The evening world., 1910-12-30

oopynshf. lnlo ~ The Prs~ Publishing Co.
THE New York World.
CRANK GoTCHs offer to return 10
the wrestling pad seems to have
been taken very much in earnest
nv the grapplers. although Franks
ststefnent that he'd only mako a match
winner take all and for a 5000 side
BET made his challenge look like a
DUN. Nobody ever heard OF a match
or any kind made under such conditions.
A 10000 side bet has never been made
on any kind Of n sporting event, 10 my
knowledge. although II is said that sone
or the old time English racing men
Wasered rs much as 800. 900 on a single
morse race. and some great ring battles
have been fought on a winner take
ali' basis.
Chicago and the Middle West f. wres.
Ting mad. The otch-Hackenschmidt
match. IL II comes on, would draw N
lot OF money hero in New York. but
sporting men who have been Watching
the game In the Western States predict
mat IL VIII draw between $4,000 and
100000 In Chicago. The only limit II the
size Of the crowd that can be accom-
modated. Chicago has had no boxing
for years. which largely accounts for
the popularity OF the slower game.
There's another advantage In wrestling.
for the great champions like Gotch and
H~ackenschmidt can 20 absolutely to a
nnish wherever they may meet. while
one must trave TO Reno TO see a finish
contest with gloves.
suppose that the contestants' share OF
the gate at the match Is at least $50. 900.
That makes the stake. with the side bot,
amount TO $4,000. II this ISM: enough
TO make the g%rapplers nervous when
they step up TO tab the FIRST grip they
can think OF the result OF the match.
Hackenschmidt. II he can throw Gotch
and regain the worlds championship
title. can travel around and make a
couple OF hundred thousand more In the
next year easily. He'll be a tremendous
drawing card wherever he cares TO
wrestle. Gotch can put himself In the
same position by beating Hacken-
schmidt.
Both Gotch and Hackenschmidt are
wealthy men. Hack began piling UP a
fortune eight or nine years ago when he
went TO England n wrestled at the
National Sporting Club of London. lie
has been adding to the bank account
steadily ever since, having wrestled
and staged IL all over the world. His
one reverse. In the Chicago match with
Gotch. gave him a temporary setback.
but he has been coming money
during the past year. Gotch is worth
several hundred thousands OF dol
lars. He owns Thousands OF acres
OF land all over the country. and.
has always been IA very shrewd investor.
He doesn't need 10 wrestle to make
money, and his return to the pad after
announcing a permanent retirement 10
a surprise. Probably Gotch couldn't
sit down and let all the money slip by
when he saw how Hackenschmldt and
Zbyssko are clsaning up on his old
routes.
7BYSZKO, ! notice. 10 In the lime
light, too, having his
49, willingness TO wrestle Gotch and
out up a $4,000 side stake. can't see
where the winner take all" clause Is
possible In such a match. 10 say nothing
Of the alleged side bet. when II Is re-
membered that Gotch had a match with
tho Pole a few months ago. and threw
him the hrst fall In eight seconds n
the second in something Ike twelve
minutes
wrestling Is a funny game. DR.. Roller
stayed over an hour each with Zbyszno
snd Hackenschmidt, while, after seeing
'he match with the Pole. I'd be willing
10 bet my left arm against a postage
stamp that either could throw him In
ten minutes without styain!ng a liga.
ment. and that Gotch could turn the
same trick IN even less time.
The only way to account for tho long
bouts II the supposition that both
Hbyszko and Hackenschmidt were play
ing with Roller to bait Gotch.
We can expect TO hear a lot of fren-
zied euance conversation from the biz
grapIfers during the next month OF
two. There'n be some big match-mak,
lag. But as for that side bet thing
well, III make a modest guess that I,
81 isn't called off and the gate money
split on a percentage 10 winner anS
loser when II comes 10 talking rsa
business therell be some very busy man
ayers OF wrestlers Saving n" sid,
STAGES and parts OF purses by slipplns
In a few sly bets on the other fellow
Wrestling Isn't all a gamble; it's
lr.In.ss