Chicago Wrestling Results

South Bend, IN: January 8, 1908
William Demetral vs Wild Bill Collins … Ali Baba vs Billy Edwards (of Tennessee) … NOTE:
If Demetral wins he tackles Westergaard two weeks later.

Baltimore MD: January 9, 1908
Frank Gotch announces today he had received a telegram from George Hackenschmidt,
saying that the Russian had consented to meet him.

Chicago IL: January 10, 1908
(Brooke's Casino) ... John Rooney beat Chief War Eagle (2-1) ... William Demetral beat
Wakita ("the Jap") (2-0) ... (Mixed Styles) Jess Westergaard beat Carl Pons (2-1) ...
Charles Olson beat Tom Winkelhoefer (sub for Bob Managoff) (2-0) ... Tommy Mowatt
beat Young Protopopas (2-0) ... Referee: Dick Fleming ... NOTE: "Nobody was deceived in
the wrestling match between Rooney and the cigar sign. Everybody who paid his money at
the door got just what he had bargained for. He was only interested in seeing just how
artistically the thing could be done. The fundamental principle in wrestling is to lead
everybody to suppose that he is right, and then give him another guess. It is the wise fish
that has heard these words of wisdom and kept them: 'Never bet on anything that talks.' ...
Some wrestlers may be better than others, but the fact never has been convincingly
demonstrated. The finer points of the game are always demonstrated in private. The public
part goes for those who are willing to fall for it. In 'blood matches' it is only the sucker who
bleeds ... We fail to see where the modern wrestlers have improved on the methods of
Duncan Ross, Capt. Daly, Greek George, and Bibby in the gentle art of getting away with
it." -- SOME OFFSIDE PLAYS, By HEK, Chicago Tribune, Jan. 12, 1908

Chicago IL: January 11, 1908
(Chicago A.A.) ... William Demetral drew Charles Olson (sub for Leo Pardello) ... Dick
Sorensen beat Ted Tonneman (2-1) ... Paul Geidel (sub for Wakita, the Jap) beat Tom
Winkelhoefer (2-0) ... Jess Westergaard beat Carl Pons (2-0)

Chicago Tribune: January 12, 1908
"B.B. Jones, manager for Fred Beell, has a protégé in Greyfeather, a half-breed Indian,
whom he is willing to back for a match with (William) Demetral, (Jess) Westergaard, or
(Carl) Pons. He will wager that the Denver lad will not show a white feather."

Tampa FL: January 13, 1908
A big tournament to be pulled off here February 8 thru 15 is to be promoted by Fred
Barnes, a theatrical man, with Joe Coffey serving as matchmaker, along with Nate Lewis,
Doc Message and Jack Curley ... Barnes represents the Florida State Midwinter Fair
Association ... Purse and expense money offered is $15,000 ... Most of what is contained
in this paragraph turns out to be something of a hoax.

Auburn, NY: January 15, 1908
Frank Gotch beat Herman Miller (G-R style) and Charles Kaiser (catch) (2-0 each)

Chicago IL: January 18, 1908
(New Illinois A.C.) ... Charles Olson drew Bob Managoff (15:00) ... Jack Prescott (of
Chicago IL) drew Tom Winkelhofer (15:00) ... NOTE: "Chief of Police Shippy, it was
announced, refused to allow Rooney, who is a policeman and under his orders, to clash
with Bob Cantwell in the feature bout ... Olson apparently could have thrown his opponent
almost any time ... and gave a pretty exhibition of the fine points of the game." -- Chicago
Tribune, Jan. 19, 1908

South Bend IL: January 23, 1908
Sandow Bauman (of Chicago IL, as Sandow Bowman) drew Wild Joe Collins (of Wisconsin)
(35:00) ... NOTE: Bauman/Bowman was said to have "crashed into a wall mat and was
stunned, making it necessary to quit."

