The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-17
Frank Gotch, Undefeated Champion OF
the Mat, Succumbs to Kidney Dis
ease at His Home
Yesterday.
NOBLE SPORTSMAN
He Made a Heroic Fight Against he
Great Destroyer, Only to Lose
Was Conscious to
the Last.

limited Press Leased Wire SerVice.I
HUMBOLDT, Iowa, Dec. IL
Frank Gotch. former worlds CHAM
Mon heavyweight, lost his nrsu
match. Death pinned his shoulders
to the mat at his home here yester-
day Uraemic poisoning, together
with a complication of other ols-
eases caused the death OF the man
who retired from the game unde-
feated champion.
Gotch's relatives recently told
neighbors here hat the champion
could not live longer than three
weeks at the most.
The story of Gotch's efforts TO re-
gain his health is almost as long as
the story of his many battles on Tue
mat-battles that won MN me
worlds championship and enaoieo
him to retire to private life holding
the title.
eether with his family, started for
Hot Springs, Ark, where me
grappler hoped to regain his health.
Enroute, however, his condition be-
, came worse and he was removed 10
a hospital at Chicago where an oper-
alton was performed to remedy an
a ffected kidney. The operation gave
him only temporary relief, for with
the return to his home here he began
ailing again.
Since that time he had been able
to leave his home only two or three
| times and then for only short strolis.
The famous athlete is survived by
his widow, a -four year old son,
ert Goteh; a brother, Fred Gotch; a
| sister, Mrs. Charlie Kurth OF Hum
boldt, and his mother, Mrs. Amelia
Gotch, also a resident of this TOWN..
His wife and son were at his bed
side when death came. 1t is said
that he was conscious almost up 10
the time of his death, despite the
rumors that have been In circulation
during the past two months nat ne
was irrational a part of the time.
Gotch was born osuth Of here
April q, 1876.
Gotch was form south OF here
in January, 1904, when he threw Tom
Jenkins In a bout at Bellingham,
Washington. The championship Went
to the Iowan after he secured the
first fall and was fouled by jenkins
in the next. About o years later
Gotch won the undisputed worlds
title by defeating George Hacken-
schmidt. "the Russian lion," at h
cago. The toe hold o effectively
used by all wrestlers, was brought
into he game by Gotch and it was
with this that he conquered n fus-
sian giant. The hold aided him IN
disposing' of a score OF athletes DUR
ing the years he defended his laurels.
- mo ~ 6afpltn1
he retired from the mat as champion.
hut did not claim 1t after Earl Cad
dock. another Iowan, defeated Joe
Stecher, Of Nebraska, in a match
billed as championship bout. Cad
dock, the present champion, was
coached considerably by Gotch after
the latter retired from the game.
Gotch, after his retirement, was
active in state politics and made
several speeches for Governor Hard
ing during his campaign.
Funeral arrangements for Gotch were
completed this afternoon. b burial
will be in Humboldt, Wednesday after
noon. It is thought the entire w
VIII close it's business that day in hon
or OF its champions memory.
The services will be conducted at
the Congregational church Of which
the champion WIS a ueuioci.
This afternoon, the flag on the big
consolidated school ant other county
buildings were ordered to half staff.
The whole town and district this at
ternoon is said for it was through
Gotch's fame as a wrestler that the
city of Humboldt was known through
out the United States and Europe.
Gotch never failed to boost his home
town and always registered from Hum
boldt when he signed agreements Tor
championship matches.
His Life a Success.
DES MONIES. Iowa, Dec. 17.-Gov-
ernor Harding today expressed the
Isympathies of the state to the family
Of Frank Gotch, who died at his home
in Humboldt yesterday. The state ex-
~ecutive issued the following statement
this afternoon:
81 had known Frank Gotch for the
last ten or twelve years. / knew MIN
when he was at the heighth of his
career as a champion and I knew him
as a private citizen. In all OF these
places he was a gentleman. His life
and work contributed much TOWARD
clean sport In this country. 1t is said
his life was cut off thus early, but We
can say his life was a success