Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1884 — Lincoln as a Wrestler. [ARTICLE]

Lincoln as a Wrestler.

Of the many stories and incidents told and written illustrative of the character and career of Abraham Lincoln, his abilities as a wrestler have never been brought to light Lincoln really prided himself upon being a good wrestler, aB evidenced by a story the writer has often heard related by Maj. Walker, of Lewiston, HI.: “I was a member of the Illinois Legislature (says Walker) in 1838, at which time the State capital was located at Vandalia. One day while Lincoln (who was also a member) and I were sitting together engaged in friendly bantering conversation relative to our athletic accomplishments, Abe boastfully said, as he struck his knee with his clenched fist: ‘Walker, I can throw down any man in the Legislature.’ I replied: ‘Abe Lincoln, you can’t do it. lam not mnch of a man myself, but I will wager a bottle of champagne that my colleague, Jonas Eawalt, can down you so quick that it will make your head swim.’ “ ‘Done,’ said Lincoln, eagerly. Bawalt was informed of the wager; arrangements wer made, and the next day Jonas Bawalt, Abraham Lincoln and myself walked out upon the open prairie east of Vandalia, and preparations were made to test their physical powers. Bawalt was a powerfully built man, but Lincoln eyed him closely, as they stripped, like school boys, for the encounter, and informed him, with a merry twinkle in his eye, that he was going to ‘down him.’ After having taken off their coats and vests, the word was given and they clinched. For a few moments there were interesting evolutions performed by both parties, at the end of which time the long, legs of Lincoln described a half circle above the head of Bawalt, and he was thrown violently to the ground. Abe slowly scrambled to his feet, straightened up his tall, pannt form, grasped Bawalt by the hanu, an^..'shaking it vigorously, said: ‘There is one man in the Legislature that I can’t down.’” Maj. Walker (a robust old man of 80) still lives in Lewiston, 111., and always laughs heartily as he relates the above little incident Jonas Bawalt is an old resident of Canton, 111., and no doubt often tells his grandchildren, with

pride, of the time he “downed” “Abe” Lincoln,