The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-25
A DISAPPOINTMENT
Mankato's Sporting Fever is
Cooled Down.
Rooney Easily Throws McWeeny After
the Latter Fouls Him. 1.-The Sparr-
ing Match is Boys Play.

of dlSapp ointment 10 Ine large
crowd assembled, which numbered be-
tween 600 and 700 people. The Athletic
club, under the auspicies of which
the affair was pulled off, came out
ahead financially, and the people who
were backing Rooney with their
money had their wealth added to, but
the wrestling did not equal expecta-
tions, and the sparring was nearly de-
void of interest. 1t is likely to be
some time before any more wrestling
OF sparring is done in. Mankato, for it
would be hard to attract crowd after
last nights fattening out.
The curtain went up at 8 40 p. NJ,
and ]. E. Reynolds, master of cere-
monies, made the usual announce
ments, saying among other things that
R. Marson, of this city, had been Sc
lected to act as referee. Jack Hopkins
Rooneys manager came forward at
once and objected to Mr.. Marson act
ing as referee, saying that he was a
stranger to Mr. Rooney and there were
others present who were known to both
parties and would be acceptable.
Mr.. Marson advanced to the foot
lights and said that this wonld not be
the first match that he had refereed.
He had never met either contestant
and would give both square deal.
This announcement was received with
some applause, but did not satisfy
Hopkins.
Mr.. Rooney said that he would be
satisfied to leave the matter of re-
fierce to vote of the audience or any
man. Mr.. McWeeny wanted John G.
Wise as referee, but Mr.. Wise did not
seem to be present. Mr.. McWeeny said
that he would be satisfied with any
one.
Mr.. Reynolds explained that the
committee of the Athletic club had
understood that the referee was to be
chosen by the club and had selected
Mr.. Marson. There was a misunder-
standing which left Mr.. Marson in an
embarrassing position. The audience
suggested various persons who were
present.
Chas. Williams, the sparrer from
st. Paul, was agreed upon, but de-
clined to serve. August Marschner was
then agreed upon by the wrestlers and
accepted. Mr.. Reynolds announced
that the wrestlers had agreed to put up
a clean match, but as this was not a
Sunday school game the audience must
expect some things out of the ordi-
nary.
The first bout was begun at 9 05 p.
m. and was won by McWeeny in thir-
teen minutes by a clear shoulder fall
Considerable science was displayed
during this bout, but it appeared to
many in the audience that Rooney
could have easily won the bout if he
had desired to. 1t might not have been
Rooney's purpose to lose the bout, but
his hackers took advantage of the fif-
teen minutes interval between bouts
to cover all the McWeeny money that
was in sight.
The second bout opened at 8 :32 p.
m. and was won by Rooney in five
minutes and two seconds by half
shoulder fall Rooney was as fresh as
when the contest began and did not
require any sponging. He did not go
to his dressing room at any time.
The final bout began at 9 :53 p. m.
Rooney offered his hand to McWeeny,
which the latter shook slightly. Nc
Weeny withdrew his hand by quick
motion as though he had touched hot
iron, and the bout proceeded. Nc
Weeny was angered by some rather
rough play by Rooney, although
Rooney did nothing but what was al
lowed by the rules and nothing but
what McWeeny could have given him
in kind. When Rooney continued his
rough tactics on the side of McWeeny's
face and neck, the latter lost his tenn
per entirely and dealt Rooney two
swinging blows on the head, the sec
ond one telling him to the mat.
Rooney fell lightly on his face, but
was not hurt and was on his feet again
in a moment. He did not show re-
sentiment. The referee was about to
declare Rooney entitled to the bout on
a foul when Rooney agreed to consider
McWeeny's act as warning and not
a foul and desired the bout to go on.
This was more satisfactory to the
audience and raised Rooney vastly in
the opinion of those who witnessed
the affair. Both men went after each
other in lively manner, attempting
to close the bout as quickly as pos
sible. Rooney pinned McWeeny's
shoulders down with half shoulder
fall in about minute and half. The
entire bout lasting about five minutes
1t was clear that Roo ney is much
the superior wrestler of the two, and
it is the general opinion that he can
throw McWeeny every bout.
When the curtain went up again
at 10 30 p. M, the sparring match was
had, under Marquis of Queensbury
rules with eight ounce gloves. Five
two-minute rounds were had with one
minute intermissions. The authorities
had warned Hopkins and Williams that
no knock out blows were to be given
and that nothing approaching slugging