Omaha daily bee., 1908-04-05

were willing TO give Gotch the palm The
Iowa farmer was IN the better condition,
was quicker and trickier and showed a far
better knowledge Of the game
Hackenschmidt refused to explain his
action to w. w. wittig. promoter OF the
bout, simply shaking his head ana refusing
to reply. when asked why he had not sur
rendered merely the first fall and taken
another chance with Gotch His handlers
were at loss to account for Hacken-
schmidts actions
Crowd Arrives Early.
Seldom has a sporting evcnt Of similar
character aroused so much interest IN Chi
cago and the surrounding cities as did the
big wrestling match between George
Hackenschmidt and Frank Gotch. All day
visitors were arriving from outside points.
More than a score came from Gotchs home
town, Humboldt, Ia, almost 200 came from
Kansas City and a big delegation from MIL
waukee. while 81. Paul. Minneapolis
Omaha, indianapolis. Detroit. ST. Louis
Cincinnati and scores Of smaller towns were
represented. Added to these we're thou
sands OF Chicagoans.
The crowd began arriving early. but the
for seats was noticeable Half an hour
before the doors were opened there were
lines a block long waiting before the en-
trance to the big building. BY the time
the preliminary bout was begun the big
building was nearly half full and streams
of spectators gave no Indication OF idi.
minishing. The building was admirably
adapted for the event. Seats had been pro-
vided for 1000 spectators and in addition
there was general admission room for 1000
more. The structure Is 200 feet wide and
$40 feet long. the arena in the center OF
which the ring was pitched being 2i0 feet
long and 100 feet wide. Back of this and
running around the building were tiers
Of seats which extended back in the big
building. A battery Of twelve arc lights
and fifty vapor lamps Illuminated the
stage.
w. w. Wittig, who promoted the bout
and brought Hackenschmidt from Europe
had made arrangements for entertaining
the crowd before the match began. A band
OF fifty pieces played popular airs and
marches and kept the waiting thousands
in good humor.
Preliminary Bouts.
The first preliminary was scheduled for
$40 o'clock, but 1t was fifteen minutes late
in starting. Tommy Rooney and Young
Jenkins were the contestants, the weight
being llS pounds. Rooney won In eight
minutes and forty-five seconds
In the second preliminary Young BIlliter
downed Ernest Lindberg in 1882. The men
were 1873 Founders.
The program brought Ted Tenneman and
Dick Torrenson together in the third at 145
pounds. Torrenson won with a toe hold
Time: 1874.
'Americus," a Baltimore wrestler, made
short work of Harry Laudenback Of Chi
cago, winning in 1:5s with bar lock and
crotch hold.
William Demetral won the fifth bout,
defeating Mort Henderson in $40.
In the semi-windup Emil Stegemueler,
Hackenschmidt's wrestling partner agreed
to throw Henry Ortmann of Minneapolis in
ten minutes. To the delight of the crowd
Ortmann took the offensive. He slammed
the burly German TO the mat and for seven
minutes gave stegemueller no chance to
get hold. The last three minutes Ort-
mann was on the defensive, but managed
TO wriggle out of all holds and easily stayed
the limit. He was roundly cheered.
Hsckenschmidt entered the ring at 1914
p. m. Gotch followed three minutes later.
The principals and referee. Edward w.
Smith, were photographed in a half dozen
positions. Then the men were called for
final instructions. Time was called at 1928. !
big Bout Begins.
Hackenschmidt crouched and they
spared. with Gotch circling around This
Jockeying continued three minutes. then |
Hack clinohed, but they broke again. Gotch |
seemed nervous, but the champion was cool. |
to, 90 =
to rough It and Hack kept his temper with |
difficulty.
Hackenschmidt finally tried for body |
grip. but could not reach Goteh The Rus
sian complained TO the referee about Gotch /
butting. He missed leg hold next. A
half hour Of hauling and sparring failed TO |
satisfy the crowd.
Fifty minutes after the bout started
Hackenschmidt slapped Gotch to the mat.
The latter bounded n his feet and the
pulling and hauling continued. An old cut
under Hacks left eye was opened and bled
profusely.
Both missed leg and body holds Gotch
taking THO offensive for the first time.
One hour iafter the start nothing approach
ing a hold had been gained by either man.
Fifteen minutes more Of the tiresome
work followed. Then HRckenschmidt sud
denly attacked with fury. But Gotch wrig-
gled away and the shoulder to shoulder
tactics began again.
Gotch's defensive work puzzled Hacken-
schmidt completely. After an hour and
three-quarters of fruitless attempts to get
a hold he Strengthened up and looked at
his opponent with disgust written in every
feature.
Come on, wrestle," said Gotch.
The crowd cheered the American.
AT 1915 Hackenschmdt asked the referee
10 call 1t draw, but referee Smith told
them TO continue. They wrestled all over
the ring, then went down. ootch on top
Hackenschmidt slipped from a toe hold.
Haekenschmidt kept his feet well away
from Gotch's fingers. Hackenschmidt