davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
FARM BOY CLAIMS THE GROWN
 OF FRANK GOTCH

Just three years ago to-day on Jan. II, 1913, there was great. excitement among the rural sports or Dodge and Colfax couontfes, Nebraska At that tines according to the wise sport ing seribes of eastern cities, the wrestling game was dead and buried, never to be revived. That they were mistaken has since been demonstraI- ed by the popular enthus -f.sr.1 aroa~- ed by the big international Wrestling g tournaments in New York In the middle west, however, the grappling game has never wholly died out. The fans of the East might prefer boxing, but the rural populations of Iowa and Nebraska held firm in their allegiance to the sport that f1ourished in ssthe glory that was Greece and the gran deur that was Rome.'' In Frank Gotch they had produced one famous champion who had held his own against the foremost grappling glad iators of the world.
 Gotch was growing old, however, and more interested in his Iowa farm than in maintaining his prestige as a. wrestler. A host of young men were inspired with the ambition to wear the crowd which Gotch must soon put off Among these was Joe Stecher, a nine tean-year-old farm boy, and on that January day three years ago he was to engage in a match with Landour in the little town of Clarkkson. While Joe had ''raSSled'' with the ne1ghbor boys ever since he was a little kid, this was about his first real test, and in consequence there was much inter est in the result. The masculine pop uIation of Clarkson, which includes many Bohemians, and of the neigh ht.ring village of Dodge, the home of young Joe Stecher,. turned out in force and saw the young farmer achieve a speedy victory,
 That was the beginning ofAa career which, within three years, has brought Joe Stecher to the point where he looms up as the most for raidabIe of the contenders for the heavyweight wrestling championship of the world. In fact, Jee's many friends and admirers in Nebraska pre-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11

lead of the preceding day he would have undoubtedly won the match and met Johnston in the final. As it was fKumagae, with Nonura for partner, gave Johnston Nand F'ottrelI another hard battle in the final of the doubles although their lack of team work was a heavy handicap against the clever play of the Americans and they were defeated 6-2, 5-4, 6-2.
 Kumagae is a short stocky Jap apese with a, powerful overhead and forearm drive while his service and backhand play compare favorably with that of the average American big tournament player He is ex- comfortably fast on his feet and pos= sesses remarkable powers of endur- ance. If he should compete in this country next season, as has been sug- gested, it will be found that Kuma- gae will be entitled to rank among the first IS of American lawn tennis In all his matches he had shown in domitab1e spirit and determination, never conceding a match lost until the last point is scored against him. Another factor in his favor is that the experience and reputation of an eppoil ent never appear to overawe the Japanese racquet expert.
 The University of Chicago baseball team, which has just returned from a tour of the Far East, has better sue cess with the bat than Griffin had with the, racquet, While in the Land of Nippon the, Maroon nine played T 0 games against Waseda and Keio University teams and won them all. scoring total of 48 runs to 10. All told Chicago played 12 games in Ja- pan winning one against the All Amer jeans by a score of 20 to o and the other by 5 to 1 from the Al1-Japan team. A majority of the contests with the Japanese co11egians resulted in shut-o1t victories for the Maroon players. The entire trip is consider ed to be one of the most successful ever made by a middle. western uni versfty nine. Out of a total of Al games played, B were won, seven lost and one tied. Fifteen games were played with Far Western and Pacific Coast teams; six in Hawa1t;s 12 in Japan and eight in the Philip pines. The total number of runs scored in the fl games were Chicago 230; Opponents 93.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
NO DECISION IN BOXING BOUTS IN
 NEW YORK STATE

New York. Jan. 11-There will be no decisions handed down by referees in boxing bouts in this, state. There will be no professional boxing in arm oEies in this state. These two very important announcements were made yesterday so boxing will have to keep moving along the same old way,
 The referees decision question sank into the grave of oblivion at the meet ing of the State Athletic Commission held at it's office yesterday. Chair man Wenck proposed a motion en- towering referees to render decisions. Commissioners Franey and Dwyer lis- tened to the resolution and then voted it down.
 Wenck then introduced a resolu- tion calling for the commission to designate New York state champions at the recognized weights. This reso- Iution was voted down.
 The chairman announced the yer dict calmly and cheerful1y, but added that he thought official decisions would stimulate the sport. N"I sim cerely hope, the Judgment of my con- freres is for the best of boxing" said Wenck, :'and if it ultimately turns out that way I shall be glad they voted against me-"
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
WANT YANKEES IF THEY ARE
 UNABLE TO PURCHASE GIANTS
Gaffney and Sinclair Offer $7OO,OOO For American
 League Franchise.

