Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-11
ON THE MAT.

There Is Still Lots of Work for the Wrestlers.
 Little Peter Bannon, the Irish mid l dleweight champion, gave a good exhi- bition of his skill at the London the ater, on the Bowery, last night. Ban- non met August Faust, the German champion, in fifteen-minute bout at catch-as-catch-can style. The affair lasted the limit, but while 1t was in l progress it was very interesting. Jack l Mccormick, the pugilist, was referee. Lannon's first attempt was to try for | a neck hold, but Faust shook him off easily. Then the Irishman tried for a full Nelson. The hold was also broken. | At the third minute Faust became the aggressor. He immediately went after half Nelson. He got his right arm over the Irishman's neck, but quick as a flash Bannon sat on his launches and wriggled to position of safety. Hav- l ing both arms free Bannon tried for a back neck hold, but Faust came nearly spinning him around for fall. At the seventh minute the two worked off the mat. Faust was the aggressor, but Ramon was very elusive and got away just when the crowd expected to see him ensnared. The tenth minute 1 was stirring. Bannon was in a tight place, but by clever footwork he man. aged to get away. Faust set to work at the twelfth minute. He got a full 1 Nelson and slowly brought the Irish man around until both of his shoulders almost touched the mat. Just when | matters looked blue Ramon made one twist and fell on his stomach. Tn the 1 last three minutes both escaped what 1 seemed dangerous holds. When time was called both men apparently lost their heads, for they went at each other furiously. They would have | come to blows had not Mccormick l pulled them apart. The decision was q draw. Faust is n Graeco- Roman
 wrestler, but his showing at the other
 style was noteworthy.
 Tom Riley of Ireland, in answer to the challenge of George Bothner, has this to say: "I am willing to arrange a match with, Bothner, but cannot get down to 135 pounds as he suggests. At best T am middleweight, but on a pinch could reduce to 14S pounds. If
 he Is willing to talk business at catch weights will gladly give him a match. Otherwise there is no use for us to do
 any more talking"
 | Peter Bannon, the Irish middle weight champion, was yesterday
 matched by his manager. Charles Schmidt, to meet Alexander Swansen
 at Yonkers next Friday night. Ban- non has contracted to throw Swanson twice in one hour and a half at catch
 as-catch-can style. Those who know of Swansen'st c1everness. believe that the Irishman will have the task of his career to accomplish the trick. .. \
 sam Fitzpatrick Is in receipt of an
 interesting letter relative to the flu tIre plans of George Hackenschmidt, l the noted Russian wrestler Some time ago sam wrote to Tom Scott of the National Sporting club, London, re-
 garding Hackenschmidt's visit to
 America. In reply Scott writes:
 Hackenschmidt will make novel offer
 to some of the big wrestlers when he arrives in America. He told me that
 he would agree to wrestle four men on one night and undertake to throw them all within an hours time. He does not
 bar anybody, nor has he made any l stipulation as to weight Hacken- schmidt is not in the best of condition now. His active campaign in the pro- vinces has sapped some of his vitality and he has made up his mind to take
 a rest Hackenschmidt has no Aneri- can manager and assured me that. he would be only too pleased to have you I look out for his welfare when he \ reaches your country. We have anoth- CT good man here in Tani. the Jap. The Russian is fond of him and may take
 him on the trip. Wrestling Is very pop ular in England and all of the athletes I in this line are doing we'll"