Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 232, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1914 — Page 2

THE RIVET - CATCHER

By CRITTENDEN HARRIOTT.

' (Copyright.) Fred Faxon stood on the girder that 'formed the street side of the empty quadrangle that in due time would become the sixteenth floor of the Chimineystack building. Oxer his shoulder was balanced an empty keg. He leaned forward slightlly, with his eyes fixed on a man who was fanning the flames in a portable furnace some distance to the right on the floor below. Suddenly the man dropped the hanfdle of the bellows, caught up a pair of tongs, and snatched a whitehot rivet from the heart of the fire. He leaned back to gather strength; then, with scarcely a glanee, tossed the rivet upward. Fred bent slightly, shifted his keg an inch or two to the left, and the rivet fell squarely into the keg, struck against its sloping inner side, and fell dead to bottom. The moment he felt it strike Fred turned and ran like a squirrel, leaning slightly to balance the thrust of the wind, along the sixinch girder to where two men were riveting a floor beam into place. One of them, the bucker-up, picked the rivet from the keg and thrust it upward, still sparkling hot, through the holes which had been bored for it months before and hundreds of miles away. Then, with his dolly-bar, he bore up against it, holding it firmly in place while the pneumatic-gun man mashed another head upon it with a volley of staccato thuds. Meanwhile, Fred had run back to his post and stood ready to catch another rivet. The wind tore at him, but he heeded it no more than he did the roar of the traffic which rose to his ears from the stony street, 200 feet below. He had been catching white-hot bolts hurled at him from varying distances for more than three years, and, being young and apt, had learned his work so well that it had become mechanical. He caught the rivets and ran along the dizzy spiderweb of girders and floor beams as easily and indifferently as a ball player catches a ball and runs the bases. On this particular day he had other things to think about. His ambition was to be a "gun-man”—to wield the pneumatic hammer that mashed the second heads on the rivets and bound the -floor beams and the girders into a solid whole. Gun-men got better pay than rivetcatchers, and Annie West had promised to marry him the minute he got his promotion; so he wanted both badly. In the ordinary course of events, however, he could not hope for such a post for several years, and by that time anything might happen. Annie might even marry big BiJi McSween, bully and tough though he was. But his chance had come at last. The high wages paid for rebuilding San Francisco after the great earthquake and fire had drained the East of structural iron-workers and made room for scores of younger men who had learned the alphabet of the difficult trade, and the growth of the whole country had prevented the demand from slackening. That very morning, Casey, foreman of construction on the Chimneystack building, had called together the half dozen rivet catchers in his force and had told them that Mr. Fulton, traveling superintendent of the great Fulton Construction company, would be at the building the next day, and would select the most capable youngster he could find to go West with him to help in the gun-work on a new building in Chicago. ’Tis the great opening it is for one of you boys,” declared Casey. “The great opening entirely! Sure, Chicago is where the company lives when its at home, and it’s a fine chance you’ll have to make good with the bosses. “It’s mighty little there is to choose between you, as far as work goes, and I’ll make no recommendations and let Mr. Fulton pick for himself. Think it over today, boys, and let me know tonight whether it’s go or stay here tn New York you’d rather.” Ten minutes later, as Fred climbed the ladders to his post, he felt a touch upon his shoulder, and turned to face big Bill McSween. “Say!” growled Bill. “Say, Faxon, 1 want that Job. See! And 1 smashes the face of anyone that gets it away from me. See! I’m sorry you got engagements that keeps you in New York and gotter decline. See!” Fred rose instantly to the situation. Physically he was no match for Bill, who was two years older, 20 pounds heavier, two inches taller, and was an amateur pugilist besides. Clearly the case was one for diplomacy. “How in the world did you know. Bill?" he demanded smilingly. Bill grunted. “Oh, I reckoned your health wouldn’t let you leave here,” he answered with labored significance. “And don’t you make no mistake, Fred Faxon. When I go, I take Annie West with me. See!" Fred laughed. “Sdre, if you can get her to go,” he answered. “She won’t do it. She’ll stay here and marry me.” “Humph! Hl show you.” “Do!’* Fred grew excited. “Look here, Bill McSween,” he said, “you’re no friend of mine, and I don’t owe you anything. I could get this job if J wanted it. “I’ve got a hunch how to get It, but

