Charley Olson Beats Russian

Frank J. Quinn, a local St. Louis attorney, served as the manager for professional wrestlers George Baptise, Charley Olson and Fred Beell.  Originally an admirer of George Baptiste, who was a legend in the St. Louis neighborhood around Cook and Vandeventer Avenues.  Baptiste would employ Quinn as his manger and later attorney for his tent and awning company.

During his travels with Baptiste, Quinn made the acquaintance of Olson and Beell.  Olson, who never weighed more than 176 pounds, was matched with Baptiste in Iowa.  Baptiste won the match but Olson gave him quite a struggle.  Quinn and Baptiste were so impressed, they invited Olson to train with Baptiste in St. Louis.  Quinn started managing Olson as well.

In 1932, St. Louis Star-Times sports columnist Walter W. Smith interviewed Quinn for one of a series of articles about early 20th Century St. Louis sports legends.  Quinn, who stopped managing almost 20 years before, told an interesting story about Olson.

Some Bulgarian steel workers in Granite City thought they had a strong wrestler named Dabroff.  They were willing to wager with Quinn that there man could beat any of the men in his wrestling stable.  The steel workers thought Charley Olson was out of town at the time.

The match in 1907 was arranged for the Olive Street Business Men’s Gymnasium.  After Quinn collected the bets, he announced Charley Olson would be facing Dabroff.  However, Dabroff refused to wrestle Olson.  Despite the cajoling and threats of the steel workers, who would have to forfeit their wagers to Quinn, Dabroff refused to get in the ring with Olson.

The steel workers asked Quinn if the 210-pound Alex Stepanson, a Russian wrestler, could substitute for Dabroff.  Quinn agreed despite Olson giving up 40 pounds to Stepanson.

For the first 7 minutes of the match, Olson struggled with the size advantage of Stepanson.  However, at the 7 minute mark, Olson worked behind Stepanson and put his arm into a hammerlock.  Stepanson dropped to the ground and gave up.

After a brief intercession, Olson needed less than 2 minutes to secure another hammerlock and scissors hold that ended the bout in 2 straight falls.  The evening’s action wasn’t quite over yet.

The steel workers were furious at losing.  Some workers imprudently wagered their full weekly paycheck.  They charged the ring and attempted to attack Olson.  George Baptiste and Quinn quickly joined the fray and with the help of the St. Louis Police successfully repelled the steel workers from the mat area.  The police escorted Quinn and Olson from the gym with about $500.00 in winnings.

Quinn continued managing the men but retired from wrestling when George Baptiste retired.  However, he and George Baptiste would be friends and business partners for the remainder of their lives.

Did you know St. Louis was a wrestling hotbed before Tom Packs and Sam Muchnick started promoting?You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post in the comment section below or on my Facebook page or Twitter profile.

Source: St. Louis Star-Times, December 21, 1932 edition, p. 18

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