Referee Hands Beell Tough Loss

На почетокот на неговата кариера, Fred Beell wrestled Gus “Americus” Schoenlein in 1904 и 1905. During the 1904 match, Beell won the only fall and match. Schoenlein wanted to avenge this defeat. In May 1905, Schoenlein’s manager secured a rematch in Schoenlein’s hometown of Baltimore, Мериленд.

Schoenlein stood five feet, ten inches tall and weighed 210 фунти. Beell usually faced a size disadvantage. Beell stood only five feet, six inches tall and weighed 170 фунти. Beell did have a powerful physique despite his lack of height.

Beell lost matches because of his size but never due to a lack of skill. Beell also worked matches occasionally based on financial considerations.

Beell wrestled Schoenlein in the Germania Maennchor Hall in Baltimore, Мериленд. Fans filled two-thirds of the building meaning a crowd in the high hundred or low thousands.

Referee Harry Jeffries said all holds were allowed except for the stranglehold. Jeffries’ instructions factored into the result of the match.

Jeffries started the match on Thursday, Мај 11, 1905, на 9:40 вечер. The men wrestled for fifteen minutes without any controversy.

At the 15-minute mark, Beell secured a front face lock and cross-face on Schoenlein. “Americus” thrashed around. Beell cinched up on the hold tighter but the combination of perspiration and Schoenlein’s trashing caused the face lock to slide down to “Americus’s” neck.

Beell realized the hold was close to a guillotine choke or the stranglehold of Evan “Strangler: Луис. Beell quickly released the hold. Сепак, referee Harry Jeffries reacted quicker and disqualified Beell for using a stranglehold.

A fan jumped onto the stage and tried to attack Beell but the Baltimore police officers stopped the fan. The police cleared the stage.

Beell’s second Harvey Parker, a well-known professional wrestler in his own right, jumped into the ring screaming at Jeffries. Parker told Jeffries that Beell released the hold as soon it slipped to Schoenlein’s neck. Parker asked Jeffries to reverse his decision.

Jeffries refused to reverse his decision. Parker asked the athletic commission if they intended to allow Jeffries to give a “hometown decision.” The commissioners told Parker they would only overrule an egregious decision. Parker sat down exasperated.

After a ten-minute rest, Jeffries started the second fall. Beell went for another face lock, but Jeffries separated them and warned Beell. Beell attempted a second face lock, but the referee again broke the wrestlers.

Jeffries interference with legitimate holds infuriated Beell who went for a vicious front face lock. Beell came close to another choke hold, but Jeffries broke up the attempt. Jeffries awarded the second fall and match to “Americus” at 8 минути, 30 seconds.

About half of the fans jumped onto the mat to congratulate Schoenlein while the half sat motionlessly. The fans felt Jeffries ripped off Beell and did not take part in the celebration of “Americus’s” win.

Beell left the arena in disbelief. Beell and Schoenlein tied in their series one match a piece in their series. Schoenlein had a lot of help from the referee in his victory.

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Sources: The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Мериленд) Мај 12, 1905, p. 9

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