The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-12
A BARE KNUCKLE FIGHT.
A Brutal Slugging Exhibition That
Took Place Near Helena
Last Sunday.
Two Quarry Mon Fight Thirty
-Four Bloody Rounds For
q Purse.


q Purse.
Both Were Badly Used Up and the Death
Of One Was Feared, Hence the
Secrecy.
ayes, he's out of danger now"
The above remark was overheard BY an
INDEPENDENT reporter last night, from
private box in q well-known restaurant in
this city. Out of curiosity the scribe, who
sat in an adjoining box waiting for his or
der of quail on toast, propped his ears and
listened to the conversation. Tho speaker
was evidently addressing two men.
But talk about mill'' he continued, II
tell you she was RATHER; never Jaw any
thing so fierce in my life. You zee, there
we're only about dozen Of ~ in the party,
and all during the week we've been mum
on the matter, because We were afraid one
of the men would not recover from his in
iuries."
"When did it take placer" asked one Of
his listners. Eyes, tell as about it," asked
the other, evidently anxious to hear the de-
tails.
"Well, to tell the truth, don't know the
names of the principals. 1t took place last
Sunday night after six o'clock, out at
Lynch's place; you know, out there near
the quarry. l was given quiet tip that
there was going to be scrap on the square,
and was asked to go, and went. Never
saw the two men before in my life. They
were laborers and I'm pretty sure they work
at the granite quarry, and all their friends,
with one CT two exceptions, work there too.
They were strapping big fellows, each
weighed about 100 pounds. and from the
way they handled their dukes should say
they'd been there before. One Of them
recently came from ElkhOrn. don't
know Just what started the fight, but it
started the night before in saloon. They
bantered with each other about their fight
ing qualities; one word brought on another
and the result ato was they agreed to fight to =
into the hands of stakeholder. The men
did not drink any more that night but went
to bed and got up early next morning to get
all the training they could in the short
time. @
s'Well, about six o'clock last Sunday night
were very cautious and scared lest the sheriff
or his deputies would get Oh. It was dusk be-
fore we got off and you bet we went lively
after we got out af town we went pretty
lively clip. On reaching Lynch's place il
was pretty dark and somewhat chilly
There was no room big enough to fight in
SO it was decided to pitch rinl
outside. The only light was lantern and
one of the spectators had to hold that, &
that the timer could see. But it gave light
enough; too much for me, for l wouldn''
look at such fight again il ] was paid
Talk about blood-but I'm getting ahead Of
my story. We marked pretty good sizee
none either, but couple of boulders an
swered the purpose, and after each ROUND
the men sat down on the stones to rest anC
be famed. "a
mo time was lost. as they wanted to gel
through before the sheriff could find us
didn't wear tights, but wrapped their sua
penders around their waists to hold thei!
pants up. A referee was quickly decided
upon and the spectators took up collec-
ton which added $50 more to the purse te
be fought for" "a.
"What size gloves did they wear9" wal
asked.
"Gloves! why they didn't wear a glove al
all. It was bare knuckle fight, Marquis
of Queensbury rules. Everything was or
deeiy, and I don't. think dozen words
were spoken during the entire hour and q
half that they fought. Yes, an hour and a
half, and they fought thirty-four of the
can't tell you about each round,
but they went at it like bull dogs; not rough
and tumble, remember, but how they did
slug. They were the most determined men
ever saw and the Ramiest. Fight, why ]
don't think there was ever anything like i
in the country; and they fought With
matched. The first six rounds were lively
BY that time they were both covered with
blood and their hands cut, also. Then they
played for wind for while. and when they
got to work again they went at it 6ercely,
Towards the twentieth round there wal
knook-down after knock-down, but it va.
it, but both were frightfully disfgured. Al
times it was sickening to look at and
turned my bend away. They had only ONT
towel for each man. It should have beer
declared q draw at the twentieth round, fol
it was nothing less than brutal to let then
game as fighting cocks. The ring was ,
pool of blood; the eyes of the men wer,
puffed and nearly closed, their breasts raw
and blood stained and altogether il was ,
case of badly disAgured but still in tn
ring, , ...,, ;. Z, .. -. .h;,.,- ,,,,,.,
round they we're weak and exhausted, bu
determined "a ever. A blow in the RICH
place would now settle either of them. The
knocked each other down a couple of time
in this round, but would let each other re
square on his feet before going at hin
again. At last the Elkhorn man rallied an,
went at his opponent to settle him. II
pummeled him in the face until he fell linn
} Der to the ground from blow behind tn
ear. There was dead silence among tn
crowd as the fellow dropped. He was linn
and lifeless. and it seemed ages before b
minutes, before he showed signs of life
The other fellow dropped to the ground too
: all played out, but he Was declared th
winner. The whipped man Was carried int
the only house close by and We felt prett
certain that we had been eyewitness
granddaughter. Iguess it was haf an hou
before that man relieved the intense anxiet
of the crowd. A party Of No left in poi
haste for town after doctor. and aftel
wards heard they had a hard time gettin
one. We all pledged secrecy, for Wa though
sure our man was going to die. and even q
/ to Wednesday the case looked pretty rock.
l tell you, it was big load OF my min
: when heard to day that the men woul
come out all right. Yes, both OF them ha,
been laid up at Lynch's all week. l vi
afraid those newspaper fellowe would get {
to it, but this is ono time We fooled them
New line Of pictures Just recsiyed at The B
: Gents silk mufRers and Aandkerchasfs at
Bee Hive.