Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-28
WRESTLING
Lively Times Up In watervil|e al the Wrestling Carnival
 Last Night

lt was the sports nlBnL III WdlcI- vile last evening and they turned out in goodly numbers to witness one of the most exciting wrestling carniyals that has ever been seen in the Vile. There were just two matches, but there was action enough in both of them to satisfy the most exacting critic. True there was not a great deal of science shown, but there was a surfeit of rough house tactics, that always please those who like belligerent opponents. Water vile was deeply interested, too, in the outcome of the matches as there was Waterville boy stacked up against a Waterbury youth in each one. And the 'Ville broke more than even at that, for while the prelim- mary contest was lost to them, the big match of the night fell their way, after they had about given up all hope. In fact the main battle proved one of the biggest surprises of the evening, for Harry Shackley, who was almost making his debut on the wrestling mat, had been beaten to q pulp by his smaller antagonist, Jack Brennan of Waterbury, for one hour and twenty minutes, when suddenly the presumably beaten man turned the tables and mopped up the mat with his tired but gritty opponent, finally placing his shoulders firmly to the carpet for the only fall of the match, while his townsmel. cheered themselves hoarse. The victory was all the more pleasing because the packers of Shackley were sad at heart as they saw Brennan keep up a continual grueling of their man, oe- casionally putting him into many holes, through which he had to fight hard to escape fall. Shackley was dazed at times, too, and once when thrown to his head did Lot know really what was happening. Had Brennan realized then how stunned his opponent was he could have pulled out victory without a doubt
 Several times, too, after Brennan had secured good half Nelson Shackley's shoulders were kept from the mat only because Brenlan's arms pre- vented the shoulders from touching
 But victory came like shot out of a gun and there was no man more sur prised than was Brennan himself
 In the preliminary go Allen Fischer of this city and Henry Gagaih of Wa terville were matched to wrestle one hour for purse of S10. The Wa terville boy stripped lighter than his athletic looking adversary, but he had a whole lot of stamina and he fought his man at every turn. Gagain had the honor of first getting on top, but he didn't seem to realize just how 70 go after his man for fall. Fischer was as active as cat and sooh re- versed the positions and he went for the Waterville boy with a vengeance. It was pretty tough going for the lad on the bottom, but he stuck to his man and fought him at every turn. They wriggled away from holds time and time again and faced each other ina standing position like two game roosters. At the end of nineteen minutes Fischer secured a good half Nelson and crotch hold and down went Gagain for the first fall After the usual rest they went after eacn other again, fighting mad both of them. Fischer proved himself the superior athlete, however. for he pull ished the Waterville boy without mercy and at the end of fifteen min- utes with similar hold to the first one he again downed the Gagain lad and the match was won.
 There was considerable wrangling over the gate receipts before the main contest started, but Brennan and Shackley were soon at work. It was agreed that there should be no coaching from the corners, but that agreement might as we'll have not been made, for regiment of soldiers could not have prevented it, let alone the referee. Brennan assumed the aggressive at the very start and soon was on top working away with might and main to secure half Nelson on his man, which he tried repeatedly. From all of these Shackley slipped away, both regaining their feet many times and Brennan always putting Shackley beneath him for the next gruelling process. Once and once only did Brennan secure the famous Gotch toe hold and it looked ali day with Shackley, but he had the strength and the grit and his condi- tion stood him in we'll, for after being in a dangerous position for a minute or two he kicked himself out of the hold and thereafter Brennan fought an almost hopeless game