The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-28
FIGHTING UNDER DIFFICULTIES,
Chick Rodgers and Wm. Rideout Try to
NJ eGt Twice ON the same uay.

Chick Rodgers and Wm. Rideout Try to
Meet Twice ON the same Day.
Az four O'clock yesterday murninn q lot
OF colorsd sports loft Hslana for point In
Jefferson county, just ontaide the Lewis
and Clarke county line. Later they we're
followed by number OF white sports,
bound for ths same point. In the frst
crowd VIM. kideout was the star. while
CHICK Hodgera was the lnminary in the
second. The colored men arrived on the
ground first and aa it was showing and very
cold, they collected a lot Of wood, built 4
nts, I,a., ana stood about IT, burning their
clothes IN an unsuccessful ATTEMPT to uat
warm. The white men got off the track,
and were unable to find the first comers.
IN an endeayor TO do 80 they walked about
three miles in the cold and anow, having
got out of the track in which they Travelled.
Finally they struck the colored sports'
camp. Ihe M Getting WAS not OF religious
nature, but was for the purpose Of
deciding whether Mr.. Rodgers or
Ridsoat was the greatest and
hardest hitter. There was S40O
Tor the winner, and the men who had left
helona at sneh nn unseemly hour believed
they would be repaid for their Journey.
kideout WAS in the best condition, but
Rogers was just the reverse. The fight was
| according to Queensbary rules but each
side named referee. The first round was
lively ono, with the advantage in favor Of
ltldeout. In tho second Kideont rushed
Rogers, forcing him against the wheels of a
carr1aRe the white man striking his back
with great force. In this round Rideout
| landed twice. once on Rogers check and
| again on his jaw. When Rogers struck the
carrlage the trouble began. He says that
N an endsayor to gst away. in trying to
| Jump from his opponent ne inadvertently
Wit h1u Lx,np
Of the leg. Rideout and his friends claimed
9. foul. saying Rogers deliberately kicked
the colored man. Anyhow there was row,
ana the stakeholder kept the money, and
the Two fighters came 70 town. But ths
business was not concluded.
Last night about 10 O'clock number Of
men, who are known TO be lovers Of fstic
encounters, might have been seen taking
| STROLL down Main street. Arriving at Hell
ena avenue. they took northwest course
and stopped to rest at the Helena Cab com
pany's barn. On the right hand side OF the
barn, III the carriage room, from which the
vehicles had been removed, q rops had been
stretched. 1t developed that Messrs.
Rodgers and Rideout were to get inside
that rope and make another tug for the
S4OO. Tbs colored man was on time, bat
kadgers did not appear till IL O'Clock.
When he did he was not in any hurry to 20
into the ring. By this time there were 15O
every condition Of life IN Helena. But the
tight is not finished yet. and the stake
holder still holds the money. Just when
the crowd was expecting the contestants
to entsr the ring the law, in the
persons of Officer Lloyd and
Callahan. appeared on the scene. How
they got in no one seemed to know. as the
doors were locked. The crowd had been a
little boisterous but the appearance of the
blue coats caused very sudden hush
Taking in tho scene in an instant, Officer
Lloyd called out:
You men cannot fight here.''
Both officers took their stations at the
ring side, and Immediately there was hub
bub: Rideout's friends accused Rodgers
Of putting the officers on,'' but that was
strenaonsly denied. Then the colored
mans hackers offered to bet Rodgers men
$500 that Rldeoat could "do'' the white
man, and offered to pay the expenses of the
redoubtable Chick and his friends if they
would get into hacks, go outside tho county,
and have the fight out. Rogers hackers
declined the offer, saying they would not
allow him to GO outside and fight, but
would put another 800 on their man, and
agree to have him meet Rideout in thirty
days i'll the ring. Without coming to de-
cision the crowd dispersed. 1t is the gem
eral opinion that while Rodgers might be
able to best Rideout if he was in good con-
dition, that the white man would have been
whipped had the Fl Rht gone on last night.