The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1921-02-17
GORDON WINNER OVER
MA!NTELL LAST NIGHT
MantelI Took First Fall, Gordon Second
And Third. AGOod Bout
Throughout.
THE Big CROWD WELL WAS SATISFIED

Wrestling fans were given their
moneys worth last night when they
saw Chas Gordon take two out Of
three falls in the fastest match ever
staged in Liberal.
Y The Gordon-Mantell match was
preceded by a rattling good prelimi-
nary by local men, and the crowd
was settled for the big bout.
When the two men came onto the
mat the Gordon hackers had some
misgivings. Mantells record was all
to the good and he was in great form.
His confidence added to the discom-
future of the friends of the little
wrestler from Minneola. But Cor
don was at his best. He had made
no rash promises, although he had
said that he intended to take the
match if it was in him.
The crowd called for Freeman as
referee and he designated Earl Craig
as time-keeper. The usual examina-
tions were made, the rules of the
match stated and the bout was on.
No sooner had it started than ev-
eryone could see that it was a gen.
uine bout. Gordon assumed the Of
fensive almost from the start and
sverlastingly worked on Mantell's
wind. Many times Mantell came out
Of bad places by the exercise Of sheer
strength and demonstrated an almost
unbelievable ability to stand punish
ment. Gordon seemed to favor a
head hold and this plainly worried
Mantell, who fought to prevent him
securing that hold.
But Gordon did not always have
,rthe advantage. While he was the
tagressor a large part Of the time,
Nantell was busy and had him in
tight places from which he extricat-
ed himself when it seemed impossi-
Bile.
The two men had met previously
and knew about what to expect, and
both were game. After twenty-seven
minutes of fast work, during which
time there were plenty of thrills,
Mantell secured a hold which Referee
Freeman termed a "banana split"
and took the fall
A ten minutes rest period ensued,
and the men came back little the
worse for the experience. They went
to work and gave the fans several
samples Of high life, coming out OF
holes and going into others with a
rapidity that was amazing.
Gordon took the second fall in II
minutes with toe hold and hammer
lock. Mantell was game and endured
a lot of punishment before conceding
the fall to Gordon, but the hold was
SO secure that it was impossible to
break.
Ten minutes more rest and the
rub was on. Each man with fall
to his credit and championship hon.
ors in his mind, went onto the mat
and the determined look in each Of
their faces showed that the winner Of
the fall would earn it.
There was little sparring for ad-
vantage, both men going into the
game for all they were worth.
" Mantell seemed trifle more ag-
gressive at this time and treated Cor
don to some punishment that seemed
to spur him to greater efforts. There
was no doubling the ability of Man
tell as a wrestler, time after time ht
proved this, but he could not equa
the wiley Gordon, who knew how tt
win the match II he was to win 1t
Coming out Of a bad hold Gordon
again succeeded in getting hammer
lock, and began maneuvering for {
toe. Mantell seemed to realize this
and fought desperately to prevent
him getting this hold. Finally Cor
don possesse dhimself Of the coveted
toe, and tying Mantell into knot
he put the power on and at the enc
Of 10M minutes won the third fall.
The crowd at first was divided be
tween the two men, but soon senti
nent swung TO- Gordon and when hi
was. announced the winner, the root
almost arose from the armory.
Even those who backed Mantel
were compelled to recognize the great
work done by Gordon and voiced
their approval of his effort.
There il no questioning the abil