The New York herald., 1878-11-21
WRESTLING.

MATCH BETWEEN JAMES L. OWENS AND CHARLES
| CONNER FOR 81 ,000--owENs THE VICTOR IN
| ONE HOUR AND TaIRTY-FIvE MINUTES.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
Boston. Nov. 90. 1873.
The sporting men of Boston and vicinity crowded
Beethoven Hall to overfowing tonight. to witness
the contest between James f. Owens. of Vermont,
champion wrestler of the United States and Charles
Conner. of New York. champion OF the Middle
States. for 81 900 and the champion belt The strug
gle terrific. and lasted with intermissons.
hour and thirtyve minutes. the victory resting with
owens the present champion.
The match did not bring out great deal of sci
ence the strongest feature being exhibition Of
strength. Owens wrested at 163 lbs. and Conner at
107 lbs. The vcrmonter is a much solid and
better built than his New York rival. who is
somewhat taller. Owens is broader at the hips, ard
is in consequence better prepared 90 ward of dan
gerous '.hiplock Conner tried to get this move
ment OF him six times. but failed each time,
owing to his lack OF strength to get Owens of his
feet. Both were in excellent condition.
When they appeared the stage at ten minutes
past eight clock Colonel Eand stepped to the foot
lights and announced the terms OF the MATCH which
that the to wreste, collar and elbow.
best two falls in three according to Ed James rules,
| for 81, 900 and the championship belt
P. j. Garvey, OF New York. was umpire for Owens.
| and George Warren, of Boston, for Conner, 4. L.
Ferry. of Boston acting as referee
At twelve minutes past eight the men steppedto the
and shook hands, after which they took their
| positions and the great contest began.
Conner very cautious at first, and this being
noticed by Owens it made the latter more easy aud
| free in his movements. Fully seven minutes were
spent IN sparring and making feints. the men evil
IDENTIFY feeling each others weight and each waiting
| to see his opponent develop his tactics.
The first effort made by Owens who tried to get
hip-lock The New Yorker worked away wGll from
him and tried to double him, but the jackets
of both went over their heads and they took
a breathing spell, but only for moment. Owens.
who had been measuring his opponent closely,
now forced the wrestling and after hard tussle got
him on his hip and then lifting him bodily from the
floor, landed him his back; but only shoulder
touched, and no fall was declared.
The crowd had by this time got pretty well ex-
cited and good deal OF dissatisfaction and disap
pointinent expressed at the result, Ovens
friends were positive that he had the hrst fall.
After short recess the men approached again from
their Owens opened the ball with lively
trips and soon closed on Conner with his famous hip
in doing lost his balance and Owens threw him
| his side close to the back of the stage.
Five minutes rest was then taken by the men. who
| indulged in some lemon and water without sugar.
When time called Owens went in with an evident
purpose to have fall. and he opened hostilities
after which the vermonter got complete hip lock
| on Conner and lifted him bodily, and by nagnif-
cent muscular effort threw him clear his head,
| landing him square his back, amid storm of
applause. The referee announced the first fall for
| Owens. Time, Is minutes
At five minutes before nine o'clock both men
| again brought out and the second bout opened 1t
| was evident from the drst move made by Conner
that he determined to make desperate effort for
fall this time The struggle opened lively, Conner
doing his share Both men offered many chances for
| Conner had enough experience of the hip
| lock game to avoid it. and whenever he
| found the ver,nonter preparing to execute
that movement he set himself firmly his feet and
waited for his chance. Owens gradually worked him
self in till he got half hip lock, and tried to repeat
the trick which gave him the first fall but Con-
ner doubled on him, drew him his hip, but
not able to lift the vermonter, and he escaped
after sharp struggle. Conner next got in very
dangerous grapevine twist but Owens broke it, and
the struggle the everlasting jackets went their
heads again and pause was made to reafjust them
and to take breath.
Both men were now well warmed up and somewhat
excited. Conner began by forcing the work and
some lively tripping and feintng ensued. The New
Yorker made desperate effort to get another hip lock
and succeeded, but in trying to raise Owens the
latter doubled on him and lifted him clean OF
his feet and everybody expected the closee Of the
match, when by quick spring the New Yorker broke
the force of Owens grip and planted himself firmly
OF applause. This encouraged him. and he put in
some splendid work for the next few minutes trying
| less than three times to force Owens OF his
| feet and making a desperate effort each time.
| Owens got his blood up and forced the game. He
gradually got in closer and closer, until he got
ner his hip. and here the greatest struggle OF
| the match ensued The men struggled from side
to side Of the stage. the muscles Of their arms
| and legs working 80 plainly that they could
be seen distinctly throughout the hall
Owens twice thwarted in effort to lift his oppo
nent his head and each time Conner doubled on
! him. trying to catch him the recover and throw
him over but failed. Finally both men, after des-
perate encounter, down almost together, Owens
| under but there was fall. Up and 1T it again
| without y rest Both went in with
| determination to have q fall. Owens forced
the work. and two three very pretty exhibitions Of
/ skill and strength were given. Conner made two
efforts get the hip lock- but failed owing to his
| inability TO lift Owens his head. Owens
| made one more effort and the grapped.
| II was terrible struggle. When the Vermonter
preparing for final effort Conner doubled him
and by rapid and skilful trip got Owens on his hip
and landed him his back before any could tell
how it was done.
| A fall for Conner was announced amid cheers The
! time thirty minutes.
The third round only lasted seven minutes. 1t
spirited the Others and the fall which decided
| the match in favor Of Owen not clean
The came up promptly at 9:40 Each had
fall to his credit and there good deal Of caution
manifest When the fighting began it was vigorous
Each had found ont by past experience and
neither prepared to forfeit anything by neglect
The first fall was by Owens. who got in successful
hip lock, after breaking grape vine by Conner and
he threw the New Yorker on his side. Hostlues
renewed promptly and after very hard struggle
Conner got in a lock and worked 1t vigorously
Owens broke away and tried to get in his op
ponent Both worked with will, and Owens in the
tussle got back twist on Conner and threw him
his knees breaking Ihis hold which gave him the fall
Conner says he did not break his hold to fall
thrown on his hack, but 1t decided against him,
and the temper Of the audience showed that they
were not pleased with the result.
HARVARD AND YALE.