Chicago IL: January 23, 1908
Michael J. Dwyer, formerly of the Denver Athletic Club, is appointed athletic director of the
Illinois Athletic Club ... M.J. (Mike) Dwyer is "especially proficient" as a wrestler

Rochester NY: January 25, 1908
Frank Gotch beat Carl Busch (2-0)

South Bend, IN: January 29, 1908
Wild Joe Collins vs Dan McBride … McBride was represented by Sandow Bowman
(Bauman) of Chicago. McBride must not be Frank Gotch, Fred Beell, Chief War Eagle or
Charley Olsen.

London ENGLAND: January 30, 1908
(Oxford Music Hall) ... (World Title) George Hackenschmidt* beat Joseph Rogers (2-0) ...
NOTE: Hack scored quick falls, in 7:35 and 6:45 ... The stake was $250 a side

Chicago IL: January 30, 1908
(Brooke's Casino) ... Fred Beell beat Fred Steurs (sub for Carl Busch) (2-0) ... William
Demetral beat Leo Pardello (2-0) ... Dick Sorensen beat Adolph Ernst (2-0) ... (Handicap)
Charles beat Joe LaSalle (7:25) & Jim Twohy (8:05) ... Charles Olson vs Carl Pons (no
result listed in paper) ... Charles Olson beat Joe LaSalle and Jim Twohy … NOTE: Beell
was required to use 23:10 and 19:23 to get the falls against the Canadian Tartar ...
Matchmaker Joe Coffey of the Casino Athletic Club announced that betting on the bouts in
the building was prohibited

Chicago IL: February 1, 1908
(Chicago A.A.) ... Fred Beell beat Jim Parr (16:46) ... Charles Olson beat August Steurs (2-
0) ... Dick Sorensen beat Dick Roeber (2-1) ... Kid Ewert beat John Giannakakis (2-0) ...
Referee: Dick Fleming ... Matchmaker: Joe Coffey

Chicago IL: February 7, 1908
(Brooke's Casino) ... Frank Gotch beat Fred Beell (2-0) ... Al Ackerman (as Bert Hudson)
beat Paul Geidel (2-0) ... Charles Olson beat Frank Prindle (of Indianapolis IN) (2-0) ...
Dick Sorensen beat Gus Peterson (2-1) ... NOTE: Gotch garnered falls in 54:03 and 18:55

Chicago IL: February 8, 1908
(Illinois A.C.) ... Charles Olson beat M.J. (Mike) Dwyer (sub for Frank Gotch) (2-1) ... Ed
Adamson beat Dick Sorensen (2-0) ... Kid Ewert beat Kid Halpin (2-0) ... NOTE: Gotch
blamed a wrenched knee and a cold, both of which he received in his bout the night before
with Fred Beell, for being unable to go against Olson

Chicago IL: February 16, 1908
(Mowatt's Gym) ... Tommy Rooney beat Kid Schultz (2-0) ... Young Lee beat Billy Wright (2-
1) .... NOTE: Tommy Rooney is son of John Rooney

CHICAGO GETS BIG MAT MATCH
(Chicago Tribune, Friday, February 21, 1908)

BOSTON, Mass., Feb. 20 -- William H. Wittig announced tonight that arrangements had
been completed for a wrestling match for the championship of the world between Frank
Gotch and George Hackenschmidt, the "Russian Lion," to be held at Chicago on the
evening of April 3. The match will be for a purse of $10,000, of which 60 per cent will got
the winner. The wrestling will be of the catch-as-catch-can style, best two out of three falls.
++++

Chicago IL: February 27, 1908
(Waverly Rink) ... (Handicap) Leo Pardello FTT Jim Prokus (of St. Louis MO) (twice in 40:
00; gained one fall only in 31:00) ... William Demetral beat Joe LaSalle (2-0)

Chicago IL: February 29, 1908
(Chicago A.A.) ... Leo Pardello drew Mort Henderson (35:00, 0-0) ... Referee: Dick Fleming
... William Demetral beat Tom Winkelhoefer (2-1) ... Bob Managoff beat Jack Cannon (2-0)
... Dick Sorensen beat Jim Jones (of Kansas City MO) (2-1)

