St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-22

date that it is still fresh in the minds of
many of the spectators. But to many
more it will be entirely new. The prin-
cipals were Jack Hanley and Jim Fell,
names that are familiar in circles fiStlc,
and their battle was fought in May.
1884.
Jack Hanley was fine, athletic
young fellow, who was member OF the
Leadville fire department.. His agility,
strength and science as boxer had
given him local reputation, and event
ually got him into the prize ring. He
met such men as Dominick McCaffr ey,
and was regarded as a coming champion
in his ss-middlewelght. He went
from Denver to Omaha, where he was
successful. Then frontier town, ON
aha was full of ''sure thing" men. Han
ley would not allow himself to be ham
died by these gentry, and they put their
heads together to find a man who
could whip him, or bring about
q fight and see to it that
he could not win. Jim Fell, then COM
Ing into prominence in Missouri mining
districts, was known to be Cor
nishman who was perfect glutton for
fight, and as he was the most available
man he was approached. Then, as now,
Gil uIull CdlO WllOlA LIZ 1Ou5hOsUAiNsOA
course, he was willing. AL Masterson
sent for Fell, and offered to back him
against Hanley. Masterson was then at
the head of a gang of Western toughS
and desperadoes, and had several hicks
on his gun. Jack Nugent, then pros
porous sport, owner of variety show
and a friend of Ranley's, backed Han
ley. The Masterson party made show
of perfect fairness, but, as afterWard
developed, their fairness was all in the
appearance. The tip had quietly gone
round, and on the day of the fight all
the desperate friends of FelPs hacker
were on hand, determined that Fell
should win by force If not by fair
means. City Editor Jackman, of the
Omaha Herald, was made the stake
holder. Col. Forbes, since dead, a royal
type of Western character and brother
Of George Forbes, the turfman, was
made umpire to settle the dispute about
who should be referee. He named John
Woods, Of Denver.
Some time after midnight on a rainy
morning in May. 1884, the special train
on the Union Pacific pulled out OF
Omaha with the prize fighters and spec
tators. Scarcely had the train started
under good Roadway until the toughs
who had been summoned to insure a
victory for Fell began to terrorize the
passengers. At stopping point
outside the city many jumped off
to walk back. Forty-seyen miles
from Omaha, in Saunders county,
a stop was made, and at o'clock ring
was pitched on little rise of ground on
the west bank of Clear creek. Fell
chose Mike Haley and Jimmy Dough-
ertv, both of Council Bluffs, as seconds.
Prof, Ed. Miller, of Omaha, and 0, 81.
Smith acted for Hanley. Capt. O'Mal-
lev and the sheriff Of the adjoining
county, whose name has been forgotten,
were named as the timekeepers. A
wrangle was instigated by Masterson'S
retainers over Referee Wood, which re-
suited in the selection of ''Maj." Will
Jams to act with him. maj" Williams,
alias James Brown, was a tough who
killed jeff Hughes, of Council Bluffs,
had brother Pinkerton detective,
and is now serving a seven-years term
| in the penitentiary. Both Woods and
Williams entered the ring and called
time. During the twenty-five rounds
which Fell and Hanley fought the scene
beggars description. Not only was
there fighting in the ring, but lighting
all about it. The outside rows several
times broke up the regular mill. The
main fight, London prize ring rules,
bare knuckles, was one of the most des-
perate and game exhibitions eyer wit
messed. Fell, who had no part in the
scheme whereby he was to win in any
event, fought as he always fights-to
win. The two men were as evenly
matched as could be. Fell had the great.
est endurance, perhaps. and the longest
reach. In skill Hanley was superior,
and in wrestling. They we're in the
pink of condition and almost of the same