WRESTLING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 601, 25 November 1909, Page 4

WRESTLING.

TUB WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP.

Mr E. P. Baker, of Melbourne, referring to the approaching contest for the wrestling championship of the world, said ; —Yes, I have been quite successful in signing up Hackeuschmidt and Gotch for the championship to be wrestled in Melbourne, but I have had to rush over a considerable portion of the earth to do it. As far as Hackeuschmidt is concerned, I have had no difficulty whatever, but Gotch was as coy as a girl, and as elusive as wet soap. It is as plain as daylight that he wants to retain the title he was awarded when he met Hackenschmidt in Chicago, and it is also plain that he would just as soon keep it without having any fuither bother with Hackenschmidt over it. He did not want to wrestle at all. Finally, having taken time to consider, he decided to defend the championship, stipulating for Chicago rules —the rules under which he wrestled Hackeuschmidt previously, and signed a legally-drawn-up agreement to that effect. When I told Hackeuschmidst that Gotch had stipulated by cable to Australia for Chicago rules, and that he said he (Hackenechmidst) had asked for English rules, “Hack” for a moment looked grave. “Is that the only hitch between us ?” he asked. I told him yes. “Well,” said he, “take a sheet of paper and draft out rules to suit Gotch, any rules at all, so long as the man’s shoulders are to be put flat on the mat. Give him Chicago rules, including every hold of which he has knowledge, and any new holds he or anyone else may invent. Meanwhile, make it plain in the rules that absolutely no hold will be regarded as a foul hold, and I will sign it. If my ideas sound too barbarous, let him modify them to suit himselt. I would, naturally, sooner wrestle a sporting match under the properly-disciplined English rules of Lancashire wrestling, but if Gotch desires to wrestle differently I will meet him iu his own way, with all my heart. All I want is to get him on the mat again.” Hackenschmidt and his troupe, including Gunner Moir and a noted European wrestler, have gone to tour iu South Africa, and are timed to arrive in Melbourne about January 4.