Chicago, IL: February 29, 1908
(Illinois A.C.) ... M. J. Dwyer beat J. C. Kennedy (2-0) ... Gus Chicago beat Young Pipus (2-
0) ... Kid Peterson beat Kid Limbeck (2-0) ... (referee-Charley Olson)

Chicago IL: March 2, 1908
(Brooke's Casino) ... (Handicap) Charles Olson beat William Demetral (two falls in one
hour; required 17:23 and 3:10) ... Leo Pardello beat Charley Keedleman (2-0) ... Jim
Prokus beat Joe LaSalle (2-1) ... NOTE: Demetral refused to go on unless the bout with
Olson was stipulated as a handicap, as opposed to a finish bout.
New York City, NY: March 6, 1908 (DATE?)
Frank Gotch failed to throw Joe Rogers (5 times in 60:00, only won two falls. Rogers took
home the gate receipts.

Chicago IL: March 10, 1908
(Brooke's Casino) ... Charles Olson beat Leo Pardello (2-1) ... William Demetral beat Paul
Jensen (2-0) ... Jim Prokos beat John Abraham (2-0) ... NOTE: Pardello won the first fall in
24:25 with Olson rallying to score an equalizer in 15:45 ... After Olson won the third fall in
17:10, "police interference was necessary ... as, at the conclusion of the match, Pardello
rushed at Olson, landing several blows. Assistant chief of police Schuettler, who was at
ringside, jumped into the ring with several policemen and took the Italian from the arena
without further trouble." -- Chicago Tribune, Mar. 11, 1908

Omaha NE: March 10, 1908
Frank Gotch beat Harry Bransfield (2-0) ... NOTE: Bransfield, the Australian trainer of
George Hackenschmidt, loses straight falls in 13:45 and 10:25.

Kansas City MO: March 12, 1908
(Convention Hall) ... (Mixed Styles) Frank Gotch beat Hjalmar Lundin (2-0)

New York City NY: March 13, 1908
George Hackenschmidt (aka the "Russian Lion") arrives from Europe aboard the steamer
Lusitania, en route to his world title bout with Frank Gotch in Chicago April 3.

Chicago IL: March 14, 1908
(Illinois A.C.) ... Charles Olson beat Mort Henderson (aka Dick Fleming, local referee) (2-0)
... (Cornish Style) M.J. (Mike) Dwyer beat Walsh (a club member) ... Joe LaSalle beat
Johnson (of Cleveland) (2-0)

Council Bluffs IA: March 14, 1908
Fred Beell beat Chief War Eagle (2-0) ... NOTE: It took Beell only eight and nine minutes,
respectively, to win the falls

Lincoln NE: March 16, 1908
Fred Beell beat Oscar Wasem (3-0) ... NOTE: Beell required 55 minutes to win three
straight falls.

Boston MA: March 17, 1908
(Armory A.A.) ... (Handicap) George Hackenschmidt beat John Perrilli & Hjalmar Lundin

Omaha NE: March 17, 1908
Martin (Farmer) Burns beat Fred Beell (2-1) ... NOTE: Beell claimed his shoulders were not
pinned but the referee gave the deciding fall to Burns, anyway, in 3:50 of the final fall.

Philadelphia, PA: March 19, 1908
(Handicap) George Hackenschmidt beat Emil Stegemuller, Carl Darschu and Henry
Paulson

Baltimore, MD: March 21, 1908
George Hackenschmidt failed to throw Gus Schoenlein (as Americus) (15:00)

Chicago IL: March 26, 1908
Frank Gotch has engaged Martin (Farmer) Burns and Jack Carkeek to help train him for
his coming world's championship bout with George Hackenschmidt ... Burns and Carkeek
are reputed to be "the best wrestlers and conditioners in America" ... Carkeek noted, "This
talk of Hackenschmidt never having been thrown and that he is the champion of the world
is all bosh. There are several men in the old country that have beaten him, and Bech
Olsen once made him jump out of the ring. That was at Copenhagen in 1903 and I have
the account of the match in my scrap book. I must admit he is wonderfully strong and a
Class A Graeco-Roman wrestler, but he is not wise to Gotch's game. Knowing both men, I
am almost positive that if Hackenschmidt does not win any of the fall sin the first fifteen
minutes he will go home a loser. He will go along all right when he has the upper hand and
is not being too roughly handled, but once he is stung he will turn tail."
++++

Chicago IL: March 28, 1908
Gotch and Farmer Burns run to Garfield Park in the morning and, in the afternoon, Gotch
engages in six fast and hard bouts with Jack Carkeek, Burns and two local wrestlers.

