The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-24


no game Of the season has been the subject Of
more interest, speculation, and betting, than
that played on Monday afternoon between the
National and Olympic clubs of this city. The
Nationals, having held the sway and cham
pionship Of the District from the earliest
period OF the games history up to the game
opening OF this season, started out with a
mine" greatly strengthened BY valuable addi-
tions since last season, and having but re-
aS from Which TO saTsd Of
single game but added lustre TO their name,
and classcd them among the No. clubs Of the
country vas the Iniysrsa TPi nj nat ,he
most exciting, and perhaps the most closely
contested ever witnessed by the lovers OF the
game within the Districts and SO It proved.
Although II was announced, and generally I'm.
derstood, that the game would be called at
o'clock, as early as O'Clock those having
"basc ball on the brain" were vending their
steps to the National grounds, and when the
hour finally arrived, and the popular umpire
called the "play,"at least three thousand spec
tators had taken their positions-all to see, a
their criticisms. But ere that hour arrived,
many had fears and misgivings that the game
would not beplayed, although the "tossers"
were all uniformed and on the field. The
Olympics, although willing to contend with
the strongest nine the Nationals could lcgit-
imately trot out, justly and with propriety
protested against Berthrong being one Of that
number, he having, while ON n recent visit to
Cincinnati, participated as one OF the players
In a match game with q club to which he never
belonged, thus violating one Of the principal
rules Of the association deserving the pub
lie censure OF his own club, and forfeiting all
claim to participation as player on the
National nine.
For this reason, and because the Olymplcs
desired playing strictly within the rules OF
the game, Cope, the captain Of the nine, en-
tered his protest. Fox, on the other hand,
nor manifesting any disposition to crafty the
immense crowds OF spectators, declared that
Berthrong would either play or they would
WINGED the crowd that without Berthrong on
the nine they feared the championship OF the
South would be wrested from them. The
Olymplcs were thus compelled to play the
game according to the dictation of the Ma
tionals or Indirectly be the means of disap.
pointing the crowd. The latter they were un-
willing to do, and hence the game was played.
that many OF the members of the Nationals
had previously given bitter expression to
their feelings as to Berthrong's conduct, and
declared him incompetent to play in the anti
cipated game with the Ulympics, and among
that number the names OF some OF the first
nine could be mentioned. So far as Berthrong
Is concerned he evidently deeply regrets his
actions, and has made up his mind to redeem
himself In the game OF Monday he did his
duty WELL and the prediction is n safe one
that without his services the Nationals would
have lost the game.
The game having been called, It was a source
of immense satisfaction to the crowd to see
that every player OF the two mines entered
into the game with that spirit and determine.
tion which always chAracterizcs a first.class
player. The Olympcs, determined II possible
to wrest the laurels from the Nationals, took
their position In the field, and although up to
the close Of the sixth innings they led the
score, and never failed to exhibit the most
skillful playing, fate was against them, and on
the seventh inning the Nationals gained the
lead and kept 1t until the close Of the game
Superior batting on their part retained for
them the championship OF the South, but
n
Olympics. In this they specially excellcd, and
in such a manner as to give abundant proof
that as a nine they rank among the HTst-class
clubs of the country. Time and space will not
permit of fitting encomlums to many individual
players; suffice IT to say that Norton, Fox,
Studley, Gibncy, Fletcher, and Berthrong, OF
Beach, Of the Olympics, exhibited throughout
the game very superior playing. Whilst Leech
is tirst.class and efficient pitcher As rule, it
ishvident that the change made by the Olym-
pics In the eighth innings had much to do with
their losing the game.
A pleasant and marked feature of the after
noon was the fact that the sympathy OF the
spectator was about equally divided between
the two mines. Every fine play-no matter by
whom made-was Justify applsuded, and with
but tn exception, most perfect order was OBJ.
served.
AS for the umpire, none better lives. I'm.
partial, prompt, and with full understanding
OF the rules OF the play, his decisions were In
every instance entirely satisfactory, both to
the players and spectators.
The following Is full and accurate report
OF the game;
First Innings Observation-Disclosures to the bat
and made his lat base on a sky ball, which
Beach endeavOred to capture, but was too
latrj sneaked to his second between Cope and
Malone. Fox sending a teauty to extreme
left field, was handsomely put out by Robin.
| son, (Applause.l Studlcy sent u sky .scraper
to Force, and retired. Gibncy meeting the
left on his second, the Nationals went to the
| field with whitewarh. Immense applause
OlympiGs.Copo BY asky bah to Icft hSld'
oenu ., n ny "sG n Ms ,
| Malone sending agrounder to Gibney, failed
to make his fret BY the balling getting ahead
Of him. Cope In the mean time made his ID:
| In trying to steal home between Fletcher and
Ward was nicely caught In the act, and run
out BY Fox and Ward. Force, on daisy.cut-
ter to Norton, made his LIST, but with little
| time to spare. Secured his second on u hsd
throw by Ward to Gibncy, and his Cd and
home by n similar thrOw BY Berthrong to Fox
Dennison retired on beauty TO extreme left
field, captured by Studlcy, and the ulympios
returned to tho field with ono run to their
credit.
Second LniHgS.-Nationals-Co send
ing u groundef to Lecch at LIST base, gave up
the ghost. Fletcher retired on three strikes
Ward, on n grounder to Beach, couldn't see
the LIST base on account OF Beach's popularity
OF promptly presenting the ball to Lcech, and,
field on whitcwash, amid the applause from
the crowd.
Olymplcs-Dlck on grounder to Fox, badly
thrown, forker succeeded in making his LIST,
from whence he stole to his 81 between
Fletcher and Ward, Robinson declined his LIST
on sky ball captured by Norton. tApplause.
Dick stole his Sd between Fletcher and Ward.
Beach, on \ ball which Norton failed to stop,
made his LIST, and Dick reached home. Woods
was disappointed in his LIST by a fly captured
by Norton. Leach, by good luck, reached his
I'd, Gibney failing to hold the ball thrown by
Ward, and from thence stole to his Sd between
Fletcher and Ward. Lcech makes his LIST on
a ball to left field, out OF Studley's reach and
Beach gets home. Cope retiTcs on skyny
taken BY Gibney, aud, with LecCh left Onls
the Olympics resumed their positions In the
field on two runs, Game stands-Olympics .,
Nationals 0.
Third InniRgS.-NatlUnals-F on sky.
ball muifed BY Dick, makes his I'd. Berthrong
sending a ball to extreme right, fields beyond
Dennison's reach, made his 81 amid rounds Of
applause, and Forker reaches home. Norton
failed to make his LIST on sky-ny taken by
Leech. Fox sending Adsisy.cutter to centre
to Dick, reached his LIST and Burthrong gained
a score. Fox makes his lat by sky.pitch by
Cope. Studley sends a red hot grOunder to
left Held, but Milcy sends 1t promptly in, and
he only gains his LIST, and Fox gets home.
Glbncy, by u ball to Dick, badly stopped and
muffed by Leech, reaches his LIST, and Studley
goes to "a. Coughlin sending a grounder be-
tween LIST and Cd base, makes his first, Gibney
to I'd, and Studley counts score. Fletcher
retired on fly captured by Cope, and BY
prompt delivery to LGS'h, a fine double play
was made BY CGughlih>having, left for his %
base. with Gibney LETT on al base, the Ma
tiOnals take TO the field on runs
Dlympic-MalOne Is excused on fly taken
by Studley, Force makes his lst on a ball to
right field and would probably have reached
extreme left field, makes his I'd, and Force
goes to Sd. Dick sending n grOunder, which