Page 101 - Reading Mercury

th
Mon 25 Dec
READING
On Thursday (being St. Thomas’s-Day) the annual scene of cruelty and confusion,
was repeated in the center of the town of Wokingham, where two bulls were in
succession, brought to the stake for the amusement and gratification of both sexes all
ages and conditions. The bell that summoned the religious to prayers, proved also the
signal for bringing the first victim to the stake, who, in strong exertions to avoid his
persecutors, twice broke his chain; but he was soon replaced at the intended spot,
there to undergo the rigid sentence of his inexorable judges; his instinctive valour
being easily subdued by the repeated attacks of his natural enemies, all the power of
opposition sinking, and life itself almost exhausted, under the burthen of accumulated
persecution, his dreadful roaring, with the exulting clamour of the unmerciful and
inhuman, formed a most shocking contrast to those refined sensations that are an
ornament to human nature. The second soon from after being produced for the
afternoon’s amusement unfortunately broke a horn in its own defence and continued a
bleeding victim, till the approach of night put an end to the animal and the horrors of
the day.

1787
nd
Mon 22 Jan
READING, SATURDAY, Jan. 20.
On Monday last, the Lady of Lord Euston was safely delivered of a daughter at his
Lordship’s seat at Dunston Park, near Thatcham.
Last week were caught at Badmington Park, four brace of fine young red deer,
present from his Grace the Duke of Beaufort to his Majesty, for hunting and on
Thursday se’nnight his Majesty’s carriages arrived at Bedminster from Windsor to
take them away.
On Thursday last was fought at Wokingham, the long expected battle, between
Johnson, the corn-porter, from London, and Ward, the smith, from Bristol, for £200 a
side. As they were both eminent in the art of boxing, and have never been beaten,
each man was a great favourite of their respective parties; so much so, that one
person, who farms a turnpike upon the road to Bristol, had £170, deposited upon
Ward, and was so certain of success, he would not admit a partner for a single guinea.
When stript upon the stage, the superior size and apparent strength of Johnson,
seemed to justify an odds of 5 to 4, which was largely and repeatedly laid in his
favour; whilst on the contrary, Ward’s party were willing to receive 6 to 4 to any
amount. In this state the battle commenced, and what was by many suspiciously
supposed to have been intended for public deception and imposition, soon proved
itself to be a most determined exertion for honour and emolument. The very quick
perception, well regulated guard, and uncommon agility of Ward, was a wonderful
counteraction to the steady courage and visible strength of Johnson and convinced a
most incredible concourse of spectators what a serious contest was to ensue. An
almost exact quality was preserved for full two hours, without a perceptible advantage
to alter the state of bets; in all which time every manoeuvre in the art of boxing was
minutely displayed. Johnson courageously sanding up to his antagonist, and
depending on his superior strength, was most judiciously foiled by the feints and falls
of Ward, who artfully (and with uncommon agility) eluded the blows of his adversary,
whilst he was sure to give place to his own. Fortune that had been so long suspended
seemed at length inclined to favour Ward, he having closed up an eye of Johnson’s,
and the blood flowing freely from other parts of his face, it seemed to exasperate him,

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