Lincoln NE: March 30, 1908
Fred Beell beat Jim Parr (2-0)

Omaha NE: March 31, 1908
Fred Beell beat Martin (Farmer) Burns (2-0) ... NOTE: The falls came at 40:00 and 51:30

Chicago IL: April 1, 1908
(Chicago A.A.) ... Frank Gotch beat Adolph Ernst (5:10) (Ernst was Gotch’s training
partner) ... Mort Henderson beat Carl Jensen (2-1) ... Leo Pardello drew with William
Demetral (1-1) Ted Tonneman beat Paul Geidel (1-0, utc) ... George Hackenschmidt vs
Emil Stegemiller ... NOTE: Originally George Hackenschmidt vs Emil Stegemiller (his
training partner) Hackenschmidt refused to go on, claiming Stegemiller was ill. The real
reason, however, was said to be a grievance against the club because its members
insisted on watching him go through his training stunts. The Club got Gotch to sub.
Tonneman and Geidel was announced as for the welterweight championship medal

Chicago IL: April 3, 1908
(Dexter Park Pavilion) ... (World Title*) Frank Gotch beat George Hackenschmidt ...
Referee: Edward W. Smith ... Emil Stegmiller failed to throw Henry Ordeman (10:00) ...
William Demetral beat Mort Henderson ... Dick Sorenson beat Ted Tonneman ... Americus
beat L. Loudenbach ... Young Billiter beat Young Linberg ... Young Rooney beat Young
Jenkins ... NOTE: It costs promoter W.W. Wittig $28,000 to open the doors, including the
expenses of three trips to England to secure Hackenschmidt ... "This is more money than
any promoter of a sporting event ever dug into his pockets for, and demonstrates the
confidence Wittig had in its success." -- Chicago Tribune, Apr. 3, 1908 ... Jack Carkeek
"has considerable money bet on the American and yesterday he made one small bet of
$30 to $50 that Gotch would make Hackenschmidt quit" ... Carkeek claims Hack is shy on
courage and that "if given a twenty-minute argument he will jump the ropes" ... Carkeek, in
the end, is proven to have been right all along. Jack Herman was Gotch’s representative
when rules of the match were discussed.

Baltimore MD: April 8, 1908
Gus Schoenlein (as Americus) beat Fred Beell (2-0) ... NOTE: Schoenlein claimed the
American light heavyweight title by winning falls in 21 minutes and 2 minutes, respectively.

Chicago IL: May 2, 1908
(Illinois A.C.) ... M.J. (Mike) Dwyer beat John Voss (of Rock Island IL) (2-0) ... Young
Tommy Rooney beat Kid Stewart (2-1) ... John Abraham drew Magnus Paulson (1-0,
referee Dwyer stopped the match in the second fall because of rough tactics by both men
and declared it a draw)

Chicago IL: May 6, 1908
(Illinois A.C.) ... M.J. (Mike) Dwyer drew Joe LaSalle (20:00) ... (plus boxing)

Chicago, IL: May 7, 1908
(Bohemian-American Hall) ... (Handicap) Eddie Tanel beat Benny Yanger (1-1) (Yanger
was to throw Tanel twice, but was pinned himself in the second fall) ... Bull Bepo beat John
Marek (2-1) ... Walter Parker beat Ed Walsh ... Johnny Fletcher drew Julius Stein ...
(referee-Packey Mc Farland)

Chicago, IL: May 20, 1908
(Illinois A.C.) ... Young Rooney beat George Stewart ... Carl Jenison drew Thomas Murray
(10:00) ... plus boxing