New York, Jan. 11.-Harry N. Hampstead, President of the Giants, who with Ashley Lloyd of Cincinnati. controls e2 per cent. of the stock in the New York club, in a brief state ment yesterday denied that James B. Gaffney, former owner Of the Braves and well known contractor of this ci- ty and Harry S. Sinclairs the Tulsa oil magnate, had purchased the control ling interest in the club. MT. Hemp stead in his statement, also declares that at the present time deal is bending for the sale of the club to Messrs. Gaffney and Sinclair, regard less of all other reports.
 However, it was learned the follow ing facts last night:
 That Gaffney has been most friend ly toward Sinclair ever since he en- tered the Federal League; that the two have practically agreed to coop crate and purchase the Giants; that they have agreed on the price to be paid for the club. The price is said to be $1,5o0soOO, the exact amount that Hampstead and Lloyd asked when Sinclair was negotiating for the
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
ANNIVERSARIES
 OF RING BATTLES

1see-Young Griffo defeated Abe Willis in three rounds at Sydney Aus tralia. Abe and Griffo had previously fought a 20-round draw. Both boys afterward came to America. and they were among the stars of their day. GriHo, whose real name war Albert Gr4mkhs, fought as a featherweight for several years, but afterward went into the lightweight division, a1- though he seldom weighed over 12S pounds willis was a true feather weight, and, with the exception of Griffo, the best little fellow that ever came out Of Anstralia, not even bar ring Billy Murphy, who had a bear of a punch in his old Mary Ann.'' W1llis crossed the Pacific to San Fran cisco soon after his bout with Grinq and was matched to fight George Dixon for the featherweight title in San Francisco. They fought at 445 pounds and in the fifth round the Chocolate Drop won with a knockout. Griffo didn't land on this side until 1893. He was more successful in his bouts with Dixon, getting three draws with the clever coon.
 1S9S-Casper Leon and Jack Ward fought 15-round draw at Trenton, a. Je
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11

club about a month or so ago.
 Sinclair and Gaffney held a secret conference yesterday or last night at the Hotel Plaza, and they will make another effort to procure the control of the Giants at the baseball meeting here tomorrow. James A. Gilmore will be associated with Gaffney and Sinclair, providing, of course, that they purchase the club.
 McGraw will be retained as man ager of the club, although he and Gaffney have not been on the best of terms since the row over playing Benny Kauff at the Polo Grounds one day last season. The Giants will be augmented next season by Kauff, Lee Magee, Eddie Rousch of the Newark club and several other Federal league Iuminaries.
 Sinclair and Gafney, if they fail to purchase the Giants, will attempt to gain control of the Yankees. An of fer of $7OO,000 has already been ten dered to Col. Ruppert and Capt. Illus ton for the club. Negotiations were immediately dropped by Sinclair when Messrs. Ruppert and Huston set the price on their club as $90o, ,OOo.a
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
YALE. ALONE HAS
 NOT PICKED HEAD
 FOR 1916 ELEvEN N

New Haven, Jan 11zYaIe students. graduates, and followers Of college footbaI the coun4ry oyer, are still ex- peetant1y waiting to hear the decision of that special connmz44ee appointed tp choose coach to guide Tales foot ball dsstudes through the 1918 sea son. Nov that the problems at Penn sSisFania are over for the time being through the appointment of Bob Fol we'll the feFxneF Washington & Jef- 1erson coachst to direct the policies of Rennsyss Football machine the eora- Ing year there remalns only the Yale situation among the1 arger colleges of the country to De settled.
 There is no hope of Old Eli secHr- Ina DE. Sharpe, nov at Cornell, and while there is 9 chance that Dr. Will Hams Of MinAesota may be syllable, # IS a small chance.
 The best possible. eoInbinatioA that faces Xa7e just now would be to tie up Tad Jones' who has done so much at G0okbaH for Phillips Exeter Acad- eTny, and at the same time secure Wa14ar Camp to act in an advisory eapacAty along with the more youth fuz Jones. To many such a selection is be54eEed to be possible, and likely ta be successful.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
VICTORY OF JAPANESE STAR
 IN TENNIS CAUSES SURPRISE
Defeat of Griffin Shows Kagae by Amer-
 Experts.

