Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-09-17
4 GREIT iNE.
street prchins in "a base Bali Contest That As
tonishcd the Natives.

tonishcd the Natives
From the Chicago Graphic.
Five hundred men stood at the corner OF
Van Buren, street, and Third avenue, Sunday
afternoon and forgot for an hour that they
were men. At , o'clock the spot was as va
cant and quiet as a convent green, when four
teen dirty and ragged youngsters drifted in
from several points of the compass as if by
prearranged plan. One freckle-taced lad
gently caressed a huge base ball, shaped very
much like goose-egg, while another toyed
with the remains of what had once been
base ball bat 1t was a cripple now, six
inches of the handle having been amputated
Four of the little urChins wore little red caps
with white stripes and enormous pasteboard
"peaks
.sYou fellers links yer big cause yer got
unertorms,n remarked thin-lipped boy in
tone intensely sarcastic, addressing dumpy
little fellow who wore, in addition to a red
cap, a worsted belt on which was inscribed
the redoubtable word "Captain."
"We're der champions OF der sOuf side"
responded the little man. "Der amt no
scrub nine kin beat der Young AnsOns.'"
"Huggh," scOTniully replied he OF the
freckles; "we're der Young Pfefers.' Has
der lily. If we had our reg'la pitcher we'd
do yer. Tell ye what I'll DO. II you make
your pitcher pitch underhand we'll play
yer"
'cYou make your pitcher pitch underhand
too ?'' inquired the dumpy captain.
"Course we will. First bounce on 'er
fouls out" stipulated the captain OF the I'M
knowns.
Eyes, an if you bea; you get our ball, an
If we beat we get yer bat, 'SPoseu der cops
interfere 2"
"why, it's a draw, den, You get yer nine
ready"
The captain OF the " Young Ansons" drew
oil a few feet, followed by six other little fell
lows. The iTeCkle faced yOuUgster was sur
rounded by ragged group. Shoes were
pulled of, trousers rolled up to little knees,
and coats cast aside in tWinkling, amid a
perfect babel of " l'm pitcher" " Yer anOder
I'm der pitcher - Catcher " First base"
and similar claims. Bases were laid out in
the middle OF Third avenue in a tew mo-
ments, and youth supposed to possess the
necessary integrity, armed with pine stick
and jack knife, was installed as scorer, and
the game began. The scrub nine went to the
bat first, and a cOlored lad with bow legs
came to the plate. He knocked the leather
goose egg into vacant lot back of the third
baseman aud started for first base amid the
yells of the contending players. He kept on
for second base,
"Only two bases on over der fence, yelled
the "outs.n
"Make home run, Snowfall" yelled the
/" Young Ansons."
The bail was recovered, noisy argument
ensued, and at last the perspiring Snowfall
returned to second base with the under
standing that over the fence was only good
for two bases.
By this time a crowd had gathered. 1t
was a small crowd at first, but it grew
rapidly. Soon there were 200 people on the
sidewalks. Soon the freckle- face captain
came to the bat He posed like A. JaX defy
ing the lightning. He knocked the ball two
feet and managed to get to first. The crowd
cheered. Great excitement agitated the ranks
of the Young Ansons." The pitcher and
catcher met halt way and whispered in each
others ears Men in the crowd sat down
to laugh easier. Not smile appeared on
the faces OF the players The pitcher
and catcher resumed their positions. The
pitcher rubbed bis hip three times aud
then suddenly flew round and glared at the
second base. The cOlOred artist who had
been leading OIL almost two iesL threw him
self on his face and tranticaly Clutched the bar
rel stave that served for second base The
crowd cheered. The pitcher finally sent the
ball in. The catcher held it an instant tore
oil his cap and hurled the leather wad toward
second base. 1t went four ieet over the head
of the astonished Snow ball, who happened
To be standing on the base at the time. 1t
kept on and rolled to Jackson street, chased
by the entire nine, except the catcher, who
nearly burst blood vessel standing ON the
home plate and demanding in earsplitting
tones that the ball be "put home" Snow.
ball and the captain scored, at which the
scorer cut two huge nOtches in tho pine stick
Then the "Noung Ansons" came up IN a
body and inspected the mue.
"Play ball play bali ~ shouted the crowd
for all the world like the impatient spectators
at League game
The crowd numbered 800 now. Great ex-
citement prevailed. The clubs began play
| ing again. A sallow youth with spider legs
"as struck out amid greatapplause Another
| got hrst stubbed his bare toe on paving
block running to second, and was in
gloriously put out At last the "Young
Ansons" got their innings. In the language
| OF the base ball reporters they batted the
ireckle-faced captain, who was pitching, "out
OF the box" They made seven tallies The
entire nine then came to him, and, after a
lengthy argument, convinced hun that the
inst base needed him badly. Previous to
this bumpbacked lad had come in from
leit field and threatened To "stIike" unless
he was given less work.
Such a scrambling and yelling and giving
of advice so much dignity and attontiveness
to duty is rarely witnessed Men in the
crowd laughed till the tears ran down their
faces, but the players merely looked at these
misguided mortals with sup6rciious air,
tnged with pity. The game progressed.
One side had seventeen talliss, tho olher If.
teen. Suddenly the crowd looked down the
street A big policeman was approaching at
gallop his club swinging ike the pend
uium OF an eight day clock.
50 CSary meese Der cop" piped shrill voice.
| When the big policeman arrived and tbe
crowd again glanced at the ball field, n was
vacant and bare save for the presence Of one