Post by pikemojo on May 17, 2010 22:05:12 GMT -5
4/26/10
Torn and Bleeding After Two Hours’ Struggle, Russian Quits
The Evening World – April 4, 1908
Frank Gotch’s American Style of Rough House Work Forces Hackenschmidt to Quit After Two Hours’ Work in Bout.
Says Hackenschmidt:
“I have been credited with one defeat before at the hands of Beck Olsen. This is untrue. This is my first defeat, and I was physically unfit to wrestle. Mind, however, I am not detracting from my conqueror’s victory. I simply want to have the truth known. I had a heavy forfeit up, and to annul the match meant thousands of dollars loss. I will say that I did not believe any man could stand before me no matter what my condition was. The doctor forbade me to enter the ring, but I did it. Defeat was my reward. This is my first and only defeat.”
Frank Gotch Says:
“I knew I could win and I have made good. I have been preparing to meet Hackenschmidt ever since he refused to wrestle me three years ago on the ground that he was satisified with beating Tom Jenkins, who was then the champion. Hackenschmidt hasn’t improved since I saw him last, and I have. That is the whole story. I am ready to go on and wrestle any champion that any country in the world produces to face me for my title, and you can put it down that I have learned enough about the game since Jenkins beat me three years ago to make it hot for any of them.”
CHICAGO, Ill., April 4. – Hackenschmidt, the great Russian wrestler, came in like a lion and went out like a lamb, after two hours and one minute of the most terrific grueling ever endured outside of a London prize ring. Hackenschmidt refused to continue, and Ed Smith, the local referee, announced Frank Gotch the winner. The championship of the world passed from the Russian Lion to the Iowa farmer with that decision.
The end of the contest was dramatic in the extreme. Hackenschmidt, with his eyes fearfully lacerated, his nostrils torn, his lips and face battered almost beyond recognition, smeared from head to foot with his own blood, that streamed from a score of wounds on his head and arms and body, went to the mat at last with Gotch on top. He was half blinded, dazed and weary beyond all description. Immediately Gotch leaped upon him like a savage, driving his knees into Hackenschmidt’s body, and roughing in the style used when football was legalized manslaughter. The Russian suddenly quit the struggle, and appealed to the referee, as he had a score of times before during the bout.
For a few minutes there was great confusion. The roaring shrieking mob that filled the Dexter Park Pavilion rushed madly toward the ring, and swarmed through the ropes. Then referee smith made his announcement. The crowd seized Gotch and carried him back to his dressing-room, while Hackenschmidt’s seconds were busy washing the blood from his face and dressing his wounds.
Gotch in Better Shape.
Although Chicago is a Gotch stronghold, there is much diversity of opinion over this affair. There is little doubt that Gotch wore Hackenschmidt down, and that he was in far better physical condition. But all the through the bout he used foul tactics of a sort that would have fully justified the referee in disqualifying him. He jammed his thumbs into Hackenschmidt’s eyes. On one occasion, when Hackenschmidt had twisted the American’s thumb, Gotch retaliated by smashing him time and again in the face with his fists, until the blood spurted out and ran over the Russians face and body in streams. Time and again he butted viciously.
The bout was held in the big Dexter Park Pavilion, at the stock-yards, which was originally erected for the purpose of holding stock shows. The seating capacity was 12,000, and seats ranged in price from $3 to $20 each, the latter being charged for chairs in the boxes around the ring, which was erected in the middle of the great pavilion. The receipts were announced as $40,000, and the wrestlers’ end amounted to $13,000. All fo the ordinary seats were filled, but there were blocks of empties among the $20 sections.
After several small preliminaries, Emil Stegemiller, Hackenschmidt’s wrestling partner, and the alleged champion of Germany, met Henry Ordman, of Minneapolis, who was thirty pounds lighter than the German giant. Stegemiller, who was to throw Ordman in ten minutes, failed dismally.
Hackenschmidt Smiled at Start.
If this was an ill omen, it failed to have any effect on Hack, who appeared in the ring immediately afterward smiling and ready for work. In a moment Gotch followed. There was a tremendous burst of cheering from the crowd. When the two stood up together to bow their acknowledgments, Hackenschmidt looked a Hercules beside the taller and more smoothly muscled American. Hackenschmidt weighed 208; Gotch 196. Hack looked a little white and pasty, while Gotch was brown and showed the effect of a long course of preparation, which he indulged in while Hackenschmidt’s contract kept him jumping from city to city giving exhibitions.
