The Helena independent., 1889-01-22
A DESPERATE FIGHT.
Frank ShepIey and John Cronin Have
Controversy Which is Wit
messed by a Select Few
SIX ROUNDS DECIDE.
A Mil at MissouIs Saturday Nigh, Be-
tween a Helena FaVorite and a
Missoula Boy Results in
Victory for the Former,

one OF the hottest contested battles that
has ever taken place IN the territory was
fought at Miss0ula saturday night be-
tween Frank Shepley, Of Helena, and John
Cronin, OF Missoula, Shepley winning Ia
the sixth round by a Knockout blow. The
light was for a purse Of 500, which was
paid TO the winner. Preparations for the
eight had been on The tapls tor some time,
and WAS engineered by Jimmy Kelley q
prize fighter II appears that about Two
weeks ago Billy Hawkins, whose trainer
Frank shepley is. received a letter from
Kelley asking Il he could not arrange a
match between Shepley aud Cronn. The
latter said In prize ring phrase0logy that
Cronin was mark" pudding" and
"duher" who imagined be could
fight, but Shepley could do him
In two rounds. Kelley stated that
the Senate club Of Missoula, had great
deal OF confidence Ia Cr0nln's prOwess, and
had made up purse Oi 500 for The winner.
Hawkins replied that Shepley was hardly
la condition ~ fight, but II the clnD
would consent to match Of twenty rounds
he would have bis man on hand and was
confident he would win whether his an
tagnnsl was good OF Indifferent The
proposition was accepted. and last Satur-
day Shepley and Hawkins accompanied by
a number Of Helena sports boarded the
train for MissOula, where they arrived
safely. No convenient hall had been Sc
cured for the mill and the men consented
10 appear In l2xlb foot ring, the small
ness of which Is an advantage tO the heavier
man. There were about 100 present
The agreement was read, which was To
the effect that the men should hght twenty
rounds with tWO-Ounce gloves, revised
Marc lis AT Queensbury rules jim Kelly
aud Jack DelmOre seconded Cr0nin and
Bully Hawkins and Doug Iousley per
formed the same Office fUr Sheplry. Al
Higgins was chosen referee, Duncan Me
Donald and Miss0ula newspaper man
tlmekeepers.
Shepley stripped at lSi pounds, CTonin
Is ten or twelve pounds heavier He Is
also taller and longer IN the reach than
Shepey. But few prelimlnaries were
wasted when time WAS called, both men
going at each other with ding dong and
follow up. Shepley found that instead Of
having pudding" he had before him one
OF The cleverest two-handed hitteTs he had
ever faced. IL was furious fight from the
start, both men displaying wonderful
pluck and endurance, The science of
Shepley was match tOr Crunin's strength,
and Cr0nin frequently clinched 10 avoid
punishment falling heavily on Shepley,
who is no match for him IN wrestling. The
iirst and second rounds were repetition Of
slugging. The third round Shepley got In
his right on Cronin's body directly over the
heart, Telling him like beef. lie, how
ever, revived before the ten seconds was
up and came gamely to the scratch.
In the fourth round Shepley, In dodging.
struck his head against "A stake, laying the
scalp wide open. Cr0nin clinched and
threw Shepley heavily, his head striking
upon the fiOor, the fall forcing the blood
fully two feet away. First blood was
claimed by Cronin's seconds, but was not
allowed by the referee.
In the NTH round both men were covered
with blood and the ring was slippery with
blood. Both men had been severely pun
ished, the handiwork Of each telling ON the
others face. This was desperate round
The men ralned blows upon each other, do
ing terrible effect, each striving 10 get In
knock out blow, but time was called be-
fore this was accomplished.
When the sixth round was called both
men sprang at each other like bulldogs, ex-
changing savage cOurtesies which showed
there was plenty Of fight In them. Fierce
blows were given and taken, neither man
shrinking from the punishment inflicted.
But the superior science Of Shepley stood
him in good play. He was the smaller
die his dukes. lie watched for AN opening
which came, and quick as a shot lac put In
| his right ON the point 0i.Cr0nln's right jaw
| which turned his head exposing his meek,
| and with u swift half arm blow Shpplcy
| landed ON his antagonists jugular, knock
| ing him into n heap In his corner When
| time was called CrOnin was still uncOn-
sciOus, his seconds threw up the sponge
| and Shepley was declared the winner.
Shepley immediately sprang over the
ropes and took up a collection for his van
| qnishcd foe and collected quite meat little
sum. Shepley and his friends came home
| Sunday. Shepley shows marks Ot his pun
ishmcnt Ills face Is bruised, swollen aud
discOlOred and two bones Of his right hand
are broken. lie says CTOnin is one OF the
gamest men and hardest hitters he ever
met. The Helena delegation, while salts
| fled that Shepley Is the better man Ol the
| two, are very much incensed nj Kelly aud
others who tried 10 work in ringer 10 the
person of Cr0nin, who has fought number
less battles and knocked out nine men.
Kelly, having spite against Hawkins, put
up Job by which he thought he could win
the purse, but he reckuned without taking
into consideration there was man named
Shepley who would have something Ia say.
| Had he known what Kind OF a man Cronln
| IL he would not have fousht him without
gong into training. The llelenaltes, how
ever, are much pleased with their treat
ment by the Senate club, who evidently
were not aware of kelly's tactics, but were
anxious for the best man 10 win.
IL said that some Of CrOnin's friends
| claim the fight should have been awarded
| him ON foul as Shepley kicked him, but
| this is hardly probable, as Shepley Is sci
enced man In the ring. The man who
taught Ike Weir, the Belfast Spider, ali his
tricks would hardly condescend 10 kick a
h.. xrh IN 10