The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-01-27
f. Editorial
THUMBS DOWN

They had gloriously joyful time up in New York
the other night when the elite Of that city assembled to
witness the championship wrestling contest between Ed
Lewis. POLITICALLY designated the 'strangler, and Earl
Caddock former champion Each one present felt
that he had received his moneys worth when, at the end
of an hour and thirty four minutes the stranger was
declared victor and Caddock was dragged off to the
hospital.
Here is the way the representative of the press chron-
cles some of the tensest features of the contest
After an hour and half of wrestling Caddock
gained terribly Furnishing toe hold and for one
minute and ten seconds he struggled to force Lewis
shoulders to the mat. he champion IN his agony
beat the floor with his fists and cried aloud, but his
voice was drowned in the terrific uproar for Cad
dock The former soldier a tremendous taV-
orie with the 10000 spectators who watched the
contest.
Twice Referee George Bothner asked Lewis
if he would quit but twice he refused, although his
face was distorted entirely out of human resem-
blance and streams Of Precipitation were pouring
from his face.
With last desperate effort he kicked himself
free ard staggering 10 his feet eaped upon Cad
dock and clamped his famous deadly deadlock
ground the Iowan's face. Three times Caddock
broke the furnishing hold and staggered to his feet,
only to have Lewis regain the grip
On the second and third lock Lewis picked up
Cacidock bodily and threw him to the floor, plung-
ing his weight on top Of The fast weakening chal-
lenser he second crash, combined with the
gruelng punishment which Caddock had received
left him helpless and he collapsed on his back, as
The referee slapped Lewis, the winner.
When Lewis rolled eff of Caddock the latter
lay like dead man en- the floor and when his
ager and others scrambled through the ropes TO his
assistance it was all they could do TO lift him to his
feet A chair was placed beneath him in the center
CT the ing, bat he rolled to the floor again and a
call was made for doctor
Cries Of kill the muTderer" went up and there
was a concerted rush for the ring. Caddocks man
ager waved the excited wrestling fans back and
when Caddock was seen 10 recover and walk 10 his
corner, danger of RIOT quickly passed.
Great, wasn't it? And right here in the United State
Consult map if you doubt it.
We shudder at the stories CT the gadators in the Co
liseum. We put bull fighting under the ban, Even Il
comparatively gentle cock fight is prohibited. We ha7
numerous ceruean-hued statutes and ordinance to pr
tect humanity from the minor temptations; but when
comes the real joys of life, exempi6ed by crusht
bones torn and bruised muscles. streams of blood
cries CT agony, the lid is still off
Has the progress Of civilization from Bethlehem to Il
present day brought us only to the prize ring? Is
difference between the modern wrestling bout and 4
favorite sports of the Romans the measure Of our a
vancemen? We are unwilling believe it. Public Sc
ment has been msed by some of the encomiums
manly" sports. The people, a whole regard boxi
and wrestling as mere safeguards against mollycodisl
They stay at home, and, upon the whole, behave We
WE'LL while the minority still gathers at the ringside al
revels in scenes of brutality.
But no country cah afford to boast of its civilizati
while such contest as that described above
staged as an attraction" in its chief city.