The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-30
DEMPSEY-GIBBONS BOUT
 SAVED AS THE THIRD PAYMENT IS PLEDGED
Twenty Men Promise S5,000 Each To See That Titular Scrap Goes Through

(By Associated Press. .)-The Jack Dempsey Tommy Gibbons heavy weight championship, fight twice threatened with collapse within the last two weeks, because of financial crisis, has cleared the last hurdle, and will be decided in Shelby July 4, as scheduled. The final s100,000 of Dempsey's $300,000 guarantee was raised tonight from 20 influential business men of the state, who, pledged $5,00o each.
 George H. stanton, president of the Stanton Trust and Savings bank. who personally advanced s5O,000 to make Dempsey's second s100,000 install- ment ten days ago, made the positive announcement that the final install- ment had been raised and that it would be available in cash not later than tomorrow night. Mir. Stanton said that the money, however, would not be turned over to Jack Kearns, Dempsey's manager, until Monday the date on which the payment falls due.
 The raising of tho $100,0oo is one of the most remarkable financing achievements in the history of glove fighting. After all plans had failed, Mir. Stanton conceived the Idea of appealing to 20 men throughout the state, most ofthem life long friends.
  Montana. meaning the heavyweight championship battle at Shelby.
 For Montnna's Honor.
 Going into conference in hotel room with R. F.. kyers, a former cir cult judge of Livingston and Maj. J. E. Lane. Stanton and his associates began the task of sending out tele- grams and in five hours after the work was started, had received the pledges assuring the s100,oo0. The conferences were begun this mornin g when it became evident that imme- diate action was necessary to dispel the doubt that had surrounded the fight since the condition of the finances was disclosed last Wednes- day through the resignation of Dan Tracy as business manager.
 "The committee authorize me to announce" MT. Stanton said. the S100,000 due Jack Dempsey next Monday, has been raised. and will be in cash in the banks here not later than tomorrow night. Much of 1t has been subscribed in cash from our loyal friends in Great Falls, but the amounts subscribed in other cities of the state cannot reach here before tomorrow.
 We felt that Montana owed it to the world to stage this fight and we simply went out to raise the money at all costs. It would have been a disgrace to have had the fight called off after so many thousands of dol lars had been invested andeDempsey and Gibbons had reached the end of their training. There would have been no possible way to have stopped the people from coming here from distant points and the reflection that would have been cast on the state would have been far-reaching in ef- feet.
 Northwest To. Put It Over.
 It is our judgment that the north vest will put the fight over. The
 lgotas, Wyoming, Idaho, Washing "a Oregon and western Canada will
 Id at least 15,000 people to Shelby. S is quite possible ,thata the fiEhi sill result in a loss, due to the turn of events the last two weeks. We expect it. but it cannot be helped The people who are interested in this thing are game enough to stand a loss just to see it through.
 'The twenty men subscribing tc the s100,000 fund will receive their from seat sales and will take over a one third interest in the moving pie taure rights, which was surrendered by Loy J. Molumby. the original pro- moter, and Mayor Johnson of Shelby. treasurer of the fight. Tho reason
  900 to Kearns in advance was be- cause some of the men who contrib uted are disposed to follow the lead taken by the champions manager and adhere rigidly to the conditions of the contract.
 Kearns' attitude, that Kearns Is not overly anxious to have Dempsey light Gibbons and would get out of the fight if he could. Dempsey is under contract to fight Gibbons on July 1 and we are going to see that he does just that"
 Kearns, face was wreathsd in smiles when the word was brought him that the $1oo.ooo had been raised.
 q felt confident all along that the money would be ready for Dempsey and 1 have turned down every offer made mo to take the fight elsewhere. because we were anxious to make good on the Shelby fight" said Kearns. "These people deserve a lot of credit for their gameness in rais- ing this money and l am glad that the last doubt has been removed from circumstances affecting it." Jack Is Pleased.
 Out at his training camp on the banks of the Missouri river. Dempsey was just sitting down to hiS evening meal, surrounded by his staff of spar ring partners, when the word reacneo him.
 ''That's the best news I've heard to- day. the champion said. I'm mighty pleased. Talk about fighters being game, these Montana people have got 1t all over them.
 Citizens of Great Falls breathed . sigh of relief when the word spread up one street and down another that the fight was on. Jim Johnson, the e0-year-old mayor of Shelby. who has financially backed the fight from the start. having already sunk S150,00t in tho enterprise, was as happy as g boy.
 Dempsey did no boxing today, be- cause Manager Kearns considers that the champion Is at the peak of his form and he wants him to finish box ing tomorrow and Sunday. The heavyweight champion took a pair ot rounds at the light punching bag