Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-09
BRONDELL BESTS
The CREEK DEMON
Davenport Grappler Proves
Superiority and Upholds
Declaration.
WRESTLE NEARLY 2 HOURS
Several Mat Artists Anxious to Take
Chance at New Cham
pion.


sors holds Harry Brondell, Daven- !
ports prize welterweight wrestler,
climbed TO the championship in the |
welterweight class Of the middle west !
by defeating George Nicholson in two !
straight falls last night at the Illinois !
theatre. The first fall required one
hour, "A minutes and 25 seconds, and
through IL all, except for a few min
utes near the early minutes of the
match. Brondell was the aggressor.
The second fall required less than a
fourth the time of the first match,
ending after &c minutes and 20 sec
Cnds. The match was the closest and
best that has ever been witnessed in
Rock Island and all who witnessed It
are satisfied that it was simply a case
Of best man who finished on top.
BEAR CAT OVER CANVAS.
Altogether, the wrestling time was
two hours and ten minutes, and of
that time the two bear Gated" around
the mat, both trying to catch a hold
that would topple his opponent to the
canvas. Early in the match Nichol-
son succeeded in putting Brcndell on
his knees, and while he worked on
him secured a scissors hold on his
body. They tugged close to the edge
Of the mat and it seemed that the
demon had secured a fatal clutch.
With q grunt that sounded very much
like enough" the hold was broken.
II looked TO the fans who were on the
stage as though Brondell had broken
the hold, while Nicholson claimed the
fall, alleging that BronGell had been
forced 10 quit However, Cyclone"
Tommy Thompson refused TO fall"
for the demons assertion and the
match sailed on after a little protest.
Had Nicholson followed the rules of
the game and kept on going Until the
referee had given the signal of vic
tory, the story might have been diff
q ferent At any rate, he has no one
but himself 10 blame for what he calls
bad luck.
DEMON TOO SLIPPERY.
Brondell forced Nicholson to the
mat twice on crotch holds, but the
Greek was too slippery and kept his
shoulders from being pinned When
Rrondcll finally did secure the ham
mcrloCk hold on him he was pinned
IN such a way that he could not move
end. though his shoulders did not
touch the mat. he signaled the loss
o. the first fall Through it all. Bron-
dells defensive work showed his mar
yClous ability as a wrestler and kept
his friends cheering All The while.
When more than an hour and a half
had elapsed the referee asked If they
wanted 10 call IL a draw at the end
Ct two hours. should the match con
tinuc that long. But neither acqui-
esced. demanding that il 20 10 the end.
MAKES II FAST.
In the second fall Brondell needing
the admonitiOus of his admirers,
worked harder than ever. He threw
the Greek to the mat several times
and finally succeeded in pinuiug him
with a head scissors hold. The de
mon had no chance to escape from
that. was turned 10 the mat. his
shoulders forced and held there. and
then victory given TO the PretZel hug
ger. Though the host of Rock Island
fans who turned out to see the match
we're anxious to keep the title in Rock
Island, it was with one accord thai
they gave Brondell a rousing ovation
for his victory.
NICHOLSON GOOD At FIRST.
Early in the match Nicholson
seemed to have the better OF the argu
ment but later developments showed
that Brondell had merely bided hii
time. After they had circled the can
vas dozens OF times on their feet, at
tempting to secure a hold all the while
Nicholson seemed to tire and his EFF
forts we're entirely to stave of a throw
70 the mat. Brondell missed severa
opportunities to catch a hold on OF
fensive. but on defensive he had
counter move for every one that hi
opponent attempted.
NEAR REPEATER.
The match came very close to bein,
a repetition of the one staged in Day