A Cornishman’s letter: correcting the record on Cann and Polkinghorne (c.1864)

WRESTLING. CANN AND POLKINGHORNE.

SIR,—The notice in your paper of last week headed “Old Abraham Cann, the Champion Wrestler,” having caught my attention, I was startled very considerably at its contents, and I cannot allow some of the mis-statements contained in it to remain uncontradicted. I have no desire to disparage the virtues of Cann, for I believe him to have been throughout his life a man of excellent character, nor to detract from his prowess as a wrestler, for I believe he never met with his match except in Polkinghorne. I am jealous, however, for the memory of the great Cornish champion, who has long since paid the last debt of nature, and for the honour of the wrestling ring of his and my own native county.

I remember well his celebrated match with Polkinghorne. I have seen Cann more than once, and I have often met Polkinghorne, so that I can speak confidently as to the error in stating his height to be 6ft. 2in. Polkinghorne was short of 6ft. He was at the time of the match in question big and unwieldy, I admit; but that was to his disadvantage. He had long before that time ceased to wrestle, and had grown fat. In his prime he would have made shorter work of his antagonist.

The result of the match was not such as is mentioned in the paragraph in your paper. Polkinghorne was not thrown, but Cann was. The match was played for two back falls out of three. The first fall was given by Polkinghorne, and pronounced in his favour by the umpires. Then there was a “turn” in favour of Cann, which was pronounced “no fall,” and finally, after another long and laborious struggle, Cann was thrown a second back fall. Polkinghorne at once threw his jacket into the air, and the Cornishmen present rushed in and carried out their champion on their shoulders before the umpires had pronounced the “fall,” which was against the rule of the ring, and for that reason, and that only, the match was declared undecided.

Polkinghorne was dreadfully punished by Cann’s kicks, who wrestled in the Devonshire style—with shoes on, the soles of immense thickness, and seasoned for the purpose (I have been credibly informed that he could kick a shaving out of an oak plank with the shoes used on this occasion)—whilst Polkinghorne wrestled in the Cornish style—without shoes, and with unpadded legs. Polkinghorne again challenged Cann in 1827, offering to stake 500l. to Cann’s 400l., but the latter declined.

The above facts will be found narrated in the provincial papers, and in Bell’s Life in 1826 and 1827.
A CORNISHMAN.