Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-03
FINAL 100000
NOT PAID kEARNS
! IN BIG BOUT CRISIS

Shelby, Mont, July Z.--(By The
A. P.)--Whetfner there II fight or
fiasco. whether the hackers Of the
with a bad taste or reap rich re-
wards, the little town OF Shelby IL
no longer little. With crowds be-
ginning to arrive from all directions
today, this municipality, began TO
take on the appearance of q metrop-
oils.
Last January 1t was estimated
that Shelby had a population of 400.
Today residents are claiming all the
way from 1000 to 1900 present or
accounted for. And enthusiastic
ones confidently expect these to be
doubled by Wednesday.
All trains reaching here are crowd
ed with visitors. Others are coming
in on horseback, on foot, in wagons,
buggies, and automobiles.
The crisis broke this afternoon
when Major ]. +. Lane, trustee of
the promoters. admitted that the
100000 due Dempsey on his $500
600 guarantee not later than mid
night tonight had not been raised
and that he saw no prospects of rails
ing it until bundle Of money
dropped from the sky.
Calling the newspaper correspon-
dents into a hotel room, Major Lane
told them that any statement call
ing off the bout must come from
Jack kearns or 10y J. Molumby OF
Great Falls, who signed the articles
of agreement when the match was
made in Chicago early in the spring.
Molumby declined to remain in
( the room while the announcement
was being made to the newspaper
men, although he was twice request
! ed by Major Lane to stay. Molum-
by edged out of the room, saying
that he probably would have q state
ment to issue later
Kearns, who has held out for the
complete fulfillment of Dempsey
contract, said he would not have any
statement to make until midnight,
at which time the limit for the pay
ment of Dempsey's final $lOO.COO in
stallment expires. The heavyweight
champions manager gave threaten
| ing indications however; that he
would leave town with the champion
unless the money was paid.
Major Lane declined to reveal how
much money had been raised and
also declined to issue formal state
| ment after he and his assistants an
nounced their retirement from al
connection with financing the fight
His remarks were made informal
ly.
1.-The committee which Friday ac-
copied the job of attempting to
raise the final installment of $1OO,OW
due Dempsey tonight at midnight
| has been unable to procure the need
ed money" he said. Our mission
| is ended and we are retiring from
any participation in the financing OF
the fight
1T is our opinion the fight cannot
! be held unless the 100000 is raised
before midnight. l do not know ii
it can be done. l doubt it,"
George ii. Stanton, the Great Falls
banker, who personally advanced
| $50, 600 two weeks ago to make up
the second 100000 due Dempsey
declared he had no statement to
make.
"AlI I care to say is that some of
the men we had depended upon to
contribute to this fund evidently
got cold feet after they had given
us their pledges to help" Mr.. STAN
ton said.
While the sporting world was in
suspense over the 100000 payment
there was one spot in Great Falls
where normally ruled quietly and
supreme. That spot was Dempsey's
training camp. There was not a
whisper or a ripple in camn to in