Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-09-11

fielder ran forward like hound, and
seizing the ball as 1t was bounding to-
ward him, hurled II to first base. There
was dull thud as the baseman re-
ceived it and held it over his head
then the monotonous voice of the UNI
pire, Not out. The first striker had
made his base. Two others followed,
and the bases were full. 1sr.es3s e6T
"s Now, then.-why do people say
Now, then Failed the captain as
the fourth batsrnan strobe to the plate,
play deep out there and in obedience
the order we of to the outer field retired
still further out. The first ball that the
player received suited him and he drove
It sharply to centre. The white sphere,
perfectly kissing with its speed, passed
about ten feet over the second base
mans head came straight at me. r..
ct heard the cheers of the crowd;
I saw the runners flying between the
bases; saw our captain fling his cap
to theground, and knew by instinct that
he had bitten his lip and muttered,
Just our luck, hit to the muffer
with the bases full. All these things
come to ones eyes and ears at such
q time without his knowing that he sees
or hears them. Then I started to run
forward, though I knew was fully
twenty feet too far out to reach the ball
ere it touched the ground. "3 #
81 ran desperately, and atthe crit
ical moment sprang forward. The dis
tance no mortal cold have covered at
one leap, but felt myself borne for
ward irresistibly by an unknown force,
and something fell into my hand.
There was moments silence;" then
came roar from the crowd, followed
by an electric clapping of hands; then
a cry of Back! backr as the runners
rushed to retrace their steps; another
yell (from our captain this time), Put
her to secondr and 1 threw the ball
to the baseman. On it went like rifle
shot. breast high, and straight. I saw
him turn and fling it with unerring aim
to first. Then came the monotonous
voice of the umpire: Side out and
our men went trooping in, turning SON.
ersaults and walking on their hands in
elation.
6" That was lucky fuke of yours,
that triple play said the Captain,
consolingly. ,4sa ,tYs ~
&c 1t was the latter half OF the second
inning, and no runs scored on either
side, when I grasped my bat at the
warning cry: Holmes to bat; Smith
ers on deck In few seconds Holmes
was out, and faced the pitcher.
81 grasped tho magic bat tightly, and
as did so seemed to feel an electric
thrill run through my frame. The bat
quivered as if instinct with life, and
I could have sworn that felt pair of
warm hands clasping the handle between
my own. So strong was the impression
that I actually looked down to see if
such were not the case.
The ball flew towards me. ! felt
impelled to strike, and without hesita-
ton, without calculation, struck madly
at it, and there came another roar, an
other electric clapping, Of hands, and I
saw the ball tiny blot on the blue sky,
cleaving the mir one hundred feet above
the head of left field. / ran like a
startled deer, one base, two, three,
clean home run, and painting sank down
on the grass fully ten seconds ere the
ball was sent in. I had made my first
base-hit, and it was home run!
~"Guess you've been saving MP your
base-hits for the last three years" re-
marked orr caDtain.
af- @ vi. Saga i@ 10
ct need not dwell in detail upon the
rest of this history. On that day, as
was generally remarked, played "like
the devil" and the banner Of Somer-
vile went down in the gloom of white
wash. THAT sentence is somewhat
Whitmanian, but let it stand.) An hon.
ored member of the first nine, wherever
the Excelsiors went went, and with
me went victory. Base-hits and home
runs poured prodigally from my bat,
what wished it to do, that it did. The
fame of the Wahpanseh Exceisiors be-
came more than local; professional
mines came from afar to battle with us,
and retired worsted. My portrait with
a heavy black mustachel was in the
Clipper. / was offered for six months
recreation such salary as few minis
ters of the Gospel, teachers, or editors
can hope to receive. One thing, how
ever puzzles me: Who was my myste-
rious visitor, and will he reappear to
claim his gift?" --z
How this manuscript came into the
possession of the World reporter it
would be tedious here to relate. The
following item, from the Wabpanseh
Clarion, of August 10, may, however, be
of interest: ,-~.,
We regret to learn that no reliable tidings
have as yet been received of Mr.. Henry G.
Smthers, the respected left-felder of the Ex-
celsior Base Ball Club. On the 5th of July,
early In the morning, as our readers may re-
member, his bat with which during the year
he had made 81 home runs, 29S base hits and
673 total bases) was found on Main Street,
near Jefferson, permeated by strong smell
of sulphur and bearing the imprint of sew
erai fiery fingers. Nothing has since been
heard of our esteemed citizen, and it is feared
that foul play exists. The Excelsior B, b. c..
has offered a reward of two hundred dollars