A FAMOUS ATHLETE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7079, 3 February 1891, Page 4

A FAMOUS ATHLETE.

DUNCAN C. BOSS. ' One of the most celebrated professional ' athletes of the world, Duncan C. Boss, is now in Christchurch, and yesterday had a conversation with a member of our staff. He is what an Irishman would call " a fine figure of a man/ six feet and a quarter of an mch — to be exact — in height, 15st 121 b in weight, 46 Jin round the chest, and lG&in round the biceps. His florid face and fair hair tell of his Scottish blood, while his speech betrays that he has lived long in " the States." " Soldier " is writ large on him, and one is not surprised to hear him say that is forte is Bwordsmanship. Unassuming he is, nevertheless, and does not boast of his feats. He answered our representative's questions frankly and readily enough. " I was born in Glasgow, in March, 185G," said he. "My father was in the Royal Engineers. I joined the Scots Greys in 1868, and soldiered with them between four and five years. I was very young, but I became rough-riding sergeant before I left. I began my career as an athlete in the regiment. They hold what are called Ealaklava sports on every anniversary of the Battle of Balaklava. I was champion of the Greys in 1871, and won the championship of the Aldershot garrison in 1873. After I left the Greys I went to the United States, where I joined the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, in which I hold a commission now. Sword fighting on horseback is my forte. It is a sport not practised in England, and is pretty rough work. The weapons are cavalry Bwords — in America they use them sharpened, but in Australia I fought with them blunted. The men are clad in steel armour — protecting head, body and arms ; a cut below the armour is foul ; a cut on the head does not count, but is not foul ; the main object of the fighter is to deliver a clear blow on breast or back, and a contest consists of twenty-nine attacks— fought to a finish. There is no intention to disable or hurt a man in the fight, but, still, it is rough work. No, I cannot tell how many men I have fought with, but I have met men, and officers too, from the English, American, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Mexican armies. I have never been beaten yet." " What about wrestling, Mr Koss ?" asked the reporter. "In wrestling, Harry Dunn is the only man whom I have met whom I haven't defeated. That was in the well known Cumberland style. I met him in Dunedin. He gave me the championship, though, because I was first in Cornish, catch-as-catch-can and Gra>coEoman styles. I have wrestled with Matsada Sorakichi, the Japanese, a real good man, Clarence Whistler, Dinniu and many others in America, and with Professor Miller, Thomas Couway and others in Australia. lam hoping to be able tO get up a match with Bobinson here. "You have done a good deal in other athletics, I believe ?" " Yes. In Scotch games I defeated James Melroae in America in 1878. I beat Donald Dinnie, M'Hardie, of Goulburn, Eugene Kneebone, and many whose names would not be familiar out here. No doubt you saw by the papers that I made a record in Dunedin for throwing the lGlb hammer. I forget the exact distance. Oh, here it is (producing a newspaper cutting), 111 feet 10 inches. " I should like to give an exhibition here of athletics and Bwordsinanehip — cutting sheep and bars of lead, and a contest, if I can get anyone to meet me. lam willing to meet anyone, on horse or on foot, with swords, singlesticks or foils." While speaking the champion unbuckled a leather case, and produced therefrom his swords — a weapon three inches broad, of enormous weight and size, a tulwar, the gift of an Indian Maharajah and an English parade aword. He also produced a collection of medals large enough to Btockaßinall goldsmith's shop. He hopes to be able to give a display of his powers on the drillshcd ground on Saturday.