The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-02-21
Montana
Ring Tales

By JOE L. MARKHAM
Montana State Athletic Commission

&c
Many exciting moments marked t
Butte July 8, 1919, between Soldier
Ortego, Mexican flash. The bout went
to Ortego. They elaborated in turnir
modify known in sporting circles as a
conscious, so the match was patroni,
adding interest, Jack Dempsey, on the
lard for the heavyweight championship
which Jack purloined, resorting to
giant killer methods. Then, too, a state
wide campaign was on to place box
ing on a legal basis again. Butte wa
staging an old-time Fourth Of July
celebration, which would attract many
to the Mining city.
The card was a honey, for Bart
field was one Of the best middleweights
while Ortego's ability was far from be-
ing a secret to Butte fans.
Boxers Wildly Cheered
Every seat in the Broadway was sold
but the seat holders were moi sitting
minded. Time and again the spectators
were on their feet to cheer the battlers
as they staged a fist bombardment in
out savage attacks in close combat.
It was the sort of fight that gener-
ated crowd enthusiasm. As each round
progressed, the audience became more
excited. The crowd who witnessed the
Notre Dame-O Ohio State classic last
fall couldn't have been more hysterical
or vocal than the boxing fans who
found refuge in and liked the blow
barrage enacted at the Broadway the
fireworks were something to watch.
Ortego won by constantly rushing the
soldier. He out-gunnered Bartfield with
damaging blows, though many times
Bartfield would come through with q
terrific onslaught of blows that COM
pletely bewildered the Mexican, who
proved that he could take it as well as
distribute it.. Before the bout had
testants were s1sr bleeding freely as ST the re-
suit of their furious fighting. The
crowd was given plenty Of mileage for
''S n Action From the Start
With the clang Of the opening gong,
Ortego rushed at Fairfield, determined
to set a hot pace; He stormed the east;
instead Of backing away. waded right
in. The fast cadence was picked up by
the soldier, and the fans realized that
they were on a fist sightseeing tour.
The gloved battlers cottoned to the
hard milling. Certain it was that the
crowd liked it.
Whenever the peace was lessened, it
ortego:s role to start another rally.
tense and defense but the Mexican was
intent only on attack. The numerous
exchanges, always led by Ortego, had
the crowd groggy.
The soldier was on the short end
of the first two rounds. He took the
third, warming to the pace set, and in
this stanza slipped over several hard
was fast, too, with the closing minute
of the round bringing out q toe-to-toe
exchange. The boys didn't hear the
bell and had to be parted. Ortego moved
in front in the fifth round, and again
in the sixth. Bartfield had his inning
in the seventh. The eighth round was
even. From the ninth on ortego was the
for the occasional rally the soldier
would turn loose. Ortego was the best
conditioned of the two, and condition
was bound to tell in the gruelling and
fast contest.
One of the Best
The Standard sports writer vas sold
on the bout as a peacherino. Here is
graph:
tests in the state for the last 20 years
are enthusiastic in their. declaration
that this bout was the fastest, hardest
contest, and the best fight that has
ever been staged in Butte in the. last
two decades. The only other n which
seems to compare with this match was
the Ortego-King bout held at Deer
Lodge last year. Referee Mcintosh new
er had to notify the boxers to keep
moving. While it was a h%ard-fought
contest, the bout seemed to referee
itself. The decision was a popular one,
and both boys deserve a world of
praise for the great battle they put up"
John Mcintosh, also writing for the
Standard, had the following to say:
LAS I pen these lines the sweat pours
humble efforts to referee one of the
grandest ring battles in the history of
the state. Those who were fortunate
enough to see the fight between Crtego
and Bartfield. witnessed q gladiatorial