasion, he was called out against

Wilfrid Wright, at a meeting on Penrith fell. " Noo,

Wiff," said he, "I's gaen to throw thee streight into

yon furrow yonder ! " and did so cleverly. When

Wright had recovered from his astonishment, and

was gathering himself up, he exclaimed : " Gush,

man ! I dudn't think thoo cud ha' deim't hofe sa

clean ! "

Richardson continued to wrestle for many years,

in the Carlisle and other rings, with moderate

success. Later on, he lived at Penrith with a sister,

who kept an inn there. When approaching fifty

years old, he became so overgrown, that his weight

appeared to be seventeen or eighteen stones, forming

a marked contrast to what he was a quarter of a

century before then a lish, active, thirteen-stone

man.

He died at Penrith, about the year 1853.

167

TOM T O D D

OF KNARSDALE.

TOM TODD, a Northumbrian by birth, was born

and brought up at " The Bogg," in Knarsdale, near

Alston, where his father was well known as a sheep

breeder. He stood fully five feet ten inches high ;

his general wrestling weight being about twelve

stones and a half. Todd's contemporaries have

spoken of him as a most accomplished and scientific

wrestler. He could buttock cleanly, hype quickly,

and excelled in most other chips. Weighing and

watching his opponents' movements narrowly, he

seemed to anticipate what was coming, and prepared

accordingly, both for stopping and chipping. In

taking hold, like most good wrestlers, he stood

square and upright ; but in consequence of having

a very peculiarly shaped back, like half a barrel, it

was next to impossible to hold him easily, or to grip

him with any amount of firmness. Like Richard

Chapman, he could always "get out," if so minded,

at starting.

About the summer of 1810 or 1811, Tom Todd,

then just merging into manhood, attended the

annual "boon" mowing-meeting of John Bell of

168 TOM TODD OK KNARSDALE.

Kirkhaugh, the noted bone-setter, where as many

as twenty or thirty strong men often congregated

together. When the grass had been cut down, it

was usual to broach a barrel of ale, and drink the

contents on the green sward. During the time the

nut-brown home-brewed was being handed round,

the Alston band enlivened the scene with music;

and then followed the most attractive part of the

day's programme, namely, dog-trailing, jumping,

and wrestling. At this rural festival Tom Todd

won his first belt ; and a lad, named Robin Car-

ruthers, a farm servant, from the Bewcastle district,

wrestled second.

In 1815, Todd figured in the Carlisle ring,

probably for the first time ; and came against Tom

Richardson, the dyer, in the third round for the

principal prize. Being both young men, and not

unequally matched in size, strength, and science,

they had three desperate tussles before the struggle

could be decided. Finally, the fall ended in favour

of Todd. In the fourth round, Todd's career was

cut short by George Forster of Penton.

In contending for the second prize, Todd threw

a clever wrestler, named Thomas Peat, a farmer's

son, from Blencow, in the third round ; and Arm-

strong, the "yak tree," in the fourth. Not being

able to come to terms about holds, in the final fall,

with Edward Forster of Penton, the two never

wrestled out, but, says Litt, in dividing the money

for first and second, Todd received more money

TOM TODD OF KNARSDALE. 169

than his opponent, it being the opinion of the

umpire that he was the fairer stander.

Todd made his appearance again in the Carlisle

wrestling ring of 1816, where he played a con-

spicuous part. Meeting with no one particularly

worthy of being called a dangerous competitor in

the first five rounds, he went through with consider-

able ease, throwing in rotation, James Johnson, R.

Armstrong, J. Scott, T. Hodgson, and William

Clark of Hesket-New-Market. After the fifth

round, the only two men left standing were Todd

and Richardson, the dyer ; and the fall which

ought to have been decided between them, resulted

in nothing but discreditable quarrelling and ill

feeling. A fuller account of this unpleasant affair

will be found in the sketch of Thomas Richardson's

career. Todd's friends, as a natural, consequence,

thought that he was the better man, and ought to

have won. Todd himself, after the event, seemed

to be under a bond of secrecy on the subject. We

have no desire to sully his memory, with the charge

of a settled determination not to go to work with

equal holds. We do not wish to twit him with

taking a mean advantage of his opponent, in order

to deprive him of the chance of a fair contest. We

believe he had a soul above such an unwarrantable

proceeding. It will, probably, be nearer the mark

to say, he acted unwisely and unbecomingly, by

conniving with his principal backer, as the sequel

will show.

170 TOM TODD OF KNARSDALE.

Todd's usual remark was when the subject

chanced to be broached and discussed that

Richardson's backers pressed him very much to

"lay down," which he declined most definitely to

do. But a week or two before his death, a far

more disagreeable fact oozed out. He then acknow-

ledged, to an intimate friend, mentioned hereafter

whom he rescued at the Gretna fight that he

received half the money, offered for the head prize,

in 1816. This, of course, was paid through the

agency of one of the principal promoters of the

Carlisle ring, in a left-handed manner, with an

understanding that it should never be made public!

About two years after the dishonourable act

narrated, had broken up the annual wrestling at

Carlisle, Todd used to tell of meeting Richardson,

in the third round at some village sports, where he

threw him easily.

After this and during the discontinuance of the

popular gathering on the Swifts, for three years

we know nothing of Todd's career as a wrestler,

until the Carlisle Meeting of 1822, when he again

made a gallant but unsuccessful struggle to carry

off the head prize. Being engaged as a game-

keeper, in the service of the Earl of Carlisle, on

the Naworth Castle estates, he entered himself

under the assumed name of "John Moses of

Alston." Todd displayed considerable science and

activity in the course of the day, and distinguished

himself much and deservedly, by throwing several

TOM TODD OF KNARSDALE. 171

dangerous hands, among whom may be especially

mentioned, John Fearon of Gilcrux, seventeen

stone weight, John Liddle of Bothel, a fourteen-

and-a-half stone man, (winner of the head prize at

Keswick, a few weeks previously, where he finally

disposed of William Cass of Loweswater) and

Robert Walters of Carlisle, a light weight, but an

accomplished scientific wrestler. In the final fall,

however, with Cass, the cup of success was again

dashed from his lips. This time the weight

sixteen stones and strength of the Loweswater

champion, proving too much for twelve-and-a-half

stones.

Scarcely had the cheers died away which greeted

the West Cumberland man's victory, when Louis

Nanny of Haltwhistle an enthusiastic frequenter

of wrestling rings offered to back the Knarsdale

man in a match against Cass for a hundred pounds.

Todd thought this sum too much to risk even

handed, against such a powerful antagonist; but

was willing to be backed, and contend at all

hazards, for half that amount. The two east

countrymen, however, had it all their own way, so

far as the challenge was concerned. At that time,

Cass being new to the Carlisle ring, and almost

unknown as a wrestler, no one seemed bold enough

to stand forward on his behalf; and, moreover, like

a quiet, inoffensive man, he was perfectly content

to rest upon the laurels he had just gained.

This year Weightman "aw ower his oan daft

172 TOM TODD OF KNARSDALE.

nonsense " was thrown by Fearon of Gilcrux, in

the first round, tor the principal prize at Carlisle.

Not being eligible, on this account, for entry in the

second day's competition, Tom Todd stood on one

side for him; when Weigh tman, in order to retrieve

lost ground, took pains, and threw his men as fast

as he came to them. "Talk aboot russlin'!"

exclaimed an eye witness, " Wey, man, he just

went thro' them like th' wind ! "

As time passed on, and Weightman came more

prominently to the fore, Tom Todd found himself

absolutely nowhere in the giant's grasp ; he there-

fore thought it wiser and more prudent to retire

from the ring, without making any further efforts to

carry off first honours.

When Todd was a young man, he kept a tight

well-made little trail-hound, trained to the name

of " Stand back," but which was entered at the

different trails as "Towler." Harry Kirkby of

Kirkhaugh, the clergyman's lame son, used to tell

a tale about Todd and himself taking the hound one

year to Melmerby Rounds. When the dogs were

coming in, they looked to the spectators, "aw iv a

cluster," as they neared the winning post. At this

crisis, Todd roared out in a loud voice : " Stand-

back ! Standback !" apparently appealing to the

crowd, and ran fussing about immediately in front,

with his arms flying in the air. " An 1 dar bon ! "

said the priest's son, " the dog com' in like stooar,

an' wan easily ! "

TOM TODD OF KNARSDALE. 173

This artful trick has been often practised since, if

not earlier than that time, at dog-trails successfully

on more" than one occasion by the late Richard

Gelderd of Ulverston, a keen dog-trailer. He had

a " Standback," and at the Flan and other neigh-

bouring sports, was trained to rush forward to the

winning post, when the crowd were ordered in a

stentorian voice : "Standback! Standback! an' let

t' dogs cum in can't ye ! "

At the great northern fight, between Carter and

Oliver, at Grttna, in 1816, John Slack of Carlisle,

shoemaker, then a young man in his teens, was

thiown to the ground by the surging of the immense

crowd, and might easily have been trampled to

death. Seeing the impending danger, Tom Todd,

and John Barnes, the constable, both powerful

men, elbowed their way through the crowd, and

succeeded in rescuing the fallen man, before he

was seriously injured. On lifting him from the

ground, Todd exclaimed, " Marcy, Jwohn ! is that

thee ? My faiks ! but thoo'd a narrow squeak for

thy life theear !"

