The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-12-06
WITTMER THROWN
Rooney Gets Two Out of Three
Falls.
Wittmer Then Challenges Rooney, and
Another Match is Arranged For
Saturday Night.

The wrestling match Monday night b.
tween John ]. Rooney of Chicago ant
Chas. Wittmer of Cincinnati was VOL
by the former after three hard contest
ed bouts. At the conclusion of tn,
match, Wittmer issued challenge UC
Rooney for a straight Graeco- Roman
match, two falls out of three, for any
part of 81, 900. Rooney accepted ant
offered to meet Wittmer at any time
1t was agreed to hold the match mex
Saturday night at the opera house,
three falls out of five for 81, 600. The
contestants each agreed to place for
felt of 500 in the hands of f. b.
Snyder.
The balcony and gallery were filled
and there was a fair sized crowd down
stairs, many being from out of the
city.
Two young men of this city,
Mulligan and Owen, had five
bout contest with boxing gloves,
refereed by Rooney. Some very clever
work was done by both.
j. E. Reynolds, master of cere-
monies, then introduced the wrestlers,
and said that the match was for the
championship of America for the
mixed style of wrestling. One bout
was to be Graeco- Roman, and another
catch -catch-can, and the one who
threw his opponent in the quickest
time in these two bouts was to have
the choice of the style of wrestling in
the third.
John c. Wise was official time
keeper and S. Wilhartz and Mr.. Fin
nigin were the other time keepers.
Dr. F. L. Stephan was introduced as
the referee.
Rooney gave Wittmer the choice of
the first bout and he chose the Graeco-
Roman, which is his favorite style of
wrestling. Graeco- Roman is wrestling
above the waists, not touching the
feet or legs. Pin falls were agreed
upon.
The first bout lasted 10 :56 and was
won by Wittmer with a half Nelson.
Between the first and second bouts,
jake Wagon and Mr.. Grant did few
bouts with boxing gloves, showing
much science and skill.
The second bout of the wrestling
match was won by Rooney in % :54 by
a crotch and half Nelson hold.
Joe Robb had come upon the stage
before the match began and challenged
anyone in the house for a sparring
match, and Mr.. Russell accepted. 1t
was arranged that this should come
off between the second and third
wrestling bouts, but when the time
came neither one could be found 1t
would have been an interesting fea-
ture, as the two men have previously
met and put up good, stiff sport.
The third bout was won by Rooney
in 9 Al by full Nelson.
The audience seemed to be evenly
divided as to its sympathies between
the two wrestlers and any success on
the part of either one, in entrapping
his opponent or escaping from his op-
ponent's trap was loudly applauded.
After the match, Rooney wrestled
with French wrestler named Bosi-
Jolly, in an endeavor to throw him
three times in half an hour, with two
minute intermissions. The French
man was powerfully built, but had
neither the size nor strength of Rooney
and his alertness did not avail hi m
much. He put up game match, how
ever, and won repeated applause.
Rooney won the first fall in 5:O3, the
second in IA, and the third..in 80
A great many went away feeling
disappointed, and declaring that they
would not go again, and many consi-
dered the whole matter as having been
put up between Rooney and Wittmer
for the former to win the match and
be challenged in order to give a second
exhibition. If it was merely an ex-
hibition, as many claim to believe
that it was, it was very good one.
Both men were in prime condition
and seemed to be evenly matched as to
size. Rooney. if anything. appeared
to be little the heavier and stronger.
Rooney's tactics were almost entirely
on the offensive and Wittmer's on the
defensive. Rooney, when on the de-
fensive, was much more easily able to
place his opponent on the defensi We
than Wittmer was.
Rooney, Wittmer and the parties
who are backing the match got to-
gether at the Saulpaugh this forenoon
and agreed upon the terms of the