Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-10

shores of their own country. In the II days
of the voyage from Australian shores they
encountered nothing more unfavorable than
fne-minute rain squall and two days of
choppy sea that would scarcely excite the
notice of an ordinary baseball mariner. But
this was followed by such a long stretch of
glorious weather that the voyage was truly
season of continuous delight. 1t had all
the characteristics of charming private ex-
cursion, free from all the. discomforts that
mark a temporary life at sea.
The rough weather began about the Sec
ond day after leaving Adelaide and contin-
ued for two days. 1t was not, in any sense
extremely severe, but it caused direful
havoc among the players while it lasted.
PLEASANT WEATHER.
From this out the travellers enjoyed the
most delightful weather and the calmest of
seas. The dreadful stories they heard of
the terrible tropical heat were not substan-
tiated. Occasionally the morning and noon
hours would be hot but delicious cool even
ing breezes would speedily cause the tenn
porary discomfort to be forgotten. But the
great charm of the trip was in the glory of
the nights. Whatever skies the travellers
may sail under hereafter, they will certainly
estimate their beauty from the impressive
gorgeousness of the moonlight on the Indian
Ocean.
The mood of the ocean was in harmony
with the celestial elements. As the vessel
plowed onward through the calm waters,
there was scarce roll enough to remind the
passengers that they were on the great
ocean. As they lounged about in careless
attitudes, and chatted gally with each
other, every feature of the groups suggested
the characteristics of quiet moonlight ex-
cursion on some smooth lake or river at
home.
The monotony of the voyage was occa-
sionally relieved by the sight of a sailing
vessel or steamer. The last occasion of this
kind occurred on the 22d inst, as we were
nearing the equator The Salier passed
quite near to a full-rigged ship that was be-
calmed. With the aid of field glasses the
vessel was found to be the Sam Skofeld,
from Brunswick, Me. She ran up an
American flag as the steamer neared. The
unexpected sight of the familiar colors was
greeted with enthusiastic cheers by the
party on board the Salier and made big
humps stand for moment in their throats
as their thoughts carried them homeward.
AT COLOMBO.
In a drive about Colombo, on the morn
ing after our arrival, the carriage passed
along stretch of road bordering the
sea for some distance. The leach was wide,
and was covered with multitude of coal
boats. In a large space between two of the
dingy-looking vessels were three little
natives, the eldest not over years old, en-
gagged in game: of SOAK" Just as it used
to be played in the United States many
years ago beforeiour schoolboys made the
study of "eurYes" and ''inshoots," an
especial course from which to derive later
princely income and popular homage.
The little players stood in the respective
positions of pitcher, batter and catcher.
The ball was small bundle of cord and the
bat an ordinary piece of wood. When the
batter hit the ball he made a run for one of
the boats as the base while the pitcher
picked it up and with a Burns-like throw
soaked or hit the runner with it in the
middle of the back, whereupon they ex-
changed places. it was the game exactly as
it used to be played when Irving, Snyder
and Father Chadwick were boys. There
was only one essential difference-the style
of uniform. Though it was winter the
Cingalese juveniles were unencumbered
with any clothing beyond small cord
about the waist.
AN ANCIENT GAME.
Realizing the possibility that the game
might have been developed through furore
created by the coming of the American ball
players your correspondent inquired of an
old man whether he had ever played the
game that the dark skinned lads were en-
gagged in and as he replied. "Me play same
long, long time ago when boy" was
forced to the painful conclusion that the
Buddhists had apparently the best of the
baseball argument in the measure of anti
guilty.
The long ocean voyage of the baseball
tourists ended at Suez and they are
thoroughly glad of it. The passage from
Colombo was even more delightful as re-
CARDS wind and weather. than the earlier
stage of their trip, but the 80 days sail had
grown to be wofully monotonous and their
Iusty athletic natures yearned for more
space to move about in and a change of
diet GOODFRIEND