The evening times., 1911-08-09
HACK WILL Have
Many BACKERs
Wrestling Fans Realize That
Match viii Be Closest in
History

eseSSSSAo S4VOOOO
History
Chicago. Aug. 9.-There will be
considerable coin on George Hacken-
schmidt to win when the Russian
lion tackles Champion Frank Gotch
on the mat at the sox park on Sep
tember 4, Labor day. AS the match
grows near, interests increases and
friends, acquaintances and strangers
ARE daily besieging Jack Curley for
information regarding his man. Cur.
sley's days at present are not days of
pleasure, for he is about the busiest
manager in the country. Besides the
hundreds of personal visits to his
room in the Hotel Sherman, seeking
advice, Curley's mail is so heavy that
1t requires much of his time in op-
ening and answering the communities
stons. And none go unanswered. be
they from friend or foe, unless the
question is some silly one.
Fans on Anxious Seat.
Idolizing Gotch for his great work
in the ring and because he is an
American, yet feeling that like all
champions there must be an end to
his reign and that this match with
Hack might prove his undoing, Chi
cago's wrestling fans are eager in
search Of information regarding both
principals. Gotch Is far of in Hum
boldt, Iowa, where he cannot be
reached. Hackenschmidt is on the
other side training hard with DR.. Rol-
Ter, and also far from this side Of
the world, but Curley is here, and
having recently returned from Eu-
rope, he is made the target for infor-
nation.
"Now. Jack, we know you are a
great booster and have the interests
of Hack and the Empire club at
heart, for you would like to see tre-
'mendous gate, but tell us on the
square what your honest opinion Of
the match is? We know Gotch is q
wonderful wrestler, yet we feel in
clined to believe that Hack Is so good
that he may win from the champion.
Tell US honestly II you think he will
win" Such are the questions that
are fired at Curley from early morn
sTNAl4t=.LnS -.6HdOSA-e-Nl .01&uk, .QG1yS-aLuo
fans into retirement. -'A='-'1's'+
Naturally 1t isi to Jacks interest to
boom his man. and Jack Is booming
the ''lion," but the boom comes
straight from the heart and not from
the view of "press agent" Curley
honestly believes that Hack is going
ito wrest the title from Gotch, and
he is predicting 1t to the world. OF
course. this does not make Hack the
winner, but Curley is sincere. "This
match needs no booming; It needs
no false representation. It is q draw
ing card in itself, and no matter
what might say for Hack or for
Gotch, it would not influence the
wrestling fans. They know that this
is going to be contest, that Hack
lis wrestler capable Of giving Gotch
the match of his life and that 1t is
for the championship Of the world,
and it needs no further play. Those
who have made up their minds to go
will be there, no matter what is writ
ten or said, and those who have not
given the matter thought up to this
time will not be among those present
when the big thing comes off," de-
clared Jack.
Think Hack Better Man.
II pride myself at being a good
booster, for l have been in the game
long, but stand ready to say that
I have never knowingly or willfully
deceived anybody. I am heart and
soul with Hack in this match and l
can see nothing that will give Gotch
q victory and sentiment is not fore
ing this statement, either. Hack
proved his caliber here last year.
This year he Is far better and in the
best of shape. He knows as much
as Gotch, is as fast and tricky and
has great deal more strength and
endurance. do not want to influ-
ence any one. nor do I want to en-
courage betting, but I want to 90
down as picking Hack az the winner
and when make this statement it is
as sincere as can be-
Many Of Jacks inquirers who were
at first inclined to take a place
among the doubtful are today ready
TO string . bet on the lion, hence be
will be we'll backed when the scrap
Ills on.
\ NECHE WON FROM
CRYSTAL TOURNEY