Wrestling

In Manhattan, Joseph Stecher, one-time heavyweight wrestling champion of the world, lay for some time in a warm but uncomfortable posture beneath the body of Wladek Zbyszko, powerful Pole. Grunting, he wriggled out, looped his legs around the abdomen of Zbyszko, pressed until the latter, in agony, permitted his mountainous shoulders to touch the mat. The bout lasted 39 min. 13 sec.

Six days previously, Zbyszko wrestled Ivan Zaikin, Russian. Thrice 265-pound Zaikin lifted Zbyszko over his head, tossed his 217 pounds through the ropes. After 22 min. 49 sec. of wrestling, Zaikin refused to continue. Why? asked the referee. Zbyszko, Zaikin explained, had been secretly sticking his large forefinger into his, Zaikin's, ear--a method of attack which he could ill brook, since the ear had recently been operated on. The crowd, eager to believe itself cheated, booed. The referee gave the decision to Zbyszko.