Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, February 17, 1915
(Casino Theater) … “Farmer” Bill Hokuff b. The Mystery (2-0) (After the Mystery’s loss,
White jumped into the ring and “shouted that crookedness had been the keynote of
wrestling in Chicago for the last six years,” according to the Chicago Tribune.) (The
masked Mystery was revealed to be John Frieberg) (It had been reported that Frieberg
was a preliminary wrestler and his “holding his own” against a real wrestler like Hokuff was
staged) (Hokuff also admitted that he would wrestle on the level from that point forth) (The
Mystery was managed by Ed White) … Emil Brugglio b. Fred Holmes (2-0) … Carl Schulz
b. Emil Gustavson (2-0) … (500 fans)

*In his admission, White put himself on the line and faced some serious consequences.  
Herman Schuettler, Chicago Chief of Police, announced that he would issue no additional
permits to promote the sport to White because of what he stated.  Martin Delaney, who
represented the Chicago Athletic Association, stated that as far as he knew, wrestling was
on the square at his club.

*On Saturday, February 20, 1915, Harvey T. Woodruff and the Chicago Daily Tribune
reported that Charles Cutler, a man who had been considered the American Champion,
claimed the vacant World Heavyweight Championship.  Cutler appeared with his manager
William Rochells and posted $100 forfeit for a match with anyone in the world.  Cutler
stated that he hadn’t been defeated in two years and his last loss was to Stanislaus
Zbyszko in Chicago in January 1913.



Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, December 2, 1915
(Haymarket) … Middleweight Champion Walter Willoughby b. Jim Turner (2-0) … Gus
Kervaras b. Carl Lundeen (2-0) … John Freeberg b. Julius Govodrisica (2-0) (Govodrisica
was a substitute for Earl Caddock)
Notes:  Willoughby was from Mellen, Wisconsin and Turner from Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois:  Thursday, December 2, 1915
(Forbes Gymnasium) ... John D. Bart vs. George F. Rogers
Notes:  Bart and Rogers were boxers from Oak Park who were not permitted to engage in
a rematch of a fight match they had four weeks earlier that went to a draw.  So instead,
they were going to wrestle.  The newspaper indicated that biting was not to be permitted.  
During the spectacle, there was going to be music, including a rendition of "Throw Him
Down, McCluskey." Sponge cake was also going to be available, as well as other
refreshments.  Bart and Rogers were feuding heavily, apparently.

Chicago, Illinois:  Saturday, December 4, 1915
(Chicago Athletic Association) … Walter Willoughby and Ernest Kartje drew (45:00) (Kartje
won the first and only fall in 31:03, but the referee called it a draw) … Earl Caddock b. Karl
Schultz (2-0) … Paul Martinson b. Prindle (2-0) … Lou Talaber b. O. Donaldson (2-0)
Notes:  The newspaper stated that Willoughby and Kartje were going to compete for the
“middleweight championship of America.” Both men claimed the title going into the match,
yet Kartje refused to weigh in before the bout.  Willoughby made the required weight.  
Kartje said he was the winner after the match.  The Chicago Daily Tribune stated that Earl
Caddock was the “boy who put Joe Stecker on the map.” Martinson was originally booked
to wrestle Oscar Lundin and Talaber to wrestle Waino Ketonen.

Chicago, Illinois:  Wednesday, December 8, 1915
(Chicago Automobile Club) … Walter Willoughby b. Young Demetral (2-0) … Young Cutler
b. Wallce (2-0) … Ernest Kartje b. Potaskey (2-0) … Paul Martinson b. Soldat (2-0) …
(referee:  amateur lightweight champion Gus Martel)

*The Friday, December 10, 1915 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune stated that former
wrestler Charley Postl issued a challenge to Walter Willoughby on behalf of Ben Stefanski
for a private match with $100 a side.  Stefanski recently beat Peter Kokotowich at the
Gaiety.  Kokotowich “won the middleweight Olympic meet at Stockholm,” according to the
paper.







Research by Tim Hornbaker
April 26, 2011
Chicago Wrestling Results - 1915