Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-31
BURNS BESTS CANNON
EngIand's Champion Goes Down
Before the Farmer at
Harper's.
A MIXED MATCH Is WRESTLED.

Briton Falls Victim to the Catch-ss-
Catch-Can style. Losing First and Third
Falls and Winning the Second at Graeco-
Roman-Contest Attracts Small At
tendance.
Farmer Martin Barns bested
Tom Cannon, champion wrestler of
England, in a mixed match at Hlr-
per's theatre last night, winning the
first and third falls, catch-as-catch-
can, while the Briton took the second
at his favorite style, Greco-Roman.
The contest was poorly attended, but
no less meritorious, although Cannon
did not make the showing with the
plucky and stalwart farmer that it
was expected he would.
In the opening bout the men spent
considerable time in studying one an
other. having never met before on the
mat. Each INDUCED in an occasional
squirt, and to all appearances it
seemed as though Cannon, the larger
and heavier of the two by long odds.
would make short work of his oppo-
nent when once he went at him in
earnest. And it was very evident
that the Englishman was dj-II1ointed,
for he discovered that ho. vas up
against the real thing. The farmer dis
played his old-time wireness and agility
in breaking away from several I'M
pleasant positions, and finally secur-
ing a firm grasp on Cannon, pinned
him to the mat with a hammer-lock
and half-Nelson, winning the fall in
Ii minutes.
Cannon named Graeco- Roman for the
second bout, and incidentally eX-
planned to the audience that while it
was not generally recognized by wrest-
lers in this country, across the water
it was the only style accepted in clas-
sic wrestling. In Graeco-Roman leg
holds are barred, and as entangle-
ment with an antagonists pedal en-
tremities is the farmers long suit, it
was noticeable that he was little at
sea when he entered the arena for the
second round. He played on the de-
fensive and put up an excellent front
against the Briton, who made a des-
perate but unsuccessful attempt to
capture the fall in quicker time than
Burns did the first. Cannon admin
istered severe punishment to his adj
versary, but here is where the farm
er's wonderful endurance served him
well, as before the bout was half over
Cannon began to heave heavily. There
were several pretty rolls gained by
each and some narrow escapes, the
farmer wiggling out of full-Nelson
and prolonging the bout for Is min
utes, Cannon bringing him down to
the carpet on half-Nelson and cross
lock.
Cannon Downed in Seven Minutes.
Burns having won the fastest fall
had the choice of the style of the
third, and of course named catch
as-catch-can. The farmer, fresh
as a daisy, waded into the
big man, hammer and tongs, and
in seven minutes had him planted fiat
on the mat, an English cross lock and
side roll doing the business.
John Voss, of this city, refereed the
match.
Cannon weighs 22O and Burns 165.
Cannon left today for Clinton, Iowa, |
where he is matched to meet Louis |
Reub (young Sandow) Monday night, |
Cannon took defeat good naturally.
He said Burns was a farmer before the |
public. but those who contested with |
him on the carpet would find, as he
did. that he was not farmer in |
wrestling.
Burns goes to Big Rock. Iowa, for a |
short visit with his mother, after |
which he returns home to Chicago.