The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-06-11

this new th1ng-a-ma-Jlg game that
was played by ladies. The few who saw
the Fort Shaw girls in basketball action,
and those who may have read Of the
Butte exhibition, forgot, or tried to
forget about it.
Basketball was a foreign sport as
far as Butte was concerned until years
later. A local newspaper printed a series
of syndicated articles about the game,
The author Of the articles was DR.,
Naismith. The articles made an i'm
preston on n young man, who solic-
tied the aid of a newswriter, who, in
turn, wrote several stories for the Ana
mems basketball was introduced in
Butte and now has a firmer foothold
than a flock of Oregon boots.
Tom Davis Pioneer Here
The young man who started the
hoop-hoop-eray sport in Butte Is Tom
]. Davis, His partner in crime was a
reporter named Mosher. The vehicle
used in giving the sport IN Butte its
first ride was, a. stated before, The
Anaconda Standard. Now for the rest
of the story.
athleticitis had tried to interest a num-
Der of friends in taking up the game
but had no luck. On q December day
he buttonholed Newshawk Mosher, pro-
posing that q story be printed announc-
ing a meeting-a basketball organ1za-
ton meeting. The Standard office on
East Broadway was selected by laws
as the forum center. It was stated
that any and all persons lnteresteo
would be welcome to attend.
The meeting was held. The Standard
story stated that "the meeting was a
success; that it was largely attended,
adding, that basketball was assured
for Butte" A a matter Of fact, the
meeting was q twosome. DAVIS n
Mosher were the only ones to show up.
But they started something.
Bit of Barney Turned Trick .
Because the meeting was heraldeo
as a success, it was up to DaV1 70
get busy. He did. The first basketball!
team, male n female, to be organized
in Butte, appeared on the horizon: The
team was known as the wonder Five"
Faithfully the Davis henchmen prac-
ticed by the hour in a vacant store.
room, the practice sessions being halted
frequently to allow study Of the rules.
The squad was enthusiastic but the
Wonder boys were like a buggy without
a horse. There was no team to play
against. Davis invited other lads to
were assembled, the squad was divided
into two teams. The problem was solved.
Then a few more teams sprang into
being, mainly because athletes became
convinced that basketball wasn't the
sissy game it was reported to be, even
if Fort Shaw Indian girls were the
first to give it a tryout or tumble IN
Montana.
The Wonder Five team was com
posed of Davis, Henry Harvey, F1nls
Matson, Howard Matson, August Cru
merit and Tom Bolitho.
Game WeH-Founded Here
Davis organization effort was fruit
full. The game caught on. A league
was formed. Finally, Montana schools
and colleges recognized the sport as
worthy of attention and trial. When
Davis moved on to Ann Arbor to study
law, the game was fairly well estab-
lished on Butte's sports calendar. When
Tom came home with his degree, ne
took up where he left off basketball
ically. Tom was a member OF this or
that team until 1924. Kids Of newer
generations made it tough in a COM
petitive way and Tom retired to the
sidelines, as most of us do eventually.
Yes, the Anaconda Standard was
correct in reporting the basketball or
ganization meeting in 1903, a success
Saying that the meeting was largely
attended, was, one must admit, an ex-
aggeration, but Lawyer Davis, his
partner in crime, Mosher, and the
Standard can be abSolved for flbblng
about the attendance, for between them,
they created a healthy basketball COM
pick in the city of copper.