New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-16
Iowa's Wrestling Giant Is
to Meet Lewis, ZbyszkO
or Masked Marvel.
HAS NEVER LOST IN
THREE YEARS CAREER
A Pupil of Farmer" Burns. He
Trained by Breaking Packing
Boxes with Leg Holds.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

Wrestling, a sport that has de
scended 10 US from the times Of ancient
Greece, and has recently been under
going a revival In this city, seems due
10 receive the greatest boost II has
enjoyed in years through the arrival
here at the end OF this month OF Joe
Stecher, farmer boy fyom Nebraska
Stecher is only twenty-five years ola
and his wrestling career extends over
n period Of about three years, yet to-
cay he is recognized IN the West as
the marvel Of the age on tho mat and
the greatest wrestler In the history OF
the game.
Here in the East Stecher's name has
oTly lately come into prominence, but
- glowing were the accounts of the
farmer boys prOwess that plans were
quickly made 20 bring him to this city
Efforts are being made TO have Stecher
r,eet either I'd ("Strangler) Lewis,
Ztyszko or The Mysterious Masked
Marvel" in a finish match az catch-as-
cGtch-can style at Madison Square
Garden. with the winner 10 face Frank
Gotch. OF Humboldt, Iowa, for the
championship Of the world.
Gotch has not been on the mat for
several years, having retired as the
undefeated champion OF the world at
that style OF the graphing game. Dur
ing his active career the Iowa farmer
was recognized as the greatest catch
as-cstch-can wrestler in the world, and
j, was lack of opponents that finally
drove him into retirement.
Joe Stecher. however, is declared by
those who have seen him on the mat
20 be far more formidable man than
the invincible Gotch ever was, hence
the desire TO see him meet the retired
champion and decide the question OF
superiority.
The -boned Nebraska youth has
taken part In more than sixty bouts
in the last three years, and has never
had his shoulders pinned 10 the mat.
None Of his opponents, no matter what
his bulk or strength, has been able
10 stand against SJecher, and where
fall was not scored by Joe, the other
man has either been so badly disabled
that he could not continue or else re
fused to face S,echer alter sampllng
his skill and strength.
Stranger Lewis. OF the same age as
Stecher, and one OF the most perfectly
developed men in the wrestling game,
has been one of the sensations at the
present international tournament IN
progress at the Manhattan Opera
House. Many who have watched his
work believe he IS destined 10 be the
champion OF the world at catch-as-
catch can wrestling.
Let us see how Lewis and Stecher
compare. for they met last October IN
a Western city. According to the rec
ords. Stecher and Lewis wrestled Tor
two hours and TWO minutes, the match
being tiercely contested every step OF
the way. Lewis had never been known
20 a. quarter of any man, so great ls
mis- strength and so apparently un!im.
tied his endurance; yet at the END OF
the two hours and two minutes on the
mat with the marvellous Stecher the
"Strangler" fell over the ropes and out
of the ring. ....a
for Lewis 70 return, but the latter
claimed he was so seriously injured
no could not continue the battle, lot
such il was; and after waiting rea-
sonsble time the referee forfeited the
match TO Steeher.
Mort Henderson. Of Altoona. Penn,
who is said 10 be the MASKED Marve!
now wrestling at the Manhattan Opera
House. met Stecher at Fremont, Neo.'
last August. and was thrown WIN
ridiculous ease by the farmer boy, the
first fall requiring five minutes ana 'ne
second only TWO. nat lh loe4t SPSC"N7
wonders for the proves OF the Ger
man-American from the Middle West
"Americus." George Turner, Jesse
Westergaard and Charley Cutler are
among other wrestlers of the FIRST rank
who have fallen before the might ana
skill OF Stecher.
Men who are competent 20 Judge are
a unit in declaring that Joe Stecher IS
the most sensational wrestler who ever
walked on the mat Gene Malady, OF
Omaha. who has seen Stecher perform
in all his most important matches, does
not believe there is man HVlng 10
dav who can withstand the Nebraska
bows savage onslaughts.
Jack Curley, who promoted the Gotcn-
Hackenschmidt match few years ago,
Il another who swears by Steeher ana
ia certain he will easily defeat Gotten
Zybszko or any other man who opposes
him.
Another feature about this young
farmer from the West that Will be
hailed with delight by wrestling fans
all over the country. Is the fact that ne
has never been known 20 stall, no
matter who his opponent might De:
Stecher has gained the reputation OF
never allowing an adversary 20 stay
second longer than Is necessary, ana no
amount of money could induce him 10
be a party 20 frame-up.
This means much 10 the wrestling
game, for men not so particular as 10