Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-21
Pioneer Railroad
Once Allotted an
lowa Prize Fight
Special to Times Republican.

bPeSie'i W iineS-HepuDUcan.
Glenwood, Aug. 21.-A group Of re-
tired farmers and a railroad man
who soon will retire were discussing
the Tabor s. Northern railroad which
has just passed from the hands of
private owners to a committee repre-
senting the citizens of Tabor, when
the railroad man became reminiscent
and asked the others If any Of them
recalled the time when the old Coun-
cil Bluffs, st. Joseph and aKnsas City
railroad. now big cog in the wheel
OF the Burlington system, was in ex-
lstence and when it was SO nearly
family affair that it named its
stations after uncles and aunts of
good friends and never hesitated To
stop one of its trains to pick up a
friend no matter where the train and
friend CHANGED to meet.
The inquiry developed an interest
ing experience meeting and the tell
ing by the railroad man Of the time.
nifty years ago, when this same re-
spectacle railroad aided and abetted
among its other public benefactions;
IN fact escorted and chaperoned a
real prize fight. The fighters who
inquired as principals in this ring con-
test were Joe Hogan and Tom Allen,
names that are still almost reyered
among deyotees of the prize ring Of
that early day. few in number tho
they WERE
AT that time prize fights were
branded as against law and order
and the participants and spectators
as law breakers subject to arrest and
imprisonment The fight between
Hogan and Allen was arranged in
the back room Of an Omaha saloon
and the reader may guess that it was
strictly sub rasa. But in spite of all
their precautions the plans were be-
trayed and there resulted some Of the
most exciting and spectacular Incl
dents ever witnessed in these parts
as described by the railroad man.
On the morning fixed for the fight
the regular southbound train left
the old Union Pacific Transfer depot
in Council Bluffs carrying an extra
car for the unusual number Of pas
sengers. people who. from all out
ward appearances were going south
to look for homes or to st. Joseph to
buy cattle, quiet orderly people,
Hogan and Allen with them, Just a
little ouieter. little more thoughtful
perhaps than the others.
The train schedule called for a stop
at Pacific City. now Pacific Junction,
where there was no station house,
nothing except a path that led
somewhere to the Timber along the
Missouri river. But back OF thos-
places was a clearing and this is
where the fight was to take place. In
the meantime someone had been
very, very busy and among tbs
things that had been happening was
the hurried dispatch of militia
company from Des Moines which was
already In the vicinity under cover
Of the station In Council Bluffs. the
Sheriff Of Pottawattamis county
along with them.
A bit Of yellow. paper fluttered
from one mans hand to another as
the train slowed down to come in on
the siding that passed the city de-
pot. That siding was never made
except at full speed by that little
train that our mothers
and fathers used to ride on Sunday
school excursions, or on shopping
tours. II seemed the Pottawattanie
sheriff was not an easy man to beat
for he swallowed his chagrin. took q
brace in his suspenders. did some
fast thinking and then issued light
ming Ike orders to tho telegraph op-
orator by which he aroused the good
people OF Glenwood and soon had
them scurryins about on . riot call.
While he was doing this tho fighters
and their friends were on their way,
reached Pacific City, left the train
ana ran up into the quiet, peaceful
appearing woods to the clearing,
stretched the ringsido rope, took
their places. Hogan and Allen, strip
ped TO the waist In their corners
ready for the gong.
Then things began to happen.
Thru the woods came horsemen rid
Ing as men knew how to- ride IN
those days, low in their saddles
ready to leap to the ground and
draw gun or knife, and SO 1t seemed
that Hogan and Allen would fight
some other day. But they did fight
that day. Right there. But with an
enlarged crowd Of excited, cheering
spectators.
Whether or, not it was the insidu-
GUS charm OF the scenery or the
feeling Of sportsmanship that was
aroused. by the sight OF the two
fighters in trim for their serious
work; the roped arena and all, none
ever could or would tell, but soms-
thing Of the same spirit that led the
railroad to aid and abet the fight
seized those sturdy men who had
been summoned to stop the fight.
They remained and saw it thru.
But the militia and the sheriff. Oh
yes. There was another chapter to
the story. The soldier boys and the
officers were not participants of the
JOY of contest, but waited and waited
to make the arrests as the party Of.
fighters and onlookers arrived in
Council Bluffs. They waited many
hours and would have been waiting
yet had they remained there for
their prey. The fighting party did
not return to Council Bluffs-at
least not by the Council Bluffs, ST.
Joseph and Kansas City railroad
that day. They crossed the Missouri
river at Traders Point, now Platts-
mouth, Neb., and scattering out
reached Omaha in various ways and
by numerous routes.
Then began an official inyestiga-
ton. Who signed the train orders7