Exeter Flying Post, Exeter Grand Wrestling and Chawleigh results: Thorne of Waterloo (1815)
Exeter Grand Wrestling. TO be WRESTLED FOR, in a Field at Hill’s Farm, in the parish of St. Sidwell’s, on Thursday and Friday, the 24th and 25th instant, a PURSE of at least TEN GUINEAS. Play to begin each day at ten o’clock in the forenoon.—In order to encourage early attendance, the first double player shall receive FIVE SHILLINGS extra. The Triers will be chosen from different parishes, and every fair play shown. Exeter, August 9th, 1815.
The annual Wrestling Match at Chawleigh, Devon, on Tuesday evening, afforded most excellent sport. The best players from different parts of the county attended. The better play was principally between Flower, Jackman, Cann, and Wreford, first rate men from Morchard and Colebrooke, opposed to Totley, Hogg, Cock, and Lewis, from Baboborough and Kingsnypmton; Jackman and Cann were thrown by Hogg and Cock, after a most spirited contest. The Herculean Flower threw Tymling, a very powerful man; and by whom he had been twice thrown at former matches; but he was at length subdued by the champion Totley, who was declared the best man and received the prize accordingly.
Among the numerous instances of individual bravery displayed in the battle of Waterloo, Devon has to boast of a Hero, whose valour on that ever memorable day is above all praise.—Thorne, the celebrated wrestler from Widecombe in the Moor, who won the prize at the grand match in St. Sidwell’s, two years since, (and whose uncommon strength usually vanquished every opponent,) shortly afterwards enlisted in the Life Guards, and struggled with that renowned corps in the tremendous charge made against the French Cuirassiers, in which (as appears by a letter from an Officer of distinguished rank who was present) he dealt destruction to all around him, and actually killed nine men with his own hand, and was cutting down the tenth when an unfortunate shot from a carbine put a period to his glorious career, in the 23d year of his age.