Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29
Will IL Ever be Triedf

| prayers. MANY OF the leading players oenE
all knowledge of it and prominent business
men whose names have been associated with
the scheme have also repudiated all connec-
tion with it. This looks extremely suspicious
and would seem to say that the whole thing
is a fraud. Some time ago Iquestioned Mr..
Erastus Wiman on this subject and he very
wisely remarked: while 1 love baseball
| and wish all the players well am certainly
of opinion that they would injure themselves
very much BY trying to wreck the National
League" There is undoubtedly much truth
| in this statement because human nature has
not yet arrived at that stage of per ection
wherein baseball players can live and work
together as one self-sacrifcing and loving
family. When that state is reached BROTH
erhood scheme founded on equal divisions"
may prosper.
Blow 10 Sport.
The decision in the Nikirk case on Fri
day is probably one of the greatest blows to
professional sporting events that has been
given in this city for many years. The
facts of the case are few and simple. Nikirk
and McCIelland signed articles to run a
mile race for $500 side. The articles
stated that either party failing to comply
with them should forfeit all money up.
Nikirk not only failed to put up the final
deposit, but he also failed to be on the
track. The McClelland party, according to
all custom and honor, demanded the forfeit
and Nikirk sued for his own money back.
The case was heard before Alderman
Maneese, and that learned gentleman de-
cided in favor of the plaintiff. The stake
holder was mulcted of the costs by that re-
preventative of the law, notwithstanding the
very significant fact that suit was entered
before the stakeholder had been asked to re-
turn the money. But costs are essential to
the existence OF an Alderman's Office. I
heard the case argued by Major Brown, for
the defendant, and G. H. Porte for the
plaintiff 1 really was surprised to learn
that the opinion of Alderman Maneese was
what it was after hearing the speech OF
Major Brown. The Major gave very able |
and clear definition Of the law on the matter |
pointing out that there was no law which |
made foot-racing illegal. However, the |
wise Alderman decided that foot-racing is a |
game of chance. Certainly this will be |
news to everybody who knows anything |
about foot racing. l would like to know |
wnat chance the Alderman has to |
defeat George Smith or Harry Hutchens in |
a foot race. Were thev to run there would |
be no game o. chance there. However, the |
case simply means that no responsible party |
will care to be stakeholder in any profess |
sional contest again. Lately there have |
and it would seem sheer Jolly for any re-
sponsible man or corporation officiating as |
stakeholder until the law is changed. Un- |
til that is done there will always be u dam
ger of a stakeholder being hauled up before |
one OF our erudite Aldermen, and made pay |
the costs of a suit because he (the stake |
holder) had the honor and pluck to trv and |
enforce the provisions of the articles signed |
by the defaulting party. Goodness knows |
what outsiders think of Pittsburg's sports. |
Articles of agreement here are worthless, |
and parties to contest may just as we'll |
act on verbal agreements.
Murphy and Warren.
What the public tolerated for several |
seasons and paid thousands of dollars to see,
the California Athletic Club at San Fran |
cisco will not tolerate. / refer to a real |
hstic hippodrome. Thomas Brown as |
Tommy Warren and Frank Murphy agreed |
TO fight to finish before the club named for |
a substantial purse. OF course Warren is
widely known as pugilist of questionable
courage. Cut and dried programmes have
almost always been his delight and be ar
Murphy. They agreed to make hippo
drome OF the affair and make draw of it.
Draws, however, don't go with President
Fuldo and Referee Cook, and when Messrs.
Warren and Murphy were foisting their
performance on the club and its guests Mr.
Cook ordered the hippodromers off
the stage. Subsequently the two
principals received 81 between them
as remuneration for their fstic
efforts. don't think that anybody will do
other than say "Well done, Referee Cookp'
Had the public done this years ago there
would have been thousands and thousands
OF dollars saved that went to keep dozens of
the veriest loafers that ever imposed on the
public. Had Referee Cooks decision been
given by the public years ago, there are
scores OF alleged boxers and fighters who
have figured in newspaper columns and re-
ceived thousandsof dollars for their bold i'm
positions who would never have been heard
tell of. 1t is to be hoped that the decision
acted will have some influence ON future
events.
British Opinion of Searle.
Those interested in sporting affairs will
doubtless find pleasure in reading the
London Sporting LVe's opinion OF the recent
Searle-O' 'Connor boat race. 1t is as fol-
lows:
That Australia in H. E. Searle possesses a
worthy successor of William Beach is perfectly
clear. and had he been pressed he would pros-
ably have been able to beat the record from
Putney to Mortlake. that has stood so long.
His pace is undeniable and he scuIled with
great Judgment, but he has not the perfect
style OF Harry Kelley, Edward Hanian and
some other OF the past masters of the art The
race was honestly rowed out from start to fin
ish, and for mile it was a cuttIng-down
struggle, and either might have been the one
TO give in, although Searle certainly seemed to
be rowing more within himself than the
American. O'Connor did not show to advan-
taRe at any point, being ragged from the verv
nrst, even when he was leading, and
the mishap to his scull seemed to COM
pletely upset him. Both John Teemer and
jacob Gaudaur must, one would think, have
gone on since they were here for him to have
beaten them as he did, as they were then GER
talnly superior SO far as appearance goes. |
That each man did his utmost was very evil |
dent, and II all races were SO thoroughly con-
tested the interest in boat racing might be re- |
Vlved IN this country. More interest was
taken in this race than in any for a |
long while, although perhaps the people |
on the banks were not at al points so
as they have sometimes been and
there was an almost entire absence of steamers |
ana moored barges on the river. The row |
boats, however, were in considerable numbers
and IN estimating the people who were |
present in the neighborhood of the
start, it must be recollected that the new EN-
bankment at Putney accommodates a great .
many more than could find room in the old |
days. With the very large number of people
who are at present out of employment in con-
of the strike, it might have been ex-
pected that the attendance would be a record
one. but the absence of these in enormous
numbers was not to be regretted, and It has I
seldom been that so many really interested
m boat racing have attended at match. The
Australians are said to have won very heavily,
s30.G00 being mentioned as the approximate
AMOUNT Of their winnings, but this of course
,annot be relied upon as accurate. We can
)nly express salts faction at the sportsmanlike ,
riod OrNfo md n Ia