The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-08
MORE WRESTLING ASSERTIONS.
Made in Contradiction of Some of George
w. Flagg's Statements.

Editor. Barre Daily Times In YOU
issue of Nov, %, observed that Georg'
w. Flagg of Braintree stated that james
E. Owens and championship belt dlsap
reared after the match wrestled will
II. NJ. Dufur in Boston June 3, 1879. II,
also stated that the belt was on exhibi
ton in a show window at Boston. 1t il
true that the belt was on exhibition ii
show window at Boston for week
previous TO the match, but on the night
Of the wrestle the belt was displayed OF
the stage where the match took place.
Now it is not reasonable to believe
that il Mr.. Dufur had won this match
fairly he would have been given the belt
But the match was disputed and Mr.
Owens refused to give il up.
Mr.. Flagg knows that James Owens
had no reason to disappear as he was
the best collar and elbow wrestler of his
weight, $50 pounds. eyer produced in
these United States, having wrestled all
corners of either the lightweight, mid.
dleweight or heavyweight divisions.
This match with Mr.. Dufur took place
on June 0. 1879, and on June IA, 1870
Mr.. Owens. whom Mr.. Flagg claims dis
appeared, made the following statement
in the Boston Globe:
ITO the Editor of The Globe:
"By the advice, or rather in obedience
to the demand of my many friends and
an impartial public. | feel myself called
upon to make a most earnest protest
against the decision of the referee in
the recent wrestling watch between II.
NJ. Dufur and myself for 81 900, the
championship, and two-thirds of the gate
money. The decision of the referee has
already been freely criticized by the
press, but there are a few facts connect
ed with the matter which are not known
to the public generally, and to which
beg to call your attention. 1t was un-
mistakably understood and distinctly
announced on the stage that the match
was to be wrestled under the Ed James
rules. Now, then. rule Z reads: Striking
upon the face, side or knees is no fall,
and nothing shall be allowed from fore
ing a NAM from such a position on his
back / first struck on my left knee, in
the second bout; stopping there, and
then he forced me over on my back.
For the information of those not thor
oughly' posted, also quote rule @; The
falls must be square back falls, or two
hips and one shoulder or two shoulders
and one hip to strike the ground or floor
to constitute fall.
"There are several hundreds of sport
ing men in this city who witnessed the
match, and many amateur and profess
sional experts, besides members of the
press, who are unanimous in the freely
expressed opinion that this match was
unfairly awarded to Mr.. Dufur under
the rules quoted; but in addition, / pro-
test against the decision of the referee
on the ground that he decided the
match before he was appealed to by the
two judges, who had first to disagree
and appeal to him before he had any
right TO even venture an opinion, much
less to assume the power 70 give away
a dearly earned and coveted title and
large sums of money. Rule IL concludes
with the words, Referees word to be
final, but every sporting man the world
over knows that when judges are agreed
to and referee appointed. that the lat
ter is only placed in this position to de-
eide any question submitted 10 him by
the judges upon which they cannot
agree. In that case his decision is final
and not before. In view of these viola
tions and in Difference to the demands
of my friends and the fair-minded pub
ic claim that the match between Mr.. |
Dufur and myself is still undecided, and !