The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-03-13

times out" for liquid and food re-
refreshments, and for other causes,
as we'll.
1t was begun out-of-doors, under
a broiling sun, with half the rounds
staged in a shack that housed a sa:
loon. A few sticks of tallow provided
the indoor lighting effect.
Relay of Three Referees
The referee or umpire who started
officiating wa forced to quit to board
a stage for other parts. He was sue
ceeded by another party who quit the
post from WEAKNESS after three hours
of duty, who in turn was succeeded by
someone else who stayed on the job I'M
til the battle reached a conclusion.
and Bob Higgins, who could be classi-
fled as soldiers of fortune, miners and
tough hombres. The men fought with
bare fists, mixing rough and tumble
wrestling tactics with blows. They
fought with their pants" on, wore
their every day heavy boots and were
stripped to the waist. The lighters as
well as the onlookers wore long hair,
heavy mustaches and boards, the going
Lasted Nine Hours
Higgins and OKelly were not prize
fighters, so boxing record books never
chronicled the fight; there were no
newspapers then and there were no
news accounts Of the battle, as it was
a private fight, though the event was
given word-of-mouth circulation after
intermissions included, absorbed more
than nine hours of time, with more
than 200 rounds supposed to have been
fought. A round ended when a man
was knocked to the floor, OF wreStled
to the floor, or if either principal
touched a knee to the floor whether
he was hit or not, or stepped out of
the square where they were to fight.
The square or ring was six feet over
all, with a line in the center. It was
a fight to the ~finish-ending only
when one or the other combatant was
completely manned or would holler
quits" Such a thing as a decision
wasn't included in the scheme of
things.
The rules provided that either con-
testant could propose a rest period at
agreed upon. These rest periods would
allow time for liquid refreshments or
for a bite to eat or simply to get "sec-
Ond wind" A round would resume at
the pleasure of the referee, rather than
by clock.
Long intervals occurred when ref
cree changes were made. These inter-
walls were devoted to arguments on the
personalities of those proposed, rather
than on the fairness or competency OF
the nominees.
Higgins won-and by a strange man
ner. OKelly was the better fighter, but
Higgins was the best drinker. His drink
ing ability was too much for his OPP
ponent. Both were badly beaten and
bruised; their faces were cut from
punches and scratches; their chests
and bodies bore Jumps and flesh
wounds; their legs were bruised black
and blue from occasional kicks or falls.
Higgins gave up more blood and
looked much the worse of the pair.
When O'Kelly stumbled and fell from
missing a blow rather than being hit
by one, he lay o. the ground, dead
tired, liquid as well as punch drunk.
After several minutes had elapsed, and
the silence of the small group was
broken only by the nores Of OKelly
Higgins was declared the winner.
There was no purse, no side bet made
by the men who fought. They fought
only for the purpose of determining
who was the better man in a fight. It is
reasonable to suppose that bets were
made by the small gallery.
Started, Quit As Friends
OKelly and Higgins had been pals
for several years. When they hit the
post, one long since forgotten, OKelly
mentioned that he was the best man
with his dukes in the territory. Higgins
took issue with him. They argued for
many minutes, finally agreeing to 20
outside and settle the matter. A set of
rules were agreed upon. They were to
toe a mark within a small square, etc.