The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-29
Barons Ride Rails After Game Today SPORTS
CorbeH's Daily Letter
 On Great Sport Topics
By JAMES J. coRnErr

Editors Note.-This is the third of a | series of articles which MT. Corbett is writing concerning the career of the late Frank Gotch, who went to his grave the ul.defeated heavyweight wrestling cham pion of the world. The next installment will appear tomorrow)
 The story of Frank Gotchs debut as a boxer is told best by Joe C. Marsh, who was with him at the time and was one of the few who saw the great wrestler in his intial-and ludricrous-ef- fort as prize fighter
 "Gotch and I had a shack in Dawson City, ill the Klondike. and I was there alone one night when he came rushing in" relates Marsh. Hardly had he at me:
 Well, Joe, I guess I fell into some thing pretty soft just now.
 "'How is that? I asked.
 "Why, I'm going to take part in a prize fight next week and I've certainly got a cinch.
 Why, you're no fighter, Frank 1 said.
 don't have to be-, retorted Gotch. They're going to match me with that old woTn-out Frank Slavin. I was up 10 town this afternoon and they got to talking about fighting and Slavin was there and he kept kidding me. He said that I was a pretty good wrestler but a wrestler and a fighter were a whole lot different. I told him, "Yes, that's SO a wrestler has it on a fighter" And then some fellows in the crowd jumped up and said. "Why don't you two fellows get in the ring and settle your argument?' I was willing-and so was Slavin. So we are matched to fight 15 rounds And you can take it from me that I'll give that old boy awful facing. I owe him something for the way he was kidding me-
 'I tried to talk Frank out of that match," continued Marsh, but he would not listen to me- I knew about Slavin and what a wonderful heavyweight he vas in his prime. When he was at his best many ranked him as at least the equal of John L. Sullivan. I told all that to Gotch, but he just laughed.
 Say, that old boy is. nearly 40 now and if I can't whip him I ought to be ashamed of myself
 "You will be, Frank, if you go on with the match. Those fellows simply are batting you. They want to have some fun at your expense. Slavin will cut you to ribbons. Even if he has retired from the game he still retains his oldtime cunning and he's in fine physical condi- tion.'
 'But Gotch wouldn't heed my counsel and insisted that I act as one of his seconds for that match.
 "'rhe little hall where the fight was put on was packed when the two war riors entered the ring. Gotch in the ag- gressve way that was his in those days, rushed out from his corner with the first tap of the gong and made wild lunge at Slavin. The veteran ringman merely duclsed his head and pushed a straight left into Gotch's mouth Tse wrestler backed away and his face plainly showed his surprise. But, undaunted, Frank Goteh tried to hit Frank Slavin again an. once more his only reward was to be placed on the receiving end of jab.
 All during the first and second rounds it was the same story. Slavin made Gotch look like the awful ring novice th.t he was. Slavin, had he so wanted, probably could have gohe out and fin- ish d Gotch in the first ro''"' or second round Frank had no defense whatever and one hundred times he left his jaw and his heart open to a killing wallop, But Slavin, good naturedly, merely tap ped away at him and never made real effort to smash him to the floor. 1 am sulc it was his intent'' ply to give Cote a boxing lesson and to give tho audience full value for it's money by letting the bout go the full IS rounds.
 Some ring historians claim that Slavir knocked out Gotch-but they are in error. The finish caEte in the third round-and in rather sensational way. Gotch kept