The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-26
YUSSIFf MAHMOUT
TO APPEAR HERE
One OF the Worlds Greatest Mat
Artists VIII 90 Against Classy
Talent at Grand sstur-
day Night.
NICE INTEREST IS AROUSED
An Aspiring Foreigner Who is at
Work on Water Power Dam
WIN Try to Get Some Of
Mahmout's Money.

Saturday Night at the Grand.
The athletic fans of this city will
get the greatest treat OF the season
when Yussiff Mahmout, .aThe Terrible
Turk, who claims the worlds cham
pionship among wrestlers, appears
here. That his claim is not entirely
unfounded ia conceded by MANY sport
critics OF the leading metropolitan pa
pers, who realize that Mahmout's man.
ayers have good argument in making
their claims. His right to the title
IS based on the act of Farmer
Burns. who recently. acting for Cham
p1on Frank Gotch, handed the cham.
pionship over to Yussiff Mallmout and
asked him to defend It against all
corners. And Mahmout Is doing that
very thing, even. to the extent of de-
tending 1t against Gotch himself. Ma
hmout claims, and not without cause,
that Gotch must beat him for the title
before the American can once more.
claim the championship. After handing
It over to Mahmout, the latter claims
1t belongs to him till taken away from
him as he has not handed it over to
anyone. And Mahnout is seeking
matches not alone against all the men
Gotch asked him to defend the title
against but against Gotch also And
not single one in the entire crowd
care for any OF Mahmput's game.
Frank Gotch, knowing Mahmout's
proves and feeling at the time that
he was giving the title to the best
man to defend. offered at the same
time to back Mahmout to the extent
of $4,000 against either Hacken-
schmidt, The Russian Lion or Zbys-
zko. Neither of these two3big heavy
weights wanted any of this money and
it is commonly recognized that neith-
er man would have any chance to win
from Mah1nout.
The occasion of Mahmout's taking
the title was somewhat spectacular
one and is still fresh in the minds of
the American public as it was given
the widest publicity in the daily press.
Burns climbed into the rink at Omaha,
where Hackenschmidt was engaged in
a match and before vast multitude
he proclaimed Mahmout the successor
of Gotch as champion of the world, al
go announcing the retirement of
Gotch Mahmout followed Burns into
the ring and to the surprise of the big
crowd assembled, was attired in his
wrestling clothes. His managers at
once offered to pit him against Hack,
enschmidt on the spot in match for
the worlds championship, agreeing
that Mahmout would go on any old
way. They offered to let Hack set
the agreement, either to name a big
sidebet or Mahmout's managers were
willing to. let the Turk wrestle for
the amusement Of the crowd as long
as Hack was to be the opponent. How
ever, Hackenschmidt was not willing
to meet him and refused any kind OF
an offer for match to decide the SUI
periority of the men.
Since that time both zbyszko and
Hackenschmidt have had contestant
excuses for avoiding clash with the
big Bulgarian and Mahmout Is now
touring the country meeting all corners
in order to show his superiority over
the wrestleis he can get to 60 on
against him. He bars no one and is
anxious to go against the best there is
In the world In order TO make his title
a clear cne. When he appears here
this week there Is no doubt but that
he will face the greatest audience that
ever filled local playhouse. Already!
there has been some linking OF the
fact that he has been secured for a.
match here and the interest that
spring up at once and inquiries as to
probable chance for seats indicate that
there will be such a demand that
standing room will be at premium
by the time the men. face each other
on the mat.
The fact that there will be several
opponents to face Mahmout from
among the husky laborers of the wa
ter power company has aroused the
greatest interest not alone among the
employees on the dam but in Keokuk
and this vicinity as we'll as everyone
will be anxious TO see now strong a.
match these husky and brawny labor
ers can put up against such a highly
scienced and speedy wrestling marvel
as Yussiff Mahmout.
The opponents Who will try out the
metal of the big Turk will all be Of the |
best possible ealihre. Tom Walsh of!
Omaha has been seeking match with !;
Mahnout for some time hoping to be
able to make a sufficiently good show
ING IN rat IN a painsf Soma NJ tho haet