The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-02-07

SSANSN A
rank of captain.
Two days before the fight I arrived
in Billings intent on locating there.
had said goodbye to Minnesota, where
I spent -four years. I had signed to play
basketball with a team organized by
Billings business men. The team was
known as the Tribe BIS and for six
/ was to show up in October, but Eoved
in several months ahead. I sought en-
ployment with the Billings Gazette,
admitting qualifications as q printer
and reporter, but would take on any
thing available. I was offered q job IN
the circulation department, as q raw
cling solicitor. My compensation was
to be s. a day and expenses. A solicit
ing crew was at Miles City, and I was
ordered to report to the head man,
Don Hays, a brother Of Ethel Hays,
creator Of "Flapper Fanny" whose
full page cartoons decorate the first
page of the Sunday Standard maya
railroad ticket to Miles City, and Of all
things-a bicycle. Besides working the
towns, I was supposed to pedal the
country lanes and do a ranch-to-ranch
solicitation Job.
I left Billings at midnight, arriving
in Miles City about Z a. M, I woke up
Hayes, Horace Easton and another bird
named EShelman who were to be my
partners in soliciting crime; We had
that Billy Morse and Jimmy Potts were
to fight the next night. As I was q
newspaper man (thiS "a their first
venture in the game), they put it up
to me to get Annie Oakley'S for the
four of us. After breakfast, which was
the first item entered in the new ex:
pense book, we. paraded down the street
f0 Horrics NIOfhin0 Cfnro II introduced
my cohorts as members Of the Gazette
staff, reserving my own introduction as
that of sports editor, a position I &C
quired a few years later. Our Miles
City visit was for the purpose Of re-
porting the fight, or so we told Harris.
Harris embraced Us as bona fide
introduced us to Billy Tremblay, the
promoter, who fell all over us in ex-
tending invitations to enjoy choice
seats at the club expense. Then we met
Billy Morse Later in the day I ran
across Jimmy Potts, an acquaintance
of my Minnesota days before I had
abdicated to become a Montanan.
While in the Harris store I was asked
to act as master of ceremonies when
the boys were to weigh in on the NOR
row. I recall performing this rite at
the time set when I should have been
getting subscriptions.
Well, we saw the fight. I wrote some
thing about it. Hays suggested that. I
lect Is the Gazette editor would raise
| Cain about the expense. The Gazette
had some circulation in Miles City, so
q story was expected. As I wasn't going
to pay several bucks telegraph tolls out
of my own pocket, 1t was decided to
mail the story, so we gave 1t a two-
cent stamp ride. The story vas never
to be considered spot news; possibly it
was a poor piece Of writing. When the
story did not appear or the second day
following the fight crew thought
it best to move on to another town
to avoid answering embarrassing ques-
tons that Tremblay and Harris might
pot shot us with.
Glendive was our selected objective.
We bought our tickets and checked our
bicycles. It was county fair time at
Glendive and while there wasn't a
boxing match to see there. q scheduled
wrestling bout would intrigue our in
| terest. AS soon as we got off the train,
the sheriff Of Dawson county placed us
under arrest. Our embarrassment last
ed only a moment.
Hays was supposed to have paid the
tavern bill but forgot to do so. The
matter was Strengthened out imme-
diately. From the depot we moved
across the street to the Jordan hotel
but not before I had sold a six-month
subscription to the sheriff.
During my stay in Miles City I ran
across several old friends. Joe Seaman
publisher of the Star, had located there
some months before. Joe had worked
on the editorial and business staffs Of
the Grand Forks Herald when l wa!
setting type at the Times, the opposi.
ton sheet. Joe paid more attention ther
IN r,,nnirr a rnuycnorp than ha NiI r.
manipulating the !destinies of the re-
publican party in Montana, a job hi
now enjoys, though it isn't so hot tt
be national committeeman of a part!
when your party IS on the OUTSIDE
trying to look In.
The late Judge Billy WEIGH, anothe,
friend, was conducting an employment
peace as a contribution to society ant
his pocketbook. The judge at one tim
was proprietor to the opposite of
dry goods store in a Minnesota town
wnere We both had resided before W
became Montana conscious.
Miles City interested me. Fort Keogl
was q busy place: There was a hors
Automobiles were few, but all parking
space on the streets was constantly oc
lcupied by COW ponies, while cowboy
arrayed in Stetson hats, chaps, gay col
Ored Sh1rtS ana Scar1S intent on WOrl
and play. paraded in and out of tn
dry and wet goods stores. Miles Cit
lspelled West to me.
When at Billings I was ordered t
go to Miles City and had to take
bicycle with me, I wasn't keen o.; tn
assignment. Several weeks before, en-
route to Seattle from Minnesota, +
see the A. Y. P. exposition, I.awakene,
early one morning as the train stopped
From my side Of the sleeper all I coui,
see was corralls, and an occasiona
house. I was told by the porter tina
we were at Miles City. Imagine my sur
Iprise when I arrived several weeks latel
on my Gazette job, to find instead Q
a -jumping-off place, q city of 1000
a busy, colorful town. My precious pee
at the town was from the wrong sid
Iof the tracks.
As I said before, it was a fair fight
The feature to me and my pals was no
left tabs, uppercuts or blocking, "bu
crashing the gate in . foursome. Sine
il that t{UoA In 1000 T hovn 1oOlrod q