Athleticus
Athleticus.
"Athleticus" says, and thinks he is cutting deep when
doing so, "there are those now living old enough to
remember my being thrown in the Carlisle ring, by very
ordinary wrestlers, when in the zenith of my fame."
Now, Mr. Editor, do you not think this is rather a
stinging remark, as it relates not to any point of
issue between us, and was therefore as uncalled for as
unnecessary?... I never wrestled but twice in the
Carlisle ring, and never saw it when "in the zenith of
my fame." The first time was in 1811, when, as I have
stated elsewhere, I was thrown by Joseph Bird, who was
surely no very ordinary wrestler. When taking hold,
Bird got below my breast, and pinned my right arm close
to the elbow, down to my side; and a person, ignorant
enough, surely! insisted, that because he found by
pulling my left arm over his back, that he could make
my fingers meet, I should either take hold or be
crossed out. I foolishly chose the first, thinking that
I perhaps might better myself after. I was mistaken;
though those who are "old enough" to remember the
circumstance, may remember likewise that, considering
the situation in which I was placed, I was not disposed
off easily.... The other time I entered the Carlisle
ring, I met one of the Fostersno ordinary menand I
can only state that after our contest, I was ordered
by one of the umpires to wrestle the fall over again,
and I waited until the end of the round in expectation
of doing so, when I found that a bet of half-a-guinea
made by the other umpire, (and which I was aware of at
the time,) had turned the scale against me. I can, if
required, name the umpire, and the person he betted
with; which bet, however, he never recovered, and this
circumstance deterred me from wrestling the next day,
and determined me never to wrestle more at Carlisle.
This was in 1815. My best day was in 1806, 1807, and
1808; therefore the assertion of "Athleticus" is doubly
incorrect.
Source: Wrestlings and Wrestlers