Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1913 — HOW CHAMPION GOTCH WAS DISCOVERED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOW CHAMPION GOTCH WAS DISCOVERED

NO foreign wrestler can boast the honor of giving Frank Gotch hla hardest battle. According to the champion’s own words the most difficult match of his career was with Dan McLeod, a wrestler little heavier than a middle-weight, yet in his day one of the greatest grapplers in the world. It was the second professional battle of Gotch’s career and took place at a Woodmen’s picnic, on a cinder path, with rival crowds for referees and an empty honor for a purse. “Three matches stand out as the hardest of my life,” said Gotch. “One of these was with Tom Jenkins. Another was with a Turk up In Canada when the toe lock and several other holds were barred. The toughest match of my career, however, was with Dan McLeod at a picnic. Imagine two fellows tumbling around on the ground for nearly an hour and a half. Why, I was picking cinders out of my anatomy for a month after that battle.” In June, 1899, Dan McLeod, then a wrestler of wide renown, waß en route to Belmond, lowa, to appear in a wrestling match. He was compelled to wait several hours at Livermore to change cars. McLeod saw Borne athletes practicing for a meet near the station. He finally joined them and tried to get a bet on some athletic performance. The result was that the Livermore Woodmen “drafted” McLeod and took him with them to Luverne, where they were to oppose a team from Humboldt Foremost among the Humboldt athletes stood the strapping farmer lad and rising wrestler, Frank Gotch. McLeod was the star of the meet for Livermore and Gotch easily led his team-mates in every event. The competition was close, Livermore winning by two points. It was whispered about that McLeod was not a Woodman and the Humboldt athletes protested the meet, all the cash prizes for Individual work finally going to Gotch. One of the Livermore Woodmen warned McLeod agalnßt Gofch. “Look out for that big fellow over there —he’s a wrestler,” whispered the Livermore athlete to the mysterious stranger. “I don’t care if he’s the greatest Wrestler in the world,” said McLeod; and then addressed Gotch: “So you think you are a wrestler, do you? I’ll take you on for money, marbles or chalk.” That was the spark, that ignited the fuse. Gotch and his outraged comrades were not in a bantering mood —they were ready to fight. The challenge was accepted on the spot. McLeod wanted to wrestle) on the grass, but Gotch chose to battle It out with the stranger on the cinder path, where there was less danger of slipping. In the terrific struggle that followed Gotch found that he was pitted against a wrestler of wonderful skill, while McLeod was handed the surprise of his career. It was a surprise party all around. The rival Woodmen looked on with breathless interest and amazement, McLeod showed facility In blocking Gotch away. He tripped the farmer lad, but the future champion was up in a flash. Around and around the pair struggled. The Humboldt Woodmen sent up a cheer when Gotch rushed his opponent.and went back of him for the first time. Gotch, bewildered at the stranger’s unexpected skill, decided to. play It safe and “hold him under” until he could tire him out For nearly fifty minutes he held to McLeod like a bulldog to the trousers of a tramp, McLeod trying In vain to arise. Over the cinder path, on the grass and then back to the rough mat the pair fought and struggled. Gotch, angered at McLeod’s impertinence and stung to the quick by his trickery, threw cinders and dirt In the intruder's face. The Livermore athletes hooted, while the Humboldt contingent yelled its approval. When Gotch was In the act of getting a fresh supply of dirt, McLeod darted out and the wrestlers tumbled and rolled around the ground,' grinding cinders and pebbles Into their bodies until th'ey were bleeding and puffing, baptized In a flood of . perspiration. McLeod executed a shift and darted behind Gotch. He finally plunged Gotch’s head foremost over his own knee and locked one of his hands behind his body, holding him securely for a fall after one hour and twenty minutes of desperate battling. This was Gotch’s first defeat as s professional. “Go over to Humboldt and hunt up a young farmer by the name of Frank Gotch. He is certainly a comer and you can make a champion out of him," said McLeod to Farmer Bums. That is how Gotch was discovered. (Copyright, 1912, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Gotch Gets Bar Arm Hold and Toe Lock.