The Helena independent., 1891-11-24


tion and delight burst forth from differ
ent parts OF the hall. The giants
we're at work, and with barred arm whose
muscles stood ont like knots on the sturdy
oak, the prize seekers pushed forward
steadily. persistsntly. unwearyingly at their
self-allotsd task. It was the greatest test
OF human endurance ever witnessed in Dem
yer, for in fifteen minutes the toilsrs COM
pressed the work Of three or four hours.
SO great was the strain that the contestants
almost sweat drops of blood. II was sight
worthy of the audience which greeted the
gladitorial oombats of ancient Rome,
Before the opening of the contest blind
folded lad drew from a hat slips Of paper
deciding the order in which the contestants
should appear. The fates agreed that
Dennis ReRan and William Page, the cham
pion double handed drilling team Of Butte
City, Mont, should stand at the head of
the list and that Thomas McNulty and
James Murphy. of Pitkin county, should
appear as second on the list. Both teams
were called to the platform, as was also
Joseph Laplant, of Ouray county, who
opened the engagement on single e-handed
drilling.
the material used in the state house. had
boon placed on q platform in the center of
the Coliseum. Each square pieoe of gray
stone weighed five tons and was three feet
in thickness. BY common consent it was
agreed that Gunnison produces the hardest
stone in the state and persons who wit
messed last nights exertions will never argue
the point hereafter. The platform was
built Of solid pine logs and heavy timbers,
and each team was at liberty to build a sec
Ond and smaller platform on which to stand
while operating on the rock. The second
platform brought the contestants on level
with the top OF the stone.
Each team was supplied with comsle<
drilling outfit of it's own. even to the can of
water. which proved O most necessary and
useful adjunct. An armfull of drills Of
various lengths and sledgs hammer COM
pleted the appliances which were used in
carrying forward the work. The men up
peared bare headed, in undershirts and
overalls and were not weighted down with
an ouncs OF unnecessary clothing. AS thoy
proceeded with the mighty efforts of boring
into the rock. the perspiration poured in
torrents down their faces and bare arms
and tho broken granite flew in every direc-
tion. The only incidents were changing
from drill to hammer which took place
every fifteen seconds at signal from the
master Of ceremonies.
"One thousand to 5000 that Montana gets
neither first nor second placev' shouted
Pool Seller BaniRan. A seedy looking indi-
vidual, fresh from one of. the big mines in
the mountains, slowly edged his, way
caught sight OF bundle of gfeenbacks
which the stranger was unfolding, and
nothing more was heard of "$1 900 to
5000" Pools sold 3 to on Montana, 6 to
on Dolores county, 10 on Boulder, | to
"A on Lake, 6 to 2 ION San Miguel, 10 to on
e., A<,O
pin and to on Pit1in. The miners did
not take kindly to the pool system, and the
deposits were not as large or as numerous
as were expected. Betting between individ-
uals was much more brisk.
just as the gong was about to ring, in
tense enthusiasm was aroused by the an
nouncement that Gen. Perkins offered
cash prize of $3.50 to the Pitkin county men
if they should carry off the prizs. Joe
Gavin, the leading sport of Leadville, added
fuel to the flame by yelling from the gal
lery that he would give $500 to any Lake
ths Pitkin men if they succeeded. "He's got
the douRhp' yelled back the admirers of
Gavin, and the crowd joined in the chorus.
Col. Gillespie announced from the plat
form that responsible parties pledged
$1.250 cash to Boulder if the team should
then the fun began. 1t WAS noticed from
the start that the Montana men we're able
to make the changes from drill to hammer
without losing stroke. As the spectators
appreciated the wonderful skill required
for such feat they cheered and cheered
again. At every change yell burst forth
and men and women Joined in applauding
the act. The gong WAS replaced by pair
of cyrnbals, and at the end OF fifteen min
utes tho exhausted men were called to n
halt The score stood: Regan and Page,
70 1916 inches; McNulty and Murphy, ol14.
inches; Joseph Laplant, 9A inches.
The band played ind the audience
laughed in anticipation of more fun. It
was already apparent that the team which
would beat tho Butte City mems record
must indeed be marvel. Calome Per-
kins announced $50 each as gift to the
delegated Pitkin county mene
Eagle and Dolores counties locked horns |
in the second inning. The former county
was represented by Knpellar and Kindish
and tho latter by Jones and Sidney. The
singles satb Is as p orod l. Jones sn nnd T. oaasu
began to ay and the strokes fell with
rapldity that was indeed astonishing. %.
l.. Jones got in a lick which attracted the
attention OF every observer, and at tho end |
of fifteen minutes he had made the best
evening. Twice ons OF the Dolores men
dropped his hammer. Hes not in lt!''
cried the friends of Eagle county. Just
bofore time was called Dolores stuck In the
hole and US tho symbnls rang out the drills
man was making desperate exertions to free
the iro9Srod.
The Score stood: Kapellar and Kindish,
16 1911 inches; Jones and Sidney, 2l IA. 16
inches;. D.. l.. Jones, 18 1916 iuches; T..
Oakes. 1874.
Jones had outdistanced double team.
This was ono OF the surprises Of the even
ing. b
Now came Lake. Boulder and Arapahoe
counties, and the mass Of humanity on the
floor surged to and fro in order to catch n
sight Of the new contestants. The entries
were Ahsrn and Lyons, of Lake; Yates and
Yates. Of Boulder, and William Shea, OF
Arapahoe. Objection had been made to
Shea on occount of his being a stone mason
at work ON the Equitable building, but the |
objection was withdraw. Tho pools stood
on BOULDER and z OH Lake. Many Boul-
der citizens were present, and tho yelling
ha " xhianArad fhEt I.nka had 4aakIaa ALe