Anthony Abbing: Accounts of his wrestling career
- Charlotte Zureick
- Sep 8, 2024
- 9 min read
For my first post I would like to share with you some additional information that I discovered about a third class passenger named Anthony Abbing who was from my city, Cincinnati, Ohio. Abbing was a well known wrestler in Cincinnati during his life and I would like to share with you a number of articles I found with details of his sports career. I also was able to visit the building that used to be the front part of the theater that many of his wrestling matches occurred in, The People's Theater, and have included a picture.
"Daily and Abbing"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
"Joseph Daily and Tony Abbing, wrestlers, met at The Enquirer office last night and completed arrangements for a wrestling match at The People's Theater next Monday night. The following articles are self-explanatory: Articles of agreement entered into by and between Joe Daily, party of the first part and Tony Abbing, of the Trio Club, party of the second part, said parties hereby agree to meet at People's Theater, Monday, the fifth of January, in a Graeco-Roman wrestling match, two best out of three, for a purse of $25. The stranglehold is by mutual consent barred. The referee to be selected from the audience.
Joe Daily
Anthony Abbing
Witnesses: Wm. Kindt, Jas. Sweeney"
Advertisement in The Cincinnati Post
January 27, 1891
"People's Theater: 13th and Vine
Matinees-Today, Tuesday and Thursday and Friday: The Night Owls.
Tonight a Grant Contest, Joseph Daily vs. Tony Abbing. One Price to Both. Saturday Night, January 31, Walker vs. Trickler."
"Lasted Ten Minutes, Tony Abbing Had a Lively Go with Ernest Roeber"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
August 9, 1891
"Ernest Roeber of New York, a pupil of William Muldoon, the champion Graeco-Roman wrestler of the world, is at the People's Theater. He issues a challenge to throw any wrestler within fifteen minutes or forfeit the sum of $25. He also offered to give $2 per minute for every minute his opponent will manage to prevent his two shoulders from touching the canvas. His challenge is for either Graeco-Roman or catch as catch-can-style.
"Toby Abbing, a prominent young heavy-weight of this city, was the first wrestler to try conclusions with him. They met at the People's Theater last night before an audience which packed the pit to dome. Frank Trickler, the ex-lightweight champion wrestler of the State, was chosen Referee.
"The men went to work at 11'o'clock and Abbing took the aggressive at once and "went in to win". He forced the wrestling for a few minutes, and several times had Roeber in tight places. At the expiration of seven minutes he secured a half Nelson and body hold on Roeber and it looked to the audience as though it was a fall.
"It was a close call, but would not have counted anyway, as Roeber was only to throw him after wrestling ten minutes. Roeber finally secured a half Nelson and arm-pit with which he forced Abbing into a bridge and secured a fall.
"Just before the contest took place Mr. Jas. Fennessy, manager of the theater, announced that Roeber would make the same conditions with any other local wrestler. Mr. Chas Wittmer, the Graeco-Roman champion of the State, promptly accepted the challenge. Roeber and Wittmer will wrestle fifteen minutes at the conclusion of the performance this weekend."
"Will Go to Findlay"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
November 22, 1891
"Tony Abbing of the Trio Athletic Club, will go to Findlay Thanksgiving Night to wrestle J. C. Comstock, of that place."
"Comstock is After Tony Abbing"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
February 6, 1891
"Louisville February 5-J. C. Comstock has issued a challenge to Tony Abbing and Trickler's man, of Cincinnati, catch-as-catch-can and Graeco-Roman, the match to take place in Louisville or Cincinnati. If in Louisville, E. W. Kelley to be stakeholder: if in Cincinnati, Harry Weldon to fill the same position: a forfeit of $50 or $75 to be put up, the match to be for $100 a side. Comstock's backers have put up $25 with Kelly which either of the two men named can cover. Abbing is preferred, with Louisville as the place for the match."
"Abbing's Reply to Comstock"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
February 7, 1892
"Tony Abbing called The Enquirer office last night in regard to Comstock's challenge. He said:
'I once had a forfeit up for Comstock, but he would not then give me a match. Now, with him for $100 a side. He must first deposit $50 with The Enquirer office and I will cover it, the match to take place in Cincinnati, I will pay no further attention to the challenge until he puts up $50.'"
