The Detroit times., 1908-04-04
GOTCH AMERICAN WINS WRESTLING CROWN
h WHEN RUSSIAN LION QUITS LIKE YELLOW CUR
BY ARTHUR J. PEeLsR.


CHICAGO. April Frank Gotch, of
Iowa, is champion wrestler OF the
world today. after an amazing ex-
hibition OF skill and endurance, In
which the American champion met
every move OF George Hackenschmidt.
the Russian lion." wearing the big
fellow down until after two hours OF
desperate work he threw up the
sponge and acknowledged himself
beaten.
The Russian lion roared like dove.
After so minutes OF futile EFFORT TO get
hold on Gotch. during which time
neither man hit the mat for better
than fraction OF a second. Hacken-
schmidt asked for a draw.
Mahomet went 10 the mountain and
the mountain got all the worst OF the
encounter.
Rudy Unholz, the Boer fighter,
who was in Hacks corner. wept CO.
piously when the big fellow held up
his hand In token of surrender.
Jack Carkeek, the big fellow be-
hind Gotch, rushed into the ring and
kissed the Iowa wonder on both
cheeks as soon as he saw Referee
Smiths MAUI Al the dit.
Although there was never anything
like fall, except when Gotch caught
the big Fellow or guard in a corner
and tossed him Ave feet on the broad
OF his back, IL was still the most
superb exhibition of physical prowess
and condition ever seen in Chicago.
Eighteen thousand people from all
h. IYntr .1 Genr
around the ring at Dexter park pa
yllion and cheered the gladiators inn
partially until Hacks saffron stripe
made itself apparent in the request
for draw. After thatsit was Gotch
crowd and the American champion
was supported by frenzied applause
as he began TO show a lead over his
herculean opponent after the first
hour was up.
Hacks quitting came as a tremend-
Gus surprise To the crowd. and the
officials OF the match. After the big
fellows request for draw had been
denied by Referee Smith, he went
back to his work at faster clip. and
1t appeared that he had determined
to stay by his contract.
But from the instant that Hack be-
gan wavering, Gotch stiffened and
became eagerly aggressive. He was
after his huge adversary every min
ute. boring in and giving him no rest
at all.
The Russian went to the mat after
an hour and IS minutes OF continual
reaching for holds, and never hold
was obtained by either that lasted
more than few seconds.
When they went down both men
were SO exhausted that they lay
sprawled out. with Gotch on top. rest
ing. The great multitude was in
furore OF excitement.
Turn him over. Frank--you've got
him going" howled man or leather
lungs. and the house took UP the re-
frain.
Send him back TO Russia In
hack" shrieked q Gotch enthusiast.
and another shouted facetiously:
Poke him with your thumb. Frank;
he's too tired to roar"
The Russian lion was sprawled on
his stomach with his ear to the mat.
He didn't try to bridge. but content
ed himself with stiffening out either
way that Crotch reached for the Ia
nous toe hold.
Then 1t became apparent that the
test In the contest was on. Gotch
simply let his antagonist lay. Try
as he would, he could not turn the
big fellow over. and Hackenschmidt
appeared to have lost interest In the
contest He simply let Gotch work
and kept on the defensive.
Within 10 minutes OF the start
Gotch had broken out In a profuse
perspiration. His back and chest
streamed with sweat and rivers Of
lit ran on the ends of his fingers, His
hair was matter as though from a
plunge bath.
The Russian lion" kept q dry skin
for 40 minutes. and II was not until
he Was actually worried that he began
to perspire. The signs OF the times
began to appear when Hackenschmidt
constantly complained that Gotch was
|thumbing him. The big fellow was
|studiously clean In his methods.
Gotch was rather inclined to rough
II from the start.
Hackenschmidt had an abscess on
his right arm half healed. which
opened up In the first 20 minutes OF
the bout and bled profusely. Later
Ia cut appeared under his left eye.
III -