Carter v Oliver Prize Fight

The Prize Fight between Carter and Oliver 1816

Sporting Pursuits

From the Carlisle Patriot (CP) and Carlisle Journal (CJ) newspapers

The match between Carter and Oliver was one of the sporting highlights of 1816 - many men travelled from all over the country to see the fight. The local magistrates banned the fight, so it was quickly arranged just over the border at Springfield.October 5th 1816 Carlisle PatriotThe Fight between Carter and Oliver This flash fight took place yesterday week within one hundred yards of Springfield, commonly called Gretna Green, in the presence of at least 15,000 spectators. The time and place were arranged by the respective parties on Thursday, and on Friday morning, the roads leading to the scene of the action were completely gutted with all degrees of passengers; coaches, carriages, curricles, gigs, sand carts, dung carts, horses, donkies, all were put in requisition, and the grotesque scene was not a little heightened by the wet weather and dirty state of the roads. In Carlisle for some time previous to the day of battle, not a vehicle of any sort, nor a horse, could be obtained for love or money. The battle was fought in a 24 feet ring, and the ground, though not the most favourable, was in a very tolerable state. About half past twelve, Carter made his appearance, and entered the ring with great confidence. He was immediately followed by his opponent, Oliver, who came forward in equal spirits. Carter was seconded by Painter, and Oliver by Cribb. The Marquess of Queensberry and Colonel Barton, umpires. Intervals of half a minute between battles. (For full account of all 31 rounds, see the Carlisle Patriot October 5th 1816).Round One The combatants faced each other with much curious sparring. Carter struck the first blow, but it did not take visible effects. After an exchange of a few blows, which were not marked with any peculiarity, they closed, and Carter forced Oliver on the ropes, where he put in practice his system of terrible punching, which he took care his opponent should feel. Both got on the ropes alternating and after a severe struggle, Oliver fell and had the worst of it; he lost wind and exhibited the first claret under his listener.......Round 10 Both the combatants made their appearance in good wind. Oliver planted a fine hit in Carter?s bread-basket, and Carter fell on his back as complaisant as his greatest enemies could wish. One hundred to ten in favour of Oliver.......Round 15 Commenced as usual with smart hitting, but they were as loving as usual, for they soon embraced and hugged most closely. After a long struggle on the ropes, and some severe punching on each side, Oliver fell and had the worst of it.......Round 29 Oliver knocked down at one blow. Any odds on Carter, but no-one mad enough to take them. Round 30 Oliver, completely blinded, made a plunge at his opponent, but was knocked across the ropes in a suffering position. Round 31 Carter hit at will and fell his antagonist at a blow, who was deprived of motion, dreadfully cut, and lost to all sensation. Here the battle ended in favour of Carter. Oliver could do no more! The battle lasted 48 minutes, and was one of the most punishing description. Both came into the ring well trained, and both were confident, but Carter was much superior in weight and strength to Oliver, and in every close mangled him terribly on the ropes. Carter saw this advantage and followed it up, but he also had the best of all the off-handed hitting, it appeared immaterial to him, right or left, and the blows of both told most effectively. After the fifteenth round, Oliver had no chance, but he proved his bottom completely as he scorned to surrender while he knew where he stood. He was taken from the ring, and put to bed at Longtown with both eyes closed, cut up in all directions and insensible; surgical aid was procured and he fainted several times under the pressure of his suffering, but, we were informed at Longtown, he afterwards revived and took some refreshment...Many thousand pounds depended on the issue of this battle, and the Londoners, who were very confident, are taken in largely. They had a notion that Carter had no bottom in him, and could only hit with his left hand; the event has proved both ideas to be fallacious. Carter acquires both fame and fortune by his victory; he is now champion of England, Cribb having declared off. Too much praise cannot be given to Painter, who trained Carter, and we may rest assured that Oliver was treated in the first stile under the hands of Captain Barclay. The battle was more distinguished for desperate, straight forward fighting than for science, of which very little was displayed after the two or three first rounds. The Carlisle people have pretty well lined their pockets, and might have done so in a ten-degree fold if they had accepted the offers of the forward Londoners, but they acted a prudent part. Carter himself pockets about 150 guineas. Thus ended a battle which excited as much, or more, interest than any of the sort ever fought. Many have contemplated its approach with delight, many with disgust. October 11th 1816 CP To the Editor of the Carlisle Patriot Sir - the Lovers of Boxing must of course have been much obliged to you for the very full account you gave in last week?s paper, of the dreadful, bloody and inhuman battle which took place in Scotland between Carter and Oliver. But it ought to be publicly known (a thing which I was surprised to find omitted by you) why this battle was fought in Scotland, and not in the neighbourhood of Carlisle, as was generally expected. Pray then, Sir, inform your numerous readers that it was put a stop to by the interference of three magistrates, viz. George Blamire Esq. our present Mayor, the Rev Dr Lowry, and Dr Heysham. To the above, I have no doubt, might have been added others (I know of one) who would not have been remiss, had matters proceeded to an extremity. NO MAGISTRATE Carlisle October 8th 1816 October 11th 1816 CP The following letter is copied from a Dumfries paper: Sir - Before you can receive this, you may perhaps have heard that the pugilists Oliver and Carter fought at Springfield yesterday. They had intended to fight at Carlisle but the magistrates there at the instance of the bishop, would not allow then to decide the match in the county of Cumberland. For that purpose they were obliged to come over to Scotland. Anxious to prevent their fighting in my parish, I obtained a warrant from the first magistrates of Annan, to apprehend the combatants, that they might be bound over to keep the peace in this vicinity, but owing to the immense mass of banditti from England, the execution of the warrant became impracticable. I am sorry to say that there were several justices of the peace present who, it might have been expected, would have assisted and supported the constables in the discharge of their duty, but this they did not do. It is impossible for me to conceive how men, under the obligation of a solemn oath to exert their authority for the preservation of the peace, could reconcile their conduct to any idea of duty, or how they could be present without employing the powers with which they are invested, to prevent a scene so injurious to the religion, the morals, the industry and the sobriety of the people and so degrading to human nature. I have no doubt but you join with me in lamenting that our nobility, gentry and magistrates should not only tolerate but patronise such inhuman and barbarous amusements. I remain, Sir, yours etc. J Morgan, Graitney. (Minister of the parish of Springfield)