"Comstock Come Back, This is What Findlay Sports Are Crying"
The Lima News
February 26, 1892
"J. C. Comstock, whose career as a wrestler in these parts is familiar, had a match last night with Tony Abbing. The contest took place in Cincinnati, on Vine street, and was the result of a former meeting between these men. It occurred at Findlay, Ohio, and Comstock won. Abbing, on his return, complained bitterly of the treatment he had received. He claimed that he was fouled by Comstock and robbed by the referee. He was supported in his story by several other people who saw the match. He said then that he could throw Comstock and his match last night supports the claim.
"Abbing won the first fall in eight minutes. While Comstock was sitting in a position Abbing secured a front waist hold and bore him over one shoulder. Comstock tried to bridge, but was pressed down near the end of the mattress. The fall was of the "flying" order.
"The second bout was a long one. They were on the mattress for fully twenty-five minutes without either getting any special advantage. Then Comstock got a straight hold, and by the use of his leg, which was foul, forced Abbing to his hands and knees. Abbing finally broke it, but Comstock again got the 'choke' hold and put it on hard. Abbing got away but was weak. In his weakened condition he was an easy mark for this dangerous lock, and Comstock's right again encircled his neck. The Findlay man kept it on fully three minutes and then buttocked Abbing, which was foul. Abbing went down on both shoulders. Time-31 minutes.
"The third bout lasted 21 minutes. After 18 minutes wrestling Comstock lifted Abbing bodily from the floor with a rear waist hold and then gave him a 'slum." It looked like a fall, but Referee Gillespie was on the wrong side, and before he could get around Abbing was out of it. Comstock with a half Nelson and a hammer lock forced Abbing to a bridge a few minutes later. The latter made a spin to get out of it and brought Comstock over with him. The Findlay man's shoulders touched. Abbing's second claimed it, and Gillespie decided in their favor.
"The match was for $100 a side."
"Abbing and McGuinnis"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
March 9, 1892
"The following articles are self-explanatory:
Articles of agreement entered into by and between Tony Abbing, party of the first part, and James McGuinnis, party of the second part: Said parties hereby agree to wrestle a match, Graeco-Roman style, under the following conditions: Said party of the first part will undertake to throw said party of the second part three times in one hour. If he is not successful or should the party of the second part gain a fall in that time, then said party of the first part will lose the receipts, and will take place on the evening of Wednesday, March 16, before the club offering the largest purse. Stranglehold is barred.
Tony Abbing
James McGuinnis
Witness: H. Holtgrewe"
"Didn't Succeed, Tony Abbing Fails in His Attempt To Throw McGinnis Three Times"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
March 17, 1892
"Tony Abbing, the Trio Athletic Club's champion wrestler, undertook last night to throw James McGinnis, the Irish Wrestler, three times in one hour Graeco-Roman style. He failed in the attempt. He threw McGinnis once in two minutes. Then McGinnis reported to defensive tactics entirely and stayed the time limit. Abbing pushed McGinnis through the ropes a number of times, and the Irish wrestler's back was "burned' by coming in contact with the ropes repeatedly. McGinnis at the opening started in to "mix it up" with Abbing, but when he realized that Abbing had the best of it he went on the defensive. McGinnis weighed 158 pounds, and Abbing about 180. The match took place at Gillespie's before a great crowd. Joe Daily, the middle-weight wrestler, and Buck Elwood were behind McGinnis, and Len Lanius and Billy Kendt were in Abbing's corner. Bob Carlos, the light-weight wrestler, was referee. Tom Howard issued a challenge to McGinnis and it was accepted."
"Will Take On Abbing"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
May 3, 1892
"In reply to Tony Abbing's acceptance of his challenge, Tom McInerney said last night: 'If Abbing wants to wrestle for a stake I will make a match with him for any time after my match with Farmer Burns, and will not wrestle him a gate-receipt match. There must be some stuff up.'"
"Abbing's Challenge"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
December 11, 1892
"Tony Abbing, the well-known heavy-weight wrestler of the Trio Club, called at The Enquirer office last night and issued a challenge to wrestle anybody in the state Graeco-Roman for from $50 to $300 a side, barring Tom McInerney and Charlie Wittmer. He would like to hear from somebody."
