Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-04
GOtCh WinS==HaCk=
enschmidt Quits,


| George HackenSchmidt quit in his
match with Frank Gotch for the catch
as-catch-can wrestling championship
for the world tonight, giving the title
to the Iowa man by default. After
more than two hours of unavailins
Juggling and desperate scrambling the
Russian said to Gotch: I'll give you
| the match" Referee Smith at once
declared Gotch the winner.
The end came so unexpectedly that
the great crowd of 5000 which Witness
ed the contest could scarcely compre-
bend what had happened. Not until
| the referee had announced that Hack
| "nschmdt had surrendered the cham
! pionship of the world to Gotch did the
! full significance of the event strike
| home. Then the excited men swarmed
| into the ring, surgng about Gotch until
the police came to his rescue and drove
the crowd back through the ropes.
For 1 hour and As minutes Gotch
euded every attempt of the Russian
to fasten grip on him. Gotch side
| stepped. roughed his mans features
with his knuckes, butted him under
the chin and generally worsted Hack
| enschnidt until the foreigner was at a
| loss how to proceed
| But when i'm the clinch that finally
came. Gotch slammed his opponent
| down on the mat and came with in an
ace of getting a toe hold and following
this up by lifting Hackenschmidt clear
of the mat and throwing him on his
shoulders with great force. the Europ-
can was broken. The lines deepencd
in his face, the boots of the crowd
hurt his feelings and after considering
the matter for a few seconds. he de-
| cded that it was time to quit.
| Few of the spectators but were will
ing to give Gotch full credit for his
victory. The Iowa farmer was in the
| better condition. was quicker and
trickier and showed Il better knowledge
| of the game.
| 1t was 6.45 o'clock when Tommy
Rooney and Young Jenkins began the
! first preliminary contest at 116 pounds.
Rooney won in s minutes. As seconds.
Young Billty downcd Ernest Lyn-
burg in 14.32 The men weighed 1913
pounds. Ted Tonneman and Dick Tor
ransen met at AS pounds. Torrensen
won with a toe hold Time 12.4. Ameri
Gus, 4 baltimore NItStlti, llld't Hliol I
work of Harry Laudenback of Chica-
go downing the local heavyweight in
1.J9 with bar-lock and crotch hold.
The fifth preliminary brought Mort
Henderson and William Demctrai to-
gcther. Demetral won in $40.
in the next match Emil Stegcmuller,
Hack.nschmidt's wrestling partner.
agreed to throw Henry Ortmann of
Minneapolis in 10 minutes. To the de-
light of the crowd Ortmann took the
offensive He flung the hurley German
on the mat and for seven minutes gave
Stegnluller no chance to get a hold.
During the last minutes Ortmann was
on the defensive, but managed to
w;ggIe out of all holds and easily
stayed the limit.
Hackenschmidt entered the ring at
1914 Gotch followed three minutes
later. Time was called at 1925.
First bout-Hackenschm crouched
and they spared with Gotch circline
around for three minutes. Then Hack
enschmidt clnched, but they broke
again Gotch seemed nervous. but the
champion was cool After 10 minutes
of Juggling Gotch started to roughing
it and Hackenschmidt kept his temper
with difficulty.
Hackenschmidt finally tried for a
body grip but could not reach Gotch,
The Russian complained to the referee
about Gotch's butting. He missed a
leg hold next A half hour of hauling
and sparring failed to satisfy The
crowd.