Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1914-04-24
Big Wrestling Match Comes Close (;
Ending In Prize Fight.

Following the preliminary between
Joe Ref, fifteen year old son Of
Julius Ref, and brother cf one Of
the principals in the big match, ard
Alfred Meyer, one Of the well known
ripletts Of this city, both falls Of
which were won by Ref, the firss
In II minutes and 10 seconds ard
The second in 2 minutes, the big
match was staged.
Ref was outclassed by Davidson in
weight by about 25 pounds, but at
that he proved too much for the ST..
John man, and after one hour and
twenty-one minutes Of hard and fast
work succeeded in pinning the big
fellow to the mat for the count, &C.
eording to the referees DECISION,
which was backed up by most of the
spectators, but the decision was gu, s.
TONED by the st. John man and the
war was on from then on.
AS soon as the men started to
work for the next faGl, Davidson, &C.
cord!ng to the referee, who was again
backed by the big majority of the
crowd in his belief, started Some
mighty rough work, more in accord
ance with a prize fight than an ex
hibiticn Of wrestling, and FINALLY
struck Ref a hard blow with his
cbenched fist. Naturally Ref retail
ated, and the decision for the faI
was at first given the Clafl;n boy OF
foul, which was later changed to {
draw, the referee claiming that botl
sides had fouDed. Ref then refus-C
to go on with the match, claiming
that he had been given a decisio'
to which he was entitled, and saiC
that he had not agreed to a priz'
tight, but that II that was what thu
other fellow wanted he was perfect!
willing to accommodate him to thu
limit, and for time 1t began to lool
as though that would be the result
with about twothirds OF the specta
tors taking Sides one way or th'
other, for a big per cent of the whol'
crowd were on their feet in an in
stant, and many Of them were willing
and anxious to back up their mora
support with the liberal use Of thei
fists if necessary.
Manager johnson, Of the theatre
decided that if any Of the rough stuf
was to be pulled off it would not b.
ia his place of business and said tina
the match could not go on, and tn
two factions separated without AN,
further hostilities except the hbera
use of hot air, and so far Just VIII
was the winner Of the match as ia
as real decision is concerned remain
in doubt.
The writer was not present at tn
exhibition and can only give a secor
hand version Of the affair, but fror
every report heard so far the S
John wrestler was entirely to blam
in the matter and in reality playe
the baby act and exhibited might
poor sportsmaDship. The first pa
Of the match was clean thrOughcu
bJt Davidson became peeyed when b
was unable to throw the Claflin DO,
and started a line of rough stu
which no good sport ccu!d approve {
Davidson is a mighty good man, al
exceptionally fast fer man Of h
size. He was able to secure MAI
more good holds than Reif, = but Il
latter had the happy faculty of &c
ting out of them without great d.
of trouble, and the big fellow lost b
temper, and in doing so lost the r
spect of the crowd, for everyone q
mfres a good loser but most peop
have little sympathy for a sore-hea
Ref, who is but 10 years of az
showed remarkable strength and {
durance and with a few more yea
Of experience will make all Of d
top nOtchers sit up and take motto
He is a willing worker and takes d
rough stuff as good naturedly as Il
| best Of them, but there are cae
| when charity ceases to be virtue.
! Neither of the principals is Sat
fled with the result of the mate
I and the chances are that a re.u
match will be pulled off here in
/ short time. Both have big folio
! ing all over this part Of the count