New York, Jan. 1.-The defeat of Clarence J. Griffin, ranked seventh among the American tennis players of 1915, by the Japanese expert Kuma- gae in the championship match of the Far Eastern title tournament at Ma nila, on Saturday, Jan. 8, is another illustration of the progress being made in all branches of sport by the Japanese. Kumagae is far from be- ing a novice with the racquet as his victory over Griffin demonstrates, yet there are several other native players of Japan who can always be counted upon to give Kumagae a hard battle when they meet him on the court.
 As far back as 1913 Kumagae was making it interesting for American tennis players although he was com parative1y new to the game at that time. In company with three other Japanese players he entered the Far Eastern tournament played at the be- ginning of 1914 and succeeded in working his way to the semi-f1naI round of the singles and with No mura reached the final of the dou- bIes. The entry list included the leading English. German and Amerf- can resident players of Far Eastern countries as we'll as William M. John ston, the present American champion.
 
 from California especially to play in the tourney.
 At tIlak time Kumagae was a stu dent at Keio University who had taken up tennis only two years before and who had played the game with a plain rubber ball. such as children bounce on the sidewalks of the coun- try, up to within few months of his first tournament Notwithstanding his limited experience Kumagae made it decidedly interesting for both J. Fot- treII and Johnston. In the semi final of the Singles it required five sets of the hardest kind of play by F'ottrel1 to defeat the Japanese.
 The scores were 7-5, 4-6. e-4, 4-6, 6+2 in favor of Fottrell, but the match was carried over a day on ac- count of darkness when FottrelI led at two sets to one with the fourth 5-2 games in favor of Ku1na gae This unfinished set was thrown out tho next day and the Japanese won the play over at 6-4. Had he re- ceived credit for his overwhelming
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
YANKEES WON'T SECURE STARS IF CLEVELAND
 AND GIANTS ARE SOLD

New York, Jan. 1I.-The officers of the Yankees are hopeful that the prospective deals now on do not go through. A merger of the Cleveland d Indians and the Pittsburgh .Feds, in the event that Gwinner buys the Cleveland club, and the sale of the Giants to Sinclair would leave Don ovan in the cold, as far as any Fed eral League stars are concerned.
 If Gwinner buys the Clevelands it also means that the Yankees will have another. tough club to beat out as there was quite 8 little strength to the Pittsfeds, especially in the pitch ing. With the Browns and Indians greatly strengthened, and Boston, Chicago and Detroit as strong, if not stronger. than last year, the Tanks would have to hustle the Athletics to get somewhere, as Griffith also thinks well of his Washington team for next seaSan.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
WASH AND JEFF. SIGNS ME ZGER AS
 FOO TB ALL COACH

Washington, Pa, Jan. # r1-SoI 42etzger. former star football player 8f te University of Pennsylvania, and Ter two years coach of the West Vir- Eiuia University squad. was yesterday signed to coach the Washington and Jefferson football team
 The anno11ncement made by R. M. AEupys sraduate manager, caused much surprise as it was not known Aketzger was being considered for the Vacancy caused by resignation Of Rob ert Fo7Weu to become code. at the University of PennsyEvania- It is un- derBtood that Fpfwen recommended 1Eetzger and Bf71 Ho11enbech. The latter is dickering with Syracuse.
 The selection of Metzger proved Ia popu1ar one with the students. He is an Amlfab1e fellow and a capable coach adetzgeT may coach in other branchea, too. as is an a11-aronnd man
 1Eefzger was captain of Pennsy1- vaniass a1eveu fn 19os-fhe last cham piomahfp football team the Quakers turned 6zzt. He came to Penn from Phf1l4Ds Andover Aca&e1ny- In addi- 4icn to playing fcotbal1 he managed the Penn crew and did some track s9Fpf4 Fl
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11

