New-York tribune., 1918-03-02
Joe Stecher and Zbyszko
WrestLe = Hours TO DrQU
From 5000 to 10000 Fans
Watch Aimless Conflict
Between Kings of Mat
BY Fred Hawthorne

Two hours OF rather aimless wrest-
ling at Madison Square Garden last
night between Wladek Zbyszko, che
mighty son of Poland and Joe Stecher.
of Nebraska, ended at midnight with
out either man gaining a fall, but
George Bo4ner. the referee, rendered
decision that the match was q draw.
1t having been agreed before the start
that decision would be given.
This match was one of series sup
posed TO eliminate some OF the con-
tenders for the heavyweight Champion
ship of the world
The Garden was filled nearly 20 the
bursting point by between 5000 and
10000 persons, who should have known
better. but evidently didn't. 1t was an
nounced before the men went to the
mat that the first TO gain a fall would
be declared the winner. and that if
neither had gained q fall at the end of
two hours Bothner would render q de-
cision on the work done
The Pole was usually forcing the bat
tie. and showed his tremendous
strength by lifting Stecher UP bodily
several times and slamming him to the
mat. He also broke away from several
dangerous body scissors holds.
Stecher Lands on Top
The men tugeed and pulled before
cong to the mas. and then Stecher
landcd on top and tried TO snap his
deadly scissors about Wladek's body.
bue without success. and Zbyszko was
on his feet fe1v minutes later. The
men were down several times IN the
lrst half hour once thc giant Pole
l., 8, Il
held il for moro than two and half
minutes, twisting vciously. Joe
crawled slowly around the ring. no
change OF expression indicating that
he was undergoing pain. Joe finally
broke away by fpping his great and
etucated toe.
After almost forty minutes of work
Zbyszko grabbed Stecher around the
body and threw him heavily with a
rolling fall, but Joe soon wriggled
from under and began stepping about
again.
Some people are born to money;
others acquire it: others. still. wrestle
Ter it, and the remainder get others TO
do the wrestling for them.
Jack Culley and Louis Meyers, 40
promoted the bouts at the Garden last
night. are placed IN Glass i. The big
amphitheatre was 50 well filed before
= ociock that only JeW seats at tnt
far ends of the building were vacant
and the ticket takers We're still dcinG
business.
The first preliminary brought to the
mat John Trossk ky. Of Poland. and HAL
mar Johnson. of sweden. Joe HurN
phreys. the announcer. failed TO TAX
iuH advantage OF his opportunities
when nc did not imply that Trossky was
a relative OF Leon. the Bolshevik. But
Joe didn't. so we Will
1t took Johnson only five minutes and
ten seconds 20 overthrow the Trossky
rue, which is much better time than
Holy Russia has been able to do. A
reverse body hold did the trick.
John Freiberg. OF Sweden. tossed
good old Harry Stevens. of England. not
The Polo Grounds. in - :45 with fly
ing mare and double body hold.
Yussif Hussane. the balkan Balkan,
who finds childish amusement in crush
ing bones that's part of his title)
gained the referees decision in a live
iy thirty-minute session with Charley
Cutler Nose and finger holds were the
favorite weapons employed.
1857 p. m-The last two chairs have
Just been occupied by d man and his
wife. We know it was his wife. be-
cause he said to her: "W ell. how was I
TO know you left the opera glasses on
my bureau"
Zbyszko entered The ring at 10
o'clock, and Stecher followed minute
later. George Bothncr was the res-