Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-04
OMETALLWRESTL
AN AMUSING EXHIBITION Oh GRAEC0-
ROMAN WRESTLING
Atths Opsra House Last BVening-A Small, Cold
Audience Which Didn't Know Better
Than 10 Laugh.

FOR some uayS largo
posted about the city, announcing that at
the Opera House, Friday evening, Prof.
Will Wiley, champion Graeo-Roman
wrestler of the world, would attempt the
feat of giving three successive falls to Jim
Gains, champion of Ohio, in thirty min
utes. Besides this, other exhibitions by
well-known local athletes were to be given.
When the doors opened last evening,
things looked blue, for not a reserved seat
had been sold, and there did seem to be n
rush for seats at all. ByS o'clock about
seventy-6ve persons had assembled in the
building. and after some time they began
stamping for the curtain to go up, which
it did at last. Then Professor Wiley
came to the front and called upon a news
paper man to come upon the
stage. The scribe went up
and came back presently. The Professor
came out again and called upon a well
known city official, who also went through
the same performance as the newspaper
man. Then Col. Jake Kemple was called
upon, but the Col. was non est. The
u of these calls was that the Professor
wanted to be introduced to the audience
by a citizen, and failing to secure he
desired he came out and introduced him.
self to the audience-or seats.
He then announced a wrestling match
catch rs catch can between two local
amateurs, two best in three falls. Then
he called out his men. First came a
colored boy who had a walk on him like a
Bowery plug ugly. He wore a grin, a
red shirt and a pair of pants, and the
audience howled with laughter, but they
simply went into Mysteries when that
irrepressible moke JEFF Davis came walking
out, JEFF wore his usual immense smile
and in other respects was attired like his
opponent.
Prof. Wiley called time and the two
went at it. The delight of the spectators
knew no bounds and they screamed, while
the Professor danced around in glee and
refereed the contest. After a very excit-
ing round jeff. succeeded in landing his
opponent on his back, winning the first
fall. In the next round they came out,
shook hands and began to scratch each
other trying toget holds. jeff had his shirt
about torn off in the skirmish and retired
behind the scenes, and when he re%appeared
he was minus shirt altogether. Then the
wrestlers went at ii again and soon JefFs
opponent caught him in an unguarded
moment and broke several boards in the
stage with his back. By this time the au-
dience was in tears and had the round
lasted much longer several would have
choked with laughter, for they couldn't
let it out fast enough.
JEFF retired after each round to be
rubbed down, while his adversary re-
manned on the stage. When Davis re-
appeared for the third round he looked like
he meant business. The two seized each
other and a regular pickup t~hrow-down
and drag out time ensued, while the Pro-
fessor watched the points closely.
At last jeff got his man
down on his back and
Iammed his shoulders almost through the
stage. The Professor then gave the con-
test to Jefferson Davis. He also announced
that he and the world known Mr.. Muldoon
would appear In something less thar hVe
minutes, but at least fifteen minutes ex-
pired when George Engle walked out and
introduced Mr.. Muldoon, who
was rather a fine looking
specimen of manhood, straight as an ar
row, weighing $50 pounds. Prot. Wiley
then appeared, stripped to the waist, as
was also his opponent. They then went
at the exercises, which were Of no interest
whatever, and after the first fall, which
was won by Wiley, n good part of the
slim audience left the building.
The second round was won by Muldoon
and the third by Wiley, the referee being
George Engle. The Professor then anne
to the front of the stage and said he hadn't
much money, hut LIE was ready to wrestle
with any man in this part of the country,
any time within a week after the match
was made, for $40, 900. The curtain then
went down and the audience left and were
left.