The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-30
EyGLASUs "LTTTLE DEMON"
Why Phiisaeiphia Sporting Men Relieve
uher Have n Sure Stnner-A Wrestier>s
Remarknh HE Roeord-IIia Challenfe.

thsy Rave n Sure vyinner--A wrestIer>s
Remarkable Roeord-His Challenges
When the steamship Wisconsin arrived at
this port on her last trip from England q me-
dium-s sized young fellow stepped ashore and
began 10 look around with his keen eyes. AL
though very temperate man. he passed two
days, accompanied by friend. quietly visiting
tho sporting resorts Of New York. without max.
ing himself generally known. He then pro.
ceeded to Philadelphia, taking up his quarters
In Mr.. Arthur Chambers's Champions Rest in
Ridge avenue. where a SUN reporter found him
the other evening. The young man had be-
come a lion among the athletes who make
their home at the Champions Rest, including
boxers, wrestlers. sprintcrs. pedestrians. and
leapors Iii fame had also grown to be topic
OF conversation In the outer circle OF sporting
men. who pride themselves on keeping posted
with the latest points from the inner circle.
The stranger is Joseph Acton Of Wigan, Lin.
colnshlro. England. From trustworthy records
Of his performances he is undoubtedly the
most wonderful wrestler OF modern times, and.
taking his size into account. possibly OF all ages
Acton Is keeping very shy At the Champions
Rest and neither lie nor Chambers Will taIk
about proposed wrestling matches In when
Acton Is t. take part or hls present cundltion
and chances Tor success. All the Information
they would. give was that challenge from
Acton would appear in THIS weeks CapDeT, ana
thut would tell all worth knowing. -.
Nsporting man who Is well informed about
wha; is gong on IN 0hq nm ays p Se w sIe
ner in the Little Demon, name given TO Acton
in England from the fact that he had succeeded
in downing every wrestler OF note, little or big.
from his luyorte style Of catCh-ns catch can up
10 the French method. in which there is no
Acton WA born March s. 1853. He is only 5feet
inches in height and weighs LITTLE over i4U
m e KS ma bar ne e @i ToS snd
tnches are OF the color OF q ravens wing. ana
his eyes shine ont from his clear complexii22n
like bulls Of highly polished black onyx He
has the apparently small rounded. compact
form that Is 80 decevins as to size. strength.
one passing him on tho street would not be apt
to pick hin out for IN athlete of extraordinary
powers. His shoulders are of good breadth, but
his chest Is not prominent His back and legs
are OF prOportionate length. az are his arms
also. Mother legs nor arms. so far as can ba
judged from seeing him in ordinary clothes.
indicate unusual strength; But those who
have seen Biboy tachle and throw giants OK
toms proweas when informed that he has en-
coun,cred BlDby eight matches winning h'e'
In The iong list Of Acton's achievomeuts. his
encounter with Tom Cannon. noted wrestler.
last october. is one OF the most remarkapie.
any man in the world and conceded four stone.
or Sc pounds. in weight. for 5000 side. French
I5l pounds to Acton's $40. The match was to
be three fails out Of five with fifteen minutes
the Little Demon nearly initiated Her
cnles in his Trestling match WI, With A I1isSt3
giant. whose strength was inyinclhie so
long as he remained in contact WITH his ms
OF no avail TO throw him, held him up in the
air and strangled him. The Little Demon lifted
Cannon in the air and dashed him head down.
ward on the floor, al, the same time falling on
him. The sporting Life, which reports matters
in cold manPer fad ca TGs ,h Se
came insensbe and was unable to, come to
time Rcstotatives were applied to the paral-
clnrrd the winner with the consent OF Cannon's
hackers. The time Of the finishing round was
Acton began his wrestn career when a lad
in Lincolnshire. whore BOYS Irvine their srIns
and legs together Tor iaIl aP9st as 5000 as
contests are rs follows
He first appeared in public about 1870, when
Wei Victory r'' over ~, William MeKniShs Of wisan;
W Wig whom he defeated; but in return
match Asnurst turned the tables.
A2 %a then he w He Pey
the performance in January. 1878. In an on,
| hand match at catch weight. securing both
He next defeated J. Tonge tEckerseyl twice ia
succession, very e!everiy. in the usual two-out-
His next encounter OF note WAS with John
, NuttalI OF Farnsworth. whom he defeated with
His reputation as an invincible wrestler was
now at 50 high pitch that he was matched
with the famous wrestler Edwin Bibby, In De.
side at the SniDe Inn Grounds Andenshsw. tho
contest terminating in Acton's fayor. s.
and Frustrated his old opponent. John Ashqrst
again. Then Elijah Harrison Of Chowbent
down ike the others. After this contest no on9
appeared 10 he shorn OF his strength unit April
1875 wien Edwin Bibby answered Actons chal-
lens9 to any man in the world; Bibhy vas con-
fined to score lG pounds and suffered defeat,
Acton securing both falls in eight minutes and
'' Bibby y't thSn cfaiensed Acton at catch weight.
and the men met in Royal OAK Park grounds.
Scs in H4y ind 2 by Won sqbS nS
somewhat epsy. Tie friends OF Acton were
not satisfied with This defeat and anothet
match took place between the wrestlers in Ola.
ham. April i. 1876, Acton being confined to 1913
pounds and Bibby TO 40 pounds. Four thou.
W n tho Nr.t iail IN 4 minutes 80 seconds Acton
won the second In the short spnce OF 30 seconds.
aud the third in minutes 10 seconds. winning
AEON was next matched with William Tomas
At catch Wo.ght Tomas won ne second pnI
Acton had not 10 exceed 1870 pounds while
Lomas cane at catch weight. This time Acton
,wurl his man hundi!y. Lom9s wns diasat!s-
fed and fonrying that he could cope success.
fully " III the Little Demon, as Acton had now
come TO br called, he faced Acton IL thrd time;
twelve minutes. Acton only required Two min
ntes to make a bundle Of Tomas in the second
Acton and Bbby; wrcs!led again Aug 3, 1878.
minutes respectively. winning the match.
lhs bbw o ;oHEh oEp9nGni,ss, came am, ToðeI
y o'W in the ilIst bout, after struggle lasting
u mlEuWs. IL the second bout he PLACED
Elhhr on his back within 80 seeords after ths
first grpnp,e. winning the staRCs.
ON May 3. 1879, Acton and 'ibby met for the
cjshL 'mgr TGt ,%@&a&GmI2nta Wi g fierce and
back iu .N,. hrs uult. inside Of three minutes,