Martial Artist, Historian and Writer
Frank Gotch was famous for defeating George Hackenschmidt, the world champion wrestler and weightlifter in
This post is an unedited excerpt from my newest book to be released in Fall
Sunday morning, August 12, 1900, St. Louis Police arrested four former Transit Line streetcar workers
On November 10, 1924, Mrs. A.W. Stickney was leaving the St. Louis Country Club, when she was approached by two African-American men. The lighter skinned man told Mrs. Stickney to turn over her jewels or he would take them from her. Fearing for her safety, Mrs. Stickney handed the man her jewelry, valued at $17,000.00, and $85.00 in cash. Mrs.
Alex Aberg defeated many notable foes in the greatest year of his professional wrestling career. In 1915, Aberg competed in both the Spring and Fall versions of the New York International Wrestling Tournament. Competing exclusively in his preferred style of Greco-Roman wrestling, Aberg defeated Dr. Benjamin Roller, Wladek Zbyszko and Ed “Strangler” Lewis along with a number of journeyman wrestlers.
On Christmas Night 1902, two small town, small-time, holdup men blew open the safe of the Union, Missouri Bank. After threatening a few citizens, they made off with over $15,000. The men were relatively safe for a few months until the Pinkerton Detective Agency was called in. The Pinkertons had a nationwide agency, which was the closest thing the United
In the 1910s, American professional wrestling permanently moved from legitimate wrestling contests to prearranged exhibitions. Fan interest, promoter control and less wear and tear on the wrestlers all played a role in this transition. Another less talked about pressure was outside of the sport itself. Prior to the 20th Century, professional boxing was illegal in the United States. Bare knuckle
Cars and guns have caused the most deaths in St. Louis Police history. However, a tornado was responsible in one of the rare instances, where more than one officer lost his life. On Thursday, September 29, 1927, one of the deadliest tornadoes in St. Louis history cut a swath through the center of the city. The tornado entered the city
Fred Beell wrestled professionally from 1900 to 1919. After developing a legendary reputation due to some of his victories over Martin “Farmer” Burns, Dan McLeod and Frank Gotch, Beell retired as he neared 43 years of age. His post wrestling career would lead to his unexpected death at 57. Fred Beell overcame long odds to become a competent professional wrestler
St. Louis Police Officer Edward Doyle was walking his beat on the night of January 21, 1900. Officer Doyle came upon a social club at Twenty-Third and Division Street, which was a known hangout for criminals in the area. Officer Doyle followed his District Commander’s instructions and entered looking for wanted men. Officer Doyle had barely entered the social club,
When Frank Gotch retired as World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion after beating Georg Lurich in his last match, promoters scrambled to find a successor. Samuel Rachmann tried to put forth his own champion by hosting the 1915 International Wrestling Tournament in New York City. Rachmann wanted his challenger Aberg to win the tournament and be recognized by the public as the
On March 31, 1907, about 3 a.m. in the morning, three shots rang out in the area of Chouteau and Cardinal Avenues in Midtown St. Louis. St. Louis Police Officer Lemuel Boyce was working his last shift on the police force. The widower felt police work was too dangerous, when he needed to raise his 2-year-old daughter. Despite his resignation
On Friday, May 12, 1905, World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion George Hackenschmidt toured the United States after defeating reigning American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Tom Jenkins. One of Hackenschmidt’s stops was the “Gateway to the West”, St. Louis, Missouri. Hackenschmidt agreed to throw three wrestlers in under 90 minutes. He accomplished this feat in less than 19 minutes after the third wrestler