The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-02-28

JSS&4A W. W. SAAS e~SS ~> NAS -
and Dune Mcdonald battle for NOR
knockout in the 31st round. It was /
in the early days of the camp. Not VI
Melody and Jack OKeefe put on the
a squared circle engagement in Mons
tana to compare with it in blood, blows
The men fought for 81, 900 a side,
with the winner to receive 30 percent
of the gate receipts. The loser was to
get a paltry 10 percent. The late D. ].
Hennessy was stakeholder. Two money
plain sight of the multitude. One con-
tanned the winners prize-the other,
a smaller box than its companion, was
to go to the defeated man. It vas to
be a fight to a finish. Such a thing as
a draw was out Of the question. N. B.
Ringing was referee. He instructed the
men that if 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 wa designed
to soften the coarse seams. Two years
before Con Orem and Frank Mason
until 1892, when John L. Sullivan and
James j. Corbett fought for the heavy
weight title, we're 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
u,bo~ Iobo C,,11iyor visited P,,ffo
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 $1,000 side
bet. Sullivan posted McCoy's end, and
Jere Clifford, then as now, a close
friend Of Mcdonald, put up the Butte
amateur sparrer, but Butte fans were
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
~ 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 156 pounds and had an
altitude of six feet. Mccoy weighed in
at 142 and his height was five feet, nine.
Sheriff Addresses Crowd
Just before the fight began, Sheriff
Irwin mounted the platform and ad.
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
taken care of.
Mcdonald was given an ovation when
he entered the ring. With him were
Frank Hayes, his trainer; Frank Owens,
helper, and Bart Flowers, bottle hold
er. Mccoy was accompanied by Dan
Rice, trainer, Jerry Mullin. helper, and
E. Burke, bottle holder. N. B. Ringing
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 Ringling, in a loud, clear
voice read the articles of agreement.
He then called the principals together:
While the fighters, their seconds and
L43C 4CxC4CC "C4C l. q A4ANA4C CAAC 6AONP
was photographed by an enterprising
travelling 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 nc money, and
was sorry he could not accept the gen.
erous offer. A minute later the fight
was under way.
Round /. 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
found.
Round 2. It was even.
Round 3. Mcdonald was floored in
the third round by a 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
trainer but Referee Ringing paid no
attention to the claim.
Round 4. Mccoy was hit often in
this round. It was McDonald's.
Round S. Mcdonald almost had Nc
Coy out in this round, doing most of
the fighting. Mccoy. while helpless,
kept c1inching until the bell rang.
Round 6. In this round Mcdonald
bursted another glove as he landed a
right to the head. Two minutes were
consumed by the delay in replacing the
damaged hand cover. The round was
even.
McDonald's Hand Injured
Round 2. Blows were flying through
the air for the full three minutes with
Mcdonald having a shade. Mcdonald
reported to his seconds that his right
hand was hurt. He believed a bone was
broken.
Round 8. Mcdonald relied entirely
on his left. The crowd sensed that he
had hurt his right hand when he failed
to use it as many opportunities came
up for a right follow-up. Despite the
handicap, McCoy's nose was hit twice
and the blood flowed freely from the
damaged organ. Mcdonald had an