Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-02
THE CHAMPIONS, ENcouNrER.

THE CHAMPIONS ENCOUNTER.
The scotch Athlete Wins the Fourth
Match for the Championship OF the
WOrId-A Brilliant Sporting Event
The second contest in Savannah Tor the
medal Of the world between
the scotch and French wrestlers, Ross
aud Rauer. took place at the Theatre last 1
nigbt aud was witnessed by an immense |
audience Every seat in the building !
S;1,o- taken and the galleries packed to the
1T The match was won by Ross, in two
fails giving MIN two straight victories in
tbis CITY and two in Jacksonville, Florida,
where he met the French champion for
the first time in their encounter last week
Previous 10 that time there had been
great deal Of dispute in the sporting
world as to whom the championship IN
Greco-ROman wrestling belonged. Mul,
doom. ChristOl. Bauer and others claimed
il. and 10 settle il Mr.. Richard h. fOX, OF
the Police Gazette. had made at his own
exDense a beautiful medal for the cham
pi0nship in that style of wrestling. Inc
first match was to have come on al I'm
cinnati. Several competitors had gone
there. and the medal had been sent 70 the
snOrting editor Of the Enquirer, but a
hitch occurred. and pending the settle
ment Of the affair Ross was invited 10 90
10 Florida. and accepted the INVITATION
and there met the Frenchman. Bauer, Tor
tha first time The match excited intense
interest in sporting circles, and was Wit
messed bv crowds Of people. Inc struggle
last night was the fourth for the FOX
medal.
audience began TO be uneasy, and when
the curtain was rung up gave vent 10
their impotence by calls for Ross and the
champions. Col. A. W. Hall, formerly
with p I. Barnum, stepped 10 the front
Of the stage and announced the contests,
and introduced Mr.. Charles f. Davis, OF
the Boston Star, as judge Tor Ross and
Mr. {. B. WestcOtt as judge for Bauer.
The judges and Mr.. Hall, who
acted az referee. took position on
the stage. in the centae Of which a
bed Of sawdust four inches deep
and about fifteen feet square was spread
and covered with a sheet Of white duck.
The first exhibition was feat of strength,
performed hy Mr.. Ross, Of putting bar
OF iron weighing 80 pounds over his head:
The act was done with seeming ease, and
the bar was raised four consecutive times,
and then lowered with one hand 10 the
floor. The next performance vas the
remarkable feat Of lifting man seated IN
a chair by his teeth. and holding the chair
for some minutes.
The successful performance of these
exploits was greeted with applause. The
referees then aUnOunced the contest.
The athletes, dressed ia the costume
prescribed by the rules for Gr9cO-ROman
wrestling. stepped on the stage. They
were naked to the waist, and wore white
tights. with velvet trunks. Their mag
nilcent physique and the outlines
Of physical strength and development
showed in every muscle, aud their sinewy
arms and strong bodies told OF severe
training.
The referee gave the word, and the
cGmbatants stepped upon the canvas at
diaganally opposite corners, and walking
lightly forward. ciasped hands, and re,
turned TO their positions for the GrecO-
Roman match. The struggle began by
Bauer grasping Ross firmly 10y the
wrist. and followed with a series of
movements which exhibited the
Z superior strength Of the Frenchman. but
a! the same time afforded a display of the
skill and agility Of his antagonist. The
first bout lasted fifty minutes. and was.
with one exception, the longest ever made
i'm the GrecO-ROman style. The Wrestlers
were dead i'm earnest and the struggle was
IA splendid display of the powers deyel-
Oped in. the athletic school.
The audience was enthusiastic
aud gaze vent TO its excitement
T 10y fuErAH anu applause a. tttCl AllAilt ut
feat was performed. The Eren0hhaR
wrestled magnificently, and it was
plain he had lots of friends.
. I'm the first bout he SEEM
ell to put on the most locks and get Ross
i'm trying positions, 50 much 50 that when
by feats of strength or brilliant vancouver
Ing the plucky ScOtchman freed himself
the crowd, excited by the imminence OF
the peril and the surprise Of his
u-nfgHH .h l5A-a
army corps. There was some
dissatisfaction. and the FTenchman be-
came ill-tempered at his inability To cope
with his adversary. I'm the last Of the
bout he was full OF wind and vigOr. and
{ dashed impetuOusly AT Ross, boring his
head against his body, which was ruled
out by the referee. Finally by half Nell
son hold he threw his opponent. and after
4 hard struggle rolled him to the carpet
and won the fall.
During the intermissiOns the amateur
sparring contests drought down the
house, some of the spaTrers exhibited
considerable skill, and certainly afforded
/ loads of amusement. Mr.. Frank Ryan, a
well known Savannah amateur. appeared
/ in several of the exhibitions. and acquit-
ted himself as a skilled light
weight boxer. The contests be-
tween the others afforded amusement to
+ the audience. but We're disastrous 10 the
good looks of the contestants.
+ After twenty minutes the athletes faced
each other for the second bout, in the col
I lar and elbow style. In this style it is nee
I essary to effect a fall from a stand
Ing position, and if either of
/ the Wrestlers fall on the knee,
side or shoulders, and no
three points Of the body touch the carpet
they Shall rise and begin the struggle
anew. Both athletes appeared in coats,
and grasped each other by the
! sleeve and collar. The bout lasted
+ but few minutes and resulted
( in a fall for Ross. The third bout was
/ Wrestled catch-as-catch can. The wTest-
I lers appeared dressed as for the Greco
+ Roman In this style any grip is allowed,
I and only butting and gOuging is
! forbidden. In efecting fall
/ both shoulders and hip
must touch the canvas. The bout was
I easily won by Ross after a brief struggle,
I Great enthusiasm prevailed, and the
match was decided in his favor and he
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