Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1911 — Page 3

WAS A WILD RIDE

KXCITINQ EXPERIENCE OF COBB, MULLIN AND DONOVAN IN PHILADELPHIA. ' +■' ———■«■■!■ I TESTS NERVES OF PLAYERS Barney Oldfield Did Not Offioiate on Return Trip—“ Death Valley Jim” Scott’s Hard Luck Story—Evans as a Comedian.

By HUGH S. FULLERTON.

> George Mullln, Bill Donovan and Ty Cobb, feeling rich because they were reporters Instead of ball players during the world’s series, decided to buy a touring car to take them to the game and back In Philadelphia on the second day Of the series. They had employed a taxi cab the first day, and had tipped the driver liberally to wait for them and take them back to the hotel after the game. Of course he failed to be there and they wasted a couple of hours getting to the hotel via Philadelphia street cars, which make people from other cities quit kicking on their transportation facilities. They decided not to be caught the second day, so for $25 they employed a young man who was peddling a touring car to take them to the game, wait and biding them back/ The three Tiger stars climbed Into the tonneau and started. The driver threw on the high speed and the car leaped down Chestnut street 40 miles an hour, swung into Twentieth on two wheels, scraped a hub against a post, scratched the side of a trolley car and shot toward the park. At the boulevard the auto ran straight at a street car, swerved ; just as the motorman reversed his car and jumped, went over the fender, swung onto the sidewalk and cleared a post by half an Inch.

At Girard avenue the auto shot over the fender of a passing car, bumped an express wagon, righted itself and went on. At that time the driver had abandoned the wheel and was changing his gear so the car went onto the sidewalk, lurched back, scraped along the side of the street car, missed a wagon an inch and plowed on up the hill. At Ridge avenue the auto hit. the head of a horse whose owner had jerked him' back onto his haunches, swerved between two street cars, bumped a mall wagon squarely In the middle and tossed It onto the sidewalk, missed another car by a hair’s breadth and tore on, the only damage being that the driver’s hand was cut to pieces by flying glass. Prom there it was pretty clear sailing, except that the driver twice took the sidewalk to pass cars, and once bumped a horse out of the way, raced at 30 miles an hour through the crowd crossing the bridge to the ball park and pulled up at the entrance. Neither Cobb nor Mullln had spoken a word during the wild ride, but Donovan had leaned over a couple of times to remind the driver that he was a married man and his family might mjss him. The trio climbed out a little bit nervous and much relieved. "Say, you loafer, are you drunk or trying to kill us?” demanded Donovan. “Pal,” remarked Mullln, "if I had your speed and curves I’d be the greatest pitcher In the world.” They lined up facing the driver, who calmly removed his goggles and grinned. He was Barney Oldfield and had borrowed the driver’s car and taken

Testing the Players’ Nerves.

his place at the wheel to test the nerves of the players. He tested them all right. .They got another driver to take them back. "Thb toughest game of ball I ever lost,” remarked Jim Scott, “Death Valley Jim” the White Sox call him, “was up at Bis bee when I was pitching for the Imperial team in the Desert leagued It was a hot day and 1 was going fine until along in the fifth inning they had a couple of men on bases and some one hit a long fly to the center fielder. He was standing under the ball ready td catch it, when a rattlesnake commenced rattling, and he turned and ran for a club to kill it with. Before he killed the snake three runs had scored and we were two behind. We tied them up in the seventh and in the eighth, with a man on bases the batter hit a little bounder right at the short stop. Just as it was going to bound into his hand the ball hit a horned toad and bounded crooked and they tied up the ■core. We got another run in the ninth, and in their half a man was pn second* two strikes on the batter, and It looked as if we had the game won. I pitched a spit ball that cut the plate

