The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-23
VERY ONE-SIDED AFFAIR.
Too Much Handicap Worried the
Noble Beast.
AND HE WOULD NOT PLAY AT ALL
Three Thousand People Witnessed
the Novel Entertainment at
Central Park.

The big tent at Central Park was
crowded last night by an expectant
thrOng. curious to witness the wrestling
match" between Sandow the Strong and
Commodore the Lion.
Every body has heard of Daniel in the
lions den, but when Dan entered the den
there was no such thing as Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
otherwise Daniel would not have taken
such desperate chances of being chewed
up.
Sandow, the gladiator of the present
day, considers that physically speaking he
is greater man than Daniel. who sub
dued the starved lion with q look, yet he
did not believe that it would be just the
right thing to take any unfair advantage
of the Society for the Prevention of Cru
city to Animals by entering the lions cage
last evening unless his opponent was han
dicapped with moccaslnS on his little feet
and muZZle on his mouth.
OF course, if Sandow had his own way
the famous Commodore would not have
been the recipient Of such severe handi-
cap as Handicapped DolbTook had imposed
upon him.
When the king of beasts was packed
from his dressiDg-rOOm by six stalwart at
bFhudbkS " VIC CdSO w nnlCn nj C1 CO
were riveted pin could have been heard
drop on Market street.
With the exception OF the heavy breath
ing OF the lion as he lay in his cage mana
cled from head to foot the tent was as
still as q graveyard. Everybody waited
in suspense to see the animal that was to
wreStle for the heavyweight hampton
ship of the world with Eugen SaDdOw.
Presently the famous lion-taDer, ColOne |
Boone, put in an appearance and in an
instant the iron door leading into the
battle-ground was thrown open and Club
foot Commodore ambled in as best he
could IN his lmprOvlSed lighting gear to the
spot where the colonel awaited his arrival.
The moment the spectators detected the
size of gloves that Commodore wore there
were murmurs or disapproval heard from
all quarters. George knight, the we'll
known attorney, who admres good mill
among men, even objected TO amateur
gloves being placed upon such "a royal
animals feet.
Billy Jordan, who knows thing or two
about the prize-rng, was Mortified when he
Toasted his pugilistic eyes upon the heavy
straps that bound the poor animals nose
and mouth, and in the language of the
poet remarked: Poor beasti how crueli
how horriblei All that's left of thee to
defend myself against attack is that nObby
Mnngolian tail"
Before SandOw made his appearance the
colonel put Commodore through little
drill, which the latter did not at all relish
in his new rigging. The lion made several
fruitless attempts to show the spectators
that he had a fey teeth left yet nOtwith-
standing his old age, but his efforts In that
direction were of NO avail.
The colonel was then satisfied that the
great SaHdow was perfectly safe, so far as
the lions appetite for mess of hardened
muscle was concerned.
After taking final observation OF the
animals makeup Boone concluded that
SandOw could enter with all safety To
himself and the people who surrounded
the cage.
motion Of the head from the colonel.
and the strong man, dressed in flesh-col-
ored tights, put in an appearance and
quickly entered the cage.
Now let Us see what the lion will do?"
said Professor Harry Maynard. as he jeaI-
ously gaZed upon Sandow's beautiful form.
The man of strength walked with firm
step toward the lion, who was crouched
against the bars of the cage, and looking
Commodore IN the eye he grabbed the
latter by his whiskers and shook the N
briskly.
Commodore seemed to enjoy the sensa-
tion as he Topped on the sawdust floor and
wagged his tail.
Again Sandow tried another hold, which
Professor MiehliDg said was a grapevine
lock. but Commodore knew his little book
ana took another tum bic on the Sawdust.
Let NE tap him up Bit" said Colonel
Boone, and after few slashes OF the whip
the lion ambied around the ring as if puZ-
Zed at what all this kind OF thing meant.
Sandow finally concluded to take a neck
hold or combination lock upon his majesty,
and grabbing the lion by the name he
raised the animal from the ground and
swung him in the air. The people awarded
this effort by cheering Sandow, who time
and again tried to get Commodore to stand
up and fight. but the latter was not game
under the conditions he was placed in and
positively refused TO do anything else but
take il easy.
Commodore might have consented to a
hippodrome, but so far as SaDdow was
concerned he certainly proved that he was
no party to any scheme that would fool
the public. The exhibition was unuues-
tionably novel and interesting. as it is the
first time in this country that man has
volunte ered TO fight or wrestle the king of
beasts under any conditions.
1t was estimated that between $500 and
5000 people witnessed the Ssndow- CGmmo-
d0re wrestling match.