Western Times, Devon wrestling: its decline — Argus no. 1 (1878)

DEVON WRESTLING: ITS DECLINE. That this once famous sport is rapidly dying out, no one who has watched it for the past ten years can for a moment doubt. Various reasons are given as the cause, and of course the competitors come in for large share (perhaps deservedly so) of blame. But those well acquainted with the matter know that the parties chiefly to blame are those who miscall themselves the promoters.

Only a few years since a notice of an open contest was certain to attract a large number of good spectators, but now all this is changed. Scarcely any whose presence is worth anything, can be seen present. Their reasons are all alike—”‘Tis only sells now-a-day.”

Devon wrestling is much inquired after in London. Three years ago the proprietors of the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News sent eminent artists specially to Exeter for their paper of the so-called “play” which was taking place at Mount Radford. He was surprised at the tameness of what he expected to have been exciting play—scarcely anyone was present, and the wrestling was a mere sham. About the same time the Daily Telegraph in an article asked what had become of the grand old Devon wrestling. Argus.