The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-26
ghe aahia Daily Eagle Saturday sor,ng apri 2e
"GHoMME MASoUE."
Exciting wrestIe Between Tom Cannon
ard the Mysterious Stranger.

! Exciting wrestIe Between Tom Cannon
ard the Mysterious Stranger.
The esMan with Mask" has finally
met his match in the sturdy person
known as Tom Cannon.
These two redoubtable wrestlers came
together the other evening at the Foiies
Bergere before an audience several times
too large for the accommodation offered.
The unusual crush was occasioned by
the announcement that Americas for
| midabIe wrestler was to be pitted against
a mysterious individual of wonderful
strength and skill, who up to the present
has proved a victor against all corners.
This eccentric athlete caused great SEN
sation in Paris last year by appearing on
the stage with his face and head entirely
hidden by a black silk mask, behind
which no one was able to penetrate. He
appeared in the same way last evening.
He arrives at the Folies Bergere in a
private carriage only few minutes be-
fore he must appear, and is Immediately
shown to private room, from which he
comes out only to go on the stage. He
leaves in the same manner.
Before the struggle last evening I was
standing behind the scenes talking with
Tom Cannon. Said he:
81 know absolutely nothing about the
man l am going to wrestle with. have
suspicion, though, that he is an old
time professional who has reasons for
concealing his identity. Either that, or
he is some rich chap who doesn't want
to be seen here"
"Do you feel in good condition."
"No, indeed, and that D. the worst Of
it. l have been wrestling here for
thirty-four nights in succession without
any rest, and sometimes have met two
men in a night"
Finally the curtain rose, and the two
giants came bounding forth in front of
the footlights Giants indeed they were:
Tom in red tights, the other in black,
and both naked to the waist.
A moments glance was enough to
show that the ''Man with the Mask" was
in perfect physical conditions; indeed, he
appeared in every respect the better of
the two. His skin was of satiny soft
ness, and as white as that of a woman.
His chest, thighs, and arms were of Her
culean dimensions, and his carriage was
that of a gentleman. A significant de-
tail was the singular smallness of his
feet and hands.
No time was lost. A grip of two
powerful hands, a moments hesitation
before the initial spring, and then they
went atit-arms, heads, legs, and bodies.
1t was about as lively wrestling match
as one could possibly see.
The "Man with the Mask" took the
offensive from the start, and for the first
five minutes it looked as if he was going
to vanquish Tom Cannon with ease.
But the man who vanquishes Tom with
ease-or without it-has not yet put in
his appearance at the FoIies Bergere
In the very first set-to the Unknown |
forced Cannon over on his back, and to
save himself, the latter was obliged to
form bridge with the back of his head
and his heels as bases. On this bridge |
the masked Hercules threw himself with |
tremendous fury, but Tom held firm, and, |
watching his chance, slipped from be-
meath, and with back handspring"
landed on his feet.
AS the struggle advanced the tables
commenced to turn. Now it was Tom
Cannon who was doing the attacking.
At one point the stranger nearly lost his
mask, and retired to rearrange it. Dur
the brief intermission Tom stepped Oh
one side and said to me:
''He is the best wrestler l have met in
France. He is pushing the fighting, but
shall have my inning pretty soon. !
may be mistaken, but l think am going
to beat him"
And Tom was not mistaken.
How he did it it were impossible to de-
scribe; but he did it. The masked man
fought like hero; but ne had hero to
fight against.
Now one is on top, now another; now
they are both down on hands and knees,
and presently they are locked-arms,
legs and bodies-in a desperate embrace
Then everything gets mixed up-very
much mixed up-until suddenly the I'm
known goes sailing through the air, i'm
PEELED by Toms combined strength and
science. He lands on one side and tries
to rise, but Tom is upon him, pinning one
shoulder to the floor, and slowly, slowly
forcing the other into the same position.
The Man with the Mask" squirms and
kicks with the energy of lost angel
Tom Cannon, relentless, with flashing
eyes, presses that other shoulder nearer
and nearer to the carpet The crowd
goes mad with excitement. At last it is
all over. The mysterious giant struggles
no longer-he is vanquished
All this, which takes a long time to
describe, lasted only twelve minutes
Paris Herald.