Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-03-21
VOTED II GOOD SPORT.
THE LONDON VIEW OF THE AMERi-
CAN NATIONAL GAME.
A wei l-Coniestei Game at the Oval
Cricket Ground, Witnessed by 5000
Spectators, Including the Pr:nce OF
WaIe Cordially RccsiveL

A Wei ell-ContesteI Game at the Oval
Cricket Ground. Witnessed by 5000
Spectators, Including the Pr:nce OF
Wales Cordially Rccsive1.
ICaLle dispatch from London.l
The American baseball teams played their
first game upon English soil on Tuesday after
noon, and aside from the miserable condition OF
the weather, the event may without doubt bc
put down as the most memorable In the history
OF the American national game. The drizzling
rain which was falling when the boys turned out
of bed In the morning ceased toward noon, only to
give place to genuine representative London
fog, which settled down like a pail upon the city
as we'll as upon the spirits OF the players Presi-
dent SpaS to carry out Sns rG IN
any way practicable, and at half-past twelve
o'clock the teams entered two handsome
Hotel and were driven to Kenslngton
Oval. Here a number of prominent members OF
the Surrey Cricket Club had prepared an elabo-
rate luncheon for the party, the committee which
received the players they entered the. club
house consisting OF the Duke of Buccleuch the
Duke of Beaufort, the Earl Of Coventry, the Earl
OF Londesborough, Niscount Lewisham, Wis.
count Oxenbridge, Lord Charles Beresford, Lord
Lord Mayor, Mr.. White, Charge dAffaires Of the
United States Mr.. Waller Consul General OF
the United States Sir Reginald Hanson, aud
DIR. w G.. Grace. The formalities OF introduce
tion over, Viscount Oxenbridge, as Chairman OF
the committee, welcomed the teams to England
and to London in an address which, though
During the repast which followed the Ameri-
cans were made through the courtesy aud the
cordiality of their hosts, 10 feel thoroughly at
home. Capt. Anson remarked afterward that,
after all, the English nobility embraced sur
prising number of royal good fellows. "We for
got entirely" said Anson, that we were lunch
Ing with Lords and Dukes. never felt more
thoroughly at ease in my life, and the rest OF the
boys seemed to feel rs much at home as did
Toasts to the Queen the President of the
United States, to the Prince and Princess OF
Wales, and TO the rest of the royal family and
to the American baseball clubs were drank and
then President Spalding responded In happy
address to the last. Finally after the toast pro-
posed by Mr.. White, Charge d'Affaires OF the
United States in England, had been drank to
Viscount Oxenbridge and the Surrey Cricket
Club, three hearty American cheers were given
for all.
The players then adjourned to their dressing
rooms to prepare for the game. Meantime the
fog had been growing denser, but the crowd con-
tinued to pour through the gates until the club
house balconies were filled and great assem-
blage of humanity encircled the OWL, their NOV
ing figures looking not unlike distant specters
in the sticky drifting fog When play COM
menced there were ZOO people upon the grounds,
and had the day been fair this number In the
opinion of many, would have been doubled.
Despite the dampening effect of the gloom and
rain the hveiest interest in the players and in
the game was everywhere manifested among the
| great crowd. Every American present was
closely questioned as to the rules and the points
of play, and as to the characteristics and rec
ords Of the players and, indeed, it may be
| safely said tnnJ never DcIOfe nave
been so familiar with the American game of
baseball as they are at the present time.
Shortly after o'clock the players took the
field for practice, and, although the turf was
| soft and in the worst imaginable condition for
fielding or base running they gave an exceed
ingly pretty exhibition OF the great American
| sport, the brilliant throws and catches being
warmly applauded as fast rs they occurred and
that was pretty fast.
DIR. w. G. Grace and w. w. Read, the cele-
brated English cricketers, watched the work OF
the men from one of the clubhouse windows
and time and again accorded the boys their
| hearty applause.
The anxiety of the crowd to see the game
commence, however, soon made itself manifest
After the boys had indulged in ten or fifteen
ball. play ball /" and Begin the gamer Dust as
happens on every diamond In America) arose
from all parts of the oval.
Thereupon George Wright walked upon Tho
field and called oil the American boys TO th'
bat for the game which then Ph;ti oPehed amiaS asts
exhibition of swift throwing to bases, OF pretty
fielding, and Of clean hitting and desperate base
running followed one another murmurs of admi
ration were heard, while time and again TIN
crowd burst into hearty applause, which contin
ued TO the close of the game.
While Chicago was at the bat in tho secon'
inning there was a stir among the occupants o
the grand stand in front of the clubhouse AM
then the hundreds OF spectators arose and litte
their hats the Prince of Wales took seat n
q big window with Prince Christian and Presi
dent Spalding.
Play was immediately stopped when tn
/
boys up to the home plate, led them in thre
hearty cheers and still heartier tiger for tn
Prince. The act called forth responsive cheer
from the spectators The Prince watched tn
game with keen interest until the close of tn
eighth inning, asking President Spalding innu
merable questions as the game proceeded, an
nodding his head approvingly as he grasped tn
points Of the play.
AT the close of'the fifth inning an intermis
sion of ten minutes called and the players
! led by Ward and Arson, assembled to the Prince
| point of view and were formally presented TO tn
future King OF England. The Prince had
pleasant word and cordial grasp of the han
for each OF the players, and complimented theI
upon their playing. More cheers greeted tn
teams as they descended and took the field fo
the remaining innings OF the game. The score 9
the end of the ninth inning stood: Chicagos,
An-Americas, 4.
The Speaker Of the House of Commons mad
arrangements for the members of the teams
visit the House in body The Century Clul
on the nomination of Er. White, Secretary
the American legation elected the players hoI
orary members during their stay In London
the evening they were the guests Of Henry Ir'
ing and Ellen Terry at the Lyceum Theater.
The general impression seems TO be that u
game is far beneath cricket, and that IL wi
never be adopted i'm England.
The Post says that the general verdict OF Ell
, glishmen, IL not crioketers, will be that there
no game they would rather play than baseball