The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-18
COTCH.
Defeated Wrestler Beell in Two
Straight Falls.
Contest at Kansas City Seen by
an 5000 Audience.
VTCTORV A CT.EAN ONE
VICTORY A CLEAN ONE.
At No Time During Bout Was
Claim of Foul Lodged.
First Fall in 10 Minutes, Second
in Thirty EIGHT.

Kansas City, Dec. 1S.-Before 5000
persons in Convention hall last night
Frank Gotch legained the American
wrestling championship by defeating
Fred Beelb his conqueror in New Or
leans some three weeks ago. Gotch won
in two straight falls. Not only did the
man from Iowa dispose of the short
term" champion, but he did it so clev-
erly that eight out of every ten per-
sons who witnessed the mighty strug
gle left the hall fully convinced that
Goteh was the victim of a huke when
he relinquished hold of the title in the
southern city.
The victory was a clean one. Not
once during the time the men were on
the mat was a claim of foul lodged and
at no time was the contest blOOdthirsty-
1t is true that both men were rough,
but it must be remem bered that wrest-
ling Is no parlor game. 1t was a grand
struggle while it lasted. BeeH was al
ways the aggI essor, but even when
chasing Gotch around the mat it was
plain to the vast crowd that only a
miracle could save the game little fell
low from defeat. Gotch won the first
fall in 10 minutes and 16 seconds and
the second and deciding fall in So min
utes and 16 seconds.
The crowd was nearly all for Gotch.
Even the fact that Beell appeared like
watch charm compared with the
crowd cheered wildly whenever Gotch
would secure a dangerous hold or break
away from a lock when on the mat. In
the first fall Been was the aggressor,
although he was outweighed fully 30
pounds and was badly handicapped by
height and reach.
When the gong rang Beell rushed at
his man as If in a hurry to finish mat
ters and to the surprise. of the crowd
Gotch took the defensive. 90 He allowed
BeeH to carry the battle for fully ten
minutes before he decided to take q
hand in the affair. Finally, after Beell
had thrown GOtch to the mat with leg
hold the big fellow broke away and
became aggressive. He took hold of
Master Beell and slammed him to the
canvas as If he was a child, but the
little fellow was elusive and time and
time again he squirmed out of holds
that presaged defeat. At one time and
one time only did Been have a chance
TO win the match. 1t was after Is
minutes OF wrestling in the first bout.
Gotch slipped to the mat and like a
flash Been pinned him with croach
few seconds as though the little fellow
was going to make good his New Or
leans victory. but Gotch had plenty in
reserve and. breaking away. he threw
BeeH heavily against the ropes.
By this time the crowd had settled
down. expecting a long, weary struggle.
The next second they were on their
feet cheering Frank Gotch, winner of
the uTSI 1d4I ne Ilfl1Sn was SpeCtdCQ-
lar. Bell had a head lock and ap-
parently he was carrying Gotch to the
mat, but suddenly the big fellow grab
bed him by the ankles and before tn Re
crowd knew what happened Beell was
sent flying through the air. He went
completely over Gotch's shoulders and
landed on his head and before he
could recover himself the Iowan piled
on him and pinned his shoulders to the
mat with an English cross lock. Beell
looked dazed. 1t was an awful fall and
it probably took the speed away from
the Wisconsin grappler. 3a9
However, BeelE was given plenty of
time TO rest. According to the rules of |
wrestling a rest Of ten minutes be- !
tween falls is the limit, but a boxing
bout was sandwiched in and by the
time the men were called to the ring
again Freddie had twenty-four minutes
in which to nurse his sore head. Been