Chicago, IL: June 13, 1908
(Illinois A.C.) ... Charles Olson beat Tom Winklehofer (0-1, utc) (After winning the first fall
Winklehofer broke his ankle, forcing him to quit) ... Carl Jensen drew with Rudolph Ernst
(45:00)

Seattle, WA: July 1, 1908
(WTM) Frank Gotch* beat Dr. B. F. Roller (2-0) ... (Att.-5,000)

Toledo OH: July 9, 1908
(Armory Park) ... Johnny Billiter vs J. Action ("the English champion") ... Chief War Eagle vs
William Demetral ... Joe Yates vs Kid Lawrence ... NOTE: Billiter-Action are paired for "the
lightweight championship title" ... NOTE: Postponed when Demetral showed up injured.

Galveston, TX: July 17, 1908
(Opera House) ... Frank Gotch vs Herman Bernau (the bout was stopped when Bernau
suffered a broken rib) (Gotch was taken to police court the next morning, but was
dismissed.)

St. Paul, MN: July 27, 1908
(World welterweight title) Max Luttbeg (as Max Beg) drew Young (Walter) Miller (2:00:00)

Chicago IL: August 6, 1908
(Brand's Hall) ... William Demetral beat Tony Franks (2-1) ... Referee: Frank Gotch ... Joe
LaSalle drew Chris Granis (30:00) ... Tony Rooney beat John Giannakakas

Indianapolis, IN: August 10, 1908
Charles Olson beat William Demetral (2-1)

Chicago, IL: August 10, 1908
(Fort Sheridan Athletic Club) ... Private Filier beat Peter Nichols (60:00, 1-0) ... Joe LaSalle
beat Bill Christiansen (2-1) ... Young Gotch drew Kid Billiter (15:00)

Chicago, IL: August 22, 1908
(Pilsen Park) ... Eddie Tancel vs Young Joe Gotch

Richmond, IN: September 25, 1908
Carl Busch beat Frank Prindle

Chicago Tribune: September 27, 1908
"John Rooney, who retires from the mat occasionally, only to resume as soon as a match
presents itself, probably will open the local wrestling season with a match at Brand's Hall
against Charles Olson. Rooney has been recuperating at West Baden and says he is
feeling strong enough to wrestle any man in the world."

Chicago IL: October 9, 1908
(Brand's Hall) ... Charles Olson vs Chief War Eagle

Chicago, IL: October 10, 1908
(Illinois A. C.) ... Magnus Paulsen beat Joe Acton (2-1) ... Kid Wallace drew Kid Williams

Chicago, IL: October 11, 1908
(Olympic Theater) ... Frank Gotch to appear in a play “All about a Bout” along with Emil
Klank.

Chicago, IL: October 27, 1908
(Brand’s Hall) ... Charley (Kid) Cutler beat John Rooney (2-1) (sub for William Demetral) ...
Tom Winklehofer beat Charles Peterson (2-0) ... John Abraham beat Christ Granian (2-0)
... Peter Nichols beat Jack Burns ... John Gimnakakis beat Tim Murphy ... NOTE: Demetral’
s manager, Myers, said that Demetral did not show up because Cutler would not agree to
lose the bout. Rooney was in the building and agreed to wrestle even not being out of
condition.

Chicago IL: October 31, 1908
(Lakeside Club, att. 1,500) ... John Rooney drew Chief War Eagle (15:00) ... (plus boxing)
... NOTE: Rooney's 12-year-old son threw John McLeod in 12 minutes .. This combination
boxing and wrestling show was under the auspices of Elks Lodge No. 4

Baltimore MD: November 6, 1908
Gus Schoenlein (as Americus) beat Charles Olson (2-0, dq) ... Referee: Tim Hurst ...
NOTE: The bout was advertised as for the world's light heavyweight championship and a
purse of $2,000, of which $1,600 is earmarked to the winner ... Schoenlein won the first fall
in 12:15 with a back half Nelson and hip hold ... After that, Olson only wanted to
roughhouse ... He struck Americus on the nose and police interfered ... When the men
were given another chance, Olson rushed at Americus, grabbed him by the throat and
butted him repeatedly with his head ... A dozen policemen were required to separate the
combatants, and Olson was disqualified.

