The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-19
A BLOODY PRIZE FIGHT.
Such Was That Between Owens
and Stone, at Wickes, Sat-
urday Night.
They Fought From the Start Like
Bull Dogs and Spilled Much
Gore.
Three Omcials Were Present But Did Not
Attempt to Stop the Very
Brutal Affair.

The prize fight which took place at
Wickes Saturday night between Tally
Owens and John Stone was a most brutal
affair. ''Oh, she was a dandy!'' is the way
some of the spectators speak of it. ''They
fought from the turn loose and never let
up until the eleventh round, during which
Owens failed to respond to the call OF
time,'' said another. The gate receipts,
which proved to be what the battle was
waged for, amounted to SIP. There was
some dissatisfaction and disagreement as
to the guarantees promised by certain
Wickes men, which were not forth
coming. Among the spectators of the fight
were, it is said, the sheriff of Jefferson
county and two deputies, yet one of the
bloodiest and most brutal fights ever seen
ON Hn n Violation xas p OF the 70 aE
round contest with soft Gloves There was
known to be bad feeling among the prln-
cipals, and each was aching for an opportu-
nifty to pummel the other, and they found
their chance. The gloves were two-ounce,
with the filling pushed back from the
knuckles, making them practically skin
tight glove. Marquis of Queensbury rules
governed and Dune Mcdonald was referee.
| He made his usual speech and warned the
men as they stepped in the ring they. must
fight to a finish and kill each other if they
wanted to. This evidently pleased the
morbid crowd, for they shouted approval
and the fight proceeded without any strict
regard for time or rules. sit was the hard
est fight l ever saw" said one of the Hell
jumped at each other like bulldogs; Stone
inflicted cash over Owens eye in the first
round, and this SO enraged the latter that
he would listen to no counsel, but
insisted on rushing and forcing the lighting
until he became exhausted. Stone who is
twenty pounds heavier than Owens received
a great deal of severe punishment about the
face. In fact his face was mashed to a
ielly. Both eyes We're closed, the face. nose
and mouth black and swollen. Stone is
now in bed and is in care of a physician, but
nothing serious will result from his injur-
les. never saw SO much blood at a fight
before and most of it came from Stones
smeller. He lost fully quart of blood and
it flowed 80 fast that 1t had to be swept
away from the ring after each round. Up
to the seventh round Owens forced the
fighting. landing on Stones face whenever
and wherever he wished to, but the latter
stood his punishment bravely and left
when the fight was over. Owens
received at least four knock-down
blows, while Stone o; did did o,; not
face. Owens was in the best of condition
and better scienced in the art than his op-
ponent, but the superior strength and
weight of the latter began to tell, and
about the ninth round Owens showed signs
of failing. Up to this time honors were
! about even, but Owens was still the favoritat
:, with the betters. During the eleventh
round Stone, who was also little groggy
sent in Knockout blow on Owens jugula1
and the latter keeled over, his head rigglee
helplessly and he fell to the floor in heap
There was moment of exciting, suspense
among the spectators many thinking tina
however, until the ten-second limit hat
, elapsed. The fight was conducted in an or
, derby manner and there was no disturbance
of any kind, and everybody was satisfied
+ that they had seen good square fight.
a "Owens did not return to Helena. He ].
bodily bruised and the bad scar over hi
left eye is the only visible evidence of tn.
= fight as far as he is concerned