I don’t,want it; and I do want to get you out of town. So I’m going to turn my huneh over to you—if you want it* Bill glared at Fred suspiciously, but the latter met his eyes so frankly that his misgivings faded. "Wot is it?" he demanded. Fred looked round cautiously. "Listen!” he whispered. “Father used to work under Mr. Fulton, and he told me about him. He's a perfect crank on that new alloy, nickelsteeL When he comes round tomorrow say something to one of the boys about nickel-steel alloys for something or other—rivets will do. Say it so he’ll hear you, and he's dead sure to take notice. “If you get another chance, say something else about it —that it would make rivet-heads mash better* for instance. Do this two or three times if you can, and he’s safe to pick you. He can’t help it. Nickel-steel is like whisky to him. You’ll see." Bill nodded slowly. •* "I’ve heard of nickel-steel,” he declared. “But I don’t know much about it. I’ll try what you say, but” —with sudden fierceness —“don’t you try no tricks, Fred Faxon. If you’re givlh’ me the wrong steer, you better look out for yourself; that’s all." That afternoon Casey, the foreman, scratched his head reflectively as five of the six youngsters to whom he had spoken declined the job on one plea or another. “So yourself’s the only one Who wants to go, is it, McSween?” he pondered. “Well, it’s no fault I have to find with your work, and I’ll tell Mr. Fulton so if he asks me. But I misdoubt but he’ll he wanting more than one to choose among." The next morning Casey was taking Mr. Fulton over the building. From one gang of riveters to another they went, watching the work of each. As they came near Bill McSween, that Individual was passing a rivet down to the bucker-up. “Say!” he remarked loudly. “Say, these bolts don’t hold their heat, see! If they’d put some nickel-steel in them, I bet they’d do better.” The bucker-up stared; but Bill noted that Mr. Fulton had stopped and was regarding him closely, and felt encouraged. A few moments later, when he came back with another rivet and found the superintendent still watching him, and listening earnestly the while to something that Casey was saying, he was delighted. “Them bolt-heads would mash better if they had some nickel-steel in ’em,” he observed to the gun-man, who almost dropped his tool in his amazement „ Unheeding, Bill was about to follow up his words with another remark, when he saw Mr. Fulton nod to Casey and start rapidly away. “Well,” he muttered to himself, “I got in two good licks at him, anyway." When the whistle blew for quittingtime, McSween looked round for Fred, but did not see him; so he hurried down the ladders, eager to know his fate. Casey spied him coming, and called him over.

“Step into the office, McSween,” he ordered, “and get your time. I’ll not* be wantin’ you any more.” Bill stiffened with amazement. “Do I get the Chicago job?” he demanded. “Job? Naw! An’ it’s little likely you are to get one till you get over that fool crank of yours about nickelsteel. Where you picked up that rot I dunno.” “Picked it up?” he yelled. “Me! Wait till I find Fred Faxon, and I’ll show him where I picked it up.” “Fred Faxon, is it?" A slow grin dawned on the Irishman’s face. He thought he saw an explanation of the thing. “And what’s Fred Faxon been say* ing to you?” he demanded. “Aw! tell me now. I want to know.” Furiously, Bill explained. When he had finished, Casey laughed long and loud. “Faith, ‘tis the best joke I’ve heard for many a day, so it is,” he chortled. “Do you know what Faxon did? He come to me this mornin*, an’ be says, says he: ‘Mister Casey,’ says he, ‘l’m sure we all like McSween and want him to get that Chicago job,’ says he. ‘So I want to ask you,’ he says, ‘not to mention nickel-steel to him when Mr. Fulton is round. “Tve known Bill for years,’ says he, ‘and he’s plumb crazy on nickelsteel. He was in the crazy-house for six months once,’ says he, ‘for that very thing; and he’s liable to have to go back, if he gets excited about it The doctor says so,’ says he. . “That’s what Fred says; and then he goes off, an* it’s little I thinks about it till you begins to talk about nickelsteel; an* then I saw mighty plain that I couldn’t put a crazy man off on Mr. Fulton, nor kape him workin’ here, either; and so—" But Bill could keep silent no longer. "I’ll cut his heart out!" he yelled. “1’11—" He dashed toward the door. . But Casey flung himself In the way. “Kape still, ye omadhaun," he rasped, “and listen to me. Sure, it serves you right, so it does. It was a dirty trick for you to buffalo all them lads into refusin’ the job,-so it was; and it’s glad I am you got the worst of it. “But it’s over and done now; and if you come back to work tomorrow quiet and say nothing, I’ll kape the thing to myself. If you try to make trouble, it’s the joke of the trade you’ll make yourself, so you will. “Besides, you can’t hurt Faxon unless you go to Chicago after him, for it’s married he is, and started West on the train with Mr. Fulton an hour ago.”

