The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-11-30
FIVE HOT BOUTS.
Rooney Throws McWeeny in a
Fierce Contest.
The Men Use Each Other Roughly, and
the Gripman Wins After the
HOOsier is Injured.

curtain rose for the wrestling match
between John ]. Rooney, the giant
gripman, of Chicago, and James Nc
Weeny, instructor in athletics in Notre
Dame college, South Bend, Ind. No
matter what might have been thought
of the previous wrestling matches held
in this city, there were few who con-
sidered last nights contest flake. y
The match was the best yet pulled off
in Mankat o, as Rooney this time had
a man to deal with of about his own
weight and strength, although not as
quick or as scientific as one or two
of those who have previously met
him upon the mat in Mankato. Both
men were evidently in dead earnest,
nor did they spare each other physical
sufferings They went at each other
to the extreme allowed by the Police
Gazette rules. Rooney was the
rougher wrestler and showed himself
possessed of more endurance. His gen
eralship was better, but he showed no
greater degree of science than his
opponent. Had he not practically
fouled McWeeny in the fourth bout the
results possibly might have been differ
ent, but as it was Rooney won the
three falls out of five in savagely
contested match.
Rooney as usual was attended by
his brother, Thos. Rooney, of Madelia,
and Armand Hockey performed SINH
lar services for McWeeny. Gustaf
Gerstenhauer was referee, j. E.
Reynolds master of ceremonies, DR.. F.
L. Stephan official time keeper, Ed.
; Brosmsnn time keeper for Rooney and
Ed. Schumacher time keeper for Nc
Weeny. The mat was not roped off and
the contestants sometimes rushed each
other off of it.
During the match there was con-
siderable betting, and each wrestler
had his friends to applaud his sue
cess or escapes from the traps laid
for him by his opponent. The crowd
was orderly, but nearly the entire
police force was present to prevent
any possible disturbance.
The Athletic club, under whose
auspicies the match was held had in
tended to have brief sparring ex-
hibition between some of the bouts.
When the curtain went up, Mr..
Reynolds stepped out and made the
usual opening remarks. He said that
the boxing contest would not come off
because of an edict of the city anthor-
tiles. The same rules applied as at
nreVinns mat chss He introduced tho
Wrestlers and the referee.
Mr.. Rooney stepped out and said
that this was his fifth match in Man
kato within a year. He had some
friends in Mankato and liked the city,
but there were some here who shouted
s'fake" when he had gone away after
having had his other matches. When
he had come back they were little
bashful and were not so free about
saying it. He had come to make
money. He had a reputation as a
wrestler and was willing to uphold it,
and had come to win. He knew that
he was facing one of the best men in
America and he had not paid cent to
him to have him fall down and would
not If he could make 800 in bets by
losing fall that was his business as
he was after money. If he did this
and suckers went agains his game
they must expect to lose. He would
not throw his friends, and was
willing to wrestle anybody in the
world
Mr.. McWeeny was called for and
spoke briefly. He said that he never
had understood that wrestler need
be an orator. Actions spoke louder than
words and he would attempt to ex-
press himself in this way later. He
would rest his reputation on this
match being "on the square. If after
it was over anybody thought that it
was fake he could get his money
back
Each man was literally applauded.
They were called together by the re-
fierce and an understanding had in re-
gard to the Interpretation of the rules.
The strange hold was barred.
The first bout was called at AZ p.
m. and was the longest of the five.
The men did not spend much time in
preliminaries, but got down to bust
ness from the start, going after each
other in earnest. They looked like
two giants contending, and it is
doubtful whether the gladiators of
ancient Rome were more powerfully
built men. The straining muscles
stood out in knots on their limbs and
bodies as they tugged and pulled at
each other in the attempt to pin both
shoulders to the mat. McWeeny had a,
hemorrhage Sc during the
bout and this placed him at a disad-
vantage. Various holds were secured
and broken, but finally, after twelve |
minutes and eleven seconds of the
hardest kind of work, Rooney slowly |
but surely bore his opponents should |
ers down to the mat with body and |
leg hold. Rooney's friends set up
great shout and had no end of money |
to offer on their favorite during the |