Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-12-12
JAPANESE wREsTLERs.
Tho Contest Between tho Typhoon ana
tho stone Giant In Iokohor ma.

Tho Contest Between the fyphoon ana
tho stone Giant In EOkoho ma.
Wrestling is the leading sport In Ja-
pan. In the big cities the wrestling
ground is square and surrounded by
two roped galleries. Women occupy
the upper tier The ring is about
twenty feet in diameter and raised
about two feet above the ground floor.
1t is strewn with sand and surrounded
by n double cmbankmcnt of bags of
straw. 1t Is covered by q roof. deco.
rated with lanterns and flags and sup
ported by four slanting red pillars
A contest between the Typhoon and
the Stone Giant in Yokohama was wit.
messed recently by correspondent
Tho wrestlers We're accompanied by
friends and several coolies carrying
lacquer boxes containing the costumes
for the ring and toilet articles They
are famous wrcstlers and were dressed
like noblemcn. While undressing they
talked together in n friendly manner,
smoked cigars and drank imported
beer. The ring costume consisted
OF large silk handkerchiets with
ringed edges. tied around the loins
They were immense fellows-solid
broad, and muscular, but not tall The
Typhoor was about four feet and seven
inches in height, and the Stone Giant
was n little more than five feet. Both
had straight. thick, jet black hair.
dressed in the oid-fashion style, and the
barber had great difficulty in fixing the
hair firmly at the nape of the neck.
When nobleInen, who patronized them,
entered the dressing room they jumped
up, making the joints crack and stretch.
ing their limbs.
At the soun,: Of 4 drum on the tower
at the entrance to the grounds the
wrcstlcrs put on velvet aprons and sew.
cral belts, tokens Of former victories.
With pendent arms, preceded by the
four judges and followed by a file OF
other wrcstlerS and several attendants,
they entered the enclosure and marched
around The spectators had reached Il
high pitch of excitement. They shout
cd loudly. clappcd their hands. and
wrapped on the balustradcs with their
fans. After the parade ;hcy all seated
themselves around the ring. the oppo-
ncnts facing each other. Each of the
Judges stepped to one of the poles and
sGuattcd down. The attendants placed
bucket of water and a vessel contain.
ing salt on the top of the mbanllmcnt.
The wrcstle:s took Off their aprons and
belts. jumped into the ring and struck
many athletic attitudes that caused APP
plause and enlivencd the letting.
Refreshing themselves with a drink
of water and 4 pinch Of salt, they
squatted on the sand. facing each other
rs a kind of sanitation. aru then arose
with their arms extended and their fin.
gers bent to catch hold of each other.
Then they began to stamp the ground
and repeatedly rushed at each other to
get firm grip Stone Giant's only en-.
dcavor during the whole Sight seemed
to be TO press down his opponent by his
weight, and push him out of the
ring. But the dark olive body of the
Typhoon always managed to struggle
away from the lump % flesh that
threatened to crush him, and he tried to
improve his grip at every opportunity.
At last he seized his opponent by tho
leg and made him hop backward Tho
spectators roarcd with laughter. They
| had got near the en- baullmcnt Stone
| Giant once more threw himself on
| the dwarf as he called him, angrily.
| and almost succeeded in bouncing him
| over the line, The two Judges nearest
them stood at the line for as soon as
one stepped over it the match was
| over.
Typhoon became enragcd but all his
| twisting. wriggling, pushing and other
tricks were of no avail against the two
hundred and thirty pounds. SO they
fought for twenty, thirty. forty min
utcs. Typhoon was getting tired Sew
cral times he was pressed to the ground,
and 1t became more aud more difficult
to hold each other. as they prespired
freely. During all this time their move
mcntS had looked somewhat theatrical;
it seemed as if they had learned to
pose for and eXagTcratc every situation
Of the combat. But now they were in
dead earnest. and they wished to come
to = close. For an instant Stone Giant
LOST his footfold, aud Typhoon. getting
all his strength together. lifted him up
from the earth and hurled him over the
cmbankmcnt. 1t was u marvellous
acrobatc feat.
The Judges rose and the manager
| pronounced Typhoon 10 he the victor.
! The spectators got up from their seats,
| shouted and tn cw presents into the
| ring. He bowed and bowed again, put
! ting both hands on his knees. Many
| scraps Of paper came flying down from
! the tiers in which the presents of sums
! of money were announced and the adj
| dresses where he could send for them.
! Attendants picked them up and 1y-
| phoon marched off with his suite
Seattle Post Inteliigcnccr.