Some time after the year 1822, Todd left the

north of England, and went into the Highlands of

Scotland, where he became gamekeeper to Sir

Charles Ross of Belnagowari Castle, Ross-shire, and

continued in that capacity for something like

twenty-four or twenty-five years.

Returning again to his native district, he settled

upon the farm rented by his brother John, at

174 TOM TODD OF KNARSDALE.

Moscow, near the fashionable watering-place of

Gilsland. A few years before he died, he gradually

lost his sight, and at times grew "varra canker't an'

twisty." Once when one of these fits was upon

him, his denunciation of wrestlers and wrestling

rings was hurled about in such unqualified language,

that one was apt to think the transgressions com-

mitted in the Carlisle ring of 1816, still haunted his

waking dreams not probably for anything done

personally, but for being made a cat's-paw at that

time, by his principal backer.

In the month of September, 1875, Todd, then in

his eighty-fourth year, went to the house door,

beckoned to the farm-workers that dinner was ready,

and immediately after passed quietly away. From

the fact of the Knarsdale athlete having attained

this great age and he was only one of many who

did we may draw pretty conclusive evidence, that

the northern pastime of wrestling does not, as a

rule, shorten life.

175

WILLIAM WILSON

OF AMBLESIDE.

SIZE, position, and population considered, it must

be allowed that the district of High Furness, in

North Lancashire, has produced its fair quota of

wrestling celebrities. Foremost comes William

Wilson, then Miles Dixon according to Professor

Wilson, " a match for any cock in Cumberland ''

his brother James, and Roan and John Long, all

men of great stature and power, capable of hurling

their opponents

"Off the ground with matchless strength."

These were all natives of the soil. In the early

part of the nineteenth century, the wrestlings at the

Ferry-on-VV'indermere, at Backbarrow, Bouth Fair,

Finsthwaite, Oxenpark, Arrad Foot Races, and on

many other village greens in Furness Fells, were

often very keenly contested. Arthur Burns of

Ullater, (who suffered from the deadly grip of

Roan Long,) James Burns, a younger brother of

Arthur's, Roger Taylor of Scathwaite, and John

Wren of Bouth, the pealman, were all good

wrestlers in their day and generation.

Then came John Harrison of Lowick, sometimes

called " Cheeky," from the colour of his shirt, who

176 WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE.

carried off one or two prizes from the Keswick ring

in its palmiest days ; later in life a landlord at

Ulverston ; a man of enormous strength, standing

fully six feet high, stout limbed, and weighing some-

thing like seventeen stones. One feat, forcibly

illustrating his uncommon strength, deserves record.

During one of the statute fairs, two sturdy country

servant men got to fighting in his house at Ulverston.

He made no fuss of any kind, but quietly took up

one under each arm, and carried them both, vainly

struggling to be free, into the middle ot the market

place ; then set them down on their legs, and,

giving each a good bang against the other, left them

to fight it out. Joseph Jackson of Grizebeck, in

Kirkby Ireleth, sickle maker, though barely a twelve-

stone man, gained many first prizes, and came off

triumphant in a severely contested match with

William Bateman of Yottenfews, near Gosforth.

Cannon of Subberthwaite, Robert Casson and

Brian Christopherson of Oxenpark, and Marshall,

the forgeman, also deserve a passing word of praise,

although none of them ever went out of their own

neighbourhood to wrestle. Christopherson put

foith promising powers at the Ferry and other

places, and was highly complimented by Richard

Chapman. At the Ferry, he was backed by a

local sporting man, in a match with George

Donaldson a single fall for two pounds ; and, to

the surprise of a crowd of anxious onlookers, won

gallantly. There was little difference in the weight

WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE. 177

or height of the winner and the loser. Casson

threw Harrison, Cannon, and all comers at Bouth

Fair ; and Marshall did precisely the same thing at

Sparkbridge. On the last occasion, the excitement

amongst the spectators became so intense, that the

forgeman's progress was urged on after the following

primitive fashion : "If thou'll nobbut thra' Cannon,"

shouted one, " I'll gi'e the' a pint ! " " Thra'

Harrison," roared another, "an' I'll stand the' a

quart ! " "I think," responded Marshall, with a

fine stroke of humour " I think, I'd better hev

summat to be gaen on wi'. It'll mebbe help me to

thra' them behth togidder /"

WILLIAM WILSON was born and brought up at

High Wray, a village pleasantly situated on the

western banks of Windermere lake. Near to his

birthplace there has been erected a lordly baronial

residence Wray Castle on a beautiful com-

manding site, overlooking all the higher reaches of

Windermere, and forming one of the many attractive

objects for sight-seers on the lake. Wilson was a

nephew of the Dixons of Grasmere, and was com-

monly spoken of as " girt Will Wilson," in order to

distinguish him from "lile Will Wilson" of Grasmere,

or "wicked Will," as the latter was sometimes

called, from the bottom and endurance he displayed

in frequent pugnacious encounters. It was "lile

Will," we believe, who once wrestled up at Bowness,

with William Thwaites of Staveley, an eleven-stone

I. 12

178 WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE.

man. They each got a fall. The next one called

by the umpires a dog-fall was claimed by Thwaites.

who, in consequence, refused to wrestle over again.

The ring was soon broken up in disorder, and in

the melee which ensued, Professor Wilson struck

Thwaites over the head with his stick, and bulged

his hat in. " Did 1 do that, my lad ? " asked

Wilson. " Yes," replied Thwaites, " yee did it :

I's suer an' sarten o' that." "Then," said Wilson,

"here's a sovereign for wrestling so well. It '11

mebbe help to get thee a new hat."

William Wilson grew up a tall "lathy fellow,"

standing, when full grown, quite six feet four inches

high, straight as a willow-wand and as lithe, and

gradually grew until at twenty-two he weighed from

fourteen to fifteen stones, with a good reach of arm,

and a finely developed muscular frame. As a

hyper, or "inside striker," as Litt calls him, he

displayed superb form. For three or four years, he

stood unmatched and irresistible in this particular

stroke, and since his day no man has appeared

worth calling a rival to him, except William Jackson

of Kinniside. We are now alluding to the "standing

hype," or as the author of Wrestliana more properly

defines it, " inside striking." It is a chip in which

a tall wrestler, like Wilson or Jackson, has a great

advantage, particularly over shorter opponents.

The "swinging hype," in which Chapman, Donald-

son, and Longmire were such deadly proficients, is

more showy and artistic, consisting of a quick swing

WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE. 179

off the breast once round or nearly so, and then a

turn over with the knee inside the thigh.

Our information respecting Wilson's career as a

wrestler is neither so full nor minute as we could

have desired. The probability is that he won his

first prize on the banks of his native Windermere,

but at what age or under what circumstances is not

now known. When a young man, Roan Long and

he had a severe bout at Ambleside sports, which

ended in Wilson throwing his burly opponent

cleverly with the hype.

The first definite notice, however, we have of

him as an athlete was at the Keswick Regatta and

Races in 1818, being at that time about twenty-two

years old. While the Carlisle ring, on the Swifts,

was closed for the space of four years, the wrestling

in the Crow Park, Keswick, assumed an importance

which it could scarcely otherwise have attained.

In fact, for a time it was justly entitled to be con-

sidered the leading and most important wrestling

gathering in the north. In aid of this distinction,

there then existed on all sides of the metropolitan

lake town, a numerous array of very distinguished

athletes. Mr. Pocklington of Barrow House, was

the chief supporter of the regatta and races at that

date, and his personal exertions to promote the

permanent establishment and success of these

meetings were unceasing.

In the year 1818, some remarkably good play

took place in the wrestling ring. The two most

180 WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE.

successful competitors were in excellent "fettle,"

namely, Tom Richardson and William Wilson.

The latter gathered his men quickly and cleanly,

and threw them as fast as he came to them.

Coming against Richardson in the final fall, he

lifted him from the ground with the intention of

hyping, but failing to hold his man firmly, the

Dyer turned in, and, after a considerable struggle,

managed to bring him over with the buttock. After

this tussle, Wilson always spoke of Richardson as

being "swine back't," meaning thereby that his

back was extremely slippery and difficult to hold,

from the nature of its peculiar roundness.

In the year 1819, Wilson carried off the head

prize for wrestling, and a handsome belt, at the

Ferry Regatta, Windermere. We have no account

.of the other competitors at this meeting.

Wilson attended the Keswick gathering of the

same year, for the second time, and it proved

memorable above all others in his wrestling career,

stamping him as "the best wrestler Westmorland

ever produced." Many dispassionate judges at

this time held the opinion, that this eulogium might

be extended also to the neighbouring northern

county. We have no doubt, if he had continued a

healthy man, this verdict would have been confirmed

over and over again. Although he did not succeed

in winning the chief prize this year, he nevertheless

distinguished himself ten times more than the victor

who did, by throwing the man with whom no one

WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE. 181

else had the shadow of a chance. We refer to his

struggle with John Mc.Laughlan of Dovenby, more

than two inches taller than Wilson, and at that time

five or six stones heavier.

