Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
BRONDELL CAME;
COLLINS A SPORT
Chicago Grappler Wins a Home
Through Blue Blood
Tactics.
WRESTLERS SATISFY ALL
Preliminary Matches Prove to Be the
Best Entertainment Yet
Staged Hero.

When a crowd of sport lovers see
q display of true sportsmanship and
of clean gameness It is generally
more satisfied than when one Of the
most exciting contests is staged.
Such was the opinion of nearly
every one who witnessed last nights
wrestling program at the Illinois the
atre when three good preliminary
matches and the main bout were
staged. Harry Brondell of Daven-
port was scheduled to go two out of
three falls with Nick Collins OF Chi
cago in the principal match of the
evening. But Harry's left ear has
been sore since his match with
George Nicholson a fortnight ago.
His physician at the last minute ad-
vised him against going on, but
Harry stofcally refused to heed the
admonition- He was advised that a
blood vessel might be torn open and
that death might be caused as a re-
suit. Harry begged and pleaded, but
the physician was firm. Finally
when Harry still persisted, the ply
stefan asked to talk to Collins.
MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT.
He told Collins that the topper
of the Davenporter was in bad con-
dition and that II Brondell went on
his opponent would have to stay
away from the head. Collins con-
scented. Before the wrestlers stepped
onto the canvas for the last match
the large audience was told
OF conditions and that Harry did not
want to disappoint his friends. So
the match was scheduled for 80 min
utes. II the crowd preferred, it
could go to the box Office and money
would be refunded. Not a man went
out. Referee Cyclone" Tommy
Thompson gave the men their in
structions and the 80 minute battle
began.
HAD A CHANCE AT TITLE.
Though Collins had a chance to
win back the title of the welter-
weights that he lost to the Greek
demon a month ago, he refrained
from touching Brondelrs head, and
though the match went 38 minutes
and 20 seconds, the Chicago grappler
never violated his word. All who
know what the wrestling game is,
will realize that Collins was handi-
capped as a result. But he stuck to
his task Just the same. Neither man
showed superiority. Finally Harry 4
head became so painful that he was
obliged to quit. He could scarcely
get up of the mat. The referee an
nounced a draw and the audience
went away satisfied. Some day soon
Brondell will be able to go into the
game as OF yore. Then Collins will
be brought back to Rock Island and
there will be a finish match. The
sportsmanship of the Chicago crap
pier won him a home In the hearts
OF the tri-city spectators of the
match.
CLASSY PRELIMINARIEs.
It's scarcely a wonder that the
crowd was satisfied for three CLASSY
preliminaries were staged. The bes
of them all was the one in which
Louie Page of Davenport beat kid
Fisher OF Chicago in two straigh
falls. The little Davenporter wa
under weight 90 pounds, and mids
the jibes and Jeers of the Grove
showed the stock yards wrestler G
he may be called a wrestler) up il
a way that was shameful. Tim,
after time the big fellow secure,
holds that seemed unbreakable, blu
Louie either broke them with hi
strength or slipped out of them, mucl
to the amusement of his host o
friends, and TO the chagrin OF tn
kid" He showed just how gam,