Century of Butte Stories

Heinze Loses Ping Pong Match in 1902

By John Astle

(Stories celebrating the millennium and featuring articles from Butte's newspapers during the past 100 years.)

In the early years of this century, Ping Pong, or table tennis, was the craze in Butte. The game was introduced into the U.S. in 1890. It was played in many private homes and clubs throughout Butte, including the prestigious Silver Bow Club, which in its heyday, as the exclusive organization for wealthy men, rivaled the Montana Club for millionaires in Helena.

One of the more famous Ping Pong matches in Butte was held at the club in June 1902, between F. Augustus Heinze, Butte Copper King, and William D. Mangam, vice president of the Montana Music Co. in Butte, and agent for W. A. Clark, Jr. Mangam later worked for Clark in California. In 1939, he wrote an unflattering book about the family called The Clarks of Montana.

Charles W. Clark, another son of Copper King W. A. Clark, was the referee.

The Silver Bow Club was organized in 1882. At this time, in 1902, it was located on the top floor of the Lewishon Building (Professional Building) at 30 West Granite on the Southeast corner of Hamilton Street, next to the Inter Mountain Building. The Silver Bow Club building at the corner of Granite and Alaska, was built in 1906-07. (It was later the Miners Union Hall and today is an office building).

The main match of the evening was preceded by a doubles match between four well-known, Butte capitalists.' John F. Forbis and Edward A. Morley played against Henry A. Root and Robert Grix. Forbis was a lawyer with offices at 617-619 in the Hennessy Building; Morley was president of Morley & Thomas Real Estate located in the New Bee Hive Block at 46 E. Broadway; Root was listed as a capitalist with offices in The Butte; and Grix was the secretary of the Silver Bow Club.

In anticipation of some fun, over twenty of the best known society women in Butte were present and sitting in the balcony of the ballroom. The two teams were fairly evenly matched and the contest was long drawn out. Time had to be called frequently so the players could catch their breath. Root and Grix put up a good fight but they winded early and Forbis and Morley won two out of the three matches.

In the feature match, Mangam, who had the reputation of being the best and fastest player in the club, led Heinze a merry chase. Although Heinze was a reasonably good Ping Pong player, Mangam sent red-hot serves so fast that Heinze was unable to see the ball, let alone hit it. He frequently fanned the air with his paddle. During the three rounds Heinze only suffered one knockdown, much to the amusement of the spectators.

Heinze was not in the best of condition and his profuse perspiration indicated he had not trained for the contest. An eyewitness was quoted as saying that at the end of the match, "Heinze was puffing like a quarter horse while his opponent didn't have a hair out of place."

Following the main event, several ladies engaged in a few games, showing excellent skill. One of the best games was between Mrs. Charles W. Clark and Mrs. Barry Hamilton. It was won by Mrs. Hamilton.

All of the matches were greatly enjoyed by a large crowd.