OLD MASTER REMEMBERED
Exhibition to honour bareknuckle trailblazer, Molineaux
EXACTLY 200 years after his death in the west of Ireland, freed American slave turned pugilist Tom Molineaux is being remembered with an exhibition of his life at Galway City Museum. A commemorative plaque, commissioned by the museum and Galway Civic Trust, has been erected at St Patrick’s national school, built on the site of a British Army barracks where Molineaux spent his final days. He died, aged just 34, on August 4, 1818. He was buried in an unmarked grave at St James’ cemetery in Mervue, a Galway suburb.
Born and raised as a slave on a tobacco planation in Virginia, Molineaux gained his freedom after winning his owner a large sum of money betting on him to beat the pride of a rival plantation in a bare-knuckle bout. His master had also promised him $500 if he won the fight. Now a free man, Molineaux set off for New York, where he worked as a dockside labourer while picking up extra cash in pugilistic encounters. He was advised to try his luck in England. Taken into the care of another American, Bill Richmond, he went on a winning streak that led to a challenge to English champion Tom Cribb. Their showdown took place at Copthall Common on December 18, 1810. Molineaux would have won but for “one of the most shameful episodes in British sports history”.
In a fight to the finish, meaning the bout would only end when one man was too badly beaten or exhausted to continue, the English champion slumped semi-conscious in his corner after the 22nd round. One of Cribb’s seconds, Joe Ward cried out that Molineaux had hidden bullets in his fists. By the time the American proved his innocence, precious time had been lost. While Molineaux had stood shivering from the cold, Cribb’s cornermen had cannily wrapped him in a blanket and fortified him with shots of whisky. Molineaux never recovered his composure and took so much punishment that he was forced to admit to Richmond, his chief second, just before “time” was called for the 33rd round; “Bill, I can fight no more”.
Days after his defeat, Molineaux issued an appeal for a return match, expressing the hope that “the circumstances of my being of a different colour will not in any way operate to my prejudice”.
Cribb, smarting at the controversy following the first fight, accepted the challenge and the rematch was arranged for September 28 of the following year at Thistleton Gap, where the three counties of Leicester, Lincoln and Rutland met.
This time, Cribb, who hadn’t trained properly for the initial meeting, was in top shape, having reduced his weight from 16 stone to 13st 6lbs under the care of Capt Robert Barclay, the renowned trainer and long distance walker.
Molineaux, on the other hand, spurned the best advice of Richmond and others while going on regular drinking sprees and cavorting with women. Just before the rematch, he reportedly wolfed down a whole chicken and an apple pie, washed down with a gallon of beer. Not surprisingly, the American’s lack of preparation quickly took its toll and he was easy prey. After just 20 minutes of action, Molineaux, his jaw broken by a tremendous blow, gave up his hopeless effort.
Over the next four years, Molineaux manged to win two fights but was beaten in 14 rounds by George Cooper in his final outing. He teamed up with his conqueror, Cooper, in touring the UK, sparring exhibitions and teaching the art of boxing. They extended their tours to Ireland in 1815. While Cooper eventually returned to England, Molineaux decided to stay on. He fell into poor health and was described by Pierce Egan, the author of Boxiana, as “no more than a walking skeleton”.
The exact cause of his death is unknown, but a fever epidemic was sweeping the west of Ireland at the time.
The current exhibition at Galway City Museum, which includes books, cartoon drawings, prints and ceramic figurines, will run until November 24.