The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-28
ROSS IS OBJECT OF
SEVERE CRITICISM
Irslinger Offers $500 for
Proof of "Frame-up"; Fans
Greatly Dissatisfied.
Special to The Tribune.


OGDEN March 27,-Widespread dis
satisfaction among local wrestling fans
regarding the outcome OF last night IS
match between Jack Harbertson and
Henry 1rslinger found It's outlet today in
severe criticism Of Referee Otto Ross.
low" streak were heard the general
complaint centered on the decision OF
the referee.
Whether Harbertson was injured, as Dr.
| III. G. Wardleigh and other physicians
declared, or whether ne was not hurt,
| as many fans seem inclined to believe.
| the fact remains that Ross, by his own
admission after the bout made the seri-
Gus mistake OF allowing a foul to be per-
pctrated without dlsqualifyng the Of
fender Immediately, and added to his
| onense by changing his decision. At all
events. that is the tenor of the complaint
against him.
His action is regarded as in direct ylo-
| lation of the rules OF the game, from the
fact that he gave one decision-this to
| lrslinger-then left the ring and returned
| fifteen minutes later to change his verdict
! in Harbcrtsons favor.
Irsllnger. who denied in no uncertain
| terms the words OF a local morning paper
that he had been a party to a frameup,
| severely denounced the action of the
! referee, He said In part.
The decision which this man rem
dered last night is positively the
! worst / have ever experienced since l
started In the game. Ii a man wants
| TO be on the square and knows enough
about wrestling To qualify as a ref
cree, he does not have TO wait for the
statement Of physician to know
that foul has been committed
| hereby state that the story pub
lished In the Morning Examiner re-
Sarding my agreement with Jack
Harbertson Is an absolute falsehood
! had no agreement OF any kind with
| either Mclaughlin, Harbcrtson or
Kelly. I came here to do my best to
! win and consider that did win. even
! though the decision OF the referee
went against me.
Further. | have posted sl0o as
| forfeit 10 wrestle Jack Harbertson as
soon as he Is able and will also let
that forfeit go for match with any
| rniddlewesght In the world
| ] certainly hope that the real
sportsmen OF Ogden will take my word
In this affair and believe that | am
no fakir. They can feel assured that
l did not speak 10 Harhertson about
/ any agreement and II was the faircst
| match | have ever wrestled. barring
| The decision Of Referee Ross. No man
could have made a worse decision
| than | received last night.
| | Will pay any man $500 who can
| furnish proof that l entered into snv
agreement with Hnrbertson or his
seconds regarding the result or the
| match.
| The statements OF the eastern man
since the match have served 30 increas q
! rather than diminish his popularity since
the affair Of last night. Harberlson. al
] course, has many supporters who are
| willing TO fight a mountain upon the
| slightest intimation that the local man
shows yellow, but there are scores who
! Willingly proclaim IrsiinGer TO be a gem
| tlemanly sportsman. not Cuiltv of tho uu-
| fair tactics with which he has been
| charged.
! According to Dr. C. e. Wardleieh. who
| IL attending NarbertsoU. the wrestler will
not be able TO engage in mat battle
even IT he were so disposed. before six
] weeks have elapsed