The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-06
COLLAR AND ELBO W.
Screen Down Easter Surprises the
Boston Sporting Fraternity.

The Herald of Tuesday has an interesting
description of a wrestling match in Charles
town, Mass, the preceding evening, between
Hiram Burt, scientific wrestler from Mon
treal, Canada,and young man named Master
man from Franklin county, in this state. The
Contestants are thus described:
Within the past few days the attention of
the SPORTING fraternity 10 this vicinity has been
attracted to young man, apparently as green
as grass but yet, seemingly, possessed OF all
the accom- plishmeDts usually laid claim to by
athletes of the most modern school. To those
who have had dealings with the countrym
ne, with all the honesty imaginable, showed no
disposition to hide his identity. To use his
own words, he was fresh from the East, and
ne belonged to the town of Weld, Franklin
county, state of Maine, and had come to this
ere city to shake the jacket of Hiram Burt,
certain chap with whom his brother had
arranged collar-and-elbow match for him.
AS he stripped last evening he showed q fine
and muscular physique, yet his calm and IN
nocent demeanor gave the inference that he
was simply farm boy at the farthest. He is
about feet inches in height, but very stocki-
~ put together. Hiram Burt, his opponent,
weighed about 165 pounds, and was Of about
the same height.
Ii appears that the match was made by Mr.
Ira Masterman of South Boston, brother of
the athlete, and on the young mans arrival in
buo Oitys 1tCSu iTum his COW-Darl, ne WAS
looked upon by the knowing ones as "pie"
for Burt. The result of the struggle, however,
besides showing the great mistake made by
many in holding the countryman too cheap,
also went to prove him dangerous foe for
even the most expert collar-and-slbow men of
the day.
The referee and contestants appeared on the
stage at 8 20 o'clock, before an audience of
about three hundred people, The clumsy and
careless walk Of the Maine man excited q
litter of laughter on his appearance, which was
still further increased as the innocent country
man, by an inside lock, went down with
thump on his side. Burt claimed fall which
was not allowed, and MaSterman, who seemed
afflicted with stage fright, slowly resumed the
struggle. After Burt had failed several times
confidence. Burt second time, by hard work,
brought his man down on his knees, and at
this point Masterman was found not to be so
green as some supposed. The latter went to
work with will, and by witch and trip
with his right, Ia jiffy had Burt down on his
side, amidst rounds of applause. Burt upon
this, grew cautious, but Masterman forced the
battle. The Montreal mau seemed determined
to avoid the Maine mans right, but was slap
ped on his side in seven consecutive falls, mar
rowly escaping fall each time.
Thus the battle was carried on until O'Clock
the next morning, Burt finding HIS profess
6Onal science hardly match for the superior
strength of the countryman. The first fall was
won Dy Masterman. B0ta men then indQlgad
in several witches, and finaliy Masterman,
gathering himself and exerting every muscle,
swung Burt off bis feet. Burt landed on one
knee, bat, before balancing himself, was again
twitched up in the air. He retaliated, and both
men then did some lofty tumblng, and finally
weot head over heels off the stage into the
audience
Burt here objected to the jacket worn by
Masrerman' who expressed a willingness to
change it or do anything 70 please his opponent.
A frOck-coat was loaned by person in the
crowd, and with the coat-tails pinned up, was
donned by the innocent gentleman from
Maine. The battle continued. After being
twitched about and brought down on his side
several times, Burt showed determination to
make the last grand effort Gathering bis en-
tire strength, he assumed the. offensive and got
grapevine, which the countrymau soon broke
The latter, at the same time, took similar
lock, but, trying to recover, was again caught
by grapevine by Burt, who threw him, with
tremendous thump, square on his back.
Bart was awarded the bout, which lasted an
hour and five minutes
The third and deciding bout was resumed at
shortly after midnight, both men expressing a
determination to see the thing out if they had
to work until daylight Maslerman forced the
battle, continuing his old trick of trip and
witch, but, do whatever he might, Burt
seemed determined to hold his feet The con-
test went on until 2 A. M, when the referee
decided the contest q draw.