The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-04-06
SORAKICHI AND w
Scenes at the WrestiinG Match when tho
Wisconsin Man Tried to Break the JGo's
Leg.
From the Chicago Times, Fob, ,e.

From the Chicago Times, Fob, 70.
Never before in the history of the
Central Music Hall was that building so
jammed with squeezed humanity as last
night. The occasion was the wrestling
match, Mt catch-as-catch-ca between
Matsada Sorakichi, the Jap, and Evan
Lewis, the Wisconsin stranglcr, who
some three weeks ago defeated his for
eign antagonist. No less han $500
people were present. but none of them
were prepared for the inhuman, brutal,
butcher-like exhibition to which they
were treated. In the last match between
the two wrcstlers, Lewis almost choked
the Jap to death, and because of this
brutality another match, the one of last
night, was arranged under the patro-
mage of Parson Davies. The neck or
strangle hold, was barred, but that was
all.
At about 8 O'Clock the wrcstlcrs made
their appearance, both stripping we'll
and looking the pink of condition.
Lewis appeared strong and muscular,
while the Jap seemed 1.-the, agile and
shrcwd-and too, for that matter, he is
as strong a man as the Badgcrite. II.
G. Palmer, the referee, after anuounc-
ing the rules, called time, and the con-
testants sprang toward each other. A
hold, a break, and q short lock char
acterized the work for the first five sec
onds, when the Jap rushed his man to
the edge of the stage a second more
n Lewis had recovered and was
claspcd in the close embrace of the
brown-skinned foreigner. For a brief
period, they struggled, when the Jap
threw himself prone upon his stomach,
a position often assumed when a wrest-
Ter is fatigucd Or desires to tire his op-
ponent. In fact, it is q position of adj
vantage, in a certain sense. Immc-
diately Lewis saw his opponent in his
lying position, he bounced upon him,
and then began and finished the most
brutal, inhuman exhibition eve. seen
by a Chicago gathering, not excepting
a prize butchering contest.
Kneeling down over the PROSTATE
form of the Jap, the stranger deliber-
ately planned the manning of his an
IaSonist's limbs. Catching the Jap's
left leg ut the ankle, he pulled it to-
ward him, and with both hands pressed
it over his (Lewis's) left leg, between
the knee and thigh. At first it was
thought that the American intended to
halfway turn his man, but soon his
methods were understood. He intend
ed and endeavorcd in a most cool, de-
liberate, and brutal manner to break
Matsada Sorakichi's leg. That he did
not do it IS owing to the cries of
"Shamcm Coward "Bruten!"
"Devil" which resounded throughout
the hall when his intention was under
stood. The referee, somewhat dilatory,
sprang toward the wrestlers and de-
handed a cessation. Like q snake
slowly gorging itself, Lewis released
his hold on the foreigners leg, and the
latter with a groan rolled over on his
back. Lewis arose with a smile of tri-
"umph on his face, but when his eyes
met those of the spectators, he looked
ut the padded floor and seemed ashamed
of himself. The poor Jap cndeavored
to rise unassisted, but the all but
broken limb refused to support him,
and he pitched forward on his face.
His seconds rushed to his assistance and
dragged him to q chair, where he went
off into a faint. Water was thrown in
his face, and he opened his eyes and
asked to be taken to his hotel. William
Lakeman, the master Of ceremonies,
rushed to the edge of the stage and
called loudly for a surgeon, and when
two of them mounted the platform the
injured man was carried below to his
dressing room. An examination re-
vealed the fact that while the leg was
not broken, it was strained and twisted
so brutality that in effect it is much
worse than a break.
While all this was gong on the stage
the spectators were greatly excited over
matters among themselves. A we'll
built, handsome gentleman, we'll
dressed and intelligent looking, sud-
denly rose up with face as white as
snow, and remarking, eddie, I must
Co." stepped into the main aisle. He
fell in a faint, and was carried to the
ante-room. There on the floor and sofa
were three men lying insensib|e, their
friends throwing water in their faces
and bashing them. In the upper gallery
o similar scene was being enacted, some
four or five men having toppled over at
the brutal sight.