A Cornish Wrestling Champion in the United States.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3084, 6 January 1879, Page 3

A Cornish Wrestling Champion in the United States.

An American journal gives an account of a wrestling match that recently took place between the champion of the Lakes and a Cornishman. Thos. Carkeek, the champion, some time since advertised a challenge in the Marquette Journal. For a long time no one, it seemed, dared to enter the lists against the doughty champion of many contests. However, an " Old Countryman " eventually took up the gauntlet, and a day was appointed. But the Cornishman was not very punctual, and it was thought in the ring that he had shown the white feather, and was afraid to meet the giant of 2211b5., and and the taker of 87 first prizes, and there was no little surprise expressed when the young man did come. He had been doing a hard day's work in the bottom of Qiiiueey mine. His name is John Blyth, and he was born in the parish of Linkinhorne, in 1854. He is of short stature and of medium size. On stepping into the scales he scarcely turned the beam at 1851bs. The giant,ion seeing hio>, sneeringly said, " Another soft fifty dollars,*' and many people thought so too. When the athletes entered the ring, and Blyth gave the giant his own pl&y, everyone thought Blyth crazy, or so excited as not to be answerable for his actions. Betting was ten to one on Carkeek, but the result proved that the cool youngster knew what he was about, and Carkeek was afraid to move his powerful upstanders from terra firma. The applause was overwhelming when Blyth gave Tom the first turn. In the second round, when Tom threw Blyth two pins and one shoulder, the odds were even. In the third round Tom commenced his rough play, but it was a case of diamond out diamond, and " shake for shake " was Blyth's maxim. After awhile both fell on their sides. In the fourth round Tom put in his best (with betting seven to one on Blyth), but Blyth again gave Tom a turn. In the fifth round Tom found his chances for the championship small, and just while on the point of succumbing to the play and strength of Bij th, he exclaimed, ''Hold on; I give in to this young man/