The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-09-03
BOTH MAT STARS
ARE IN THE BEST
WRESTLING FORM
Hack" Heavier and in Bet
ter Condition Than He Was
at Previous Match.

wrestling championship or the world re-
mains in the United States or will be
| carried back to the Old country by an
invading foreigner - a marter Of senti-
! rnent, blu. that the thousands Of mat
fans who will thrcns Comiskey's White
Sox ball park tomorrow afternoon to
witness the second meeting for rrenis I
wrestling honors will see fhe hardest
fought contest of the century may be
foreto.d as a fact.
No two gladiators of ancient Rome,
called upon to make a fight for life
against the jungle beast, ever ste ppe,i
into the arena In more perfect condi-
ton than will Frank Gotch. worlds
wrestling champion, and George Hack
enschmidt. challenger for the wreath,
who, in his second attempt, will en-
deavor to regain the prestige he lost
by his defeat three years ago at the
hands OF the Humboldt farmer.
1t is a matter Of ring history that
Hack faced Gotch in their first match
not alone not fit, but In a bodily condi-
ton impossible al the time to get ut
for such a grueling contest. Added to
this physical handicap was a lack of
intimate acquaintance with the catch
as-catch-can style. a style at which his
opponent was a postmaster. That was
the Hack OF yesterday.
Different Now.
The Hack of today is a far different
man. The New" Hack he has been
called. and the term suits. Chatting un-
der his defeat, the Russian returned to
his native haunts with the one idea of
return match
the man, who. he did not pin his
shoulders to the mat, still made him
cry quits.
Day by day, hour by hour, minute by
minute through three years Hack has
Kept before him that which tomorrow
VIII again be granted him, and he has
trained Tor the opportunity IN a manner
which indicates the English bulldog"
rather than the Russian lion"
when the Russian reached here, three
weeks ago, Chicago wrestling fans who
remembered re him as he was Eazed upon
of eye, light of STEP and bubDIing over
with the humor which indicates perfec,
health, they saw before them the veri-
hcation Of the reports which had ema-
mated from the English training camp
at Shoreham.
"A new Hack" a better Hack" a
heavier Hack" a faster Hack" a
''cleverer Hack" "can't-Iose Hack"
was the gist of DR.. Rollers letters, and,
with the exception Of the last, which
has yet to be proven, Roller told the
truth
Stripped. the Russian fills the eye as
he never did before. Fifteen pounds,
at least, heavier he is than when here
last-and that fifteen pounds solid
muscle. Gone is the knotted appearance
OF his stnews, and they slip and slide
beneath his skin as though oiled.
Better Wrestler.
Much as Hack has improved physic-
ally, 1t is. however. his improvement in
the knowledge of the catch-as-catch-can
style which has impressed those who
have watched his work the most.
Clever, resourceful, ana tricky as Gotch
is, II is a question whether ne has any
thing today on Hack in knowledge Of
his favorite style OF wrestling. shade
accorded the champion, but of the game
he knows no more.
Gotch after seven weeks of faithful
and more arduous training than he ever
put in before, arrived on the scene OF
action from his home in Humboldt
II those who will jam the White Sox
Park tomorrow are to see new Hack
they are also to see different Gotch.
Still the same careless. good-natured-
fIn-loving fellow, but heavier by ten
pounds than when he was seen here
last winter. and at least fourteen poun3s
heavier than when he met Hack be-
fore, for the champion will enter the
ring weighing ut least 30 pounds. not
any too much WHEN II Is considered
that the Russian will scale 225.
The very strenuousness of Gotch's pre-
work is Indicative of the high
regard he has for his opponent, and the
ferceness of the fight which he intends
to put up to retain his title. for let l.
be known II there be anything which
the champion dlsllkes, and which he
skimps whenever possible, 1t is train
lng.
This time, however, there has been
no Sinking. and with the assistance of
Rogers. Westergaard, Hassan, Burns,
and Manager Klank Frank has put hiIns
sell in a condition which may be pro-
as absolutely fit.
With the question Of condition Of the
two contestants fairly settled local fans
have been interested with the ques-
ton whether or not either man has laid
out a plan Of action in the ring.
Many Reports.
Report after report was circulated
that Gotch was to do this and Hack
that, that Gotch would take the agrees
sive, that Hack would, contrary to his
usual style, do the very same thing,
and Dame Rumor had them doing ev-
everything until both Hack and Gotch
1ee1ned the time ripe to say something
IN the subject for themselves.
IT is impossible to tell what a man
viii do until he is face to face with the |
situation that his opponent makes" de- |
ciares Hackenschmidt. THE whole |
In a match may be changed |
from this TO that, and without
an instant's warning. Then all of your |
plans are crup1bled like house of cards
and you have to do the next best thing. |
so Why worry about planning out a |
course Of procedure for a match Of this |
Importance? Does not my opponent |
have something to say about II? No. It |
IS idle to think about such things. We |
are billed to wrestle and wrestle our |
best, and that is doubtless what both OF |
as will do. Whether j seize him first or |
ne me can be told only by the contest |
ITSELF"
In answering to this very philosophical
statement of Hacks, Gotch says:
Anyone who goes into the ring with a /
liked scheme of battle is jeopardizing his
chances. am going to start the strug-
gle with Hack with mind clear of any |
pet system of attack. Just how III
NrpSf1a I do r1of kn0xu until I've had ar