Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-20
MODERN GLADIATORS.
Saturday Nights Tussle at Harper's
Theatre.
CARKEEK AND COMsToCK wREsTLE,
Rare Exhibition of Muscular Develop
ment and skill-The Glove
Contest Between Glib
son and Doyle.


place at Harper's theatre on Saturday
evening drew fair sized house consider
ing the fact that sporting events do not
attract as much attention here as in other
towns of the same size. ard another
reason why there were not more present
was that it leaked out on Saturday that
Farmer" Burns would not appear, and
when John Gibson, who acted as master
of ceremonies. announced this from the
stage there was general murmur of dis
satisfaction from the house. The enter
tainment opened with a 5-round glove
contest between Con Doyle and Billy
Gibson, his trainer, Doyle of course get,
ting little the best of Gibson, whose
wind was the only thing that seemed to
bother him.
Messrs. Comstock and Jack Carkeek,
the latter of whom had been procured on
account of Burns absence, were then in
troduced. Comstock stands nearly six
feet tall, and though he weighs
about 200 pounds, is built in proper
ton, and is indeed a fine specimen
of muscular development, and his
clear complexion, shows that he uses
every precsution in caring for himself.
Carkeek is also powerful man, and,
though not as large as Comstock, he
shows himself to be every inch an a,h-
lete. The conditions of the match were
catch as catch can, three falls out Of FIVE,
two points down. In the first, Comstock,
who is much younger at the business
than his opponent, acted on the defen-
sive, and some very pretty bridging was
done by both men toward the last. Car
keek got half Nelson and then a hip
lock. hold ard attempted to give his sd
versary flying fall, but failed. The
first fall. however, was won by Carkeek
in Is minutes. The wrestlers took q
rest of 10 minutes after which they again
took holds and began the same man eu-
vers that had characterized the
first bout, Comsiock again acting on the
defensive. In this struggle Carkeek
showed himself to be worthy of the rep
utation that he has won, and though
Comstock did some very clever work
Csrkeek secured almost every hold he
wished, and though he gave Comstock
some dizzy headspins it took him II min
utes to win the fail.
Comstock was the favorite from the
start, owing to the fact. perhaps, that
Carkeek has national reputation as a
wrestler, and more was expected of him.
When the men appeared for the third
time they looked to be in the pink of
condition and after struggling for eight
minutes Comstock got hip hold and with
quick throw brought his opponent TO
grass amid the cheers of the house. When
the men came up the fourth time the in
terest that was manifested by the audi.
ence was intense and though both men
men looked trifle weary, they went at
it with a will and Comstock appeared
more confident than before and both mer
did some more very clever work. Ca-keeb
again gave Comstock head spin and
landed him on his side. Then by main
strength he turned Comstock in spite o.
his struggles and slowly pressed hi
shoulders to the floor. This ende
The contest. but number of ga
lery gods were disposed to dispute th'
rulings OF the referee and maintained tina
/ Carkeek had not won the fall fairly. Thi!
called forth speech from Mr.. Carkeel
who neatly and politely admonished the
elements in the gallery of their misbe
havior, and after speaking briefly on III,
subject of wrestling, babe the audienc,
good night. Remarks from Comstoct
were now expected, and re did not seen
to think he had been treated fairly anC
he made an i'll step by what in SLAM
phraseology would be termed chewing.
He condemned the Athletic clu
which had the match in charge
but according to the contract whic
| reads Farmer Burns or any othe
man whom the club may produce,
they had right TO select anyon
they chose to wrestle with Comstock.
Carkeek. as before stated, is one of th
best known wrestlers of the country an
has Won falls from some of the best wresi
lers in the world. Comstock claims tn
championship of the Pacific coast, b
having thrown Quinn at Portland. Ore
three falls in FIVE, last December, an
won the same kind of a match fror
Schott at Madison, Wis, in FebTuar
last.
SPORTING NOTES.
Jack Carkeek, the noted wrestler, lief
at Gas this morning for Milwaukee. To a
ARGUS reporter, who caught his atten