Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1914 — JACK CARKEEK YIELDS TO FRANK GOTCH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JACK CARKEEK YIELDS TO FRANK GOTCH

WHEN Frank Gotch was bom in 1878; Jack Carkeek stood foremost among the world's wrestlers. Twenty-seven years later in Butte, Mont., Sept 4, 1905, this veteran met his Waterloo at the hands of the young mat Hercules from Humboldt Gotch trained long and hard 'or this match, expecting one of the hardest battles of his career. The match proved a surprise to both Gotch and his more experienced foe. Gotch rushed Carkeek to the edge of the mat when Referee McDonald called time. The wrestlers came to the center of the mat, took the referee hold and sparred for some effective grip. Carkeek was famous for his trickery and-kept Gotch on the lookout for the unexpected every moment- Carkeek shifted to one side and resorted to an old stratagem, trying* to trip -Gotch, to-the unat; Gotch was partly overbalanced and came near going under, but managed to remain on his feet Neither wrestler was able to put his opponent down for several minutes. They tugged and pulled and shifted for holds. Suddenly Gotch, with a lightning-like move, caught Carkeek by one of his legs and hurled him to the mat. Carkeek, who had defeated a host of wrestlers with more or less ease, at this stage learned something of the sort of man he was wrestling. Try as he would, he could not rise. He resorted to every trick known to the game to come to his feet, but to no avail. Gotch retained his leg hold, working well to one side, and kept the veteran busy eluding dangerous holds. Carkeek came to a sitting pos-

ture, threw his feet forward and tried to break a waist hold. He had been able to break away from hundreds of wrestlers in this manner, but Gotch, trained by Farmer Burns, seemed to hold him as though he were bound by a chain of steel. Gotch tried for a foot hold and Carkeek turned to one side. Gotch, quick as a flash, grasped Carkeek’s further arm and by fas-, tening a crotch hold gradually bore the veteran’s shoulders to the canvas. Carkeek once had the strength to resist such holds, but advancing age and the wonderful power of his opponent caused his downfalL Gotch forced the battle in the second and deciding bout. He rußhed Carkeek to the edge of the mat. After about two minutes of fast wrestling, in which Carkeek fought desperately to go to the top, Gotch put his foe to the mat. Carkeek resisteq a The referee ordered the men to the center of the mat. Coming to the footlights, Carkeek addressed the crowd, Baying that he was beaten and unable to continue the match. "Gentlemen,” he “Gotch is too young and too- strong for me. I am forced to admit defeat. For the first time in my life I have been beaten in a catch-as-catch-can wrestling match. I am growing older, but I realize that I have met a wonderful wrestler tonight His strength and speed were a revelation to me.” Carkeek and Gotch became warm friends, and this veteran man of the mat has been an adviser and trainer of the champion in several important battles. (Copyright. 1913, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Gotch Working Bar and Further Arm Hold in Practice Bout.