The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-09-13
BY JOE l.. MARKHAM
Montana State Athletic Commission

The lumber for the arena was not paid
for. This 10000 item was irone6 out
by promises to pay, if, and as much as
could be raised by subscription from
Shelby and Great Falls merchants. plus
the return of the lumber to the dealers
who thought they had made a sale.
A day before the fight Frank Walker
to him like a Dutch uncle" insisting
that the bout go on. Kearns was cross,
obstinate, pictorial, declaring that he
would have to get every last penny his
contract called for, before Jack would
get into the ring.
Fight is ~On Again"
A special train from Butte, leaving
the night before the Fourth, was delay
ed for an hour in the Butte yards, wait
ing for confirmation from Shelby that
all was well. In the last 48 hours be-
fore the fight, confusion was the primo
ipal commodity at Shelby. Hysteria,
caused wholesale cancellation of special
trains from the coast, Twin Cities,
Chicago, Denver and elsewhere. At
least 10000 Montana fans were kept
away by the crazy maneuvers.
Came the big day. Eighty five per-
cent OF the crowd were Montanans.
Those who arrived in the little town
that morning Immediately inquired if
the bout had been called off again.
Delay Proceedings
The gates were thrown open at noon.
But the show was delayed as long as
possible. The crowd sat in the broiling
sun on new lumber for several hours
after the scheduled starting time. May
be Kearns was waiting for some of the
special trains that never moved. Ticket
prices were cut to half. Kearns was at
the box office, ready to claim every
cent that came in. It was Kearns who
finally signalled for the show to go on.
About $4,000 was the haul Kearns
and Dempsey collected for the "Snelby
fiasco."
When the show was over, the crowd
gave Gibbons a great ovation. Dempsey
was hurried from the ring to his special
train. He was fed up with the whole
thing. Here was the champion winning
a fight and taking it on the chin from
the mob. Hero worship was given to
the defeated challenger. Hosannas
were dedicated to Gibbons and cat calls
for the champion, principally because
Kearns, his manager, assumed the role
of dictator, cashier and promoter, eau
ing uncertainty, lack of interest, and fl
nancial loss to the project. Gibbons
was a nideal underdog, capturing SEN
AAgOACoC ~ "41O4Cod1C 1OUS. nc
and his manager, Eddie Kane, all
through the troublesome final days of
and financial difficulties,
insisted that they would go through
with the match even if they did not re-
celve a penny. The crowd rallied to
Gibbons banner. Jack was to get
$4,000 or most of it. Gibbons was
to be out of pocket for training ex-
penseS. Gibbons was not conceded a
chance to win; he was lighter, he was a
boxer, not a savage fighter like the
champ. He was the underdog and
fandom adopted him as their pet, hop
Ing q miracle would take the champion
ship away from Dempsey.
&C" Men Move In
On the day Of the bout, Kearns and
internal revenue clerks were at the
ticket headquarters, a store space on
the main stem. The $50 seats were al
most barren when the show did start.
The $40 seats got a big play though
many selected $50 locations. After a
few rounds of the main event had been
a grand rush. vas made to the
better seats. It would have taken an
army to stop this parade. The top half
Of the arena was, vacant as the hun
dreds Of plated, unsold lots at the edge
Of town.
About $50 fans from Butte saw the
battle. A gang headed by Frank and
Tom Walker, Joe and Charlie Mudro,
Abe Delovage, DR.. F. A. Ironside and
10 others chartered several pullman
coaches two nights before the Fourth.
. special train left Butte the night be-
tore with 200 fans. It was q gay crowd
sc the special train. Those who wish