New-York tribune., 1911-02-28
COTCH FAILS IN TASK
Throws Two Men, but Finds
Third Wary and Slippery.
ZBYSZK0 ISSUES CHALLENGE
Big Purse Offered for Meeting
Between Champion and
the Pole.

Frank Gotch. the worlds champion
v-re stler. always resourcefu. always cum
ming. came off second best in a handicar
match at Suffers Harlem River Casino last
night. Conditions called for him to throw
three men in an hour. The champion dis
posed Of Fritz Mohl and Yankee" Rogers
but failed TO subdue William Demetral, the
Greek champion.
Quite a good sized crowd turned out, and
In the audience were number OF Vomer
Including Mrs. Gotch The massive Zbyszkc
was also there, and when he crawIed
through the ropes to be introduced nc
looked as big as a barn door. The Pole
o. course. wanted 10 wrestle Gotch for the
title. and i'm connection with this talk two
individuals were presented, who, according
to Johnny Dunn, the announcer, were pre-
pared TO guarantee a purse OF 5000 for A
match between Gotch and Zbyszko. This
sounded well. but few took it seriously.
When Gotch caught sight OF Mohfs ro-
tund form the champion laughed, and, with
the remark Hes a good one; I'll take
him" advanced TO the centre of the ring.
As soon as the men shook hands Gotch
assumed the aggressive. II required only
seven minutes and hfty-siX seconds for the
champion 70 attend 10 the iceman, crotch
and half nelson doing the trick.
Now Mr.. Rogers will be led 10 the
slaughter remarked d spectator as yam
kee" craNled through the ropes. But the
champion was opposed TO foe worthy of
his steel As they "bulled" around. work
ing for an opening, Rogers demonstrated
that he knew the game, but finally Go'ch
trippcd his man. and down they went with
the champion uppermost.
After ten minutes had elapsed Gotch AL
most got his man with half nelson. but
Rogers squirmed away amid the applause
Of tine crowd. "1'll get him puffed the
champion. with a grin. After II minutes
and Is seconds Gotch got scissors and
crotch working and soon had his man in
difficulties. Then TO add to the other s
troubles. the champion. with characteristic
cunning, suddenly called into play his
deadly toe hold. With 9 pressure as re-
Ientless as II was cruel, Gotch soon had the
leg Al the swapping point, so that Rogers
tc save himself from possible injury had
to surrender The time Of the fall was
1925. As il was. Rogers gave In none too
soon. for when he left the ring he walked
with decided limp.
II was then announced that for Gotch TO
win he would nave TO throw Demetral in
twenty minutes. that being the time al
lowed for each man. The instant they
came together Demetrsl adopted strictly
defensive game He danced around on his
toes like boxer shadow fighting. being
unwilling to get to close quarters any
sooner than necessary.
Gotch soon proved TO the satisfaction Of
all that hc possessed the most strength.
His skill was also unquestioned, but despite
this combination Of physical force and
science on the part Of the champion his
every move was successfully met by the
Greek.
When ten minutes had elapsed Gotch
seemed 10 have his man in bad way with
scissors ard crotch hold but with rare
grit and strength Dcmetral succeeded In
breaking away. The crowd gave him lib
eral announcement for this. but little
later when the Greek developed trick OF
sauirming off the mat at critical times the
sympathy OF the majority. which had a:
first been clearly with the lighter man,
shifted to Gotch.
Toward the end Of the bout Gotch almost
had his man with hammer lock nut
Demetral broke the hold. Again, when
clearly in trouble. the Greek got off the
mat. and in desperation hung on 10 the
rones With brute strength Gotch pulled
his man back and slammed nm TO inc
Garnet. The champion was working dcs-
perately over his opponent when the TIME
limit expired.