The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-08
FARMER BURNS ADEG GOOD
THREW TWO YOUNGER WREsT
LERs THREE TIMES.
AND HE HAD TIME TO SPARE
The Famous Wrestling Champion Was
In Norfolk and Succeeded In Down.
ing o'Leary Twice and Gion Once
in Less Than Forty Minutes.

In Norfolk and Succeeded In Down.
ing o'Leary Twice and GIon Once
in Less Than Forty Minutes.
Farmer" Burns made good at the
Auditorium Thursday night, throwing
Jack OLeary twice and George Gion
once within the allotted forty minutes.
Burns met his end of the contract by
throwing his opponents in twenty-four
minutes, leaving a safe margin of six
teen minutes. 1t was pretty exhibit
ton of the wrestling sport and was
said to mark revival of wrestling in
tcrest In Norfolk.
Farmer Burns, now in his forty-eighth
year and for years famed throughout
the west in the wrestling art, proved
by his work Thursday night that time
had not snapped his cunning nor age
his strength. BY the strength of his
muscles and by his mastery of the
tricks and holds of wrestling the old
man was able to handle the younger,
more agile wresters. O'Leary took
the mat first in eight minutes and then
In eight and half. Gion lasted seven
and half minutes.
In the face of misty disagreeable
night the body Of the Auditorium was
filled with spectators for the wrestling
events. 1t was a noticeable feature In
the crowd present that nearly fifty
percent were north Nebraska men
from away. This was taken to indi-
cate the possible drawing power Of
good athletic events in Norfolk.
Farmer Burns, whose home Is in
Big Rock. Iowa, and whose champion.
ship title is that Of the middle weight
champion of the world, prefaced the
match with a short talk on wrestling
and physical culture. He made no
boasts of an education and ascribed
his physical strength and continued
success on the mat to the fact that
he never drinks, smokes, chews or
swears, or drinks tea or coffee. Nor
folk he said, ought to have a gymna-
stun for he claimed athletics and clean
living went together. Farmer Burns
illustrated the various holds in wrest-
ling.
The main event of the evening was
preceded by fast preliminary be-
tween two local men, Bruce White
throwing Jack Morrell in two straight
throws. The colored boy was the
quicker of the two and pulled in the
honors. Jack OLeary ofiiciated at the
preliminary.
The first clash between Jack O'Leary
and Farmer Burns drew out applause
for O'Leary's skill in forestalling
Farmer Burns moves. O'Leary, who
claims the welterweight championship
OF the northwest, weighs las pounds,
twenty-five less than Burns. Burns is
n powerful man but his strength was
turned aside for a time by the clever
ness and agility of the Omaha wrest-
Ter. OLeary came to grief as the re-
suit of half Nelson backed by the
crouch lock.
George Gion, despite the handicap
feature of the match, took matters in
his own hands at the Offset and as
sumed the offensive. Gion comes from
Aurora and is claimant for state hon
Ors in the middle weight class. He
was eight pounds under Burns. While
his offensive tactics pleased the crowd
ne lacked the finish of OLeary. A
half hammer lock with the English
bar brought Gion's shoulders to the
mat.
O'Learys last try was the spectac-
uiar feature of the evening. The light
er man pushed the play and made
spectacular escapes. Then Burns put
the leg crouch into play. The toe hold
brought OLeary to position and a
quarter Nelson followed by three
quarters Nelson brought the match to
a close.
While both the younger men, and
especially O'Leary, were clever per-
formers, neither claimed to be in
Farmer Burns class. AS a result of
the match both Burns and OLeary
may figure in future contests in Nor
folk and this section. From Norfolk
Farmer Burns went to Hastings, while
o'Leary and Gion left for a date at
the latter's home.
Ben Paw elka OF Verdigre was pre-
sented last evening as a north Nebras-
ka man who is anxious to meet Oscar
Wasem of Lincoln. Pavelka held time
Thursday evening.
Farmer Burns, who says that wrest-
ling means a busy life and hard work,
is ready to concede Frank Gotch's
claim to eminence in the wrestling
world. Gotch was in Norfolk a few
years ago.