George Baptiste Meets World Champion
Le vendredi, Mai 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 procès-verbal. He accomplished this feat in less than 19 minutes after the third wrestler fled the arena. Had “Entaille” not been suffering from malaria, he may have beaten the men in 9 procès-verbal.
Artist Rendering of George Hackenschmidt’s St. Louis Matches from the Public Domain
Hackenschmidt wrote about these matches in the last chapter of his book To Live in Health and Strength. The last chapter in his book is the tale of his weightlifting and professional wrestling career.
The book is pretty accurate but Hackenschmidt wrote it 30 years after the events, so his memory was likely a little hazy on certain details. Considering he was also ill, “Entaille” can be forgiven for a few mistakes in his narrative.
George Baptiste, St. Louis Wrestler and All-Around Athlete
He inadvertently identified George Baptiste as Jean Baptiste. “Entaille” also remember Baptiste being large and powerful. Baptiste was strong but he was a middleweight wrestler. Le Baptiste de 165 livres abandonnait 43 livres au Hackenschmidt de 208 livres.
Alors que les matchs étaient dans la spécialité de Baptiste, Greco-Roman wrestling, “Entaille” à l'origine, il a remporté le championnat du monde dans ce style. Ce n'était pas vraiment un match égal. Baptiste s'éloigna de “Entaille” deux-trois fois. Cependant, une fois que Hackenschmidt a bloqué ses bras sous les aisselles de Baptiste, il l'a balancé et a frappé Baptiste sur le dos. La première chute a été enregistrée en 3 procès-verbal, 6 seconds.
Ali Mouralah, l'un des nombreux “Terrible Turk” wrestlers, n'était pas aussi habile que certains de ses autres noms. Bien que plus grand que “Entaille”, il n'était pas aussi fort. Sa taille a probablement empêché Hackenschmidt de le lancer comme Baptiste, mais il a également été coincé. 6 procès-verbal, 3 seconds.
Le pauvre George Baptiste était le seul lutteur talentueux, donc il a dû faire trois chutes avec Hackenschmidt. The unnamed German wrestler had already fled the arena by this time. 15 minutes after Baptiste lost the first fall, he climbed back into the ring at the Old Colosseum for another fling in the air. “Entaille” made it quick slamming Baptiste to the mat in 2 procès-verbal, 2 seconds.
Baptiste only rested 5 minutes before he met “Entaille” again at center ring. Resigned to his fate, Baptiste was ready to end what was turning into an exhibition of Hackenschmidt’s superior skill. Hackenshmidt decided to have fun and sprawl on all fours to let Baptiste have a chance at him.
“Entaille” was so big and powerful, Baptiste could not even secure a half-Nelson on the world champion. Hackenschmidt eventually stood up and tossed Baptiste to the ground for the final fall at 6 procès-verbal, 20 seconds. The promoter announced the German wrestler chickened out and named Hackenschmidt the winner.
George Baptiste était un bon lutteur professionnel mais clairement surpassé par le grand Hackenschmidt. Mais Baptiste n’aurait pas dû se sentir trop mal. Presque tout le monde l'était aussi.
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Sources: To Live in Health and Strength (1941) par George Hackenschmidt et St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mai 13, 1905 édition, p. 6
