Evening journal., 1916-04-01
HERACL-bEWIS WIN
Wrestling BOUTS
"Strangler's" Manager Will
Post $1,000 With the
Evening Journal for
Stecher Match
EXPLANATION MADE
FOR ROLLERS DEFEAT

John Heracl. the local wrestler
who promises to soon reach the top In
this game Of big men should be con-
tinue 70 improve in the future as fast
as he has IN the last few weeks. won
from Tom Draak, the Belgian cham
pion. IN straight falls at The Play
house last night IN the wind-up Ed
(Strangler) Lewis. claimant OF the
worlds catch-as-catch-can champion
ship threw Jack McGrath, holder Of
the Irish title. in two straight falls.
OF equal importance TO the crowd Of
wrestling fans present as the bouts
themselves was an announcement
made between the bouts by Billy"
sandow, manager Of Lewis. lie ex-
planned that when Joe Stecher recent
~ threw DR.. Roller in Kansas city in
ave minutes the latter was in bad con-
dition. Roller he said. had not en-
tirely recovered from the injuries he
received while wrestling Lewis in this
city last week, and the day before the
Stccher- Roller bout he hurt himself
again while training SandOw claimed
that Or. Roller. realizing that he was
unit for the bout, requested Stecher
TO agree to a postponement. and that
Stecher refused TO do So and told Rol-
Ter that unless he went on with the
bout he would have TO lose the forfeit
money. Rather than lose the forfeit
money Dr. Roller went on with the
bout with the result as stated.
Manager Sandow added that Lewis
says there is no man alive who can
throw Or. Roller in five OF ten min
utes. lie also stated that for seven
weeks there has been a forfeit of
$1,000 in behalf of Lewis, posted for a
match with Stecher in New York for
May ?, but that Stecher refuses to
cover this forfeit and wrestle Lewis.
He said Mr.. Curley. who was one of the
promoters OF the recent Willard-Moran
fight. has just returned from Kansas
City. where he attempted to gel
Stecher TO agree to a bout with Lewis
but that the former refused. Not
withstanding this refusal. he ADDED
Stecher has been matched to wrestl,
Americus in Baltimore on April 2S anC
has also other matches on. but will
not meet Lewis
In conclusion Manager Sandow
said he would post a forfeit OF $1,000
with local newspapers for Lewis to
wrestle Stecher i'm this city.
As he returned from the stage after
making this announcement, Manager
Sandow arranged with representatives
Of THE EVENING JOURNAL, to post
81 900 with this newspaper TO bind the
bout on the part of Lewis. at any time
that Stecher shows an inclination to
wrestle him.
Local fans arc anxious to see this
bout pulled off here as it would no
doubt make the. greatest match that
has ever been staged in Wilmington.
In the preliminary bout between
Heracl aud Draak last night. the latter
had better self control than on his pre-
vious appearances here and consequent
lv gave Horacl hard bout. The first
part of the bout Draak had Heracl on
tho defensive most of the time, but the
local man came back strong and after
90 minutes and 3 seconds of hard work
nut Draak's shoulders 10 the mat.
Hcracl got the second fall in II min
utcs and - seconds. In this fall ilcrac
partly dislocatcd Draaks arm at th'
shoulder when hc conceded the fall
Draak started 10 leave the stage, bui
Manager Sandow. who has charge of
Lewis. suggested that he return 80 that
there could be no criticism lie did re-
turn. aud Heracl threw him third time
within a few seconds Following thu
bout DR.. 4. =. frantz attended Draal
and set the dislocated arm.
The LewisM McCrath bout attracte'
much attention and while he lacked th'
knowledge Of The game. McGrath gav'
Lewis a hard bout. lie is the stronges
man who has wrestlcd Lewis here an'
had him nearly down several times. bu
Lewis always managed 10 squirm out o
dangerous holds.
Lewis badgered McGrath by slappini
him IN the face with tho result that tn
lrishman lost his temper. Lewis thel
grabbed him and put him down with I
head and scissors and wrist lock in 3
minutes and 33 seconds, and repeate'
the fall in about the same way in ,
minutes and 10 seconds.