The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-10-11
BASE BALL IN 1889.

BASE BALL IN 1852.
Description of the National Game as Played
100 Years Hcnce-CatapuIts for Pitchers
and Base Running on Bicycles-Horrible
Fate of an Obstreperous Agriculturist.
[From the Detroit Hourly Post, May 81, 1852,
p. m-l
The game to-day was called promptly
at the second announced, three o. clock
and 361 minutes, and word was received
that the outlying fielders were at their
respective positions. The home team
went to the bat, each member facing
with undaunted spirit the formidable
looking engine stationed in the pitchers
Jox, well knowing that mistake in the
aim might send the revolving globe
through his quivering flesh, and per-
haps kill half dozen or so spectators
behind him. The renowned McGoohilan
was the engineer of the catapult. His
proficiency might have had the effect of
reassuring the batters if it had not been
understood that he was of rather a mali
cious disposition and inclined 10 take re-
venge for fancied insults or former de-
feats- His fine of S25,0 for having
killed one of Troy's batsmen and thirty
four spectators at the risk of the loss of
q valuable catcher. afterward RENTED
on appeal on account of provocation
and justification, had salutary effect,
however, for no accident of the kind
occurred to mar the pleasure of last
hour game.
But there was one hitch which caused
some annoyance and no little indigna-
ton on the part of every true lover of
manly sports. In the first half of the
second inning the telephone in the UNI
pire's box on the tower ratified violent
Nv, and time was instantly called. Word
was received from the left center fielder,
who is stationed in the rear of the old
French homestead on the Woodward
road, that an antiquated gardener had
interposed some objections to having
his cabbage plants trodden down, and
the fielder was in active combat with
the a. g. aforesaid, two bulldogs and n
pitch fork, and in immediate need of
reinforcements. Accordingly fourteen
policemen were sent to quell the riot,
and the game proceeded without further
delay. 1t will be read with a great deal
of satisfaction that the fossilized
gardener was duly arrested, tired and
will be hung for treason at $50
o'clock tonight. The first thirteen
innings passed without a hit being
made, all tic batters striking out. In
the first half of the fourteenth inning,
young Derby, a lineal descendant of the
renowned pitcher of former days, whose
statue in bronze graces the right tpedestal
ut the park entrance, was noticed 10
grasp his bat with determined look
in his face. (Our man of all work sug-
gests that he grasped it with his hands,
but he is one of those idiots who are
siohino for the return of the fool century
onh nj kQr.s
allowed the use of a pencil and a
desk in the editorial rooms).. His
eve snapped fire, his teeth were
firmly set, and he marched up
to the platter with strong resolve
marked in every lineament of his feat
ures. McGoohilan adjusted the sphere
in the catapult with unusual skill, but
to no avail. An awful quiet pervaded
the whole atmosphere; the town clock,
about To strike the hour of four. post
poned its operations for q second, the
sun stood still, the birds winged their
| flight and hovercd listlessly over the
diamond, almost in such numbers as to
| obscure the fiery orb, the ours and the
cats of the neighborhood ceased their
uuarrels for time and looked ON with
unabated interest; all nature, in fact,
seemed centered in the momentous
event now on the point of happening.
The scene was one of most awful grand
eur, splendid. sublime. The critical
| moment came, the trap was sprung; the
ball with lightning velocity fiewtoward.
the catcher, but never reached him. 1t
was stopped in its course by Derby bat
| and sent flying over in the direction oi
the left center field. The umpirl
mounted the tower with his field glass
and announced in the course of ten min,
utes and half that the bal had fallen
to the ground about fourteen rods be-
hind the outermost center fielder. Oi
course long ere this rerby had mounted
his wheel and was on his way around
the bases. No one could see therunnel
or the ball, except the umpire with hi:
glass from his elevated position. Ht
soon announced that Derby was at the
second base, near the Woodward ave-
nue. railroad depot, and that tho
fielder had just boarded Wood
ward avenue elevated railroad Cal
at French station, and was on his way
home with the ball. Bets were made
and eagerly taken that Derby woulC
beat the ball home. II was then an
nounced that the feet-winged wheel
man had reached the third and that TIM
ball was at the Woodward avenue do
pot. Two to one on Derby was nov
offered, and the excitement was at 1T
white heat, when the noble fellow wa
seen coming towards the home plat,
with colors lying and the ball and cen
ter fielder good second behind. Der
by, amid the cheers of the assembled
multitude, the screams of the whistle
of every engine and boat for mile
around, the merry twitter of the birds
the howls of the CANNES and caterwau!
of the cats, scored the single run of til
whole game and won the pennant 70
the home team. He was carried to hi
hotel on the shoulders of the crowd, an
will gently repose tonight on bed Q
roses prepared at the instance OF his ad
miring lady friends, among whom ar
the most fashionable and handsomes
bellies of the city.
Omitting the regular score table, bf
cause. besides the run of Derby. th
times at bat and puts-out, there is notl
ing but ciphers to put in it, we appen
the
Struck ONT Detroit 30. visitors AZ.