The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-04-09
IOWA MAN is A
WORLD CHAMPION
FRANK eoTcH DEFEATS GEORGE
HAcKENscHMIDT.
FIGHT LIKEDEMoNs FOR HOURS
Wrestling Contest in Chicago At
tracts immense Crowd - Decls-
ion Brings Great Honors
and Big Purse.


Chicago, April frank Gotch, OF
Humboldt, Iowa, American champion
wrestler, became, shortly after mid.
night this morning. champion OF the
world in addition to his former title.
After the most remarkable display OF
endurance and skill in history, he
caught George Hackenscmidt. the Rus
sian Lion. in what is known as a
flying fall, and when the Russian
arose ne gave up the match.
In addition to the title, Gotch takes
down $4,000 and numerous side bets.
The match was witnessed by record
crowd. 1t was acid at the Stock
Yards pavilion because of the excep-
tional facilities and high prices were
paid for admission For two hours
both men tried every trick for which
each was famous. Both displayed
the utmost respect for the prowess OF
the other and for eighty minutes the
contest was a series of futile Crap
ping. ducking and skillful dodging
At the expiration of that time they
finally went to the mat in the nrst
real clinch of the bout.
Gotch Gets Toe Hold.
Gotch Immediately secured ms IA
nous toe hold, but Hackenschmidt
quickly broke it. Hack in turn tried
his equally famous head grapple. but
Gotch shook him off. Once Gotch
lifted his burly opponent clear off the
mat and rushing to the side of the
arena threw the Russian with great
force but Hack quickly turned over,
avoiding a fail. Hack was up quickly
and rushed Gotch around the ring.
but the Iowan turned and pursued the
Russian. finally getting the grip which
permitted the flying fall. When the
ponderous Russian struck the mat,
squarely upon his back, he shook the
pavilion with the force of his fall. He
| was no longer the Russian Lion when
he rose, but a meek and defeated
champion.
availing Juggling and desperate scram-
bling the Russian said to Gotch;
I'm give you the match"
Referee Ed Smith at once declared
Gotch the winner.
End Comes uqekpeee dcitss.-------
The end came so ges27ers sdly thar
the great crowd on Nc yieh wiz
messed the contest ,.l ,$ely COM
prehend what had hapE -. Not
until the referee had aK.lSunced that
Hackenschmidt had surrendered the
championship of the world to Frank
Gotch did the full significance of the
event strike home. Then the excited
men swarmed into the ring, surging
about Gotch until the police came to
his rescue and drove the crowd back
| through the ropes.
The match was in most respects
sensational, but it served mainly to
show that Gotch has a defensive sys-
TEN which no one can break down.
For an hour and forty-five minutes he
eluded every attempt of the Russian
Lion to fasten a grip on him. Gotch
side.stepped, roughed his mans fea-
lures with his knuckles, butted him
under the chin, and generally wor-
ried him until the foreigner was to-
tally at loss to proceed.
Gotch Throws Him Down.
But when in the clinch that finally
came, Gotch slammed his opponent to
the mat and came within an ace OF
securing a firm toe hold, following
this by lifting Hack clear of the mat
and slamming him on his shoulders
with terrific Iorce, the European ex.
ponent was heartbroken. The lines
slowly deepened on his face, the
boots and gibes of the crowd hurt his
feelings, and after considering the
matter for a few seconds he decided
that 1t was time to quit Few of the
spectators but were willing to give
Gotch the palm. The Iowa farmer
was in the better condition, was
quicker and trickier and showed the
knowledge of the game
Hackenschmidt kept his feet well
away from Gotch's fingers. Hacken-
schmidt struggled free, but uotch
caught him for flying fall which he
could not hold They were near the
edge of the mat. Gotch with firm
grip on Hackenschmidts leg and
Juggling desperately at the Russian,
when he cried oh"
Then came the sensational end ue-
picted above.