The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-05-09
CELESTIAL BASE BALLISTS.
A Huge Time With the Plgtails who Con-
cluded to Strike.


club, Yesterday struck for higher wages,
which were refused, and ten pigtailed
chirtwashers have returned to avocation
for which they seem to have been most |
osnpcially designed by Providence. The |
cInb was the only one Of its kind in the |
world. and in its untimely decease the
lovers of genuine side-splitting fun have
lost perpetual source of amusement. |
Two weeks ago John Lang contracted
with Lee Yaw and Sam Weng, laundry
men to supply him ten native players, |
who should travel over the country dis
plaving their skill in baseball sports. |
sam Weng secured the necessary Chin |
amen and Lang took them over to |
gloucester one sunny afternoon and at |
tempted to initiate them into the mys-
teries of the game. 1t was evident they |
needed lots Of practice. Lang stood them
around in position. Charley Lee was
the captain Wah Lung posed on the
Ditchers plate, Wah Lee acted as catch
er Ki Tung as short stop, XII Chung as
first baseman and Sing Gee as second
baseman, Sing Ling was planted al
third base, Hong Kong in the right cen
tire field, Hop Lee in the right field and
All Sing in the left field. Thus dis
posed Lang gave a bat to Lee 4aW, and
instructed him to hit at the balls grace
u
ly and handled it rs if it Wcf0 flai iion.
The first Lall bat him i'll the Il lt;ci3,
whereat he opened his ltie>l'ai li"tths
and yelled loud enough - Ae heard 1T
Cape May Point, and d,"nEed the bat.
Lang persuaded him to pick it up. The
second ball hit the bat near the big end
mach to Lee Yaw's amazement and
bounded away about thirty feet. Lang
shouted to him to run to the first base.
Ki Chug evidently thought his country
man was going to murder him, for he
set off for the nearest fence as fast as his
nmble legs could carry him, mounting
which, he disappeared in the distance,
heading for the river. In the meantime
the other Cinnamon forgetting all about
their instructions, left their positions
and each and all rushed for the ball as
if it were a dead rat and they were
starved.
The next day Lang gathered the gang
together and took them over to Gioucer-
ter again. This time they were given
exDlieit commands as to what to do and
how 10 do it. Lam Weng the associate
manager, went to the bat. Wah Lung
pitched ball at him with all his might,
and before the miserable Cinnamon
could get out Of the way the bali had hit
him in the stomach and knocked his
dinner up in his throat. Then to show
them how to hit the balls, Lang should
cred the bat and planted fly away out
in the centre field. Seven Of the China
men rushed for the ball, and bore it in q
bode to Wah Lung. When they had
resumed their positions Lang struck q
foul The ball whizzed around in an
erratic orbit and struck Wah Lee, the
catcher, in, the mouth, shutting that
useful member and one eye up like
flash. Lang tried to get Wah Lee to
nut on q muzzle, but he refused saying,
7'makee me lookee too dam much Hkee
Doggy On that same day Hong Kong
caught at high ball and broke his m
ger; Hop Lee stumbled over stone ana
tore his breeches, and All sin, Whe
climbed over into an adjoining melon
natch to recover a 'sfar' ball, was bitten
hv a Jersey bulldog. There was no more
practice that day, and that evening the
ten Cinnamon went to Lungs house
and demanded higher wages, which
thev were given. Two days elapsed be
fore the club could be gotten together.
This time they appeared in full dress
Ki Chug was honored with the bat, and
Wah Lung pitched curved ball. Is
Chug naturally thought the ball wa
coming in a straight line, ana SO dle
Wah Lee the catcher. Ihe former
however, saw it when it began 70 curve
and in reaching out to strike it, whacket
Wah Lee alongside of the head, inf1lct
ing an ugly welt. Lang stood by an
laughed, and Wah Lee got angry ant
swore at him in broken Chinese. IhI
depressed the enthusiasm, and the gam
prodeeded in aristocaatic silence.
One thing the Cinnamon could no
learn. When the batter would hit tn
ball and start for first base, the catcher
the pitcher, and the short-stop and tW
other basenen would rusn after him an
try to stop HIM They refused, too, {
play in their shirt sleeves, and mace
pretty sight running around in full dres
and their pigtails streaming III tn
breeze They only practiced twice more u
Upon the first occasion Lang oatted III
opening inning. He struck heavily 9
ball and drove it down to the pltchel
Wah Lung had an idea the ball was sol
and attempted to grab it. 1t was nc
soft. 1t was very herd 1t silppe
! through Wah Lungs long. slim flngel
! like a flash and struck him With q rms
inc 'soclz'' full in the stomach, double
him up like jack-knife. When ne II
covered he changed places with lion
Kong out in the center field. The res
of the came was uninteresting. SaI
Weno the manager, who came out {
look at the game. was Knocked SIX lee
bv q foul. which also stood him on a.
head. Wah Lung in catching at q hlg IS:
fly, broke his right Thumb, ana An .ol !
who attempted to 'crib' the same pai
had his nose broken. The last gam
,,-oo 80, oxxax, tf,,I ono The ten Dunge