Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-02
Rass-naIl street Prsss.aIoss.

BASEBALL street Prssssaio=s.
Last Saturday afternoon a line Of
hacks, containing q lot of b~ase-ballers,
and headed by brass band, appeared
at the Louisville depot aud received the
Memphis Reds and St. Paul Red Caps,
who had just arrived. A comio-looking
procession was formed and moved up
town TO the corner Of Main and Monroe
streets. At the depot the tag-raG and
bob-tail Of the city seemed 10 be present
negro bootblaeks, ~mackerels, hood.
lumS, newsboys. roughs, buffers, thump-
ers, s~hort-haired chaps of staggering
gait and bloviating discourse; a let of
gamblers from Monroe street, and men
who bet on baseball by way Of amuse-
ment. Indeed, the rough end of the city
turned out to receive the boys Of the bat.
The better class of citizens was amused
and Disguised, but as it is usual to have
a brass band on all occasions, it vas put
down as one Of the things or institutions
of Memphis. At the depot a shOrt.haired
fielder delivered a set speech to the Reds,
but the latter we're too anxious to get up
town and swallow a square meal to pay
any attention to the talker. he was told
to dry up" hire a hall" wait till next
season." etc, and be ceased to crate.
The Reds and Red Caps, escorted by
the motley crowd, arrived at headquar-
tiers on Monroe street, where a lunch
awaited them. Previous to lunching a
young man named Barinds, who had
prepared a written address of welcome,
attempted 10 deliver it. He was 10 doubt
whether to read, speak or sing it, but he
spoke it TO the weary ball.tossers who
smelled dinner not afar of, aud who in
consequence wished the man and his
speech at the bottom Of the river. 1t
was a mock heroic production, welcom-
ing back to Memphis the champion
leather-pounders Of the South. The
Avalanche aud Appeal Of yesterday had
different reports of the speech, which
read like two Different orations. The
Appeal man reported it from a badly
written manuscript; the Avalanchian
reported it telephonicslly but our com
missioner took it down phonographically
at a safe distance as follows:
Brothers of the base ball field, you art
welcome. We greet you after your many
victories up North, where you have beer
the conquerOrs on many a bloody field
You need not go back on your record
A legion OF friends have watched you az
you pounded leather with clubs from
New York to the Mississippi river. YOU
fought with clubs and beat the enemy il
twenty-five out Of thirty-seven fights, mol
lost q single man, except Ben Brooksbaw
who is numbered among the wounded.
now christen him, in scriptural style
the sacrifice batter whatever that MAJ
mean in English and in conclusion
again welcome you, victorious club SOW
ereigns."
The boys grew weary of the gas an,
soon enjoyed a square meal, which the,
! defeated easily. The baud played, "See
the ~Couquering Hero Comes" ant
Johnny Comes Marching Home" an
the show was over.
The weakness of Memphis for stree
psrades, headed by a brass band, re
ceptious, speech making, etc, was clear
! ly exempliied Saturday, and was mos
amusing to strangers, who enjoyed th,
absurd affair immensely.
THE GAME YESTERDAY.
Yesterday quite a large crowd attend
ed Central Park, and witnessed the de
{ feat Of the Reds by the Red Caps, by
score Of 4 to 3. The Reds is a disabled
club at present; the men are lame, stiff
worn out, aud their fingers and handt
I are bruised and swollen; hence the!
s could not play well. The score show
that the Red Capsis not a strong club Il
handle. In the 9th inning the scort
1 stood 3 to 2 in favor of the Reds. Ii
. that inning the Reds made a goose egg
and the Red Caps went to the bat, max
ing two runs on errors made by the Reds
! They will play again to-day, t o.morrov