Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-02-22

IN the early Gays Oh Tie camp. MOI u
Melody and Jack OReefe put on tn
a squared circle engagement IN Mon
tana TO compare with 1t In blood, blows
The men fought for $1,000 a side
with the winner TO receive 80 percent
of the gate receipts. The loser was to
get paltry 10 percent. The late D. J.
Hennessy was stakeholder. Two money
boxes we're on the ring platform In
plain sight Of the multitude. One con-
tanned the winners prtze--tf1e other,
a smaller box than its companion, was
to 60 to the defeated man. It was to
be q fight to a finish, such 4 thing as
a draw was out Of the question. NJ B.
Ringing was referee. He instructed the
men that II necessary they would have
to fight all day, and through the night !;
that there must be a winner and loser +;
he warned the principals against foul
| ing, stating that the fight could not
terminate in such a manner.
The articles Of agreement called for
the men to wear hard Montana gloves
that were to be soaked in castor oil.
Hard Montana gloves meant nothing
more than common buckskin driving
| gloves. The castor oil bath was designed
to soften the coarse seams. Two years
before Con Orem and Frank Mason
had introduced gloves In Butte. Not
until 1892, when John L. Sullivan and
James j. Corbett fought for the heavy
weight title, were boxing gloves used
in a championship fight. Montana
was In the vanguard to the introduction
and adoption of cushioned mitts.
The McCoy-McDonald bout was
Matched a number of months before
when John L. Sullivan visited Butte
with a galaxy Of pugilistic stars. Nc
Coy was In the party. He was chal-
lenged by Mcdonald Pete held the
title as champion of American middle
weights. He insisted on a 81 900 side
bet Sullivan posted McCoy's end, and
Jere Clifford, then as now, a close
friend Of Mcdonald, put up the Butte
mans thousand. Mcdonald was an
amateur sparrer, but Butte fans we're
Of the opinion he was the best In the
country. When time for the match
rolled around, Mccoy quit the Sullivan
touring party to come TO Butte, re-
joining John L. at Cleveland, o., after
his victory over Dune.
Mccoy, a native of Ireland, was then
81 years old. Mcdonald was born in
Nova Scotia, and had seen % years
of life. In height and weight, the Butte
man had a decided advantage, McDon-
aid weighed 1856 pounds and had an
altitude of six feet. Mccoy weighed in
at 142 and his height was. five feet, nine.
SueFnTE ADDRESSES CT0Wu
Just before the fight began, Sheriff
Irwin mounted the platform and adj
dressed the crowd. He announced he
was not there to endorse prize fighting,
and while such contests were of doubt
full propriety, there was no law upon
the statute books to prohibit friendly
meetings with gloves. He proposed that
the bout be conducted In an orderly
manner and that anyone who attempt
ed to disturb the peace and quiet OF the
assembly would be dealt with as dis
turbers of the peace elsewhere are
taken care of.
Mcdonald was given an ovation when
he entered the ring With him we're
Frank Hayes his trainer; Frank Owens,
helper and Bart Flowers, bottle hold
err Mccoy was accompanied by Dan
Rice, trainer, Jerry Mullin, helper, and
<. Burke, bottle holder. N B. Ringing
kindly consented to act as referee. T. |
e. Julian umpired for Macdonald and |
Bert Mosby performed the same office |
for Mccoy. Tommy Rogan and another |
gentleman were appointed as timekeep- |
erS. Referee Ringing, in a loud, clear
voice read the articles of agreement. /
He then called the principals together.
While the fighters, their seconds and /
the referee were in huddle, the group /
was photographed by an enterprising /
photo artist. Mccoy, Just be-
fore the men went to their corners, Of >
fered to bet $500 with his opponent.
Dune told him he had no money, and
was sorry he could not accept the gem
erous offer. A minute later the fight
was under way.
Dune Draws Blood
Round l. With a bound both men
came to the scratch and started ex-
changing blows. Mccoy was first to
score. With a blow to the head. Nc
Donald let loose with a singing right
to Pete's nose. causing blood to flow.
The round was given to the Butte boy.
As Dune went to his corner he discov-
cred that the glove on his right hand
was split open. A delay of four min
utes occurred before another could be
found.
Round 2. 1t was even.
Round 8. Mcdonald was floored In
the third round by hard right to the
jaw but got up before the count of 10.
He was sent to the grass again, and
before he got on his feet Mccoy hit
nim. A foul was claimed by McDonaid's
trainer but Referee Ringing paid no
attention to the claim.
Round A. Mccoy was hit often In
his round. 1t was McDonald'S.
Round S. Mcdonald almost had Me
Coy out in this round, doing most Of
he fighting Mccoy, while helpless,
rept c1inching until the bell rang.
Round 6. In this round Mcdonald
Jursted another glove as he landed o
light to the head. Two minutes were
consumed by the delay in replacing the
damaged hand cover. The round was
wen.
MeDenaId's Hand Injured
Round T. Blows were flying through
he air for the full three minutes with
Mcdonald having q shade. Mcdonald
exported to his seconds that his right
land was hurt. He believed bone was
lrOken
Round 8. Mcdonald relied entirely
N his left. The crowd sensed that he
lad hurt his right hand when he failed
o use IL as many opportunities came
10 for a right follow-up Despite the
handicap, McCoy's nose was hit twice
nd the blood flowed freely from thel
damaged organ. Mcdonald had an
dge.
Round 8. Mccoy cut McDonaIds lipl
NTH the first blow. Pete became bold
Vhen Mcdonald confined his fighting
o one hand. 1t was the Champions
nsnrnG