Wiltshire Independent, Little Cock and Blind Bill: two celebrated wrestlers (1838)

TWO CELEBRATED WRESTLERS, LITTLE COCK AND BLIND BILL.

John Coppe, commonly called Little Cock, lived in the neighbourhood of Great Torrington, in Devonshire. This man, who lived to an advanced age, never exceeded five feet five inches in stature. In his youth he remained master of the ring at all the wrestling matches in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset, for a space of twenty years. This Milo in miniature, though short, was in no way large made; and in consequence of his early exertions towards the close of his life, laboured under the painful complaint of a hernia (a rupture) almost as big as his head. This singular athlete was also bow-legged.

Another extraordinary champion was William Wreford, commonly called Blind Bill. This man was stone blind ever since he was eight years of age; he was about 5 feet 10 inches in height, and of robust make. He was one of the first wrestlers in Devonshire; he was usually led into the ring by a boy as a guide, and was always indulged with the privilege of taking hold of his antagonist by the collar, and when he had once got a firm hold, he kicked, tripped, and got through every manoeuvre of the wrestling art; seldom or ever failing to throw his antagonist on his back, though frequently a man of more strength and power than himself. This most singular athlete lived, and we believed died, at Cheriton Cross, on the turnpike road between Exeter and Oakhampton.