Hackenschmidt’s seconds were American, the Baltimore wrestler and Boe Unholz, the lightweight fighter. Behind Gotch were Farmer Burns and Jack Carkeek. After the usual instructions and handshake the bout began.
Both men walked about warily, looking for openings and sparring for a hold. Hack tried to trip Gotch, but the American jumped away. Again Hack tried to trip, and this time threw Gotch to the mat, but before he could fall upon him Gotch jumped out of reach and regained his feet. Around and around the ring they went, feeling their way cautiously. It was apparent that this was to be a long-drawn-out bout, with neither willing to take any desperate chances.
Bear Grip a Failure.
Hack tried to seize Gotch about the body for his famous bear grip, but Gotch squirmed out of danger and got clear. Time and again Hack drove in for a leg hold, but Gotch either sidestepped or jammed his hand into Hack’s face and held him off. Every time the Russian missed the crowd rose and howled with glee. As they came together, Gotch suddenly thrust his thumb into Hackenschmidt’s eye. Hack tried for a leg hold, and Gotch struck him in the face with the heel of his hand. Hackenschmidt complainedto the referee, but was ignored. They had been wrestling thirty minutes and were both still on their feet. Hack was doing the forcing, but seemed unable to hold the slippery Gotch. Once he grasped the farmer’s wrist, but Gotch broke away and grinningly acked Hack to try again. Gotch tried three times for a leg hold, but the Russian was too quick for him.
Betting Odds Change.
However, Hackenschmidt was puffing a little and looked worried. The betting, that had been 5 to on Hackenschmidt shifted down to 2-1. Hack was trying hard for head or wrist or leg holds, but it was useless, Gotch seemed able to slip away and keep him on the move. Gotch was dancing around like a boxer letting Hack do the work. Once Hack got behind Gotch, and for a moment it looked as if they would go to mat but Gotch jumped away quick as a flash, managing to jam his thumb into Hack’s eye again. The eye was bleeding badly. Another jab opened the other eye. They rushed each other to the ropes fiercely, taking turns in the roughing. Gotch was growing more aggressive, and Hack left openings while brushing the blood from his eyes with his hands. Hackenschmidt’s face was bleeding badly at the end of the hour, and he looked tired. His nose and mouth were badly battered. Gotch struck blow after blow with the heel of his hand, and even with his fists.
Crowd Yells for Action.
Gotch tried a double arm lock, and Hack broke it with ease. Gotch’s nails lacerated Hack’s right arm and he bled freely. For half an hour more they kept trying fruitlessly for holds, both extremely cautious about leaving openings. The crowd was tiring and yelling for action, but the men in the ring paid no attention. Gotch jammed his hand into Hackenschmidt’s face and he asked the referee to interfere, as before without receiving any attention. More fiddling, and both, weary stopped in the middle of the ring and stood still for a few seconds. Gotch seemed to think his time had come then, for he suddenly became aggressive and rushed Hack furiously against the ropes, trying for a leg hold. More roughing of the Lond prize ring variety by Gotch, and Hackenschmidt stopped short and talked to the referee, who said, “Go on and wrestle.”
Hack Goes to Mat.
Then for the first time Hack was thrown to the mat, only to spring up. But he was tired. Gotch tripped and threw him again. This time Gotch fell on him. Gotch was working furiously now, trying for his toe hold. The crowd made a rush for the ring, and the police pushed them back again amid the wildest confusion. Gotch kept trying for the toe hold, but Hackenschmidt, up on all fours, leaped out of it. Again Gotch tried, but couldn’t hold the Russian strong man. Hackenschmidt was puffing hard. He was badly worried, while Gotch was getting his second wind. Grinning, Gotch kept on top and worked like a beaver for that grip on the toe that breaks a man’s ankle. But, tired as he was, Hackenschmidt broke away and was rising when Gotch hurled him to the mat again and jumped on him. Hack was lying flat on his stomach. Gotch was worrying him savagely, but seemed unable to turn him over. Then suddenly the end came. Hackenschmidt, exhausted and covered with blood from head to waist, appealed to the referee, and the crowd swept the police off their feet and rushed into the ring. Hackenschmidt was not thrown. He gave up. Referee Smith says that when Hackenschmidt appealed to him against Gotch’s roughing Hack wanted to call the bout a draw.
