National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-08-05
THIEBAUD BAUER AND LOUIS CARrER0N'
Graco-Roman Wrestling Match at the Ma
tional Thaatra

uOual 3uodbIos
An audience exclusively of gentlemen, very
respectable in appearance and number, assem-
bIed at the National theatre to witness, for the
first time in Washington, a genuine Gr9co-
Roman wrestling match between Thieoaud
Bauer and Louis Carteron, both Frenchmen,
and, perhaps, among the most distinguis led
opponents Of the science in the world. Ihe'e
Hercuean worthless are of nearly the same
weight, size and build, the advantage, II any,
being in favor of Bauer, and from their You n
10 they have been trained and eXperienc" Al in
this peculiar athletic sport. Bauer claims
the championship of the world, while Jarteron,
a little more modest, only amour .ees himself
as the champion of France" Dressed in
tights, and short blue trunks, and naked from
the waist up, they certair. Nv made splendid
physical appearance, aid when presented to
the audience evoked ,.iearty and admiriug ap-
plause.
PIeliminaries were quickly arranged by Sc
lectiRg as judges, Mr.. Brad. Adams for Carte
ron, and Mr.. Walter Dennis for Bauer, with
that veteran presiding genius of Olympian
games, Mr.. Charles Il. Godfrey, as referee.
Besides these gentlemen, the stage was occu-
pied by representatives of the press and special
guests. The stage was slightly padded AMI
covered with a crimson carpet, and the
audience, though at first eager for the contest
to commence, preserved admirable order
throughout, notwithstanding the excitement
incident to the wrestle was at times intense.
A Greco Roman wrestling match differs alto
gether from the old style which most of people
have been accustomed to see. The familiar
collar and elbow hold, the side and back hold,
and the various tricks of tripping, are all dis
carded, and the wrestling is done with
open hands, and fall is only allowed
when the shoulders of one fairly touch the
6 holF S,,nh hath nna
shoulder and the floor saves man from fall,
and more than once last evening both Carteron
aud Bauer were saved by as little as that.
The audience would have been larger but for
the announcement of the substitution of Car
teron's name fol- that of Miller, who once van
quished Bauer, and often thrown the giant
Christol, in fact beating all his opponents eX-
cept Bauer. Within few days large alb
cess has formed between the thumb and finger
of his left hand, completely dis shilling him, and
his failure to appear was owing solely to this.
He was, however, on the stage, and was in
trodUccd to the audience.
The technique of Grrco- Roman wrestling
consists OF the right and left arm-lOck, the
back and neck throws, the cross buttock, right
and left the "bridge," Chat is where the heels
and head only touch the ground, y the stomach
throw and throwing over the head; but In
match, and where the athletes are quick, 1t is
well nigh impossible for the uninitiated to fol
low the changes consecutiYely as they are
made and to make description intelligent. 1t
must be seen to be understood, but now that
these noted athletes have introduced the game,
it is more than probable that some Washing
toDians, ambitious for distinction in this line
of business, will make the conventionalities
and mysteries of the business little better
understood.
The distinction between the two wrcstlers
last night was apparent. Carteron is more in
clired 10 work on his knees and the ground
than Bauer, who has evidently been used to
work more standing. Baueris the more honest
Of the two, and he proved himself ready for all
Carteron's tricks, any one of which would
have thrown an ordinary man over the moon.
The frs; round was won by Bauer. Time,
fourteen minutes: the secord by Carteron in
eight minutes, and the third by Bauer in ten
minutes, making him the victor and winner of
the stakes, $500. The shortness of the rounds
indicates where the men were so evenly
matched, the terrific nature of the contest. 1t
was, indeed, struggle for the mastery, an
honest contest, and well deserving the constant
applause of the audience. Space forbids
more detailed description of a very interesting
exhibition.