As a prelude to this fall, Clattan took hold of

Wilson in the middle of the ring, in a good natured

sort of way, and lifted him up in his arms to show

how easily he could hold him. No sooner was

he set down, than Wilson threw his arms around

Clattan's waist, and lifted him in precisely the same

way, a course of procedure which greatly amused

the spectators. After these preliminaries had been

gone through, the two men were not long in settling

into holds, each having full confidence in his own

powers and his own mode of attack. A few seconds,

however, decided the struggle of these two modem

Titans. No sooner had each one gripped his

fellow, than quick as thought, Wilson lifted Clattan

from the ground in grand style, and hyped him

with the greatest apparent ease a feat that no

other man in Britain could have done.

The cheering which followed the giant's downfall

was tremendous, and might have been heard on the

top of Skiddaw or Saddleback. "Hurrah! hurrah!

Well done Wilson !" shouted a hundred voices,

while round followed round of applause in rapid

succession. It was one of these brilliant and

exciting moments, when the miserable party feeling

of envy and strife, which sometimes crops up

between the two sister counties, was entirely

182 WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE.

swamped and forgotten. " Thoo wasn't far wrang,"

exclaimed a hard featured man, with an austere

voice, to his next neighbour, sitting by the side of

the ring "Thoo wasn't far wrang, when thoo said

Wilson wad throw him." "Wrang!" replied the

other in ecstasies, " I wad think nut ! Wilson's

like a cooper, thoo sees. He kens hoo to gang

roond a cask ! "

An old "statesman," from about Mungrisedale or

Penruddock wearing a pair of buckskin breeches,

whose pint of nut-brown had just been upset in the

furor is remembered as having been so worked

upon by the excitement of the moment, that he

threw his hat in the air, and, in derisive language,

addressed himself to anybody and everybody, as

follows :" Ha! ha! my fine fellow! If thoo

says Clattan isn't a gud russler, an' wasn't olas a

gud russler, thoo tells a heap o' lees, an' nowte but

lees thoo confoondit taistrel, thoo ! "

This fall is still talked of at the firesides of the

dalesmen of the north cottars, farmers, and

"statesmen" as one of the most wonderful and

dazzling achievements ever witnessed in the wrest-

ling ring.

Returning again to the next Keswick meeting

which followed, Wilson found no difficulty in walking

through the ranks of 1820. When only four men

were standing, Tom "Dyer" was drawn against

Isaac Mason of Croglin, who at that time was

looked upon as a dangerous customer in the ring.

WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE. 183

It was the opinion of some onlookers that the

" Dyer" seemed to be afraid of Mason. Be that as

it may, the two not being able to agree about holds

a procedure which has sometimes discredited

parties in the ring, and is sorely trying to the

patience of spectators the stewards, after a con-

siderable delay, very properly crossed them both

out. Wilson and William Richardson were now

the last slanders, and the former carried off the

Caldbeck hero with ridiculous ease. Litt says,

" Richardson had not the shadow of a chance with

him." This testimony is exceedingly significant,

and says much for Wilson's powers as a wrestler.

" Hoo 'at thoo let him hype the' i' that stupid

fashion, thoo numb divel, thoo?" said Tom

"Dyer," reproachfully, to the loser of the fall, while

the latter was engaged in putting his coat on.

" What ! he hes it offzri that thoo kens as weel

as anybody," was the sturdy reply, "/cudn't stop

him, ner thee nowder, for that matter, if he nobbut

gat a fair ho'd o' the'."

The year 1822, found Wilson "rayder gaen back,

an' thin o' flesh." He laboured under an asthmatic

complaint, which increased upon him about this

date, and began to tell much against his athletic

attainments. Nevertheless, he attended the Keswick

gathering once more. The wrestling was carried

on in the bottom of a meadow, and not on the

higher ground as previously. The ground being

wet and slippery, was consequently disastrous to

184 WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE.

many of the wrestlers. Wilson threw Jonathan

Watson, a dangerous hand to meet, in the first

round, for the head prize; and in one of the

subsequent rounds was drawn against Weightman

of Hayton. Lifting the huge East Cumbrian

"varra clean," but not being able to keep his feet,

from the slippery and lumpy state of the ground,

Wilson overbalanced himself and fell backwards,

with his opponent on the top of him. This untoward

accident, in all probability, lost him the chief prize.

Cass of Loweswater brought Weightman to grief, in

the last round but one, by striking at the outside,

and throwing him off the breast.

At the Windermere Regatta, held at Low Wood,

during the same year where the rain fell in torrents

it was generally expected that Wilson, who had

conquered so many, would again be the conqueror.

But the fates were against him. He came off the

third stander, being thrown by Edward Howell, a

clever wrestler from Greystoke, in the neighbour-

hood of Penrith, who won the belt and four

sovereigns.

So far as we have been able to ascertain, the

year 1822 was the last one in which Wilson figured

in the ring. If this be correct, his wrestling career

will be limited to four or five years duration, at the

utmost. No doubt, the complaint under which

he laboured, was the principal cause of his early

retirement. Although Wilson loved athletic exer-

cises much, it must be understood, however, that

WILLIAM WILSON OF AMBLESIDE. 185

he viewed them more as a means of recreation and

pastime, than in any other sense ; a thrifty ambition

inducing him to look zealously to the main point

of making both ends meet at home.

We have heard it asserted that when he and his

first wife were married in 1820, they could only

raise ten pounds of loose money between them.

With this small sum to the fore, however, they

ventured to take an inn at Ambleside, called

the Golden Rule, which they rented for seven

years, during which time they managed to save

^700. They then took a larger inn, which was

afterwards known as the Commercial. Some time

elapsed, and they removed to the King's Arms, in

Patterdale, at that period the only inn at the head

of Ullswater.

While he was an innkeeper at Patterdale, George

Brunskill, the life guardsman, about the height of

Wilson, and two stones heavier, was very anxious

to try his skill with him. After much pressing, a

friendly bout was consented to, on condition that

Brunskill would be satisfied with one fall. The

result was that Wilson " dud whack him ;" the

soldier being carried clean off "befooar he reetly

kent whoar he was."

William Wilson whose brief, but distinguished

career, has helped to confer an enduring lustre on

the northern wrestling ring died at Patterdale, in

1836, about forty years old, and was buried in

Ambleside churchyard.

186

JOHN WEIGHT MAN

OF HAYTON.

FOR great size and well-proportioned figure, com-

bined with amazing strength and activity, JOHN

WEIGHTMAN was one of the most remarkable men

ever bred in Cumberland Born at Greenhead,

near Gilsland, in 1795, he was brought up at the

quiet pastoral village of Hayton, near Brampton,

where he continued to live until the time of his

death. In that neighbourhood, he was always

.spoken of as a remarkably simple minded man,

being quiet and settled in appearance when about

his daily work or any ordinary pursuit. Fierce

passions, however, were then only asleep, shrouding

a peculiar temperament, easily excited to mirth or

to violent anger.

In a physical point of view, he was a wonder,

being endowed with tremendous bodily strength on

one hand, and the agility of a cat on the other.

He stood fully six feet three inches high, and

weighed from fifteen to sixteen stones, presenting

one of the finest gigantic models of the human

frame ever seen, with a countenance free, open, and

pleasant to look upon. Possessing a good reach

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 187

of arm, and such formidable power in the shoulders,

that in the act of wrestling he invariably beat his

elbows into the ribs of an opponent which vice-like

pressure was so terrific in its results, and became so

well known, that many strong men were glad to get

to the ground, in order to escape his punishing hug.

Had these natural advantages been supplemented

with shrewdness and good generalship, capable of

estimating the different points of an adversary

indispensable requisites to the finished wrestler

he would have been more than a match, the best

of five or seven falls, for any man in the kingdom.

One who knew him well, once laconically described

him as: "A greit thumpin', giant like fellow;

varra strang i' th' arm, but rayder wake i' th'

brains ! "

In his prime, Weightman proved himself to be a

clever leaper, either at long length or running high

leap "cat gallows." Many tales are current at

Hayton and the neighbourhood of his clearing five-

barred gates with the greatest ease. He once leapt

over a restless black mare, sixteen hands high,

which belonged to Sir James Graham of Edmond

Castle ; then turned round, and with another short

run, went over again from the reverse side. Sir

James was so delighted with this display of agility,

that he presented the performer with half a guinea.

When a young man, Weightman was as full of

tricks of a " daft-like" character as ever mortal was,

the recital of one or two of which may serve to

188 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

illustrate his great strength and recklessness. Once

upon a time, in passing through a toll-gate, he said

to the keeper of it : "Ye divvent mak' ony charge,

div ye, for what a man carries on his back ?" "Oh

dear, no, by no means ! " was the ready reply.

"Than here goes, my canny bairn !" cried Weight-

man, and presently the toll-collector was astonished

to see him stalking through the gate, with a strong-

built pony strung across his shoulders !