Torn and Bleeding After Two Hours’ Struggle, Russian Quits
The Evening World – April 4, 1908
Frank Gotch’s American Style of Rough House Work Forces Hackenschmidt to Quit After Two Hours’ Work in Bout.
Says Hackenschmidt:
“I have been credited with one defeat before at the hands of Beck Olsen. This is untrue. This is my first defeat, and I was physically unfit to wrestle. Mind, however, I am not detracting from my conqueror’s victory. I simply want to have the truth known. I had a heavy forfeit up, and to annul the match meant thousands of dollars loss. I will say that I did not believe any man could stand before me no matter what my condition was. The doctor forbade me to enter the ring, but I did it. Defeat was my reward. This is my first and only defeat.”
Frank Gotch Says:
“I knew I could win and I have made good. I have been preparing to meet Hackenschmidt ever since he refused to wrestle me three years ago on the ground that he was satisified with beating Tom Jenkins, who was then the champion. Hackenschmidt hasn’t improved since I saw him last, and I have. That is the whole story. I am ready to go on and wrestle any champion that any country in the world produces to face me for my title, and you can put it down that I have learned enough about the game since Jenkins beat me three years ago to make it hot for any of them.”
CHICAGO, Ill., April 4. – Hackenschmidt, the great Russian wrestler, came in like a lion and went out like a lamb, after two hours and one minute of the most terrific grueling ever endured outside of a London prize ring. Hackenschmidt refused to continue, and Ed Smith, the local referee, announced Frank Gotch the winner. The championship of the world passed from the Russian Lion to the Iowa farmer with that decision.
The end of the contest was dramatic in the extreme. Hackenschmidt, with his eyes fearfully lacerated, his nostrils torn, his lips and face battered almost beyond recognition, smeared from head to foot with his own blood, that streamed from a score of wounds on his head and arms and body, went to the mat at last with Gotch on top. He was half blinded, dazed and weary beyond all description. Immediately Gotch leaped upon him like a savage, driving his knees into Hackenschmidt’s body, and roughing in the style used when football was legalized manslaughter. The Russian suddenly quit the struggle, and appealed to the referee, as he had a score of times before during the bout.
For a few minutes there was great confusion. The roaring shrieking mob that filled the Dexter Park Pavilion rushed madly toward the ring, and swarmed through the ropes. Then referee smith made his announcement. The crowd seized Gotch and carried him back to his dressing-room, while Hackenschmidt’s seconds were busy washing the blood from his face and dressing his wounds.
Gotch in Better Shape.
Although Chicago is a Gotch stronghold, there is much diversity of opinion over this affair. There is little doubt that Gotch wore Hackenschmidt down, and that he was in far better physical condition. But all the through the bout he used foul tactics of a sort that would have fully justified the referee in disqualifying him. He jammed his thumbs into Hackenschmidt’s eyes. On one occasion, when Hackenschmidt had twisted the American’s thumb, Gotch retaliated by smashing him time and again in the face with his fists, until the blood spurted out and ran over the Russians face and body in streams. Time and again he butted viciously.
The bout was held in the big Dexter Park Pavilion, at the stock-yards, which was originally erected for the purpose of holding stock shows. The seating capacity was 12,000, and seats ranged in price from $3 to $20 each, the latter being charged for chairs in the boxes around the ring, which was erected in the middle of the great pavilion. The receipts were announced as $40,000, and the wrestlers’ end amounted to $13,000. All fo the ordinary seats were filled, but there were blocks of empties among the $20 sections.
After several small preliminaries, Emil Stegemiller, Hackenschmidt’s wrestling partner, and the alleged champion of Germany, met Henry Ordman, of Minneapolis, who was thirty pounds lighter than the German giant. Stegemiller, who was to throw Ordman in ten minutes, failed dismally.
Hackenschmidt Smiled at Start.
If this was an ill omen, it failed to have any effect on Hack, who appeared in the ring immediately afterward smiling and ready for work. In a moment Gotch followed. There was a tremendous burst of cheering from the crowd. When the two stood up together to bow their acknowledgments, Hackenschmidt looked a Hercules beside the taller and more smoothly muscled American. Hackenschmidt weighed 208; Gotch 196. Hack looked a little white and pasty, while Gotch was brown and showed the effect of a long course of preparation, which he indulged in while Hackenschmidt’s contract kept him jumping from city to city giving exhibitions.
