The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-09-16
BY NJ. e. PLAssMANN

1904, a prlHe uBnB GOOk place Ia
Virginia City, which awakened
throughout the territory far more
interest in proportion to the number OF
inhabitants, than did the DempSey-G1b-
bons affair at Shelby staged over so years
later. 1t was duly advertised, and because
Of the lack Of amusements in pioneer
mining camps, or their sameness, was
eagerly anticipated by the male portion
of the community.
When h time arrived for the bout, a
large assemblage gathered to witness it
and, notes the Montana Post of that
time, the fair sex was unrepresented. A
band, under the able direction of j. Held
linger, furnished music, something not
to have been expected in that stage of
territorial evolution.
The contestants were G. Orem
and Hugh O'Neil. The former a native
of Ohio; the latter, as his name o
indicate, a son Of Erin, born in the parish
of LoUghgee, County Antrim.
Orem was almost a unique of the pc
Rod, making it his doctrine to touch,
taste, or handle not either spirituous
liquors, or use tobacco in any form" He
had been in many fights, although a
comparatively young man, and was often
called the champion Of Colorado. His
age was 90. Orem is credited with having
been the first to suggest the division OF
Idaho to form a new territory-that now
known as Montana.
ONeiI Was FavOrite
O'Neil. who came to America when
very yOung, was Orem'S senior by five
years, and was considerably heavier. He
was a miner, with but little experience
in the prize ring, having fought there but
once. The men fought for $1,000 in gold,
an dthe ring money. Although the money
had its attraction for them, it is prob
able they fought because they enjoyed
the publicity and the struggle.
The betting was heavy, and mainly in
Enwrnn Of nfNTnfT wThn Tnnl-od RI ha tho
better man. The Montana Post of Janu-
airy 7, 1864, had a broadside devoted to
an account Of this momentous event,
nor would this have served to publish
the full details, had not several columns
been printed in the smallest type. l was
then living in Bannack, and VIVA knowl-
edge I gained of the affair came from
the lurid descriptions given by my cousin
Colonel Sanders, who witnessed the fight
in terms of the ring, hat were very
shocking, as he Intended it to be, to his
women hearers of that mid-Victoriar
era. AS I recall it, he brought with him
from Virginia City a leaflet or leaflets
containing the story Of the event, pub
lished in language by no means as proper
judged by the standards OF the day, a!
that which eventually appeared in thC
Post.
The Posts report of what occurred
claimed: "A gamer, harder fight wa
never contested in the prize ring. Americi
AAAU AAGAdAAA may a ~ "a wi
Orem, nothing but temperance, skill
activity and u~nflinching heroism enabled
him to hold out against So pounds eXtrj
weight backing a man who was as brav
as a lion. C~Owardice, or anything un
manly cannot be named in connection
with this fight. No harder or more tryin
contest can ever, we venture to say, b
seen here or elsewhere. We sincerely hop
that such men may never meet AGAR
OF pugiIistic hOnors they must have ha
Goes 1873 bounds
A few excerpts from the Post may pas
the censor, and give a slight idea no
the fight terminated.
"1O3 Round. Orm got in his right o
his opponents ribs, closed and fell back
wards, laughing at him, and crossing h
hands or his bosom.
1O4 Round. Nothing remarkable. Orel
slipped down.
"i26 Round. Orem's left eye closin
Nothing but misses registered. Ore,
slipped down.
"134 ROund Lively, but no harl
done. Orem down.
"159 Round. Orem punching Hug
At the close, Orem down.
III Round. Wild exchanges. No harI
Orem down"
Then by way OF variety, we are il
formed that in rounds 176 and 178 ONC
is down. Following came the last roun
the 188th, when Con severely punishI
by ONe1l while slipping down."
BY this time the crowd seem to ha
witnessed enough for 'at this junctu
a sudden feeling seemed to animate t
hackers Of both men mot the mem al
the referee was called on by both parti
to get the matter arranged" This "
accordingly effected to the joyous sat
faction Of every rue blue present. b
off. Ring money divided. With this col
promise, the first Montana prize fig
ended.
Those rough miners who had bet tn
money on one or the other man, shoW
their magnanimity by giving it I
They had their faults, which they W,
at no pains to conceal, but even I
worst of them could be generous. Wit
out their consent to call off the be
the two contestants would nav foug
to a finish which might ia been ia
to one or both.
Undoubtedly, O'Neil was the victor.
called his opponent THE best mar
ever saw, and had a right to the title
Con Orem The Fearless"
Music Is Feature
On entering the ring, reported
Post, "ONetl wore green with the
Harp embroidered in full. Con sporte
single star on a black ground with a
border. Round his waist was girded
Stars and Stripes with the eagle,
bearing the motto, May the Best n
VIM"
The band, known as Waugh's, discoJ
ing sweet music, which the Post
clared was "alike creditable to the 7
sicians n enlivening to the audier
was a marked feature Of the occas
How many instruments constituted
and what they were, is not mention
It is enough to discover that as such
early date music Of that kind was ex
ing its charm.
The first Helena band purchased t