Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-19

at Humboldt was one or the MOS
spectacular figures of the sportlns
world. His rise from the -obscurit!
of an Iowa farm to the championship
of the world was meteoric. He was
familiar figure from the klondihe te
the Atlantic coast. He was particu
larry well known in Minneapolis, where
he appeared on numerous occasions
and was a frequent visitor.
This Iowa farmer amassed fortune
estimated at 100000 from his earnings
in the arena. the bulk of which he in
vested in Iowa and Minnesota and Da-
kota farm lands. The Iowa lang he
worked himself He also had interests
in his home town business enterprises
including a grain elevator, and was di-
rector in the Humboldt bank.
His Claim to Title.
/ Gotch's most important matches in
which he clinched the worlds title were
against George Hackenschmidt both
in Chicago. At Dexter park pavilion
in 1908 Hackenschmidt, then heralded
as the worlds champion, Cult after
two hours and three minutes Of gruell-
ing work. Most of the time was spent
in what is known in wrestling par
lance as quilting" that Is, the men
stayed on their feet pulling and tug
ging about the ring in Struggle for
endurance.
On Sept 4, 1911, Gotch and Hacken-
schmidt met in another match at
White Sox park, which drew an $751;
900 gate and an unsavory aftermath
when il was learned that Hacken-
schmidt had an injured knee and was
forced TO keep the engagement by the
promoters because Of the gate money
in sight. Gotch is not supposed to
have known OF Hackenschmidt's con-
dition. He won two comparatively
easy falls in l4:1s 10 and 5:32 Is.
Gotch was the originator OF the toe
hold" which he employed against
Hackenschmidt in the second match
with a ombination crotch hold. The
"toehold" was a leverage grip which
lcaused excruciating pain. Unless the
victim rolled over he was liable to a
broken leg. Gotch frequently employ
ed the grip as feint for some other
hold or used it as a combination. Gotch
was Al years old. He Is survived by
his widow and one small son.
His Fight for Life,
The story Of his efforts to regain his
health Is almost as long as the story
of his battles on the mat. Several
months ago with his family, he started
. for Hot Springs, Ark, where the Crap
pier hoped to regain his health. En-
route, however, his condition became
worse and he was removed to hos
pital at Chicago, where an operation
was performed to remedy an Affected
, kidney. The operation gave him only
temporary relief, for with the return
home ne began failing. Since that
time he had been able to leave his home
only two or three times and then for
only short strolls.
The first intimaton that his health
was not good came in the summer OF
1915, when he was making tour Of the
country with a circus as a test to see
whether he should sign articles for a
match with Joe Stetcher. OF Dodge,
Neb., who had won the title from
Charlie Cutler, of Chicago. Gotch had
declared Cutler the American cham
pion upon his retirement.
Gotch had been with the circus only
short time when he was compelled
to return to his home because of stom
I ach trouble. He never regained his
health. altho he later Joined the circus
being compelled to leave it again when
he injured his ankle.
The discoveries the champion made
J; regarding his condition that summer
3 caused him to abandon all plans Of a
: match with Stetcher.
eeaIi Beat Him Once.
The only man who ever publicly
: threw the champion was Fred Beall, oil
4 Marshf1eld, Wis, who threw him IL
1905 in New Orleans, taking the frs
I fall to Gotch's second and third in &
three fall match. Gotch wiped out thu
e defeat shortly after when he defeated
Z Beall with little effort.
Gotch won the championship IL
1904. from Tom Jenkins after one o
. the toughest matches ever seen in thi!
/ country. The bout was staged a,
Bellingham, Wash. Gotch won TIL
} first fall and was awarded the secont
4 after Jenkins had fouled him by ap
n plying the strangle hold and by strik
o ing him. After that he met and defeat
q ed every wrestler Of note in the coun
L try. 3
r was 215 pounds, but he lost weight un
: til he tipped the scales at less thai
a $50 pounds. He and James Jeffries
d former heavy weight boxing champion
2 were intimate friends and befor
Il Jeffries lost his belt to Jack johnson
h the two champions toured the county
one Of their exhibitions being at tn
It old Casino rink in Minneapolis.
10 Protegs Of "Farmsr" Burns.
d Farmer Burns. who developed Gotcl
e as a wrestler and under whose car
% and management the champion frs
n gained fame, said:
vi II met Gotch at tournament a
Il He was splendid physical specimen
8. weighing more than 200 pounds, an
ID IL quickly saw the possibilities open t
him a. . wrestler. urged him to all
70 himself with me, telling him that no
II only money but the championship q
~ a heavyweight wrestler awaited hir
ID II he would try for Il. He was tn
,e most amenable TO discipItne OF u an
Rt pupil ever taught ind soon sur
- passed his instructor.
Ia "0otch was the strongest and til
quickest big man ever met. Rigt
here in Chicago he threw Mahmou
aackenSchmidt ana Zhyszkc, n akot
4. one hour. which may be taken as a
y indication Of his prowess when It
Understood that those three wrestler
MN sSs $3.50, ~ ~