TOM GANNON AND THE INDIAN WRESTLER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8842, 2 April 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOM GANNON AND THE INDIAN WRESTLER.

Letters and papers just to hand convey the intelligence that at length the leading wrestlers of the world had met to do battle for the supremacy and the championship of Asia. With the advent of Tom Cannon in Bombay, and later on in Calcutta, the pride of the native princes was aroused, and their Highnesses the Maharajahs of Cooch Behar, Jodhpur, and Durbhnu<*ah engaged their men in repeated trials, and by the rule of the survival of the fittest a trustworthy champion was ultimately fixed upon to re present India in the mueh-talked-of match. This was a jodhpur wrestler, or " palilwahn," as they are called by their fellows, and by name Karim Bux. The match took place in a specially prepared arena, at Calcutta, on Thursday, December 24, The men set to work after the usual preface, and after a few feints Cannon took to the carpet. Karim Bux now applied waist-locks for a body throw, but being unable to lift his opponent these were unsuccessful. Cannon got up and tried for the neck grip, but the other kept away. Karim after repeated attempts changed his tactics, and after a time, by a powerful effort, shot Cannon on to the carpet, and the European's one shoulder touched. Hardly had the spectators shouted in triumph ere Cannon cleverly countered, and slipping the hold, wriggled on to his stomach. Two minutes later on Cannon had a narrow escape from a similar hold, which ho cleared from in the same way. It now appeared evident that Cannon's object was to tire his man out before assuming the aggressive. Meanwhile the native tried one well-known painch and then another, pulroch and mahouti being also applied without result. The Maharajah stepped twice forward and cautioned Cannon against laying hold of the carpet. Cannon, on the other hand, seemed to lie complaining to the Maharajah that his opponent was unfairly gripping part of his costume in order to obtain extra purchase. The native again pub on dangerous locks, and amidst thundering applause got Cannon on to the left shoulder ; the latter by a supreme effort pivoted on to his head by sheer agility, combined with wonderful strength of neck, lie now got on to his right side, and. Bux ran round, when he rolled round again on his chest. Strange to relate this was given by the referee as a fall, and, as the match was to be decided by one fall, Karim Bux, amid the most uproarious cries, was declared tho winner. If.H. the .Maharajah of Cooch Behar, also decided in favour of Karim Bux, and had the support of H.H. of Durbhungah, and they with the referee urged that, though it is necessary both shoulders touch the ground, they need not do so simultaneously. The greater number of the spectators were of the opinion that both shoulders be on the ground at the one time, which is of course correct. Cannon denounced the officials in no measured terms, condemning their ignorance, and gointr so far as to term the decision as little short of glaring partisanship, if not an actual piece of cheating, and the onlookers gave vent to their feelings in groans, hisses, and angry expostulations. Cannon, tho day after the match, announced in the morning papers that he would no longer remain in a place where such high personages could be guilty of so mean, unsportsmanlike, and unjust conduct, and on tiio next day, Saturday, December 26, he sailed from Calcutta for I'ort Said, Alexandria, and Cairo, in Egypt, intending to call at Ceylon en route.