New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-05
|S0NNENbERG Wins
WRESTLING Title
Dartmouth Football Star Beats
Veteran Stranger Lewis
Boston, Jan. s P1Wrestling to-

Boston. Jan. R@Wrestling to-
day had new champion, "Dyna-
mite" Gus Sonnenberg, the former
Dartmouth football player.
Sonnenberg won the heavyweight
mat title when Ed "Strangler' Lewis
was disqualified in their match here
last night. Sonnenberg lad taken
the first fall with his famous "'fying
, tackle" in % minutes 46 seconds.
and when they returned to the ring,
he tried to drop the champion again
with the same tactics.
The rugged football player. who
/, continued his gridiron career with
the Providence Steamrollers. butted
: Lewis seven times in rapid success
sion, forcing the champion to fall
or crawl outside of the ropes to es-
cape punishment.
Each time he sought safety out
side, he was ordered to return by
Referee Leon Burbank That Off
cial gave Lewis ample warning and.
after the seventh butt, counted him
out of his title, which he turned
, over to Sonnenberg to the great de-
light of the 10000 spectators who
filled the spacious Boston Garden to
the last seat.
i Many of the seatholders were per-
sons of prominence and thousands
OF them were young college gradu-
CT nt,fr- ~ soA
| became interested in wrestling be-
cause of Sonnenberg and one whose
patronage moved sport out. of
dingy Boston hall into one OF the
largest sport palaces in the country.
Indications today We're that this
element in the wrestling game would
follow along with Sonnenberg. its
mat idol, and the promoters looked
forward to staging many profitable
bouts during his championship.
The decision. which stripped Lew
is of bejewelled championship belt
as well as his title, drew the voci-
ferrous protests of Billy Sandow, the
"Strangler's" manager and conf
dant. Sandow claimed that his man
was never entirely out of the ring,
and that he had at least foot or
! leg inside at all times and that
Lewis was willing and eager to con-
tinue the bout when he was counted
out by Burbank.
| During the bout, which lasted 3S
minutes and 6 seconds, Sonnenbers
was on the offense at all times and
had to force matters to stir the eau
tious Lewis into action. When the
stranger" did get going, he tried
for victory with series of vicious
headlocks, all of which Sonnenberg
broke or slipped free of.
| Lewis was said to have received
$50. 900 for his nights work. Son.
nenberg's share ran about $4,000.
Total receipts exceeded $4,000, a
record figure for this section of the
country where wrestling has long
been considered rural entertainment
BY winning the title, Sonnenberg
probably assured Loston of profess
sional football next fall. The for
mer Dartmouth player, who became
sold" on that game while playing
with the Steamrolers, this years
professional champions, promised
that If he defeated Lewis for the
title. he would use the resulting
profits in the promotion of the pro-
fessional game in this city.
| The title match was distinguished
in more ways than one. For one
thing, it brought together two COL
lege men. SonnenberG. who is in
his early thirties, first went to Dart
mouth where he starred at tackle
and then to the University Of De-
troit from which he graduated about
five years ago.
Lewis. who is 81. Is native Of
Lexington. KY. and as Frank Fred
erick. his true name. was graduated
from a college in that state, ami
when not training for the ring, is
a horticulturist by avocation.
The former champion had held
the title for nearly ten years with
one brief interim following his de-
feat by Wayne Mum, the big 1owan.
He regaincd it from Joe Stecher In
St. Louis In February. 1927.
1t was the second meeting be-
tween Sonnenbcrg and Lewis. Last
summer in this city Sonnenberg
threw Lewis once but in attempting
his famous flying tackle for the Sec
ond fail. the Stranger lodged and
Sonnenberg sailed through the hopes
to the concrete floor.
| He was unconscious for hours aft
erward and did not completely re-
cover for several weeks