Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-10
~ Shall Never Wrestle
Again." Pledges the
Famous DR.. B.F. Roller

krowledged defeat like a man and
a sport and made no excuse. In the
list place, what object would 1 have
had TO quit. or to fake. because if
acknowledged defeat l could have
suffered no worse had 1 gone back
and wrestled again. In second place,
l was in the ring and offered with
my robe off, against the advice of
some of Pennsylvania greatest sur
! geons, to wrestle the third fall even
if l did not last a minute. How can
BaGmann accuse me of unsports-
manlike conduct? What right has he
with his primitive education to belle
the greatest surgeons in Pennsylva-
mia? There are doubtless a few
things Baumann does not know. In
the third place, / have always spok-
en- very highly of Mr.. Baumann, and
/ do not know for what reason he
accuses me of crooked work. and of
hurting his game, when 1 think the
fans in Harrisburg who have attend
ed matches there in which I have
participated will testify that any
thing that has been done to build
clean sport and to put wrestling in
favor there has been done by me-
Now, the truth of the matter is
this. since Baumann forces me to tell
1t. l did not like to say or do any
thing that might hurt Baumann, and
l refused to claim any immunity,
trying to put him right before the
public even though he was absolute
ly wrong in his decision. If that
event can be taken into account Bau-
mann is absolutely incapable as a
referee, for wheA a referee calls
holds off at the edge OF the mat. the
wrestlers are not allowed, according
to rule and custom to touch each
other and wrestle until told to do
so by the referee. Any wrestler
with an ounce of brains will confirm
this statement, for the question asks
iself automatically, when a referee
stops contest how long is it to be
stopped? Naturally, till the referee
starts it again. Otherwise they
would naturally, when unsportsman-
like (Which they often are) take any
advantage possible and dirty work
would be thereby, encouraged. such
as grabbing man from behind
wrestling off the mat, etc. Baumann
is not overburdened with inteIli-
Gcnce, but he has seen enough clean
wrestling to know this point, and
tried to cover up his ignorance in a
spirit of good sportsmanship, but
am now forced to tell you the truth,
and he will have to take the con-
sequences.
/ never made an excuse in my life
and acknowledged defeat without
whimper. even though l knew the
ruling was atrocious. I would not
now reply if he had not besmirched
my good name, and 1 make this
statement in justice to my many
friends in Harrisburg.
1t is such things as this that dis
gust self-respecting men with sport
There are always so many men who
have no idea of honor or true sport,
that the association is often most
unpalatable. l am practising medi-
cine and surgery and am very busy.
and my standing has never been
questioned in. my profession, but I
would not be surprised to learn that
l am looked upon with suspicion be-
cause of the sports" with whom I
have been associating. I confess il
is reason for suspicion, but I say in
explanation that I have paid for my
education by athletics. and have ac-
complished the purpose. I shall
never wrestle again. Truly.
B. T. ROLLER.