From a section titled "Sport"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
February 19, 1893
"Tony Abbing does not hold any championship, but next to Wittmer he is by far the best heavy-weight wrestler in the city at Graeco-Roman style. He is not yet 19 years of age, and if he keeps on improving as he has in the last year the champions will have to look to their laurels. Abbing, Lanium and Kindt are members of the Trio Athletic Club. They constitute the sole membership of this organization, and take a great interest in athletic work. All of them are hard working boys, and will have nothing to do with a match that is not strictly on its merit."
“Off for South Africa, A Trio of Athletes Start for that Far Off Country”
The Cincinnati Enquirer
June 8, 1896
“A trio of athletes, two from Cincinnati and one from Chicago, will leave Sunday night for far-off South Africa. Tempted by the stories of the rich prizes to be had in that far-off clime, Bob Carlos, the well-known light weight wrestler, of this city, and Tony Abbing, the crack heavy weight wrestler, also of this city, have decided to go to Johannesburg. They will be accompanied by George Goeble of Chicago.
Abbing and Carlos will more than hold their own in the wrestling line in pretty nearly any kind of company. Both have won their spurs by meritorious work in the vicinity, and if there are any purses offered in that country they will come near getting them. Their long journey will not be in vain even if they do not succeed in getting any matches. Both are practical workmen. Carlos is a good machinist and Abbing a carriage blacksmith. They will leave for New York Wednesday night. They will sail to Southampton and then take the Castle Line to Cape Town."
From a section titled “Baseball Gossip”
The Cincinnati Enquirer
December 21, 1896
“The friends of Bob Carlos and Tony Abbing, the well-known wrestlers, of this city, will be pleased to learn that these two Cincinnati boys are getting along successfully in far-off South Africa, where they have been for almost a year now. Last evening a letter was received from Carlos by the sporting editor of The Enquirer. Here is what he has to say:
‘Kingersforf, S. Af. Nov. 16 1806. ‘Friend Harry: I have been a long time keeping my promise, but here is a letter at last. I am now working at the West Rand mines, near here, and Tony Abbing is employed at Ferrerveria, near Johannesburg. We are both earning $130 a month and doing well. The climate here is one of the finest in the world. It is neither too hot nor too cold. It is now the beginning of summer here. We have summer in this part when it is winter in your country. The people have plenty of money and spend it like they care nothing for it. The population of the town is 105,000. The next fight down on the bills is the one between McCoy and Doughterty. Wrestling is not much thought of here: they all want fight. I receive The Enquirer every week and was sorry to see that the Reds did not get the championship. Regards to all the boys, I remain yours truly.’
Bob Carlos”
From a section titled "Match"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
December 22, 1896
"What with 'Denver' Smith, Kid McCoy, Tony Abbing and Bob Carlos in Johannesburg, Cincinnati has quite a liberal representation in South African athletic circles."
From the page, "Comment on Various Branches of Sport"
The Cincinnati Enquirer
June 2, 1912
"The death of Tony Abbing, a Cincinnati man, on the Titanic, was made known in this city last week, and caused much sorrow among his friends. Abbing was an athlete and well known in wrestling circles. He was a trainer of Charley Wittmer for several years and appeared at local clubs on numerous occasions when the wrestling game was good. Abbing left the city for Johannesburg, South Africa, in June 1898, with Bob Carlos, also well known in local wrestling circles. He came back to the Queen City 11 years ago, but returned after a visit to his folks. Abbing is supposed to have considerable money on his person when he drowned. He was coming home to attend a family reunion, and the news of his death was not made known until after considerable correspondence with the steamship people. He was to have made the voyage on the steamship Philadelphia, but missed connections and took the ill-fated Titanic. Abbing was 42 years of age and single. His mother resides in St. Bernard. Two young boxers from Wales bound for Pittsburgh were also lost on the same boat."
Additional Information
The People’s Theater original picture https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/63864
Greco-Roman Style wrestling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_wrestling
Ernest Roeber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Roeber
Two Welsh Titanic passengers who were boxers
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