New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-30
A. ABERG THROWS
STRANGER LEWIS
Masked Marvel Defeats
Johnson in Lively Wrest-
ling Bout.

Only a fair sized crowd turned out at
the Manhattan Opera House last night
10 witness some Of the best wrestling
the International tournament has pro-
duced since the start. Alexander Aberg,
champion of the world at the Grace
Roman style, threw Stranger Lewis,
hitherto undefeated, after more than
forty minutes Of bitter struggling, and
the Masked Marvel forced Hjelmar
Johnson's shoulders TO the mat IN lit
tie over thirty minutes. Both matches
we're scheduled for finish and were at
Gr8co-Roman
II throwing Lewis, Aberg fell on top
of his man and Lewis's head hit the
floor with such force as TO stun him
temporarily. The men were near the
edge OF the mat at the time and Lewis
was preparing 10 bridge as Aberg bore
him down, but his head protruded be
yond the mat and the force of the blow
as he struck the floor on the back OF his
head was terrific. II was several min
utes before the Stranger was able to
walk to his dressing room.
Up 70 the moment of the fall, Lewis
had the better of the wrestling, going
at Aberg 80 iercely that the champion
WAS kept busy defending himself from
the savage attack Of his younger OPP
ponent. The Russian is one of the
craftiest mat-men in the game, how
ever, and was always waiting for just
such an opportunity as presented itself
Johnson put up plucky fight against
the Madvel, and squirmed out OF a
dozen dangerous positions. The man
in the mask finally wrapped his arms
about the upper part of Johnson's
body, however, and slowly squeezed
the breath out Of the big Swede. john
son was dizzy and reeling as the Mar
vel extended a hand and helped him
20 his feet.
The management made a wise move
in putting on the two finish matches
in the first part Of the long programme
instead of the usual late hour, and the
crowd showed its appreciation by ap-
plaudiug the announcement by Joe
/ HUMPHREYS that the two star bouts
would so on early.
The masked man and Johnson were
the first to appear. johnson had said
/ on Tuesday night TO certain Of bis
/ friends that he would rip the Marye's
/ mask from his head when he met him
/ on the mat. When this became known
/ last night IL added to the interest Of
/ the bout, many believing that the man
/ Of mystery would at last be exposed.
Johnson, young fellow Of powerful
physique and great skill at wriggling
out of bad holds, tried TO keep his
word, and from the start devoted most
Of his attention TO black head covering
Of his opponent. He succeeded in pull
/ ing the mask to one side several times,
/ but the Marvel punished him severely
/ each time in retaliation, twisting john
sons head with chancery holds.
/ The man with the mask finally Sc
4 L l. 4
d Johnson's shoulders and applied the
pressure with both of his mighty arms.
/ Lower and lower sank Johnson 10 the
mat, and after thirty seconds of vain
sauirming ne lay fat and motionless;
/ nor did he move until the Marvel bent
down and started 70 lift him. The time
was 34;24.
Aberg and Lewis put up desperate
| struggle, with the latter continually
boring in on the champion. Twice he
threw Aberg over his head with great
force, and twice the Russian did the
same. The men went at each other like
wild bulls and the audience cheered in
cessantly. Catching Lewis off his guard
for a moment, Abery lifted him bodily
and then crashed him down, falling on
top of his opponent with all his strength
and weight. Lewis sQuirmed feebly, but
il was observed that something was the
matter and that he had suddenly lost
his strength Then the whistle blew
and the bout was over. Time, 42:82.
After the bout between the Masked
Marvel" and Johnson. the report got
out that the unknown wrestler was
Mort Henderson, Of Altoona, Penn. Ed
Pollard, the Msrvels manager. is said
TO have addressed him as Mort" and
from this IL was inferred the wrestler
Ia Henderson. Pollard ridieuled the
story
Tonight the Marvel and Wladek
Zbyszko will wrestle to a finish at
catch as -catch-can, IN addition TO the
other matches.