sented him last October with an elab- crate gold and diamond belt, costing
 $?,"Oo. wkich bears th7 inscrfpti on,
 'swor1d's Champion Wrestler The Governor of the State presented the belt to the modest young hero, who will be twenty-three years old next April Joe isn't the only member Of the Stecher family to achieve 1eTuoelS uoauv LoJ 'sIouoq SuTI4seL LM claims the supremacy at 16O pounds.
 Joe took part in many matches in the towns near his home during his first year as a professional in the mat sport and early in 1914 he met Mar win PIestina and George Nelson in Lincoln, and Pat Corners in Omaha He aroused as much enthusiasm in those cities as he had in the rural communities, and c. s. Sherman, of Lincoln, and other sporting scribes got wise to the fact that Nebraska pc assessed future monarch of the ancient sport of wrestling. Tn Mar. 1k15, Stecher went to Louisville and wrestled Hassan Eli in the Kentucky metropolis. adding another to his un- broken string of victories. This was his first bout outside of Nebraska, with the exception of a contest at Austin, Ndian. A little later Stecher visited Chicago, where he defeated Jim. Assin, Joe Wallace and Paul Mar tiHson.
 It was last July that Stecher broke into the international limehght by defeating the veteran Charley Cutler at Omaha, more than $100, 900 chang ing hands on the result. Stecher won easily and decisively; Last October, in Lincoln, he pinned Americus to the mat. He has met many others of the stars of the mat game, and has never lost a match nor even a single fall. As was said of Gotch in his early days, Stecher doesn't know anything about wrestling, but he beats everybody West of the Mississippi he IS already hailed as the worlds champion, and if he keeps on he seems likely to win un- iversal recognition as the king of srapplerS.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
SPORT TALK F szHRzR RzsagE agF

Owner Weeghman Of the Chicago Cubs has already planned one big day for next season He will stage a lMathewson-Bdown which, the old master of the Giants win pit his cunning against Three Finger Brown. These two were old rivals about eight years ago when the Giants and Cubs had so many furious battles.
 Assistant Coach Roekne of Notre Dame university declares that of the n,20o students almost every one ten- the past year.
 The Syracuse football schedule, just issued, shows that tie New Workers will play Pittsburgh October s21 and Michigan on October 28. Hard games to come only week apart.
 The Georgetown University basket ball team was defeated last night by the New York University team by 4s to p.
 Johnny Dundee Of New York out pointed Jimmy Murphy of PhiIadeI- phia in the quaker City last night. Dundee was too clever for Murphy. It is said that Dundee will get d match with Champion Welsh in New Orleans, now that the bout in New York has been called off because Gov. Whitman has forbidden +he use of the 71st Regiment armory for boxing.
 lr Benny Kaun doesn't care who buys the Giants. It looks as if the former Bridgeporter will land with the New York club anyway so he is satisfied. He wants to roam LID and down Broad way telling everybody how he hits 'em a mile. Benny was never afraid to toot his own horn.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
! Edited by Wagner
IMMENSE CROWD
 SEES DRUMMIE AND M'AULIFFE IN DRAW
By Wagner.)


 After he had finished counting the house last night, Battling Levinsky cIambered into the ring at the Casino and made a speech, which was as fol- lows: "AIl I can say is I thank you for your patronage" And when he said that he said it all. For 1t was the largest crowd at any local boxing show in recent years They were hanging from the rafters and at a late hour it was reported that the pro motors were up to their knees in ten dollar bills. Nobody would give out the official attendance figures but 2,500 wouldn't be a bad guess. The receipts were g, ,498.
 The bouts, with the exception of the Williams -McGrath go, were good. The main attraction in which Young Mo tAuIiffe and Johnny Drumnie hacked at each other for 15 rounds. was rel ished by the fans. Both boys were eager for the fray and they set a fast pace for the whole route. The bout resulted in a draw.
 Drunnie was probably a tougher opponent than McAuliffe expected. The Jersey City boy is a master of gootwork and also knows a little about swatting the enemy McAuliffe looked awkward in several rounds when it seemed as if DrumTnie were outpoint- ing him but the East Bridgeporter was not damaged to any extent by Drum mics attacks.
 McAuIiffe had his usual punching ability and he rocked the Jerseyite on many occasions with hard smashes- The local boy is not a finished boxer. He misses many blows but he has kick in either hand ard Drummie had enough respect for him last night to clinch when things looked stormy. \
 There was very little difference be- tween the boys in the first eight rounds. Drummie assumed a slighc lead in the ninth and tenth but in the 11th, 12th and 18th things were even again. McAuliffe made a furious fin ish and in the 14th and 18th had the often on Drummie in the fnaI session but was unable to put the Jersey youngster away. The boxers weighed in at 128 ringside-
 The Sserni-fna1 between Larry VViI- Hams of Stratford and Sailor Mo Grath of Brooklyn proved a hzzIe. Williams was too much for 1IcGrath and after the latter had gone to the mat twice in the first and was getting a bad beating in the second, the po- lice commissioners ordered the bout stopped.
 Jerome Hennessy of Jersey, City and Tommy Shea of New Haven, stag ed a lightning six rounds of boxing Shea was a trifIe better in science but Hennessy was a hard hitter. A draw would be a lair verdict
 In the opening affair there was lit tie to choose between Mike Farrell of Stratford and Kid AIberts of New York. so 1t looks as if another draw would have to be recorded.
 The show was well conducted. There were no long delays between bouts and Terry Lee was an excellent refere. Altogether it was an artistic and financial success for Levinslzy and his partner. Tom Wagner.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
RIBBONS TO PLAY FAST KNlCK FIVE

