Los Angeles Times, Monday 6th September
1915 (Part III page 1)
TWO JAPANESE WRESTLERS GET SORE AND THROW SALT
Above a few cartoon impressions gathered on the opening day by
Barn dollar; below, the introduction of Champion Umegatani.
[Photo by Dr. By Ken S Takagi]
JAPANESE wrestlers
seldom lose their temper. When they do. It's worth going a thousand miles
to see the excitement. And if a couple of champions really get sore at
each other, the result is the funniest, most interesting and most blood-thirsty
thing in the whole world.
Yesterday, the
second day of the wrestling tournament, was featured by a wrathful exhibition
on the part of two of the head-liners.
The trouble
started in a very quiet way and ended with a terrible bang. Onishiyama
and Hakushazan were indulging in an exhibition match, which was being specially
staged for the edification of the crowd. Both men were in the ring and
the umpire had given the signal to start the proceedings.
A SCRAP.
The preliminary stampings
and hand shakings had been pulled off and the man were crouching and just
about to spring. At the crucial moment, Hakushuzan, who was very calm calm
and collected guy, arose from his crouching posture and walked toward the
water bucket.
Onishiyama was
so disgusted at this false start that he rushed at his opponent and planted
a peppy kick where he thought it would do the most harm. The recipient
of this favor turned around and knocked his fellow wrestler cold.
None of
this was according to the rules of wrestling etiquette and the umpire bursted
into the middle of the fracas and made the heroes cut it out. The second
grapple was started and everyone thought the excitement was over. But it
was just beginning.
Hakushazan walked
to his corner of the ring and took a wrathful drink. Then, instead of taking
a pinch of salt to throw into the ring, he took a handful and cast it in
this opponent's face and eyes. From here on the action was fast and continuous.
They pounded
each other as hard as they could. Then they tumbled out of the ring and
into the grand stand. Finally, one of the other wrestlers interfered and
the battle royal was ended. It was certainly great stuff while it lasted.
Fourteen
real bouts were scheduled yesterday and a great deal of practice work was
run off.
The contests,
as a rule, were much better than those of the first day. The men all seemed
to be a little bit sore and this improved the matches about 100 per cent.
Three or four times the umpire had to interfere and once it took the entire
troupe to quell the riot.
THE CHAMP.
Umegatani, the champion
wrestler of Japan, came out with his 400 odd pounds of avoirdupois and
knocked a few of his hired help flat on their backs. The men consider it
an honor to be thrown by the champion and they stand in line while this
honor is conferred upon them.
Wakanoura, the
local hope, was put out of the ring twice in succession. He tried to put
up a noble tussle but that's about as far as i got. Wakanoura has not had
the experience of the champions and he is slightly short on the weight
proposition.
The complete results of yesterday's
contests follow:
Tazimayama beat Sanukiyama, 2 throws
out of 3
Satushuzan beat Onishikiyama 2 out
of 3
Kinriu beat Wakanoura, 2 straight
Onishiyama beat Hakushazan 2 out
of 3
Chinzeizan beat Edozakura, 2 out
of 3
Tunenohana beat Chibagasaki
Shiunriu beat Chakagatake
Kyushuzan beat Tamateyama
Nishinoumi beat Tamatubati
and Umegatani beat Kohitachi
