The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-18
SMITH GOT ONE FALL.
Made Good Showing in Wrestling
Match With Tom Davies.

II is somewhat singular that AS
torians viii not turn out TO see wrest-
ling matches A. fight between two
NTH rate men will draw a crowd. but
a wrestling match. such as was pulled
Off last night, usually IL attended by
100 persons Wrestling IL as much
ahead Of the hstic sport put up by the
ordinary northwest scrappers as pro-
fessional baseball is ahead of tom ball.
and the event OF last night should have
been witnessed by 800 people, at the
very least. Tom Davies, OF Victoria.
la wonderfully proficient at the game
and holds the United States champion
ship at his weight. 1856 pounds. Strang-
Ter Smith wrestled at 1856. his herculean
strength almost offsetting Davies skill
The match was scheduled to take
place yesterday afternoon. The men
had been on the mat but few min
utes when the crowd was given ample
evidence that the contest would be an
interesting one. Smiths magnificent
strength made him difficult TO handle,
but after 80 minutes Of the hardest
kind OF work Davies downed him with
bar hold and half Nelson. The men
wrestled for 80 minutes on the second
bout, but by agreement quit until $50.
The crowd was somewhat larger at
night than during the afternoon, and
quite as enthusiastic. II was 9:35 be-
fore the men got to work, trouble with
the lights causing delay. During the
afternoon Smith had secured several
leg holds on Davies, whereby the latter
was stood upon his head. However. he
managed to break this hold during the
afternoon but during the evening
match the hold proved his undoing. In
securing, the leg hold Smith doubled
up Davies limbs In such a manner
that the champion could not work
them. and gradually the stocky little
fellow ground the champion down. 1t
was a superb test of strength on the
part of Smith. The fall was scored in
0 minutes.
The wrenching which Smith gave
Davies neck put the champion in pret-
covered. After 20 minutes wrestling
Davies got bar hold and leg hold and
floored the Stranger. Smith broke a
hammerlock during this bout. and fire.
quently freed himself from half Nell
sons but the bar hold and leg hold
were too much for him, and his arm
would have been broken had he not
given up.
Some weeks ago Smith broke n rib
wrestling with Drews and the injury
troubled him last night. He sprained
his knee last evening and the leg was
badly swollen. Despite this, he con-
tinued with the match, but his strength
was almost gone and Davies threw
him with -buttock after 15 min
utes wrestling. During the last bout
Smith gave another remarkable exhibit
tion of his great strength. Davies had
him on the floor, with one shoulder
down. With a bar hold he was grad
ually forcing Smith to the mat. Sud-
denly Smiths left hand went UP and
from the most difficult position imag-
Unable he raised the champion in the
air and freed himself from the hold
All in all, it was contest full of
fine, spectacular work. Davies is a
wonderfully clever man and his work
aroused the enthusiasm of the crowd,
Smiths strength almost evened mat
ters. There was never a murmur from
either of the contestants, who showed
each other every courtesy.
Last night Smith issued challenge
to Davies for another match His chal-
lenge was handed in to The Astorian.
and is as follows
Astoria, Aug. i'll challenge Mr..
Davies for return match, as l think
have a chance. 1t does not matter to
me when, or on what condition, so long
as he accepts.
"STRANGLER SMITH"
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