East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-02-25
M0TAN|C WILL NOT
ACCEPT CHALLENGE
BIG INDIAN WRESTLER
is NOT A PROFESSIONAL
UnAtiIla Brave Who Met Gotch Says
Hood River Grappler Has no Rep
utation-Is a Christian Indian and
Docs Not Believe in Professional
Matches.

Parsons Motanic, the big Umatilla
Indian wrestler is replying to the pro-
position to wrestle with Wrestling In
structor Grant Of the Hood River
Athletic club says he does not want
to wrestle with anyone and especially
with anyone who does not already
have reputation as great as his own
or that of Frank Gotch, the worlds
champion. The following statement
was made to the East Oregonian by
Motanic through an interpreter and
according to the interpreter they are
his exact words and thought so far as
they can be exactly interpreted into
the English language:
my attention has been called to
an article in a recent issue OF the
East Oregonian relative to a man
whose name I cannot recall. who de-
sires to meet me, either in Pendleton
or Hood River. his home, for wrest-
ling bout wish to say that cannot
speak English very good and win
take this opportunity and means to
make myself plain and understood.
and my position in such matters. And
at the same time I wish TO give my
reasons for not wrestling any more,
In general, and in particular not with
this gentleman who halls from Hood
River.
I'm the first place, my ability along
this line is we'll known. So much so
that when men OF the type of Jeffries
and Gotch came to Pendleton, I was
urged to meet them. And 1 did. SO
I don't care to wrestle with this man.
Let him go out and get reputation
like that OF Gotch for instance or of
Motanic, and then meet Gotch with
whom have wrestled and of my bout
with him I am not ashamed.
"I did not understand his methods
nor he mine. Nor did 1 understand
English enough to have It explained.
Had I known II to be fair to twist an
opponents arm, like he did mine so
as 10 get the hand over me, I could
have done some twisting too, and
probably as much as he. Nor did
understand the 'catch-as-catch-can
method. At the same time he didn't
understand the Indian 'pack-horse'
method. So / nearly slung him Off
the stage, while I stood still. Let this
unknown man now meet Gotch. for
now I know I am strong man, and
don't care to wrestle any more.
"But there is an entirely different
reason as to why / don't wish to
wrestie any more, and take this means
10 make II known. so that my positi-
on in the matter will be understood,
ana trust the East Oregonian VIII
give Il in full for can't speak Eng
lish very good. My only object, when
7 consented to wrestle with Gotcn,
was TO see who was the best man.
received no money for II, and at the
time never thought of any possible bet
ting by the people present to witness
II, nor of the influence or after ell
feet that my act might have. / did II
in my simplicity which on more ma
ture thought vexed me somewhat, be-
cause of the position in life and So
ciety that I now hold, in the eyes or
both white people and especially my
own Indian people. 1 am against
gambling, drinking, the spectacular
and vaudeville of life, and this Is my
great and weighty reason for not
wrestling any more. / am a different
man from former years. l am Chris
tan andO 1 have been trying to put
the lid on that old life. l want TO
be an honest citizen and member OF
the society in whic l move, especially
before my own people, lest might
be the means of leading any of them
astray. For some Of them did not
understand my motive in wrestling
with Mr.. Gotch, not long ago, and SO
was censured by some. Personally
was very sorry of this, for there cer-
tainly was no moral lapse on my part.
yet 1t did provoke me, when l learn
ed later that there had been some
betting. and that / had received