The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-18
ATTRIBUTES HIS
SUCCESS TO FARM
Fan'"u" Western Wrestler. Whe Meets
LemIe Tomorrow, Tells How
He Broke In.

Joe Stecher, the famous Western
wrestler, who meets Karl Lemle, in
the main event of tomorrow evenings
mat carnival at the Academy OF Mu-
sic, attributes his success In the game
10 the farm life. Joe says he's a
farmer and he is proud Of It. Steches
was born on farm near Dodge Neb.,
twenty-three years ago. Beginning on
the farm, Stecher tells the following
interesting yarn of bis rise in the
graphing realm:
My parents are farming people.
and from an early age l knew what
II meant to pillow and SOW and har.
row. l attribute much of my physi-
cal prowess to the fact that out-of-
door life, the virgin soil. developed
my strength, made my muscles firm
and my nerves steady. There is moth
ing. after all. like fresh afr, sunshine
aid good food to foster perfect health.
No one can Improve on natures handi-
wo. H.
Il started in the wrestling game
when a mere boy, testing my muscles
out in the bsrnyard with my play-
fellows. Gradually. downed one boy
after another and achieved a local
reputation as wrestler.
Throws Nou@wiG Hu@sane.
There was little attention paid to
me until a couple of years ago, when
r
greatest wrestiers of decade. and the
man who discovered. and trained
Gotch. brought Yousin Hussane, the
Turk. to Dodge. Now Hussane was
rightfuliy considered as one of the
worlds best wrestlers and he and his
friends figured that my defeat would
be easily accomplished.
ITO make long story short, ! won
over Hussaue. From that time on l
was well started along the highway
to success. All the leading wrestlcrs
challenged me. and | accepted all com
ers The queer part Of II all IL that
when / gain a victory my opponents
always demand another match, for.
with their managers. they are always
Invariably conf sent mat the second
contest will result differently. TIE
history OF nv mat contests will prove
that the return match is inTari bly,
decided In my favor more quickly
than the arst one.
Charles Cutler one Of Americas
best wrestIers. was matched with me
for the American cha mpionship, We
wrestled in Omaha. Cutters friends
evidently thought the contest would
surely end in his favor. There was
Cutler money almost everywhere My
farmer friends had confidence in me
and | did not fail them.
Scissors Hold Natural
The scissors hold TO which many
attribute NY success came TO me-
naturally. People are either right or
left handed Gotch specialized in the
toe hold The reason that have been
successful with the scissors hold Is
that when | discovered that l could
defeat the other young fellows / de-
veloped the muscles in my legs in
much the same way Il boxer develops
MS arms My brother Anton also has
ing. Anton knows the game thorough
" and has participated in many %rest~
ling matches
like farm life. and am proud that
my people are farming people. When
one of my wrestling matches is over
want 10 know when the first train
leaves for Dodge. There Is both pleas
ure and profit in farming. and would
advise all bows born and reared on
farms 20 remain there. The farm Sc
the nlscs to gain and retain good
health.
Some Pertinent Rules.
81 consider il my duty To my pa
rents 10 enter into held that would
nrove the most remunerative. With
right living and self-denial have
achieved success in the wrestlinS
game and | am proud OF It.
ga fety first is mighty good slo-
gan. / have tried to observe il with
these rules: No tea or coffee, No to-
hacco Eight hours sleep. No liquor
Plenty Of fresh air. Plenty of sun
shine"