The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-11-16
WRESTLER kULDOON BADLY SOLD.
BE Meets Blacksmith Whom He Fails
to move

That was terrible sell. SAYS the San
Francisco Post. they put up on Null.
doom. the champion wrestler, over at
his Long Branch training, quarters the
other day. and although that popular
neck-twister has offered us the entire
gate money of his next match to- sup.
press the facts high sense of duty, to
our readers will not permit us to do 50.
1t seems that cold-blooded chapter
of conspirators, including Charlie
Duane, Senator Mccarthy. Jim Brizel,
John Gilbert. the comedian, and other
past grand jokers. kept talking to Null.
doom about blacksmith named McEad.
den, who they claimed, had originated
a peculiar manner of bracing his feet
so as to render his being thrown an i'm.
possibility. The champion blandly ex.
planned to the boys that any such foot
hold was out of the question, and illus
trated the fact that NO matter how Dig
and heavy wrestler might be he was
liable to be lifted clear off his feet in
spite of any foothold he took. The con.
spirators listened attentively, but didn't
seem to be convinced.
That's all very well, Mul," said
Duane, shaking his head solemnly,
'but you haven't tried this man, Nc.
Fadden, yet. tell you he's harder to
move than sheet anchor-he is. I'd
like to bet basket of champagne for
the crowd that you can't bulge him."
The bet was accepted. and in an hour
or two one of the plotters rushed in and
informed the crowd that McFadden was
in the saloon just opposite, and was
willing to wrestle of hand.
That's the man, is it?' asked Null
doom, grimly. as they entered the sa-
loon and discovered short. thick-sct
individual standing in the middle of the
floor, with his feet braced, about two
feet apart, and with do-or-die expires.
sion on his face. "Well, I'll Just make
it two baskets tina, flop him in three
minutes by the clock. q"
Done" shouted the crowd, and,
catching favorite grip on the black
smith. Muldoon gave little prelimin-
airy tussle and then tremendous side
wrench that would have uprooted 8
lamp-post.
But the other man didn't bulge.
There was q roar from all hands, and
the champion backed off from his Op.
ponent and looked at him with an
astOnished expression that was as good
as a play.
"Well, I'll be-, be bowed" he
muttered, and taking off his coat and
vest, he rolled up his sleeves with an
expression that meant cold day and
slippery evening for the other man.
Quick as lightning he caught his favor
ite neck-lock on the blacksmith. and,
twisting his shoulders under the little
mans chin, gave heave that would
have sent an ordinary man crashing
through the ceiling.
But the other man never budged.
After some frightful efforts, MuldoOn
dropped his hold. with scared express
sion, and staggering over to a chair,
wiped his face.
''Boys," said the athlete, huskily,
''this lets me out. My hearts broke.
I'll never wrestle any more" And
amid the ''j0shing" of his friends he led
the party back to bis quarters and set
up the wine.
While the crowd were pouring down
the Roederer. and grinning at each 9TH
er like hyenas digging up a missionary,
the bulldozed champion stepped out to
see what had become of the blacksmith. |
As he entered one door of the saloon he !
saw his opponent walking out of the
other in his stocking feet. In the mid
die of the room stood a huge pair of
laced brOgans.
They were screwed to the floor.
The boys over the way were just sam
pling their ninth bottle when Muldoon |
pranced in with Kehoe club in each |
hand. Eye-wirnesses say that theref
never was such getting out Of doors
and windows seen since the explosion
at Berkeley.
As we go to press Muldoon is still
sitting at the foot OF q big gum tree in
the grounds waiting for Charlie Duane
to come down.