Historische Wrestling Stories/Artikel

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Saturday Evening, December 17, 1904
Decatur, Illinois
The Daily Review

Terrible Algerian Proves A Cannibal
Jenkins Awarded Match After Black Wrestler Chewed Him Up
San Francisco, Dec. 17 – The wrestling match between Tom Jenkins and Buzayell, the Algerian, was given to Jenkins on a foul. After a struggle of two hours, Jenkins secured a hammerlock and as he was brining the Algerian over both rolled off the platform and fell to the floor.

When the men got on their feet there was a large sized piece of cuticle missing from Jenkins’ abdomen. There were also teeth prints in his arms where he had been bitten by Buzayell.

Referee Coche awarded the match to Jenkins and the police placed Buzayell under arrest on a charge of mayhem.


August 2, 1972
Mansfield, Ohio
News Journal

Pro Veteran Dies at 47
Savannah, Ga. (UPI) – Professional wrestler Ray Gunkel collapsed and died in the ring Tuesday night after completing a wrestling match at the Civic Auditorium.

Officials said Gunkel, 47, apparently suffered a heart attack.

Gunkel, a native of Chicago, was an intercollegiate wrestling champion at Purdue University, but began a boxing career as a protégé of former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. However, he later switched back to wrestling.

TH: Another report has Mr. Gunkel collapsing in the dressing room.

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Mobile Register-March 9, 1972

Cowboy Bob Kelly, popular Gulf Coast wrestling favorite, was suspended indefinitely Wednesday night for hitting an official of the National Wrestling Alliance of St. Louis, during his Gulf Coast championship match against Donnie Fargo at Mobile's Muncipal Auditorium.

Bob Caldwell, representing the NWA, came to Mobile unannounced to observe championship wrestling in this area. Caldwell went into the ring in an attempt to stop the Kelly-Donnie Fargo title match when it developed into a typical Kelly-Fargo brawl. He was then belted by Kelly.

Both wrestlers were handcuffed by police and led from the ring.

Caldwell, in the dressing room, told Promoter Lee Fields and Kelly the Cowboy Bob was suspended indefinitely and were both ordered to appear at a hearing of the NWA on April 5, in St. Louis.

Kelly's only comment was, "I didn't know who it was that came into the ring, so I threw a punch. It could have been one of Fargo's friends."

The California Hippies, Mike Boyette and Mickey Doyle, won the United States tag team championship when they defeated Eddie Sullivan and Rip Tyler on a disqualification.

Gorgeous George, Jr. won over Frank Dalton with a reversed body drop in another feature match.

Ken Lucas and Dick Dunn beat Tony Russo and Billy Boy Hines in a tag team scrap.

Bill White won on a disqualification over Killer Buddy Austin. And Ken Lucas pinned Tony Russo in other matches.

There will be no wrestling in Mobile until March 22, when the next card is held at the Auditorium.

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Ironwood MI Daily Globe, April 10, 1929

New York City NY, Apr. 10 (AP) -- Stanislaus Zbyszko, former heavyweight wrestling champion of the world and the "iron man" of sportdom, today filed suit for $250,000 against the New York American, alleging that that newspaper had destroyed his young wife's love for him.

The complaint, filed in the New York county supreme court, alleged that "said publication imputed and caused its readers to believe that the plaintiff is not really a human, but is fundamentally a gorilla."

The complaint said the article involved was printed in the American on March 31. It was a two-page spread entitled "How Science Proves Its Theory of Evolution," and among the illustrations was a picture of a gorilla and one of Zbyszko in the crouching wrestler's stance. Beneath the picture of the wrestler, the complaint charged, was the following caption:

"Stanislaus Zbyszko, the wrestler, not fundamentally different from the gorilla in physique."

The complaint said, "The shock Mrs. Zbyszko received upon reading in a presumably scientific article that her hsuband bore a strong physical resemblance to a gorilla was tremendous and created a feeling of abhorrence in her toward him which has broken up their relationship as husband and wife."


Los Angeles CA: December 27, 1935
Lord Lansdowne, aka Patrick Finnegan, the wrestler, was identified by one Charles (Duke) York, as the latter's intended partner in a plan to escort actress Thelma Todd to a cocktail party hosted by Mrs. Wallace Ford Sunday, December 22, where York and Lansdowne planned to pose as English noblemen. Miss Todd died, mysteriously, of carbon monoxide poisoning later that night.


