Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-06
FANS PLEASED
WITH STECHER'
AND LEWIS BOUT
Promoters Of independence
Day Wrestling Match Clean
Stain of Past From
Sporting History.
By A. K. DONOVAN.


Marhsi, manager; and Joe Stecher
and Ed STRANGER" Lewis, princi-
pals>in the Fourth of July wrestling
match at the Auditorium, are vindi-
Gated in the eyes of tine sporting
public of Nebraska for the hasco
pulled off in Omaha three years
ago. Those who kept faith in the
wrestling game. despite the rumors
circulated by a small coterie OF
knockers. who allege all matches
are framed" saw bout that will
60 down in the annals of wrestling
as one of the cleanest, fastesv and
most interesting ever staged.
Great credit is due Gene Melady,
the promoter, for clearing this blot
of three years ago from the pages
of sporting history. For three years
he tried to match the two men on
terms that would guarantee "a match
free from any question OF unfair
ness. At last he tied Stecher and
Lewis in knot and gave the people
of this section of the country an
opportunity to seesthem wrestle.
Eastern promoters, after seeing
the articles of agreement, urged him
to transfer the match to Chicago or
New York where he was assured Of
drawing big house Mr.. Melady
refused, stating he would rather
take the chance of losing money
than to miss the opportunity of
clearing himself in the eyes of the
western public.
Omaha Wrestling Hub.
A $4,000 dollar crowd was as
sured, with no increase in expense,
. If he would transfer the match t9
Madison Square Garden. Chicago
sportsmen also bid on taking the
bout away from Omaha but were
unsuccessful.
Through. the efforts of Mr.. Me
lady. who has kept the stars of the
wrestling world, developed on the
farms of Iowa, and Nebraska, wrest-
ling in their home territory, Omaha
has been permitted to have staged
the biggest events of the year. An
enormous risk is involved in these
shows and unless the people of this
section of the country patronize
them they will undoubtedly be tak1-
en- east.
Wrestling matches probably draw
more people to Omaha every year
than any other single event. 1t is
to be hoped that the sporting pub
lie will get behind these bouts and
givehtem the patronage deserved.
The following interviews give an
Z indication of the sentiment of the
public following the Fourth of July
match:
100 Per Cent Wrestling Match.
Paul F. Skinner, president of the
Skinner Manufacturing Co. THE
match was sure fine. had ring
side seat and more than got my
moneys worth. | have heard moth
ing but praise for the entertain
ment. I am not acquainted with
any of the principals, but there was
mo taking or stalling. 1t was 100
per cent wrestle from start to TN
ish."
John Robbins OF the Prince Auto
COT was darned good show.
/ bet on Lewis, butham satisfied. l
thought Stecher was yellow, and am
glad to learn that my Judgment was,
wrong. 1t is now up to the people
of Omaha to get behind Gene Me-
lady. He has shown the people of
Nebraska that he is on the square
and deserves support. The way he
stopped the stalling in the prelim-
mary was wonderful. Everybody
who saw the match was well salts
DR.. wv. M. Condor of Los An
geles, Cal, formerly banker at
Humphrey. Neb., who was guest
of his. brother, DR.. A. P. Condon-
The match was worth a trip from
the. coast. OF. course, I had to root
for the Californian, even though he
was the loser. because A. P. was
/ for Stecher. / was glad, however,
to see Joe win. / have known him
since childhood and l believe he had
the best match Of his career. 1t was
sure wonderfully
Give Melady Credit.
Porter D. Askew, Omaha fnan-
cier-"It was the best match | ever
saw. Gene Melady is entitled to
great credit for bringing this bout
to Omaha"
Frank Whitelock, mayor Of Ster-
ling, Colo.-"I am, sure glad l did
not go on to Toledo as l intended.
The Omaha match was the kind
people enjoy. l have followed the
game for Is years and it was the
best bout l ever saw. You have to
give Mr.. Melady credit for staging
such a wonderful show. If he
would move to Sterling and stage
an event of this kind we would give
him the city hall" ->
A. c. Lef1ang of the Lexington,
Neb., Milling & Elevator Co.-"I
more than got my moneys worth.
In the future the name of Melady
connected with a wrestling match
will bring me to Omaha any time.
Other Lexington citizens who saw
the match feel the same way. At
the next match there will be a far
larger delegation from my country
if boosting will help"
Gets $40 for slo.
I nv. A. Frasier, sovereign COM
! mander of the Woodalen of the
'World-"It was the finest exhibit
ton I ever saw in my life. This
4 wipes the slate clean of all the unZ
kind things I have said against these
S two men and the promoters for the
past three years. l would travel a
long ways to see another match as
good as I saw July a. I am, again
"a wrestling enthusiast"
n C. w. Francis, manager of the
iihanSe department. of the Skinner
Paekihg Cot paid only $40 for