Evening star., 1911-08-27
MAT RIVALS. READY
Hack and Gotch Are Both in
Perfect Condition.
EVENT WILL DRAW CROWD
American Sure to Be Favorite,
Though Russian Will Have
Backing.
Special Dispatch to TIE Star.

Special Dispatch TO TIE star.
CHICAGO. Ill, August 26.-Unless some
thing Unforeseen happens between nov
and Labor day, two giant athletes In Per
feet condition will contest for the world:
heavyweight wrestling championship a.
Comiskey's Park. Frank Gotch. title
holder is fit. and a visit to the camp ol
George Hackenschmiat. on the lake short
at Edgewater, today, disclosed the fac
that the Russian has attained the per
feet condition that he set out to attain
nearly three months ago.
Satisfied he 10 ready and, like 0otch
regretful the struggle does not come soon
or. Hackenschmidt is confident he could
not be In better fettle physically or an.
other way, for the greatest event of his
mat career He has one thing to fear, and
thaS is tile chance Of going stale. Ever
this fear Is not bothering the Russian
more self-satisf1ed person than Hack as
ne appeared after q day of light training
What the future days in the training
camp will be depends almost entirely on
the Russian himself. The long weeks of
hard training certainly have left their
marks, as his clear skin and eye indi-
cate to any one who knows condition.
Starting his work in Chicago after the
trip from England. Hack was In the best
of condition. The cool lake breezes last
week caused him to contract cold in
his back. This resulted in the reduction
Of training work, but he says 1t did not
set his condition back.
Light work, just enough Of 1t to keep
him on edge, has been followed con-
sistently since the cold settled In his
back. and now. that the cold has com
pletely disappeared. the Russian will in
crease his daily training. adding bit
more wrestling to it. One thing Ia GER
tain. there will be no more OF the long.
hard hours on the mat like he had in
England. and which brought him to his
now on will consist Of just enough to
head off staleness and to keep him at his
present notch.
Hack Not Irritable.
Relaxation as the result Of the lighter
sort of training is showing its effect In the
big Russian. The peevish and irritable
Hackenschmidt Of less than two weeks
ago is changing to q contented Hacken-
schmidt. He has passed through the
stage of training where most athletes
display irritableness.
So mucn for condition, but there are
other points which count just as big
factors In this coming struggle. It Is
claimed for the Russian by those who are
his closest associates. that he has gained
wonderfully in knowledge Of the game
la the last three years. or since his de-
feat by Gotch- DR.. Roller, trainer-in-
chief Of q training corps. which consists
OF himself "Amerfcus' and Johnny Koch.
said Hack had learned many things.
things which he needs to know IL he is
to become champion Of the world.
Hackenschmidt will talk Of his condi-
ton, but when one asks him how he
hopes to accomplish the defeat of Gotch
sWerlesA 1t is apparent he does not
care to discuss the subject. Gotch VS..
Hackenschmidt He likes books, the
scenery around his training camp. and
talk about them to the exclusion Of the
approaching event. A pair of field
glasses. powerful ones, provides the
major portion OF his amusement. With
these he seas the lake and watches
the boats as they pass Edgewater.
II Is ''The Rise and Fall of the Roman
Empire" Some one told him Jack John
son read 1t before his fight with Jim
Jehries. but the Russian paid no atten-
ton. 1t Is evident that Hack is looking
for rise and not a fall on Labor day.
DR.. Roller is the spokesman OF the
camp. due to Hacks tactiturnity. Roller
10 willing talker, and today told the
writer q few things about Hack which
are mighty interesting.
Hack Has Improved.
''when Hackenschmidt met Gotch be-
fore he did not know many things he
knows now said Roller. His knowl-
edge of offense and defense has been
greatly increased. The defense has been
a most important thing in his training.
as will be seen on Labor day. Do you
know there are not SO many points used
by the best wrestlers in the matter Of
defense? Perhaps six points in all are
the important ones OF course. the line
of action used by an opponent counts for
a good DEAL
When asked what sort of protection
Hack would adopt to prevent the effec-
tiveness of Gotch's favorite toe hold Roll
Ter said: Il do not think that Gotch or
any one else can make q toe hold effec-
tive on Hackenschmidt. He will take
care of that with his strength"
Roller thinks 'Americus' and Koch are
proving invaluable in aiding Hack. Iie
says the smart head Of the Baltimore
wrestler Is teaching the Russian many
things. while Koch provides all the rough
shoulder work such as Hack may expect
when he faces the champion.
Hacks diet is an important part of his
conditioning process. His meals for a
man in training have been small. He
dimes three times a day, just like any
other human being, and these meals con-
sist of just about the same as any other
American partakes. His breakfast is
light. consisting of eggs, toast and coffee.
AT dinner time he takes potatoes and
chops and at supper time devours seak
and a few other side dishes.
The Russians appetite is ravenous, but
his trainers have trained him not to spoil
his condition by eating too heavily. And
he drinks little water.