Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-08-22
Daft on Base Ball.


When our partner went away from
here for his summers recreation, we
warned him not to get stuck on base
ball or lawn tennis, and especially base
ball. We pointed out to him what
bright prospects there were before him
and how he might some day be elected
councilman in Medicine Lodge, or
even school director, if he would es
chew the seductive base ball. But our
warning was not needed and this week
we received a letter from him that act
ually chilled the blood In our veins and
caused us to lose all hope for his future,
for Mr.. MusgrOve had become mashed
on the national game. Here is his let
ter:
KANSAS CITY, Aug. Is, 1883.
Mr.. CARuTHEns: Knowing your great love
and admiration for the great national game of
base ball, have taken the task upon myself
to attend few games, that might contribute
to your pleasure by telling about them. The
first game was Cow Boys VS.. Athletics" of
Philadelphia. 1t was bully game. You will
remember that the Cow Boys" stand at the
head Of the list-when you turn the list up side
down. The Athletics stand about third or
fourth, whichever way the list is turned. There
were perhaps 500 people present, each of whom
paid half dollar. The grand STAND is arranged
very much like country fair ground. The
game commenced at exactly o'clock D. m.
The ground was very soft in all parts, but the
right and left fields were nothing but mud and
water. The boys came to work in good style.
and the Cow Boys took the bat. Pretty soon a
Nightly was sent to left field and the fielder
made break for it. 1t was worth the price of
admission TO see the spray of mud and water
he kicked up all along his course. The ball fell
! in the mud, but the fielder was close enough TO
see where it struck and damned his fist into the
hole before the hole closed up, secured the ball
and sent it home. The man who struck the ball
made grand rush for first base, and the course
over which he ran looked it had been plowed
This was repeated over and over Sometimes
a fellow would fall In trying to reach base, and
| then get up and shake mud like Newfound-
land dog shaking water from himself. The
Cow Boys done" the Athletics badly, the score
being ii to B. The next two days the Cow Boys
took rest, and let the other fellows win. In
this way the Cow BOYS maiasaia their position
at the head OF the list. / was present when
they did up the "Clevelands' the first DAYS.
!
great game was yesterday. The .Brooklyns'
were here. Your handsome and much ceIe-
brated relative-Caruthers-be the pitcher
| for the team. n9 sou Know there are 100 per-
| sons in this city who can name every pitcher in
the league, and the rank of each club, TO where
| there is one person who can name the presi-
dents cabinet? believe st. Louis is first, and
| Brooklyn second There were about 20OO peo-
pie out to see the game. Several innings were
played before tally was made Caruthers
pitched his wonderful curves. which looked like
some Barber county cattle-brands, but the Cow
Boys found him quite often. The ground was
in good fix and the fielding on both sides was
splendid Ia the fourth inning the BrookIyns
scored three runs; in the fifth inning, one more
was made. The Cow Boys made nothing TN the
sixth inning, when they scored four You
ought TO have heard the yells! In the seventh
they scored two more. and then Kansas City
stood on her hind legs aud bowled for five min
Ntes at . time. The Cow Boys had braced up.
| They became confident, and they just knocked
the shuck on of Caruthers' balls. Porter pitch
ed splendid game. l tell you the Brooklyns
looked cheap to be so badly beaten by so insig-
nircant an opponent. The score was to4. In
the common game of base ball the main thin
Is to get frsf base ard thea steal all other bases
! IN RE confessional game very few bases are
stolen. More thSsn half the efforts to do so arc
unsuccessful Nine tenths of all fiy balls arr
caught Not more than one or two bases arr
made ON passed balls. The umpire is a .sbiggel
from the players. but the audience guys hIsr
fearfully. w en-