New-York tribune., 1918-01-30
Polish Hercules With Toe
Hold Finally Conquers
Mammoth Finn
By Louis Lee Arms

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Zbyszko. the Polish Hercules, forced
John Oln. of Finland, to "rcsign.'
A toe hold on the foot which Olin
could not break terminated the match
The Finn withstood terrific punish
mcnt before he indicated to Referee
George Bothner that he could go no
! further.
Zbyszko had carried the Finn from
with Olin's toe locked in visclikc
grip. Previously Oln had broken free
from half dozen Of these holds and
it seemed that he might duplicate on
this one Zbyszko however, had the
dual advantage Of locking Olin's left
foot with his hands and holding his
leg stationary by sitting upon it.
His face writhcd in agony. Olin spoke
the first word he had uttered during
the match. and Referee George Both
ncr leaned low to the mat and asked
him if he conceded victory to Zbyszkc
The Finn answered in the affirmative
and tho match was over.
Olin Favoritc of Crowd
Olin. who was the smaller man, had
been the favorite of the crowd, and
Xbyszko was hisscd and Jecrcd
not so much for his victory AS
the method by which it was gained.
Even so. the Polandcr had car
ricd the match to Olin and was leading
in points when the finish arrived. Olin
is clever defensive wrestler. but bar
ring a first class imitation of the Lewis
head lock it was seldom he gave
Zbyszko real trouble.
Madison Square Garden was crowded
to the doors with what was said to be
the largest throng that ever attended
a wrestling match in New York. Stars
Of the dramatic and camera world were
seated at the ringsidc and the scene
was reminiscent of the salad days Of
boxing.
Among the crowd we're many women,
ranging from fair debutantes to gray
haired old ladies. AS carly as $3.50
o'clock the giant coliseum was COM
fortably filled. indicating that there
would be q crowd of from 5000 to
10000 present.
The first match was begun at S:34,
when Joe lIumphries. the silvcr-throat-
cd announcer. ascendcd the das in the
centre of the Garden. George Bothncr,
the veteran referee, respondent in
shirt and polka dot tie, presided as
the third man in the ropcd-oh square.
Holland VS.. Italy
The first match was between Renardo
Gardini, Of Italy, and Hans Furst, Of
Holland. Hans was arrayed in gor-
geous pink bathing suit. while Rcnardo
wore the conventional black. The loose
boards on the wrestling platform
cour6od lilo croro dvn,,, Hopc \
Renardo rushed at each other. At tho
end of ~ minutes and 40 seconds Re-
nardo Gardini turned Hans Furst on
his keel with a body hold. He not
only did that. but he succeeded in
holding him there, and the honors Of
the first bout went to Italy
The second match brought together
those preeminent mat gladiators. Zula
Hevonpaa. the ferocious and frothinc
Finn, and his. little college playmate,
Carl Vogel, of Bavaria. Sula was in
blagc. which checred him Justify, and
in response he gracefully waited a
kiss to the gallery. Vogcl's reception
was a trife subdued, but even so, there
were those who remembered the famous
Brodie which the "Court" took in the
recent tourney at the Lexington Thea
tre.
Nogel and Hevonpaa started at top
speed, which is to say the Bavarian
took a right swing at the Finn which
landed flush on the car. That intro
duced a proper acrimony to the events
which followed rapidly.
Calls on Referee
At ali times Sula had the better Of
the argument. His flow of Finnish
language was simply superb, and his
famous battle cry of "Nasso George"
(mcaning Referee George Bothner)
was quickly picked up by the crowd.
Toe holds were introduced literally.
and almost equallcd in number the
amount Of right crosses that were cX
changed.
The platform groaned and protested
at its burden, but nobly resisted en-
tircly cracking, though it was badly
bent.
At the end of II minutes and 80
seconds Sula surprised every one, in
Guiding himself. by adjusting body
hold or Carl. The Bavarian gent sank
with grunt and the referee tapped
Sula on the shoulder in indication Of
victory. Sula kissed himself out Of
the picture. being foIiowcd by large
salvos Of applause.
During the 1ive-minute intermission
Jimmy Flynn, the Broadway tenor,
sang several popular songs. Among
them was at Will Be a Hot Time for
the Old Men When the Young Men
Go Away
AT precisely $3.50 Wladck Zbyszko,
of Poland. and John Ohn, of Finland,
entered the arena, and it was forth
with announced that the match would
involve the world championship AT
least, Zbyszko was the winner in the
recent ali-star tournament at the Lex
ington Theatre.
First Time for Olin
Olin wore black tights, while the
Polish Hercules was attired in white.
1t was Olins first appearance in New
York. lie is shorter OF stature than
Zbyszko. but seemed thicker through.
Zbyszko had an apparent advantage in
height, weight and reach the same as
he enjoyed against Strangler Lewis.
The men lost no time in mixing. With
q modified head hold Zbyszko tossed
Oln to the mat and the men wrestlcd
furiously. At the end Of three min
utes Lbyszko lifted Olin bodily from
the floor and hurled him to the mat.
following him there and slipping half
nelson over the Firms neck.
Olin wrigglcd free and there began
, q series of rapid fire exchanges, with
the men splitting the advantage Of
working behind.
At the eleventh minute they came to
their feet. and in clutching for the
Finn. Zbyszko tore Olin's tights. There
was a temporary halt in the match, the
men resumlng after minute had
passed. OGn then surprised wrestling
fans by executing series of three
vicious head locks on Zbyszko While