A BRIGHT ITEM

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1932, Page 6

A BRIGHT ITEM

WRESTLERS TACKLE REFEREE. BOUNCED, BUMPED AND TOSSED. CHRISTCHURCH, September 27. Tackled by two wrestlers in the hug at the Civic Theatre !a-t night, Air MacDonald Smith, the referee, had an experience that no other referee of wrestling -has had in New Zealand. Mr Smith, immaculate in a well-tailored dinner-jacket, announced that J. Alusson and J. 'Shaw would give an exhibition bdut 'to entertain the crowd. 'Til be- referee for this on*,” he -said. Without moi'e ado. the 'wrest'ers went to work.

-Suddenly there was a lively and unexpected cfeveopment. While the sellappointed refere e was leaning over the ropes in one corner of the ring and talking to another official, Shaw clapped a deadlock on Musson and hurled him at the referee, who w£.> brought down ih a heap. The f"'o wrestlers then set upon the surprised Official, -and for a few minutes took turns in testing Air Smith’s powers of resistance Under the' strain of vdHtJrr wrestling -holds.’ All fit a flash he was bounced, bumped, tos ed find dumped, and was quickly at the mei'ty of the wrestle! - *.

The crowd at. first was staggered W the sudden development that had taken place in a friendly wrestle between fere, leading instructors ih the' city./ But. they quickly saw that . there was nothing really serious in the attack made on the splendidly-attired official. Th e wrestlers were merely working off some superfluous ene r gy, and their r ‘play-ful” attentions to the official were greatly enjoyed as the comical figure in a now bedraggled -dinner 1 jacket vainly tried to establish’ his equilibrium under the strain of forces that he -had no Ihope in the world of combating.

After the fir-t -attack Mu-sson retired from the fray, leaving the referee to the tender mercies of jShaw. Air Smith, whp already was showing obvious -signs of wear, was now to experience all the sensations of fjeing tossed a-series of flying headlock', headscissors, flying mares, toe-holds 'and arm-bars. He was like a piece' of string in the hands of a ma-ter knot-tier who delighted in tying him up, untying him nnd tying him up -again. In a short time there was a very hot and perspiring official in place of the immaculate figure who had appointed himself referee. A-s he staggered to his feet limp and worn he was greeted with t laughter from the crowd. Musson, who had retired from the ring after the first combined onslaught on the referee, now returned with a large sponge, reeked and dripping with cold water. This he -squeezed over tlie head of the official and down his neck and Over the collar and shoulders of his coat. It was -a very bedraggled but smiling referee who left the ring. He had taken the ordeal in good part. , . -