The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-05-16
Local Wrestler Is Very
Near the Champion
of the World.
Will Probably Meet GOtch
This Fall for Deciding
Match.

Roller OF Tits city. came within one
step at being acclaimed champion
wrestler ol the world az calchaa
catchcau The last barrier stand.
tug Ia the way Is Frank Gotch the
recognized title holder. who was re.
Gently awarded the decision over
Haekensehmidt. the Russian lion. as
a result of their match In Chicago.
Catch has practically recognized
Rollers claims for match. aud
that the two men will meet during
the coming fall 90 settle the quea.
ti0a of supremacy IL taken tor
granted
Reell stood uaquestionably next
70 Oolch among the topnotehcrs Of
the world This fact Il rocoEuirsd
b. th.sleadinK wrcstlers. He beat
uatch once. bat that vas some time
ago. and In hts last matches with
the present champion even HeeIl
himself acknowledged that Cotch
had Il on him Rollers victory
vas no flake. tie earned the to
falls a. fairly as ever man could
and threW Reell because he Was the
better MAJ This shows conclusive
~ that Roller il on par 9Th
Gotch. The question as Ia which Is
really the champion cannot be an.
s~sred until the two men determine
the issue on the mat
Mighty Struggle.
The recollection OF that mighty
struggle between Roller aud Hoen
viii liuEcf Ia the minds 81 those
Who saN the match for many years
70 come The hcayiuE OF the Il
tans. the little. stocky man from
Wisconsin. who has we'll earned
his epEnumea OF Demon. and the
1.-THE. towering figure Of Roller
marked a rcd letter event IN local
wrestling history The aid piaud
It, Of the spectators seemed 90
tear AZ The very foundations % the
builaing a. the two marvelnuaiy
equipped wresfiers we're fiPtHg
around GA the mat. first Roller on
top. then Haeli II vas rough
grneIinE Nork The men cut out
heart breaking pace. The chief wuu
der sas that men could condition
themselves 70 stand the pressure
GA condition there Vas little 60
choose between the men Rollers
bigger frame. longer reach and en-
ira fifteen pounds Of weight were
something Of an advantage Beell
spectacular speed made up some
what Tor this II anything. Roller
showed superior science Reeil h.
credited Nith knowing a. many of
the little tricks aud turns In the
trade a. anY wrestler living. with
the possible exception of Goteh
but the loeal man led b. a remark
ably safe margin IN the count %
points scored Several 81 his most
sensational attempts 20 heave the
slippery Beeli to the mat we're en-.
tir.iy original One IN particular.
a combination shoulder hold b.
which Roller threw Beell bodily
over him and onto the mat. a. the
same time taking a complete turn
sith hts own body while on his
knees. Wa Of such a hair raising
nature that the spectators almost
sent zild With enthusiasm
Rollers Close Call.
Roller came the nearest he ever
vas In his life 10 being thrown IN
the first heat az the match. The
local man made a quick grab FOR
Beelrs wrist and body In an en-
dsayOr 20 put him 10 the floor The
two men were slippery. however
and Rollers wrist hold slipped. and
the momentum Of his effort threw
him off his balance Roller pitch
cd forward and landed against the
mat on his head. with a shock that
seemed 60 shake the very sides Of
the auditorium Had Beell only
realized II. Roller could have been
easily thrown then. for he was al
most unconscious from the coneus
sion. and u VAS several minutes
before he could regain his faculties
But the men had been hitting such
a fast clip. aud Beell was 30 intent
on working for a good hold. that
he did not notice Rollers condition
and allowed him to crouch on the
mat until he regained fun con
sclousaesB.
From the very first call % time
the audience realized that II Was TO
be given a treat The actions Of
Beell had the indeiible stamp Of
class. Tho disparity In height was
only noticed for the first few mo.
men,s n was quickly seen that
height Vas 10 play a small part In
the game Roller held IN until
Beell started % extend himself and
thsn n was that the two went At
IL, hammer and longs The house
wes IN a psndemOnium most Of the
time. and when not applaudinR In
sheer delight. the crowd sat IN
their seats. tense and alert. watch
ing eagerly every move OF the men
on this mat
Dangerous Positions.
Since he was Is years Of age.
and be has been wrestling since be
was s. Roller has never had his
shoulders pressed TO the mat by
another man. but he came danger
Oasiy close to II with Beell Twice
the little fellow forced Roller 70
bridge. and the doctor aeknowledg
cd that he breathed a great deal
easier after he had managed 10
get clear Of the dangerous posi-
tons he occupied for a moment
The match demonstrated that
Roller Il quick and clever enough
10 wrsstle for flying falls On o.