WRESTLING. CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1920, 4 December 1890, Page 29

WRESTLING.

CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING MATCH.

A wrestling match between Duncan C. Ross, champion ot America, and Harry Dunn, champion of the world, was held at the Princess Theatre on Friday night. The men tried conclusions in a match on the 28th of October. Ou that occasion Dunn won, and last week they met again, when the match was drawn, owing to the expiry of time. Some little delay was caused last night owing to the men's harness having been left at the Olympic, and by the time it was brought to the theatre aud the wrestlers faced the audience it only wanted about 20 minutes to 9 o'clock. The visitors to the theatre, of whom there were a large number, had by that time not unnaturally grown somewhat impatient, but when matters had been explained to them they seemed quite satisfied. Both men appeared on the stage in good fettle, Ross being slightly on the heavy side. He weighed 15st 51b, his opponent buiog about 281b lighter. As on the previous occasion when the men met, Dunn won the toss, and chose the American side-hold style. He was also fortunate enough to gain tbe under grip. Very shortly after the men obtained a hold Roes got a leg hank, and after a slight tussle broke his grip. Dunn subsequently got a cross-buttock and brought Ross to his side. On meeting again Dunn got out and by a halfbuttock brought Ross to his shoulder. The third meeting afforded little excitement, but in the fourth Ross successfully resisted the attempts at buttocks, and both men were eventually brought to their faces by Dunn trying a left inside hank. Later on, Dunn henched, and by a quick buttock brought Ross heavily to the ground on his left side. After some further play Dunn's harness commenced to rip. The men wanted to continue, but the judges interfered and the harness was removed and mended. At about 20 minutes past 9 wrestling was again commenced and after a short and ineffectual bout Dunn henched his opponent, quickly buttooked him and gained a fall. Time, 26min.

After a rest of about 10 minutes, the men met again in the catch-as-catch-can style (Lancashire) — Ross' choice. Ross was first on the ground. Dunn tried for a hammerlock, but his opponent somersaulted out. A long and severe tussle subsequently ensued. On one occasion there was a doubtful fall in favour of Ross, when the latter himself admitted, in reply to the cries of dissent from the consultation of the judges, that he was perfectly well aware that it was no fall. Every time the men were on their feet Ross tried a French hough, and when Dunn was on the ground he relied chiefly on that grip, the half Nelson, and body grip, ia tho latter of which he tried by main strength to win the fall. Ross' tremendous muscular power stood him in good stead*. He several times by a head grip, when on the ground, brought Dunn to a bridge ; but the latter's great agility did not fail him, and a quick spin always freed him from his danger. Ross with a French hough and a leg grip heaved Dunn, who formed a bridge, and was kept in that position for fully half a minute. Exerting all his strength, Ross gradually forced Dunn over, but when the latter was on his left side a quick turn and a somersault brought him to his feet again, amidst great applause. After some 25 minutes of this sort of thing, in which it soon became apparent that Dunn could never throw his opponent from the ground, the world champion got a firm head grip, quickly manoeuvred under his man, and with perhaps the finest and cleanest buttock ever seen in Dnnedin brought him over his head and fairly to the ground on his back, and lay across him for several seconds. This piece of work was greeted with loud applause, and Dunn's smiles assured his supporters that he at any rate was sure that the fall was a fair one. The judges then held a consultation amidst the dissent of the audience for fully five minutes, and eventually Mr Kirkcaldy stepped to the front of the stage and stated that the judges by a majority had decided that it was a fall, the intimation beiDg received with loud applause. The whole bout occupied 27 minutes.

After a rest of about 20 minutes, the men tried conclusions in the Cornish and Devonshire style, which was chosen by Dunn. After a short tuselo both got down on their knees, and Ross threw his opponent. Some of the audience thought it was a fair fall and come were of tho opposite opinion. Mr Kirkcaldy, however, explained that it could not be a fall, as the men were down on their knees before Duun was thrown. Ross then stepped forward to the front of the stage, and observed : " I would like to bet £100 if Dunn got that fall it v/ould be a fall." This remark was greeted with cries of " Hear, hear " from a portion of the audience. Dunn then endeavoured to gain a hearing, but was heartily hooted. The men eventually came together again, and after playing about a bit Ross got a body grip and threw his opponent amidst great applause. Dunn's supporters, however, signified their dissent, and Mr Kirkcaldy again stepped to the front of the stage and intimated that the judges had df cided by a majority that it was a fall in favour of Ross, the decision being received with loud cheers. After the decision Dunn sgain attempted to address the audience, but was hooted so loudly that he bad to desist in hie attempt, and upon one of the judges coiniug forward to speak to him he poktd his finger in the judge's eyo. Tho time occupied by tbe latter &tyle was 20 minutes.

The meu next met in the Graeeo-Roinan style, which wj»3 Ross' choice. This style was decided very quickly, the wrestling only occupvicg a minute and a half. Ross got » French hough, and brought his opponent to the ground beautifully. Ho then gob a Nelson an.! put him over. Dunn, however, manoged to get out of t'l3 grip, but Rosa securing a half Nelson forced his man down amidst greac applause.

At 11.50 p.m., afkr the men had hod a spell, they tried conclusions in the collar and elbow style, which was chosen by Duun. At 10

minutes past 12, after a number of " breaks"' had been declared, the men did not seem inclined to continue the match, and held a consultation with the judges about the matter. Eventually Mr Kirkcaldy intimated to the audience that the judges had ordered the men to wrestle to a finish, but they had agreed together not to wrestle any longer. He also stated that they had wrestled honestly for four hours, and the audience ought to be satisfied. The audience, however, did not at first appear at all satisfied, but when Mr Kirkcaldy again appealed to them not to press the men too hard as they had done so well, there were manifestations of approval from the greater portion of those present, some few, however, signifying their disatisfaotion at the match being discontinued. After Mr Kirkcaldy had concluded his. remarks, Mr Ross addressed the audience, and said he was glad that the majority were satisfied with what they had done. OwiDg to the peculiarity of the collar and elbow style it would probably be four hours before they could finish. So far he had got the worst of the match by losing the catch-as-catch-can style, but Dunn was perfectly willing that the match should be a draw, and so was he. Dunn subsequently concurred in the latter remark, and then Mr Eirkcaldy announced that the money would be divided between the men.