Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-19
Champion Will "Barnstorm" Thru the
West For Several Weeks, Then Goes
to Humboldt For the summer-sais
to Meet Hackenschsnidt Early in the
Fall-WilI Go Around the World.

morning.
The champion was preparing to take
a nap in his room at the Pilgrim when
"a T.-R. reporter arrived. Gotch talked
interestingly of his plans for the sum-
mer and the coming year including his
match next January with Hacken-
schmidt, the Russian lion, whom he is
10 meet before the Melbourne Sports
Depot
When eotch "Got His"
Gotch, while he laughed at the re-
membrane of it, told the true version
of the first time that he met a profess
sonal wrestler, Dan Mcleod, who was
then champion, and how the latter
gave him the worst beating of his life
on the cinder roadway back of the
Luverne, Iowa, railroad station.
This was ten years ago. when Gotch
was big tough farm boy, who had
marked ability in an athletic way.
Gotch was a Modern Woodman of AM
erica, belonging to the lodge of his
home town. Then, as now, the lodges
of that order meet in annual field
meets, and the rivalry between Hum
boldt and Luverne was intensely keen.
/ Twice in succession Humboldt had
won the cup for the field meets of the
| two previous years. In these events
| Gotch was the best of the Humboldt
/ team. expressing it himself. that he
could jump, run, put the shot, and
discus and throw the hammer a little
better than most of them"
Mcleod Joins Luverne Team.
ON, Ja
field meet, Mcleod, who was 'sbarn-
4 storming" thru Iowa, stopped in Lu-
Verne on his way to Belmond. While
in the town he stopped to watch the
Luverne performers as they We're
practicing the various events for the
day following. incidentally he took a
hand himself. and the way he put the
shot and threw the hammer made the
notice" He heaved the hammer so
far" said Gotch, in telling of it. that
it took two men to bring it back"
Luverne believed it had a find" in
Mcleod, and he was induced to re-
main over for the next day. So to take
the proceedings all regular Mcleod
was given the grip" and coached on
the signs of the lodge so as to pass
for the occasion as a full fedged
Woodman.
The next day the meet was held, and
as Gotch put it, sit developed that the
most of the events We're between Nc
Leod and me-" the best men of their
respective teams.
Luverne won the meet finally by
two points. Then it was learned that
Mcleod, who had been using an as
\ tr.,,, 4
Der of the Luverne lodge, and imme-
diately Humboldt began TO protest.
Dispute Leads to Match.
The wranglins got so warm tina
fights threatened to break out at an.
time. Some one" said Gotch, told Ne
Leod, don't you tackle that big fell
low" meaning Gotch, ''for he is rough
and tumble wrestler" This was jus
time that it takes to tell it the big farm
boy and Mcleod were matched 70
i $50.
Gotch says Mcleod suggested tina
they go onto the turf nearby to wres
= hot, and I told him, the match wa
made right here and right here we Wi
y wrestle'"
wei, SdlO IOlCH, IL L ldQ Dee
- wise 1 would have known 1 was u
against it, for Mcleod was wearin
: wrestling tights and shoes. I had o
spiked running shoes, but they mad
me take those off, so put on a pal
of socks, Gee but the beating he CAV
me- laughed the champion, iva
Is something fierce"
Il 1t was not until the following wir
II wrestler was that slammed him dow
u on the cinders at the Luverne depc
- and drubbed him good and plenty.
q was from Farmer Burns, when /
came to Humboldt transforming ar
took on Gotch, that he learned that II
= unknown of Luverne was Dan Melee
the then champion.
4 Leaves for Australia in Fall.
Gotch is matched for Waterloo c.
dar Rapids and other towns for TIL
week On Monday of next week
meets DR. Roller in Kansas City, al
q on Wednesday and Thursday he wre
n ties in Memphis. Early in the SUNNI
n ne will go to Humboldt to remain f
II about two months. Early in the fall
will sail for Australia to meet Hacke,
schmidt in January 1910. He will st,
enroute at Honolulu and in Japan al
"a China. Speaking of the Hackenschmi
Il match Gotch said, there may be sor
l. one in Australia who can beat me, b
Fl I'll get that man Hackenschmidt"
Gotch will take about three weeks
get ready for this match, but pre-
ious to that he has six or eight wee
of vaudeville engagements to fill
Australia. Gotch said he would retu
thru the s;uez canal, and he is looki
forward with a great deal of pleasr
- to his trip around the globe. Gotch q
$4,000, win. lose or draw, with Hac
enschmidt.
"A lHsGs otch-i is 2 big good natured fellc