Manhattan, New York:  Wednesday, August 6, 1879
(St. James Opera House) ... John McMahon b. James E. Owens (2/3) (Owens won the first
fall, McMahon won the second and third) ... (referee:  Harry Hill) ... (450 fans)
Notes:  Of the 450 people in attendance, only one was a woman.  Owens was from
Fairfield, Vermont and McMahon from Rutland, Vermont.  The match was for $2,000.  
Grace was the umpire for McMahon and Garvey was Owens.  The New York Times
reporter showed a little comedy in their report (8/7/1879) by noting that "everybody who
had ever attended a wrestling match before had noticed how, in a match of best two in
three, where the spectators had to be amused for a certain length of time.  Providence or
something arranged things so that the man who won the first round should always lose the
second." This allowed a third fall, giving "spectators the worth of their money." Owens
suffered a cut over his right eye during the bout after falling to the ground.  After the
second fall, Hill asked the crowd if Robert Carroll was there amongst them.  Apparently,
Carroll's long lost brother from California was behind the curtain and wanted to see him.  
No one came forward.  The Times reporter stated that if "a request for Patrick Murphy"
was called, it would've "brought out a full chorus."














Research by Tim Hornbaker
February 10, 2011
New York City Wrestling Results - 1879