Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-15
SPORTING 4ND DRAMATIC.
News of Week In the World of Sport
and Amusement.


So much has been said and heard of
George Kessler, tine champion middle weight
OF the Northwest, that the following bio
graphical sketch OF him, and also brief
outline OF his record as q pugilist, is pub
lished. Unlike most men OF his profession
he has never taken drink OF whisky in
his life, neither has he ever smoked cigar.
This is feature that few sporting men can
boast OF.
George Kessler was born in Glasgow,
Scotland, in 1865, and is therefore hut
twenty-four years of age. His father was
Scotch and his mother OF Irish extraction,
thus combining good fighting blood. His
first fight was in Melbourne, Australia, in
1877, with Tom Page whom he turned over
in nine rounds. He afterwards whipped
Dam Hitler in five rounds at Portland, Ore.
Jack Harper. at the same place, fell before
him in four rounds. A gigantic Hibsrnian
known as ".Big Riley" challenged
Kessler at Portland during the Demp-
sey exhibition, and George defeated
him in three rounds. AL Stuart was his
next victim. A gentleman known as Jim" "
Skinner was whipped in an exciting SO
round contest at Salem, Ore, by the young
Napoleon of the northwest. Al Jackson
only lasted three rounds at Tacoma be-
fore him. He tried it again later for q
$3.50 purse, and this time lasted seventeen
rounds. Kessler went to VancouVer's ISL
ami and fought battle with Jack Fields.
Fields lasted only two minutes.
Returning to Tacoma, he fought Red
TT L. Nr&
again, and after twenty rounds OF desper-
then fought Jerry Slattery twenty round
draw at Butte, bested Tally Owen in ten
rounds at Phillipsburg, defeated Jack
Ryan in four rounds at Butte, and also
bested Young Dempsey in six rounds, al
though the latter was declared a draw
amid protests from the audience.
Kessler stands 5 feet inches in heighth
and weighs 15S pounds. By occupation
he is a bridge carpenter. His numerous
victories and stone-wall endurance have
earned him the title OF the Little Giant
of the Rockies" and he no doubt deserves
the sobriquet.
Butte is beyond doubt the sporting town
OF the northwest and while the armament
of pugilism contains many big planets, there
are countless stars of amateur boxers that
twinkle with the brilliancy that surpasses
that of the proverbial "twinkler" that
Twilight used in pinning her curtain with.
Prominent among the young men who
are acquiring thorough knowledge OF the
"manly art, are two localsports who each
demonstrated clever ability 10 the use OF
tbs gloves Friends OF both parties, in
their ent husiasm to settle the dispute OF
supremacy, arranged a private match in a
| well-known Main street resort and a select
few were invited to attend. The principals
entered into their work with zeal and be-
came SO thoroughly in earnest that they
adopted the John Mccullough style OF act
| ing and forgot that "'twas but in Jest. "
| One OF the principals in his desire to draw
first blood. displayed cannibaiistic tenden.
cies and bit his opponent on the arm and
ear. The match was a draw, and the WISE
acres are now endeavoring to solve the
problem whether or not first blood from a
bite, is permissible according to Marquis
-
This year the queen of May wears an
| ulster and red ear flaps. Hence the in
| clemency OF the Siberian weather has made
| it necessary to again postpone the inaugu-
raj fetes at the Columbia gardens.
Notwithstanding the fact that the popu.
| lar Gilbert Durand and all the boys have
been signing for winter to quit lingering
such an unreasonable period in the lap oi
spring, the weather clerk evidently refuses
to gratify their gentle pleadings. No doubt
the snow-storm programme at tine Comiqne
brought on all the snow of the past week
| -
Be it said with credit to the stage man
ager OF the Comique and his estimable wife
they are catering to public approval il
presenting refined entertainment, such al
should be. However, two large, inflexibl'
muzzles are sadly needed to fit the jaws. o
a couple OF song and dance men who steE
over the lines frequently and cause ever
the picture of the dark-skinned Othello OF
the drop curtain to blush at their ribalt
"witticisms."
John Mcguire, our local Abbey, wen. t.
the Pacific coast last week on a br1e
business trip. Louis Villemaire looks afte
the interests OF the opera house during hi
absence.
j The snow has dampened base ball enthu
, sjasm somewhat. 1t the first game OF tn
season the Parrots defeated the Buttes b
, the electoral commission score OF . to Z
It is a we'll known fact that flies neye
finger on the Parrots. REFEREE.
L V