The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
SAM MURBARGER WINS
DEFEATS wOODMANsEE IN A
WRESTLING MATCH AT THE GRAND.
The Men Arrange a Mixed Match
Barr-Last Nights Match.

Sammy Murbarger, of this city, won the
wrestling match at the Grand Opera House
last night from Elmer Woodmansee, of
Ohio. Woodmansee held the championship
in the welter-weight class of his State and
Murbarger was the champion of Indiana.
Both titles have now fallen to the Indian
apolis boy The match was won by Muir
barger in straight falls, lasting twenty
seven minutes and twenty minutes, respec-
lively. After the match Woodmansee adj
dressed the spectators and thanked them
for the good treatment he had received
in the match. He admitted he had been
fairly thrown and said he wished to con-
graduate Murbarger, whom he considered
one of the cleverest wrestlers he had ever
met. He said he had wrestled out of his
style, as he is a Graeco-Roman wrestler
and asked that Murbarger give him a re-
turn match in that style Murbarger also
made a speech, in which he said he was
anxious to meet Eddie Barr, the man who
claims the worlds welter-weight cham
pionship. He agreed to meet Woodmansee
in a mixed match in Cincinnati. Woodman-
see accepted the mixed match and said: II
do not wish to knock Eddie Barr, but /
will say that the only way you can get
a match out of him is at five hundred miles
distance"
The opera house was well filled. About
three-fourths of the seats the lower
floor were taken and the gallery was about
half full, while the capacity of the balcony
was not sufficient to seat all the people who
crowded up there. The men came to the
mat at about S:45 and preliminary to the
first bout the spectators had an opportunity
to compare the men. Woodmansee was
,1icsl I, - he
in the pink Of condition. His muscles were
firm and well worked out. But, he lacked
fully ten pounds of equaling his opponent
in weight Murbarger was also in good con-
dition. While the men were wrestling the
perfection of Woodmansee's training could
be observed and appreciated. At no time
during the hardest "mix-ups" did he show
the least sign of fatigue and his wind was
as good after nearly half an hour of hard
work on the mat as it was when he COM
menced. He seemed to be made OF any,
thing but flesh and blood in this respect
Joseph Haspell, of this city. seconded
Murbarger and Edward Hale was back of
Woodmansee. George Catterson acted as
referee. Murbarger took the aggressive end
Of the game almost at the opening of the
first bout and continued it throughout, with
the exception of two or three times, when
Woodmansee was on top for little while.
1t was remarkable the apparently sure
holds that Woodmansee would escape from.
Murbarger seemed to have a sure thing
on him several times, but he was too shifty
to be caught by anything less than a hold
which rendered him absolutely powerless.
The crotch and half-Nelson were easily
broken by him and the full Nelson had no
terror to him. His neck seemed to be made
of iron when strength was required to
break a hold and of rubber when 1t was
necessary to slip out of Murbargers hands.
1t was after one of Woodmansee's spells
on top that Murbarger by quick series
of shifts Obtained a hammerlock hold which
brought his man close to the mat Shifting
from the hammerlock hold to a body hold
Murbarger pinned the shoulders of his op-
ponent to the mat by use of his leg across
the opponents neck. 1t was a fall rarely
ever seen and one which resulted from a
series of holds which were taken from time
to time in brisk mix-up.
The second bout was a good deal like the
first in regard to the tactics employed by
the men. Woodmansee recognized that he
was against his superior and did not try
to take the aggressive. He made a pretty
defense, however, and was Justify cheered
at times when he would escape from Muir
barger's terrible grip He made several re-
markable headSpins which caused the peo-
pie to STAND up and shout. His shoulders
went to the mat in twenty minutes by
means of a crotch and half Nelson en-
ployed by Murbarger.