Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-21
WORLDS CHAMPION WRESTLER.
An Interview With George Steadman at
the Grasmere Sports.
From the Pail Nall Gazette.

An Interview With George Steadman At
the Grasmerc Sports.
From the Pail Mall Gazette
There was great excitement among the gath
ering Of wrestling enthusiasts at Grasmere this
week when il became known that George
Steadman had been drawn to meet George
Lowden in the first round of the heavy weights
For years it has been felt that only one man
was fit to measure strength against the cham.
pion and today the two men were to try con.
illusions at the very commencement of the
proceedings. Always up to time, George
Steadman walked into the dressing tent half an
hour before the great tussle of the day was
timed to come off. 1t was in the dressing tent
| writes correspondent, that / found him, and
had the following conversation:
We'll, George" said as the champion
grasped my hand until thought it was held in
| an iron vice. sin what kind Of form are you
| this moruing?'
Grand, sir, grand. Last week took run
| up into Scotland and Scottish air always does
me good and besides the air. benefited by
bringing home with me eight first prizes as the
| result of my visit"
Il am glad to hear that, said, "and sup.
pose you are looking forward to taking away
the belt with you this EVENING"
We'll, l never count my chickens before
see them hatched." replied steadman; but
think may manage it."
Don't let me detain you if you are wishing
| to strip" continued.
mot at all, not at all; there is a seat there,
II you will take it, and while you are smoking
your cigarette can be making my toilet, and
we can chat at the same time"
GLADLY, and if you will talk of yourself !
can desire no more interesting topic" said.
Well, don't often talk of myself to any
pody, but, II you wish it, here goes in the reg
uiar book style. / was born at Aspy. in the
county OF Westmoreland. on the 9th day of
February, 1916. My father was a yeoman and
until sixteen years of age attended the village
schooi. linen / commenced my career as a
wrestler. There were some dozen of us in the
village and we took to going down into the
green In the evening and practic ing wrestling
Almost from the very first felt myself an in
ssPlred wrestler. There was none in Aspy could
throw me and in few months time began to
wrestle IN public. You see that gentleman
standing in the middle of the ring there?"
Yes. do, and fine old specimen of En-
glishman he looks" answered.
Well. he trained me for really frst-class
work. For six weeks was in his hands, and
from the day left him until now have felt
afraid of no man living"
VIII You tell me of your great meetings?"
1es, but you must remember that I'm
forty-three years old now, and having COM
menced public life at the age Of sixteen, you
great meetings in the last twenty-seyen years
There Is not a single ring in the united king
dom worth calling wrestling ring in which
have not come of victorious nor a single man
claiming notoriety as a wrestler whom have
not thrown"
Westmoreland and Cumberland?"
II wrestle In all styles. have thrown with
out difficulty in his own style the French
champion, LIE Beuf, at Lille Bridge, and
have served Boulanger-not the exile, you
KNOW, he added with twinkle in his eye
"tne same at the Alexandra palace. Then
you recollect, in three successive years-in 80.
81 and ~, think it was-I carried away Sir
John Astley's belt from Lille Bridge Quite re-
Gently Brown of New Cross challenged to
wrestle any conner for the championship of the
world and 825 q side, the best out of three
styles, the Westmoreland and Cumberland
catch-and-catch, first man down. and catch
and-catch two points. / accepted the challenge
and threw him in the first two styles, and since
then | have heard no more of Brown OF New
Cross"
so / suppose you accepted this as an abso-
lutely decisive result?"
mo; only this spring published similar
challenge to the world, but the fame of nv con-
test with Brown Of New Cross seems to have
stunned the wrestling fraternity for the time
being; but after all there is no wrestling like
the Grasmere wrestling"
Flow is that?" inquired
well, L say there is no wrestling like the
Grasmere wrestling because the Grasmere
ring is a fair ring. Every man means business;
that's what mean"
BY this time George Steadman was stripped
to the skin, and what q form his was. Truly,
out OF the many Westmoreland men have
seen, have seen none to compare with him.
Let me measure you around the chest: Al
inches TO decimal; now from tip to toe: feet
l014 inches. Now here at the scales" and they
drew 10 stones pounds. "Good weight thai"
said
Yes; but if was put to it should take a
stone off," said George, solemnly. But. you
see, have taken to innkeeping, and although
am OF temperance drinkers the strictest and
never walk less than six miles day, an inn
Keepers life is not conducive to make lean"
lime was up. SO inviting me over to the
Wheatsheaf, Whitehaven, where he would
show me ffty-hve cups, twenty belts and five
gold medals, this enormously powerfully built
man walked out to meet George Lowden Just
as be was entering the ring he turned back
and said: You must remember can run and
Jump as well as wrestle. Sixteen years ago l
won handicap quarter-mile hurdle race at
the Agricultural hall, Islington. of the scratch
marx and since then have repeated the per-
Torrance both at Manchester and Liverpool
But Lowden's waiting. Good morning"
A shake Of hands, little time in getting
hold. stiff and firm grip. and Lowden Law on
the ground, and amid the Undesirable tumuit
OF applause the champion and favorite of the
Grasmere ring "held the field for 1889. Held
the field for no doubt any longer remained of
the final conqueror and before three hours
we're over Mrs. Ridehalgh placed the
champions silver belt around the stalwart form
Of George Steadman.