| Location | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
| Venue | Harrisburg Park House |
| Time | Shortly before 4:00 PM |
| Referee | Harry Hill |
| Umpire(for Lane) | D. C. Sullivan |
| Umpire(for Thompson) | J. H. Stevens |
| Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls Collar-And-Elbow Championship Match |
| Lew Thompson defeated Homer Lane.
|
Considerable interest was manifested by their respective adberents as to the issue of the contest for a $2,000 purse and the
American Collar-And-Elbow Championship, but the knowing ones having such faith in Lane's prestige, willingly invested their pile on him at odds, especially in this city. These odds were eagerly taken by Thompson's friends.
Scarcely a night passed without bets at Harry Hill's sporting establishment on Houston Street, which was Lane's headquarters. There had been so many championship fizzles of late that Harry, who was Lane's principal backer, determined that this affair, barring accidents, should be brought to a satisfactory conclusion, and accordingly, in company with him, Homer Lane, Cal. Mitchell, Mr. Cook, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and several other sports, our reporter took the cars for the scene of the contest.
On arriving there we found several of the sporting fraternity from St. Louis, Cincinnati, Boston, Philadelphia and other places, all of whom were eagerly discussing the merits of the men and investing their currency on their respective favorites.
Before adjourning for the night, Thompson, accompanied by his backer, George King, of Saratoga, New York, and J. H. Stevens, of New York, New York, visited Lane's caravansary. The contestants were then introduced to each other for the first time, and afterwards considerable talk as indulged in by their friends regarding further bets, but as both sides wanted odds no business of any note was transacted, so matters were left in status quo until the morrow, which arrived in due course, but in anything but a satisfactory shape, as it rained in torrents the whole night.
By the articles drawn up for the match, the men were to have wrestled on the Harrisburg trotting park track, but shortly before the time announced for the affair to commence, Jupiter Flavius again opened his vials in such a manner as to totally extinguish all hopes of bringing the contest off on the turf. Accordingly a consultation was held by he men's backers, and finally, sooner than disappoint the visitors, the majority of whom suffered a complete martyrdom in reaching that locality, it was mutually agreed to decide the contest in a capacious room attached to the Harrisburg Park House. This apartment is 66 feet deep by 34 in width, and afforded ample accommodation for all those who wished to witness the encounter.
Previous to the commencement of the affair, Mr. Sullivan addressed the competitors, also the audience, in relation to the match, hoping that everything would be conducted fairly and decided on its merits. He was followed by Harry Hill, who in a few brief and humorous remarks, informed his bearers that he had a large amount invested on Lane, but that would not bias him in the least in giving a just decision, no matter whether it was against him or not, should he be called upon to do so. His well known integrity as a sporting man was acknowledged by all present, and his pithy speech was received with uproarious applause.
Shortly before 4:00 PM time was called by the referee and the men instantly grasped each other. As they stood face to face, the immense disparity in size was palpable to the most obtuse, Thompson appearing as if he could crush his smaller adversary; but what Lane lacked in size he made up in superior science and cat-like activity. All the dodges, locks, squirms, and kinks, were respectively tried on by each, but at the expiration of six minutes, Thompson went down like a bolt from a catapult.
The majority of the spectators imagined this was a fair back fall, but Mr. Hill decided it was not so, and again the contestants fronted each other. Previous to their making play, some heavy betting was indulged in by the lookers on, conspicuous among whom were Cal Mitchell, George King and Harry Hill, who wagered their hundreds of dollars as though they were so many nickles, and this business being brought to a close, the men again took hold. But three minutes elapsed before the herculean Thompson discovered that his shoulder blades and the floor had an affinity for each other in an unmistakable manner, and Homer Lane was declared the winner of the first throw.
20 minutes was allowed for breathing time, during which interval the betters were engaged in pocketing what they had won and entering into fresh arrangements, until the referee again called time for round 3. This was a scientific tussle, ending in Lane being bored down by his powerful adversary, but it was decided a side fall by the referee.
In round 4, Thompson saw that he must now do something to win, and accordingly, after a tremendous struggle of 8 minutes, he got a lock on Lane, which resulted in the latter being thrown squarely.
Now came the deciding tussle, as each of them had gained a fall, and great was the excitement among the spectators as to the final issue, but after 6 minutes' hard work on both sides another side fall was the result.
Again they grappled each other, both apparently straining every nerve to secure the victory, though it was evident to all that Lane was growing weak from the desperate struggle of the previous rounds, and likewise being out of condition. However, it was short, sharp, and decisive, for ere the dial had marked 3 minutes, Lane was again thrown, and Thompson was hailed as victor by his enthusiastic admirers. The match lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes.
A considerable amount of cash was lost by the New York delegation, which they bore with their usual equanimity. Everything passed off amicably and satisfactorily, the contestants shaking hands and smiling with each other after the affair was over as though they were old friends.
Another match is talked of between the same men, Lane's friends being of the opinion that he can reverse this arrangement by thorough training for it, and not holding his adversary too cheap. Thus matters stand for present.