New-York tribune., 1918-01-27
Coming Tourney at Madison
Square Garden Should
Draw Big Crowd
By w. ]. Macbeth

Professional wrestling, which suf-
fered a Knockout blow because Of the
sins of unscrupulous promoters and
performers many years ago, appears to
have como back almost to its pristine
glory Of popularity. In New York, which
always has been a "show me" town, the
mat game never was more popular than
at present. The credit for this fact is
largely due to the clean manner in
which was conducted the recent inter
national tournament for heavyweight
honors of the catch-as catch can style.
In many respects this recent tourna-
ment at the Lexington Theatre was all
that could be desired. Certainly it was
above the slightest reproach Its sin
cerity was reflected in many packed
houses when the principal stars hap
pened to be hooked up in the elimina-
tions. In two respects it was dsap-
pointing. First of all, it failed to de-
termine beyond reasonable question Of
debate even the best man that par
ticipated. Furthermore, it was impos-
eible at the time to have on hand all
the top-uotchers of the profession who
are now in this country.
Only an Even Break
Though Wladek Zbyszko, the mighty
son Of Poland, by throwing Stranger
(Ed) Lewis on the concluding evening
Of the tourney was awarded the gold
belt, emblematic of the heavyweight
championship, he did not escape the
three weeks carnival with unsullied
colors. In the opinion Of mat follow
crs, Zbyszko was entitled by this vic
tory to no more than an even break
with Lewis.
For earlier in the tournament Lewis
with his deadly deadlock, forced
Zbyszko to quit in finish match. 1t
was the craftsmanship of Lewis, who
agreed to give his fallen foe another
chance with the deadlock barred, that
enabled the Pole to climb back onto his
pedestal.
Lewis, with his deadlock, may or may
not be the master Of Zbyszko. The fact
remains that the deadlock may never
again figure in championship calcula-
tions. The wrestling fraternity, it is
said, has decided to bar the hold in
future, just as the "strangle hold" was
ostracized by common agreement among
the profession.
But even granting Zbyszko superior
ity over Lewis, deprived Of his chief
stock in trade, it does not follow that
the Pole has fortified the throne he is
usurping against immediate challenge.
There were three great wrestlers--
undoubtedly of greater strength and
skill than any except Zbyszko and
Lewis, who, for one reason or another,
took DO part in the recent tournament.
These were Earl Caddock, Joe Stecher r
and John Olin. Stecher declined the
issue. Olin had not returned from
Europe. Caddock was in the army and
unable to secure furlough that woulc
enable him to remain through tho
championship elminations, though he
did come East for couple of matches
during tho tournament
Csddock, Stecher and Olin, therefore,
share at the present moment with
Lewis and Zbyszko the spotlight Of the
wrestling stage. Just how good two
Of these young gentlemen are in the
present reckoning will be pretty we'll
determined Tuesday night at Madison
Square Garden. Olin meets the mighty
Zbyszko in bout to u finish. Stecher
hooks up with Yusif Hussane, the ter
rble Turk. in another finish affair
Big Revival in Interest
Since the death of Frank Gotch,
which happened during the recent
tournament, interest in wrestling