Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-12-15
By EDWARD b. REYNOLDS

Anything could happen in Butte
and probably everything did--es-
pecially when it came to boxing.
Old-timers in Butte like their
fighters tough. They like scrappers
that can take it as well as dish it
out. They like battlers like Stanley
Ketchel and Montana Jack Sulli-
van. OF course, they may be preju-
diced on those two because ketchel
and Sullivan made Butte their
stamping grounds for long periods
of time. Old timers call them Butte
his home in the Mining city. In
fact his niece, Jane Marie, is now
attending Montana State univer-
sity.
Montana has seen some real battles
in its day. not to mention the Demp-
sey-Gibbons fiasco at Shelby. One of
the longest fights on record was
fought on Jan. 2, 1865, at Virginia
City during the gold rush, John
O'Neil, 100 pounds, battled for three
hours and five minutes under the old
London prize rules. The bout went 1856
rounds. Mccoy and Mcdonald fought
it out on the Flats in Butte in 1888.
John L. Sullivan, Joe Cans, Battling
Nelson-in fact, most of the top
notchers tossed leather in Butte in
llle early OtyS.
The point is that Butte's old-timers
some real fighters, but out of all OF
them, there is one that brings genuine
expressions of awe whenever it is dis
cussed. This is the famous 105-round
battle. fought at the old Crystal
Springs roadhouse, few miles out OF
Butte, on Dec. IS, 1889. 1t was a finish
fight between g. H. Ward and John
T41 he toll, trrI1n IN
know when he was licked.
fight are in the record books on box
ing, although, If records must be had
search of the musty old files Of the
prosecuting attorney of Silver Bow
county should reveal adequate proof
of the affair. The battle was fought
under London prize ring rules and
Ward died of injuries received.
tiquity Neither Ward nor Gallagher
were professional fighters: Ward was
a carpenter and Gallagher a miner
According to some, there was dis
pute over a bill for services which
Ward rendered to Gallagher. Accord
ing to others, one of the men had
made disrespectful remark about a
other At any rate, it was decided by
the pair that they would settle their
differences by fighting a finish battle
for a side bet. AS finish prize fighting
was against the law, preparations for
the battle were made in utmost Sc
crecy Both men were about the same
size. weighing IT'S to 100 pounds each
1t was an exclusive match as far
as the spectators were concerned, al
though it was heavily attended Each
spectator had to be definitely aligned
with one of the fighters and the num-
Der of spectators were limited so that
each side would have precisely the
same number in case a battle royal
started. At 8 o'clock in the evening
everything was in readiness.
Ward opened the fight by plastering
Gallagher all over the ring. Gallagher
was the first to fall, ending the first
round. Ward completely outclassed
him. In the 4sth round Gallagher's
left arm was broken between the wrist
and the elbow, but he still wouldn't
quit. He kept on with his arm dang
ling at his side, fighting only with
his right. Ward landed Furnishing blows
until Gallagher's body became q red
and purple mass Of bruises. HIS face