Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22
INTEREST IN
MAT MATCH
RUSSIAN LION AND GoTcH TO
MEET APRIL 3
FOREIGNER HAS NEVER BEEN
DEFEATED
Giants VIII WrestIe for $4,000 Purse
and Good Side Bets viii Be
Made on the Com
test

Not since the days of William Null
doom has the United States developed
q wrestler who could successfully cope
with foreign grapplers on the mat, says
the Detroit News. In the SOS that
marvel of physical development met in
turn Japs, Russians, Greeks and in fact
any nationality whose representatives
came to this country, and their shoul-
ders went down in one, two, three
order
American sports have yearned for
another Muldoon. There is a revival
of wrestling in Europe, and with the
coming of Hackenschmidt America is
TO experience a renewed interest in the
mat game.
The stars and stripes must rise or fall
with Frank Gotch. He is the ac-
knowledged premier wrestler of this
country today, and his coming match
with the Russian lion will be awaited
with feversh excitement throughout
the civilized world.
The two men will meet on the mat IN
this country April 3.
The articles of agreement were
signed simultaneously in New York
and London and confirmed by cable
Hackenschmidt signed for himself,
while Mr.. Wittig affixed his signature
for Gotch and deposited $4,000 to bind
thda match. Hackenschmidt will arrive
ir this country about March 10. and
at his own request and for training
purposes will give six or seven eXhibl-
tions previous to his meeting with
Gotch. the only condition being that
the exhibitions must end week before
his match.
The big match will be for n purse
- lie Inn
wager has been arranged, but Hacken-
schmidt is said to be willing to cover
any reasonable amount that Gotten
may elect The conditions provide. FOR
a meeting at catch-as-catch-can, best
two out of three falls. Pin falls ana
fjying falls will not count. and the
strangle hold will be barred.
Hackenschmidt, called the Russian
lion. has never been beaten so far as
can be remembered. He is monster
in size, strong as an OK and clever
withal He defeated jenkins among
others, when he was over here. and mas
made a clean sweep abroad. Recently
he defeated Joe Rogers, Tom
O'Rourke's protege. in London with
comparative ease. Rogers Is not con-
sidered in a class with Jenkins and
Gotch. who rank as the best men in this
country.
Hackenschmidt and Gotch have
never met on the mat. and for that
reason the meeting will arouse wide
spread interest in this country and
abroad Gotch is a much smaller man
than his big opponent, but is quicker
more agile and cleverer, and this may
count in his favor.
Hackenschmidt will be the favorite
in all probobality, but Gotch will not
lack for followers, as many of those
interested in the sport will pin their
faith to him on account of his well
known cleverness, believing that tnis
will more than make up for the Rus
sian lions remarkable strength and
| bulk.
,Gotch has been pining for a meeting
with Hackenschmidt for some time and
now that the match has been made VIII
bend every effort to get in condition
to defeat his rival.
Gotch, who is conceded to be the
champion of America. was born IN
Humboldt. Ia. April 81, 1878. He Is !
feet 111a inches tall, weighs 21o pounds
in condition and his nationality is Ger
man-American.