Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-13
CO1CH IN SPLENDID FORM
Futs Farmer Burns to the Nat for Two
Straight Falls.
TOO HEAVY AND TOO sTRONs FOR FARMER
In Spite OF the Hnndicap the BiE Rock
Man Puts Up Fine Contest
GOtch Displays Remark
able speed.

Frank Gotch, champion heavyweight
wrestler Of the world, clearly demonstrated
that he outclassed Fafmer Burns at the
Auditorium Tuesday night before 1900 peo-
pie, who filled nearly every seat in the
big building when he won in two straight
falls Burns had the big crowd with him,
but that awaited him naught against his
heavier adversary. Gotch was ia another
class than the Farmer, being clearly a
heavyweight who would have to fear no
mao, no matter how large. For physical
development the statement was heard on
all sides that never was better built man
shown before an Omaha crowd. He had
the speed of a featherweight and was de-
veloped from head to foot. Some wrestlers
have overdeveloped shoulders but not 50
the mighty Gotch, whose leg work was
marvellous. ''-
Burns is pretty shifty himself, but not
once did he gain a perceptible advantage
over his heavier adversary, which he was
able to maintain. Omaha people have
heard of the Gotch toe hold, but they
never realized what its terror was until
they saw the way Gotch grabbed the
Farmer with his great strength he was
able to get that toe hold and hold 1t until
the lines Of Farmer Burns face clearly
showed the pain he was causing.
Gotch showed many new points in the
wrestling game which were a novelty to
the Omaha public. After he had gained an
advantage by getting behind Burns he
did not start right out after a half or
full Nelson, or even a hammerlock, but
worked for some advantage by the use OF
his legs, and also by striving to get a
crotch or toe hold on the Farmer.
Burns Makes Good Showing.
For all he was outclassed Burns put up a
remarkable exhibition and several times
tore loose from a hold which looked like a
winner. Gotch outweighed him by over
thirty pounds and clearly showed It and by
his greater activity and strength had Burns
on the defensive most Of the time. in fact,
all of the second fall. Gotch demonstrated
his great strength at one time by rising
up and carrying the Farmer with him
when Burns had him down on the mat.
They wrestled for seven minutes without
either gaining an advantage and then the
Farmer got him to the mat and tried for
half Nelson. Gotch got away. Gotch had
a disagreeable way of pushing his left
shoulder forward and leading with 1t just
as a pugillst leads with his left duke.
Gotch was pushed on the platform and
then came back with FIRE in his evc and
BOON had a vicious toe hold on the Farmer.
Gotch won the admiration OF all by the
way he could handle himself. He was as
nimble as kitten and always on the ag
gressive. He got leg hold on Burns and
connected It with a half Nelson, but Burns
was able to turn away and put It to his
advantage. The two farmers from Iowa
were not at all gentle In their treatment
Of each other and several times the strength
-. Ia A.
platform. Gotch finally got a toe hold
and then half Nelson. He then got
the Farmers head between his legs
and getting him in a dsfenseless position
soon wore him to the mat In just thirty
minutes. s.
Champion g. Aggressive.
The champion went after the Farmer
right from the call Of time for the second
fall and soon had a toe hold and half
Nelson. but Burns escaped and got away
altogether. Gotch soon had the Farmer
down again and for twenty minutes was
straining every muscle to get the Farmer
to the mat by toe holds and every other
known device, but Burns finally got away
and got a toe hold on Gotch, but was able
to do little with him. After Gotch thought
he had sufficiently rested from his hard
work he caught the Farmer for a ham,
merlock and then by Simply wearing him
out forced him to the mat In twenty-nine
minutes, making straight falls for the
champion.
Pete Loeb was referee and Manager Gil
Ian OF the Auditorium took occasion TO
congratulate Loeb in public for the splen-
did wrestling exhibition he had pulled OF.
The first preliminary was a ffteen-minute
bout between Gray and Johanson, with no
fall. The second was between Flanagan
and Finnigan, or rather, between Ed
Morgan and one OF his heavier pupils.
Each secured a fall. Pete Loch's quartet,
under a new name sang a few songs.