Cornish Wrestling Was Popular Sport in Butte Before the First World War

Cornish wrestling was one of the most popular sports in Butte around the turn of the century, especially with the English residents in Centerville, Walkerville, Meaderville and Butte.

However, the active participants in the sport were not all Cornishmen. The Irish and the Swedes, also, proved very proficient at the game and in many of the matches proved most worthy opponents of the Cornishmen. The sport practically died out here when the young athletes of every nationality were called to the colors during World War I.

As a matter of fact there have been no Cornish wrestling matches in the city of any importance since the summer of 1917, those who followed the sport in the old days, state.

In the summer of 1916, when the pictures accompanying this article were taken, three of the wrestlers who were not only among the best but also who were very popular hereabouts were “Bill” Kelly, who was known as “Father” Kelly; Jack Climo and George Trevenna.

The wrestlers wore canvas jackets, joined in front with small pieces of rope. One of the tricks of the game was for one wrestler to get a good hold on the ropes and swing his opponent until he could put him to the ground or floor. To win a match a wrestler had to pin him shoulders and one hip to the ground at the same time. The men were not matched as to weight as are fighters and wrestlers, but a good little man, if tricky and expert at the game, often could put down a good big man handily. It was speed and cleverness that counted most. Matches often were held at Lake Avoca on the grass and at picnics on the turf. They also were held indoors, on occasions being held in saloons. Crowley and Lockhart’s saloon on East Broadway was a favourite training place, as also was Morris Roe’s place at Timber Butte.

The wrestling followed here was dubbed the “Michigan style,” as it was said to have been introduced here by Cornishmen who had worked in the mines in upper Michigan, where the sport flourished, and brought it to Butte.

The pictures are the property of William Best of 2209 Wall street. He served overseas and was wounded in the neck and chest on Sept. 12, 1918, while fighting in France. Best followed Cornish wrestling before the war and was good at the sport but said that he liked boxing better. He once met Joe Simonich at the Broadway theater and he lost to the crack Butte welterweight. Following that he took up vocational training and for a number of years was a machinist on the hill.

Mentioning the wrestlers shown in the picture, Best said that George Trevenna was an especially clever, quick and tricky wrestler and was popular with the crowds. He is still a resident of the Mining city and is employed as an electrician on the hill by the Anaconda company. Standing with him is Jack Climo (in black trunks), who came from England and is believed to have returned there during the war. Climo was a “strong man” and could lift a sack of flour weighing 100 pounds with his teeth and place it on a bench. Shown just back of the wrestlers is Jacob Snell, an old-time wrestler and a well-known referee.

“Bill” Kelly, single picture, was an especially good man “with the jacket.” It was one of his stunts to hold the jacket tight to his body with his left hand behind him, while he sparred for a hold with his right. He is still a resident of Butte and is employed as a miner on the hill.

Other popular Cornish wrestlers during the period were Tim Harrington, now dead; Marshal Fulford, whereabouts unknown; Louis Venner, who lives in Butte and is employed as a miner; William Venner, now dead; Dick Stevens, now dead; Leonard Smith and several others, whose names were not recalled.