The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-17
FOUGHT WITH FISTS.



The event that. attracted the greatest
attention at the Turner's picnic at
Gregson Springs yesterday was one
that was not billed.
Il was a warm, give and rake. I'M
glOved fist fight between two pa - eli
pants in the ladies' 100-yard foot race,
the prize for which race was a ladies'
white parasol.
When the race started there were
eight participants. five of them oeirg
members of the Butte gymnasium class.
These gymnasium girls We're attired in
boomers, short skirts and sailor
blouseS and were a chic and athletic
band. Several were married women.
1t had been announced on the pro-
gramme that the race was for ladies.
There were other races for girls, but
when the runners were half way down
the course it was seen a slim little girl
with short white dress and flashing
dark eyes was forging to the front.
She easily distanced her competitors
and landed across the tape a winner.
Promptly a protest was filed on the
ground that she belonged in the girls
class. Her mother, who wore a veil,
white duck skirt and a shirt waist,
took an active part in the proceedings.
She got away from the grounds before
her name could be learned, but for
convenience she will be called Mrs.
Smith.
why didn't you say" demanded
Mrs. Smith, wrathfully, of the judges,
that ii was TO be an old ladies' race"
and there was wealth of scorn in that
word ''old."
1T was not an old ladies' race" in
dignantly retorted several of the gym
nasium girls. We're not old"
We'll, you look it, said Mrs. Smith
Were not as old as you are, not by
a good deal, you old thing" said Mrs.
Lang, one of the gymnasium class.
Just then the crowd Surged about the
disputants and clash was averted.
THE girl may enter the girls high
jump if she wants to-" said the judges,
with a desire to please, but Mrs. Smith
simply snorted her disdain of any such
proposition. while the girl turned up
her pretty little nose.
Then the judges ordered the race run
over again. All were nearly ready to
start when Mrs. Smith announced her
determination to run. and went to the
scratch cheered by the crowd. There
was a dangerous CLEAN in her eye as
she ranged herself beside Mrs Lang,
Go" said the starter, and they were
off
Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Smith got bad
start, Mrs. Lang a few feet ahead of
Mrs Smith. At the % yard mark Mrs.
Smith struck a soft place on the track
and plunged to her knees. As she fell
she grabbed Mrs Lang's short skirt,
ripped il loose from its moorings and
brought the fair possessor to the mud
dy ground.
Mrs. Smith arose first with blood in
her eye and mud on her white skirt.
Mrs. Lang was not second behind her.
They came together in a mad rush,
their arms tanning the air like fails
Presently Mrs Lang had to drop her
guard to hitch up her falling skirt.
Mrs. Smith took advantage of this and
landed a grazing blow alongside the
left eye of her opponent. Mrs. Lang
let the skirt look after itself long
enough to reply by banging Mrs. Smith
in the mouth, luOsening several teeth
and drawing first blood. Mrs. Smith
made a savage rush forward, but was
cleverly blocked by the little gymna-
stun woman, who then began to gather
up her skirt as if TO bring. her feet
into play. r
BY this time the crowd had surround
ed the TWO women, who were shouting
defiance a each other. Each contest