'NATURE GIRL' QUESTIONED IN BOMB MURDER
Associated Press, February 4, 1955

HOUSTON, Tex. -- Police studied the statement today of a dark-haired woman wrestler who has given a motive and another bizarre touch to the bomb-trap death of Helen Harris Weaver.

Mrs. Weaver, 51, socially prominent ranchwoman, was blasted to death Jan. 19 in San Angelo, Tex., by a bomb planted in her husband's automobile.

The pretty woman wrestler, who performs under the name of "Nature Girl" and works some as a barmaid in Dallas, said Harry L. Washburn offered her $10,000 to murder Mrs. Weaver's husband. His murder, she said, was to be a part of a $100,000 extortion plot against the woman.

But "Nature Girl," otherwise Mrs. Adela Heninger, said in her signed statement last night that she told Washburn, now charged with murder in the case, that she wanted no part of the deal.

Mrs. Heninger is the estranged wife of Carl Heninger, Houston carpenter, who was charged with murder last week in the Weaver slaying. He was released this week and the charge dropped.

The olive-complexioned woman wrestler, whom police said had "ridden all night to get here" from Dallas, quoted Washburn as saying:

"Weaver is a hard touch. Mrs. Weaver is an easy touch. If I can get rid of Weaver, his wife would pay off to keep her family from harm." She added that Washburn intended to get an initial payment of $20,000 and eventually a total of $100,000.

Washburn's plan, she said, was for her to contact Weaver in San Angelo and get into a discussion



San Angelo TX: April 25, 1955
Harry L. Washburn, accused of killing his rich former mother-in-law, was supposed to go on trial for murder today. But a girl wrestler's reported pregnancy may postpone the case ... The district attorney, Aubrey Stokes, asked postponement on grounds a key state witness, Mrs. Adela Heninger, couldn't travel here from East Peoria, Ill. Mrs. Heninger, 24, wrestles professionally under the billing "Nature Girl." Stokes said he was told she is six months pregnant.

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Ironwood MI Daily Globe: Thursday, December 9, 1926
"Farmer Burns, old time wrestler and trainer of grapplers and fighters, told us a week ago that the (Dempsey-Tunney) fight was a frame up. He didn't mince any words about it. The story coming to him is that Dempsey lost for the paltry sum of $2,000,000. Abe Attell figured in the dope, he hinted. Farmer even went so far as to say that his partner won $1,500 on the fight, acting on a tip received about four hours in advance of the battle. You can take this for what it is worth. We are inclined to place considerable stock in it. Having been in the wrestling game all these years, Farmer Burns knows plenty about the inside workings of some of the big matches."


Wednesday, February 5, 1930
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Citizen

Out of the Past

No wrestling tournament of the old days ever was complete without its Masked Marvel. Properly exploited and ballyhooed, the presence of a Masked Marvel in a tournament assured promoters of a big gate.

It may be remembered that Francis X. Bushman, at the height of his popularity as a movie hero, once offered $10,000 for an opportunity to take the place of a masked wrestler. Bushman knew the publicity that would attend the discovery of a famous movie star as the mysterious wrestler would be worth that sum and more. But the offer wasn't accepted.

The Masked Marvel pictured here is Mort Henderson, a Rochester wrestler. He met only mediocre men and thus kept intact his string of victories. As time went on, he faded out of the picture. But he never took off the mask he wore for this photograph.

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Friday, February 14, 1930
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Citizen

Sportive Spotlight by Lew Byrer

During the past 15 years or so Columbus has seen just about every outstanding wrestler in the world except one.

That one is due in Columbus soon.

We're referring to Ad Santell, the pride of the Pacific Coast.

In the far west Santell has been for years, what Tiger John Pesek has been to the Midwest.

His natural wrestling weight is around 185 pounds. He can make and has made 175 pounds matside for bouts but isn't at his absolute best at that weight. But at 185 pounds he'll take on anyone, regardless of size or weight and it's doubtful if there are a dozen grapplers of any weight in the country who have more than outside chances with him.

Santell was ignored by the N.B.A. when it took over wrestling and named leading contenders for the title in the various divisions. He thinks the N.B.A. made a serious mistake in ignoring him. He points out that he has wins over both John Pesek and Jim Londos, the two men ordered to wrestle it out for the title by the association.

He proposes to invade the Pesek stamping ground and has sent Al Haft, manager of Pesek, word that he's on his way. "I'm after a match with Pesek," Santell has notified Haft. "And I propose to get it. He'll either wrestle me or I'll camp on his trail until it's evident to everyone that he's afraid to take a chance with me."

