A CANADIAN ATHLETE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3373, 25 January 1884, Page 3

A CANADIAN ATHLETE.

The Auburn (N.Y.) “ Despatch ” says —Mervine Thompson, the champion Canadian wrestler, gave an outdoor exhibition of his great strength near the Central Hudson freight house. The Sunday Despatch stated that he would pull against any team of horses in the city or county, and would give lOOdols to the owner of any team if the horses succeeded in palling him from a ladder. The Canadian athlete made arrangements with Mr B. F. Webster. The latter is engaged in the truck and express business, and is the owner of several large and strong teams. Five o’clock was the hour appointed and the yard in front of the above-mentioned freight-house, was the place agreed upon by the interested parties. When the hour arrived quite a large crowd was in attendance, many of them expecting to see the man pulled in twain when he attempted to resist the strength Of two of Mr Webster’s large horses. Within a few minutes Thomson, made his appearance, and very quickly removed his coat, vest and hat. A harness greatly resembling a pair of shoulder braces, only a great deal stronger, was thrown over his shoulders and around his waist, with two very large straps left dangling from the small of his back. Then lying face downwards upon the ladder, fixed in a horizontal position, securely lashed to a telegraph pole, ho grasped a round of the ladder with both hands, and placed his feet firmly against another flat round at the foot of the ladder. A team was hitched to these straps, and then commenced the tug of war. The large pair of horses started, strained, and tugged, but in vain. The man could not be pulled from the position. After making three or four futile attempts, the team was removed, and a heavy pair of sorrels attached to the man. They, like their predecessors, could make no impression, and the man of muscle did not exhibit the faintest sign of weakening. Finally, one of the employes of Mr Webster took the animals by their heads, and they again exerted their well-trained muscles. This time the large evener to which the whiffletrees were attached, snapped in twain like a pipe-stem. This settled the contest. The crowd in attendance were well satisfied that the boast had been made good, and cheered him heartily.