A still " dafter " trick than the foregoing is told

of him on another occasion, when he carried a

donkey on his shoulders up stairs into a "loft,"

where a numerous body of lads and lasses were

capering away at dancing ; placed the "cuddy" in

the midst of them ; and nearly frightened the wits

out of some of the "flayter sooart o' lasses !"

Paradoxical as it may seem, Weightman was a

remarkably light and graceful dancer ; indeed so

much so, that he could trip through the mazes of a

dance with as much ease and nimbleness as any

slim built youth in his teens. He had a very small

and neat foot, which circumstance may in some

measure account for his remarkable activity.

As an athlete, Weightman won his first prize on

the village green of Wetheral, about the year 1814,

being then under twenty years old ; and continued

to carry off first honours from the same place for

seven years in succession. In his twenty-third year,

and while making himself a name as the champion

of several minor rings, he was matched on Brampton

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 189

Sands, to wrestle a man named Routledge, of

"Clocky mill," the best of three falls, for two

guineas a side. The miller was big, bony, and

strong, and so far was formidable ; but being both

numb and faint-hearted, Weightman easily iettled

him off in the two first falls.

During Weightman's whole wrestling career, he

never had a more steadfast friend or admirer than

Dr. Tinling of Warwick-bridge. The doctor had

no doubt formed a correct estimate of the young

giant's powers, and saw clearly enough that if they

were only exercised with ordinary care and skill, no

man living had any chance of throwing him a series

of falls. " Th' auld doctor could mak' him owther

win or lose, varra nar as he hed a mind," said a

clever light weight wrestler, with a shrug of the

shoulders.

Notwithstanding the facility with which prizes

might have been gained, it was only on some

occasions that Weightman attended the great

annual gathering at Carlisle, and it was a much

rarer event for him to go far from home to contend.

However, in the early part of his career, he once

wandered away to Egremont Crab Fair, and entered

his name among the West Cumbrians. He was

thrown there, by Ford of Ravenglass, a good

hearted wrestler, standing six feet two inches, and

weighing fifteen stones. On another occasion, in

his young days, he went with Dr. Tinling to New-

castle, and won the wrestling there ; his patron, the

190 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

doctor, being overjoyed at his success. The prize

was a handsome silver watch.

Ford and Weightman were drawn together again,

in the fourth round, for the head prize entry at

Carlisle in 1821, when the same luck attended

Ford as had done at the previous tussle. For the

second prize at Carlisle, however, Weightman

turned the tables upon the powerful West Cumbrian,

by throwing him so ridiculously high in the air,

that one of the spectators declared that "his legs

seemed to touch the clouds !" Joseph Abbot, from

the neighbourhood of Bampton, near Shap, a broad

set, powerful man, contested the final fall with

Weightman. At that time, "Joe was a greit hand

for rivin' doon at th' gurse, an' crazy mad he was

when he lost."

Weightman not being satisfied with his success

in contending for the head prize on the Swifts in

1821, a match was arranged to come off between

him and the winner of the same William Richard-

son of Caldbeck for five guineas, on the Eden-side

cricket ground, Carlisle, in the month of October

following. Between four and five thousand people

gathered together to witness the contest. There

existed a great difference in the age of the two

men : the Caldbeck hero being on the shady side

of forty, and Weightman only twenty-six. The one

might be called a veteran, and the other said to be

in the prime of life. The younger man had the

advantage, likewise, in weight by a stone or more ;

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 191

in height, by fully four inches and a half; and was

naturally endowed with far more suppleness and

activity. A considerable time elapsed before they

could agree about holds ; and yet, no sooner was

this preliminary effected, than the champion of two

hundred rings went down like a shot, and without

appearing to have the least shadow of a chance.

After the fall, the winner was so elated with success

that he cut all sorts of ridiculous capers, and kept

leaping backwards and forwards, over two or three

chairs or forms which chanced to be standing in

the ring, after the manner of school boys at their

sports. The second fall was nearly a fac-simile of

the first ; and if Weightman could only have taken

things more coolly and waited his time, the chances

were a hundred to one that he would have been

hailed victor. Instead of this through Richard-

son's dilatoriness in taking hold, and otherwise

delaying over trifling things Weightman fairly lost

temper, threatened and coerced in various ways,

and finally shook his fist in Richardson's face.

Some of the onlookers, sympathizing with the

elder man, commenced a vigorous attack of hooting,

on which Weightman turned his backside to the

spectators in a saucy and defiant manner. After

this open display of insolence a tragic finale seemed

imminent.' The ring was broken up in an instant;

and the roughs of the crowd, headed by the

notorious Tom Ridley, soon worked themselves

into a state of furious excitement. They made a

192 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

rush at the delinquent, some dealing out blows with

their fists, while others kept up a constant shower

of sods and such like missiles ; nearly tore the shirt

from the back of their victim ; and finally forced

him savagely through a thorn hedge on the top of

the bank. In describing the melee which took

place, Weightman himself said : " Yan shootit,

'Tek th' watter, Weetman !' anudder shootit,

'Tek th' dyke, thoo greit gowk, thoo !" bit I

niver kent reetly whoar I was, till I fund mysel' on

Eden brig, wid Gwordie Maut* leadin' me seafly

by the hand. I varily believe," added he, "'at

Gwordie Maut seav't mee life ! "

Preliminary to this affair, and quite in keeping

with its general character, it may be stated that on

the morning of the match, as Weightman was riding

into Carlisle on a spirited "black-brown" mare,

which belonged to his uncle, he threw the money

down on the ground, due for passing through the

toll-gate at the foot of Botchergate. This Mr.

Rayson, the keeper, refused to pick up. Getting

annoyed at the delay which ensued, and in order

to clear the way, Weightman struck at Rayson

across the shoulders with his whip, and then leapt

clean over the gate. For this offence he was taken

* "Gwordie Maut," in common phraseology, stood for

George Armstrong, a well known character in Carlisle, who

kept a public house, between the bridges in Caldewgate.

"Gwordie" stood to Matthew Nutter, the artist, for the

model of the stooping figure of the Maltster on the sign of

the "Malt Shovel," in Rickergate.

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 193

to the police office in Scotch Street, from which

place his friends, after some difficulty, managed to

get him liberated, by paying a fine of forty shillings.

Immediately after the unsatisfactory termination

of this match, Weightman issued a challenge to

wrestle "any man in Cumberland the best of five

falls, for fifteen or twenty guineas." No one came

forward to take up the gauntlet thus thrown down ;

and although, up to this date, Weightman had not

won any prize of importance, nevertheless an im-

pression had gone abroad that he was a formidable

customer to meet in a number of rounds.

The year 1822 was a very chequered one in

Weightman's career, suffering in it, as he did, so

many minor defeats. An account of his adventures,

so far as they are known to us, and are noted in

the local papers, may help to illustrate in some

measure both his weakness and his strength. In

the month of May, Forster of Penton threw him at

Kirkbampton, after a very fine and severe struggle.

At Micklethwaite races, near Wigton, in June, he

was defeated by Jonathan Watson of Torpenhow ;

and at Durdar, by James Graham of The Rigg,

Kirklinton.

On the Monday of one of the weeks in July, he

won the belt at the New Inn, Armathwaite, finally

throwing John Peel. On Wednesday afternoon, he

went in company with his friend, Bill Gaddes, to

Hesket-i'-the-Forest, and carried off a silver cup

and half a guinea, for which there was no sport,

I. 13

194 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

"none of the faint-hearted youths daring to contend

with him." At Plumpton races, the same evening,

he was thrown with ease by a youth of eighteen,

named Launcelot Graham of Hutton-end; but

succeeded in getting the belt for the last eight

slanders he and Thomas Peat tossing up for it,

after endeavouring for nearly half an hour to get

into holds. On the Thursday of the same week,

he won the first prize of half a guinea at Stoneraise.

At Keswick in August, he was fairly capsized by

William Cass of Loweswater, in the last round but

-one of the first day's sport ; and on the second day,

through the wet and slippery state of the ground,

he was again brought to grief, in the final fall, by

Jonathan Watson. During the same month, at

Wigton races, he carried off the first day's prize of

two guineas, in grand style ; Tom Richardson, the

Dyer, being second. The prize at Great Barrock

races also went to Hayton.

At the Carlisle races, held in September, worse

luck followed Weightman in contending for the

head prize than had done on the previous year

being thrown in the first round by John Fearon of

Gilcrux. This unfortunate defeat, however, was

the means of arousing the lion in him ; and for the

second prize "he just bash't them doon as fast as

he com at them." The last standers were Clayton

of Dovenby, Robert Watters, and Joseph Graham

of Dufton : Weightman receiving four guineas as his

share, and Graham two guineas as second stander.

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 195

In August, 1823, Weightman carried off the

second day's prize of three pounds, at the Keswick

regatta, disposing of William Sands of Whitehaven

in the final fall.

Following immediately after, came the great

annual gathering at Carlisle, where it was publicly

announced : " If wrestlers don't take hold within

half a minute after peeling, the fall to be given to

the one most willing to commence playing." William

Litt, the author of Wrestliana, was chosen umpire.

