The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-07
Cat-Like Wrestlers.

When two modern wrestlers approach
each other the spectator is instantly re-
minded of cats. The agility, elasticity
| and springiness of wrestlers is more
impressive than their strength. They
move stealthily and stand without effort
in an attitude that the majority of men
would find it impracticable to assume.
They plant their feet sidewise about
yard apart, neither in advance of the
other, and gradually bend forward until
their backs are at right angles to the
perpendicular of their legs. Then they
throw their sinewy arms forward like
| the ''feelers" of an insect and slowly
approach each other.
The ambitious man of full habit who
essays this attitude in the privacy of his
chamber, will do one of two things.
| He will pitch forward on his head or
strain his back. He cannot conceive
how wrestlers walk backward and for
ward so oddly doubled up.
When Bibby and the japanese faced
each other in this way in Irving Hall,
they looked uncouth and strange. They
seemed only half the height of ordinary
men. Their faces were set, their eyes
half closed, and their tenacious fingers
worked cOnvulsively. Slowly they
waddled forward until their gracefully
moving arms almost interwined. Then
like two goats they shot forward,
Bibby's head bunting into Sorakichi'S
left shoulder; Sorakichi's head banging
violently into Bibby's right shoulder;
Bibby's left ear grinding against the
left ear of the japanese. Each grasped
the other by the back of the neck with
one hand, while the other hands wan
dered up and down the long bodies in
search of gripping places.
The man who saw wrestling match
for the first time wondered whether the
men had hurt their heads much, and
then grinned at the extraordinary at
titude. They stood locked together
without movement, except the constant
restlessness of the two sinewy right arms.
The spectator was mildly amazed to see
that both men were in a dripping sweat.
Then he noticed the prominence of the
huge ridges of muscles on the backs of
the athletes and the whipcords that stood
out on their arms. The japanese raised
one foot slightly and then brought it
down with resOunding blow on the
platform. The spectator, who had never
before seen a match, discovered all at
once that the two men were not leaning
comfortably against each other, but
were putting out all their tremendous
strength.
Bibby's right arm had been working
its way like a sinewy snake, inch by
inch, around his opponents body. His
fingers stretched out, almost dug their
way into the chocolate-colored flesh of
the Oriental and then the hand closed,
bringing the arm still further around
the body of the japanese. Suddenly
the men whirled around, their feet strik-
ing the platform like trip hammers.
Once they rolled over together with feet
and hands flying around like cats claws.
Both painted holly. Bibby kept his grip.
There was an instant's struggle, and
then the japanese flew up into the air
with his legs and arms squirming like
turtles. Bibby rose as he threw his
antagonist over his he'd and stood erect
for an instant like a Hercules. The
Japanese fell on his side on the stage,
but as he fell Bibby jumped upon him as
cat does upon mouse. One could
not help feeling a pang of pity for the
japanese. The situation was beauti-
full and forcible illustration of the
efficacy of jumping on a mans chest
when you get him down. At the instant
the japanese struck the floor the Eng
lishman was on him. There was fierce
struggle, the sweating bodies of the men
squirming. The japanese made a last
desparing effort; then with a gasp he
submitted, and his shoulders were
forced to the fioor.-N. Y. Sun.