Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-11
SEATTLE DOCTOR
WINS ON FORFEIT
Greek Is Injured and Unable to
Continue Title Go at Ex-
position Park.
GREAT CROWD Is PRESENT
Jackie Roth Knocked Out In Second
Round of Boxing Exhibition
With Eddie Evers.

In one OF the cleverest heavy weight
wrestling matches OF recent years,
held last night az Exposition park, DR..
B. F. Roller OF Seattle, Wash, retained
his title as American champion, when
William Demetral of Athens, Greece,
was injured and forced to forfeit the
match.
The big grapplers fought nip and
tuck for one hour and IS minutes with
neither having the advantage when the
accident occurred. The Greek demon
lifted his heavier opponent bodily to
throw him to the mat, but contrary to
Demetral's expectations Roller fell
on top. The Greek groaned, and Roll
er, noting that the man was injured,
quickly stood up and held up his hand
to command silence from the crowd.
In the meantime Demetral was roll
ing and grooming upon the mat and
physicians were called from the stand.
1t was found that the Greek was suf-
fering with a broken floating rib, and
in addition had the wind knocked out
OF his body by the force of the fall.
Physicians advised him not to con-
tinue the match.
Rules of the wrestling game state
that when a man is injured the
bout must be forfeited to the oppos-
ing grappler, and acting according to
- Txr,- 4,
announcement that all bets would be
declared off, and that Roller had won
the match on a forfeit.
Both Grapplers Clever.
Both grapplers displayed great sci
ence and strength, each working out
Of some mighty tight holes. Several
times Demetral saved himself from
going to the mat by his cleverness, and
once he had Roller in a dangerous posi-
ton, and 1t looked for a moment as
though the champion would go down.
Owing to the extreme heat both mel
were running with sweat and Demetral
was unable to hold the head scizzor
and crotch which he had upon Roller;
the doctor broke away and both men
leaped to their feet amid great ap-
plause from the crowd, which was al
most unanimous with the American.
From the start 1t was evident that
the match would be hard fought, as
both men went at each other in earn
est. The cheering of the crowd helped
Roller considerably, giving him addi-
tional confidence in his ability. Both
grapplers put up a clean match and
the crowd was on edge from start to
finish. Contrary to general expecta-
tons the going was fast and furious,
and there were plenty of tense situa-
tons to make the bout interesting.
Roller outweighed his opponent by
something like 20 pounds, as he tipped
the beam at 210. while Demetral
weighed in at but 100. This proved a
handicap to the Greek demon, and he
was unable to hold the Seattle ply
stefan when he succeeded in getting
him into tight holes. Demetral's clev-
erness and ring generalship saved him
from a fall a number OF times, and the |
science displayed on both sides kept
the enthusiasm of the crowd up to the |
highest pitch
Great Crowd Present
A crowd far beyond expectations |
packed the stands. many women being |
among the number, and the women |
displayed as much interest as the \
men. cheering their favorite time and
again. Demetral had a good follow
ing of his countrymen present.
The winner displayed real sports |
manship, such as one seldom sees on |
the mat, when Demetral was injured. !
manifesting the greatest concern In
the extent OF the damage
After Referee Voss had given his
decision in favor OF Roller the doctor
made a few remarks which made ev-
eryone who heard admire him. He
stated that he could see plainly that
Demetral was hurt, and that, while
he must necessarily take the match by
forfeit, he would be glad to meet the
Greek at a future date, any time and
any place. He paid high compliment
to his defeated opponent as a classy
scientific wrestler. and said he was
one OF the best men II had ever been
his fortune to meet. Demetral also
made a few remarks to the crowd,
stating that he believed he should be
given a draw.
May Meet Again Here.
Promoters Dan Flynn and Otto Seid-
litz were so well satisfied with the re-
suits OF last nights match and the
sportsmanship displayed on all sides,
that they have practically decided TO
get the two heavy grappIers together
again before winter in another title
match. Labor day will probably be
the day set, and as both wrestlers
have expressed their willingness to
in such a match, there
seems every possibility that Exposi-