Santell's efforts are likely to be wasted for the present at least. Pesek, right now, is in virtual retirement because of the recent death of his mother. As soon as he is ready to wrestle again there's that match with Londos awaiting him, with the N.B.A. title at stake. After that Santell may get his chance. Pesek isn't one to dodge.

And what a match these two "Little Giants" should put up.



Tri City Herald
Pasco, Washington
Wednesday, June 19, 1968

Names in the News

The twin daughters of heavyweight wrestler Buddy “Killer” Austin drowned in the family swimming pool in Woodland Hills, Calif. The 15-month-old twins, Sandrina and Christina, were pulled from the pool Wednesday by their 11-year old brother Kevin. Their mother, Carmelita, and a neighbor administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in the back yard. Authorities said the infant girls apparently had left the house through an open sliding glass door and fallen into the pool while playing.

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Monday, August 28, 1950
Lima, Ohio
Lima News

Sideline Chatter
By Dick Tracey
Lima News Sports Editor

Gorgeous Gussie Moran can make herself $100,000 and get a real chance to display her lace pants if she takes up the offer of a couple Columbus wrestling figures. Promoter Al Haft says he and wrestler Gorgeous George are ready to pay Miss Moran that amount if she will appear in a 15-minute bout on each of the 1951 programs in which Gorgeous George competes. Haft said he wired Bobby Riggs, Miss Moran’s New York tennis promoter, making the offer. He said that if Riggs Oks the propositiona nd Miss Moran accepts, he and George will deposit the $100,000 in Miss Moran’s name in any bank in the nation she may name. Gorgeous George said Miss Moran could continue her pro tennis career during the coming months prior to the 1951 wrestling season while at the same time taking wrestling lessons. Haft indicated Miss Moran would appear against select feminine grapplers in her quarter hour stints.


Thursday, July 22, 1965
Mansfield, Ohio
News Journal

Wrestler Stabbed by Fan Who Hates Blood
Pasadena, Calif (AP) – Make no mistake about it: John W. Jones, 79, doesn’t like the way Benjamin “The Mummy” Ramirez wrestles.

Ramirez, 33, was reported in good condition despite a three inch chest wound.

The 235 – pound Columbian professional wrestler was stabbed by an angry spectator after being disqualified for roughness in a bout with Pedro Morales.

Police have charged Jones – 11 inches shorter than Ramirez and weighing only 112 pounds – with assault with a deadly weapon.

“I like a good, clean match,” the bewhiskered, ex-race horse exerciser said in a Pasadena jail. “This Mummy was making Morales bleed. And I’m crazy about Pete.”


Thursday, February 13, 1913
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington Herald

Promoter Barton, is reviving the wrestling game in Lexington, is pursuing a wise course in presenting only wrestlers who have pronounceable names. Thanks to this foresight, Bob Hale will not soon be called upon to announce anything like "Mr. Zcheholjia, of Tehaljawompa, Turkey," when introducing the participants.

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Friday, July 24, 1964
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

Topless Tag?

Detroit, Mich. (UPI) – Wrestling promoter John Doyle said Thursday he has found a legal loophole which will enable the four women wrestlers in Saturday night’s tag team match to wear topless bathing suits.

Doyle said Michigan’s wrestling regulations were drafted 30 years ago, before the era of distaff grapplers, and all the rules require is waist high trucks.



Und hier ein Bericht ueber das groesste Match aller Zeiten
Sunday, July 3, 1904
Washington D.C.
Washington Post

American Wrestler Loses
Tom Jenkins No Match for Hackenschmidt at Graeco-Roman
London, July 2, The Graeco-Roman wrestling match between George Hackneschmidt, known as the “Russian Lion,” and Tom Jenkins, the American, at Albert Hall tonight, was won by Hackenschmidt, who won the first fall in 20 minutes and 37 seconds and the second fall in 20 minutes and 27 seconds.

Tonight’s match was the biggest event of the kind since Hackenschmidt and Ahamed Madrali, a Turk, met several months ago. A large crowd was attracted to Albert Hall. The match was for a stake of $1,250 a side, with a purse of $10,000, two-thirds to go to the winner of a two falls in three.


Sunday, June 11, 1905
Atlanta, Georgia
The Constitution

Jenkins Won By Hard Work
Old Champion Given a Lot to do by Unknown Wrestler

New York, June 10 – In a private gymnasium, before a select crowd of sportsmen, Frederick Beell, of Wisconsin, and Tom Jenkins, of Cleveland, have wrestled for $1,000 a side. Beell, of whom little was known, wrestled the old champion to a standstill, and then threw him after a struggle lasting two hours and forty-seven minutes. Jenkins eventually won the match through superior weight but declared when it was over that Beell was the hardiest opponent for his size and weight that he ever met.