Weightman, the favourite at starting, was in grand

"fettle;" looked fresh and ruddy, without carrying

an ounce of superfluous flesh ; and by the cool and

determined way he began each round, evidently

meant winning. In the third time over, he brought

James Robinson quickly to his knees ; in the fourth,

John Hudless; in the fifth, John Allison; and in

the sixth, was fortunate enough to be odd man.

Then came the final struggle with John Robson of

Irthington mill, who tried hard to " bear the prize

away ; " but his struggling was of no avail, for at

each move Weightman kept gathering him up and

improving his grip, and it soon became the miller's

turn to drop powerless to mother earth, in like

manner to those compeers who had fallen before.

The following sketch of Weightman appeared in

the columns of the Cumberland Pacquet, and is

supposed to be from the pen of William Litt. "As

for the victor, Weightman, he is to a stranger a

complete puzzle. To judge from the almost

196 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

universal disrepute with which he is regarded in

Carlisle and its vicinity, you expect to behold in

him every personification of a finished blackguard ;

but the very first glance is sufficient to stagger any

ideal opinion respecting him. I never saw a man

of equal birth and education, that had so much of

the gentleman in his appearance, and there is, even

in his conversation, an unassuming mildness equally

striking. As a wrestler, if much cannot be said of

his science, \a& powers will not be limited by those

who have either tried or seen him wrestle : for, to

cut the matter short, I do not think there is a man

in the world possessing any chance with him, the

best of five or seven falls. His behaviour in the

ring was strictly correct; but such is the general

opinion of his powers, that though the wrestling

was never previously surpassed, yet the almost

certainty of his winning greatly allayed that anxiety

for the final result which is essential for creating

and keeping awake the interest which the scene

usually excites."

A letter appeared in the columns of the Carlisle

Journal, dated September i6th, 1823, touching

facetiously upon a point which, in later years, has

been successfully carried out. The writer says :

SIR, As a great admirer of athletic sports, I always make

a point of being present at the wrestling at our races, but

being "small of stature," I frequently miss a good deal of

the sport. To gain a complete view I should willingly pay a

small sum, and I have no doubt if those concerned in the

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 197

management of the sports would provide seats for those

willing to pay, that they would be soon rilled, and the funds

be materially increased, as well as a great convenience granted

to me and those of my fellow creatures who have not the

good fortune to be above six feet. I am, Sir, &c.,

JOHN LITTLE.

About this date, it was currently reported that

Weightman had engaged to go to London to under-

take the duties of porter at Carlton Palace. No

finer looking man could have been selected for this

post, but it was not his luck to exchange the bleak

north for such desirable quarters. Had he been

removed to so aristocratic an atmosphere, it is more

than probable that his hot Border blood would have

led him into no end of difficulties ; as it did, for

instance, at the magistrates' office in Carlisle, when

he quarrelled over a disputed fall in the wrestling

ring, with a big burly fellow, named Tom Hodgson

from Wigton. During the trial, Weightman lost all

control over his temper, and swore eighteen or

nineteen times, although reprimanded for his pro-

fanity again and again. On being told that the

magistrates intended to fine him a shilling for each

and every oath he had sworn, in accordance with

an old act recorded in the statute books, he ex-

claimed : " Fine me for ivery oath I've sworn ?

That's a bonny go ! Wey, I med as weel mak' it

an even pund, than ! " And accordingly he did so.

In the autumn of 1824, the two sons of Henry

Howard of Corby Castle Philip and Henry

198 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

Francis drove in a pony-phaeton to Hayton, and

asked for Weightman. When they arrived, he was

"hard at wark plewin', in a field behint the hoose."

Meanwhile, his mother good soul not knowing

well how to show the greatest amount of civility to

her visitors, invited them, in homely phraseology,

to "a sup milk, an' a bite o' breid an' cheese."

When Weightman made his appearance, he was

pressed to attend the forthcoming wrestling meeting

on Penrith fell, which he consented to do after

some persuasion. Accordingly, he put in an

appearance at the races held at Penrith early in

October, where a large muster of first-rate men had

assembled. Weightman, however, naturally antici-

pating onlookers with friendly feelings, from Corby

and Greystoke castles, had come with a fixed

determination to carry off the head prize against all

comers. Putting his full powers into play, therefore,

whenever he was called into the ring, man after man

fell before his slaughtering attacks, in an astonish-

ingly brief space of time ; leaving Joseph Abbot of

Bampton, second slander. And so delighted was

the young heir of Corby with Weightman's achieve-

ments, that he brought the victor with him in his

carriage from Penrith to Warwick Bridge.

The annual wrestling meeting on the Swifts at

Carlisle, in September, 1825, says a local report of

that date, " was attended, as usual, by myriads of

country people, for whom this manly amusement

appears to have charms quite unknown to the

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 19J>

degenerate race pent up within the walls of smoky

and enervating towns. The ring was under the

entire management of Mr. Henry Pearson, and the

most complete order prevailed. It is calculated

that from twelve to fifteen thousand persons were

lookers-on at the first-day's sports." The first prize

was eight guineas; and one guinea was given to

the last thrown man, or second stander. . Among

other well known wrestlers who .attended, and

whose names are not mentioned hereafter, may be

noted, John Robson, Jonathan Watson, Tom Rich-

ardson, George Irving, William Earl, Joseph Abbot,

and Wilfrid Wright. Weightman, for the second

time, carried off first honours, with great ease : all

efforts put forth to stop his onward career being

futile and unavailing in the extreme. In the third

round, he met Dan Burgh of Crookdale-hall ; and

in the fourth, Thomas Miller of Crookdykes. In

the fifth round, James Graham of Kirklinton laid

down, because, (as the victor slyly remarked,) "he

kent it was nek use russellin' ! " In the sixth

round, Weightman was lucky enough to be odd

man; while, in the final fall, the perfidious tricks

and sturdy attacks of Jacob Armstrong availed him

nothing for quick as thought his various moves

were frustrated, and he was sent to grass, sprawling

on his back, in a style which neither he nor any of

his partisans had anticipated.

In the following year, 1826, Weightman was again

the successful competitor for the head prize in the

200 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

Carlisle ring. He was opposed, from the second

round, by the following wrestlers, namely, Thomas

Lawman, Wilfrid Wright, John Robson of Irthington

mill, Joseph Robley, and George Irving. The

description given in the Carlisle Patriot of the event,

is curious as being the production of one to whom

the North Country sport was evidently a novelty,

and on that account it may be worth quoting. The

writer says :

' ' The wrestling on Wednesday, attracted thousands upon

thousands of country people, to witness their favourite sport.

The play, according to pully-hauley critics, was scientifically

excellent. The men squeezed, nipped, buttocked, etc., in

the most charming style ; and great was the applause of the

vast mass congregated around the ring, when some sturdy

athlete measured his long length on the ground. On the

first day, the grand contest lay between the celebrated Robson,

a fine young fellow of about twenty-two, weighing fifteen

stone, ten pounds, and the still more celebrated Weightman,

also a young man, but of more experience, and five pounds

heavier than the weighty Robson. This pair of modern

Ajaxes stood up nobly to each other. 'A breathless silence

(says a spectator) reigned throughout the ring. ' They

laid hold like men like true athletse each confident in his

own powers. The struggle begins now now now

huzza ! the invincible Weightman is again victorious !

Honour and glory once more for the East of Cumberland ! !'

So says our scientific informant but not so Mr. Hercules

Robson and his friends. They declared that the fall was not

a fair one, and the mighty business of the ring was for a while

suspended ; but the umpire, Mr. Todd, and a great majority

of the spectators decided otherwise and Weightman soon

finished the game, and pocketed the first prize, by finally

laying low the able-bodied George Irving. "

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 201

In spite of the umpire's decision, Robson and his

friends continued to harp on about what they called

the unfairness of the fall on the Swifts, until they

issued a challenge to the effect that Robson was

prepared to wrestle Weightman for ^20, which

was readily accepted by the latter. According to

agreement, the two men met about three weeks

after, in Crosby Willows, a meadow near Low

Crosby, which turned out a hollow affair after all,

nothing really occurring, except several tedious

attempts to get into holds. While the rain was

pouring in torrents, and the spectators becoming

restless at the absence of sport, an amicable finale

was ultimately arrived at by Robson shouting across

the ring : " We'll russel nea farther, Weetman, i'

this doon-pour o' rain. Cu' thy ways here, my lad,

an' I'll gie the' a leg on to my nag." Weightman

offering no opposition to this proposal, the two

were soon mounted, and rode together to a neigh-

bouring house of refreshment, where a few friendly

glasses passed between them, which probably helped

to fill up the existing breach. In after years,

Weightman always spoke of Robson with much

respect, describing him as "a canny weel donn't

lad, an' a varra gud russeller."

