Legend of Yusuf Ismail

Yusuf Ismail only wrestled in the United States for six months in the first half of 1898.  In his first significant match, he was disqualified for a vicious foul.  In his only other significant match, he gave Evan “Strangler” Lewis the beating of his life.  Yet his short tour of the United States made him a legend.

Ismail entered the United States recognized as one of the strongest men in the world but a relative novice at wrestling.  Ismail started wrestling professionally in London during 1894 with a group of Turkish wrestlers.  Ismail was 36-years-old at the time of his debut.

Although not a master of technique, Ismail’s incredible strength proved too much for most challengers.  After achieving much acclaim in London, Ismail traveled to New York City, where he teamed up with boxing promoter, actor and Broadway promoter William Brady.  Much of the legend around Ismail occurred after his death as a result of Brady’s promotion.

After his first six months in the United States, the 40-something Ismail decided to return home to Turkey and open a coffee shop.  Tragically, Ismail was booked on the SS La Bourgogne.  The French ship was bound for London, when it sunk off the coast of Nova Scotia on July 4, 1898.

The wreck is famous for the violence of the SS La Bourgogne’s crew.  The crew bashed passengers on the head with oars to claim the life boats for themselves.  Most of the crew survived but almost 80 percent of the passengers died.  One woman and no children survived the wreck.

Brady had several stories placed in newspapers across the country describing Ismail’s death.  According to the stories, Ismail fell overboard with a money belt around his waist.  The money belt reportedly contained $8,500.00 in gold coins.  The weight of the belt caused Ismail to drown and sink to the ocean floor.

The story also claimed Ismail feared theft so much he wrestled his early matches in the United States wearing the money belt.  However, Brady discovered this fact and made him leave the money belt with a trusted handler.  The articles main purpose was to promote Brady’s ability to make good decisions for his athletes in a colorful article about Yusuf Ismail’s death.  The identical article ran in the August 4, 1898 edition of the the Valentine Democrat (Valentine, Cherry Co., Nebraska) and the September 24, 1898 edition of the Broad Ax (Salt Lake City, Utah).

Ismail could have handled himself with the  violent crew but he fell into the water and drowned early on.  The money belt story is likely a clever invention. Even a man as strong as Yusuf Ismail would have a hard time walking around with so many gold coins.  Most passengers drown without the burden of a heavy money belt.

While his career was short, Ismail made a big impression.  Outside of Martin “Farmer” Burns, who was on the same level as Evan “Strangler” Lewis, Ismail cleared out the top competition in only a few months.  Five years later, things might have been different with in their prime Frank Gotch and Tom Jenkins.  In 1898, Ismail handled the top wrestlers in the United States in only a few months time.

The original “Terrible Turk” wrestled for only four years.  He still may have the best wrestler to ever carry the moniker.

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Sources: Valentine Democrat, August 4, 1898 edition, p. 3 and The Broad Ax, September 24, 1898 edition, p. 2

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