Only about one hundred men saw the match, which was for the best two out of three falls, catch-as-catch-can, any hold but the strangle hold allowed. For nearly an hour, it was a fierce struggle. For minutes at a time, the men stood with heads lowered like bulls, their arms locked behind each others necks and straining until their muscles stood out like whip cords.

At last they were over one corner of the ring, and Jenkins secured a half nelson and was preparing to turn Beell over, but Beell wrenched himself loose and, catching Jenkins off his balance, turned him over like a flash and pinned his shoulders to the mat.

After a short rest, the men came on for the second bout. Jenkins was thoroughly aroused, and went at Beell like a tiger.

After one minute and thirteen seconds of wrestling, he buried the little fellow with terrific force against the southwall, and Beell fell to the mat half dazed. It was easy work then for Jenkins to get a fall with a half nelson. He followed with a second fall and secured the decision in quick order. Jenkins weighed about 190 pounds, and Beell about 165.

TH: What a match this had to be. Those in attendance had to be in awe by these guys, and it certainly showed Beell's tremendous skill. This is a very important historical match.

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Sunday, November 28, 1948
Helena, Montana
Independent Record

Gorgeous George and Golden Superman Are Two Really Wonderful Box Office Attractions With Robes, Valets, Harness
By Harry Grayson
NEA Sports Editor

New York – (NEA) – George Wagner let his blond hair grow, had it marcelled, acquired a wardrobe and a valet, took the name, Gorgeous George, and became the most magnetic attraction in wrestling by at least three to one.

Gorgeous George, the mat darling of the Hollywood picture colony, was such big business by the time he came east for the first time that Toots Mondt, who obtained the rights on him, walked out on his New York partners, Al Mayer and Willie Johnston.

Unable to book Gorgeous George, the Mayer-Johnston axis bobbed up with Golden Superman – real name Walter Podolak.

Gorgeous George bounces into the battle pit clad in a taffeta-quilted robe with a metal flower pattern worked in sequins, wide sash and side drapery to slenderize the waistline. He doesn’t go to work until his man sprays the canvas with a disinfectant. My My!

Golden Superman hops the hemp in a golden harness matching his hair, strikes more magnificent poses than did Mussolini.

Thus the rasslin’ dodge becomes even more amusing, with attire supplementing the acrobatics and histronics.

Gorgeous George, an Oregonian, struggled along for 15 years. He got the resplendency idea from a grappler who called himself Lord Landsdown, old bean, and climbed into the enclosure with a monocle.

He appeared in and around Los Angeles until the movie crowd picked him up very much in the same manner that Mysterious Montague, the trick golfer and strong man, was endorsed several years back.

Gorgeous George and his curls and perfume were made when he appeared on radio programs with Bob Hope, Gary Cooper, Eddie Cantor and Burt Lancaster. And why not? He can out-act all of them. At a recent benefit in Los Angeles, he wrestled Lancaster and Hope was his valet. The newsreel people photographed him.

Gorgeous George spent considerable money on clothes and robes, and worked at being a dude like Lucius Beebe. It’s no easy matter to go to a hair dresser daily – ask the missus – then have to pull and tug at night.

Golden Superman, a squatty Pole out of Syracuse, but no sap, has been applying hammers and locks for 16 years. He holds weight-lifting titles.

“Gorgeous George has no physique,” says Golden Superman. “He’s all in one hunk.”

Goreous George and Golden Superman aren’t freaks in the strict sense, but the one had better steer clear of a Delilah and the other simply has to be harnessed like a trotter.

Professional wrestling isn’t dead.

Gorgeous Georges and Golden Superman make it livelier and funnier than ever.

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May 9, 1937
Reno, Nevada
Nevada State Journal

Sport Parade
By Jack Cuddy

New York, May 7 - (UP) - Things I never knew about wrasslin' before reading Marcus Griffin's new book "Fall Guys.":

Some 2000 professional heavyweight grapplers appear weekly in more than 1000 auditoriums throughout the United States and Canada...The "big eight" men behind the scenes, who provide the brawling, garner a total yearly income of nearly $10,000,000.

