Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-04-16
'GOTCH STILL CHAMPION
American Easily Defeats
Bulgarian Turk in Two
Straight Falls


the world tonight by defeating Yusiff
Mahmout, of Bulgaria, in a fast and
furious match.
The much touted Bulgarian was as a
child in the hands of the American
master of mat strategy. Gotch won
both tails with crotch and hall. Nelson
holds, respectively in and 9 minutes,
10 seconds.
The victory of the champion was
regarded as all the more notable
lnasmuch as he did not use his famous
toe hold in bringing about the down
fall OF the powerful foreigner.
Gotch was able to secure almost any
hold he desired. SO limited appeared
the Turks knowledge of he game.
The match was fast and exciting,
however, throughout It was full of
action, dash and vim, and it was so
short that there was not single idle
moment.
After a conference lasting the
greater part of the day, Frank Gotch
and Yuslf Mahmout finally settled the
trouble which threatened to arise over
the fact that the Bulgarisn proposed to
enter the ring IN bare feet. It has
been Mahmout's custom IN his
matches in this. country to wrestle in
his bare feet. Gotch felt that this
would lnvalldate his chances for
obtaining the toe hold. his favorite
grip, upon his opponent. Accordingly
he called attention to the rules which
provided that all wrestlers should wear
shoes during the course of a champion
ship bout.
Mahmout and his manager. Antonio
Plerrl, renamed stubborn and insisted
upon the Bulgarian entering the ring
in his bare feet. For a time it ap-
peared as though the hitch would re-
suit in the calling Oft OF the champion
ship contest, but finally Mahmout
agreed to forfeit $500 of his end of
the purse to Gotch and enter the ring
in his bare teet Rather than call of
the match Gotch agreed to Mahmout' s
proposal and the prospects of the bout
were not lnterferred with.
For the first two minutes the two
men bulled it about the room without
either getting a hold. Finally after
three minutes Of wrestling Gotch
secured a hold on Mahmout's s left leg
! and threw him to the mat. The
American champion went after the
foreigner with the greatest vim, and
the Bulgarian was responding with all
the strength OF his magnificent
physique, but he could not break
Gotch's hold. Mahmout brldged anc
used every sartifce in his repertoire tc
forestall the inevitable fall that ap
peared to be approaching. But Gotck
gradually forced his opponent :
Shoulders to the mat. It was 9
magnificent test of strength. The
champion, however, cheered on by the
cheers OF thousands of his country
men, finally secured a crotch and half
Nelson and Referee Smith gave hin
the fall in eight minutes. Mahmout'
shoulders were pinned to the mat o1
the first time since he has been IN thi;
country.
The crowd yelled for severa
minutes after the first fall. Tht
sudden ending of the first bout sur
prised the spectators, who expected
the much touted foreigner to give tilt
champion a Titanic struggle.
Gotch and Mahmout started thu
second fall at II :29 p. m. After {
little tiddling In the middle of the rims
the men mixed and Mahmout wa
successful IN getting Gotch down OF
the mat. Following minute o.
sharp work Gotch wiggled out of thl
Turks hold and assumed the aggres
sive. Gotch tried repeatedly for tn,
deadly toe. hold, but Mahmout fought
harder than before and the American
was unable to secure 1t. Gotch secured
a bar-lock on Mahmout, but h
wriggled off the mat.
Referee Smith called the men to th'
center of the ring. Mahmout allowed
Gotch his old hold Gotch got a crotcl
and half Nelson, but Mahmou
wriggled out. The stugggle waxet
fast and furious, with Mahmout OF
the defensive all the time.
Gotch secured the same hold that
won the first fall tor him-a crotch
and half Nelson, Mahmout, realizing
the danger into which he was being
unanswered, fought to break his
opponents hold, but it was of ne
avail. Despite the Turk immense
strength and ability he was pinned to
the mat for the final fall in 9 minutes
and 10 seconds.
/