Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-04-12
BY SANDY GRISWALD

When Stecher got those powerful
legs clamped about the heaving torso
of his struggling foe. however, and
that hand lock on the wrist securely
tighened. the appalling silence that
had held sway, broke with the deaf
ening clash of an avalanche, which
was echoed back. and thence forward
again, from the four walls of the
arena, the whole wild mob frenziedly
gesticulating, each atom crushing
pushing, now this way, now that. and
at the enlargement of heart ard
lung. apparently endeavoring to
drown all rivaling sound. And then.
as the Supplying roar subsidized into
a meriginous murmur. like that COM
ing in from the calm but everest
less ocean at night. and all uncanny
sound had eXuded into the night,
the hero was rising from his fallen
and conquered foe. and as he glanced
around upon that sea Of upturned.
excited and inflamed faces, his was
the least troubled of them all. There
was no semblance of exultation no
defiance of eyemlash. no whitening
scorn, nothing but that same old
caressing smile wreathing his hand
some face, nothing TO indicate that
he had accomplished anything out of
the ordinary. nothing to tell that he
appreciated the fact that he was still
an idol in the eyes of the whole
sporting world.
But that was in the beginning of
the end. Notwithstanding, so far as
Stecher was concerned Without
doubt he had shot his bolt. Instead
of instilling renewed courage in his
heart, his triumph only seemed effec-
tive the other way. When they
came back Caddock was much the
fresher, much the stronger and much
the more active. All of Stecher's en-
deavors ended in monotonous frus-
tration. while the youthful Iowan
was there with the goods all the
time, battling with vim and deter
mination that brooked of nothing but
success. There was no installing it.
He was alert, eager and demonstra-
tive. and his ceaseless efforts were
finally rewarded by getting Stecher
down under the north ropes and
finally according to the referees opin-
ion. pinning both shoulders to the
mat. Owing to this fact, also as
serted by the third man in the ring,
this fall was not allowed as il was
secured after he had peremptorily
ordered the struggling athletes to re-
turn in the middle of the mat. Be
this as it may. Stecher says he was
not down. Caddock says he was. and
that he, Joe himself indicated his ac-
acknowledgements of the legitimacy of
the fall, by patting him on the back
as a signal that he surrendered.
More than half the crowd thought ii
was fair fall. but whether il was
or not one would have quickly sue
ceeded had the referee not interfer-
ed. Caddock had Stecher where it
was impossible for him to escape.
But so there you are. After this
unfortunate cOntretempts there was
nothing to il from whatsoever view
point but Caddock. While both men
We're palpably weakened by their
previous tremendous eXcrtion, Cad
dock was the stronger, the fresher,
the most determined and demonstra-
tive. Joe made few bonafide efforts
20 redeem himself. and those he did
make were weak and futile. On the
other hand the thirst for blood was
in the bagged energies. i'm the burn
ing ewes OF the Youthful Iowan. He
evaded every attempted onslaught of
the champion, and was never again