Robson, who excelled principally as a " hyper,"

measured six feet two inches in height, and increased

in weight and bulk, year by year, until at the age of

twenty-four he weighed as many stones as he num-

bered years. He died young in March, 1830

202 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

his coffin being so large that it was impossible to

get it into the room where the corpse lay, without

taking the window out. He had a narrow escape

from being robbed about three years before his

death. Returning from Carlisle, some highwaymen

attacked him while passing through the woods

between Corby and Ruel Holme. He, however,

got clear off from the miscreants, and arrived at

home without harm or loss of property, although

he was fired at in making his escape.

Weightman won twice at Melmerby Rounds,

getting a guinea and the belt each time, the usual

award to the victor. On one of these occasions,

when returning home through the village of Cum-

rew, his companions and he being fresh in drink,

smashed a window to atoms, and had fifteen shillings

to pay for their wanton mischief.

At Penrith in 1827, it was generally expected

that Weightman would be the victor, but it turned

out otherwise. He was thrown in the fourth round

by a mere stripling, under twenty years of age,

named John Loy, who, it is only fair to state,

gained the fall in rather a surreptitious manner.

Weightman's own account of the affair was this :

" A bit iv a lad stept oot of a corner o' the ring, an'

pretendit he wasn't gaen to russel ; but aw at yance,

t' lal taistral snapt't, an' bash't me doon iv a varra

nasty fashion."

During the same year, William Cass of Lowes-

water, the winner at Carlisle in 1822, challenged

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 203

any man in the north to wrestle a match for twenty

guineas. In reply to this challenge, Weightman

sent the following letter to the editor of the Cum-

berland Pacquet :

SIR, In reply to the challenge of Mr. Cass, given in your

paper of last week, to wrestle any man in Cumberland,

Westmorland, or Lancashire, for twenty guineas, I beg to

inform him through the same medium, that I and my friends

will be at the Duke's Head Inn, Scotch-street, Carlisle, at

two o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, October the 2yth,

where I hope his friends will meet us to arrange preliminaries

and deposit the money. I remain, Sir, yours very respectfully,

JOHN WEIGHTMAN.

The wrestling world in the northern counties

looked forward to this match with intense interest,

but Cass thought backing out to be safer policy

than encountering an opponent so formidable.

In the year 1828, some preliminary steps were

taken towards arranging a match between Weight-

man and Mc.Laughlan, the innkeeper, at the annual

gathering at Carlisle in the autumn; but like the

preceding ones, it came to nothing finally ending

in a tie, and then a wrangle. Mc.Laughlan at that

time was a great overgrown giant, weighing at least

five or six stone heavier than his rival. Referring

to this meeting many years after, Weightman said :

"Clatten com up i' fun iv his way o' 't gat hod

o' me afooar I kent reetly whoar I was, an' flang

me doon like a havver sheaf. Sec bairnish nonsense

as that, ye know, suin rais't my dander, an' i' th'

204 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

next roond I dud whack him ! I pait him vveel

back iv his can mak o' coin."

An acquaintance one day asked Mc.Laughlan

how he liked Weightman's "grip" at Carlisle. "Oh,

Lord ! it was fair vice wark !" exclaimed the giant,

giving an involuntary shudder at the mere thought

of being screwed up in the "vice."

In October, 1829, Weightman bore away the

chief prize from the Penrith ring a second time.

The entry included Cass of Loweswater and George

Irving both thrown by Weightman and most of

the best men in Cumberland and Westmorland.

At the conclusion of the wrestling, the winner could

have been backed against any man in England for

^100.

At Wigton date uncertain where there was a

strong muster of good men from the East and West,

the head prize of eight guineas fell into Weightman's

hands.

At one time or other, Weightman won seventeen

silver cups, and once, on being asked what became

of them, candidly replied : " I selt ivery yan o'

them, an' drank th' brass."

An anecdote illustrative of his fearless courage

and successful resistance to apparently overwhelming

odds, must not be forgotten. In the year 1829, his

uncle sold a cow to a butcher in Carlisle, named

Roberts, we believe. The payment for it not being

forthcoming at the proper time, nor any prospect

of it, Weightman was despatched to recover the

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 205

amount owing, and rode to Carlisle on a brown

filly for that purpose. Coming up with Roberts on

Eden bridges in company with another butcher

and a confederate Weightman told him he wanted

"owther the coo back with him, or the brass to

pay for it." The only reply to this question was

the filly being struck so forcibly with a thick stick,

that it was nearly " fell'd" to the ground with the

stroke. Boiling with indignation at this treatment,

Weightman cried out: "If ye strike the beast agean,

I'll strike ye doon!" Again the filly was struck,

and the fray began in earnest. Leaping off his

horse, Weightman seized the two butchers, taking

one in each arm, and " clash't the'r heids togidder

till bleUd flew aboot like onything !" Their con-

federate also joined the fray in a skirmishing mode

of attack, and although it was now three against

one, they were rapidly getting the worst of it.

Seeing the tide thus turning against them, one of

the rascals resorted to the knife, and inflicted a

great gash on Weightman's hand, the mark of which

he bore to his dying day. An onlooker, who

interfered on Weightman's behalf, was immediately

knocked down, under the wheels of a cart, and

severely injured. Things becoming thus desperate,

several by-standers stepped forward at this stage of

the affray, and put an end to the dastardly attack.

Although Weightman possessed no lack of courage

when it was called into action by such an event as

the foregoing, he was, nevertheless, often very difli-

206 JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON.

dent and reserved in the affairs of everyday life.

" I's nobbut shy I's nobbut varra shy, an' divvent

like to ax onybody," was a phrase frequently on his

lips, when any trivial favour had to be solicited.

At one time of his life, his company was a good

deal sought after by 'Torny Armstrong, and two

neighbouring 'statesmen, named Bleaymire and

Jordan. "Sec chaps," said he, in regretful tones,

" sec wild divvels as thur, aye wantit a feul ; an' I

sarra't for yen langer than I sud ha' deun." After

his wrestling days were over, Weightman continued

his irregular habits and mode of life, and as age

crept on he was by times reduced to considerable

straits in order to make both ends meet. Hard-

fisted poverty, and the pressure of circumstances in

various ways, not unfrequently forced his simple

Cumbrian speech to shape itself into proverbial

phrases, which sometimes lingered in the memories

of those who heard them for weeks and months

after. Take the following as examples : " Fwok

sud aye be menseful, an' menseful amang fwok."

And again: "Jwohn Barleycworn's ruin't mony a

gud heart, an' 'ill ruin mony mair yet."

Poor Weightman ! When Mr. Scott was taking

the portrait, by photography, which illustrates this

volume, the old man was greatly surprised at the

process, and asked with much simplicity : " Is it a

thing he hes mannish't to pick up by his can

ingenuity, d'ye think ? or hes't been put into him

by God Almighty ? "

JOHN WEIGHTMAN OF HAYTON. 207

In his eightieth year, being reduced to the most

abject poverty, alone in the world, and without

friends to assist him, an appeal was made through

the local papers for assistance, which met with a

generous response on the part of the public, and

served to "keep hunger frae t' dooar" while his

health continued to be anything like good. But at

the close of the year 1874 in the midst of one of

the severest winters on record Weightman had a

stroke, which laid him prostrate; and having no one

near to minister to his wants, the parish authorities

stept in and insisted upon his being removed to the

poor-house at Brampton. This was sore news to

the poor man, and went sadly against the grain, but

there was no help for it. And in January, 1875,

he, whose exploits in the wrestling ring had been

cheered to the echo, again and again, by tens of

thousands, at last found a pauper's grave his corpse

being followed thither by a couple of infirm old

men from the workhouse, and none else.

Such was the end of the powerful and gigantic

John Weightman.

208

JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN

OF DOVENBY.

IN the early part of the nineteenth century there

lived at the rural village of Dovenby, a few miles

north-west from Cockermouth, by far the tallest

man in Cumberland a man who stood six feet six

inches in height, and who was one of Pharoah's

lean kine, having at that date an hungry, unsatisfied

look about him, which was anything but pleasant

to the vision. This was John Mc.Laughlan, a

labouring man, better known as "Clattan," who at

certain seasons of the year, gained a livelihood by

working in the woods at Isel, and at other times by

paring turf on the pastures about Aspatria.

The parents of this gigantic youth were both

natives of the Highlands of Scotland, having

migrated early in life southwards, and settled in

Cumberland. The father was remarkably dexterous

at sword exercise and fencing with the stick ; who,

in a friendly contest, sometimes took delight in

showing his skill by hitting his opponent at pleasure,

and on almost any part of the body he chose.

"Clattan" was born about the year 1791; and

as a lad practised wrestling upon the village green,.

JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY. 209

with other Dovenby boys of a similar age. Growing

up to manhood, and becoming master of a moderate

share of science and action, he invariably lifted his

opponents from the ground, and carried them off

with the outside stroke ; his principal mainstay,

however, being his great height and immense weight.

In the ring, he was exceedingly good-natured and

affable, and would put himself to any amount of

inconvenience rather than allow his body to fall

awkwardly or heavily on a vanquished foe. He did

not, however, follow wrestling closely. He only

appeared upon the horizon by fits and starts, as it

were; and in tracing his career, it will be found

that two or three lengthy intervals intervene between

his retirements and reappearances.