In half and the batter swung at it Instead of catching the ball the catcher jumped ten feet' and let out a yell, for just as I pitched a big tarantula crawled over his wrist and onto his mit He was so scared he didn’t even chase the b&U so I had to do it One run had counted, evening up the score, and the batter was running wild. I reached the ball and started to pick it up, but didn’t—and the run counted and beat us out of the game.” “Why didn’t you pick up the ball, Jim?” asked an interested listener. “Pick It up?” he demanded. should say not. There was a centipede crawling up one side of it and a scorpion perched right on top. 1 let that game go.” Henry O’Day, the umpire, and Johnny Evers of the Cubs are the dearest enemies. The pair would feel lost if they didn’t have each other to fight, and yet between the player and the umpire there exists a deepseated admiration. Somehow they recall Leevers’ (Charles not Sam) song about the Irish: “Fightln* aich other for the sake of peace, And hatin’ aich other for the love of God.” If anyone remarks to Evers that O’Day Is a bad umpire he is likely to get a hard call, and no one can tell O’Day Evers Is a bad ball player. When Evers broke his leg at Cincinnati late In the season —an accident which wrecked a lot of Chicago’s hope for the world’s championship, O’Day was one of the most sorrowful of the gang. “It’s pretty tough on me,” remarked Hank that evening, speaking of the accident' to Evers. “I suppose he’ll be in an ambulance out by the club house all during the world’s series, and I’ll have to stop the game and go out there and chase the ambulance off the field.” Steve Evans of the St. Louis Cardinals is one of the comedians' of the game, besides being quite a ball play-

Baseball In the Desert.

er." When the Cards were going to pieces during the latter part of last season and everything was turning against them, a rabid writer, displeased because the opposing batters kept hitting balls just where Steve couldn’t reach them, spoke sarcastically of him as belonging to the "Shady comer club.” Meaning that Steve played far out in order to get into the shade of the fence and escape the broiling sun. The following day, along in the middle of the game, Evans appeared in the outfield with a huge Japanese umbrella and a camp stool. Unfolding the p&rasot he seated himself on the stool, lighted a cigarette and tried to get away with- it The appreciative roar of the crowd warned the' umpire that something was going on, and he banished the outfit from the field and forced Steve to stand in the broiling sun —which is some broil in St. Louis.

Evans is irrepressible. One evening in New York during last season he was Invited, with several other players, to dine at one of the most exclusive clubs in the city. The club is one composed almost entirely of millionaires, among them some of thd most prominent figures in Wall street The host was a man of great wealth, and also a great baseball fan, and perhaps he thought that the players would be a trifle awed and have a better realization of his own importance if they were entertained at the club, so he took them there. As the party entered the club the lounging room was filled with millionaires, some of them in the multi class. Evans stopped just inrflde the doorway and. surveyed the throng; men whose names will start a panic or boom a stock, sitting in deep chairs, most of them in evening clothes. Then he raised his voice and remarked so as to be heard all over the room: “Look at them. Just finished a day’s work, taken off the overalls, hung up'Hhe spade and picks, and are here wasting their dollar and a half In riotous living. I suppose they'll sit here and rush the oan until they’ve spent their wages. It’s v a sad sight” And he passed, mournfully shaking his head through the room, leaving a speechless bunch of autocrats gazing after him, (Copyright 1910. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Cheaper by the Hour.

“ I must say you’ve got a pretty lot of citizenc to allow themselves to be charged at the rate of 5 cents a mile from here down to the Junction on a miserable one horse branch road,” said the shoe drummer, bitingly. “I’d like ter call yer attention ter one fact before you go on usin’ any more such language,” answered the ticket agent candy, “and that is that while it may be 6 cents a mile. It’s only 25 cents an hour.” -Metropolitan.

PICKS WHITE SOX TO FINISH SEVENTH

Fielder A. Jones, former manager of the Chicago White’ Sox, and now a resident of Portland, Ore., Was asked the other day to express an opinion on the outcome of the American league race, and the chances of his former teammates in the pennant chase. ‘ “Philadelphia should repeat In a walk, with Detroit as a possible contender for a portion of the season,” said Jones. “The Athletics as just as strong aB last year and should win again as handily. New York looks to be good for third place, while Cleveland and Boston will fight It out for fourth and fifth positions. Washing-

JOE TINKER FOOLED MATTY

Clever Little Chicago Shortstop Meets Christy’s Low Curve With Niee Long Bat. Christy Mathewson, writing for Pearson’s magazine, says of Joe Tinker: “The clever little shortstop of the

Joe Tinker.