Hackenschmidt’s seconds were American, the Baltimore wrestler and Boe Unholz, the lightweight fighter. Behind Gotch were Farmer Burns and Jack Carkeek. After the usual instructions and handshake the bout began.
Both men walked about warily, looking for openings and sparring for a hold. Hack tried to trip Gotch, but the American jumped away. Again Hack tried to trip, and this time threw Gotch to the mat, but before he could fall upon him Gotch jumped out of reach and regained his feet. Around and around the ring they went, feeling their way cautiously. It was apparent that this was to be a long-drawn-out bout, with neither willing to take any desperate chances.
Bear Grip a Failure.
Hack tried to seize Gotch about the body for his famous bear grip, but Gotch squirmed out of danger and got clear. Time and again Hack drove in for a leg hold, but Gotch either sidestepped or jammed his hand into Hack’s face and held him off. Every time the Russian missed the crowd rose and howled with glee. As they came together, Gotch suddenly thrust his thumb into Hackenschmidt’s eye. Hack tried for a leg hold, and Gotch struck him in the face with the heel of his hand. Hackenschmidt complainedto the referee, but was ignored. They had been wrestling thirty minutes and were both still on their feet. Hack was doing the forcing, but seemed unable to hold the slippery Gotch. Once he grasped the farmer’s wrist, but Gotch broke away and grinningly acked Hack to try again. Gotch tried three times for a leg hold, but the Russian was too quick for him.
Betting Odds Change.
However, Hackenschmidt was puffing a little and looked worried. The betting, that had been 5 to on Hackenschmidt shifted down to 2-1. Hack was trying hard for head or wrist or leg holds, but it was useless, Gotch seemed able to slip away and keep him on the move. Gotch was dancing around like a boxer letting Hack do the work. Once Hack got behind Gotch, and for a moment it looked as if they would go to mat but Gotch jumped away quick as a flash, managing to jam his thumb into Hack’s eye again. The eye was bleeding badly. Another jab opened the other eye. They rushed each other to the ropes fiercely, taking turns in the roughing. Gotch was growing more aggressive, and Hack left openings while brushing the blood from his eyes with his hands. Hackenschmidt’s face was bleeding badly at the end of the hour, and he looked tired. His nose and mouth were badly battered. Gotch struck blow after blow with the heel of his hand, and even with his fists.
Crowd Yells for Action.
Gotch tried a double arm lock, and Hack broke it with ease. Gotch’s nails lacerated Hack’s right arm and he bled freely. For half an hour more they kept trying fruitlessly for holds, both extremely cautious about leaving openings. The crowd was tiring and yelling for action, but the men in the ring paid no attention. Gotch jammed his hand into Hackenschmidt’s face and he asked the referee to interfere, as before without receiving any attention. More fiddling, and both, weary stopped in the middle of the ring and stood still for a few seconds. Gotch seemed to think his time had come then, for he suddenly became aggressive and rushed Hack furiously against the ropes, trying for a leg hold. More roughing of the Lond prize ring variety by Gotch, and Hackenschmidt stopped short and talked to the referee, who said, “Go on and wrestle.”
Hack Goes to Mat.
Then for the first time Hack was thrown to the mat, only to spring up. But he was tired. Gotch tripped and threw him again. This time Gotch fell on him. Gotch was working furiously now, trying for his toe hold. The crowd made a rush for the ring, and the police pushed them back again amid the wildest confusion. Gotch kept trying for the toe hold, but Hackenschmidt, up on all fours, leaped out of it. Again Gotch tried, but couldn’t hold the Russian strong man. Hackenschmidt was puffing hard. He was badly worried, while Gotch was getting his second wind. Grinning, Gotch kept on top and worked like a beaver for that grip on the toe that breaks a man’s ankle. But, tired as he was, Hackenschmidt broke away and was rising when Gotch hurled him to the mat again and jumped on him. Hack was lying flat on his stomach. Gotch was worrying him savagely, but seemed unable to turn him over. Then suddenly the end came. Hackenschmidt, exhausted and covered with blood from head to waist, appealed to the referee, and the crowd swept the police off their feet and rushed into the ring. Hackenschmidt was not thrown. He gave up. Referee Smith says that when Hackenschmidt appealed to him against Gotch’s roughing Hack wanted to call the bout a draw.
