The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-09
Frank Gotch of Iowa Has Be-
come Great Wrestler.
Rapid Rise Of a Muscular Ath'
Iete from the Farm.
HIS CAREER In ALASKA
Went There to Take Gold from
the Placer Mines.
Came Back With $4,000 Won
In Wrestling Bouts.

Humboldt. Ia, Feb "A farm near
here has contributed the new champion
wrestler of the United States. Frank
Gotch. By defeating Tom Jenkins of
Cleveland. heretofore premier on the
mat, last week Gotch has attained I'M
disputed pre-eminence.
Two years ago. at Sioux City, on the
occasion of Gotchs first match after
beginning his professional career in
Alaska, Farmer Burns, Gotch's teacher,
announced:
There's nobody in Iowa tonight this
man cannot throw. He is open to chal-
lenge. Within two years he will throw
Jenkins Just remember that, people"
This was in February. 1902 On the
night of January %, at Bellingham,
weeks up. Gotch met Jenkins. Once
before the two had met, when Gotch
claimed he had been robbed of the
match. This time Gotch actually out
classed his opponent, winning two
straight falls and showing the crowd
of 5000 persons that the man who had
been champion six years was helpless
in his grips.
Scarcely more than a bov-he is now
only 26-Gotch has more than fulfilled
Burns expectations. The muscles he
found as plodding farm hand have
crushed the proudest athletes. In an
exhibition of the power of his muscles
he once lay on a mat and Farmer
Burns sought to throw him. Burns
pecked away at him. lifting first one
end OF him and then the other and
at the close of the time allowance
GOtch, every muscle drawn taut was
occupying the same place on the mat
If Gotch hadn't gone on a jaunt to
Alaska three years ago it is hard to
tell whether his prowess as wrestler
would have come to light. Gotch went
to Alaska to take gold out of placer
mine. He came back in six months
with $4,000. but he didn't take 1t out of
a placer mine.
Gotch, working under the name of
claim of James Brown on the creek above
Dawson. In d friendly scuffle a few
some reputation as wrestler. The next
day he was challenged by Bill Muir
dock, the best man on the hill. few
nights later they met on a hard floor of
saloon. In four minutes Gotch had his
man on his back and had pocketed $500.
Two lightweight wrestlers near Dawson
heard about the newcomer and when they
put up $500 and offered the gate re-
He agreed to th4vow them both in hour
and he left half an hour before the time
White, next to the best in Alaska, and
met him at Dawson for a bet of $500.
Big money was on White. but to the as
tonishment of all Gotch won three falls
in IS minutes and cleared $500 in purse,
side bets and gate receipts.
Gotch having defeated all but Silas
Archer. champion of Alaska. Archer be-
came interested in the boy miner and put
fall. Archer was not alone champion
of Alaska. but old resident and local
pride backed him. Miners from all over
the Klondike came to the match and
brought their dust along. Standing room
was fought for $40. Values run high
in the Klondike and next day the Dawson
papers said more was up on the match
than any of the kind ever held in the
world. Gotch took the aggressive and in
IS minutes and IL seconds pushed Archer s
shoulder blades to the mat. His total
winnings were SIS, $40.