The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
TRICKS OF THE WRESTLERS.
RUSES EMPLOYED ny GRAPPLERS
TO DECEIVE THE PUBLTC.
The sport Is Easier for Fakcrs Than Pugt-
IIsm--SpurIouS Opponents VINO Help
Their MaStcrs-How Grnro-R oman
Expert Defeated Many Champions


In which IL is easier TO fake than wrestlin <
and this is one Of the reasons why it is not
as popular pastime "a boxing. In som,
instances wrestling is just as exciting
just as nerve racking and Just as absorb.
ing as pugilism, but il is more susceptible
10 trickery and artifce. A wrestler can give
n spectator the impression that he is doing
all in his power to win when at the "a me
time he may be only humbugging He can
fall on his back in a graceful way without
creating any suspicion unless his move
ments are too bra2en or Transparent Even
hen tho spectator may be deceived pro-
vded the man on top accomplishe- the
fan in a sllilful manner
A hold that IA he favorite grasp Of the
dishonest wrestler is the half Nelson aud
hammer lock In a fair and square match,
provided that both men are equally matched,
these locks are hard To obtain a wrestler i.
invariably taught how to avoid and how 70
get them. Tfhe il apt he will become adept
in applying the holds and executing good
counter so in a match, II grappler has
his man in such position especially II
there is previous understanding the upper
man can make it appear 10 the crowd thes
he IL striving with might and main to win,
escape The aggressor will endeavor TO
force his opponent down and go through
lot Of movements that appear TO the
unnitiated to require tho exercise Of all his
strength and muscle. The under man will
spuirm, wriggle and toss until he is finally
conquered The spurious efforts Of both
work up The onlookers, and to The uninitioted
the struggle has all the earmarks OF being
genuinely decided
II a boxer wants to fake H. he has either
to go down from a light jolt on the jaw or
on the stomach, quit from a supposed foul
or get one of his seconds TO enter the ring
while the bout ia in progress, which is sure
10 invite immediate disqualification from
q referee who understands his business.
But all this must be artistically done before
the spectators will be convinced that there
ia nothing amiss. difficult proceeding at
all times in the ring for the least false move
ment will give immediate rise to suspicion
and cause a howl
Wrestlers who strive TO win by hook or
crook have various devices to fall back on
For instance there is the old method OF
employing confederates OF ready made
opponents. These are men prepared TO fill
any gap in case n champion calls upon
rival TO meet him when the former ia tack
ling all Corners at some theatre or hail. The
premier wrestler usually has two or three
such emergency men on his staff at a good
salary. They travel around the country
with him. but are shrewd enough TO cover
their tracks, so IA TO avoid any sign of
wrongdoing These confederates as a rule
appear in advance of the champion and at
once win the confidence Of some of the
leading sports OF the city where the
champion" is to appear. II the con-
federate is suave and clever enough TO
induce the sport 10 back him, well and
good II not. he at least succeeds in
proving that ne ia a capable opponent,
bit Of information which the confederate
sees becomes public property This helps
to advertise him and incidentally increase
the box Office receipts.
On the night of the performances the
confederates take position near the stage,
and when the champion appears and |
makes the announcement that he ia ready
10 meet all corners and give anybody $50 !
or 500 who can stand fifteen minutes before |
him the confederate arises. accepts the
challenge, and if he does not go on at once, |
makes a match for the folio wing night !
Just "a the management deems proper.
Sometimes the champion allows his man
to remain the time limit and makes the |
bout look like the real thing by handing
him the money for staying in the presence /
Of the crowd or else throws him in hurry.
The bouts are lively and cause plenty of j
excitement
dozen years ago a champion Greco
Roman wrestler had ono of his confed !
crates with him all the time. The man
was a Greek but could speak fuently in
five languages. In every city where the |
Greco Roman artist appeared his partner !
was styled as n champion of some foreign |
country. One night he was the Horrible
Greek the next the Terrible jew the
next the -Unquenchable Turk" and again
the Never to be downed Russian. 10
make good IL called upon he could explain
his Willingness to wrestle in the mother
tongue of the country he was supposed
to represent. The Greek made hit, and
by losing. which he had 70 Of course, he
heped to swell the record of his employer
who by the end OF tho season had con
auered almost evory champion at wrest-
ling from nearly every country on the face
Of the map.
The boil gag. the latest wrinkle introduced
IN tho recent match between John pienng !
and II n Egeberg the Dane i new "a far
e. the location Of the blood eruption is /
concerned. Formerly il used TO he about |
the knees But "A This entaied too much |
trouble TO convince the public that it really !
handicapped the wrestler II was shifted TO /
either the shoulder or to the arms. Some
times wrestler would enter the ring with |
his knees encaSed in voluminous folds OF |
surgical bsndagea. II the grappler wore |
trunks the wound would not be exposed
until after the match had been completed |
and the unfortunate man had lost. Some |
wrestlers really suffer from water on the |
knees caused by constant work on the I
mat The injury Is painful il not attended |
20 AZ once but can be effectively cured /
with a weeks rest
Not long ago at a Brooklyn theatre a
wrestler, we'll known for his lac6of scruples, ,
employed the police TO help him in bringing
OF one OF the most audacious fakes known ,
IN years He was meeting all corners. and .
his opponent picked from the audience /
for the purpose was his partner They |
we're to have met for fifteen minutes at |
oatch-as-catch- style. The unsuspcct-
ing crowd cheered the conner" and gave
him all its sympathy, az il natural The
challenger used rough house tactics TO
make the bout interesting but overdid the
thing to such an extent that the spectators
began TO hurl missiles at him and Turn the
theatre into a temporary scene Of riot and
confusion The curtain was lowered i'm
mediately. Behind the footlights the match
was continued. only that the contestants,
instet.d o. wrestling used their fists. The
police Sere called in and the 0elhEerents
were arrested only 20 be discharged with
reprimaud. The event got into tho news
papers. the wrestlers received the neces-
gary advertisement and the incident was
only forgotten after the challenger had
Lot ID Ia aH l. i -