Jenkins’ and Beell’s Closed Door Match

Tom Jenkins had the distinction of being the only wrestler to defeat Frank Gotch multiple times.  Jenkins and Gotch traded the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship between 1902 and 1906. At the time of this match, Jenkins was the champion again.

Fred Beell had been campaigning for a match with Jenkins for the past several months.  Beell finally convinced Jenkins to meet him but not in the way he thought the bout would occur.

A very talented but small heavyweight Beell defeated many good wrestlers but they were just under the level of Gotch and Jenkins.  A victory over Jenkins would take Beell to the next level.

Beell’s biggest weakness, despite his powerful build, was his height of only 5’04” and weight of 165 pounds.  Jenkins was similarly muscled but stood 5’10” tall and weighed 210 pounds.

Instead of a match in an arena, which Beell expected, the men wrestled in a New York City gymnasium.  100 VIPs and sporting men paid to watch the private match.  The bout was 2-out-of-3-falls for $1,000.00 a side.

Beell participated in worked matches but this match was a contest.  The contest taxed the strength and endurance of both men.

The men wrestled on a mat, which abutted the wall of the gymnasium.  After 2 hours of wrestling without an advantage for either man, Jenkins secured a half-Nelson as both men were near the corner of the wall.

Jenkins worked to turn Beell, when Beell was able to reverse out of the half-Nelson.  Jenkins was momentarily off-balance allowing Beell to toss Jenkins with a head and arm chancery.  Jenkins was shocked as Beell scored the first fall.

The quick fall forced Jenkins out of his lethargy.  Jenkins grabbed the smaller Beell and threw him bodily against the wall along the mat.  Beell landed on his head and was knocked senseless.  Jenkins grabbed a half-Nelson and turned Beell for the second fall at 1 minute, 13 seconds.

Beell refused to withdraw even though he was obviously concussed.  Jenkins mercifully slammed Beell right after the referee restarted the match and pinned Beell in less than a minute.  Jenkins could have roughed up Beell but Jenkins didn’t have any animosity towards Beell despite all the public challenges.

Tom Jenkins lost the title back to Gotch a few months later and went into semi-retirement. The U.S. Army’s Military Academy at West Point appointed Jenkins to the position of physical education and self-defense teacher. Jenkins wrestled sporadically after his appointment.

Beell continued wrestling until 1919.  Frank Gotch was in Beell’s future in a result that surprised many.

You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page or Twitter profile.

Source: Spokane Chronicle (Spokane, Washington) June 10, 1905 edition, p. 5

Pin It