THEWAY TO LIVE 141

with an irresistible ‘half-nelson’ gained the first tall in 20 min. 37 sec.

“In the second bout Hackenschmidt did most of the attacking, but Jenkins again put up a wonder- tully plucky and skilful defence. Onee the latter forgot himself and the rules by employing the leg- hold, but Hackenschmidt appeared quite unruffled by an act which ought to have been penalized by disqualificatiori. Miniite after minute sped by, but Jenkins could p9t on nothinp more dangerous than a back-of-the-neck hold in answer to the Russian's arm-hold. Then HaclrenschmJdt brought the 'half- relson’ into play, but when Jenkins seeme‹1 in hopeless plight he extricated himselt by a magnificent feat of wrestling, subtlety that evoked a tremendous storm of cheering. It proved his last expiring effort, however, for before he had quite recovered from the exhaustion which the struggle had engen- dered, the Russian had cleverly slipped on a second ’hä lf-nelson, ’ and Jenkins was placed squarely on his slioulders in 14 min. 27 sec. Jenkins is to be conpratulatcd on his plucky light and his fine display of wrestling. The cheer which he received after his defeat was quite as hearty as that accorded Hacken- schmidt. ”

Leasing England in September, 1904, I set out

for a four months’ tour in the Autipodes. My first experiences of Australië were unfortunately by no means as r easant as they might have been, for I

had to go into hospital very soon after my arrival

in Sydney. I was not able to fulfil any of my engage- ments toe quite five weeks, owing to both my arm and my knee again giving way. I was suifering from what are commonly called a housemaid’s ktiee and a miner’s elbow, which meatis water on both joints, necessitating an operation.

This was suecessful, and I was able to get to work,

142 THE WAY TO LIVE

touring through all the principal towns and meeting all the wrestlers of note whom I could come across. Prior to my arrival in the Southern Continent, the two wrestlers who had enjoyed the biggest reputa- tions were two big Hindus, Buttan Singh and Gunga Brahm, Both of thè se were fine big men, with plenty of strength and considerable skill, yet I threw the pair of them in nine minutes on the same night.

Clarence Weber, however, the Champion All- round Athlè te of Australia, a most splendidly built young fellow, managed to hold out for ten minutes on more than one occasion. I may say, though, that I did not make any special preparation for either or thè se encounters, and oiving, of course, to my having to wrestle different opponents nearly every night, I was naturally a bit weary and lacking in fire and vigour.

As Græ co-Roman wrestling was not well under- stood in Australia, I found in occasionally diflicult to fis up mä tters with the various opponents who presented themselves and was in tonsequence com- pelled to devote my attention seriously to the study of the “Catch-as-catch-can” style. This was an im- portant stage in my career and, considering that I was practically staking all my hard-earned reputation on my prospects of success utider thè se new and comparatively strange rules, a somewhat risky step to contemplate. Nevertheless I accepted the situa- tion, and can siticerely acknowledge that 7 have never regretted having done so.

After a fairly corisiderable experience, I may now confess that I distinctly preferred the more open method, and did not again propose deserting “catch- as-catch-cas. ” I did indeed make publicly a declara- tion of rny determinatiorr never to wrestle under Græ co-Roman rules again.

THE WAY TO LIVE 143

By-the-way, on one occasion while in Australia, I was challenged to wrestle in the Cornish style of wrestling, iii which a fall is secured only when a wrestler is thrown on any three points, viz., both shoulders and one hip, or both hips and a shoulder touch the grottnd. All bouts are contested from a standing position, and a hold is secured on the jacket which each contestant has to wear.

My challenger, Delhi Nielsen, who was an experi- enced Cornish wrestler, may perhaps have imagined that at this style (to which I was quite unaccus- tomed) he mjght very probably enjoy a compara- tively even chance with me. Having defeated over 400 opponents and possessing an untarnished record, he was, in fact, very confident.

He corisequently refused to wrestle with me, save under these conditions, and I was compelled to agree to his terms, trusting that my acquaintance with the Russian style of wrestling, with waist-belts (between which and the Cornish style there is a very faint resemblance, although tripping is pro- hibited under the Russian rules), might stand me in good stead.

Be that as it may, I was able to rise to the occasion and to throw him very easily.

Having completed my Australian engagements, during the course of which I defeated Grotz, who was called the Champion of South Africa, and several other prominent wrestlers and physical culturists, I paid a brief visit to New Zealand, and then sailed for America, where I was booked for several engage- ments, the most important of all being my return match with Tom Jenkins, the American champion, whotn I had defeated under Graco-Roman rules at the Albert Hall on July 2, 1904.

On my way across the Pacific, I made a brief stay at the island of Samoa, and can well understand the

144 THE WAY TO LIVE

enthusiasm with which travellers in the South Seas always refer to those havens of bliss, the islands ot Polynesia.

I had promised to meet Jenkins in this return encounter in New York, after the London context, and now agreed that our second meeting should be under “Catch-al-catch-can” Jules, with which mv opponent was more familiar, but at which style I had but little experience, save for an occasional encounter in England and more frequently during my Austra- lian tour.

This match with Jenkins, however, was the first big one in which I had engaged entirely under “Catch- as-catch-can” rules, and considerable interest was, perhaps, naturally felt throughout America on this account.

Jenkins and I met before a huge crowd at the Madison Square Gardens, New York, on May 4, 1905, our respective weights being as follows: Jen- lrins 14 st. 4 lb. and my own 14 st. l2 lb.

I was not yet sufficiently versed in the style at which we were wrestling to forestall the clever leg- locks and holds by which my opponent contrived to postpone disaster. He was mostly on the defen- sive, wriggling and extricating hlmself from difficul- ties in a very able manner, but despite a very strenu- ons struggle and a determined bridge, I finally managed to lever him over and pin him down in 31 min. 14 sec.

He seemed very exhausted, but recovered well,

and exhibited considerable liveliness when we met for the second bout. He secured a “half-nelson” and a crotch-hold, and several times initiated an attack, btit I did not experience much difliculty in breaking clear from the holds he managed to sectire. I gradually wore him down, and, finally fixing a “half-nelson, ” forced him over despite his struggles,

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him down for the second time in 22 min. A tjq›icai American report ofi this match ran as

“New York, lday 5. —Geo. Hackenschmidt, the Lion, defeated Tom Jenkins, the American wrestler, in two straight falls last night Square Gardens, in a match in which

tvas iiondbd like o pigmy in the Landc of a Hackenscbmidt Sche holds as iJ f. t err

without a moment’s cessation. The older vitality began to ebb. Suddenly Hacken- got a 'half-nelson’ lock on him—t›oth hands

itnder the chest and clasped around his neck. Inch inch he twisted JenkinB Ovtr, still over, tü Ï both touched the mat. But Referee Hurst did

see the fall and signalled to go on. Within a

Hackens‹Jimidt repeated the feat, and this ä ept his man bored down until Hurst dragged Time, 31 min. 15

was still tired when he came back fifteen later for the second bout. Patiently, unflinchitigly, almost hopefully, he put his ctmning and strength. Once, as they face to face, : tackenschmidt seized Jenkins the artns and whirled him around in a furious The body of Jenkins stood out straight, his

pointing at the horizontal. Twice thus arotind went; then Hackenschmidt slammed him down on the floor. Tom wriggled around so that his shoulders did not touch the mat. It was a won- derful exhibition of quick thinking under adverse circumstances. But Tom’s bolt was shot. No mere

, human giant could last under the awful strain of handling Hacbensclunidt. After M min. and 4 sec.

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