The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-12
BUTT Me NO BUTTS
Wrestling Match Between Bibby
and Matsada Sorakichi.
The Japanese Smiles and Smiles
Again, but Hops the Floor
with the English
man.

New YORK, March I2-Matsada Soraki-
Chi, the champion wrestler Of Japan, had his
revenge at Clarendon hall. The Jap came
to America about two months ago resolved
to vanquish all Corners He had mastered
ffty-six wTestleTs in Japan, ard was so
sura that be could find no ons here worthy
to meet him that he announced on his arrival
that be would pull down house here just to
show the Americans what he dould do. He Is
as strong as an OK and quick as cat.
Shortly after Sorakichi's arrival match
was arranged between Sorakichi and Edwin
Bibby to wrestle at Irving hall for purse
Of $500 and the receipts of the house. Bibby
is with one exception the best catch-aS-catch-
can wrestler in the world. They wrestled
according to English rules. Socakichi did
not know any of the locks or holds, and
Bibby threw him over his head with
ease. The Jap was tossed three times
in seven minutes. 1t was plain to every one
that he was a man of extraordinary strength
and quickness, though he made poor show
ing at catch-as catch-can wrestling 1t was
almost pitiable to see how he was used up
through his ignorance Of the customary locks
and holds. After the defeat, the Japanese,
who was dazed by the first defeat of his life,
insisted that Bibby should wrestle him &C
cording to japanese rules. A match was ar
ranged, and took place before large au.
| dience.
| When the men jumped upon the stage they
were enthusiastically applauded. Bibby was
as round and rosy as baby. He moved
| quickly aud was all smiles. The Jap smiled,
too. His high-cheeked, almond-eyei face
| looked like that of a japanese doll suddenly
! endowed with life. There was nothing pre-
sumptuous i'll the smile 1t was child-like
and serene This air of perfect satisfaction
never deserted him through the night. Pop
| Whitaker was master OF ceremonies and
explained that the mode of wrestling was
new to all present except the japanese, for
whom he bespoke the best of fair play, re-
marking that the distinguished foreigner
| could not understand a word he said. The
| rule was that if any part of the contestant
except the feet touched the floor it was a
| fall
Then he retreatei and called "time" The
men sprang from their chairs into the middle
of the stage They moved like cats The
japanese rose to his full height, stretched out
his arms clinched his fingers, bent over back
ward and roared with the mighty roar Of an
angry bull; then ne dropped his head forward
as though his neck was broken and screeched
like frenzied owl The muscles stood out all
over his body in huge rolls and punches, and
the sinews of his neck and arms were Like
whip-cords. The muscles played up and
down under his shiny skin. Bibby stood
with his legs well apart and his hands out
stretched watching the Jap with anazement.
Then the Oriental stamped his feet like pile
drivers, rubbed his hands on the floor, and
without an instant's hesitation shot head
foremost at his rival. He went forward al
though shot from catapult. His head
caught Bibby on the shoulder, and the Eng
lishman was knocked westward. He fairly
few through the air, coming up heavily
against the ropes. If the ropes had not beer