The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
Thousands viii Witness Match
Between Champion Gotch
and Farmer" Burns
WRESTLING Is EXCELLED
HERE ONLY BY BASEBALL
Little Stories About the Big Men Who
VIII Meet Here This Week
to Determine the
Championship.
BY CHARLES FILL.

Next to baseball, always excepted, the
game of wrestling ID decidedly the most
popular form of sport in Birmingham.
Enthusiasts hero number thousands, and
each big match brings out more people
than the preceding one. The sport-loving
class admires the game, and is in the
meantime making Birmingham something
of wrestling center. There have probably
been more professional matches pulled
of in Birmingham during the past year
than any other southern city, and this
Is to be seriously reckoned with by other
cities where the game lie much older.
Just a glance back over the calendar of
the past season. There are to be seen
number of red-letter days with the wres-
tiers Interest was first attracted some
eighteen months back by the matches be-
tween Tom Griffin and Charles Hacken-
schmidt Both were good men and great
favorites After these men came Leon
hardt. Bob All, 1.-THE Terrible Turk,"
Demetrai, Wassem. Westergaard and the
invincible old Farmer Martin Burns,
Frank Gotch made one trip here TO meet
Griffin and had a walkover.
MOST interesting "dtShce'
Several matches Of interest have been
seen. When Demetral first came to Biz
ningham Hackenschmidt stood supreme.
The Swede got the decision over the
Greek on foul, and Prof. Miles began to
look around for somebody to beat Hack
enschmidt He stood well-nigh master or
the situation until Farmer" was sent
for, and then the Swede left town. The
longest match probably ever seen without
a fall was between Wassem and Deme-
trail. In two events the men wrestled
something over four and half hours,
and the match was called off. This fight
was seen during the tournament held
during last November, when the big
Dane, Westergaard, made local reputa-
ton by downing Burns in one of the falls
of their match
OF the later matches the ones between
James Parr, reputed to be the champion
of all England. and Farmer" Burns
have created interest. not alone In Biz
rningham, but In many cities in the
north Parr has a good reputation as a
wrestler In the north and east, and is
certainly good man. Some of the holds
he sprung here were new even to Burns
and a surprise for Farmer" is a surprise
indeed Burns, however. sent him out OF
town bareheaded and on his feet, and ac-
cepted the match with Gotch, to be seen
at the Southside skating auditorium on
next Thursday night.
A Study of Burns.
Farmer" Burns Is as well known In
Birmingham as any man who has lived
here all of his life. There is reason Tor
his popularity. or the numerous wres-
tiers who have visited Birmingham,
Burns has never been defeated by one.
Whenever two good men met and a hot
match followed Farmer was always
sent for to come and defeat the winner,
and he has always responded readily and
ably
He Is the best wrestler seen here in
many respects. First of all, he is gen.
tleman. Never in all his matches here
has he resorted to rough or cruel tactics
unless he was forced to do so by some
Unfair opponent. He has always put up
fair and square fights and given people
the worth of their money.
There are many who ask the question:
'In what does Burns success lie? First
Of all. he attributes much of his success
to his habits. Farmer says he avoids
dissipation as far as possible and never
uses tobacco or whisky in any FORM He
a
at home does great part of his training
out Of doors The close observer of
Rurns' wrestling will notice his ability to
keep his opponent In strained position
even though he be under him. This, or
course. tires and weakens his man. He
knows his game so well that nine times
ont of ten when he has hold on his OPP
moment. and 1t be broken, he will follow 1t
I'M with one equally as good; and fire.
ouently one will see Burns permit his OPP
moment TO secure what appears to be a
good hold. and withal he is but playing
little game He wants to get into GER
tain positions in order to secure certain
holds which he knows are good, and he Is
willing to take a reasonable chance 10
get what he wants. he is always cool,
and his mind works even faster than his
limbs He simply outclasses the ordi-
nary wrestler with his clever head work
and confidence to secure such holds he
sees fit to use There are. for this rea-
son. few men who can run in Farmers
class.
OF all the great athletes who have been
seen in Birmingham, Burns Is physically
the most deceptive man. He Is or only
moderate height. and to merely look upon
him one would hardly believe him to be
the wrestler that he is. He is now in
his forty-sxth year in the journey of
life. but says he feels like "a young kid"
and was never in better condition.
Burns-Gotch Event.
Now. just a word about that match
Thursday night. 1t will be the greatest
ever seen in the south. and will be one
that involves a title. Burns lost the title
of champion of America to Gotch a num-
Der of years ago, after training him for
it. Now he will meet Gotch again to
try to regain the lost honor. Opinion is
divided as to who will win the match.
Odds are, of course, in favor of Gotch,
but there are quite few "Missourians"
in Birmingham, and Gotch will have ito
show them" that he Is Farmers" mas
ter. The two men have not met in some
time and both have acquired greater
science and numerous new holds.
Both Burns and Gotch, being wonder
fully scientific men at the game of
wrestling the match will be brlm full of
interest and a fine bout is assured. There
are a number of tricks employed by
Gotch and Burns that are interesting to
watch. Gotch's toe hold is universally
| considered a deadly one. The half nelson
usually goes with the grasp on the toe
and when the wrenching on the ankle be-
| gins at the hands of such man as
Gotch, there are but two alternatives, to
| turn over and give up or receive badly
snrotned ankle or perhaps broken bones.