The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-23

The Redoubtable Wrestler Has an Inter-
eStlAR History.

The Redoubtable Wrestler Has an Inter-
esting History.
Natsada Sorakichi was born in Toxic,
Japan, in the year 1860 and came to this
country in the fall of 1883. After giving
several exhibitions in New York city of the
japanese style Of wrestling, he was taken in
hand by Richard X. Fox. Of the Police
Gazette, and after few lessons in the
American style Of wrestling he was matched
against Edwin Bibby, the English cham
pion, Who defeated the Jap after hard
struggle. He was then matched against
Capt. Jas. O. DAILY, Of New York, whom he
defeated in twenty minutes; Duncan @.
Ross, Of Cleveland, Ohio, was next put
against the Jap and was thrown first fall
in ono minute, second fall in one minute
and eight seconds. All the noted wrestlers
with the Jap preferred, and Mr.. Fox offered
handsome medal as trophy of the ap-
preaching contest. The Jap was placed
against all corners irrespective OF height or
or weight and out Of 136 contests he sue
ceeded in downing 126 men, the remaining
champion of Australia, weight 228 pounds;
Andre Christol, champion of France,
weight $50 pounds; Carl Abtz, champion of
Germany, weight 24O pounds: Edwin Bibby,
champion Of England, weight l75 pounds
and VIM. Muldo0n, of America, weight 2O6
all with perfect ease except Carl Abtz
whose weight was 240 pounds. The willy
Jan failed to down the German giant and
after fierce struggle of two hours the
referee declared the match . draw. The
struggle on the part of the Jap so exhausted
him that he was unable to leave his bed for
three days. After his recovery he was
matched againg Bibby who in turn had de-
feated all contestants except the Jap. This
match was undoubtedly the most interest
ing ever held in America for
it settled the long standing
dispute 40 as .,.n to o;on who and was st.o. the
hard and fierce struggle of over three hours
the s.Jap'' was declared victor and middle
weight champion. He has met all the noted
wrestlers in all classes and has been vic
torious in nearly every one. He has sue
ceeded in downing. Muldoon in three
straight matches. and Jack Carkeek, of
Wisconsin. The greatest struggle of his
life was with Evan Lewis at Battery D in
Chicago. In the first match Lewis being
unable to throw the Jap, resorted to the
now noted "strangle'' hold: the Jap became
SO exhausted he was compelled to throw ul
his hand, being unable to speak; the referee
declared the match q draw and the press
scored Lewis heavily for his cowardly worl
ON . man fully thirty pounds less in weight
The willy Jap refused to accep
defeat in such q manner, and sent out
defy daring Lewis to try him again. Tn,
match created much excitement in Chicago
and was witnessed by fully 5000 people
After fierce struggle of nearly an hou
and half, Lewis finding 1t impossible t,
put the Jap's shoulders to the floor, caugh
him by the left lower limb and twisted
ont of the socket. A howl of indignation
went up from the 5000 throats, and tn
referee order Lewis from the stage an
called the police to protect him until b
reached his hotel. The Infatuated aud
ence was loud in its denunciation of Lewi
brutal conduct, and many threats wer
openly made to horse-whip him on sigh
The Jap will wrestle next Sunday at til
Athletic park, and the contest promises I
be one of the most exciting az we'll as intel
esting ever witnessed in this country. III
handsome badge presented to the Jap b
the New York Police Gazette can be seen
the window of Babcock, the halter. tt
raised platform will be hnilt directly
front Of the grand stand, afording GOO
vior tn NIL