92 ROUNDS IN IRISH RED HOOK (1864)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** It was an amazing feat even for the times. Although fights were often arranged for the amusement of their onlookers or the profits of the inevitable bettors back then, unauthorized prize fights were, even in 1864, against the law. It was in that year that just such an illegal “Feather Weight” contest was arranged, “in the rosin yard at the foot of Van Brunt street at 7 o’clock” the morning of 4 December. IRISH BARE-KNUCKLE BOXING The Irish, it was maintained, were known for their fighting spirit, and Red Hook, having no dearth of wiry Irish lads looking to swing a punch or two at any adversarial comers, this particular match did not appear to be an uncommon occurrence. There was no main stake in the result of the fight, noted the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, but “small bets were plentiful, and over $1,000 in greenbacks were said to have changed hands on the issue.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle called the affair “disgraceful,” but then went on to describe the “prize fight” and its participants in the most glowing and respectful tones, noting that “the lovers of the manly art rejoiced.” THE CONTESTANTS One of the boys was Paddy McGrath, “who belongs at the corner of Van Brunt and Wolcott street when […]
