Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-03-16

- tAAS 4AAASl since DEMPSEY
became champion. DEMPSEY won n
rounds, while Gibbons danced and hon
stepped around the ring. occasionaIIy
slipping right or left to Demusev's
face, then eluding danger by going int
a clinch or backing away.
Gibbons waged defensive fight. sell
dom assuming the aggressive deter
mined only to stay the limit. He did
giving the crowd its only satisfvinp
Gibbons seemed thoroughly exhausted
TOO many body and rabbit punches
had taken the starch out of him. AS
he came out for the last round. Tom
my was visibly all in. It is doubtful
II ne could have gone on much fur
Their. He was a hero to the crowd
though ne lost. Dempsey weighed 1876:
Gibbons, 178.
Affair Was Mismanaged
Poor direction, mismanagement mis-
understandings, reorganizations, trus-
teeShipS, citations, SubpoenaS, accusa-
tons. denfals and other screwv items
nearly wrecked the show, though it
was certainly bad bent. The bout was
arranged months before July 4. The
arrangements were satisfactory to
champion and challenger; articles were
signed: training camps set up: pub
nclCy was creating widespread interest.
all was serene and regular until 10
days before the big event was to take
place, and then hell broke loose. The
1lrSt payment to Kearns and Dempsev
OF the $4,000 guaranteed then fell
due, and was not paid. The amount
was hundred grand. Kearns broke
INTO print with a verbal barrage,
threatening to call off the show. In
a lew Gays the money was paid, so
everything was lovely again or was
until the second 100000 was due,
three days before the fight. Confer
ences occurred every few minutes. The
promoters announced that the fight
would go on. Kearns insisted that it
wouldn't. Numerous attempts were
made to straighten the tangle.
The bankers moved inland out.
Then a group Of 20 Montana sports
men, headed by Gene Lane of Lewis
town. assessed themselves $4,000 each,
so DempSeys second installment was
received and receipted for Kearns de-
clared the final installment of $4,000
should be forthcoming on July or
else-and he was sure mad, mean, mer-
cenary and stubborn.
Another precinct was heard from.
The lumber for the arena was not paid
for. This 100000 item was ironed out
by promises to pay. if, and as much
as could be raised by subscription
from Shelby and Great Falls mer-
chants, plus the return of the lumber
TO the dealers who thought they had
made a sale.
A day before the fight, Frank
Walker of Butte met with Kearns. He
talked to him like a Dutch uncle"
insisting that the bout go on. Kearns
was cross, obstinate, dictatorial, declar-
ing that he would have to get every
last penny his contract called for be-
fore Jack would get into the ring
Fight Is ION Again"
A special train from Butte leaving
the night before the Fourth, was de-
layed for an hour in the Butte yards, !
waiting for confirmation from Shelby
that all was we'll In the last 48 hours
before the fight, confusion was the
principal commodity at Shelby. Hys-
terra, doubt, disgust and the element
Of time caused wholesale cancellation
of special trains from the coast, Twin |
Cities, Chicago, Denver and elsewhere. |
At least 10000 Montana fans were |
kept away by the crazy maneuvers.
Came the big day. Eighty-five per-
cent OF the crowd were MontananS !
Those who arrived In the little town |
that morning Immediately inquired If |
the bout had been called off again.
Delay Proceedings
The gates were thrown open at noon. |
But the show was delayed as long as |
possible. The crowd sat in the boiling |
sun on new lumber for several hours |
after the scheduled starting time. |
Maybe Kearns was waiting for some |
of the special trains that never moved. I
Ticket prices were cut to half. Kearns |
was at the box office, ready to claim
every cent that came in. 1t was KearnS |
who finally signaled for the show to
go on. About $4,000 was the haul
Kearns and Dempsey collected for the |
SHELBY fiasco."
When the show was over the crowd
gave Gibbons a great ovation. Dempsey
was hurried from the ring to his spe-
cial train. He was fed up with the |
whole thing. Here was the champion
winning a fight and taking 1t on the
chin from the mob Hero worship was
given to the defeated challenger. Ho-
sannas were dedicated to Gibbons and
catcalls for the champion, principally
because KearnS his manager, assumed
the role of dictator, cashier and pro-
moter, causing uncertainty, lack of in
terest and financial loss to the project.
Gibbons was an ideal underdog, cap
turing sentimental interest in whole
sale lots. He and his manager, Eddie
Kane, all through the troublesome
final days Of promotional and financial
insisted that they would go
through with the match even If they
did not receive penny. The crowd
rallied to Gibbons banner. Jack was to
get $4,000 or most of 1t. Gibbons was
10 be out OF pocket for training ex-
penses. Gibbons was not conceded a
chance to win; he was lighter; he was
4 boxer, not savage fighter like the
champ. He was the underdog and fan
iom adopted him as their pet, hoping
l miracle would take the championship
away from Dempsey.
&C" Men Move In
On the day of the bout Kearns and
internal revenue clerks were at the
ticket headquarters, a store space on
he main stem. The $50 seats were
almost barren when the show did start.
The $40 seats got big play though
many selected $50 locations After a
ew rounds of the main event had been
vRged, grand rush was made to the
setter seats. 1t would have taken an
lrmy TO stop this parade The top half
a q o. 49, t4ss~@ |