The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-11-07
VERMONTERS'
FAME ON MAT
In the Old Days There We're
Several Men to Win
Renown
GEO. w. FLAGG WAS
THE STAR PERFORMER
Met and Conquered All Com
ers and Never Was
Defeated

"Where are the wrestiers OF yester-
day?" 1t was ex-senator George w.
FIagg of Braintree, the lone survivor OF
race of wrestling men that once made
history in the sporting world, who re-
peated question that hundreds have
asked themselves as they scan the sport
ing sheets that now teen with such
strange men of wrestling fame as Yus-
self Mahmout, "Shad" Link, Zbysko,
Frank Gotch. DIR. Roller and Cyclone
Burns. The man who out-wrestled the
flower of Vermont youth in the muster
ing days of '6l smiled bit sadly and
talked of the past.
In spite of his IA summers, Mr.. Flagg.
the one time heavyweight champion, con-
verses with the ardor of youth and ac-
companies his remarks with gestures
that belle his years. He was in remi-
niscent mood when Times reporter met
him yesterday. "They are gone, most
of them" he said by way of reply TO
the leading question.
"In the hey-dey of my career on the
mat, the second-rate performers in Yer
mont could throw anybody in the United
States explained Mr.. Flagg by way of
indicating the prestige which once at
tached to eoterie of wrestlers who
claimed the Green Mountain state for
their home. "Up in Fairfield, in north-s
ern Vermont, there were men galore who
could fling the best the country afforded
in those days" II was generous trib-
ute to a town that has produced some
famous wrestlers, for men of another
generation who followed the game still
tell of the time when Mr.. Flagg met and
won his falls from John Mcmahon, the
cleverest wrestler that ever represented
Fairfield on the mat.
In the years before the war, the Brain
tree man, then STRIPPING, first gained
local reputation as one OF the most
dexterous wrestlers in his home town.
A few years later he enlisted in the sec
ond Vermont volunteers and it was while
the regiment was encamped at Burling-
ton and waiting for orders to the front
that considerable rivalry developed
among the several companies that made
up the Old Second as il is fondly called.
From Bennington there came a private
who was heralded far and wide as an
inyincible man on the mat. John MeAla
hon, nine-months' man, met the down
state champion and flung him in straight
falls. The regimental honors went from
company to com. ny until Mr.. Flagg
was induced TO enter. Thereafter the
championship rested with Company f.
Throughout the war, the man from
Braintree continued to shine in army
circles, and while the regiment was in
winter quarters, he had ample opportu-
nifty to try his skill with the champion
wrestlers Of other regiments.
After the war he devoted most Of his
spare time to perfecting himself in the
art. A trio consisting of H. NJ. Dufur
of Waterbury, now resident of Los
Angeles, Cal, the doughty Mcmahon, and
Mr.. Flagg travelled up and down the
state, and wherever they went the local
usually had to take the count. |
Rivalry for wrestling honors was keen |
in those days and every town had its |
champion. In the matches between |
themselves, both Mcmahon and Dufur
often managed to take fall out of the |
Braintree champion, but the matches
they always lost. Latterly, the favorite |
diversion at the county fairs came to be |
wrestling, and many were the times /
when one town backed its champion to /
the limit against an invader. AT the
state fair in Vermont, agricultural fairs
in New York, the principal cities of the
Empire state, large centers in Michigan,
Wisconsin and other western states, Mr..
Flagg was ready with his manager to
accept all corners,
One and all were uniformly unsuccess-
Jul in downing the rugged Vermonter.
Presently from one quarter of the Sec
ion would come forth mighty man
20 do battle with the pride of Braintree,
out it was an old story once they came
5ogether. There are men living to-day. /
ind many OF them, who we'll remember
he Fourth of July celebration at Lynn
lon fairgrounds 80 years ago. The day
vas warm and thousands came by train
md team to see the invincible pair,
7lagg and Dufur, struggle for superior
ty. With $4,000 deficit in the treas
Try, the fair directors hoped to cancel
he obligations by engaging two excel
ent drawing cards. BY nightfall the
leiicit was wiped out and there was $500
n the fate box to boot. Flagg won, and
Ifter that no one questioned his claim
o supremacy.
Despite his advancing years, Mr.. Flagg