Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03
GOTCH IS FAVOR|TE
Champion Picked to Again De-
feat Russian Lion.
BOTH ARE IN GOOD SHAPE
Training Has Ended and Only Light
Exercise Will Be INDUCED
In Now.
BOTH ARE IN GOOD SHAPE

CHICAGO. September o.-Training end
ed, Gotch and Hackenschmidt tonight are
just waiting.
The two giants of the wrestling mat,
who Monday afternoon will clash in their
worlds championship match at the
American League base ball park. com
pleted conditioning themselves today.
Neither did much work in the way of
training. Gotch. the champion merely
tried to get up a good sweat, while
Hackenschmidt spent a day of dleness
save for brisk run in the morning and
a light exercise in the afternoon. Fear
that Gotch would overdo his training
has been the worry of the Iowan's camp
But the champion evidently knew what
he was doing. for never a man, his ad-
mrers say, looked in better condition for
a championship contest than did Gotch
as he lay on a rubbing table after his
final workout.
Beginning the day. Gotch started out
on ten-mile run. Then he returned to
his hotel and rested until the afternoon.
About / o'clock he went to the Chicago
Athletic Association, where he tugged
and pulled two wrestling partners around
who weighs close to 800 pounds, was
Gotch's first opponent. The champion Sc
cured grip after grip on Rogers, only to
release them and try for others.
Work Is Fast.
His work was lightning fast but he
apparently did not try for fall, for he
had several dangerous holds on Rogers,
and permitted him to wriggle out of
them.
Jesse Westergaard, whom many critics
regard as Gotcn-s nearest American rival,
followed Rogers Westergaard is lighter
and much faster tEan Rogers, but he
could not solve the bewldering attack
nor cope with the speed champion Both
Westergaard and Rogers appeared more
exhausted than the man with whom they
were wrestling. for Gotch finished the
hard tusSle breathing easily.
Out in his camp on the shore of Lake
Michigan, Hackenschmidt spent the day
loafng, although he took a run in the
morning and a few minutes of exercise
later in the day. Trainers in the invaders
camp declared he was in the finest pCssi-
BILE condition and that his work was done.
Short walks in the morning is the pro-
gram mapped out for both Gotch and
Hackenschmidt tomorrow. The balance
Of the day will be spent in absolute rest.
Hack Weighs Most.
1t was unofficially announced that
Gotchs weight, after his workout today,
was POT, and Jack Curley, Hacken-
schmidt's manager, said the Russian tip
ped the beam at 224, which is more than
he ever has weighed for previous con-
tests. Gotch's handlers plan to send him
into the ring weighing about 2O4 pounds
He will be heavier by eight pounds than
when he defeated Hack here three and
half years ago.
Betting odds on Gotch took sudden
slump today following reports of the
Iowan's superb condition. Early in the
week even money Wa9ers or to ) odds
were obtainable, but today the best price
was to ., while Hackenschmidt ruled
at Z to :. Betting, as a rule. has been
light, no wagers of any size having been
reported.
The rules for the match were issued
tonight by Referee E. W. Smith In
order that each wrestler will have to do
his share of the work, rule % has
been formulated to read as follows:
Both contestants shall be expected to
do their share of the wrestling work.
Should one contestant assume the de-
fensive and persistently decline to act
otherwise the referee may. after warning
him, disqualify him and give his opponent
the match