The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-31
REFEREE WITH NERVE.
Cockney Mcclure Started Out to
Whip the Referee, but
Changed His Mind.
Prize Fight That Commenced
Well and Ended Very
Suddenly.
Mcclure Found = Man Who Would Not
Stand HulldoxIng, but Would
stand His Ground.

A q owe fight between ~"Cockney" Mo-
Guire.and Sydney Huntington, commonly
know as the kid" was started in regular
form ut the road house last evening, and
ended very suddenly. Mr.. Cockney Nc
CURE may thank his stars that he came out
OF the affair az we'll as he did. His prize
fighting style of bulldozing everybody from
the referee to the audience came very
near ending his life, for he found a referee
who would take none of his nonsense, and
everybody said the referee was right.
Whatever may be his faults, it is to be said
that when Horace Hughes referees a
prize fight it is on the "dead
square, so far as he is concerned.
mile no was acting in this capacity last
evening at the roadhouse much against his
will, Mcclure suddenly made a break for
him without cause and after he was warned
to keep quiet. The result was that Hughes
drew a revolver with the intention of bring
ing it down on MoGuire's head. When the
fighter jumped to him Hughes brought
out his gun quicker than a flash and in an
other instant it fell on McGuire's head and
a report followed. 1t was a double action
and vent of by accident after MCGUIRE was
struck. His head was slightly cut but he
was otherwise uninjured us the bullet struck
the wall.
The occurrence was the result CT o prize
fight arranged Saturday night between
Sydney Pagct, hacker of "Cockney' Mo
CURE and Henry Albertson. who backs
Huntington. Mcclure is a light weight
who has been loafing about Montana for
some time. While he is something of a
fighter he is a good deal more
of a buffer and bulldozer. This is his fav-
orits style of fighting though he has won
several battles. The affair.was arranged to
At 10 O'Clock fifty people had
as it was generally understood
that the contest was to be on the merits of
the men. A twenty-four foot ring was
pitched in the dance room, n a crowd of
sports. sporting women and followers of
the RACES were about. The men came in the
Black Pearl and Ben Holmes
we're looking after Huntingdon, while
Tommy Devlne, the light weight, and
George Mcdonald were Watching out for
the Cockney's interests. Neither man was
in first rate condition, though both knew
how to fight. Huntington, who is an old
Montana boy, is now under contract with
the California Athletic club, under whose
nuspices he has stopped several of the best
Australian !ightweiRhts. The preliminaries
were all arranged when the usual call COM
menced for a referee. Horace Hughes'' the
majority yelled, for they had confidence in
him. Tie call became SO urgent that
Hughes accepted against his will and the
men shook hands and went to work. They
fought three rounds In a business like way.
Cockney led the fighting though he was
first knocked down by The Kid who
third round the glove on McGuire's right
hand broke, and Of course the fight was
stopped. The people who paid their money
wanted to see the fight and so the referee
sent to town for another pair of glovss. Along
wait followed. This opened up a new
willing. to stay, and after HI hour
in the ring with his SECONDS
and in an excited manner commenced
kicking. The referee was there too but the
other fighter had not appeared. He must
come in within fifteen minutesv" yelled the
referee, and after that time had nearly ex-
pired he said: II will make it twenty min
utes." This suited everybody but Mcclure
who called the referee a vile name. ''Stop
that right there" quietly replied Hughes,
and the next instant Mcclure jumped out
r efsss'' had drawn sR i his r%evol sae
and quicker than one can tell it came down
on the Cookney's head and a shot followed.
The crowd jumped back while the Cockney
yelled Il am shot" He laid on the floor
for a second and then raising himself
in the air made one jump
over the ropes, through the door
and outside. Those who saw him say that he
sailed through the air like a kite and by the
time all ran outside a rumor was started
that he was in East Helena with a
ticket purchased for the east. Hughes hand
ed his gun to a friend Immediately after the
affair and the excitement was over. The
shot was plainly accidental, as it was not
fired until after the gun struck Cockney's
head and it struck the side wall
with an upward glance. Those present
thought the referees conduct entirely justi-
fable. Mcclure had been jumping from
his chair at all hours of the evening in an
excited manner, calling various names and
talking in a threatening way. AS it was
expressed he was entirely too gay for the
occasion. He turned up a few minutes
after the affair in the ring all right, with
the exception of a slight cut on his head
caused by a blow from the gun. This Incl
dent ended the fight. and the referee de-
clared the fight and all bets off, and ordered
the money to be returned.
$500