Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-18
FRANK GOTCH
DIES AT HOME
UNDEFEATED CHAMPION WRES-
TIER VICTIM OF EUREMlc
POlSONING; DIED WEALTHY.

! Gotch, retired champion heavyweight
wrestler OF the world. died at his
home Sunday at noon.
I. Death was caused after lingering
| illness of several weeks of euremic
poisoning, and was not unexpected,
/ as relatives and intimate friends OF
| the great athlete had known for more
than a month that Gotch could not
live more than two months and that
he might be taken at any time.
LIFELONG IOWA RESIDENT.
Gotch had been lifelong resident
of this county and town. With the
exception OF the time he spent in
making extensive tours of the country
while he was the heavyweight wres-
Ting champion, and the few trips he
made in recent years in an effort to
improve his health. he had always
lived either on one or the other OF
his farms near here or in this town.
Gotch was Al years old. He was
born on April 81, 1876, on a farm
three miles south Of Humboldt.
He is survived by his widow. 4
year-old son. Robert Gotch brother,
Fred Gotch: sister, Mrs. Charlie
Kurth Of Humboldt, and his mother.
Mrs. Amelia Gotch, also resident of
this town.
FIGHTS HARD FOR HIS HEALTH.
The story of Gotch's efforts to re-
gain his health is almost as long as
the story of his many battles on the
mat-battles that won him the worlds
championship and enabled him to re-
tire to private life holding the title.
The first intimation that his health
was not as good as it should be came
to him in the summer Of 1916 when
he was making Il tour Of the country
with well-known circus as test to
see whether he shoNld sien articles
for a match with Joe Stccher Of
Dodge. Neb., who haC won the title
from Charlie Cutler of Chicago. Gotch
had declared Cutler the American
champion upon his retirement.
MAKES FORTUNE WRESTLING
Gotch built nm fortune in wrestling
and by INVESTING his earnings in Iowa
farm lands. His estate is variously
estimated at between 100000 and
100000. all of which represents
money made through his ability as a
graDpler.
No wrestler, in the opinion Of the
best experts. ever cGualled Gotch.
The latter had stated many times
that he considered Earl Caddock. the
present champion. the best man he
Rad seen during his wrestling career
and he took a great interest in the
young Icwans work, being his chief
advisor when he won the title from
Stecher in Omaha last spring. He
often stated that if Caddock weighed
fifteen pounds more no wrestler not
even himself-would be able to throw
him.
wins AMERICAN TITLE IN 1904.
Gotch won the American champion
ship January q. 1904. from Tom Jen-
kins. after one of the toughest
matches ever seen in this country.
The bout was staged at Bellinsham.
Wash. Gosch won the first fall and
was awarded the second after Jen-
kins had fouled him repeatedly by APP
plying the strange hold and by
striking him.
Four years later the Humboldt man
won the undisputed wrestling cham
pionship Of the world by defeating
George Hackenschmidt. "the Russian
Lion at the Dexter Park pavilion,
Chicago, in a forfeited match after
two hours of gruelling wrestling. 4
Des Moines. Dec. 17.-Governor W.
l.. Harding and other prominent Off.
Gals Of Iowa joined today in praise Of
Frank Gotch.
Il have known Frank Gotch for ten
or twelve years. Governor Harding
said. both as champion and as
private citizen He always was
gentleman, kind and considerable. He
was a true friend of clean sports and
no man has done more to promote
wholesome athletics"
Followers OF the wrestling game re.
counted the victories won by "the
farmer from Fl mboldt," which avail
able records show date back to 1899,
and which numbered approximately
$50.
Plans for the funeral OF the former
mat idol were being made today at
humboldt, where the entire city
mourned the passing OF the man who
had been "everybody's friend 1t
is thought the funeral will be held
tomorrow.