Chicago club Is a man with whom I have fought many a battle of wits and I am glad to acknowledge that he has come out of the fuss with flying

BASEBALL GOSSIP NEWS and NOTES UP to DATE

Saier looks better every time he plays. Frank Schulte has forgotten how to rap out the homers. The Athletics gradually are working their way toward the top. Young Corban seems to share the favoritism Of the fans with Bodie. Teams may win and teams may lose, the Tigers go on forever. And like Ingerton, Luderrus is smiting the sphere most lustily for those Phillies. Beck of Cincinnati Joined Joe Jackson’s “Home Run With the Bases Full” club. Cleveland secured three of the best recruit pitchers of the years. Oregg, Knapp and West Nothing but a railroad wreck can stop the Tigers if they keep up their present whirlwind pace. Davey Jones of the Tigers thinks *that Dick Padden is one of the greatest field generals that ever lived. The Senators are going to make a strong bid for the top of the second division in the league this season. In spite of Meloan’s refusal to sell the bat with which Brodle made four bits in onegltms Ping keeps on ••ping- * ing” 'v v ]

Former Manager Fielder A. Jones.

The feat of Catcher McKelvey of Minneapolis in an exhibition game at Evansville is a record for modern days, at least. McKelvey corralled six hits, four home runs, a two-sacker and a single in six times at plate. In 1899 in six times at hat, Ginger Beaumont, then with the Pirates, got six hits, but there were no foursackers among them. Delehanty of/ Philadelphia in 1896 in five times at bat got four homers and one single. Bottenus of Buffalo in* 1895 comes nearest to equaling McKelvey's record. In five times at bat he got four homers and a two-bagger. McKelvey also holds the record for the greatest number of bases scored on hits in one game. He has 19 bases as his record. Bottenus comes next wit£ 18 bases.

Evidently 1911 is to be a high batting average year. Paul Meloan appears to have regained his batting eye. Boston Red Sox appear to be another surprise of the season. Pretty soon the Cub team will not be recognized by its old adherents. Baseball past performances usually are as reliable as those of the ponies. Most followers of the game are past all surprise when those two get together. President Hedges of the Browns is trying to land some of the Detroit players again. * The Phillies are leading the league in long hits, as well as leading in the percentage column. Josh Devore, the Giant left fielder, says he is going out after the basestealing record this season. Catcher Crisp, who was sold to the Topeka club of the Western league by the Brawns refused to go there. Jim McGuire’s career as a manager in the big league was not an enjoyable one either at Boston or in Cleveland. Bill Bradley, the old-time Nap third baseman, is going fine for the Toronto team. He is fielding as well as ever, and making two hits a day.

ton, with Walter Johnson, ought to get sixth position, while the White Sox I place at seventh, unless St Louis shows a greater improvement than I believe possible. Comiskey is shy on pitchers, and the American league race will be a pitchers’ battle again this season. “In the National league Chicago and New York will fight it out with Cincinnati as a possible contender il Griff's bad actors behave.”

Devore Leads Giants.

Devore is leading the'Giants at the bat in a double sense—leads off and has the most hits.

colors on many occasions. There was a time when Tinker was putty in my hands. For two years he was the least dangerous man on the Chicago team. His weakness was a low curve on the outside and I fed him low curves so often I had him looking like an invalid every time he came to the plate. ' “Then Joseph went home one night and did a little deep thinking. He got a nice long bat and took his stand at least a foot farther from the plate, after 1 that night of meditation, and then he had me. If I kept the ball on the inside of the plate he was in splendid position to meet it, and if I tried to keep my offerings outside he had plenty of time to step into ’em. From that day on Tinker became one of the most dangerous batters I ever faced, not' because his natural hitting ability had increased, but because he didn’t propose to let the pitcher do all of \ the outguessing.”

McKelvey Makes Batting Record.

