The Morning herald., 1876-05-15
WHINING TON, DEL, MONDAY MAY 15 1876
A EARCICAL STRUGGLE.

Commenced Well and Ended Badly-lN
Obsttnate Pitcher, and tho Man Wjth tn.
Sore Heels.
What commenced on Saturday as deter
mined battle between the two QuicksteI
clubs of this city, ended as one of the mosI
complete farces that the admirers Of the
national game in Wilmington were ever
called upon to witness. The game opened
we'll in the presence of an audience number.
ing upwards of twelve hundred people
Each club had it's admirers, and the cheer
ing was repeated and loud. The sympa-
thies were equally divided, and the men
were in excellent condition, with the excep-
ton of McAleer who was suffering with
sore heels, land Evans who had strained arm
from excessive exercise. All were on the
tip toe of excitement in what was apparently
the most determined struggle for triumph in
the ball field that had ever transpired In
Wilmington, and what augured to give
every satisfaction until the commencement
of the second inning, when Lafferty, the
pitcher of the Amateurs, raised point
upon McAleer's right to choose man to
run in his place. The majority was against
him. which caused him to declare that he
would not play, and the club fielding came
in for the purpose of yielding to Lafiety's
determination, and not finishing the game.
At this time the excitement became in
tense; the audience left their seats and
rushed into the field, some demanding their
money, and others denouncing the STUB
bornness of Lafferty, while many declared
that it was preconcerted arrangement to
shield the Amateurs from defeat, and pro-
nounced the whole thing q cheat and an OUT
rage upon the feelings of the audience.
Lafferty was the special object Of attention,
who declared that he was right and persist
emily adhered to it, confirming 1t by taxing
seat upon pile of bats in resolute man
ner. McA leer declared that his feet were
in too bad a condition to admit OF his run
ming the bases, and exhibited them, which
ere found to be suffering somewhat from
chafing. 1t was also cOntended that Laff"rty
himself had often selected some one to run
for him, and once asked the privilege OF
Lovett, Captain of the Reading Actlves,
who refused it. 1t was generally believed
that Lafferty had right to object, that the
rules of the game confirmed 1t, but that ne
should have considered the feelings OF those
present; they did not come to be trifled with
by discussions over the rules OF the game.
The players appeared in the role OF actors
to play fer an audience that had paid an
admission fee to witness the game. Iney
were to please the audience and not dis
please them. 1t would be just as feasible
for an actor to sit down In front OF the 1oot-
lights and declare he would not play because
another actor was sick and had been more
privileged than himself.
For player to study the interests OF hls
club is admirable at all times, rules OF the
pams should be adhered 10 at all times, but
there are exceptionable cases, and that Of
Saturday certainly was one; it really gave
the rival pitcher no special advantage, and
the dissenting one by his actions not only
showed lack of respect for the audience,
put decided absence Of reason, and We
sincerely trust that such may never occur
again, as this dispute has DESTROYED the
oublic confidence to d great extent already.
After considerable delay, the game was
commenced afresh, Evans, the change
pitcher for the Amateurs, taking Laherty's
p!ace, although suffering from strained
arm, which had to be bound tightly with t.
leather thong, Clinch, who happened to be
upon the grounds, supplying his place in
he left field, under the disAdvan ages OF
being put in position that Ne had never
piayed before. With the nine thus patched
up, the game proceeded, but counter cur
rent had eel in, both with the audience and
The players that was very noticeable,
the latter lacking the vim and energy that
they exhibited in the beginning, and the
former, too mnch worried and excited over
the rupture to regard the game with the
same interest as before. In fact, the game
Jagged in every respect, and the profession
ais seemed Us much affected by the trouble
as the others. There were no more bril-
liant plays; the game appeared to be push
ing itself through in sort of mechant-
cal way, that took from it all interest, and
the audience commenced dropping of in
groups.
While the playing was by no means what
might be called good upon either side, they
managed to keep the score very close, and
al the commencement of the ninth inning it
stood six to eight In favor of tho Protes-
sionals, but being last at the bat they made
three more runs and the score stood: Quick
step Amateurs, six; Quickstep Profession
ais, eleven.
1t could not be called fair contest, and,
Judging from the prowess displayed by the
Amateurs at first, if it had not been for tho
trouble that arose, they would have had a
victory. Under these circumstances it is to
be hoped that another game between the
two clubs will be arranged in which there
will be no such disputes as occurred In the
last, and from which the public will have
better opportunities of Judging. 1t was
stated at base ball headquarters last even
ing that another game between the two
clubs would probably be arranged for next
Thursday. 1t was also stated that Laficrty
would remain with the Amateurs.
Religious.
Edward sharpless, of Haddonfeld, N. j.,