Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-02

hrst- aud more important for the dry
victor and the second for the ,cet
victor, for in the encounter one is bound
to go over. They keep on irving their
skill until two only remain, who obtain
the prizes according to the good luck of
each, tor these two contest and this mo.
ment is considered the crisis of the dav
The year before one young man was signal.
lied not only for his force, but his address
and gracefulness he had vaueuished
number of contestants without scarcely
taking any rest. Another person, whom
those around us called Samson, seemed to
have equal chance, owing to his corpulent
body and the amount of resistance he in
consequence presented, At last these two
alone were left with dry clothes every one
of the rest of the band had had ducking,
and as the crowd watched these two
| champions mount their platforms it was
with
ALMOST PAINFUL EXPECTANCY.
There was no betting whatever, but each
one expressed his opinion to his neighbor,
and it was evident that Samson was gen.
orally considered the future vanquisher,
owing to his solid frame, an important fac
| tor III this species OF contest. The two
| combatants then, according to the rules,
each unwound his scarf and draped it
around his shoulder, to fasten it under his
arm they then, on meeting, held their
caps in the air as they saluted. They
afterwards took off their scarfs to tie them
around their waists, and to draw them
firmly, so as to give them greater resist
ance. As they again met, not sound but
that of the drums could be heard /; the en-
tire audience on land and on water seemed
to hold their breath the poles were
squarely placed against the breast of each,
and for an instant each seemed irresistible
until Samson fell backward like a statue
into the water. His opponent had con-
quered through address, and as he placed
one hand on his hip and raised the other
with the pole IN the air, he was greeted
with rounds of applause.
Last Sunday it seemed impossible to re-
alize that a whole year had passed since on
that same spot we had witnessed the same
scene, for nothing had changed. There
were the same musicians, the same Mayor,
the same Judges and the same combatants.
OF these last, two or three had been added
Vino were too young to enter the lists the
preceding year. There was, of course,
Samson, as well as the former vanquisher
Samson and his brother on their arrival sat
on a low bench in front of us, when Sam
son recounted to some friends that he was
sure of the first prize this year. and would
have had it the year before were it not for
some unusual advantage his adversary had
had over him, but such is the fate of the
boaster, that after having overthrow his
brother, he himself was overthrown and
banished from the lists before the game
was half over. 1t is true Samson had been
yanquished by a man bigger than himself,
! a man who looked too old and far too
heavy to be wrestling with striplings
| such as were present. Samson and
the bigger man were allowed to
combat again, for it seemed they
had made some private bet with each other.
| They had scarcely pointed their longperches
at each other when the great fat man fell
off into the water, amidst the cries and
cheers of the crowd. Samson, however,
was not pleased, and stamped his foot in
asperated rage he had not even touched
his adversary, who fell because, through
| sudden movement of the boat, he lost his
balance. Had Samson's pole but touched
his clothing he would have received all the
credit of having overthrow him Another
trial was given, when Samson this time
went tumbling over as easily as frog from
| off a log. There remained at the last but
the old fat man and the vanquisher of last
year. This last, owing to his youth his
grace and dexterity, was decidedly the fa-
vorite Of the public but after withstand
| ing for some time the force of his oppo-
nent, he fell back stiff as statue Just az
Samson had done the year before under his
/ lance.
THE vICToRs
Were then called to the judges stand,
where they mounted the steps, and from
the hands of the Mayor, who accompanied
the gift with an appropriate little speech,
they received prize each according to his
rank. The first prize was a silver spoon
| and fork, the second a silver cup, but on
this occasion there was no dry vanquisher, as
he had received a dueking solely through
his own fault. The victors scraped and
bowed in their wet clothes, and then de-
scended into the crowd, where they were
surrounded by their comrades, many of
whom grasped them by the hand
with congratulatory enthusiasm. In the
mean time the tayaYe played the
Marseillaise" with redoubled entrQia the
spectators left their seats, and, after friends
having attached the prizes to the end of
the poles of their owners, procession was
formed, the fdatare leading, followed by
the Mayor, dignitaries, conquerors, wrest-
lers and the crowd. All marched in order
! through the streets to the Marie, or Court
/ house, and after three cheers were given
for the .yictors of the day, each one turned
to follow his own road. La j0ute at noisy
lie Roy is particularly interesting, for the
reason that all the young men who enter
4 fbo lfcfo he ~
country around, whose parents come
to witness their success or de-
| feat. They are comrades during the
whole year, and spend much of thair
time discussing Ia joute and the probable
victors of the coming contest. Their fine
appearance and the charming grace with
which they yield to the decision of the
arbitrator by immediately plunging into
the water when only slight violation
of an insignificant rule has robbed
them of hard-earned victory, prove them
to be well-raised and intelligent. Yet when
| la jome takes place at Paris, or even in
the immediate vicinity, the public who
enter the lists is far less interesting, for
there come forward at the summons
all the gymnasts, weight-lifters, cart
| drivers, the heaviest and strongest men
to be found. The struggle is then terrible
and the vanquisher has been known to lie
i'll on his back for three whole months spit
ting blood the whole time, for the impetus
given by the two boats being swiftly rowed
in opposite directions and the force of the
heavy pole are terrible to Withstand. As
may be seen by the great harm which is
liable to result, the sport is a barbarous
one and it is astonishing that it should be
so popular at this late day.
Rosa Bonheur has just made handsome
present to the Jardin des Plantes of two
fine young lions which served her for some
time as models. Above their great cage at
the garden may be seen the following in
scription g Don de Rosa Boaheav, 1885,"
Nj. Grevy, the President of the Republic,
was the recipient of very handsome pres
ent from the Prince of Wales ; a magnifi-
cent gun and four pure-bloOded English
hounds VAL