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER, IND.

BONUS FOR HITTING IS WISH OF LAJOIE

Napoleon Lajole never has been known to complain regarding the salary paid him by Charles W. Somers, but it is quite likely that he wishes that during all the time he has worked for the Naps their liberal owner had offered him a bonus such as Joe Jackson has been proffered this season. Jackson, according to rumor, is to get so much if he hits above .400, so much if he hits above .375, and so much if he hits above .350. Never having hit below the last-named mark since he has been in the American league, the chances are that J. J. will earn at least one of the extra sums his contract calls for, even if the Cincinnati base hit has been abolished. Look what Lajoie would have had, however, in the way of extra remuneration had his contract called for more

USED CURVE BALL BUT ONCE

Pitcher Harry Gaspar Hoodwinked Manager Clarke Griffith While With Cincinnati Team. Harry Gaspar, who pitched for Clarke Griffith a few years ago, broke into fast companjpbecause he learned Griffith’s weakness was a curve ball pitcher, and was wise enough to take advantage of it Griffith, while manager for the Cincinnati club, had practically picked his twirling corps for the season. There was some doubt about Gaspar catching on. Gaspar was a wise old owl, and had plenty of pluck, but didn’t have a curve ball. “If daspar shows me a curve before the seasons opens, he’ll land,” said Griffith. Somebody tipped this off to Gaspar, and Harry got busy. It wasn’t much at a curve, and he could throw it only about a half dozen times inran afternoon—but it was a curve. Griffith walked up behind Gaspar on the day he had set for deciding the make up of his staff. Gaspar was pitching. To Griffith’s amazement, he saw Gaspar throw a beautiful incurve.

Harry Gaspar.

Four more followed. Then Griffith walked away. Gaspar had cinched his job, but it has been recorded that he didn’t pitch another real curve ball as long as h& remained in the big show, although one of the best pitchers in the league that year.

Pitcher Swann Released.

Pitcher Harry Swann was unconditionally released on July 11 by President Weeghman, of the Chicago Federate. Swann was signed for one year by Manager Tinker, but has been unable to gain control of the ball, and the president of the Chifeds made a cash settlement witty him last Saturday. He returned to his home in Pittsburgh.

Speedy Outfield.

Barn*, Beecher and Robertson, in the Giant outfield, look like the speediest gathering of'outfield selections In either of the two big leagues.

Napoleon Lajole of Cleveland.

money In the event of his hitting above .350, .375, or .400. In 1901, working for Connie Mack, he piled up an average of .422, still the high-water mark for the American league, and only approached by Ty Cobb in 1911, year he was accounted the most valuable player in the younger organization. Cobb hit .420 that year, and .410 • the next; Joe Jackson having an average of .408 in 1911, and Charley (“Duke"! Farrell an average Of .404 in 1913. During two years of his employment by Somers Larry has hit better than .375 and in five years better than .350. Cobb has been above the last-named mark six times, Hans Wagner five times, Joe Jackson four times, Tris Speaker, Ed Delahanty, Olaf Henricksen and Mike Donlin twice each.