As an athlete, Mc.Laughlan was somewhat late

in flowering, having reached the age of twenty-six

before he accomplished any feat worthy of record.

In 1817, he put in his first public appearance at

Carlisle, at the wrestling in Shearer's Circus. Here

he managed to mow down all competitors, including

Tom Todd of Knarsdale, James Robinson, the

gamekeeper, and, finally, his friend and neighbour,

John Liddle of Bothel. About this date he was

" a lang, thin, strip iv a chap, like a ladder ; hed a

varra laddish like leuk ; a feut gaily nar as lang's a

fender ; an' was rayder wake aboot the knees."

Or, to change the simile as a native of Cartmel-

fell once aptly phrased it : " Big an' beany as he

was, he was nobbut like a splinter blown off a

man ! "

I. 14

210 JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY.

After his temporary success at Carlisle, fortune

seems to have deserted him for many years. In

1819, he suffered his most memorable defeat at the

hands of William Wilson of Ambleside, in the

Keswick ring, who carried him off with a sweeping

hipe. In 1824, he appeared at Wigton sports, and

was thrown in the third round by Thomas Hodgson,

the police-constable ; and again in the third round

of the second day, by James Graham of Kirklinton.

In August, 1825, however, Clattan carried off the

head prize at Whitehaven ; Jonathan Watson being

second.

We are not aware that he wrestled in any ring

from the last date mentioned, until his return in the

year 1828, when he had grown amazingly in bulk,

being then about twenty-two stone weight. At

that time he was considered to be the most powerful

man in Cumberland, and as an athlete had no rival,

if we except Weightman of Hayton. It was an

exaggerated, but nevertheless a very common saying,

that he could lift a cottage house with ease, and

carry it away with him on his back !

The year 1828 with its curious winding-up

scene was the most noteworthy one in Clattan's

wrestling career. In the month of August, he

carried off the head prize at Workington races, with

the greatest ease; George Irving of Bolton-gate

being the second stander.

At Keswick in September, almost the self-same

scene was enacted, with Irving again second. Big

JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY. 211

men, like Cass of Loweswater, being, as it were,

mere children in Clattan's arms.

Following immediately in the rear of the Keswick

races, came the annual gathering at Carlisle, where

the Earl of Lonsdale still continued to give the sum

of twenty guineas for prizes. Notwithstanding the

morning on which the wrestling took place being

gloomy and foreboding, hundreds and thousands

poured into the old Border city from every available

direction, and it was computed that at least 6,000

persons were gathered round the wrestling ring.

Whilst ninety-two names were being enrolled for

the head prize, including most of the crack men of

the day, a group of itinerant ballad singers stood

bawling to the assembled multitude, such home-spun

staves as the following :

" Now, Weigh tman, you must do your best

To bear the prize away ;

For Clattan he is coming ;

Don't let him win the day."

We have reasons for saying that Weightman was

not at the wrestling on the Swifts that year. We

believe he was engaged driving cattle at the time,

at some considerable distance from Carlisle. His

name was certainly entered by some person or

other, and he was called out in the first round

against Hutchinson of Featherstone Castle; but

there being no response on Weightman's part, the

ticket naturally fell to Hutchinson's lot.

Having only to contend against men of ordinary

212 JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY.

calibre the heaviest and tallest of whom would be

fully six or seven stone deficient in weight, and

about the same number of inches in height

Clattan, wearing a pair of Nankeen trousers, stalked

through the Carlisle ring, in the most unobtrusive

manner imaginable, and without making the least

display of his giant strength. In the first round he

was called against Rickerby of Old Wall, and

Robinson of Renwick in the second. Despite

some futile struggling on the part of these two men,

he lifted them up and laid them down as easily as

Gulliver would have done a couple of Lilliputians.

In the third round, William Earl of Cumwhitton

went to work with a will, and completely foiled

Clattan by keeping well away from him. Not being

able to gather Earl and hug him as he had done

the previous ones, the tussle became an animated

one, and for a time seemed to be of a doubtful

character ; but on improving his hold, the big man

managed to twist Earl awkwardly to the ground by

sheer strength. Next followed, in quick succession,

the overthrow of Joseph Graham of Dufton, James

Graham of Kirklinton, and Tom Richardson, the

Dyer, at the hands of Clattan.

Only two men were now left standing, namely,

George Irving of Boltongate, and Clattan ; and by

Irving asking Clattan, as a favour, not to throw

himself heavily on him, the result was understood

to be a foregone conclusion. Good-naturedly

acting upon this request, Clattan without more ado,

JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY. 213

whipped Irving off his feet, turned him smartly

round, and then let go his hold, in order to avoid

falling on his man. Meanwhile, Irving having

cunningly retained his hold, claimed the fall, which

according to the rules of the game, was awarded to

him by the umpires. The scene which followed

baffles all description. The crowd danced, laughed,

yelled, and ran wild with commotion. Clattan was

completely nonplussed by the ruse, and bore the

result for a time with Job-like patience; but at

length his good nature fairly broke down. He

fumed and tore about like one half crazed, ground

his teeth, and swore he " wad russel him for fifty

pund to a pund for a hundred pund to a pund

for any amount he liket!" But Irving, having

accomplished his ends, was far too wary a customer

to be drawn into any further trial which meant

defeat. Meanwhile, Irving's friends hoisted him

shoulder high, and bore him away in triumph ; and

poor Clattan could only content himself with a final

shot at his enemy by crying out : "If iver I git hod

o' thee agean, my lad, I'll mak the 1 put thy tongue

ootr

After this mishap, the tide of popularity seems to

have set in against Mc.Laughlan in all directions.

At Dovenby races, held in June, 1829, he put in

an appearance, but no sooner was his name called

than it created much discontent among the competi-

tors : one wrestler swearing that he was " as big as

a hoose side," and another asking derisively for a

214 JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY.

ladder, " to dim' on t' top of his shooders wid ! "

In order to dispel this outburst of feeling, the

stewards offered the giant a liberal sum if he would

take the post of umpire, and give up contending ;

which proposal he accepted in the most cordial

manner. The chief prize for wrestling (after the

withdrawal of the big man,) was carried off by

Jonathan Robinson of Allerby mill.

A correspondent of the Cumberland Pacquet, in

speaking of the Penrith races in 1829, says, he

"cannot imagine upon what principle of justice the

individuals acted, who brought a man fifty miles

from home by an open advertisement, and then

debarred him." The same correspondent, also,

complains that Mc.Laughlan was excluded from

the Carlisle ring of the same year, in the face of an

advertisement which distinctly stated it was " open

to any man."

At the great gathering at Cockermouth in August,

1830, Clattan was allowed to enter his name without

opposition in the first day's list, where he carried

off the head prize, throwing James Little, George

Murgatroyd, John Birket, and finally William Earl.

In 1837, his last victory, we believe, was gained

at Liverpool, after mowing down John Nichol of

Bothel, Jonathan Thomlinson, and Thomas Arm-

strong of Carlisle, in the heavy weight prize.

Clattan figured again in the Liverpool ring in

1840, at which date he would be about fifty years

old ; but the fates were against him. He was

JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY. 215

drawn against John Selkirk of Beckermet. It is

worthy of remark, (says a report in the Carlisle

fourna/,) that Selkirk's father threw Mc.Laughlan

twenty-six years ago; and Mc.Laughlan was over-

heard to say, it would be a shame to let both father

and son throw him. But so it proved, for after a

very severe struggle, in which Selkirk showed

himself to be a wrestler of no ordinary ability, the

first fall was given in as unfair, and they had to

wrestle over again. In getting hold a second time,

Mc.Laughlan put all his powers in requisition, but

to no avail, for Selkirk threw him in a masterly

manner.

One incongruous element of Clattan's character

has still to be mentioned, namely, his weakness for

sparring and boxing. His temperament 'was made

up of too many good-natured components to allow

of his ever degenerating into a mere prize-fighter.

The big man, to the best of our knowledge, had a

determined "set-to" once, and only once. It

occurred at a Bridewain held in the Vale of Lorton.

William Mackereth and Clattan who had been

close friends for years fell out over some trifling

affair, and a keenly contested fight was the result.

After the struggle had continued some time, Mack-

ereth succeeded in driving Clattan from one stand

to another, until the giant finally gave in. Clattan

threatened to "fettle him off when he com back

frae sparring," with the professors of the noble art

mentioned hereafter ; but he proved to be far too

216 JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY.

good natured to attempt to carry any such threat

into execution.

