Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-17
Nv WEXFORD eEAToN.


Internationally the most sensation
al wrestling match that ever tool
place in America was that between
Roller and Bert Warner in the arena
at the exposition grounds on the night
of Sept "a, 1909. For over one year
Joe Carroll had been patiently camp
ing on Rollers trail and that night
he caught up with the doctor and had
his revenge in a highly artistic and
characteristic manner.
Carroll took the trail because the
severance of the business relations ex
listing between him and Roller was
followed by series of attacks by
Roller on the man who had made him
Carroll has the patience of an Indian
He decided to go into training and
then challenge Roller 10 meet him on
the mat He would follow Roller
around the world if necessary and
challenge him in every town in which
he stopped.
Before they finally parted Roller
operated on Carroll for appendicitis
and to recover from the effects Of the
operation Carroll went to Honolulu,
where he spent six months building
himself up He returned to the Unit
ed States feeling fine, but just as he
was about to challenge Roller he con.
tracted blood poisoning and it hung
on for months. making it impossible
for him to awrestle.i g..
By this time Roller was under the
management Of Jack Curley, who
came from Chicago to promote wres.
ting in Seattle He pulled sof several
fakes, every man he brought out here
having to lie down to Roller or go
without his pay. Rollers stock again
climbed skyward under Curly's mani
pulation and Seattle was joyously dip
ping into it's pocket in an effort to
make them rich.
Mix's Unknown.
While Roller was throwing every
one who came this way there was
made public a challenge signed by
w. H. Mix on behalf of an unknown
offering to bet $1,000 that he could
throw Roller The $1,000 Carroll S
money-was posted in a newspaper
Office. Roller paid no attention to the
challenge until, two months after it
was issued, public sentiment COMPEL
ed him to, the persistency with which
Carroll pressed it finally bearing fruit
1t was known by that time that Bert
Warner was Mix's unknown.
On the night Of Saturday, Sept. Is,
Carroll was called into conference
with Curly and Roller. Curly stated
that the unknown had been so extens-
lively advertised that a match between
Roller and him would be rich in finan-
cial results, but as Roller would not
consider it unless Warner agreed to
lie down to him Carroll had better
grant the terms and accept half the
gate receipts. After the proper amount
Of protesting Carroll agreed and two
agreements were drawn up, one-the
real one-for the principals and an
other for the public.
Carroll Agrees to Frame-up.
Roller was not satisfied with Car,
throw him and insisted that Carroll
post $1,000 in the hands of one of Rol-
ler's friends, which sum was to be
forfeited if Warner failed to keep the
compact This was done. The agree
ment was that Warner was to let Rol-
Ter get two falls.
The Sunday papers next day an
noun"ed that the match had been
made and on the following Friday
night every available inch of space
in the arena was filled with what was
probably the most distinguished
crowd that ever assembled in Seattle
to witness a sporting event
Rollers Popularity.
A great cheer greeted Roller as he
climbed through the ropes. He had
only stain on his escutcheon was his
defeat more than year previously
by the acknowledged champion of the
world. Frank Gotch. Rollers career
had always appealed to the popular
fancy. A physician and university
man formerly famous as an amateur
athlete, beating all but one of the
great wrestlers of the country, gave
to Seattle the pride of possession.
That he was accepted as being on the
square was evidenced by the large
at all his matches.
Bert Warner came through the
ropes, closely followed by Joe Carroll
and to the accompaniment of a few
scattering cheers. He was the rank
outsider, the audacious creature who
had the nerve to come to Seattle and
presumed to think that he could low
er Seattle's pride.
When Kid Herman, the referee,
called the two men to the center of
the ring to receive their instructions,
a farce enacted for the benefit of the
public, the difference in the stature
of the wrestlers was startling. Roller
lowered above his opponent and OBJ
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