Abraham Lincoln engaged in about (unreadable) wrestling matches without a defeat...He had a slightly cauliflowered ear...George Washington, Daniel Boone, David Crockett, and Sam Houston were all good wrestlers...General U.S. Grant was fond of the sport....When General Robert E. Lee entered Grant's tent at Appomattox to arrange terms for the cofederate surrender, Grant apologized for the untidy condition of his tent...He said, "Pay no attention to things, Bob, me and some of the boys were having a wrestling match in here last night."

Homer was the first wrestling reporter. He covered the bout between Ajax and Odyseus...Yussif Mahmout, the original "Terrible Turk," brought to this country trachoma, the eye disease which has afflicted so many mat men...Jim Londos, the "Golden Greek," was vastly over-publicized, like most modern champions...But Joe Stecher, Strangler Lewis, Toots Mondt, and Dean Detton didn't have to "do business" - if they didn't want to.

"Dynamite" Gus Sonnenberg, ex-Dartmouth grid star, introduced the flying tackle. But Pete Lajimmi, second-rate welterweight wrestler, engaged Gus in a street brawl one day and beat the champ into insensibility...Which just gives you an idea.

Danno O'Mahoney of Balleyduo, a whistle stop in South Ireland, hardly knew a mat from a matress...But he was brought to the United States...And in one short year appeared in more towns and cities, drew more money and appeared before more people than did Boxer Joe Louis. During that period, O'Mahoney cleared himself $150,000...While the Brown Bomber's net earnings for the same length of time were only $100,000.

A "program" is a series of "working" or fixed bouts designed to built up a challenger for a title tilt...One of the rarest events in the sport is a "shooting match," or honest contest...A "hook" is the good old double-cross, which is legit more in this game than in any other occupation, profession or racket...For example, when the news was telephoned to Toots Mondt that ancient Stanislaus Zbyszko had thrown Wayne Munn, the syndicate champion, at Philadelphia, on April 25, 1925, Mondt yelled "hooked" and fainted.

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Wrestling Artikel vom 5 April 1859 (Portsmouth Times)
Hier ein super Artikel aus dem Jahre 1859

One of the greatest wrestling matches known to the history of this country, came off at Ireland's Corners, some time since. The parties were Dr. Fraizer, of Troy, and Abram Herrington, of Watervlict. The parties met at 9 A.M. for the purpose of trading horses. They talked horse two hours, but could not trade, as each wished to "put a leak" into the other. At last, Herrington lost his temper, and proposed to give up horse trading and go to wrestling for $20 a side--the winner to pay the drinks. The Doctor agreed to this, and put up the money without hesitating a moment. The stakes were held by Elias Ireland.

Round 1: This round was a side-hold. It lasted 45 minutes, during which time Herrington got the Doctor four times against the shed, and once under a two-horse wagon. Toward the end of the round, the Doctor lost his wind, and went down on a brocken bottle, and a lot of bricks. Cheers for Herrington. Ten to five offered on Herrington--no takers. Bottle-holders gave parties something wet out of a bottle, and wiped their faces with a piece of oil cloth.

Round 2: This was a "square hold flop." It lasted on hour and ten minutes. The Doctor tripped Herrington and staggered him. Herrington made a spring and recovered his foothold. Cheers. The Doctor now braced back, lifted Herrington from the ground, and tried to fall in a mudpuddle with him. (Cries of "foul.") Herrington touches the ground, and gives the Doctor a yank that lifted him out of his boots. The Doctor rallied, set his teeth and went in. Herrington, exhausted, went down, cutting his chin with a tin pan. ["First blood for Fraizer."] [Cheers.] Twenty to five on the Doctor--no takers.

Round 3: This was "back hold." ---The round commenced at 50 past 12 and finished at 5 minutes past three. Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes---the longest time on record. During the round they crossed the road 18 times, got into the cattle yard 11 times, brought up against the pig-pen 27 times, and upset a wagon 4 times. The round finally ended in favor of Herrington, owing to Doctor tripping his foot against a piece of scantling, and falling on Davis's dog---killing him instantly.

The three rounds agreed upon having been gone through with, Herrington was declared the victor, amid the shouts of a multitude which amounted to near 200. Herrington smiled a smile and asked Ireland for his stakes.

"Haven't got them---all spent for drink an hour ago--in addition to which the barkeeper has a balance against you of $1.57!"

This led to a fresh wrangle, the result of which was that Herrington has agreed to wrestle with Ireland and the barkeeper on Monday next for $50 a side.

As a postscript to all this, we would state that Davis intends to sue Frazier for killing his dog. He lays his damages at $30.