An Even Game

BY JOANNA SINGLE

Mary, like the other flowers, was out in the early morning exploring the greenness of the grounds of her friend’s house. She had come the evening before and was new to the surroundings. At a turn in a winding path she met a fair-headed young man in white flannels, who could not remove his hat because he wore none, but who bowed charmingly. She answered in kind, looking at him gravely. "I know you are Miss Mary Sumner,” he said. "And I know you are Frederick Denton!" She held out a pretty hand, which he took while he murmured how glad he was, but she interrupted: . "But you aren’t glad, you know! You expect to be bored beyond measure—and you didn’t want to come because you knew I was to be here, but you couldn’t refuse your sister’s party! Am I not right?” Her charming dark face was flushed and Bparkllng, and she seemed to speak in a hurried, soft breath. He all but stared. “What makes you say that? Wont you tell me?” "Play fair!" she begged. "You know perfectly well what our families are up to—don’t you?’ It was his turn to flush, but he laughed. "I wish they had minded their business, but you are right. Of course we are expected dutifully ho—fall in love. Of course I don’t have to! It’B all over —the first glance did It Now if you could—” She shook her head. ... “Don’t be polite," she laughed, her brown eyes mocking him. “It’s horrid to be planned for. Let’s make them suffer. We both have* spirit enough not to be captured by the machinations of my mother and your sister. I’m glad you’re—really so—nice. You might not have been—charming. You’ve been talked into my ears until I nearly hated you—and I knew you must have felt the same about me.” “I never doubted that you were all they said,” he admitted, “only as you say—let’s make them uncomfortable. But let’s"-he good friends in secret. Will you?” She nodded, and they sat down upon a rustic seat to talk it over gaily, while birds sang and the fulness of late May bkxmted about them. “Let’s be stiff and distant, and almost rude and indifferent before the others,” “And get up early every morning like this—and talk it over. Will your’ He held out a brown hand and she laid a white, slim one in its clasp a moment

He gave her hand another little clasp and let it go. She rose and prepared to go. He noticed and graceful, how very lovely and dignified was her bearing. '} “Remember,” she reminded, "that we have not met We must not be seen together—you might, come in a little late to breakfast. I'll be stiff.” “And I’ll be cool enough to blight every rose on the place!” He watched her go away, and almost wished tkat Alice Shaw had not made love a thing far from him, and left a raw wound hard to heal. When Denton appeared where the others were all seated at the Informal breakfast, Mrs. Rawson introduced him to Mary—be knew all the others —and she looked at him an instant, gave -n polite, distant little bow, and went on with her talking to Mamie Rosseter. / Denton, on his part, had been formally courteous. Neither had said one friendly word, though their families bad for ten years been most intimate. The hostess was astonished beyond measure, but too clever to show a sign. But what did they mean? She watched them all day when they were within range. Neither went near the other voluntarily, and if any chance brought them together, they passed a few most formal remarks. She tried seating them next each other at dinner^—each talked to the neighbor on the other side. This went on for nearly a week, and the good lady was in despair. Finally she spoke to her brother about it “I don’t know what you mean, Mattie. I’m never discourteous to a lady. Do you want me to gush? What, in short, do you want?” She was giio-'-ad. and made haste to retreat, inwardly discomfited. “I didn’t mean you were rude, only I depended on you to help amuse her—she’s the only strap—- Of course you're never rude —I just thought as her family and ours are so intimate, we ought to be unusually nice to herl**' “Well, I think you’re mistaken—she seems vastly amused —always in the thick of things. By the way, where does Molly Fairly keep herself mornings? Hasn’t she grown stunning? She was an ugly enough little girl— I like her quiet manner, don’t you?" Mrs. Rawson deftly got away from the subject Could Fred take a fancy to Molly? Bhe was dangerously attractive and poor, but had been asked because of the hostess’ obligations to the girl’s mother. Later in the day. Mrs. Dawson wrote Mrs. Sumner, among other things, the following plaint: ”-My dear, they simply don’t see each other! Have we managed to overdo things?- Mary never looked more utterly charming, but she's icy, and I could shake Fred—he doesn't

(Copyright, zgii, by Associated Literary Press.)

