The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-20
THE NATIONAL GAME.
Empire VS.. Athlete.

The Athlete Club came down from the heights of
Fort Washington yesterday to battle with the EN-
pre-. They made the bat tell and conquered
peace" That Is to say, thusly:-The Empire is
peace; the Athlete conquered the Empire; igtur
therefore, consequently, the Athlete conquered
peace IT'S well. The Athletes have been singu-
larry unfortunate during the present season. They
have played several match games but until yes
terday were defeated In every game. 1t is
safe, then, to say that they have
been unfortunate; for they showed in the
own steadily in the field. at the bat TOO, they were
gu lite effective, as the score Will show. This Is their
first victory, and 1t is in many respects credtable
0ne but they would no doubt much rather have
won tn game from party that had played as well
as they themselves did, especially the other party
had previously achieved an envabe reputation, and
had been particularly successful in all their contests.
The other party In this case, the Empire Club,
seemed to be under a cloud at the beginning OF the
game; they could scarcely get hold Of Collins pitch
ing with the bat, and could scarcely hold the ball
when sent to them from the Athletes bats. Had the
Gather been very warm and had the Athletes been
as weighty as some OF the "Green Stockingn nine
as Brother Porter it might be supposed that the
grease had melted and flowed down the bat on to the
ball ana made 1t so slippery that 1t went through
lC
There must have been something on the ball TN the
first four innings. The Empires went in on the
fifth innings with the score standing II to against
them. This was blank prospect, to be sure but
they had been as badly of at other times and had
worked their way out and they thought they could
do so again. by heavy and safe hitting they got
over large portion OF the gap which lay between
them and their opponents. ana were somewhat en-
@ NAV be- see a iSs h.n e heng ana
steadily ana surely until they had passed their oppo-
nens by two runs on their last innings. Then there
came over the crowd present quletness that could
almost be felt. There was O large crowd present
and no authority TO restrain their words or ac.
lions tSs snort 0lnef aan the ennSong influence OF
calm and watcnfu as the contestants the mselves 1t
must De seen tnat there was prevailing an exciting
did not smile as broadly as usual; Porter reclined
gracefully on the green sward and wlnked and
eq' y sad ps the
and pretended to have forgotten all about the game
IN the interesting anecdote which was under his
thumb but he looked up wise through his eyelids
"by de boe, and when the first striker OF the Ath-
letes tipped and the ball went bounding back to
Kelly, Phillips dropped Percy ana exclaimed ugh
Kelly dropped the ball and Mr.. Batter was saved
Dots goet," said Phillips; he was the only one
spoke Porter slapped his hand on the ground
Gaunt commenced TO eat his upper lip; John Kelly's
UPS parted and he showed his teeth again by his
to short stop and Griffin stopped 1t spendluly
picked II up quite coolly and taking AIM let II 20
toward FIRST but SO high that J0sephus could
not get II, ana, consequently, the runner got
home. Then the next man popped the ball
up and Howard and Josephus both went for IT. the
former dropped it, and the latter having vacated Tie
first base to get the ball the striker reached the base
This was a bad beginning and the Athletes I'M
proved by 1t. Another oil the baters hot ball
toward second. Higham, who nad changed on with
Kelly picked the bail up and to avoid throwing too
high threw too low, the striker got to the safey
and his predecessor got home. This gave the Atm
lees one run ahead, ana, OF course sc tied the d-
pute. The game was played throughout IN most
commendable spirit, and the crowd present was
quite impartial In the bestowal OF applause. Con-
corning the playing Of the Athletes 1t Is scarcely
Juss 10 partcu!arlze. They all did well what they
had TO do. There were but Jew mspiays IN their
fielding and they deserved the victory they gained
Although the catches made In the field were fine and
brilliant, ana the work at infeld was occasionally
fair they all took O share IN doing the 'mufiingr
The Athletes feel quite eated, as well they might
over their victory. Gus Philips was seen, wnen
crossing the Terry, assuring the pilot that IL was
"hoofy goot.n
The score of the game ia "a followa.