The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-20
the men apart. Tommy Costello, who was
afterward himself slashed, got the knife

the men apart. Tommy Costello, who was
afterward himself slashed, got the knife
from Scannell.
It was in such times and scenes az these
that "HarryHnrs' played prominent part:
In 1858 Fannie Kelly, woman whom Hill
had angered in some way. stabbed him with
a penknife. Hill himself was not a tough.
He figured prominently in all the big fight
ing matches and as late as 1867 himself
Comique, and defeated Lane. In the
famous fight between Mike McCoole and
Joe Coburn, Harry Hill had charge of Nc
Coole, and secured Australian Kelly and
Dan kerrigan to train his man.
AS Harry Hill got older his general repu-
tation for wealth and squareness made him
a favorlte sta keholder in the big pugilistic
contests. He has probably held in his
hands over S1,OOO,OOO of stakes wagered in
contests of skill and strength, and was
never known to break faith. He was one
of Billy Edwards's hackers when Edwards
fought Sam Collyer at Cone River. Va, for
5000 and the lightweight Championship.
When, in 1870, Jem Mace and Joe Coburn
signed articles to fight for 5000, Harry
Hill was stakeholder. In the big fight be-
tween Sullivan and Ryan, at Mississippi
City, Hill held over $4,000 in stakes,
good share of which was deposited with
him by men who were strangers to him.
He used to enjoy reputation for taking
drunken mems money away from them
and returning it to them when they were
sober. It is said that on one occasion
drunken stranger gave him $4,000 to take
care of, and that the money, after the
stranger had been on weeks spree, was
returned to the owner.
Hill took great pride in the "real ear
nest character of the athletic contests at
his place, and in the native vocal and dra-
matte talent that he developed. On the
little stage in his place every boxer and
wrestler Of any note in the last twenty -four
wears has commended, and from that stage
have graduated scores of variety actors and
singers who have since become famous.
Harry Hill had the reputation of having
accumulated great deal OF money IN MS
| business. All sorts of big stories were told
about the sums of money he was worth.
common statement made to people visiting
! the CITY was that Harry Hill was worth 3d.
OOO,0o0. That Harry Hill was once a
wealthy man there is no doubt. That his
wealth vas grossly exaggerated there Is lu Just
he was worth $25O.OOO. But there is
reason to believe that he very much
overestimated what he was worth. 1t was q
| grand thing for him in his business. of
course, to have the reputation of being
worth million or two. At least it added
very much to the peculiar characteristics OF
the place and himself. People in Harry
Hills used to love to watch the old man,
with his strongly marked face, silent and
watchful eyed, with an enormous diamond
in his shirt frill. The sports used to like
to look at him and say to each other:
He is worth a million dollars"
Harry Hill did have great deal of prop
erty once. He owned a fine stock farm at
Flushing, and a line of steamboats, which
did good freight business between
Flushing and this city. In Flushing he
owned two hotels. He had q fine residence
in Flushing which was surrounded by beau
tiful grounds. On his stock farm he had q
score of fine horses, in exercising
and driving which he found almost his
chief pleasure. He had fine Durham and
Alderney cattle and about 100 fancy bred
pigs. He had chickens, peacocks, pigeons
and the like in abundance and nearly 1O(
dogs of all kinds. He bred his horses
largely for the market. and once did gooe
business in this particular. He raised Irol
: Duke, who trotted in 2:25; Sweepstakes, tn
brown stallion who trotted in 2:2O, and Gu
riosity, the humpbacked chestnut, VIII
trotted in 2:30. In the cellar of his hous
were vaulte filled with old ales and wine
and liquors. The walls of the house wer
hung with paintings. He had many o
Hogarth's sketches. A son of Harry Hill
: lives at Flushing and carries on there tn
7 business that was once his fathers.
0 Harry Hill is of medium height, sturdil
built, but not corpulent, has curly hair, an
) a pair of keen brown eyes. He has cour
:. tenance that used to seem to smile continr
i ally, but of late years it has lost this pecul
aritv