The Washington times., 1911-08-15
Hackenschmidt Followers
Think He'll Down Cham
pion Labor Day.
RECORD ATTENDANCE
EXPECTED IN IOWA
Many Wrestling Fans Think Reno
Episode Will Be Repeated.
Odds Are on Gotch.

HUMBOLDT, Iowa, Aug. 16.-Wil
Frank Gotch defeat Hackenschmidt on
Labor Day. or will it be another Reno
AFFAIR."
There is no question but that the
humboldt grappler will go on the mat
as big a favorite as was Jeffries over
Johnson, but should the comparison
end there? Many would like 10 know,
and, judging from the mail received by
Gotch and his training partners, there
is considerable doubt In the minds OF
wrestling fans the country over, and
now and then a question or two perco-
lates from across the water which gives
an Indication OF the worldwide Inter
est in the event.
The coming match is an anomaly in
American sporting events. Wrestling
never has had a countrywide interest
before. The biggest matches ever
pulled off usually have been confined in
interest to the localities where the
match itself was held or the neishbor-
hood in which one or the other princl-
pals lived. Apparently this Is going to
set a precedent, although in the past 1t
has been bard TO get the average fol-
lower Of sports enthusiastic In any par
ticular mat contest
Looks for Record Crowd.
Although Gotch himself doesn't
care whether there are one thousand
or fifty thousand people at the match,
as he has his guarantee. the indica-
tiOns are that II Is going to be
world beater in attendance, even
though 1t might not be entirely de-
served on account of the past per-
formance of one of the principals.
Hackenschmidt's transforming tour
of the country last year left a bad
taste in the mouth OF wrestling fans,
as II was charged that he consistent
ly lodged one or two OF the best men
in the country, nOticeably Iussif
MahmOut.
This is one Of the reasons why Gotch
is going to try 10 make such a tour
impossible for Hack in the future. He
says he is going to trv to defeat him
in the quickest possible time and
make 1t so decisive that there will be
no excuse for the Russian to linger in
this country.
Now. will Gotch he able to carry out
his program? 1t is no use irving 10
start an argument on that score in
GOtchs home town. No, not If you
expect TO get three square meals a
day here Backing GOtCh is like put
ting money in the bank to the average
citizen here However. many a sock
and handbook will have to stand a
frisk before the day of the battle.
Gotch expects to win; in fact he is
confident OF throwing Hack in two
straight falls, according to confiden-
tial information have received while
here. For public consumption the
champion is more conservative.
"Best Have Been Beaten"
You see. It is this way" said Gotch
today, Il have set my heart on winning
that match. No man was ever more
serious than I. l feel that must win,
hut no man can make positive promise
The only thing can promise is that
will go into the ring in better shape
than l ever was>in. and that l will try
to make a thorough job Of It.
Now. the best of them have been de-
feated at one time or another and pos
sibly It my turn this time. But II I
should be the loser, let no one say to nv
face that l laid down. l never have in