Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
STRANGLER AND JOE
TANGLE ON TUESDAY.
Pride of Nebraska and Hope Of
Kentucky Clash in Omaha for
Wrestling Supremacy.
sTEcHER RULES FAvoRITE

Not only is Tuesday the anniver-
sary of the signing of the Declara-
ton Of Independence which made the
United States of America, but on
Tuesday Omaha will be the mecca Of
the world of sport. All eyes will
turn toward Omaha.
For on that day Joe Stecher, the
pride and joy Of Dodge county and
of Nebraska, will meet in a finish
wrestling match with Edwin (Stran.
gler) Lewis, in whom the state Of
Kentucky rests its faith, at the Doug
las county fair grounds. under the
management of Gene Melady, the
Omaha sportsman who is making a
countrywide reputation for himself
by his straightforward and honest
promotion.
Stecher is Favorite.
As has become the usual thing
Stecher rules the favorite over Lewis
but there isn't the unanamity of this
favoritism this time. For the last
year or so it has been the custom for
wrestling fans to expect sweet and
hasty ending to all matches Joe took
part in. But this time the tune is
little different. Even some of the
most ardent Stecher supporters are
bit, dubious. They refuse to con-
cede Lewis a chance for victory, but
they will admit the Kentuckian may
stick for long time.
On the other hand, there are a few
of the fans who believe Lewis may
defeat Stecher. The serene confid.
ence of Lewis during the days of his
training here has been contagious
and he has imbued a number Of the
fans with his own confidence.
But on every side the verdict seems
to be that we may expect to see a
real match, that it will be battle
from start to finish, and the man who
misses it will be overlooking a
mighty good bet.
Settle Old Score.
That Stecher and Lewis both will
enter Melady's ring Tuesday with a
lust for victory is an unequivocal GER
tainty. For Joe and the Stranger
will be settling an old grudge. Last
fall these huskies tangled in the ring
at Evansville, Ind, and it ended at
two hours and ten minutes without a
fall. There was also something of a
dispute at the finish, with the mayor
and everybody else in Evansville TAX
ing a hand.
Stecher is determined he shall be
avenged Tuesday 1t won't be any
draw if Joe can help it. That Evans
vile affair is an unpleasant memory
to Joe and he intends to wipe it clear.
On the other hand, Lewis gained
so much, confidence in his prowess
by his success in keeping away from
Stecher that he'll get in front of Joe
this time and turn the trick.
And all this adds to the wrestling
fans glee, because it means he'll see
the kind of match for blood that
he likes.
Decide Supremacy.
The bout will practically settle the
wrestling supremacy of the world.
Friends of Stecher claimed the Amer
lean title when Stecher threw Cutler
year ago, while Lewis, who is less
modest, claimed the championship of
the world by his victory in the New
| York tournament. And even though
| the circus probably will keep on bill
ing Frank Gotch as the worlds cham
pion, it will have to be conceded
the winner of Tuesdays clash will be
the class of the country.
Lewis will enter the ring few
pounds heavier than Stecher. He will
weigh about 230, while Joe will tip
the scales at about 2O5.
Two Prelims Carded.
Two rafting preliminary bouts
have have been carded by Gene Mel
ady. The first preliin will be be-
tween Owen Daily, who claims the
lightweight championship of the
world, and c. E. Seeley of Omaha.
Daily, like Stecher, is product of
Nebraska. He was born and raised
here. And he is, at his weight, just
about the class of the world, as Stech-
er is in the heavyweight division.
The second prelim will be between
Chris Jordan, the scrappy Nebraska
middleweight, and Adren Ross Of
Indiana.
The gates of the fair grounds will
be thrown open at 1890 and George
Green's band will provide music until
2:3O, when the first prelim is carded.