Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 297, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1910 — GOTCH WAS GREAT WESTLER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GOTCH WAS GREAT WESTLER

During His Career He Had 331 Matches Not Counting Minor Affairs, Losing Beven. Frank Gotch, who announced his permanent retirement from the mat recently, has proved himself the greatest wrestling champion since the days of Jack Carkeek. Gotch has had 331 matches since he started in the game in 1898, not counting many minor affairs, and of this number he lost seven, five of them being handicap matches, in which he failed to throw his man as many times as bargained for. Gotch practically became champion in 1906, when he defeated Tom Jenkins, who was then considered the best in the country. He met all the stars in the country and defeated them all. His greatest match was with George Hackenschmldt, the Russian Lion, whom he won from in Chicago, in 1908. This match whs arranged by W. W. Wittig, the Milwaukee and Mlnne-

apolls theatrical man, and was the sensation of the age in wrestling circles. Gotch won without a . fall, as Hackenschimdt gave up after two hours and eight minutes of work on the mat without any sign of a fall. Gotch went to England afterward and tried to get another match With Hackenschmidt, but after much dickering it fell through. They were to have met in Australia, but this, too, fell through. Gotch then defeated Dr. B. F. Roller, and'his last big match was with Zyasco, whom the promoters brought from Europe to defeat the champion. Gotch beat him so easily that the giant Pole returned to Europe without bothering About a return match. • -

Frank Gotch.