Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-08-22
PETTICOATS IN THE BALL FIELD.
From Base Balists mt Play-The Fat
Blonde Who Battered the Pitcher
A Bull Breaks Up the Game.

| YUM a DdcC Odll LnftCn. LILO
females in one OF the mills challenged
the young men working in the same
establishment to play game OF base
ball. The public was ruled out, but
areporter OF the Philadelphia Sunday
Press was smuggled In as an umpire.
He made the following report:
A few minutes after their arrival
the bases, bats and balls made their
appearance, and then we noticed that
both mines began stripping for the
fray. By the latter I mean the boys
flung off their coats and spit on their
hands. In stripping for the fray the
girls didn't strip at all. They merely
tucked up thhir dresses, stuck a pin
here and there, gave their back hair
an extra and tighter twist and were
then ready to conquer or to cry.
Everything was all arranged now,
and with me as umpire the males took
the field, and the game commenced.
The first female to step to the
home plate, bat In hand, was a short,
fat. and fair blonde. Lifting her bat
in the air she gave a tremendous
whack at the first ball pitched, missed
1t, then down tumbled her hair.
@Here! barley freel Hold up! Wait
a minutel" she screamed, as the
catcher returned the ball. "Wait till
1 fix my hair up" Dropping the bat
she dug out lot OF hair-pins, and
then filling her mouth with her front
tresses, she began curling up the
back locks. After asking the rest OF
the girls how her hair looked, and on
being informed that 1t was all right.
she announced her self again ready.
Aiming furious blow at the next
ball, the bat flew out OF her hands /;
but although she missed the ball, she
made hit. The flying bat caught
the pitcher In the stomach, and the
pitcher was broken, wind-broken.
He doubled up like jack knife. and
it was five minutes before he caught
his breath enough to swear he had
enough of pitching, and IL he couldn't
play In the right field he wouldn't
play at all According he was al
lowed to go to right field, and right
fielder moved up the pitchers posi-
ton.
When the fair and tat bat'swoman
faced the new pitcher,it was apparent
that the latter was nervous. Squar-
ing himself, he pitched hot ball
some ten feet above her head. and
then. waiting to see IL she cracked a,
IL, he turned and fed clear to second
base. He remembered his predeces-
sor's fate, and didn't intend to stand
and stop the flying bats.
1t being evident that a change oI
pitchers was again necessary, the
second baseman came in to pitch
His first ball was sent flying over sec
ond base, and his fair batter reached
first in safety. AS the next female
advanced to the plate, bat in hand
she was told to spit on her hands FOL
good luck by the batter who had JUS
preceded her The second femal,
went out on strikes, but the fair ant
fat one managed to reach third bas,
on two passed balls before the thirG
striker handled the bat. Striking
viciously at the first ball, she missed
it, but tore the whole back OF hel
dress open. and game had to be call
ed until she found some one Willing
to lend her a loose linen sack. BE
suming the bat, and after knocking
two fouls, she was easily fielded ou
at first. Two outs and still on thir,
base remained the fat blonde.
The next striker was red-headet
girl. After two misses she lifted
rafting hit over third base. but a.
she did so the bat swung out OF he
hands and nearly Drained the catch
er. While every one was paying at
tention to the latter she gallope'
around the bases, making a hom
run on a simple base hit. Two out
and two runs now for the female
and bruised right fielder and a half
Drained catcher for. the males.
As the injured catcher was not in
condition to resume play. 1t was de
cided, after half an hours halt, tina
play should be resumed with onl
eight males. When calling for som
one to fill the catcher's place it wa
found that none OF the rsmainin,
eight were rash enough to offer I
step foreward and be Drained. A
last 1t was decided to draw lots, an
the short stop became the victen
Bidding all his friends an affectionat
adieu, and leaving a dying messag
for his parents he took his positio
and the game was renewed. The fe
male to step to the batter's position
was one OF the long. lean. lank, an
hungry looking kind. Two strike
had been called when she knocke
an easy one between second and thir
bases. Tossing the bat into the uu
pire's face she shot for third bas'
and upon reaching that position TRIP
ped, fell, and rolled over and owe
displaying a pair OF red stocking {
every revolution. The next instar
players, umpire. and spectators wei
fleeing for their lives. The momer
I the red stockings burst upon tt