The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-09
A VETERAN WRESTLER.
How FIfty-year-Old Cornish Man AstOnishe'
Virginia City.

coast to try Cornish conclusions Win
him for $3.50 to $500 side, but there was
nobody near at hand VINO seemed at all
anxious to take him up. A lew weeks
ago, however, al old fellow sauntered
up from Grass Valley, and appeared to
be looking for match. Nobody would
have taken him for sport, much less an
athlete. He was nearly fifty years old,
thin legged, stOop-shouldered and bald
headed. Still he was anxious to make u
match for $500, and Ali. Williams was
perfectly wiling to accommodate him.
The match was accordingly made for
the sum named, and arranged to come
off at Albenarle Theatre on q recent
afternoon. At 4:O5 the names Of the
stcklers ana referee were announced.
When stripped, the Virginia man
showed TO the best advantage, being a
heavily-built young fellow, about
twenty-five years old, with full, rounded
shoulders, and plenty OF flesh on his
lower limbs. His weight was about one
hundred and forty-tour pounds; height,
| five feet i've inches. The Grass Naley
man was considerably smaller i'll build,
an inch less in stature, an0 nearly nifty
wears ord. His flesh was down pretty
close to the bones, his shanks anything
| but beefy, and his weight one hundred
and thirty three pounds.
In a few moments the men got inside
| their canvas jackets, ana at the word
| sTime" shook hands i'll the center OF
| the stage. Alf. eyed his antagonist
almost pltyingly for second or SO, and
then sprang at him like panther. Tue
| old man received him cordially, and
securing a grip on his left shoulder and
under his rIght arm, lifted him Oft his
feet, twisted MIN in the air as if he had
been u mere cuild, and laid him with Il
lJlud on the carpet amid shouts of laugh
ter from the audience. Time, four
seconds. Then the poor old man shuth d
back to his corner, with his face as
solemn as mortuary record, and looked
| as II he was at AT a loss to understand
what the howling was all about.
In the next round ALI. was consider
ably more cautious. When the old man
chose his lock, he simply chose the best
possible counter, and stood braced up
and stiff as a lamp-pOst, but made no
further demonstration. The Grass Valley
man made tremendous efforts 10 throw
him, but he seemed immoYabIe. The
play on ALPS side was superb, ana
drew forth the loudest applause. Sud
denly both men changed their tactics
simultaneously, and All. secured a
decided advantage. and seemed about
| to throw his antagonist, when the old
man lifted him with Il scientific cross
buttock, and landed him on the floor
| ALI. twisted himself just enough to save
the fall, ana in u lew minutes they were
at work again. The next round was
very slorL. Grass Valley picked uE
! Virginia City and wiped the floor witt
| him again, but the Comstocker turned
under like cat, and once more saved
| the fall, amid loud stamping for his eX
cellent play.
Two more rounds OF short duration
| followed, the Grass Valley man goInE
down almost Immediately, to ge1
rid of disadvantageou lock. The mex
round was well contested and very eX
citing. Attor Il long struggle the OLD
man lifted All. from the floor, slid HIN
over his hip as If he was stick OF cord
wood, and slammed hlrn on the floor
AS soon as he did so he threw off his
| jacket, and the excitement was boiling
over for few minutes. "NO fallu
shouted the referee, al which there wa,
ii not blast of profanity and muttered
comments of "Give the old fellow /
snowW Foul" etc.
The old mans face lost its expression
o good nature, and with his mouth Sc
| firmly and his eyes blazing dangerously
| he began to tighten his belt and TAXI
extra bitches in the cords of his Jacket
| From his general air 1T was evident tha
| ne would make short work OF his man il
the next round. "He's waking up, ,
"This is the last rounu," etc, was heait
on all sides. All, approached thu
scratch with the same apprehensiVe feel
ing that the audience shared, only more
so. He fought shy Of the old man ant
backed away from him when he saw hit
hand work ing in the air to pOunce on hi
neck. The theater was for the frs
time stilled, and as the autienct
watched the men, their breathing coulC
BE- distinctly heard.
| Suddenly the old mans hand fell likt
flash upon the others shoulder, ant
tney both secured grips, and began tt
play savagely with their legs. The
Spectators rose and leaned forward tt
watch the tussle, but made no sound
| Suddenly ALI. was lifted off the floor
and he turned his foot under the other.
knee. With tremendous exertion tht
old man raised him slowly upward
gradually the foot lost its hold, and thu
instant it slipped away the old mai
whirled mis- antagonist III the air ant
threw him down whizzing upon tht
floor. ALI. struck with u terrific thuC
that resounded all over the place, anC
| then lay SGuHu6u anu SeuSeleSS uDUu 6ut
stage. The audience cheered as he fell
put when he saw him lying motionlesI
the applause was hushed, and Bill
Davis, rushing forward, raised him up
lie seemed lIfeIess, his face was blacl
and the white of his eyes turned up
"He's dead!" said one Of the sticklers
and then there was a rush of ex.
cited men on the stage. The poor fellow
was then carried behind the scenes ant
some water thrown on him, while his
friends famed him with their hats. Il
a few minutes glass of brand!
was brought and placed to his lips. HI
opened his eyes and spoke, on which TIN
victor came up, expressing regret a
such a heavy fall, and held out hi
hand to snake, but it was declined
Thinking, perhaps, 1T was a mistake
the old man made second offer of hi
hand, remarking "The hardest man o
YOUR size 1 ever tussled with; shak
hands, man." But the diseomfte,