Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-04-17
No. 50.
ATHLETE SORAK1CHI.
Personal characteristics of tho Noted
Japanese Wrestler.
HIS Prowess and Skill In PrOfes.
sional Way---Some OF the Queer
Features Of His Phys
tcal Training. ~
New York SUM-


blatsada Sorakich the Japanese wrestler,
is faithful attendant at Sunday school, and
goes every night to the mission school at S
White street. He is not a declared Christian,
but he wishes to learn the language, and likes
to be where English is spoken. He is short OF
ptature, and in his street dress gives no inl1-
cation of unusual strength, except that he has
an extraordinary width of chest. Several
Zines, in going to the mission from his 10 ".
incs in Water street, he has been hailed in dis
respectful terms by persons standing on the
corners At first he took these salutations as
complimentary, and smiled and bowed politely
In ack howlcdgment but after being little
time in attendance at the mission he learned
that Pi1tal and Flat-nose John are consid-
eIed odiOus terms.
One night, as he was returning to his lodg-
ing, six young men disposed themselves
across the sidewalk at Water and Catharine
streets so as to prevent his passing, called
him Flat nose John and told him that he
must either sing or 6ght. For moment the
wrestler stood confused, and he would have
stepped around the gang, but one of them
Just then tilted his hat over his eyes and al
tempted to eaten hold of his short queue
Then came grand disillusion. sorakichi
says as near as his speech can be rendered:
"Of course, when dey is try to take my tail,
I is hit dem al" Tie japanese, who is
quick as a cat, and who can handle an ordi'
nary man as a mother does her baby, made
short work OF it. For moment the air
thereaLouts was full corner loafels, and
then tie insulted eh ,npion, finding there
was no one left who cared to hear him sing,
passed on to his clearinghouse.
A reporter called IN Sorakichi and found
him in very comfortable quarters, surrounded
~ aimring friends, and holding in his hands
large sized photograph Of himself in full
ring costume IL was the first photograph he
had ever had taken, and he seemed
10 be delighted with it. Sorakichi is modest
ami good natured, simple as Al child, and
without braggaloeo He carried on fluent
conversa ton, partly in Eaglish, and accom-
panied with extl'aIagant gesture, and partly
through his landlord and friend, Hes Si' Z.
who is more American than Chinese, and
speaks Englisl, fuently, and Was an alnatCus
pugilist in China.
In speaking of himself Natsada was very
backward. TLe only way to induce him to
do SO was by apr caring 10 doubt his prowsss
md to declare him inferior to Libby, the
+ gisn wro,t)er Then he would flare np.
"Bilbv can beat me now with American
tricks" he said through en- interpreter, "ha-
cause he Knows how to- get me into positions
where am powerless to use my strength.
But see how it was when we wrestled in JalNh-
nese fashion. | had no d ficulty at all in
throwing him. If the ropes had not been
there to stop HIM could have thrown him
down stairs B.hby is very strong and
smart bat be isn't quick enough. HIS eyes
are not good enouch. In Japan we wreste
with our eyes moro than anything else.
b bby watches my hands to see what l am
goin, to do That is not right; can move
lny hands quicker than ho can see. and he is
not prepared. In Japan we do not watch
mans hands or feet, We watch only his eyes
and shuulters From them we can tell what
be is going to do IS soon as he knows 1t HIM
SELF, 80 that We are ready for hira. am
going to- study Anne, lean rules for six weeks
and then wil wreS.le any body in tLat way.
In Japan | was very small wrestler
wrestleI with men great dcai bigger than
me ard was not beaten. | onlJ weigh lS'
pounds, and in my country that is very little
for q professional wrestler
Solni:iCh. carries on his training all the
time II is queer training One feature OF 1t
caused cous.dorabe consterEa ion III his
quarter A number Of children who had
lccn watching MIN III t"e oachSaIu fuAtie''
up stairs in fright declaring that Tie
thinaman Nas breaking the house down.
He explained that ho WAS merely faitlni0g
his head, and had &C ,identa.iy burst III tho
wood-shcd door in doing SO. Tie retired
twenty feet from the shed, lowered his head
and, running, butted with all his strength
sgainst tue side Once he ha hit the Hoor 10y
mistake, eLi bad Lroken it in. 10 illus rate
ais meaning Sorakicai turned aroand ami
ieslt The wall bow with his head that
made tic whole room tremll" He Said thai
was Il very necessary accomplishment for q
Japahesc wrestler, as ther manner OF break.
ing the greater part Of the holds is by bu,t,n:,
the hoiuer until he has TO let go.
s3orakichi is very temp'rats. He lives o.
plcst entirely on bread and rice, takir yer
little meat He said chat in Ju!an he use
to drink little sour wine when in tralnin@.
aud had never tasted anything stronger II!
he came to this country. Ee drank bis frs,
glass of brandy when his friends insisted OF
his doing so in honor Of his victory. HS
frankly confessed that he founi it yer, good,
but he soid that it had dreadful ehecS on
him, driving all the blood from his knees
into his ..ead.
Where Gilbert Got 1t.
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