Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1908 — The Battle of “Yorkey’s Run” [ARTICLE]

The Battle of “Yorkey’s Run”

Yesterday we ran across a copy of a “History of the Town of Remington” published in 1894 and written by James H. Royalty. In the book under the head of "Base Bhll” is published a story of the celebrated "Battle of Yorkey’s Run',” in which many of our ex-base ball fans participated. in those days Remington was noted for its many saloons, where bad beer and whiskey was dispensed, and it was considered the proper thing when a ball game was played there for about half the population -of Rensselaer to accompany the local team and before the game fill up with the “booze” dispensed there. In those days Ambrose Yorkey, now located in Michigan City, was engaged in the bakery business here. He was one of those jolly fellows met in every town and went to Remington along with the rest of the boys. When the battle with umbrellas started “Yorkey” gave a great exj dilution of sprinting and the fight J was therefore christianed "The Battle of Yortey’s Run” by the local ;Hbnan, - one of the fellows who precipitated the battle. No one was hurt and not much jwd | feeling was engendered, as in those days a fight between the adherents of the two towns was considered quite the proped thing. The ’history of the fight is given -by. Mr. Royalty in the following article: Word had gone out that on the ’ 17th day of June, 1891, there would be a test game of base ball played t between the Remington nine and the Rensselaer.-nine, which was composed entirely of Indians who were attending St. Joseph Collegeat Rensselaer. The Rensselaer nine reported in Remington at noon of that day, and after dinner both nines with a large number of people from Rensselaer, .«

Remington and surrounding towns and country, repaired to the ball' grounds about one-fourth of a mile southeast of the village. It appeared that there was some feeling engendered between the respective friends of the two different clubs. A stranger had been selected as the umpire for the game, and as the game progressed it was charged that he was biased and that his rulings were prejudiced in favor of the Remington nine. Some also claimed that he had money wagered on the result of the game. The Rensselaer nine had the first inning at the bat, but they made no run or tally. The Remington nine had made two tallies in their first inning and a dispute arose over the third, some claiming a foul and others claiming that the run had been legitimately made. The quarrel soon became fierce and the result was a general fight between .th® out “ aiders and some of the Remington nine, It was noticed, none of the’ ( ,Indlans took any part in this disgraceful,, affair, „but many of their Rejisselaer backers took a lively part it- The principal weapons used were, fists and untotoilas. The figfct lasted for .perhaps ten intones when the c waß , queued. There were none who were seriously injured beyond a few scratches, the greatest damage having been done to umbrellas, which were generally badly wrecked. There were probably thirty men ;( engaged in this fights The following , are the names of those participating in this game Of basq < ;;; Remington nine. (White.) Bert Staler, Captain Jacob Pefley, Earnest Hart, George Allman, ? Dan Lyons, M. C. Mitchell, . Luther Patton, Bert Crowe, Robt. Lyons. Rensselaer nine. (Indian.) J. Lamoreux, Captain; M. Auge, H. Mexene, F. Montgomery, Joe Daybird, R. Manion, G. Shelefo, Joe Pecor, F. Starnalt