Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-20
WRESTLING. TURNING ON
 THE LIGHT
Fakine Nat Artists Exposed
 In New York-Eeeberg
 and Fleming Nay Join the i List of Conf idence rMen.at

Some weeks ago the sporting editor of the Democrat called attention to the fact that the biggest fakirs ill the world. as regards sports, lived right in New York. The article referred in particular to the wrestling game as it is conducted in New York, and Ernest Roeber was mentioned as one of the biggest of fakirs. On top of this comes conclusive proof of the fake game practiced down there. by the facts laid bare by a sporting writer in New York under the nom de plume of Left Hook His remarks about Roeber. Fleming. Egeberg, ct al are very interesting and may be digested very easily. They are as follows:
 Now about that boil on Egeberg. It certainly was fierce looking boil. But it proved that q man can have q boil on his shoulder and still not be 50 warm. That is, Fleming proved it.
 Was it fake? Well. it sure did have all the earmarks, but then you never can tell. The fact that Egeberg quit is a point in favor of it's having been on the level. He might just as well have lost on a sensational fall if it was fixed.
 But there were great many dam- aging evidences that it was all pre- ,,,.,,,.,,l troo n,opx, of tho elan Soem- ed to be thoroughly wise. tg
 For instance. l overheard George Bothner say that Egebers would win the first fall, but Fleming would win the match. This was during one of the preliminaries.
 Ernest Roeber, the former cham- pion, who is one of the Egeberg camp. did not bet cent on Egeberg, despite the fact that the Dane downed Pien- ing so easily in their first match, and there was every indication that he could do it again if he had to.
 What Roeber money was bet and Of fered for bets was not bet by Ernest himself. He came to the hall with about S3 cents. and left with the same amount. But there was great deal of money that "smelled' Roeber be- ing offered about the Palace by Third avenue Germans on Fleming to win.
 If the match was not fake. Ege- berg showed himself to be a most vel low dog. I admit a bail is painful thing, but it does not incapacitate one if he has any grit at all. and having started Egeberg had no right to quit simply because it hurt.
 In the first bout there was no sign from Egeberg's work that the boil handicapped him. He did just about as he pleased with the Butcher Boy. In fact, several wrestlers around the ringside said that Fleming does not class with the Dane at all. In the first match up at Sulzer's saw Ege- berg easily break several hammer locks that Fleming had on him that were even harder than the one by which the Butcher Boy gained the second fall on Wednesday night.
 But the principal thing tbatsstamps the affair as fake was money of- ferel on Fleming after the Dane had gained the first fall. Certainly one would be a fool to bet and even offer to, 1 on Fleming right after Egeberc had shown clearly that he was his master. unless of course he knew that the thing was fixed.
 There is one thing certain. That match has put the kibosh on the sport here for quite a while. There that bunch who were running. the. go had corralled 4.O0O people at good prices. Had they given them a good. fair and square bout with Egeberg the winner, as he should have been. Madison Square Garden would not have been biz enough to hold the crowd that would pay to see Egeberg wrest!e Frank Gotch. But as it Is now. they will be lucky to get one hundred per sons to see Egeberg again. even if they give free tickets.
 If this Butcher and Great Dane fsame being a species of dog> gre framing up a return match, would respectfully advise them to hifc hence.
 New York won't stand for it even If we are the most gullible suckers sIl