THE RUSSIAN LION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1036, 13 January 1910, Page 10

THE RUSSIAN LION.

A CHAT WITH HACKENSCHMIDT. HIS MEETING WITH GOTCH. George Hackenschmidt, who revisits Australasia after an absence of four years, has arrived under engagement to Messrs. Baker and Talbot, of Melbourne. The great wrestler is in splendid condition, but he is a little above his wrestling weight, and consequently looks more burly than he does. when right down on mat form. ‘/It is almost impossible to train properly on board ship,” said “Hack” to a Melbourne Press representative, “and while I was in South Africa I did not meet anyone sufficiently formidable to necessitate me

keeping up to concert pitch, but I will very quickly be in my best fettle again. I have just learned,” he continued, “that Gotch has not arrived, and that Messrs. Baker and Talbot cannot get any reply to their cables to him. This looks as though he intends to evade this meeting with me, for which he and I both signed articles. I am sincerely sorry to think that we may not meet in Australia. I was delighted at the prospects of meeting Gotch in Australia, where he and I could be absolutely sure of a fair and square deal in any circumstances; that is all I want, and that should be all he should want. There would seem to be no ground at present to suppose that he is not in good health, as he recently wrestled

Raceivitch for the championship, and it is said that he is now arranging to meet Zbysco. If he should not come here, his action will be inexplicable to me, for he will forfeit to me the title he claims; not that I.have any particular need for the title, for I never valued it nor ever used it. I have always wrestled simply as Hackenschmidt; but I do want to meet and beat Frank Gotch.’ “You ask me concerning my meeting with him in America? Well I do not wish to expatiate on that incident, but I can give you my word it was not a wrestling match. Indeed when I came out of it, I was ashamed of my facei it was so disfigured. ..4 No pugilist ever displayed a countenance so clawed and mauled and I wufe ‘exhausted by trying to get a hold rph an oiled man. However, Rudolf Unholz, who stuck to me and incessantly appealed against the tactics of my opponent, can tell

I believe he is in Sydney. Unholz was a good little friend to me that day, but my opponent made thousands of other good friends for me also. I. did not give one solitary interview to an American Pressman afterwards, but the general feeling expressed in the Press there was one of repulsion for the tactics used; But, please, do not talk any more about it. ' If I can meet Gotch again it will be a wrestling match; and though I 'eel sure I will beat him, I harbour no illwill towards him. “I have with me one of the best wrestlers in England, Alex. Bain, and Gunner Moir, who is wrestling very well now, is also in my troupe. I am delighted to be again in Australia, and after this tour is finished I will

come out again, but wholly for rest and recreation. Messrs. Baker and Talbot are still striving, by cable, to get Gotch out, so that I may yet meet him before my tour ends in July.”