Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-07-24
BASE BALL IN 1885.
Description Of the National Games
Played 100 Years Henoe-cat.
apults for Pitchers and
Base Runners on Bi.
cycles.
Horrible Fate Of an obstreperous
Agri:alturist.

S4S441I4S dbV VI Oh Sbpb1VpVtVuo
Agricultural.
! From the Detroit Hourly Post. May 81, 1885,
5p. IN.
The game to-day was called prompt
ly at the second announced, three
o'clock and 36I5 minutes, and word
was received that the outlying field
ers were at their respective positions.
The home team went to the bat, each
member facing with undaunte, spirit
the formidable looking engine station
ed in the pitchers box, well knowing
that a mistake in the aim might send
the revolving globe though his quiver-
ing flesh, and perhaps kill half "a
dozen or SO spectators behind him.
The removed McGoohilian was the
engineer of the catapult. His pro-
fciency might have had the effect of
reassuring the batters if it had not
been understood that lie was of rather
a malicious disposition and inclined
to take revenge for fancied insults or
former defeats. His fine of $4,000
for having killed one of Troy's bats
men and thirty-four spectators at the
risk of the loss of Il valuable catcher,
afterward RENTED Oh appeal on
account of provocation and justitica-
ton, had salutary effect however,
for no accident of the kind occurred
to mar the pleasure of last hours
game.
But there was one hitch which
caused some annoyance and 10 little
Indignation on the part of every true
lover of manly sports. In the first
half of the second inning the tele-
phone in the umpirc's box on the
tower ratified violently, 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 in-
terposed some objections TO having
his cabbage plants trOdden down,
and the fielder was in active combat
with the a. g.aforesaid, two bulldogs
and pitch fork, and in immediate
need ofreinforcemCnts. 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 f0ssilized gardener was duly ar
rested, tried and will be hung for
treason at s 80 o'clock tonight. The
first thirteen innings passed without
u hit being made, all the batters strik-
ing out. In the first half of the
fourteenth inning, young Derby, a
lineal descendant o. the removed
pitcher of former days. whose statue
in bronze graces the right pedestal at
the park entrance, was noticed TO
grasp his bat with determined look
in his face. Our man Of all work
suggests that he grasped il with his
hands, but he is one of those idiots
who are signing for the return of
the fool century when punsters and
paragraphers were allowed the use of
Il pencil and a desk in the editorial
rooms). His eye snapped fire. his
teeth were firmly set, and he marched
up to the platter with strong resolve
marked in every lineament of his
features. 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 10 strike the hour
of four, postponed its operations for
a second, the sun stood still, the birds
winged their flight anu lowered
listIessly over the diamond, almost in
such numbers as 10 obscure the fiery
orb, the ours and the cats of the
neighborhood ceased their quarrels
for time and looked on with un-
abated interest: all nature, in fact,
seemed centered in the momentous
even now on the point Of happening.
The scene was one of most awful
grandeur, splendid, sublime. The
critical moment came, the trap was
sprung; the ball with lightning
velocity flew towards the catcher,
but never reached him. 1t was stopped
in its course by Derby's bat and sent
flying over in the direction of the
left center field. The umpire mounted
the tower with his field glass and
announced in the course of ten min
utes and a half that the ball had
fallen to the ground about fourteen
rolls behind the Outermost center
fielder. OF course long ere this Derby
had mounted his wheel and was on
his way around the bases. No one
could see the runner or the ball, ex-
cept the umpire with his glass from
his elevated position. lie soon an
nounced that Derby was at the second
base, near the Woodward avenue
railroad depot, and that the fielder
had just boarded a Woodward avenue
elevated railroad car at Franch
station, and was on his way home
with the bali Bets were made and
eagerly taken that Derby would beat
the ball home. 1t was then announced
that the tleet-winged wheelman had
reached the third and that the ball
was at the Woodward avenue depot.
Two to one on Derby was now offered,
and the excitement was at its white
heat, when the noble fellow was seen
coming towards the home plate with
colors flying and the ball and center
fielder good second behind. Der
by, amid the cheers Of the assembled
multitude, the screams of the whistles
of every engine and boat for miles
around, the merry twitter of the birds,
the howls of the CANNES and cater
wauls of the cats, scored the single
rnn of the whole game and won the
pennant for the home team. He was
carried to his hotel on the shoulders
of the crowd, and will gently repose
tonight on bed of roses prepared
at the instance of his admiring lady
friends. among whom are the most
fashionable and handsomest bellies of
the city.
Omitting the regular score table,
because, besides the run of Derby,
the times at bat and puts-out, there
is nothing but ciphers TO put in it,
we append the
SCHELUDE.