Chicago Tribune: November 8, 1908
Wrestling champion Frank Gotch and Emil Klank have taken their vaudeville sketch to
England for twelve weeks performances.

Richmond IN: November 12, 1908
Charles Olson beat Chris Peterson (3-0)

Chicago IL: November 13, 1908 (Friday)
(Empire Theater) ... Fred Beell beat Dan McBride (2-0) ... William Demetral drew with
Charley (Kid) Cutler (15:00) ... Promoters: Silvie Ferretti, Joe Coffey

Chicago IL: November 14, 1908
(Illinois A.C.) ... Prof. M.J. (Mike) Dwyer beat Chief War Eagle (2-1) ... NOTE: The card also
featured boxing, for which, it was alleged by city authorities, no permit was granted ...
Thus, there was hell to pay the following week and club officials Clarence Green and
Charles J. Zeller, plus four boxers, were arrested

Chicago, IL: November 14, 1908
(Chicago Athletic Association) ... Fred Beell beat Carl Bush (2-0) ... William Demetral beat
Charles Postl (as Jostl) (2-1) ... Tom Jones beat Jasper Richardson (2-1) ... (referee-Dick
Fleming) ... (matchmaker-Joe Coffey)

Chicago, IL: November 16, 1908
(Empire Theater) ... Fred Beell failed to throw Charley (Kid) Cutler (15:00)

Chicago, IL: November 17, 1908
(Empire Theater) ... Fred Beell vs Charles Olson

Richmond, IN: November 18, 1908
Charles Olson beat Bob Managoff

Chicago, IL: November 20, 1908
(Empire Theater) ... Charles Olson drew Fred Beell (30:00) ... Chatley (Kid) Cutler beat
Dan McBride (2-0)

Grand Rapids, MI: November 26, 1908
Fred Beell beat Charles Hackenschmidt (2-0)

New York City NY: November 26, 1908
(MSG) ... Yussiff Mahmout beat Tom Jenkins (2-0) ... NOTE: The Bulgarian won in straight
bouts, throwing Jenkins the first time in 32:40 and winning the second more easily, in 7:30.

Brooklyn, NY: November 27, 1908
(Prospect Hall) ... (lightweight title of America*) Eugene Tremblay beat George Bothner (2-
1) (for title)
Richmond, IN: November 30, 1908
Charles Olson beat Tom Winklehofer (2-1)

Calumet, MI: December 2, 1908
Pearl T. Beeman beat John Wille (2-0)

Richmond IN: December 4, 1908
M.J. (Mike) Dwyer beat Paulson (of Chicago IL)

Chicago IL: December 4, 1908
(Empire Theater) ... Fred Beell beat Charles (Kid) Cutler (2-0) ... Gus Schoenlein (as
Americus) beat Charles Postl (2-0) ... Referee: Dick Fleming

Chicago IL: December 5, 1908
(Chicago A.A.) ... Gus Schoenlein (as Americus) beat Ernest Kartye (2-0) ... William
Demetral beat Charles Postl (2-1) ... Tom Jones beat Dan McBridge (2-1, dq) ... Referee:
Dick Fleming ... NOTE: Kartye, a former central AAU champion, was making his pro debut

Chicago IL: December 11, 1908
(Seventh Regiment Armory) ... Yussif Mahmout beat Fred Beell (2-0) ... Gus Schoenlein
(as Americus) beat Edward Turner (2-0) ... Ernest Kartye beat Dick Sorensen (sub for Ted
Tonneman) (2-1) ... Charles Cutler beat Unknown Conductor (11:30) ... Referee: Dick
Fleming ... NOTE: Beell is said to have won a coin flip from Gus Schoenlein for first crack
at the Bulgarian, who is managed by Anton Pierri ... Mahmout outweighs Beell, some 200
to 172 ... Mahmout beat Tom Jenkins in New York City and Hjalmar Lundin at Hartford CT
... He won these two falls from Beell in 22:30 and 38:15

Minneapolis MN: December 15, 1908
Fred Beell beat Henry Ordemann (2-1) ... NOTE: Beell won his falls in 42 and 22 minutes,
respectively, while Ordemann gained a quick, two-minute pinfall in the middle stanza.

