Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-26
Hack ENsCHMIDT THROWN
BY AN ARMY OFFICER.

Now that Georges Hackenschmidt.
the wrestler, has placed about 1000
miles Of salt water between himself and
America his enemies are endeav0ring to
show that he is not invincible. The sto-
ry runs that in the fall Of 1901, shortly
after Hackenschmidt's first appearance,
he went to Berlin and challenged all
corners to meet him in competition on
the mat at the Greco Roman style.
Among the first to reply to this schal-
lenge by coming over the ropes was .
young German army omcer, Baron
Hans Won Lieber, lieutenant in the
gardes des corps, a regiment Of the ar
my stationed at Potsdam. near Berltns
where the imperial palace is located.
Won Lfeber, who is a perfect giant Of
about 230 pounds. ottweighing Hacken-
schmidt by more than twenty pounds
had, 1t is said, but little dificuly In dis-
posing of the man whose very name Is I
terror to English and American wres-
tiers.
Won Lieber is wonder at the game
and would undoubtedly win the highest
honors should he devote his time to II.
However, as a German officer and nos
BILE his military and social Connections
are such as to prevent him from COM
peting as professional athlete. eS3
Won Lieber, 1t seems, is not the only
European wrestler who has given
Hackenschmidt trouble. Peterson, the
Danish champion giant, weighing go
pounds, wrestled q draw with the RUS
sian lion in 1900, the year when the lat
ter entered upon his career as q wres-
tier. For two hours the pair tossed and
tumbled about striving for the hold that
would pin the others shoulders to the
mat.
At the end of that time neither had
scored a fall and neither would give up.
The referee was compelled to call It
draw and stop the match. The two have
never met since, which is perhaps wise
for Hackenschmidt, who may we'll fear
losing his worlds championship title ct
the hands Of such man.
Hackenschmidt, notwithstanding his
title of Russian Lion" Is q German by
birth, having been born In KoenigSberg,
in Pomeranian Germany The PoYnera-
mans are noted as practically the only
one OF the Teutonic nations which re-
tains in its entire purity the Teutonic
strain of blood.
They are giants IN stature, averaging
five feet eight inches in height and
ranging up to over six feet. They are
double jointed, having large boned
frames, and their feet are seldom under
nine In size.
Bismarck, the great German dictator.
who was a giant Of over six feet In
height, was a Pomeranian, AZ II also
Eugene Sandow. the worlds champion
strong man. In this section OF the coun-
try wrestlers are numerous. The gigan-
tic stature Of the men, the compulsory
military and physical training in the
turner schools and gymnasiums and the
comparatively simple lives led by them
fit them for this strenuous game as per-
haps no other training would.
They are nation Of wrestlers. ana
the average man Of them could tackle
the best men of other nations and make
a good showing against them.
Among this German contingent there
are also wrestlers Of other nationalities
who have made Germany their home
and are regarded as Germans. Among
these is Petroff, wrestler from Ger
man Poland, who weighs over ~
pounds; Nitshke. wrestler OF Berlin,
weighing 210 pounds, who holds the
German record for dumbbell lifting, and {
Zbysko, the colossal Pole. who weighs
$50 pounds.