Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-16
.CONy1RS AND BURNS MEET
Old Timers Have Not Seen Each Other
in Eighteen Years.
RECALLS FARMERS BIRTHDAY
jess WesterEsard and the Turk May
Come TOsether at the Auditorium
soon After First
of March.

DO you know this Is your b~irthday?'
Thus did Tom Corners, real old-timer and
champion middleweight wrestler of Eng
land greet Farmer Burns, when he called
to visit him at the gymnasium where
Burns was conducting his school OF
wrestling.
That's right" replied the Farmer. but
how do you rememberg haven't seen you
for eighteen years"
Il ought to be able to remember il. You
are IS years old today and l will be IS
years old tomorrow and thus did the two
best men Of their weight and age in the
world go on and talk over old times.
Corners has come from England TO this
country to take on a few matches and
to look over the country where he had
many a former triumph when twenty
years ago he went across the country,
throwing all corners in handicap matches.
Conner has a clipping in his pocket from
a London paper in which Gotch SAYS that
Corners is responsible for his being
champion wrestler Of the world. The in
tcrview states that if Corners had not
sent Farmer Burns to the fore Farmer
would not have been the man he is and IL
Burns had not oeen as good as he is he
never would have made a champion out OF
Gotch.
Meets the Turk.
While in Milwaukee last week Corners.
although he weighs only 80. wrestled a
hard match with Youssif Mahmout, the
Turk. but he says he does not want to
make any more OF those kind of matches
against the big fellows as It is too much
Of a strain on him. He takes the same
position In the matter as does Farmer
Burns.
Corners will remsin in Omaha for a few
days to see if he can arrange a match and
will then continue his journey west.
Twenty years ago Conners threw Farmer
Burns. but he says that the Farmer has
advanced too much i'm the knowledge and
science of the game and in weight so that
he could not hope to throw him now.
Il have never seen that man. Gotch.'
said Corners, but i know he is a wonder:
indeed, he is a marvel. He sent me word
over in England to run over to London
and see him. but l couldn't make it. I
surely must see him.
But, ah, 1 want to tell you. this old
man Burns is the wonder. He's the great
man."
Westersaard and the Turk.
Manager Gillian of the Auditorium has a
letter from Jack Curley manager for
Mahmout, the Turk, asking about a match
in Omaha between the Turk and Jesse
Westergaard. Mr.. Gillsn's reply to Curley
will be that a match may be pulled off
providing it is 10 a finish and no handicap.
Handicaps are down and out in Omaha at
this writing. And he will also state to
MIR. Curley that 1.-The Turk will have 10
work and work hard"
He will certainly have 10 go if he throws
Jesse. Westergaard is more than willing to
meet the Turk. He passed through Omaha
a Few days ago going 10, Denver, and
evineed a willingness for. a finish match
with Mai1mout Omaha fans will welcome !
a chance to see this young giant go on
with the Turk. They believe he can give
him all he wants.
The Auditorium will be occupied by the
convention and show
up to the first OF March, SO that neither
the Turk Westergcard match nor one with
Corners could be arraigned before that. but
after March I, Mr.. Gillian will be glad to /
date up a few.