New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-19
MASKED MARVEL
SHOWS UNCANNY
SKILL ON MAT
Bafhed Zbyszko in Two
Hour Struggle in Wrest-
ling Tourney.
ALWAYS AGGRESSIVE
IN DRAWN BATTLE
Whistle Saves Huge Pole Often
When Defeat Seems
Imminent.

imminent.
The crowd that packed the Manhat-
tan Opera House from gallery 10 pit
on Friday night saw one Of the great
est wrestling matches ever staged in
this country, when Wladek Zbyszko,
the Russian Pole, and the mysterious
Masked Marvel" who has bafied all
attempts to throw him. struggled for
one hour and ffty-eight minutes at
catch as catch can, at the end Of which
time the bout was called a draw by
George Bothner, the referee.
The men did not leave the mat until
early in the morning, but not single
spectator left his seat until the final
whistle blew. Although the bout was
called a draw, Of necessity, the masked
man easily had the better of the strug-
gle. being almost constantly on the
aggressive and frequently having
Zbyszko in imminent danger Of fall.
More than once the whistle ending the
wrestling periods saved the Pole from
what seemed certain defeat.
The men had originally been sched-
uled 20 meet at the aco-Roman style,
but by mutual consent and the demand
Of the audience agreed 20 decide the
issue at catch -as-catch-can.
The man with the mask, which is IN re-
plity n knitted helmet drawn tightly over
his head, started after Zbyszko at once,
working for a hold every second and
never giving his bigger opponent
moments respite. Neither went TO ms
knees during the first period, but, the
Marvel followed the giant Pole about
the mat as relentlessly as rate ana
Zbyszko frequently ran of the PADDED
surface TO escape his silent pursuer'
In the second period the unknown Sc
cured an arm lock. and he and the Pole
strained terrihcally for fully thirty sec
onds before Zbyszko was slowly, inch
by inch. borne TO his knees and hnaIly
measured his length on the canvas.
The masked man worked with extreme
elaboration, and although his oppo-
nent twice secured a dangerous toe
hold the Marvel broke II each time
with remarkable ease. =.
Zbyszko's great strength came 20 MS
aid at critical periods and ne always
succeeded in breaking loose from his
opponents grips, but each such eX-
neriencs sapped him Of his strength,
and as the bout progressed the Pole
wore worried look. In the third
ueriod Zbys,ko's admirers applauded
--ciferously when the Russian got a
dangerous hold about the Marvels
neck and eXerted all his strength In
an effort to bring his man to ms knees
The later brought gasp from the
crowd, however, By lifting ZoysEko
bodily on his back and then crashing
him to the mat with tremendous force
He did the same thing IN the nlth
session, and this time the Pollsn giant
lay prone and gasping, stunned oy tne
fall. The whistle brought him MIN
ute's rest.
Shortly after this the Masked Mar
vel's" manager asked permission for
his man 70 put on new mask, as nc
was blinded by perspirstion running
into his ewes. Zbyszko readily agreed
and after a short delay the mysterious
wrestler came forth TO renew the COM
bat. Zovszko then claimed that his op..
ponent had creased the upper part OF
his body. but after the man with the
mask had submitted to inspection by
Rothner and the newspaper men pres.
ent the Poles contention was dlsproved
and the men went at II again.
After an hour and ten minutes oil
Rruelling work the masked man again
got Zbyszko down, using an arm iocS
and toe hold. The Pole strained his
mighty muscles as he fought 1galnSt
his opponents efforts 10 force his
shoulders to the mat.
AS the Marvel added 10 the pressure
Zbyszko's face assumed look OF agony
and he passed his hand over his face
as the sweat ran in streams from his
chin. One massive shoulder was nat
tened 70 the mat and the other was
ever so gradually forced closer to the
canvas. Bothner sprawled on all tours
as he peered underneath the Poles
body, whistle in mouth, 70 see that the
fall was complete. Just when IL seemed
nothing could save Zbyszko, the timers
whistle blew, ending the period, and
the Pole was saved.
Despite the gruelling he had re-
ceived, Zbyszko showed marvellous re-
serve strength, and assumed the ag-
gressive several times, getting danger
Gus holds on the Marvel. Each time.
however, the latter broke loose with
uncanny ease, and the Pole shrugged
lis shoulders hopelessly and look OF
WOnQGEHtnL came over 4tla ldNts
Toward the end Zbyszko became vi
cious in his tactics and snsrled at his
silent opponent savsgely. The masked
man Is the cleaneSt wrestler who has
lhown at the tournament. never start
ing the rough work, but after the Pole
ad cuffed him wsntonly several times
the Marvel retalsted. bulling his ad-
versary around ike child, and
Zbyszko became gentle again.
Ten minutes before the bout ended
Zbyszko found himself again in a criti-
cal position, the Marvel having a scis-
sors hold about his neck. At this mo-
ment a woman sitting in a stage box,
who had been applauding the Russian
all through the bout, leaned forward
AID called: "Now, Wladek!" The
words had a magical effect on Zbyszko,
for. with a mighty heave Of his body,
he spun on his head and broke loose,
regaining his feet. while the audience
Gheered wildly.
The men spent the last period vainly
trying for holds, but neither was able
70 get an advantage, and the question
Cf superiority remained undecided.