Clattan's "experience with the bruising fraternity"

we quote from a clever notice, which appeared in

the Whitehaven News "was confined to travelling

with the celebrated pugilists, Tom Molyneaux, the

Black, (who twice contested the championship with

Tom Cribb,) and Jack Carter, the latter of whom

fought a terrible battle with Oliver at Gretna Green

in 1816. With these heroes, John made a

tour in the provinces and Scotland, extending over

four or five years, in the course of which he gave

and took more hard knocks, as an exhibition sparrer,

from his formidable and dexterous colleagues, than

would satisfy the ambition of most men ; but, as we

have said, the big man never acquired a taste for

fighting. It was scarcely possible, under any

circumstances, to surprise him out of one of the

quietest dispositions and finest tempers with which

giant was ever blessed ; and the sole use he made

of the hard schooling he received at the hands of

Molyneaux and Carter, and the countless yokels,

ambitious of fistic distinction, was to amuse a few

of his patrons. The art and mystery of bruising

was practised nowhere more extensively and indus-

triously than by a chosen band of youths who

frequented John's house in the Market-place,

Whitehaven. To oblige these young gentlemen,

and test their dexterity, 'Clattan' has been known

to sit down in a chair, to ensure something like

JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY. 217

equality of height, and 'set himself; and very

dexterous had young Whitehaven to be if it could

hit and get away, even under these circumstances,

without a counter tap, as from a playful steam

hammer. Many wonderful tales are told of

'Clattan.' He could crack nuts with his thumb

and forefinger as easily as a schoolboy could crush

a gooseberry, and we forget the enormous weight

he could suspend round his wrist while he wrote

his name against the wall."

Mc.Laughlan was an innkeeper in Whitehaven

for a great number of years, being the landlord of

"The Highlandman," or "Rising Sun," in the

Market-place. Here he drove a flourishing trade,

which resulted in a great measure from frequenters

of his house always finding him to be civil and

obliging.

At Whitehaven, Clattan joined the town band

formed by Mr. Heywood, clerk to the magistrates.

In this capacity, he invariably marched first in

processions, and did what he could to make sweet

music out of the instrument he played, an immense

trombone, his giant-like form towering above his

fellows, like that of Goliath of Gath among the

Gittites.

Leaving Whitehaven about 1838 or 1839, he

settled in Liverpool, where he was employed about

the docks for several years. His wife, Betty,

afterwards kept a lodging-house in Sparling-street ;

but more latterly they lived retired and in comfort-

218 JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN OF DOVENBY.

able circumstances, principally through the kindness

of one of his sons, the captain of a trading vessel.

Mc.Laughlan died in Liverpool, in October,

1876, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.

219

BULL BAITING.

IT must be exceedingly gratifying to all ranks of

society throughout the United Kingdom, who take

any interest in the social progress of the inhabitants,

in the onward march from semi-barbarism to a

higher state of civilization from indulgence in

brutal amusements, pursued with eager gratification

during the eighteenth century to note a gradual

stamping out of vicious pursuits, and the growth of

more harmless amusements.

Amongst the lower order of our crowded towns

and rural districts, amongst the middle classes of

society, and even amongst the higher orders the

cream of society the welcome change is strikingly

evident. The lower orders were probably the most

prone to indulge in the vile and degrading pursuits,

which have in a great measure been rooted out,

but they were by no means the only culpable

parties. The higher and middle classes freely lent

their countenance and support lent their assistance

not alone by being present at, but by liberal contri-

butions aided in getting up, the horrible scenes

witnessed at the bull-ring, the bear garden, the cock

and rat pits, the boxing ring, and badger worrying.

220 BULL BAITING.

Even royalty, with its gorgeous trappings, and long

list of titled favourites, smiled at and enjoyed the

ferocious pastime.

A laudable endeavour to abolish them was made

in the year 1800. A bill was introduced by Sir W.

Pulteney, into the House of Commons, for the

abolition of bull baiting and other cruel sports ; but

Mr. Wyndham the leader at that time of a

powerful party of country gentlemen opposed the

bill on the ground that it attempted to suppress a

national amusement, which was not more cruel

than fox-hunting; a pastime so important that a

clever writer has said, " You ruin the country as

soon as you put an end to fox-hunting." Mr.

Wyndham, on the one hand, was supported by

Mr. Canning, and on the other hand opposed by

Mr. Sheridan. Up to the year 1835, an agitation

was fostered against brutal sports, and the time-

honoured institutions of seven centuries were then,

by Act of Parliament, for ever blotted out from the

town and country pleasures of Great Britain and

Ireland.

The defunct pastimes, we have under consider-

ation, were amongst the most exciting as well as

brutal amusements of the eighteenth century, and

to a record of them in the " good old times," this

short article will be devoted. In nearly every

town, and in most rural districts, there was the

attractive bull ring. The gatherings never attained

the gigantic and imposing dimensions of the Roman

BULL BAITING. 221

Coliseum and the Spanish Amphitheatre bull fights

institutions no better than a species of bull

baiting, and attended with greater cruelty and

bloodshed than the English bull ring. The national

mind in our own country was never so thoroughly

embued with the horrible pastime as the citizens of

Rome and Madrid ; but was sufficiently brutified as

to be considered at the present time a disgrace to

humanity. The sad sights, however, which glad-

dened the eye, and drew forth shouts of applause,

from "good Queen Bess" and her followers, when

she entertained the ambassadors from Continental

courts, with a display of bear and bull baiting, are

happily at an end.

We shall now proceed to the more immediate

object of our article, namely, a notice of bull baiting

in our own country, and more particularly in the

two northern counties of Cumberland and West-

morland. In England, the baiting was done, as

our readers will doubtless be aware, with a breed

of dogs peculiar to the country, called "bull" dogs.

This breed, so famous in story, might probably

have become extinct after bull baiting was abolished,

had it not been for the numerous dog shows which

have since taken place throughout the country,

where prizes are given for purity of breed and

excellence of form. Their principal characteristics

are indomitable courage, and an instinctive pro-

pensity to pin their huge adversary by the nose.

In order to effect this object, well bred dogs would

222 BULL BAITING.

rush furiously at the bull, and although they might

be unsuccessful and stand a chance of being tossed

high in the air, they never failed in returning again

and again to the attack. Wonderful stories may be

gleaned, in all parts of the kingdom, illustrative of

their never dying resolute courage. In the quality

of endurance, under punishment, they may be

likened to the English game cock the agonies of

death even not being able to quench their fighting

propensities.

The following well authenticated anecdote, related

by Bewick, the wood engraver, illustrates this point

in a most barbarous and disgraceful manner. Many

years ago, at a bull baiting in the North of England,

a young man, confident of the courage of his dog,

laid some trifling wager, that he would, at separate

times, cut off all the four feet of his dog, and that,

after each amputation, it would attack the bull.

The cruel experiment was tried, and the gallant

and courageous dog continued to rush at the bull,

upon its four stumps, as eagerly as if it had been

perfectly whole !

Another anecdote of the bull dog has more of a

ludicrous dash about it. A father and son, in a

northern village, had a young pup, descended from

a famous breed, out for exercise and training. The

son accosted the rough old paterfamilias with :

" Boon on ye'r knees, ladder, an' boo like a bull !"

The "fadder" did as he was desired, and began

"booin'." Before many "boos" had been repeated,

BULL BAITING. 223

however, the pup had seized the sham "boom"'

bull firmly by the nose. Delighted at the ready

tact displayed by the dog, young hopeful roared

out : " Bide it, fadder ! bide it ! It'll be t' makkiri

o' t' pup !"

Carlisle is the first northern town at which we

shall notice bull baiting. Our account has been

gathered from tradition and from spectators of the

scenes. The old bull ring stood in the market

place, in close proximity to the "stocks," on that

space of ground lying between the ancient cross

and the front of the town hall. There, from time

immemorial, was the savage pastime witnessed by

generation after generation. If we cannot carry it

back to the dim mystical times, when

Kinge Arthur lived in merry Carleile,

And seemely was to see,

And there with him Queene Genever,

That bride soe bright of blee

It requires but a limited stretch of the imagination

to picture it in full swing at the time when the three

brave foresters of Inglewood flourished, Adam

Bell, Clym o' the Clough, and William o' Cloudeslee,

and when the two former rescued the latter from

the hangman's cart in the same market place.

And Cloudeslee lay ready there in a cart,

Ffast bound both foote and hande ;

And a strong rope about his necke,

All readye ffor to hange.

Men have been maimed for life, and even gored

224 BULL BAITING.

to death, in bull baiting frays, held in front of the

Carlisle town hall. A large ferocious animal, known

as the "Linstock bull," was baited no less than

three times. It once broke loose from the ring ;

threw the multitude into wild disorder; knocked

down several of the bystanders, who came in

contact with its onward progress ; and ran a

butcher, named Gibbons, up against the wall ! At

this exciting moment a cry from the crowd rent the

air, which appalled the bravest heart, but happily

no material damage was done. For, curiously

enough, the man's life was saved through the

animal's horns growing far apart ; the bull being

one of the Lancashire long-horned breed, formerly

very common throughout the north country.

In old times, an aged woman, of coarse features

and Amazonian strength, figured prominently in

the Carlisle ring, and was invariably accompanied

by a savage dog, called "Pincher." Her shrill

voice was often heard, far above the hubbub of the

crowd, with such exclamations as, "Weel done,

Pincher! good dog, Pincher! stick till't, Pincher!

Ha ! ha ! Pincher's gripp't it noo ! " And then, all

at once, up went the veritable Pincher, twenty feet

in the air, turning "bully necks" three or four times,

and falling on the ground with a heavy thud,