The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-08
Champion Is Finest Specimen
of Physical Manhood Ever
Seen in Birmingham
SAYS FOOTBALL is LIKE
PLAY BESIDE WRESTLING
Gotch Talks Interestingly of His Work.
Is Full of Ambition to Become
Champion of the
World

Frank Gotch, the champion heavyweight
wrestler of America, is perhaps the most
superb man, from a physical standpoint,
who ever visited Birmingham. There is
not any part of his body out of proper
ton with any other part. He is Just tall
enough for his weight His head sits at
just the right angle. and is just the
proper size. His shoulders are broad and
muscular, though not spoiled by an alb
normal muscular development
While the muscles of the body make
their presence known when the wrestler
is under exertion, when he is in natural
repose, one is impressed with the hid
den strength that seems to permeate the
entire frame, for on the arms and along
the legs, there is no abnormal develop
ment to mar the outward appearance
Gotch is an example of the perfect
type of physical manhood,
His Tactics.
On the mat one is impressed with the
case with which Gotch handles an adver-
sary. He stoops down, lifts a weight of
bone and flesh with comparative ease.
that would mako one less strong exert
himself to the limit. His quickness, agil-
itY and activity, when IL is remembered
that lie is a large man, is wonderful. His
skill as a wrestler is unsurpassed. He is
cool always, and as a possessor of skill
in the art of wrestleing, his equal is not
In America, arS1 probably will never be.
The attacks of the champion are directed
chiefly to an opponents legs, and it is
by twisting the lower limbs of his adj
versares that his fame has become spread
abroad. After getting a hold on the toe,
he twists the leg until the shoulders of
the stoutest adversary must go to the
mat to save broken bone,
Gotch owes his early training to the
veteran wrestler whose shoulders he
pinned to the mat last night. Burns was
champion of America after defeating
Stranger Lewis After all asprants
had been conquered. he took things east
". resting on his laurels. Two youngsters
began a course of lessons under the mas
ter and these men. both being of greater
strength and heavier than Burns event
ually defeated him. They were Tom Jen-
kins and Frank Gotch. Gotch then de-
feated Jenkins and became champion OF
America Several times, after losing the
championship, Burns has met Gotch, but
he has never been able to win back the
title, and never will.
WOFlQS OT1dHtpiOHSii'P'
Last night many people in the vast
audience at the Southsde Skating audi
forum were under the impression that
Gotch was the son-in-law of Farmer
Burns This impression is erroneous. The
two. however. live very close TO eacIl
other in Iowa, often see each other, ana
have for each other the warmest friend
ship. 1t is remembered that on several
occasions after downing an opponent
Rnrns has stated that Gotch was ms
sunerior Last night, after being defeated,
Tho veteran grasped the hand OF the
chamnion and in the interchange of the
handshake. there was not the slightest
animosity. Burns has said all along that
C.otcb could defeat him, and after TINS
feat was performed, he did not appear lof
sympathy. Local admirers OF Burns, VINO
appreciate his value as wrestler anu
his apparent honesty, are glad that no
one other than the champion oi AaIiei 10
defeated him. Last nights event was the
only one that ever went against Burns
in Birmingham.
There is lust the slightest probability
that Gotch might become the champion
wrestler of the world. He claims the
championship of America at present. ana
between him and the worlds champion
ship is but one man-George 1achen-
schmidt. considered the best. Efforts are
on foot at present seeking to bring about
a meeting between the two in st. Louis In
April Gotch is ready, willing and anxious
to meet the Swedish champion, but that
Individual is holding back on the old plat
form: "He is not worthy of my steel,
HE is not in my class" and the IKE. nc
refers to Gotch as an ordinary wrestler.
There is a possibility that Goteh is not
as great mat man as Is Hackenschmidt,
hut the Swede is in error when he terms
Gotch ordinary No ordinary man could
have defeated Farmer Burns. II TOOK
more than an ordinary man to defeat
Tom Jenkins.
Favors Boxing.