make the first effort to be mote than > vaguely polite. I’ve thought I caugbt one or two knowing looks, pass between them, but I must have imagined it I ought to tell you that Mary to flirting in a refined but constant way with Percy Kaylor—l wish I • hadn’t asked him. And Fred does nothing but moon and watch Hie mail bag. He gets a daily letter addressed in a woman’s hand from Kenosha, some western place. What shall I do? And —I don’t want to tell you this, but It’s my duty—the other night when Edith was in Mary’s room and they were chatting and hair-brushing, Edith saw that Mary had a slender chain around her neck with a solitaire ring hanging from it. She seemed unaware that Edith had seen it Of course Edith told me—she’s a dear child—and I bade her say nothing to anyone else. Supposing you come on for a few days? I told Mary I should ask you. Mrs. Sumner came on with exceeding dispatch. She dared not question her daughter, but could discover no chain, no ring, and no change in the girl, save that, if anything, she was prettier, sweeter, more dutiful. She had even taken to rising early for the walks her mother had so long wished her to take, and came to breakfast glowing and happy. Meantime, in the morning’s dewy freshnes, Mary and Frederick - Denton were having beautiful meetings. He told her how he had a man friend out west send him a letter addressed -Hy a stenographer on lady-like envelopes filled with circulars- She. gleefully told him about the $5 fake diamond, and how Edith’s eyes had "bulged while she, Mary, brushed her hair and looked innocent They walked into the country, they went on the river in a little they read magazines, and always they escaped being caught together, and approached breakfast from different directions. Frederick usually from his room as if he had just risen. But a time came when,-without either knowing why, a sort of restraint fell upon them. The young man redoubled his efforts to be interesting, Pondering meanwhile if she were not tiring of his company. One morhing she was late, another, too tired to walk, a little languid and silent A few happy mornings would ensue, and then the constraint again. He.thought of asking if he were demanding too much of her, but feared she t would think he were tired of it himself. It became uncomfortable, and both were less frank. But, in public, they were still just on the polite side of being disagreeable to each other. Mary’s mother casually asked her why she disliked Fred Denton. The girl looked at her, wide-eyed. “Whatever put that /into your dear head? He seems very nice, J’m sure.” And she put another pin into her soft brown hair and went downstairs. Coming down to the porch a little later her mother found her in a gale of merriment over something Percy Kaylor was saying. And, with a queer look in his eyes, Frederick Denton watched her. What did the look me&h > And Mary’s gayety seemed somehow not quite spontaneous. A few mornings later Mary did not go into the garden at .all, apd, said at breakfast that she had a headache. She was pale. Alt day Frederick watched for her, bub had only a word alone. “I’m sorry you were not welt," he said. “It was nothing—it soon passed, 9 * she answered. - ‘ “I missed you,” he said, but she was already moving away from him. He went angrily away by himself, and with his pipe in his mouth he Jay flat on the grass in a distant spot and discovered what ailed him. Of course he had loved her from the Aral moment, and had been a fool, and ha# lost her! He should have openly wooed her from the first second—-of course it was Kaylor! Men like that always fascinate a girl just out of school! He hated himself vigorously. Frederick was up at dawn the next day. and out with a last hope. Surely she would come this last time! Ho waited in the usual place, but she did not appear. It seemed Impossible.* Ho. > searched his memory for any word or look that might have offended her. And, looking vaguely about, he saw at some distance beneath the trees of a little wood, a gleam of blue dress. In • an instant he was almost running to- ■ wards It It must be she—lt was! But she was walking swiftly away from »hlm. He called to her. and skov stepped. “I don’t blame you for hating me,** 4 he gravely said, “but why hurt mo more than you must? You know t love you—Mary. Why can’t you at least be kind—as you ware until a little while ago? Does it amuse you to —hurt?” Then he saw that tears were running down her cheeks, and that she held out both hands to hia« * After a long time he held her off the better to see her. V “I—couldn’t oome any more—l couldn’t bear it after I-tound thafcl: did—care—and thought you still’ wanted Alice Shaw! \ couldnt* trust myself not to let you «ee—how I felt!” He stopped her in the most effective