St. Louis, MO: December 15, 1908
(Business men’s Gym) ... Lloyd Carter beat Jack Stevens (2-0)

Chicago, IL: December 16, 1908
(Theater on the north side) ... Charles Olson vs Leo Pardello ... Chris Pierson vs Ernest
Kartye

Chicago IL: December 18, 1908
(Seventh Regiment Armory) ... Yussiff Mahmout beat Gus Schoenlein (as Americus) (2-0)
... Charles Cutler beat Tom Winklehoefer (2-0) ... Leo Pardello beat Mysterious Conductor
(2-0) ... Ernest Kartye drew Paulson (40:00) ... NOTE: Americus held on for 55:07 in the
first fall, but was made short order of in the second, it taking the Bulgarian just 67 seconds
to wrap up the match

Richmond, IN: December 18, 1908
Charles Olson beat William Demetral

Chicago IL: December 19, 1908
(Chicago A.A.) ... (Handicap) Youssiff Mahmout beat Leo Pardello (three falls in 60:00;
required just 22:36 to turn the trick) ... Charles Cutler beat Mysterious Conductor (2-0) ...
Ernest Kartye beat John Abraham (2-1)

Calumet MI: December 23, 1908
Pearl T. Beeman (of Cleveland OH) beat Tom Powers (of Buffalo NY) (2-0)

Chicago IL: December 23, 1908
Charles Olson beat Chris Pierson (1-0) ... Charles Olson beat Paul Ellert (sub for Leo
Pardello) (2-0) ... (Handicap) Max Luttbeg FTT Ted Tonneman (15:00) ... Enrest Kartje
beat Bruno Minkley ... Charles Postl beat Charles Hagberg ... Referee: Dick Fleming ...
NOTE: Bouts were held at a "north side theater" ... Olson won the falls in 1:58 and 2:40,
respectively ... The fall with Pierson was an add-on, thanks to Pardello's no-show ...
"Pardello's failure to appear started talk of a war between rival promoters in the mat game,
and it was alleged that the Italian was coaxed, begged, or bribed not keep his
engagement." -- Chicago Tribune, Dec. 24, 1908 (held at Sid Euson’s Theater)

Davenport, IA: December 26, 1908
Martin (Farmer) Burns, the wrestler, today sold his farm located near Big Rock, this county,
and will shortly remove to Omaha, where on January 1 he opens a physical culture school.
The farmer has accumulated a snug little fortune.

Chicago IL: December 27, 1908
Eugene Tremblay, claiming the lightweight championship of the world; Hjalmar Lundin, the
Swedish heavyweight, and Raoul de Rouen, the French Graeco-Roman expert, begin a
week's appearance at a local theater, taking on all comers.

*According to the December 29, 1908 edition of the Chicago Tribune, Jack Curley
"yesterday" joined up with the Ferretti-Coffey-Herk combination.

Chicago IL: December 30, 1908
Charles J. Zeller, chairman of the athletic committee of the Illinois Athletic Club, resigns
that post and also his membership in the club.

Cairo, IL: December 30, 1908
George Baptiste beat Dan Wallace(2-0)

Chicago IL: December 31, 1908
(Empire Theater) ... Charles Olson beat Leo Pardello (1-0) ... Jack Leon drew Mysterious
Conductor ... NOTE: Early in the second fall Pardello claimed to have scored a fall, which
he had not done. He jumped out of the ring and refused to go on. He threw his sweater at
referee Pierre’s head. Pierre returned it via the same route.

