The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-04
Rnth Are Confdent.

Both Are Confident.
Frank Gotoh-.I am going to wrestle
Hackenschmidt this afternoon with as
much confidence rs I ever went about
anything in my life. Should defeat come
7 shall admit that I was defeated at my
best. for I have done all within my
mower to make me fit and ready for
the hardest kind of match.
.-As I have said before 1 expect : }
win: but it will be the hardest struggle
of nv career, for in Hackenschmidt {
am meeting one of the strongest men
in the world I hope the contest will be
a clean one, for do not want techni-
cal victory such as my first and only
meeting with Hack was called
Hackeuschmidt@'- is true that I
have been nervous and fretful but [
have no fear of Gotch. 1t is part of
my nature to be nervous; the continual
waiting and the eagerness to get into
the battle NAL kes me that way
Il never did boast about what have
done and 1 shall not attempt to say
what I will do All can say is that
am prepared for q desperate match
will try to show today that am
Gotch's master and will do all in my
power to make the match clean one >
Chicago, Sept. 4-Gotch and Hacken-
schmidt this forenoon irnpItiently
awaited the struggle for the premier
wrestling honOrs of the world this after
noon.
Each man declared himself to be in
the finest possible condition and each
declared that the contest must go to a
finish Hackenschmidt. the challenger,
insisted that the match would be a
continuation of the one he abandoned
unfinished with Gotch three years ago.
Gotch, tie champion, said he will pin
the shoulders of the mighty Russian
to the mat beyond all question. In
GOtch and Hackenschmidt wrestled for
the championship of the world. After
Two hours an1 three minutes of des-
Te-ate defense Hackenschmidt admitted
himself defeated.
Drawn by tie promise of a finish
struggle this afternoon thousands Of
wrestling enthusiasts have gathered
from all corners of American and even
from Europe. Hundreds of visitors We're
turned away from hotels last night un-
able to secure accommodations and
n any of them spent the night near the
baseball park standing in line to OBJ
1@in general admission tickets. From
the east came many and the Pacific
coast contributed its quota, but it re-
1nained for Iowa, the home state of
Gotch, to send the largest delegation.
humbodt where Gotch has lived since
boyhOod was represented by nearly all
OF its population.
Last night the line began to form for
the ticket sale opening at II o'clock this |
ca0rning. Scores stood in line waiting
their opportunity to sell their places or
dispose of their tickets at a premium.
early ticket sales indicated that by far
the larg ast crowd that ever witnessed
wrestling match would be in the
park when the men entered the ring
at ) o'clock. Reserved seats were snap
ped up in large quantities by late ar
rivals.
\ conservative estimate placed the |
throng which viii jam the park at So |
coo.
Big sum in Box Office.
It was calculated early today that
$4,000 had already reached the box I
Office. This amount it was believed |
would be swelled to $4,000 before the |
match begins. While some predicted /
that the gate receipts will reach $780,
600.
There was a different spirit in the |
camps of the rivals at breakfast. Gotch |
was all confidence. He announced /
that he would take brisk walk and |
He spent much of his time greeting his
Iowa admirers and smiling. telling |
them that he would be victor. Hack /
enschmidt on the other hand was a
prey TO unrest. The nervousness he
had been showing for some time was
evident.
"Hackenschmidt is nervous, but his
aervousness does not come from fear
but from eagerness,'' said DR.. B F.
Roller, the foreign invaders chief
trainer. His worry is not because of
tt1oleh, but to get into the ring and
nave it over with. If he loses he will
lose honorably to a better man. but he
Won give UP or hold out"
Gotch is in the best condition Of
MS career" said Emil K1ank, Gotcr's
manager. 81 believe he will win b1,+
1t Will be a long. desperate struggle.