Rock Island Argus., 1897-01-08
BURNS THE WINNER
Catch.as-Catch-Can Champion
Defeats Atherton.
GREAT WRESTLING MATCH.

on Hand With n Challenge for the Bis
Rock Farmer, Who h. plies That He ID
Ready to Do Business xt Any Time.
Martin Burns, champion catch. as.
catch-can wrestler of the world.
defeated Ed j. Atherton. Of Cuba,
N. T., at Harper's theatre last mig hit,
winning two of the three falls. Po-
lice Gazette rules governed the
match, rolling and flying falls being
barred. Burns took the first round
in 80 minutes, Atherton the second
in Ia and the farmer the last in
21:35.
Probably no event in sporting cir
cles in recent years was surrounded
by SO much interest, no less than
one thousand people witnessing g the
match. Cordt Voss, of this city.
| and Theodore Anderson, of Moline,
gave preliminary to the event in
the shape of catch-as-catch-can 60.
Eoss took the first and last falls and
the Moline man the second. Tommy
Dunn, of Peoria, of1iciated as master
Of ceremonies, and announced to the
audience that Dan Mcleod, the Cali
fornia champion, was present, and
had $500 posted in the Chicago
Times-Herald Office for a match with
Burns. The crowd then demanded
the appearance of the Californian.
He responded and said that he had
come long distance to arrange q
match with Burns, whom he said he
would wrestle for any amount up
n hn Co
his dressing room and told the audi
ence that he was not backward about
meeting the Californian. but that he
much preferred. should 60 bs ar
| ranged between them, that it be
pulled off in Rock Island.
81 have had matches in Chicago"
said Burns, land experience has
taught me to remain in the camp Of
my friends" Burns referred TO the
Experience he had in his match with
Lewis. when he won the champion
hip, ana when he was beaten out of
Sl.l00. Here's where l get nv
oacking," continued the farmer.
Here's where my friends are; tn
newspapers all treat me as a man,
and like them for it, and wish TO
thauk them for it
Mcleod at first wanted to have
the match in Chicago, bot finally
consented to wrestle here. providing
the event was arranged in Chicago
Il have come 2 500 miles to see YOU,
and try and get a game with you,'
continued Mcleod, addressing
Burns, both men standing facing
the audience.
"Well. You can cut the trip about
one hundred and eighty miles il YOU
do your b siness in Kock IsIaud," re-
piled the farmer.
THAT may be-" said Mcleod, ..but
| am acquainted up in Chicago, and
you should certainly have no objsc-
tiors to coming there to make the
arrangements"
Burns said It was a very easy
matter for Mcleod to transfer hi,
forfeit money TO this city, and then
he would talk bu usiness with him.
W. c. Westabay, Of Moline. was
chosen to referee the contest between
Burns and Atherton, who were in
their corners when tiue was called
at 9:35. Jim Mccoy. of Burlington
Iowa. and Jack Cowden, Of this city,
we're Atherton's seconds, while John
Vo g, of this city. was in Burns cor
Fer. Charles II. Dale, OF Chicsgo,
and Billy Lambert. of Iowa CITY.
were the time keepers.
Wrestiers Cilnch.
The principals Of The event OF III.
evening appeared in the pink Of con-
dition as they met in the middle OF
the mat and shook hands. They
went into the contest slow and eau.
tiously, both remaining on their fee,
several minutes, sizing one another
up. Burns opened the struggle by
taking his opponent on trip TO the
carpet, securing full Nelson
from which A,herton broke.
The Cuban played on the
defensive. Burns wheeled him
over on his back with collar
hold. but tie Cuban again slipped
away, and hobbled into his corner.
When the men went at it again,
Burns grew little speedy. dropping
to the mat. He was followed by
Atherton, who began the tactics
which he uses in all of his matches.
in pumping on his opponents stom-
ach. But this seemed to WORRY
Burns very little. Both men ju ped
to their feet, and with their arms en-
twined about each others necks took
q waltz around the carpet. Then
they started at each other in earnest,
and did some quick work in the next
few seconds, after which they went
down on the mat again. In the sue
ceeding five minutes Atherton
worked hard and speedy, evidently
hoping to conquer his opponent by
rushing him. This little spurt on
Atherton's part resulted in his being
rolled over by Burns and tn Cuban |
narrowly escaped . fall. Atherton
went at his man again, but was sent
twice whirling of the mat. once into |
the audience. Atherton began get. |
ting rough, evincing signs Of des-
peration, but the farmer kept cool, |
and his next move was to secure a
front half Nelson lock on his oppon-
.hA al;npoH r.,