January 22, 1861, The Charleston Mercury
Yesterday afternoon, the vicinity of Luff, in Harlem lane, presented an animated spectacle. Dozens of carriages were driven up, well dressed gentlemen sprang out and passed into the barroom, where some two or three hundred equally respectable in appearance were collected. Among the party there were several members of the common council, a prominent government official, several Wall street financiers and numbers of well known local politicians. John Morrissey, Dad Cunningham and others of that class made up a small party of the muscular fraternity. Of these, however, there were but few. The reason of this promiscuous gathering was the announcement that a choice lot of New York and Troy fowls were to contend for a purse of $3,000 – Morrissey backing one side, and, it was said, a member of the city government the other.
The tickets of admission to the pit were $3, and though considered a high price every seat was occupied, nearly $900 being received for entrances alone. Morrissey, during some unavoidable delay in preparing the fowls, came into the pit and announced that his lot were affected by sickness and that in consequence $2,600 he had bet outside was withdrawn, but the fight would go on as thirty eight out of the forty two entered were found to be in good condition. Then there was more delay, and why could not be imagined, until Captain Porter, of the Twelfth ward police, came into the pit and announced that there would be no fight that afternoon.
The disappointment of the fancy can better be imagined than described, but nevertheless, no ill feeling was manifested towards the captain, who was said to have simply obeyed orders form the police headquarters. This match has caused more excitement in sporting circles than any other of a similar character which has been made in years past. A sporting man present estimated that the persons at Luffy’s yesterday were interested in the result to the extent of at least $20,000.
The question may be fairly asked; was this match the cause of an adjournment of the board of Aldermen last evening because of the absence of a quorum?