The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-11-30

Weeny's waist and raised him in he
air and it was the general expectation
that the Hoosier's shoulders would go
to the mat. Then one of those sudden
changes occurred that add so much to
the excitement in good wrestling
match. McWeeny made sudden move
that turned the entire tide and in an
instant had Rooney down and his
shoulders squarely on the mat with an
arm lock and body hold This bout
lasted three seconds less than four
minutes Rooney men were entirely
surprised but not disheartened and
were still willing to bet.
During the intermission Referee
Gerstenhauer and Frank Thompson
gave clever exhibition with the foils
for points.
The third bout opened at 9:35 p.
M, and both wrestlers were cautious
about beginning, facing each other
with heads down and arms out like
two roosters waiting for an opening.
When the work was resumed in ear
nest, McWeeny had the best of it
throughout the bout. He got Rooney's
shoulders down to the satisfaction of
the audience but not of the referee,
but two minutes later got the should
ers down again by the same hold and
was declared the winner. McWeeny
won by the arm lock and body hold
again, in eight minutes and forty
one seconds. Rooney went off the stage
little groggy McWeeny's friends
set up great shout and went about
looking for bets from Rooney's friends
but Rooney men did not have any
more money to put up and sat silent
and gloomy. Some hedging was done
quietly by Rooney hackers, two and
three to one.
The fourth bout opened at 8 :59 p.
m. with both men extremely eau
tious They were in good form on the
start, and McWeeny was full of con-
fidence and several times had Rooney
nearly down when another unex-
pected turn of fortune occurred, this
time in Rooney's favor. He got the
fatal half Nelson and body hold on
McWeeny and turned him over by
sudden and tremendous effort AS he
did so his knee struck McWeeny's jaw
a hard blow and partially stunned
him. This weakened McWeeny so
much at that moment that Rooney got
his shoulders fairly on the mat and
won the bout in eight minutes and
six seconds. McWeeny staggered off
toward his dressing room, led by his
assistant It was now generally con-
coded that the match would go to
Rooney.
McWeeny took all the time allowed
to recuperate, and when he returned
he did not show signs of weakness.
The bout commenced at 10 23 p. M,
and as it progressed McWeeny' 8
friends took heart and thought that
he might yet win. He worked skill
fully and pluckily and seemed to be
the equal of Rooney in every way,
when suddenly he sank down and cried
out in pain. ..He..recoVered the next
moment, but although he made-a good
fight it was seen that he was weaker
than he had-heen. .Rooney-won the the
bout with full Nelson in eleven min
utes and fifty seconds, and was de-
clared the, winner of the match. He
appeared to be in excellent form, and
assisted his fallen opponent to rise.
When he had retired to his. dressing
room, McWeeny broke down and cried
like child over. his defeat He had
placed the hope of rising.in his profess
sion as instructor Of athletics Jon the
outcome of =, this match, !. and. his
friends at South Bend had, consider
able money placed upon him. He
stated that after receiving the blow
from Rooney's knee at the close of the
fourth bout he was not the same man.
His head would not assist him in the
fifth bout. His cheek was swollen and
painful. He had expected to win the
match and believes yet that he is the !
better wrestler of the two. Rooney
admits that McWeeny gave him a hard
fight
The committee of citizens consist |
ing of a. c. Gerlach, d. G. Robinson,
Patrick Kelly, Mich Kleinschmidt, A.
A Buck and F. w. Hunt, was entirely
satisfied that the match was in ear
nest, and the money was turned over
to the victor.
Rooney is certainly wonderful
man. He seems to be tireless, and can |
come out of a match appearing as
fresh as when he goes into it. He re-
ceived the following telegram last !
night:
Chicago, Nov. 90, 1900.
j John j. Rooney, Wrestler: What |
purse do you want for a match in /
Chicago Dec. Oath with Pons. I can
arrange same if you accept.
L. J. COFFEY,
Chicago American.
The following letter addressed to the
club was not received until
this morning
Louisville, KY, Nov. %, 1900.
am informed by friend of mine
mat J. ]. Rooney shall wrestle in your