Research by J Michael Kenyon

Below is Research by Tim Hornbaker:

Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, February 1, 1908
(Chicago Athletic Association Gymnasium) … Fred Beell b. Jim Parr (16:16) … Charles
Olson b. August Steurs (2-0) … Dick Sorenson b. Dick Roeber (2/3) … Kid Ewert b. John
Giannakakis (2-0) … (promoter: Joe Coffey)… (referee: Dick Fleming)

Chicago, Illinois: Friday, February 7, 1908
(Brooke’s Casino) … American Heavyweight Champion Frank Gotch b. Fred Beell (2-0)
(54:03, 18:55) … Bert Hudson b. Paul Giedel (2-0) … Charles Olson b. F. Bridle (2-0) …
Dick Sorenson b. Gus Peterson (2/3)

Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, February 8, 1908
(Illinois Athletic Club) … Charles Olson b. Mike Dwyer (2/3) (Dwyer was a substitute for
Frank Gotch, who was ill and injured) … Kid Ewert b. Kid Halpin (2-0) … Ed Adamson b.
Dick Sorenson (2-0)

Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, April 1, 1908
(Chicago Athletic Association) … George Hackenschmidt vs. Emil Stegemiller … Frank
Gotch b. Ernst (5:10) (Ernst was billed as his training partner) … Mort Henderson (Dick
Fleming) b. Carl Jensen (2/3) … William Demetral and Leo Pardello drew (1-1) … Ted
Tonneman b. Paul Giedel when the latter could not continue (2-0) (Giedel was unable to
continue due to a muscle strain)
Note: Is the Ernst wrestling Gotch here, Adolph Ernst? Hackenschmidt did not wrestle
because his training partner, Stegemiller, was sick. The Chicago Daily Tribune stated that
“the real reason, however, was said to be a grievance against the club because its
members insisted on watching him go through his training stunts.”

Chicago, Illinois: Friday, April 3, 1908
(Dexter Park Pavilion) … Frank Gotch b. George Hackenschmidt to capture the World
Heavyweight Title in the catch-as-catch-can styte (1-0) (Hackenschmidt quit after two-
hours and one minute while locked in a submission hold) (Match began at 10:29 p.m.)
(Winner receives $6,000, loser receives $4,000) … Americus b. L. Loudenbach (1:59) …
Dick Sorenson b. Ted Tonneman (12:41) … William Demetral b. Mort Henderson (8:10) …
Emile Stegemiller failed to throw Henry Ordemann (10:00) … (promoter: W.W. Wittig) …
(referees: Edward W. Smith, main event, Doc Krone,preliminaries) … (6,000 fans) …
(gate: $44,000) …
Notes: The promoter expected a $40,000 gate. The promoter’s expenses was $29,000.
Gotch was accompanied by manager Emil Klank, Farmer Burns and Jack Carkeek.
Hackenschmidt was accompanied by Americus and Rudolph Unholz Gotch was
represented by Jack Herman in pre-match negotiations, and a large contingent of people
from Humboldt, Iowa attended the match. Prior to the affair, both C.A. Comiskey and
Professor A.A. Stagg of the University of Chicago declined to referee the main event. Fred
Stone, the physical director of the C.A.A. and Jerry Weinholtz, a former instructor of
wrestling at the YMCA and the Illinois Athletic Club, were also asked. Hackenschmidt
trained at the Chicago Athletic Association, and Gotch protested Stone being possibly
named the referee.

Chicago, Illinois: Sunday, April 5, 1908
(Tommy Mowatt’s Gymnasium) … Young Gotch b. Young Klank (2-0) … Kid Lee b. Young
Clark (2/3) … Tommy Rooney b. Young Ryan (2-0)

Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, April 11, 1908
(Illinois Athletic Club) … Charles Hackenschmidt b. George Mueller (2-0) (Hackenschmidt
was billed as George’s cousin) … Adolph Ernst and Magnus Paulson drew (38:00) …
Abraham the Greek b. Fred Carlton (2-0) … (referee: Dwyer)
Note: Hackenschmidt was a “cousin” of George, the “Russian Lion." Ernst's last name was
spelled, "Earnest" by a local newspaper.

Chicago Wrestling Results - 1908