The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-06-13


VA ward and hit me twice. The
WV blows started at the very toe
OF his foot, and they shook
me as no blows, even with the bare
fist, had ever shaken me before or
since. Completely dazed, struck back,
but encountered only the empty air.
-Four or FIVE times from somewhere
those pile driver fists descended upon
me. Being now prepared to some ex-
tent, / raised my elbows and managed
to defend my neck and Jaws. The at
tack was Immediately transferred to
my body, but l stiffened my muscles
thankfully and took the punishment.
My river and farm work had so hard
ened me there that l believe l could
have taken the kick of mule without
damage were expecting it.
The respite enabled my brain to
clear. I recovered slowly from the eff
feet of Those first two vicious blows.
1 saw Ward, his eyes narrowed calcu-
latingly, his body swinging forward
like a whalebone spring, delivering his
attack with nice accuracy. A slow an
ger glowed through me. He had be-
gun without the least warning, had
caught me absolutely unaware. l hit
back.
He was so intent on his own assault,
so certain OF the Oinding effect of his
first atthck, that hit him. saw his
head snap back md the blood come
from his lips Tie blows were weak,
for was still da,ed, but they served,
together with the slow burn of my an
ger, greatly to steady me. We were
once more ON equal terms.
For perhaps two minutes 1 tried to
exchange with him. He was In and
out like lightning He landed on me
hard almost every time. He escaped
nine out of ten of my return counters.
Decidedly l was getting the worst Of
this, though my heavier body took
punishment better than his lighter and
more nervous frame. Then suddenly
It occurred to me that l was playing
his game for him. AS long as he could
keep away from me he was at an ad-
vantage. My best chance was to close.
IlllJ lOph NhC dS
gresslve and was in consequence the
more punished. Ny rushes to close In
were skillfully eIuded, and they gen
orally laid me wide open. My head
was singing and my sight uncertain
though was in no real distress Ward
danced away and slipped around tense
as a panther.
Then by very simple ruse l got
hold of him felnted at rushing him,
stopped and hit. Instead and then, fol-
lowing closely the blow, managed to
seize his arm. For ten seconds he
| jerked and twisted and struggled to
release himself Then suddenly he
gave that up, dove forward and caught
me In grapevine.
He was fairly skillful wrestler and
very strong. 1t was as though he were
made of whalebone springs. But new
er yet have met man Of my weight
who possessed the same solid strength,
and Ward would tip tho scales at CON
siderably less. 1 broke his hold and
went after him.
He was as Lively as an exceedingly
slippery fish Time after time he all
but wriggled from my grasp, and time
after time he broke my hold by sheer
agility His eXertDns must have been
to him something terrible, for they re
quired every ounce of his strength at
the greatest speed. could, of course,
take 1t much easief and every instant
l expected to feel linn weaken beneath
my hands, but apparently he was as
vigorous as ever. He was In excellent
training, At last, however, | managed
to jerk him whirling past me, to throw
his feet from under him and to drop
him beneath me. As he fell he twist
ed, and by sheer tluke l caught his
wrist.
Thus through no great skill of my
own the fortunes of war had given me
hammerlock on him. Most people
know what that is. Any one else can
hnd out by placing his forearm across
the small Of his back and then getting
somebody else to press upward on the
forearm. The Greek statue of "The
NrestlerS' illustrates 1t. AS the pres
sure increases so does the pain. When
the pain becomes intense enough the
wrestler rolls over. and the contest is
won. Some people can stand it longer
than others, but all sooner or later
must give up. In fact, skilled wres-
tiers knowing that otherwise the in
eyitablc end is broken arm, save
themselves much trlbulation by imme-
diately concoding the bout once this
deadly hold is gained.
began 10 force Talbot Wards hand
slowly up his back.
Very gently, an inch at a time,
pressed lie said nothing. Once he
attempted to slip sidewise; but. find