The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-01-12
SUDDEN RISE TO FAME OF
WRESTLER FRANK A. GOTCH
o. IOWA.
Clears Up Large Amount of Money in
the kiondike-ss Matched to
Wrestic Jenkins.

HUMBOLDT, Iowa, Jan. 12.-F'rank
| \. Cotch, who only a few years ago,
was living on a farm near Humboldt
and battling for the wrestling suprem-
! acy among the neighborhood boys and
| known outside of his own DeighD0r-
hood, IS today noted al! over the Unit
ed States. Alaska and Canada, for his
great wrestling skill. He is to meet
Tom Jenkins Of Cleveland sonae time
this month for the championship of
America, catch-as- catch-can style
Seven years ago Gotch possessed
nothing that would characterize him
as wrestler but strength and physi-
cal build. Since then he has gradually
added to those qualities the skill which
has brought about his wonderful sue
sess
One of his first matches was with
Mcleod, former champion of the
United States. II took place on the
ground, and at the end of one hour
and seven minutes the farmer boy sue
cun1bed; but though defeated, it was
really victory for it displayed the
| latent power of Gotch. Soon that vet
! eran Of the mat Farmer" Burns, re-
cogniZing the ability OF Gotch. took
! him under his wing. where GOtch
trained, got wise to- the fine points
Of the game.
i 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 wrestl-
er of Iowa, after a long series of vic
tories; defeated Ole Shellenberger
state champion of Michigan: D. A. Nc
Millin, all vound wrestling champion
Of Iowa: j. H. Galentin, champion of
Nebraska; Michael Grove, at one time
famed for his wrestling victories, and
many other noted men.
| Finally he could find no one to wres-
tie with him without his giving up very
| heavy odds. So he decided to leave
| the United States and departed for
the gold fields of Klondike, where he
| found his face and fame were I'M
! known. Taking the name of Frank
| Kennedy, he innocently set out from
| Dawson. up creek, as a young mi
ner, and was soon engaged washing
| gold dust out of the sand.
| One day while in camp he happened
! to wrestle and defeat bully. He soon
was doing a fairly good business.
clearing uD $4,000 in two matches
Down at Dawson, White, a crack
wrestler Of Alaska, put up s250O for a
bout with Kennedy, which the young
miner" soon covered. The papers all
predicted defeat for Kennedy. but the
next morning they said: white was
like wax in Kennedy's grip Gotch's
last big match was for the champion
snip OF Alaska, Silas Archer. then the
holder, next challenging. But he also
was defeated, and Kennedy won s1S.-
$40 and the Alaskan championship. He
soon after returned to his home in
Humboldt, bringing with him $4,000
the net profits for his little trip OF
! six months.
The year after his return from tbs
klondike, in 1902, Gotch went after
the championship of America and los,
20 Tom Jenkins in Cleveland, Ohio
April "a. 1903. Cleveland is Jenkins
home town, and those who saw the
match say that Gotch received very
unfair treatment. They even say that
Gotch really had Jenkins down more
than once, but nothing could win
iagainst the officials. At the end of an