The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-25
WRESTLING'S PRESTIGE
IS IN BALANCE TO-DAY
Good Bout Between Aberg and Zbyszko Will Help
Games Popularity, but Poor Effort Will Kill
It-Baseball Men Mysterious.

Wrestling, like professional foot rae
ing. was hippodromed to death in the
old days. II fell into evil repute be-
cause of manipulation. The general pub
lie was victimized 30 unscrupulously n
so often that II finally came to look
upon wrestling Of all kinds much as
the city man regards the shell game Of
the country fair faker.
Within the last year or two wrestling
! has regained in a measure some Of Its
lost prestige. Certain promoters who
appeared to have the interest OF the
! sport AZ heart worked religiously to
| redeem it's fallen prestige. In the East
interest Mas revived through the first
championship tournament at the GRECO
| Roman style ever held In this city. The
Manhattan Opera House n few months
ago was the scene OF this tournament.
which lasted several weeks. These
bouts were so spirited and evidently
hard fought hat they attracted unusual
interest on the part OF the public
throughout.
So we'll satisfied was this new clientele
OF the graphing art that 1t showed
an unusually we'll developed sporting
sentiment the night OF the final bout.
Wlad-k Zybszko and Alex Aberg quail
fed to meet In the final for the title.
The conditions OF the match were that
the championship would be decided upon
the first fall and that there was to be
no time limit.
Neither Aberg. the champion. nor
Iybszku. the challenger. was able to
win a fail In four hours OF nerve rack
ing competition. BY the end OF that
time both were almost ready to drop
f,A., A a In .ut Ion Ip.f.t. a.anrna Rnth-
ner was asked by Z~ybszko's handlers
to stop the match. but Wladek insisted
that the sponge should not be thrown.
Finally the big crowd. which remained
to the end. became insistent that the
match be stopped. Then the
put the question TO n vote and In that
packed house there could not be heard
ono dissenting voice when the galleries
called for a draw.
, The championship tournament OF last
winter did much To renew loct! interest
IN the mat game. The candidates were
the top notchers OF their profession.
Besides. the Grsro-Roman style. with
' al holds below the waist barred, is
somewhat CLEANER Than catch az catch
cau. Bothner was very careful to eltmi-
nate the rowdy tactics from the COM
petitions. II rests with local promoters
to keep the sport clean and honest.
p 'f' Il'diItiiE'u bpuN N''Ah "" h''
than Kill the benefits ~ that worlds
championship tournament.
Followers II wrestling VINO watched
the progress OF the tournament at the
Manhattan opera House may see the
iinish Of that memorable four hour draw
between Xbyszko and Aberg at
7 Madison Square Garden tonight. These.
giants are To settle their question OF
supremacy Ia 9. finish bout. with Bothner
Is the third man on the mat. Because
uf the fact that IbysZko was II for
many WEEKS after his hard struggle with
q Nh.rg the tournament had :" end with
ont a settlement - the great fina!.
Zbyszko Is said TO have recovered fully
meanwhile. Both he and Aberg have
trained many weeks for this
The event viii be started at Q O'Clock
10 provide as far as possible against a
. late finish. These men will meet under
more favorable conditions than before.
as AZ that time both had been worn
dow II somewhat by a series OF strenuous
tournament matches.
The powers of baseball--osglnlzed and
utnerwisr-who 50 ins!sttntly scott at
rumurs OF peace. by that very iusistence
inaicate that more Is under way than the
general public has been told. There have
been a lot OF wild rumors in connection
with the peace talk, IL is true. The idea
Of a merger between major and Federal
interests to form two ten club or two
twelve club leagues is nonsensical to say
the least. \ ten club circuit could moi
be operated because two cams would
necessarily have to idle when the respec-
'iv. Eastern and Western sections were
not engaged IN .ntersect!onal p.a! The
National League has proved Conclusivcly
that "a twelve team league is Tar too
,nn.I,llr