Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-18
MYTH TIE VRESTLERS
Dwyer Proves Himself a Past
 Master on the Mat.


 In One Hour, He Is Thrown But
 Twice-Manager Tuohey Underesti-
 mated Wittmer a Big and
 Clever Wrestler, But He Was Up
 Against a Hard Proposition.
 It was not a record breaking crowd that was in attendance at the Audl- torium last night to see the wrestling contest between Prof NJ. J. Dwyer oI this city and Charley Wittmer of Clh- lcinnati. but never has an audience en- Unused so much over the work or tWo trained athletes. and the splendid showing made by Dwyer drove the Ina' jority of the spectators into IrenNs. There is no use in denying the fact now that there is not man ID lhls of any other country that can defeat NJ. Dwver at his own weight. The most astonished man of all last evening was Manager George Tuohey, who had brought Wittmer all the way from tue west to win Dwyer's money and make an advantageous start against the wrestlers in this part of the country. He underestimated Dwyer and said that he was not the Dwyer he knew in the west. He said after the match was over that Dwyer could defeat any man of his weight in the country, and there were few of the heayyweights who would have any use with him. Prof Dwyer felt confident before the match that he would win, and he gave the finest exhibition of wrestling thae has ever been seen around New Eng land.
 Challenges were hurled back and forth after and during the match. A letter was read from Farmer" Burns of Big Rock, Ind, who is considered one of the greatest wrestlers in the west. He said he was coming east and he wanted to take on .Dwyer. The latter said he was willing to give the western farmer" a chance. Alex An- derson of Hartford, the big Swedish wrestler. was introduced and chai- lenged the winner. The John B. Kelly and Alex Swanson match, which takes place on Thursday, January 30, was announced. After the match was over Manager Tuohey said he had conceded a whole lot to Dwyer and he wanted to make a return match with him if Dwyer would take on Wittmer in the Graeco-Roman style and Wittnler would agree to throw him four times in one hour. Dwyer replied to this ny saying that we would not wrestie Wittmer at Graeco-Roman style be- cause 1t was not his Dwyer's) way of wrestling. He would make this propo- 'sition to Wittmer, however. He would wrestle him three styles, Graeco-Ro man, atch-as-catch-can and Cornish. To this Manager Tuohey made reply that he would not wrestle that way. He said that he conceded Dwyer to be the best wrestler in this country at the Cornish style of wrestling. This morning Manager Tuohey said that lie would like to take on Dwyer anyway if he could get a chance to get back that .S10O. He was willing to let few more dollars go with it to get chance ct the professor once more.
 The preliminary contest was be- tween John Herschel of this city ana Jesse Foley of Naugatuck. The first named was big fellow and since his last appearance on the mat he has inl- proved wonderfully. Foley, who was lighter, put up a great battle, however The conditions of the match were that the winner must get two falls In thirty minutes or the match would be de- clared draw. After fifteen minutes of wrestling Herschel secured half Nelson and crotch hold and Foley was forced to the mat. They fought out the other fifteen minutes, but no more falls were secured and the match was declared a draw.
 M. J. Dwyer was the first one to ap- pear for the main event of the even ing. He was accompanied by Jimmy Nelson, who acted as his second. Char ley Wittmer next appeared and as the giant took his seat in his corner 1t was seen that Dwyer looked like :it- tie boy aside of him. Back of Witt mer was Manager George Tuohey and George Lachance. The men were cau- tioned about the strangle hold and then time was called, Moe Harris hold ing the watch. It was the opinion Of many that owing to the big handicap in weight that Dwyer would play q waiting game and act on the defensive, but he is not made of that kind of stuff and he went after his man right from the call of time. After lodging anl ducking away from the big western er's long arms, Dwyer at the end or three minutes made an attempt to get his leg work into play. He missed and went to the mat. At once Witt mer attempted to get a half Nelson. and failing, went for a hammer lock. Across the mat was Dwyer drawn by Wittmer, but that arm stuck beneath his body as if it was chained there. Suddenly Wittmer reversed his tactics and tried for half Nelson with the hammer. Things looked dubious for the professor when. by supreme effort, and with the quickness of a cath spun away from Wittmer and went again beneath. but in better position Again did Wittmer try for firm hold on the neck, but again he missed. Dwyer suddenly went to a sitting po- sition and Wittmer tried to hold him down, but that chest of the professors s expanded and the grip of the big fel- low snapped. Dwyer now went for Wittmer like a tiger. He twirled his leg around Wittmer's h the grapevine lock and Wittmer raised Dwyer high in the air He tried to break that leg lock, but he couldn't do 1t, and down went the giant from the west, while the crowd cheered themselves hoarse. Dwyer began to give the big fellow ! grueling, and the latter not liking t. finally broke away from an attempt at
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