The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-06
WINS FORTUNE
UPON THE MAT
SUDDEN Rise ITO Is, FAME OF
WRESTLER, FRANK "A. GoTCH.
Six Years Ago He Was Unknown
Outside Humboldt, Iowa - Now
Matched With Tom Jenkins
Cleans Up $4,000 in the Klondike.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Humboldt, Iowa, Jan. 5.-Frank A.
Gotch, who only a few years ago, was
living on a farm near Humboldt and
battling for the wrestling supremacy
among the neighborhood boys land
who five or six years ago was hardly
known outside of his own .neighbor-
hood, is to-day, noted all over the
United States, Alaska and Canada, for
his great wrestling skill. He is to meet
Tom Jenkins of Cleveland some time
this month for the championship Of
America, catch-as-c atch-can style.
Seven years ago Gotch possessed
nothing that would characterize him
as a wrestler but strength and physi-
cal build. Since then he has gradual
ly added to those qualities the skill
which has brought about his wonder
full success.
One Of his first matches was with
Mcleod, a former champion of the
United States. 1t took place on the
ground, and at the end of one hour
and seven minutes the farmer boy
succumbed; but tho the defeat was
really victory, [, for it displayed the
latent power of Gotch. Soon that vet
eran of, the mat Farmer" Burns, rec
ognizing the ability of Gotch, took
him under his wing, where Gotch
trained, "got wise to" the fine points
of the game. ..
About four years ago Gotch gave
up farm work and went into wrestling
exclusively. Victory after victory fol-
lowed in his footsteps. He soon be-
came the undisputed champion wrest-
Ter of Iowa, after a long series of
victories; defeated Ole Shellenberger,
state champion of Michigan; D. A.
| McMilhn, all round, wrestling cham
| pion of Iowa; J. H. Galentin, cham
pion of Nebraska;, Michael Grove, at
one time famed for his wrestling vic
tories, and many other noted men.
Finally he could find no one to
wrestle with him without his giving
UP very heavy odds. So he decided
to leave the United States and de-
parted for the gold fields of Klondike,
where his fame and face were I'M
known. Taking the name of Frank
Kennedy, he innocently set out from
| Dawson, cup creek, as a young
miner, and soon was engaged washing
gold dust out of the sand.
! One day while in camp he hap
pened to wrestle and defeat a bully.
/ He soon was doing a fairly good
business, clearing up $4,000 in two
matches. Down at Dawson, White,
a crack wrestler of Alaska, put up
$4,000 for bout with Kennedy,
which the young miner soon COW
cred. The papers all predicted defeat
for Kennedy, but the next morning
they said: white was like wax in
Kennedy's grip Gotch's last bic
1 match was for the championship OF
Alaska, Silas Archer, then the hold
! er, next challenging. But he also
was defeated, and Kennedy wor
S18,640 and the Alaskan champion
ship. He soon after returned to his
home In Humboldt, bringing with him
100000. the net profits for his little
1 trip Of six months.
The year after his return from the
Klondike, in 1902, Gotch went after
the championship of America and los
to Tom jenkins in Cleveland, Ohio
April "a, 1908. Cleveland is Jen
Eins' home town, and those who saw
the match say that Gotch received
very unfair treatment. They ever
say that Gotchs really had Jenkin.
| down more than once, but nothing