The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1923-07-13

Our fellow tOwnsman A. j. Nc
Nally returned Sunday afternoon
from Shelby Montana where he
went to take in the national cham
pion boxing match, in which Tom
Gibbons of St. Paul challenged
Jacg Dempsey to fight for the re-
tension of the coveted title.
Mr.. McNally left here on We'd
nesday June 9th for the scene OF
the big match. On the 18th he
reached Sheridan, Wyoming, where
his brother r. E. McNally is !;
prosperous lawyer. The two bro
theirs enjoyed fine visit until tn,
time came to depart for Shelby
Roads were very bad owing t.
much rain and a large group
fight fans, gathered in the Wyom
ing city, decided to charter Pull
man, for the remainder of tbs
more than five hundred miles
the Mecca of boxing fans. At l.
noon, July 4th. their special train
rolled into Shelby following Demp
sey's special train into town.
The little Montana town, whicl
so boldly had stepped forth t.
make name for itself, was one
surging mass of humanity, al
bound for the big fight. Ever,
available room in town was taken
up. Stands and concessions appear
ed everywhere. There were tent
for lodgings and for meals as wei
as short orders. Shelby was appal
emily taking no chances on letting
any one leave town hungry, TO-
they said that they had food TO
fifty thousand guests, the numbe
they expected to attend.
The crowd streamed out of towr
for a mile where the big arena
covering six acres, had been built
The wooden structure had been put
up out of rented lumber at a cos
of $4,000. The fighting stage its
elf was only about twenty fee
square in the center OF the BIZ
bowl.
1.-The best seats were twent!
dollars" said Mr.. McNally,. We go
right in and obtained a seat YER!
close to the stage where we had {
full view of what would go on.
Many of the fight pilgrims ap
parently w ere unwilling to pan
with twenty perfectly good U. 5
smoleums. They bought the chea
per seats on the outer ring OF the
bowl. Just before the battle be
yan however, these people rushed
down closer to the arena and IN
to the higher priced seats. Sew
eral fistic encounters ensued, bu
the police protection was made
ouate to cope with this disorder
for at the same time crowd OF
thousands, who had been holding
off outside, unwilling to pay the
high pricec asked, broke through
the fence surrounding the aren'
and rushed into the seats.
Mr.. McNally had a good chance
to size up the crowd and it appear
ed from his seat that the seat
were about half taken, thus accou'
nting for an attendance of about
$4,000.
At three O'Clock the patience ol
the enthusiasts, waiting there IN
the blistering hot sun for the
things to come, were rewarded by
witnessing a preliminary match he
tween Jack Mcdonald and Ernie
Sayles, the latter of whom wa;
knocked out in the second round
Next German of Kenosha, Wis.
a sparring partner of Tom Gibbons
nut on the gloves against Harry
Drake of London, England, a spar
ring partner of Jack Dempsey. II
teh eighth round the American
downed the Englishman
Shortly afterwards Dempsey and'
and his followers entered the gian'
saucer. There was some cneer
ing on the part Of the friends O
the champion, who occupied th'
he could sit with his back agalns
the hot sun.
About five minutes later. gam'
Tommy yGibbons entered and re
ceiyed a thundering reception fro'
the crowd, which arose in bod
TO cheer the Minnesotan in hi
brave undertaking..
The battle began in earnest a
four o'clock and an hour OF fas