WRESTLING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12398, 10 November 1934, Page 11

WRESTLING

OLD-TIME BOUT,

49 YEARS AGO IN MELBOURNE.

A RACY DESCRIPTION. Forty-nine years ago last month (October) tho “New Zealand Mail” printed a graphic account, running into three columojs, of the “best exhibition of wrestling ever witnessed in Australia,” between Mr Donald Dinnic and Professor Miller. The report is picturesque in parts, and should prove interesting to followers of okl-timo and present-day wrestling. Dinniie and the professor did not indulge in -showmanship, hut according to the report grappled seriously and strenuously all the while. “There was an absence of objectionable barracking, the exclamations being those of good-tempered partisans.”

Mr Dinnie and Professor Miller, says "the “Mail,” -wrestled in three different- styles Graeco-Roman, ■Scotch, and 1 mixed. The crowd, was enormous; 2300 people “mu s t have been present, <?rnl prices for a seat ranged from £l. down to 2/-.” Never before had such a representative gathering been present at any wrestling match in Australia. “At a glance it scorned that the whole of the medical fraternity of Collins street was present, and in one box were seated two'or three clergymen., one of whom displayed an enthusiastic interest, during the excitement of one of the falls craning far out of the circle.”

The bout- was cbeduled to start at 3 o'clock, but- the wrestlers were 10 minutes late arriving. “As they came on to the stage Miller was soon to be lusty and eager-looking. Dinnie presented the usual clean, symmet-rically-shaped appearance for which ho is famous, .while his face wore a quiet, confident smile. As they doffed their coat- it was -seen that both were dressed in white guernseys and drawers.”

For 12 minutes the pair wrestled the Graeco-Roman style. The “Mail” describes it thus: “Dinnie gave Miller a, powerful tug and brought him down «n tho .stage on all fours. Miller got on n bodyhokl and, in Dinnie’s desperate efforts to stop him, they '.struggled down almost to the footlighiiu . . Coming hack to the centre, another bout of vigorous wrestling ensued, which ended by Dinnie grasping Miller round the body and lifting his great weight fairly off the floor amidst enthusiastic cheering. Then, -with a terrible strain Miller lifted Dinnie uj> ? the latter’s body being partially in the form of an arch. Dinnie got a bodybold. Miller going down out of danger. Several of the here booted, ignorant of the fact that ground wrestling is one of, if not the principal feature of Graec-o-Roman wrestling. Dinnie, from a bodvhold, ar.d with a quick turn, unsuccessfully tried the ‘flying marc,' hut Miller was too quick. and fairly jumped ■upon Dinnio’s bade, precisely as the boys play leap frog. Mille r tried a cross-buttock, but the other was too strong. Then came the French bug witli fatal effect. Miller increasing the strain every .second slcwlv went down on one knee, bringing- his opponent after him on to the floor. Keeping him there with hi s head still down be gradually and with a powerful. continued effort forced his bulky opponent clean over on to the two points, amid tremendoug cheering. The bout lasted 12 minutes and then tho competitors retired for the prescribed 15 minutes’ rest.

THE SCOTTISH STYLE. “At 21 minutes to four the curtain rose and tlie men re-appeared for the second bout, in the Scottish style. The most noteworthy points or txii;s style are that only a back hold can ho taken. Thirty seconds are given, after which the competitors must wrestle with or without a. hold. A man is down if thrown on the stage in any position with his antagonist above him, but must be kept under 30 ’seconds. The legs can also be used or tripp.mg.” Tlie man goo? on to explain the bout. “Looked a foregone conclusion for Hinnie,” who took the fall after seven minutes. Another 15 minutes’ rest the wrestlers came out for tlie next style. Its main points are cateh-a;?-eateh-can above the waist, with the use of the leg, tripping allowed. To constitute. a fall a man must be on three points—two shoulders and one hip, or two hip? and one shoulder. After carefully rosining solos of their soft shoes they commenced oprations warily. With: the crown of their heads together they clasped their hand? round each other’s nock, with their legs well away from one another. Suddenly, they commenced to wrestle all over the stage. Hinnie dashing in his legs. . . Presently Miller made a. great rush and, using all hij? great strength, forced Hinnie, right- across tlie stage. . . Hinnie once clutching Miller by the right- el]bciw and swung him round, amid cheers and 1 enthusiastic cries. Hinnie got a. hack hold, and, with a. strong effort, brought the professor down on all fours. On their feet- again, the latter forced .‘Donald’ ainong the scenery. . . Miller was working like a. lion and the excitement among the spectators was very great.

DINNER'S SINGLET TORN. “Out- of isome '.severe wrestling they came panting and perspiring freely, hut . with no signs of distress. Dinnie’s singlet was iso torn that the referee at one time thought of asking him to don a. now one in accord with the clause of 1 the article, compelling the,-competitors, to he clothed. Up., again,. Miller got the underhold and made a. powerful hut the chairs were again in the way. (Cries from tho -spectators of, ‘Give them more room get off the stage,’ in answer to which the chain?, were pushed further back.). Then came the arm leverage; under tne eliin, and over Dinnie went on his hack, wriggling about like an eel to keep one of the three points clear. Both Thomas, J'. Miller, the referee, and some of those on tlie stage rtvent- down flat to note carefully. Miller kopt the strain up, but at the end of the two

minutes the referee ordered him off do ciding no fall, one of Dinnie’s shoulders being off the carpet. The spectatom seemed astonished and there were loud cries of ‘Fall, fall.’

“Then Dinnie made an effort to secure a body hold. Miller, with a quick effort, slipped, partly away and in an instant once more had the deadly French lmg on. He waited an instant, as if to rivet his fingor s together, and then ami dpi, intense excitement among the spectators sank 'slowly 'down, dragging Dinnic after him with the latter’s face to the stage. Or.cc there the final struggle was commenced. Dinnie exerted all his strength, but was unable to break away from the determined grip of his adversary. Inch by inch, he gave way, stubbornly resisting all the while, and at last was forced over on to the necessary position the referee declaring at th end of the five sconds a ‘fair fall.’ Against this decision Dinnie, though not to the referee, protested, declaring that one point was off the floor. Miller thus won two falls and the match. The mixed bout had lasted 44 minutes.”