BASEBALL NOTES

Shore of the Red Sox is proving a valuable addition to Bill Carrigan’s pitching staff. ♦ • • Joe Cantillon claims, that Rondeau is the best hitter that he ever had on his Minneapolis team. • • • Mitchell is finding the pitching in' the American league more to his liking 'than that in the National. * * * If Bill Wambsgass, Cleveland’s new shortstop, will rip up his moniker and use a remnant, all will be forgiven. • r-» W~ : Al Platte of the Providence team is the real batting leader among the regular performers of the International league. * • * Manager Joe Tinker of the Buns is not batting so well in the Federal league as he did in the National last 'season. • * • Silk O’Latighlin, the veteran umpire of the American league, is an insurance solicitor during the winter months. • • < Dressen of the Cardinals seems to be a pretty shifty sort of first baseman. He is a rangy fellow and of the highly approved left-handed style. * * • Manager George Stallings of the Boston Braves thinks that New York’s main interest in the coming world’s series will center around Dick Rudolph of the Bronx. • • * The poor showing of the Cleveland Naps doesn’t seem to affect the fine batting of Joe Jackson. The great slugger continues to lead the American league batsmen. The New York club has purchased catcher Harry Smith from the Savannah club of the South Atlantic league. Smith is a .300 hitter and is said to be fast on the bases. • • • ’ Third Baseman Hemingway, .one of the Rickey rookies, who is serving a post-graduate minor league course with the Nashville club of the Southern league, has scored a big hit with Nashville fans. • • • With Eddie Collins leading the American league in base running and John Franklin Baker batting just behind the Mackian whirlwind, it is easy to understand why Eddie is about the leading run-getter of all leagues. • « • Manager Branch Rickey of the St Louis Browns has been on a little scouting expedition of his own. Rickey would like to get a hard-hitting catcher to help Sam Agnew out, as he wishes to use Jack Leary at first base all the time. • • • Second Baseman Del * Pratt of the Browns is singularly weak on balls hit straight at him. He is a wonder at going far over to either side of his regular position, and-he makes brilliant plays on difficult catches, but those he can Mt himself for are th* pussies.

BATTING SYSTEM IS QUERIED

New Scheme of Secretary Rlckart of Federal League, la of Much Interest to Ball Fans. Lloyd H. Rlckart, secretary of the Federal league, who is sponsor for the scheme of having two batting averages compiled, one for the right handers and the other for the left handers, has received from all over the country queries and comments regarding the innovation. Baseball magnates and players throughout the country have taken a deep interest in the scheme, which is entirely original with Mr. Riekart, and is likely to be adopted sooner or later by all the leagues, as his arguments in favor of the new batting’record system are convincing. Mr. Rlckart argues that, as the batter stands closer to first base when he bats left handed and the natural force of his stroke helps to place him In his stride, he has a big advantage over the right hander, who stands on the other side of the home plate when he hits and is out of stride after his stroke at the ball and must get under way without the running start of the left hander. - It can be readily seen, therefore, that a slow runner who bats left handed has a big Advantage ov'ter a fast runner who bats right handed. It can also be seen that many of the batting stars of the country owe their high batting records to the fact that they swing left handed. Supposing that two runners, one left handed and the other right handed, take practically the same length of step and are practically of equal speed on the bases, it therefore follows that the two handicap that the “left hander has over the right hander on account of his batting po sitloh oftentimes will enable him to beat out a grounder that the right hander would be thrown out on by a close decision. The distance from home plate to first is ninety feet and, supposing that the two runners each make the distance In thirty steps, the left hander, therefore, has practically two steps advantage, or 6 2-3 per cent. In other words, if the batting percentages of the two men are equal at the end of the season, the right hander is really 6 2-3 percent the best. .

GROWING ABUSE OF PITCHERS

Rule Makers Should Put a Stop to Use of Rosin and Other Foreign Substances by Hurlers. "Pitcher Demaree of the Giants pushes the ball from his shoulder like a ehot putter and uses plenty of rosin, which he carries in his hip pocket. This rosin business ls r getting to be too much of a good thing. Gregg of the Naps had his left trouser leg covered

Pitcher Al Demaree of New York Giants.

with it so that he could put it on his fingers before delivering the ball. The rulemakers ought to put a stop to the "use of rosin and other foreign substances by the pitchers, who already have an immense advantage over the batsmen. The foul-strike rule, the spit ball and the raised box helps the pitchers immeasurably without other methods for keeping the hitters in subjection. Yes, the rosin will have to go!”

Noisiest Infield.

From the quietest the Yankees have evolved the noisiest infield in the American league, writes a New York critic. Hal Williams and Frand Truesdale, when playing never had a great deal to say, but Boone and Mullen, their successors, are jabbering away at their pitcher or any one else in -sight most of the time. Which may be one reason why the Yankee infield defense is about 20 per cent more effective than it was.

Minor Leagues Growling.

The men of organized ball are facing a problem to keep the minor leaguers from showing their dissatisfaction this fall when the drafting season begins. There has been much growling about the injustice of the draft all summer.

Prefer Baker and Collins.

Cobb and Crawford get more hits for extra bases, yet a majority of the “fans” would choose Connie Mack’s great clean-up hitters, Collins and Baker, if asked to name the. best hitting combination in the major leagues. "■ ' '*■ A" 1 '

Great Corps of "Southpaws.”

