Salt Lake Tribune | 1914-03-06 | Page 8 | George Nelson and "Big Jim" Will Go to Mat Tonight

George Nelson and (gBig Jim" Will G& to -Mat Tonight George Nelson and "Big Jim" in tryout. Fire Department Wrestler and Alpine Grizzly Matched for Two Bouts. S WAVING and hauling, pushing and pulling, and with the big bear grunting his disapproval of the affair every step of the way, Georgo Nelson had his first preliminary prelimi-nary workout with "Big Jim," tho -180-pound Alpine grizzly bear, at the Empress Em-press yesterday afternoon. Tonight Nelson meets the bear In two wrestling matches, the first to bo on tho stngo at the Empress, In full view of tho audience, Immediately after tho show, and the second match to be hold at tho close of the second show. Nelson is to rcccivo S-3 for each time he throws "Big Jim," if he throws him at all. Nelson was given a chance to try tho bear out for the first time after tho matinee yesterday afternoon. Tho wrestling wres-tling mat was rolled on the stage, the bear led out and Nelson sailed In. "I didn't try any holds on M3!g Jim' during the workout today," declared Nelson Nel-son later, "bocauso 1 only wanted to find out ho,w it was going to feel to get my hands on the big fellow and push him around a little. lie Is a bear, all right, but I am confident tho fear3 of my friends are unfounded that the bear will not Injure In-jure me In any way tomorrow night. In any event, I am going to take a chance, and from the way tho bear acted this after- 1 noon I believe I can throw him at least onco tomorrow night. The trick lias been done beforo and I feel sure I can duplicate it." The brief workout yesterday afternoon between Nelson and "Big Jim" was exciting ex-citing enough In the row minutes it lasted to Indicate that a rare treat is in store for ilie fans who sec tonight's two matches at the Empress. As soon as the bear gets a little rough work he walks right in and tries repeatedly for a -half-nelson, with the result that he had the fireman dancing all over tho mat yesterday afternoon keeping out of tho clutches of the big paws that opened so Invitingly. Ma nngcr Cook stages the two houts tonight as an added fenture on the bill at the Empress,