The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-05-16
Great "Wrastling Match"

EISdG w rdSt1llS HlalCu.
Somebody sends us the following in
teresting account of a great rough and
tumble duello-scrimmage, but forgets to
say where it took place:
Quite an exciting wrestling match oc.
Cured yesterday afternoon on Scranton's
Flats, between two well known colored
wrestlers, named respectively Matt Skin
ner and Nose Simmons. 1t is believed
to have been the great "rastle" of the age.
Mr.. Skinner is an employee of the G. G.
& G. Railroad, while Mr.. Simmonsis is iden-
tilted with the G. & T. The contest,
therefore, may be said to have been be.
tween those gentlemenly railroads, in o
measure.
Mr.. Simmons had been in active train
ing for some time under the immediate d.
rection of Josh. Tyler, while Mr.. Skinner
had been put in condition by variety of
other gentlemenly conductors.
The purse was $500, and the betting
was quite animated, going as high in
few cases as 25 cents.
In the first round the men, after shaking
hands, playfully butted their heads to.
gether for a few hours. This having no
effect they embraced and sat down on the
grass, Mr.. Skinner making an impromptu
sofa of Mr.. Simmons stomach. Great
stomach and vociferous cheers for Skins
ner.
End Round-The men came quickly to
the scratch, and again embraced. They
swayed wild to and fro-especially "fro"
for short time. when Skinner put Sim
mons left leg in his pocket, causing Sim
mons to descend to the ground with con-
siderable rapidity. But he arose instantly
and jumped affectionately on to SINNERS 8
back. Skinner summoned all his tremen>
dous strength and threw Simmons down
the bank. He fell some sixty feet, s!rik-
ing grindstone on his head. He was
1nhurt, but the grindstone received an in
jury from which it can never recover
Wild excitement and cheers for Skinner.
Skinner the favorite. Two to one on
Skinner.
After being brushed off with rolling
pin the men came to the scratch for the
third round. They embraced, and Mr..
Skinner, to show that he entertained no
ill feeling toward Mr.. Simmons, put bis
nose into that gehtleman's mouth; while
MIR. Simmons gracefully returned the
compliment by placing his stomach sud
denly against Mr.. SINNERS left foot
This act of kindness so overpowered Mr.
Skinner that he made spi toon of bis
face for Mr.. Simmons special benefit
y They then see,sawed some twenty rod
from the ring, and fell exhausted under {
two.horse wagon. Cries of "foul" OF
both sides, and considerable confusion
ensued, in which an intoxicated gentleman
threw his hat on the ground and acknowl
:, edged that he was ''an original Buchanan
man, and had as lief be hung as not.
;, = This disorderly person was chained to
:. wheel.barrow, and the men prepared 70
e the fourth round.
:, They embraced, and Mr. Simmons, 70
r. the purpose of ascertaining whether MI
- Skinner had strawberry mark on hi
y y left ankle, gracefully applied his teeth t
:. that gentleman's left pantaloon and gentl
- ;, tore it to the suspender; while Mr.. Skin
- ner, with the view of assisting Mr.. Sim
- mons in his praiseworthy search for in
formation, vigorously placed his hea
,e| against the seat of Mr.. Simmons panta
..f| looms. The effect of this generously cor
:, - ceiyed movement was contrary to Nj
a SINNERS expectations, for Mr.. Simmon
= ;. head rapidly descended into tine grount
:, nothing, in fact, being visible but b
70 heels. He was extracted with consider
Il able difficulty. Great cheers for Skir
= ner. Skinner ahead.
;s Everything was now passing off agre
= ably, but the intoxicated gentleman at tt
n wheelbarrow threw wet blanket on Il
IA festivities by offering to bet four cen
;n that Buchanan was a second old Geore
= Washington. He then called for stoc
on ing>full of quick poison and burst ia
tears.
/. The fifth and last round consisted pri
- cipally of what may be classically term'
n kerbanging, the parties prostrating the
no proud forms upon the grass and shown
ba m their hands together with remarkable pr
% m cision and force. They then arose al
Mt clasped each other to their respective b
s;r SONS and madly careered into mud-pu
- die. The seconds of both parties at tt
N. exciting juncture threw up their spong
(the sponges being furnished for this occ
sion by several well known chemists) al
both parties were defeated. 1t was pro
,e, ably the greatest "rastle" ever witness
,ro in this city. The parties were done up
hs champion and conveyed from the field
nts q matched span of wash-tubs.