The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-22

Opening Gun of Poles
Campaign
Stanislaus Cyganiewiez Zbyszko.
the big Polish wrestler, will land in
America for his third visit the last of
October. The Galician champion is
easily the most formidable challenger
now confronting Worlds Champion
Frank Gotch, and his manager, j. H.
Herman of Buffalo, is now making ac-
tive plans for a campaign which he
expects with every confidence will
culminate in his protege having a
chance at the worlds title during the
season of 1911-12.
According to a letter which Her.
mar has just issued, in anticipation
OF the arrival Of the burly European,
there is to be no delay in making an
attack on the American, with the idea
OF engaging him in a finish tussle at
the earliest possible date.
Zbyszko's Right to Recognition,
Herman declares boldly, in the be-
lief that the public will sustain his
position, that Gotch, having swept
all challengers before him, having
given George Hackenschmidt his c
ond chance. can no longer refuse the
claims Of the Pole to further recogni-
ton, II the champion is to remain
active on the mat. In the event of
his retirement, which is thought high
ly improbable. Zbyszko will undoubt-
edly claim the title by default and pre-
pare for its defense against all COM
ers.
Zbyszko challenges Gotch to a finish
match and to substantiate his claims
and his faith in the value of the match
from a financial standpoint, to both
champion and promoters, he stands
ready to guarantee the champion that
his reward for the bout, win, lose,
draw or wrangle, will be 10000, ian
amount" says Herman, " larger than
that received by Gotch for his 1910
match with Zbyszko. larger than he
has received for any match in which
he has engaged during his career,
barring only the last match with the
Russian lion, when Gotch received
$21,
Ready to Post Forfeit Of $4,000.
In support Of his promises, Herman
declares that upon notification by any
paper that Gotch has formally signi-
fled his willingness to accept terms
for a match, he will Immediately for
ward to his informant a check for ST.
900 as forfeit for the promised $10,-
900, the remaining $4,000 to be posted
Immediately upon the signing Of ar
ticles, and "in the event Of his failure
to do SO, the $1,000 up to be bestowed
upon charity as the stakeholder may
elect"
This $4,000 proposition" said Her.
man yesterday, "is made solely to
convince the skeptical. who may in.
clude the champion, of our earnest.
ness OF purpose, and u confidence
In the eagerness Of the sporting pub.
lie to support such a match as pro.
posed. AS a matter of fact, we dc
not anticipate any financial risk in
such an offer, for there is no question
in our minds that a finish match be.
tween Gotch and the Pole will draw
one of the greatest houses Of wrestl.
ing, whether held in New York city
Chicago or any other point in the
west. Buffalo itself could afford tc
make a fine offer for such a match
and I I'm sure that in the event that
1T can be made the Buffalo Athletic
association will be one Of the most
active bidders for the bout"
Prominence of Zbyszko in 1911.
There is little question of the prom
inence of Zbyszko on the mat today
He is easily the most dangerous chal.
lenger confronting Gotch.
During the last two years he has
picked up a world Of knowledge Of
catch-ac-catch-can wrestling and has
wonderfully improved a previously
magnificent physique, all Of which
may be taken as assurance that he
will perform far more c%reditably. II
he gets another chance at the title
holder, than he did on the occasion
of their first meeting. On that oc.
casion Zbyszko lost two falls inside
Of half an hour, the first in record
time, a fraction over six seconds. But
in that match, as has been pointed
out, he was caught mapping on both
occasions and his friends have always
contested the merit Of the defeat.
Gotch, Of Course, the Favoritc.
Gotch, of course, would be an over
whelming favorite for Victory against
the Pole, or any other challenger al
this time, but. even c%onceding the de-
feat of the Pole, there is every rca-
son to believe that Zbyszko will be
able to give the champion the best
argument Of any of his many chal-
lengers.
To date the Pole has satisfactorily
answered every question asked Of him
on the mat. his defeat by Gotch being
the only blot on an otherwise perfect
record in America and Europe. He
has triumphed on two occasions in
h%andicaps with Hackenschmidt and
there is little doubt in any well-posted
mind that he would accomplish the
further downfall of the Russian lion
were 1t possible to couple them for a
finish match.
Open to any Challenger.
For that matter Herman adds to
his challenge to the champion that
Zbyszko. although he has already de-
feated all Corners. barring the cham
piOn, stands ready to meet any and