The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1911-09-05
Russian Fighter Was Reported in
Poor Condition Shortly Before
the Match.
GOTCH SAYS IT WAS EASY
Referee Smith and Others Talk Af-
ter the Wrestling Match
is Over.
Grappled at 3:l9.

The men grappled at 3:19, each Sc
curing neck and arm hold.
They bulled around the ring sew
eral seconds, and Hack made fake
dive at Gotch's legs, but he did not
connect. During the first five min
utes neither man secured an effective
hold. They tugged and pulled each
others legs and arms, each seeming
to test the others strength.
Gotch made three passes as though
he intended for a knee-hOld, but all
failed
Gotch wore a smile. Hack ap-
peared more serious.
The Iowan's smile was not always
one of good humor, but contortion
of lips due to the face that an impedi-
ment in his nasal passages compels
him, in moments Of supreme effort, to
breathe through his mouth.
After fourteen minutes Of wrest-
ling, Gotch started Hackenschmidt
downward with knee hold, a faxed
crotch hold, and then quickly worked
the Russian into half-nelsOn. They
struck the mat together, head to
head. Then GOtch pivoted on his op-
ponent's stomach clamped a reverse
body hold and the first fall was over
The Second Fall.
The first five minutes of the second
fall was replica of that period of
the first. But of a sudden Gotch
reached down with his right hand,
grasped Hackenschmidt's left ankle
and unbalanced the Lion
While Hackenschmidt was trying
to regain his equilibrium, Gotch
struck the Lions" injured leg with
his right knee, and the Russian
crumbled in heap on the canvass.
Instantly Gotch was on him, his pow
erful right hand locked upon the
under mans left toe. Hackenschmidt
screamed twice, rolled over on his
shoulders and gave up.
All Bets Called Off.
The Associated Press wired last ev-
ening that the directors Of the En-
pire Athletic Club of Chicago and the
managers of the Gotch Hacken-
schmidt wrestling match had called
off all bets on the match. The meet
ing was held before the bout was
started and all bets called off then.
The club did this to protect them
selves because of Hackenschmidt S
condition. Whether or not this ap-
plies to every bet is not known, but
so far AS could be ascertained this
meant all bets on the match.
What Principals Had to Say.
By Frank Gotch:
Honestly, didn't think it would
he so easy. Hackenschmidt gave me
such a desperate struggle in our first
meeting that l was prepared to go
through with hard drawn out bat
tie. The minute we locked heads, l
felt confident that I would win, but l
really did not think the victory would
come so quickly. Hackenschmidt did
not display the nerve and strength
he did in our first contest. He was
not aggressive. He appeared to be
afraid When I saw that Hack did
not try to break down my defense or
suuirm out of holds, l became deter
mined to end it as quickly as pos
sible
81 am sorry he laid his miserable
showing to an injured knee, for
wanted to make the victory clean
one. When l defeated him here three
wears ago, it was said that l won un-
fairly. Today l hoped that Hacken-
schmidt would be at his best, for
wanted to prove that l was his mas
ter
BY Geo. Hackenschmidt:
1T was the cheapest worlds cham
pionship ever won. entered the
contest with an injured knee, and
had my shoulders pinned to the mat
for the first time in my wrestling
career.
81 have no one to blame. should
not have gone into the match, but
Continued on last page) ~,