Clarence Whistler

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. ==Career==

While working at the foundry his friends, who had been impressed with his strength, such as carrying a iron bar for , arranged a match in February 1879 (or January 1878) with Louis Marc (or Lucien Marc In the term of the day, the two bitter rivals "wrestled for blood". The match began at 8:30 pm and lasted nearly four hours. Whistler's left collarbone was broken when he was slammed harshly by Muldoon to the mat. He was visibly maimed. Whistler refused to quit the match, but the doctor disallowed him to continue, thus stopped it. Muldoon claimed the victory. The injury had a temporary healing effect on the friendship of the two. After Whistler physically healed up, he challenged Muldoon again. In their third and final match in March 1884, the two men wrestled to a defensive standstill and agreed to a draw after three hours and 10 minutes of wrestling. When the question of who initiated the draw of their third match arose, the two men again split, as business partners, bitterly never to rejoin. Muldoon left for the East as interest in the sport waned in California. Whistler stayed West and languished in bouts that generated limited public interest. In a bid to rejuvenate his career, he finally entered boxing and was soundly trounced. Headlining at the old Wigwam Theater in San Francisco on January 30, 1885, Whistler was knocked out by local pro Jack Brady in the first round. Despite the disastrous results, Whistler indicated an interest in pursuing boxing further. ==Death==

Shortly after the boxing fiasco, "all round athlete" and longtime claimant to the Greco-Roman wrestling championship "Professor" William Miller invited Whistler to tour Australia as an athlete and wrestler, and meet Miller at the end of the tour to settle the championship question between them. Whistler accepted. After a string of victories Down Under, Whistler defeated Miller in September 1885 at the Theatre Royal on Bourke Street in Melbourne, for the Graeco-Roman championship. In celebration of his championship victory, he engaged in a reckless, month-long celebration and contracted pneumonia. By November 6, he was dead. Sources referring to the nature of his early death are conflicting. Some suggest that the illness was caused by excess alcohol consumption during celebration. Other sources purport that Whistler's condition was complicated by him either biting the tops off champagne bottles for side bets or eating a whole champagne glass. Whistler was buried in Melbourne General Cemetery with Miller as one of his pallbearers. He was memorialized by fellow athletes, including Muldoon, and the sports world at large as the most courageous athlete of his time. ==Notable opponents==

• William Muldoon • "Professor" William Miller • Joe Acton • Donald Dinnie • Edwin Bibby ==Championships and accomplishments==

• American/World Mixed Style Championship • Australian Heavyweight Championship • St. Louis International Wrestling Tournament winner, Graeco-Roman • Catch-as-catch-can Heavyweight Championship • World Heavyweight Championship ==See also==