SALISBURY — Bob Estabrook told the story of the Oct. 5, 1853, prize fight in what is now Boston Corner, N.Y., to an appreciative audience at the Scoville Memorial Library Saturday, Nov. 21.
The fight, a bare-knuckle affair between John Morrissey and Yankee Sullivan, went 37 rounds, with Morrissey the victor.
But what was really notable about the fight was that 8,000 people attended, with riotous results.
Contemporary accounts included descriptions of what would today be called “home invasions.� There was also plenty of pickpocketing, stealing of chickens and general mayhem.
In the question period after the talk, Estabrook was asked if the 8,000 attendance figure is credible.
“I think so,�he replied. “The charcoal cutters and other people on the mountain came down to let off steam.�
Was anybody killed or hurt?
“Well, Sullivan was pretty badly beaten up. And I don’t know how much local medical attention would be given to the loser.�
Why were no women reported at the fight?
“I don’t think it was by design,� said Estabrook. “Maybe the fairer sex had better judgment!�
Why Boston Corner?
“I’m guessing here but I think it was chosen because it was a no-man’s land between New York state and Massachusetts — and has remained so.�
Ron Jones from the Salisbury Association added that, “This area has been called the 14th Colony — between the three states it had more people than Hartford, but little or no contact with Hartford, Boston, Albany or New York.
“And when I told that story to [state Sen.] Andrew Roraback, he replied, ‘Nothing has changed!’�
