Clarence Whistler
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| Born |
February 24, 1856 Delphi, Indiana, US |
|---|---|
| Died | November 6, 1885 (aged 29) Melbourne, Australia |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Kansas Cyclone Kansas Demon Wonder of the West Omaha Demon |
| Debut | February 1879 |
Clarence Whistler (February 24, 1856 - November 6, 1885) was a professional athlete and champion Greco-Roman wrestler of the 1880s. As the main rival to William Muldoon in wrestling of the early 1880s, he was best remembered for his unusual strength, indifference to pain and early death. He wrestled three famous bouts with Muldoon, totaling over 14 hours.
Whistler was born in 1856 (possibly February 24, 1856) in Delphi, Indiana, US to C. C. Whistler and Leah Catharine Snyder and was the oldest of eight children. By 1878 he had moved to Iowa where he worked as a foundryman and was known for his strength.
While working at the foundry his friends, who had been impressed with his strength, such as carrying a 1,300 lb (590 kg) iron bar for 30 ft (9.1 m), arranged a match in February 1879 (or January 1878) with Louis Marc (or Lucien Marc). The match, which lasted for an hour, was won by Whistler in two straight falls. Whistler went on to fight Andre Christol in a four-hour match that ended in a draw. This was followed by a tour of the Western United States with Christol, who taught Whistler the fundamentals of wrestling.
In 1881 Whistler's financial backers brought him into New York City to challenge William Muldoon, who had won his championship in Graeco-Roman wrestling from Theodore Bauer the year before. The bout, which lasted seven hours and 15 minutes, ended in a draw without either wrestler getting a fall. Muldoon claimed that Whistler had worn ammonia in his hair, which caused Muldoon's eyes to burn, and Whistler wore his fingernails long purposely to injure Muldoon.
Because of the public interest in the match, the two men formed an athletic combination and toured the country for a time, Muldoon billed as Graeco-Roman champion and Whistler billed as catch-as-catch-can champion. Personal differences and a fight over a woman bought an acrimonious end to their business agreement. Muldoon got the girl. Enmity was so great that Whistler swore he would beat Muldoon on the mat or in the street. He spent the rest of the year slandering Muldoon in the press in order to corner him into a rematch. But he would have to wait two years to get his chance.
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