The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-02

&"c 'hsihtu outc-Bau ASSOCIATION Hnve
Their Eyes Opened-1hey Think that Some
"Gay Gambolier" Has Been Playing n
"short-Stop" Game with Their Nine-The
Latter Indignantly Deny ,he Cbarse-Curi-
Gus Betting and Lucky Winners.
Some time since the baseball craze
reached Richmond airesb. IL took deep
hold. and was much worse than the "Dolly
Warden dress the cart-wheel "Gainesbo-
rough bat" or any OF the many much
deserted but innocent fashions that the
ladies are satirized so much about by
the lords OF creation. The craze grew
apace, aud some OF the best men
that IL, II the best men are those who have
comfortable bank accounts-set TO work
and organized stock company. The num-
Der OF shares to be held by any one per-
son was limited to four, and the list Of
stockholders showed up cheerful line OF
businessmen. taking range so wide that
it covered callings all the way from the
gambler and bar-keeper to staid
bankers and merchants. The Sunday
school teacher and the temperance
man met, through the zeal for base
ball, on the same footing with the
men who toll Sunday nights in pent-up
bar-rooms, the front doors of which must
be closed to The pubic because Of the bad
moral odor likely TO escape thereby. Base
ball was the common plane upon which
this democracy could meet, shake hands,
and readiust the business difficulties of the
city. The io!ificatlon was great, the pros
pect pleasing. Baseball helps q heap"
said member OF the Association. "See
the number Of hacks and wagons that
make, every day game is played, SO or
81, to say nothing Of the horsC-cars, cigar
dealers, and many others. Why, | have
known country merchants TO stay over
here day in order to witness n game Of
ball. Ii is our only amusement in the
summer, and deserves to be patronized by
all. Even some OF our preachers attend
the games"
The stunned reporter mused over this
strange announcement, which came from 4
gentleman for whom he held the highest
respect. The remarks daZed him, not hay-
ing forgotten what good old Leigh Rich
mond said TO his daughter when she de-
clarcd that although a minister's child and
a member OF the Church, she could go to a
ball and not suffer by it. A coal OF fire
had fallen to the hearth and then died out,
and Mr.. Richmond asked his daughter TO
pick it up. Instantly it was held between
her snowy fingers.
"Now let it fall" said the father, and
Miss Richmond obeyed.
"Did it burn youy" he asked.
"NO, sir" was replied.
"Ah, my child, but see how it smutted."
BAwLING ABOUT BALL.
These reflections were recalled yester-
day, when at every corner OF the street
men were talking about the game Tuesday
between the Virginia Club, OF the newly
organized Association, and the Ross Club,
OF Chester, Penn. The latter Club arrived
here and played game last Monday. They
were heralded as the :" champion amateur
club of the country" and this announce
ment, although smackiug OF circus side
shows and theatre-comique handbills, was
swallowed by the lovers OF baseball TO the
extent that nearly a thousand people paid
% cents TO witness the game; and this,
too. when the ladies OF Richmond cannot
raise $50 to put into position at Hollywood
cemetery a gate that will do honor TO the
heroic General Pickett and the brave Con-
federate dead who sleep near and around
him.
Verify, mighty is base-bail-mightier
than fame.
The game was played. and on the first
inning the "champion amateur club OF the
country allowed the Virginia's TO make
ten runs. The game closed in favor OF the
Virginias, the score standing 2l to 8.
1t was clear TO the initiated that our
amateurs were more than match for the
visitors.
AHOLE IN THE SKIyMER.
So plain was this that the great motor OF
baseball excitement -betting-worked TO
its full extent on the game to be played
Tuesday between the same clubs.
The Virglnias had the choice, and heavy
odds were offered on them. Presently
these bets began to be taken, and before
O'Clock Tuesday knowing baseball players
began to see that something was astir. The
work OF taking the bets on the Ross Club
was conducted quietly, and by the time the
game was called some 81, 900 or $4,000 were
staked on the game. A. quietly, however.
rs this was done. some intimation Of it
reached the ears Of the management, one
OF the Virginia Club having said to ar
officer OF the Association, ''The game has
already been played and lost: we can do
nothing" and this before an inning had
been played.
INDIGNANT CALCULATIONS.
Yesterday morning when Richmond
walked up and went about its business, II
straghtway commenced to growl.
"You just ought to have been up town
last night" said well-known gentleman
10 the reporter. "You never saw such
kicking. The tree-bOXes and signs caught
it badly. The boys who lost by betting on
the Virgninlas swear that the game was
given away" Another gentleman, an old
baseball player, said: - | rode into the
baseball grounds in a buggy with a
friend. had seen enough for me to know by
Q o'clock that something was wrong. AT
least | suspected it from various ma
npuvres that | saw. Why, one man that
don't know anything about baseball was
going around stalking gambler who was
betting heavy on the Ross nine. AS soon
as cot in the grounds 1 saw one play that
satisfied me. | never saw a crowd so COM
pIetely disgusted. If it was trick Of the
gamblers, it was well managed, and there
are number OF soreheads and empty
pocket books this morning."
THE LOSS BY BETTING
Vigorous inquiry showed that about
SO. 900 changed hands on the result. The
unnaturaIness OF the termination Of the
game as compared with the judgment OF
experts is shown when it is stated that in
The morning bets Of to that the Yir-
ginias would beat the Ross to were
offered and not taken. Mr.. Ross, after
whom the Ross Club is named, and who
came on here with them from Chester, Pa,
lost s5) on the result. To Offset this, how
ever. il Is said that he has 4 bet ia Chester
OF 81 ,OOe that his Club would win one
game. One gentleman, it is said, lost
5000. which amount il the largest bet