The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-18
FARMER" BURNS BESTED
THOMAS JENKINS FOUND AN EASY
VICTORY LAST NIGHT.
The Cleveland Wrestler Wins "a
Match in Two Straight Bouts
Mcleod Challenged.

Thomas Jenkins was an easy victor in the
wrestling match last night with Farmer"
Burns at the Grand Opera House, winning
in two straight bouts. According to Jenk-
ms and his friends the Cleveland wrestler
has been looked upon as a dangerous an
tagonist by all square wrestlers for a
year. He has been on the mat but three
years and about a year ago he began to
take a place alongside the big fellows, hav-
ing thrown everybody of any consequence
with the exception of Stranger Lewis.
At that time he had matches with both
Burns and Mcleod and neither were able
to best him. He claims that after that he
had a match arranged with Mcleod and
that Mcleod failed to show up at the thea
ter at the appointed time. His friends also
assert that he tried and failed to get
match with Burns.
Burns is now willing to testify to Jenk
mss ability as wrestler. After he had been
thrown the first bout last night he told his
seconds that Jenkins had come out wonder
fully. Il don't think l can throw him. he
said. and the sequel proved the truth of his
words. After he had lost the second bout
and the match he told the spectators that
he believed Jenkins to be the best man in
the world. Mr.. Carkeet, representative of
Evan Lewis, was on hand, and after the
match offered challenge to Jenkins. Jenk-
ms responded by extending a challenge to
Champion Mcleod, expressing an opinion
that Lewis was the superior of Mcleod in
the following words: II have been wrest-'
ling but short time and prefer to try my
hand with Mcleod before undertaking to
throw Lewis. / want to walk up the lad
der before attempt to rum" Mcleod was
not present.
The match last night was generally con-
sidered the best ever seen in Indianapolis.
1t had not the faintest indication of being
fixed" Jenkins had the better of it by ten
or fifteen pounds in weight, but this did
not prevent the friends of Burns feeling
confident, for he has thrown men who
looked to be twice as big as he. The men
met on the mat at S:4S O'Clock and Burns
lasted for the first bout just twenty-nine
minutes. Duncan Mcmillan, Sam Murbar-
ger and Jack Davis acted as Burns's Sec
onds' while Herb Hale and Frank *. Lynch Lynch
was referee and Charley, Ward was time
keeper.
Burns began with his usual tactics of re-
manning on the defensive. He seemed to
lose friends in the house and was guyed.
This made him angry. He worked viciously
and this was his undoing He went to the
floor after twelve minutes Of struggling, but
regained his feet and had Jenkins down for
a few minutes and then again became the
under man, getting out of four double Mel
sons which looked like winners for jenkins.
The last of the four from which he escaped
was fought for nearly five minutes. Burns
fought desperately and the crowd turned its
sympathy toward him when he broke the
hold and reached his feet. But the big fell
low gave him no rest and in a twinklng had
the same hold again and pinioned his
shoulders.
After fifteen minutes rest the men came
out fresh as when they began and the same
tactics were followed by Burns This
started the roasting again from the gal
lery. The gods" eliminated H., his title Of +
his Christian name, and advised him to go
back to the farm" Burns stepped to the
footlights and asked the crowd to keep quiet
and representative of Dickson & Talbot
made the same request. This bout lasted
thirty-four minutes. Burns tried several
times to get a hammerock hold. but could
do nothing. Jenkins threw his man with
a crotch and arm hold, one of the prettiest
falls ever seen in the CITY,
The match was for $500 a side and 10 per
cent of the gate receipts. 1t is probable
that Mcleod will give Jenkins match now
and if he does it will come off in this city;
Mcleod said when he was here he would
make match with Jenkins if the latter
threw Burns and thus showed that he was
in tha class to entitle him to match.