New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-17
King Of Mat
Loses Bout
With Death
Had Been in Failing Health
for Period of Two
Years

DES MONIES. Iowa. Dec. &c. Frank
A. Gotch, retired ohampioG heavy
weight wrestler OF the world, died at
noon to-day at his home, Humboldt,
Iowa, from uremic poisoning. lie had
been in failing health for two years.
Gotch was forty-one years old. The
record books detailing the events of
his life give his age as thirty-nine
years, but these are inaccurate. He
was born on April 27. 1876. on a farm
three miles south of Humboldt.
He IS survived by his wife, a four
year-old son, Robert Gotch; brother.
Fred Gotch; sister. Mrs. Charlie
kurth, of Humboldt, and his mother.
Mrs. Amelia Gotch, also n resident Of
Humboldt.
Wife at Bedside
His wife and son were at his bedside
when death came. 1t Is said that the
famous athlete was conscious almost
up TO the time of his death, despite the
rumors that have been in circulation
during the last two months that he
was irrational part of the time.
The first intimstion that his health
was not as good as it should be came
IN the summer OF 1916. when he was
making a tour of the country with a
we'll known circus as test to see
whether he should sign articles for a
match with Joe Stecher, of Dodge. Neb..
who had won the title from Charlie
Cutler, Of Chicago. Gotch had declared
Cutler the American champion upon
his retirement.
Gotch had been with the circus.
wrestling with Bob Managoff. Earl Cad
dock and others, only a short time
when he was compelled to return to his
home because of stomach trouble. lie
never regained his health fully. al
though he later rejoined the circus,
being compelled to leave again when
he injured his ankle.
The discoveries the champion made
regarding his condition that summer
caused him to abandon all plans of a
match with Stecher.
The following winter Gotch became
no better and went to Hot Springs,
Ark. He returned home last spring,
but gradually lost strength. Early in
October he went to Chicago on his way
to Southern resort, but became seri:
ously i'll in a Chicago hotel. He was
removed to hospital, where he was
kept until early in November, when he
was brought back 10 his home.
Since that time he had been able TO
leave his home only two or three times,
and then only for short strolls. Ten /.
days ago he began gradually to grow
worse.
Built Up Fortune
Gotch built up fortune in wrestling |
and by investing his earnings in Iowa
farm lands. His estate is variously
estimated at between 100000 and /
S400,00 all of which represents money
made through his ability as a wrestler.
Gotch won the American champion
ship January q, 1904, from Tom Jen-
kins after one of the toughest matches
ever seen in this country This bout
was staged at Bellingham, Wash.
Gotch won the first fall. and was
awarded the second after Jenkins had
fouled him repeatedly by applying the
strangle hold and by striking him.
Four years later the Humboldt man
won the undisputed championship of
the world By defeating George Hscken-
schmidt, "the Russian Lion" at the
Dexter Park Pavilion, Chicago, in
forfeited match after two hours of
gruelling wrestling. There was no fall
in the match, but the invader quit ex-
after the two hours of effort
against a man who plainly showed that
he was superior in every respect.