The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-07-01
WRESTLING GAME
Will NOT SUFFER
CHRIS PERSON ADMlREs ooTcH
BUT SAYS HIS RETIREMENT
WILL NOT MARK PASSING
OF GREAT GAME.

from Dulutn ana WHO ClaiiiS W w
champion heavyweight catch-as- catch
can grappler for the Northwest was
talking to a bunch Of newspaper re-
porters and others on street corner
in Houghton the other day when one
Of the party mentioned an article on
Frank Gotch recently written by Hugh
f. Keough (by Hek) and published IN
the Chicago Tribune, in which the
writer made the assertion that Gotten
made the wrestling game what 1t Is
in America and that it will die out
with his retirement from ii.
Il do not think that is true said
Person. in reference to the writer's
statement anent the dying out of the
wrestling game "Of course, everyone
will admit that Frank is by far the
greatest wrestler that the present
generation has seen, but l see no
more reason for the game coming to
a standstin because of his retirement
from 1t, than for pugilism to lose Its
popularity because Of the retirement
of that great fighter, John L. Sullivan
There were those who said that the
fistic game would see its finish with
the quitting of sullivan, but we all
know what is coming off out west In
n few days and know that purse the
size Of the one in the Jeffries-J Johnson
fight would have given Sullivan and
the men in the game at the time he
was at his best, heart-failure.
Wrestling Still Popular.
mo. I do not think the wrestling
game will die out" continued Chris,
but / rather look for 1t to increase in
popularity. Gotch has demonstrated
TO the entire satisfaction of the sport
ing world that there is no other man
who can beat him and his retirement
from the game leaves the American
and world championships to be sought
by others. In my opinion there are
at present but four wrestlers in this
country who can be considered prob
able candidates for the American
championship. These are DIR. Roller,
Cutler, Ordeman and Westegard. Each
of these men, with the exception of
Cutler, weighs about 21O pounds, while
Cutler is about ten pounds heavier
than the others. A series OF matches
TO determine the best man of these
four should be of great interest to the
followers of the game and would pro-
duce a man who could claim the
championship and defend 1t against
challengers until defeated
"of course. right around this part
of the country, the sport has received
a great setback by some recent
events too well understood by those
who follow the game 10 need mention
but in other sections OF the country
good matches are being staged and
nearly ever wrestler who is any good
can get matches that are profitable.
There are ten matches staged today
TO one in the days when / began 20
wrestle. 1 could get many good
in other parts Of the country
but l am now resting and working
upon another business scheme which
my presence in this part Of
the country" II was about at this
point that one OF the party interrupt
ed the speaker with n remark about
Farmer" Burns discovering Gotch,
which caused Person to tell his story
Of the finding of the phenomenon Of
the wrestling arena.
How Dan Mcleod Found Goteh.
The larger portion Of the followers
Of the wrestling. game have an idea
that Farmer Burns discovered Frank
Gotch, but this is a mistake" said
Person. 1.-THE credit for the dlscov-
cry rightly belongs to Dan Mcleod, the
sturdy Scotch Canadian wrestler, who
IS one of the oldest men in the game
and who is now, l believe, instructor
N wrestling at a Chicago physical Gull !
Lure school. think il was In the sum- |
mer of 1898 that Mcleod. who had
Just recovered from fever and was
reduced in weight from 10 pounds to
las, was playing ball under an assum-
ed name with the TT. Dodge. Iowa. |
team in order to get back his flesh
md strength. His team went 10 play
hat of Humboldt, Iowa, either on
Fourth Of July or some other holiday. !
ls there were races and other athletic !
events in which the members Of the |
wo baseball teams took part. Frank
iotch was a member Of the Humboldt
cam and at that time he was a big
strong boy and the pride of
he county in athletics.
We'll. IL seems that almost every
vent on the program for the day was
Won by the strange member Of the TT.
Dodge team, who was Dan Mcleod
With his assumed name, and that
Frank Gotch was close second. This
hing sort Of got on the nerves Of the
admirers OF Frank and they
inally sent a committee 10 ask Nc
cod If he could wrestle. as Frank had
hen thrown everyone around that sec
ion Of the state but was unknown
way from home. This committee Of
cred to bet Mcleod $50 he could not
brow the Humboldt lad two out Of
hree falls. Dan had only about $40
With him at the time but he had /
nough coming in cash prizes TO make
y the amount, so he drew down his /
and covered the fifty. In
Us condition at that time. Dan had n /
ard time TO throw Frank and he al
lost lost the match and all his money
lie finally got the first fan In a little