Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-15
Takes BigWrest|ing Match
And Holds Worlds Title.
Vast Crowd Throngs About
Chicago Amphitheatre.
Doors Closed Until More Police A.
rive to Handle Multitude.

Dexter Pavilion, Chicago, April IA
Frank Gotch of Humboldt, Ia, tonight
retained the worlds wrestling cham
pionship by defeating Yussif Mahmout
of Bulgaria in straight falls in a fast
and furious match. The Bulgarian was
a child in the hands of the American.
Gotch won both falls with Crotch
and half Nelson holds in eight min
utes and in minutes and 10 seconds.
The victory of the champion is all the
more notable, inasmuch as he did not
use his famous toe hold in bringing
about the downfall of the powerful for
eigner whose shoulders had not hith-
erto been put to the mat in America.
Gotch was able to get almost any hold
he desired.
The match was fast and exciting
from the time the men entered the ring.
1t was full of action and snap from
start to finish. 1t was so short that
there was not a single idle moment
during the two falls.
Dexter Pavilion, Chicago, April IA
By the time the first preliminary to
the Gotch- Mahmout wrestling match
was started tonight there were about
5000 persons in the Amphitheatre and
several thousand more outside clamor-
ing for admission. Early in the even
ing the crowd at the main entrance
broke away from the police control anC
the doors were closed until more po-
licemen could arrive. Halsted street
for hundreds of feet from the entrance
was packed solidly with men. For al
al nf hOllr the
doors remained closed and the GROVE
increased every minute. Hundreds OF
the people outside held tickets but they
were powerless to enter the pavilion. II
was with difficulty that the streets
We're kept clear for the passage OF
street cars.
BY $50 every seat was filled by some
IL, 900 persons Hundreds were stand
ing or clinging to Orders. According
to the promoters the aggregate re-
ceipts amounted to 1886, 900. The crowd
exceeded the attendance at the GotcE
and Hackenschmidt worlds champion
ship match last April by several thou
sand.
Eugene Tremblay of Canada defeat
ed Ted Tonneman of Chicago il
straight falls in the preliminary
match.
The second preliminary between Hen
ry Gehering of Cleveland and Charles
Post of Buffalo, was declared a draw
The semi between Fred Bell o
Wisconsin and Henry Ordeman of Min
neapolis followed
| 1t was announced that after a con
ference lasting most of the day owe
MahmOut's determination to enter TIL
| ring in his bare feet, as has been hi
custom in his matches in this country
despite Gotch's assertion that thi
| would lessen his chances of obtainin,
| the toe hold. the dispute had been set
tied by Mahmout's proposing to for
| felt $500 of his end of the purse t
Gotten and to enter the ring in his bar
feet. Rather than call off the mattel
Gotch agreed to Mahmout's propose
although he cOntended that the rule
called for shod feet After the Bord
man Keel bout was declared a draw
the ring was cleared for the big con
| test. Gctch entered the ring at 1913
and was greeted with cheers from tn
spectators Mahmout followed short
ly after and received a rousing wei
come
| Referee Ed Smith called the princi
pals to the center of the ring and CAV,
them their final Instructions 1t wa
II o'clock before the match began Fo
the first three minutes the two mel
rolled about the ring without eithe
Continued on Page TWo)