The Knickerbockers of New York will get 8 waFm reception from the fans when they appear at Colonial all tonight to play the Blue Ribbons. The New Workers have always been favorites here on account of their hard, clean playing. They hustle every minute and are apt to upset te Rib bons tonight.
 It is said that Manager Ieayy is thinking of trying Smith and Clinton on the Forward line tonight, re1egat- ing Beckman to the sideIines for at least one period, This will depend upon how the battle is going, how ever. There will be the usual preliTn- mary and dancing will follow the big
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
SAY HABGHTON WILL
 CONTINUE AS COACH OF HARVARD FOOTBALL TEAM

Eannhr5dge, Mass, Jan. 11-Percy D. HaugItpn, head coach of the Ha-- ward college football team, undo11bted- 1y HA continue to serve the eleven, no9Ha athstandlng his new interests as presfder1 of the Boston National league baseball club. Fred ". Moore. grAanafe treasurer of athletics at liar Ward said last night. MT. Aaoore's jAtatennen1 foll9r7ed a meeting Of the
 Harvard Athletic association at which tfie a,ep5ect was considered. No final ngemelrts have yet been made. he said, but it was hoped to arrange a plan whereby MT. Haughton's duties may be iessened without rsmoving any o4 his va1us to the team.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
CoRNEN GETS WATERBURY.

CORN GNsa eHEIS WAIE1EtBGfSX. X. a Harry Cornen, the former Bridgeport pitcher, was notified this morning that he has been awarded the Waterbury franchise in the Eastern association. He was one of the applicants and after President O,Rourke and the other Eastern directors decided Gornen should have the preference.
 Since t1ae days when he twfrled for Brfdgeport Cornen has become pros porous He has wea1thy relatives and has also inherited some money. He is in a position to put a. good ball club in the field and as Waterbury is a busy city these days. Cornen expects to have a good season there. It has not yet been decided who will get the New Haven franchise, There are sev- eraI applicants but the award will probably be made in a few days.
 Warren Lewis of the Herald is go- ing into the boxing business. He has become manager of Young Lajoie, who has already been booked to ap- pear in a. show in Danbury Jan. 31. Frankie ScoI1ins, the Danbury pro- zaoter. win put on Wild Bill Fleming and Paul Dixon as his star bout.
 Imagine what Kid williams thought when he saw the erowd at the Casino last night, Every time the Kid puts on a show there is Ia blizzard or sonle- thing worse. And then Battling Le- vinsky comes along and draws a $2.50o house.
 the Detroit Tigers to make way for Billy Sullivan. has been in baseball g years. He ought to have quite a col lection of change by this time.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
Wira Wound cuna.

One of the chief sources of strength in big guns lies in the miles and miles of steel ribbon with which the tube is re-enforced. This ribbon. One-six- teenth of an inch thick and about a quarter of an inch wide, is wound around the tube or core Of the great cannon On twelve inch gun about 130 miles of the ribbon. Is wound, a weight of hfteeen tons. The ribbon has a tensile strength of 100 tons per square inch.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
MANAGER CARRIGAN NOT
 TO SIGN ANY FEDERAL
 LEAGUERS FOR RED SO1

nBf1l9 Cardigan, the boss of the world champion Red Sox.s is the lat est Eaanager to announce he will not have anything to- do with the Feds. He wants harmony in the camp, and he fears that the former Feds might cause bad feeling by telling the men who stuck by organized baseball what mistakes they made.
 Eaxr1san announced that all the een4ractS have been sent and said that some Of the players were not treated as HberaI1y as in past years. The contract for the uniforms was closed yesterday.