The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-19
THE TOSS SETTLED IT
M'LEOD-WITTMER MATCH.
CHOICE OF STYLES DETERMINED
California Wrestler Won i'm His
Favorite Observation-Disclosures
Difference I'm Weight.

That indianapolis people are lovers OF
exhibitions of skill and strength was fully
demonstrated last night at the Mcleod
wittmer wrestling match at Englishs
Opera House. Although the night was ex-
cessiveIy hot inside the building. there
was a packed house present TO see the
California Seotchman best a man who had
the advantages of thrty-five or forty
pounds I'm weight. The match was fine
one and was won in the second and third
bouts by Mcleod. 1t was an exhibition
of fine work by Mcleod from beginning
TO end. When the two men came on the
mat and were seen for the first time by
the audience, the sympathy of the onlook-
ers was aroused for Mcleod on account
of the great difference in the weights Of
the men. Few in the audience thought the
lighter man would have chance against
such odds in weight. and the sympathy
OF an American for the underdog was
aroused in McLeod's favor. But the peo-
pie did not fully appreciate McLeods
strength and agility or they would have
placed their sympathy in Wittmer's keep
ing. Herb Hale was chosen as referee.
The match was of mixed style, the win
ner of the toss of a dollar TO name the
style for the first bout, the second bout
to be the reverse OF the first. and the
third. If necessary, to be decided by a
toss.
Wittmer won the toss and the first bout
was a Graeco-Roman, which is his par
ticular style. Mcleod is a catch-as-catch-
can wrestler and had little show in the
first bout, except TO prolong it and wind
Wittmer. Brute strength and an under
standing of wrestling tactics counts for
more in this style tnan does agility. Nc
Iseod'a great quiekness,, however. saved
before the bout was finally ended by VIC
tory for Wittmer by a half-Nelson and
body lock in 151s minutes
Mcleod had the choice in the second bout
and IL was catch-as-catch-can his favor
ite- The difference in the two styles OF
wrestling was soon apparent in McLeod's
movements. In this style he had an OPP
portunity to disconcert his opponent and
take him unaware by his cat-like move
ments. IL took only six and one-half min
utes for Mcleod TO press Wittmers shout
ders to the mat. From the beginning of
this bout was easily apparent that Nc
Leod's agility would win for him. Witt
mer's excess of thirty-five pounds in weight
only served to keep him on the mat while
Mcleod played around him. never missing
an quiek mt Mcheod ioeked his les
around Wittmer's head and with his arms
sneson Of few Seconds eoa until
was compelled to put his shoulders TO the
mat.
The toss of the coin was to decide the
style of the third bout and practically de-
eide the match, for it was plain that Nc
Leod could easily throw Wittmer If the
toY went in his favor. while il was almost
as certain that naming the style would win
the match for Wsttmer. Referee Hale
tossed up a dollar and Mcleod and Smcoe,
WittmerS second, called out heads at
the same time Simcoe put his foot the
dollar as soon as IL touched the mat. When
he raised IL and il was that heads
was up Mcleod said:
II win. You had nothing to do with this.
You called on the other toss.
The referee decided with Nelson. and the
third bout was catch-as-catch-can. A half
Nelson and a body lock won the bout for
Mcleod in six minutes. Wittmer seemed
10 recognize the fact that he had little
chance to win the bout and acted the
defensive most OF the time. Only once
did he take the offensive. and then only
for a few seconds
In about two weeks there will be a
match at English's between Herbert Hale
and Smith. of New Orleans. This viii be
a catch-as-catch-can match for SEQ side
Smiths Weights not known, but he Is In
the same class as Hale. He Is little
known here, or, i'm fact, anywhere in the
North.
Between the bouts last night Simcoe
Wittmer's second, challenged Hale for a
weeks. Ii will he for 500 aside. Some
time ago Simcoe defeated Hale in Graeco-
Roman match. but Hale has defeated him
twice in mixed matches. They are almost
the same weight. there being not more
than two or three pounds difference. This
promises to be one of the most hotly con.
tested matches ever seen in the city.