Some of this is hard to read, this is my best go. Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 17 January 1788 HUMPHREYS and MENDOZA So high was the public anxiety on the issue of the bruising match which was decided Wednesday, that neither the distance from town, nor the state of the weather, could prevent a very large body of people from assembling at the scene of action at Odiham. Several hundreds of people paid half a guinea a peice to gain admission within the paddock where the stage was raised. The paddock was well defended against the multitude by Tring, Ryan, Dunn, and a number of other of the strongest men in England, who with clubs looked like so many giants; but what can resist the shock of an English mob? The paddock was broken down, and the torrent rushed in. The combatants mounted the stage exactly at one o'clock, and, after the usual salutation, Mendoza instantly began the onset with all the heat and impetuosity of a man determined on victory. He threw himself in with much activity, and displayed much shewy enterprize, while Humphrey retreated and avoided the blows. The latter bore himself with great reserve, and the Jew was accordingly the assailant in the first six of seven rounds. In these, Mendoza being more [illegible] and more successful than Humphreys, the bets, which were two to one in favour of the latter before the battle, changed to six to four, seven to four, and at last two to one against him. Several blows of Mendoza had their effect. He cut Humphreys under the left eye, and of course endeavoured to follow up the wound, but in this he was disappointed by the superior addess of his opponent. The stage, from the wetness of the day, was extremely slippery, and for some time neither of them could keep their feet so as to give firmness to their action. To remedy this, Humphreys threw off his shoes, and got a pair of worsted stockings, in which, without shoes, he continued the battle. After they had fought 18 or 19 minutes, Humphreys began to manifest his superior skill, and the bests again changed in his favour. He planted a dreadful blow on the neck, or near the jaw of the Jew, which sicked, and almost disabled him. He continued the battle, however, with much determinatuin of spirit, until extravasated blood and exhausted wind made him so helpless, that he lay on the stage unable to rise, and yielded the contest. A battle in which there was so much dextreity and skill, with such equality of strength and muscle, perhaps never was fought, and certainly there never was a contest on which so much money depended. The battle lasted 29 minutes. The Jew was carried off the stage totally exhausted, and seemingly lifeless. Humphreys was not out of breath, and suffered no material injury from the blows. Humpreys was seconded by Johnson, and Mendoza by Jacobs. The Jews did not lose less than 50,000l. by the battle on Wednesday; perhaps there never was an occasion when so much money was sported in the city of London. At the London Exchange, the Corn Exchange, the Coal Exchange, and the Stock Exchange, there was nothing heard of but the battle.
Hampshire Chronicle - Monday 11 May 1789 MENDOZA and HUMPHRIES The Booth on which Mendoza and Humphries fought, was of an octagon form. It held about sixteen hundred people. Nearly, if not the whole number were present. Each paid Half a Guinea for admission. The battle began precisely at one. Humphries was thrown four times in the first six minutes, although Mendoza fought almost entirely on the defensive, as he continued to do for ten minutes longer. Mendozza, during that time, stopt every blow. Mendoza then began to attack his antagonist, driving him from the centre of the ground to the railing, during which he generally made good two or three blows. —Humphries always fell or bugged Mendoza. Mendoza always contrived, in these falls, to get upper most.—After fighting 39 minutes, Sir Thomad Aprice, one of the Umpires, called out, that Humphries had fallen without any blow being struck at him. This, according to the Articles of Agreement, must have determined the battle in favour of Mendoza. But Mr. Harvey Coombe, the other Umpire, declared his opinion that a blow was struck. There being no other Umpires previously chosen but the above two, and the impropriety of choosing one then, when every one was interested, being so apparent, rendered an impartial decision impossible. Here, notwithstanding, Humphries braved Mendoza to renew the fight, and contrary, we believe, to the wishes of the knowing ones, who otherwise would have made it a drawn battle, Mendoza, at the desire of Sir Tho. Aprice, boldly renewed it. The first blow at the second onset, Mendoza struck Humphries under the left ear. This apparently seemed to decide the battle. For Humphries, after reeling back on the railing, fell on his face. In about fifteen minutes and an half Humphries fell, and was declared to do so without a blow. This terminated the battle in favour of Mendoza. A Gentleman who was a minute spectato on the whole, took notice, that Humphries fell forty-two times, nine times of which Mendoza fell under Humphries/ Among the Amateurs present at the fight at Stilton, were, Lord Delaval, Lord Tyrconnel, Harvey Aston, George Hanger, Mor. Fitzroy, Mr. Coke of Norfolk, Mr. Hale of Hertfordshire, Alderman Newnham, Hon. G. Damer, Sire Willoughby Aston, Mr. Franco, &c. Lord Tyrconnel, with an earnestness that did him infinite honour, and by no means daunted by every Jew Boy's appearing equallt a partner in the triumph of Mendoza, stalked about Stiltin, after the fight, with a blue ribband in his hat. The following unfortunate accident happened on the road to Stilton: As Ward the Bruiser was on his way there, a Blacksmith who had heard so much of the London Bruisers, had a mind to try their strength: on which Ward offered to fight him, and the consequence was, that the Blacksmith was completely beaten in a few minutes. But Ward, not satisfied with beating him, struck him after the battle, and broke one of his ribs, and by a second blow, forced one the rib into his heart, and the man died instantly. Ward was secured immediately, and will take his trial in consequence. The Coroner's Inquest, sat on the body of the Blacksmith who received the fatal blow, and gave in their Veridict, with much difficulty.—Man-slaughter. The word "Winchester," in Mr. Newlyn and Miss Batt's Advertisement, inserted in the two last papers, was an omission of the Printer's.
