The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
Frank GOfch Is Nov
Champion OF The World
After Over Two Hours of Fierce Struggle the Russian Lon
George Hackenschmdt, Fails to Throw Gotch, and,
Heartbroken He Yields Up, in Disgust
the Championship

Dexter Pavilion. Chicago. April a.
George Haekensehmdt quit in his match
with Frank Gotch for the catch-as-catch-
can wrestling championship of the world
tonight giving the title to the Iowa man
by default.
After more than two hours Of unavan
ing Juggling and desperate scrambling, the
Russian said to Gotch:
an give you the match,
Referee Ed Smith at once declared
Gotch the winner.
The end came so Unexpectedly that the
great crowd of 5000 who witnessed the
contest could scarcely comprehend what
had happened. Not until the referee had
announced that Hackenschmidt had sur
rendered the championship of the world
to Frank Goteh, did the full significance
of the event strike home. Then the ex-
cited men swarmed into the ring surging
in about Goteh until the police came to
his rescue and drove the crowd back
through the ropes The match was i'll
some respects sensational but it served
mainly to show that Gotch has a defen-
sive system which no one can break
down
For an hour and 45 minutes he eluded
every attempt of the Russian to fasten
, grip on him. Gotch sidestepped, roughed
his mans features with his knuckles
butted him under the chin and generally
worried Haekenschmidt until the foreign
err was totally at loss how to pro-
coed.
His Heart Broke.
Ia, final lxr
came. Gotch slammed his opponent to the
mat and came within an ace of secur-
ing a firm toe hold, following this up
by lifting Hackenschmidt clear of the
mat and slamming him down with ter
rife force. the European exponent was
heart-broken. The lines slowly deepened
on his face, the boots and jibs of the
crowd hurt his afeelngs and after con-
sidering the matter for a few seconds,
decided that it was time to quit. Specta-
tors were unwilling to give Gotch the
palm. The Iowa farmer was on the de-
fensive and showed far better knowl-
edge of the game.
Hackenschmdt refused to explain his
action to W. w. Wittig. promot, of the
bout simply shaking his head and refus-
| not surrendered merely the first fall and
| taken another chance with Gotch. His
handlers were at a loss to account for
| Hackenschmidts action.
Seldom has a sporting event of similar
character aroused so much interest in
| Chicago, and the surrounding in this ana
! other states, as did the big wrestling
| match between George Hackenschmidt
! and Frank Gotch. All day visitors were
4 arriving from o1t side poinfS
i The crowd began arriving early, but The
: lack of the usual early rush and scram-
Bile for seats was noticeable. Half an
hour before the doors were opened there
! were lines a block long waiting before the
entrance to the big building. By the time
the preliminary bout was begun the build
/ ing was nearly half full. and streams of
spectators gave no indication of dnin-
| ishing Seats had been provided for TO-
J 00O spectators, and in addition there was
| general admission room for 1000 more. The
! structure is 200 feet wide and 80 feet
| long
Preliminary Bouts.
A band of 50 pieces played popular songs
and marches and kept the waiting thou
sands in good humor. The first prelimi-
nary was scheduled for $50 o'clock, but
ii was Is minutes in starting. Tommy
Rooney and Young Jenkins We're the con-
testants. the weight being us pounds
Rooney won in $40.
In the second preliminary Young Billy
downed Ernest Linenberg i'll 14:32. The
men weighed at 1873 pounds.
Ted Tonneman and Dick Torrenson met
in the third at las pounds. Torrenson won
with toe hold. Time, 12:41.
Americus, Baltimore wrestler, made
short work of Harry Laudenback of Chi
cago He downed the local heavyweight
in $50 with a barlock and crotch hold.
The fifth preliminary brought Mort Hen
derson and William Demetral together.
Demetral won hard bout in S:2O
The Real Contest.
First bout: Hackenschmidt crouched
and they spared, with Gotch circling
around for three minutes. Then Hack
enschmidt clinched but they broke. Gotch
seemed nervous but the champion was
cool. After ten minutes of Juggling Gotch
started to rough it and Hackenschmidt
kept his temper with difficulty. Hack
enschmidt finally tried for body grip
but could not reach Gotch. The Russian
complained to the referee about Gotch's
butting. He missed leg hold next.
A half hour of hauling and sparring
failed to satisfy the crowd.
Fifty minutes after the bout started
Hackenschmidt slapped Gotch to the mat.
The latter bounded to his feet and the
pulling and hauling continued. An old cut
under Hackenschmidt' left eye was
opened and it bled profusely. Both miss
ed leg and body holds, Gotch taking the
offensive for the first time.
One hour after the start nothing APP
preaching a hold had been gained by
either man.
FIFTEEN minutes more of the tiresome
work followed. Then Hackenschmidt sud
denly attacked with fury but Gotch