With Hubert Leonard, Ray Collins, "Babe" Ruth and Vean Gregg, the Boaton Red Sox have the best staff of left-handers in any league. w

FARMER’SWIFE TOO ILLTOWORK A Weak, Nervous Sufferer Restored to Health by Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound. Kasota, Minn. —"I am glad to say that Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound has done a more for me than gtj anything else, and I the heat physiiHfel cian hqre. I vas so weak and nervous W that 1 coal d 1101 do -s* jS my work and suffered with pains low down in my right mIhVuUV Bide for “ year or \\\ \\ \ u\\\ more. I took Lydia - ' ' ' ' * ' '» > >■» E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, and now I feel like a different person. I believe there is nothing like Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound for weak women and young girls, and I would be glad if I could influence anyone to try the medicine, for I know it will do all and much more than it is claimed to do?’ Mrs. Clara Franks, R. F. D. No. 1, Maplecrest Farm, Kasota, Minn. Women who suffer from those distressing ills peculiar to their sex should be convinced of the ability of Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound to restore their health by the many .genuine and truthful testimonials we are constantly publishing in the newspapers. If you have the slightest doubt that Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound willkelp you,write to Lydia E.PinkhamMedicineCo. (confidential) Lynn, Mass., for advice. Your letter will be opened, read and answered by a woman, and held in strict confidence.

HARFINA OINTMENT 77>u WbrU’a Wonder Rtmtdji for Eceema That scaly, itching condition of the skin — those unsightly eruptions—will gradually, but surely yield to the healing, soothinginfluence of Harflna Ointment. In thousands of cases this wonderful remedy has proved to have no superior even under the severest tests. It has produced truly miraculous results in ail troubles of the skin and scalp—pimples, dandruff, falling hair,wounds, burns, sores, chapped ekin or Ups, bites, piles,chilblains, itching, swollen feet,etc.: also cold in head. Should be in every home. tso at druggists or direct on receipt Of price and dealer's name. Philo Hay Specialties Co., Newark, N. J.

PARADISE FOR THE ARTIST

Devotee* of the Brush Are Accorded Accommodations Without Price at Inn at Capri. Capri, beautiful in itself as a winter resort, offers an irresistible invitation to artists, since it has an inn where anyone, by painting a picture on the wall, can get free board. To the lovely island of Capri, with its perennial summer, its blue grotto, and its lemon groves, came, some fifty .years ago, a ruined artist. He opened an inn, and died rich. In his .win," leaving the inn to his heirs, he made these conditions: ‘‘The charge per day, two bottle* of red Capri wine included, is never to be more than six francs. “If any artist is too poor'to pay he shall paint a picture upon some wallspace, receiving all the accommodation accorded to those paying the highest price. “If any German artist shall come to the inn he shall'be accommodated, and shall receive the amount of bls fare to Germany upon his promising never to return to Italy.” The inn is conducted today on these conditions. Its walls are covered with paintings. Now and then a German gets his fare home.

His Contribution.

“Have you contributed anything to the suffrage cause?” “Yes; two sisters and one wife.”

Regular Rates.

“Pa, what are literary emoluments T" . “About five dollars a story, son, and five dollarr for a poem.”

SICK DOCTOR Proper Food Put Him Right.

The food experience of a physician In his own case when worn and weak from sickness and when needing nourishment the worst way, is valuable: “An attack of grip, so severe it came near making an end of me, left my stomach in such condition I could not retain any ordinary food. I knew of course that I must have food nourishment or I could never recover. "I began to take four teaspoonfuls of Grape-Nuts and cream three times a day and for 2 weeks this was almost my only food. It tasted so delicious that I enjoyed It immensely and my stomach handled it perfectly from the first mouthful. It was so nourishing I was quickly built back to normal health and strength. "Grape-Nuts is of great value as food i to sustain life during serious attacks in which the stomach Is so deranged it cannot digest and assimilate other foods. “I am convinced that were GrapeNuts more widely used by physicians, it would save many lives that are otherwise lost from lack of nourishment." Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. The most perfect food in the world. Trial of Grape-Nuts and cream 10 days proves. “There’s a Reason." Look in pkgs, for the little book, "The Road to Wellville." KVer reed tbo aWeve letter* A oew •a* aepodM freea time te time. They ■re aeewlee, tree, eed MU of kMM UltWNMlte