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The death of pro-wrestler Martin "Farmer" Burns...
The death of pro-wrestler Martin "Farmer" Burns...
Item # 589635
January 09, 1937
THE NEW YORK TIMES, January 9, 1937
* Martin "Farmer" Burns death (1st report)
* Catch wrestler - professional wrestling
* Mentor of Frank Gotch
This 34 page newspaper has small one column headings on page 17: "Farmer Burns Dead; Ex-Wrestling Star", "Champion, 1895-98, Took Part in 6,000 Matches-Developed and Managed Frank Gotch". This is a first report on the death of famous catch wrestling champion, Martin "Farmer" Burns.
Other news, sports and advertisements throughout. Rag edition in great condition.
wikipedia notes: Martin "Farmer" Burns (February 15, 1861 – January 8, 1937) was a world champion "catch-as-catch-can" wrestler as well as wrestling coach and teacher. Born in Cedar County, Iowa he started wrestling as a teenager and made money traveling around the Midwest wrestling in carnivals and fairs. As a professional he claimed the American Heavyweight Championship by defeating Evan "Strangler" Lewis in 1895 and held the title for three years. Martin Burns himself claimed to have wrestled in more than 6,000 matches and is said to have lost only seven. After the end of his active wrestling career he started a successful wrestling school in Omaha and later coached Cedar Rapids' Washington high school to the very first Iowa high school state wrestling tournament title. He died in Council Bluffs in 1937. In 2001 Martin "Farmer" Burns was inducted into the International Wrestling Institute and Museum Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2002. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted Martin Burns in 2003.
Category: The 20th Century
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