I mean, Barney Smith was probably dead under the best of circumstances. He went to the finals of American pro wrestling’s first-ever major championship tournament in 1870. But, as we have been researching for a long time now, there seemed to be no clear evidence he died at the hands of Col. James H. McLaughlin in that 1870 tournament. Now, however, two well-known wrestling historians, Jason Campbell and Mark Hewitt, have independently found a source 14 years after the tournament that alludes to Barney Smith’s death and some details on it.
Today on 1000 Hours, we look at this new information. This is hour 38.
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