Morning journal and courier., 1889-04-09
spoRTrNe mATTERs.

OA@ The mets raiI to Show Up-They Evil
 dently Did Not Intend 10 COme-The
 Management Refund the Money to
 Those Who Wanted It-A Good Nat
 ured OroHd-Free Game Glven-Re-
 served Seats Free.
 The opening game yesterday between the New Haven Atlantic association team and the Nets was played in the imagination of about 1,5O0 people. It was most unfortu- nate occurrence, for the Nets failed to ap- pear.
 This was due to no fault of the New Haven management, but on the contrary that old friend of the nets lyon know," got the best of them and they were not fit to play ball. If this is the way the team intends to act, they will soon find themselves missing many of their engagements. They are booked to play here on Fast day two games), but they will never be allowed to come.
 The New Haven management had worked hard for this opening, but they are not dis coursged at it as 1t turned out, for somes times bad beginning makes good ending. The management did more than the majority would have done-refunded the money or the tickets and also gave free exhibition of
 
 erable money, as those who got over the fences walked up to the box office and got money or ticket. Some who paid probably didn't get either money or ticket, but it was no fault of the management.
 Manager Spence yesterday afternoon tele- graphed to Sam Crane, at his residence in New York not to come on account of the weather, and told him to answer quick. This was at 9:30 o'clock. No answer was re- ceived up to 12 o'clock last night. which shows that Crane did not receive the mess sage. A gentleman, who came up from New York on the Il o'clock train yesterday morning, said that he saw some of the Nets at the Grand Central depot, and they in- tendedgtaking the same train that he did. But they were waiting for three of their players, and these had not arrived at the Grand Central when he left. They told him that they would then wait until 12 o'clock for the recreant players to appear.
 Just an hour after Manager Spence sent his first message he telegraphed Crane at three different places-at the Grand Central Hotel, at his residence, and where his headquarters are, at Keefe & Becannon's. The record at the Postal Telegraph company's office shows that Crane did receive the message to come while at the depot. The only inference to be drawn, then, is that nine players did not arrive at the depot and hence could not come. Probably they were in the same con- dition as Reipschlager was: who was one of the ticket takers at the carriage entrance. He had been indulging in fire water and couldn't take tickets.
 But one thing is certain, the Nets will not play here thisBeason.
 The weather was very bad for ball playing, and the wind was blowing gale. But this did not deter a large crowd from attending the game. The gate was opened at 2:35, and there was jam at the ticket office. For over half an hour John Hendricks took in the money with lightning-like rapidity. He is probably the most rapid ticket seller in the city. By half-past three, 1,489 tickets had been sold, and this in the face of heavy wind, which generally renders good bail play ing an impossibility.
 At 4 o'clock, when it was certain thing that the Nets would not come, Umpire Jim- mic Kelley made an announcement to the spectators that money or tickets would be refunded, and that a free exhibition of playing would be given by the regular nine and nine other players. Immediately there was a rush for the box office, but under the management of Officer Smith Connors it was quite orderly and good natured. No one seemed to blame the Amusement company. Some got tickets and then went back into the grand stand and afterwards on going out got another ticket.
 If the truth were only known, it is proba- ble that the Nets intended to "dump" the New Ravens anyway, because Manager Spence wanted the New Yorks to come here yesterday, thinking that he could advance the Nets enough money to cancel the date. And the New Yorks would have come if it had not been for Manager Crane. He didn't like the efforts to get the New Yorks here and thought he would have revenge. We'll, probably he did, but New Haven people will probably remember this act of his on behalf of the Nets.
 The regular nine played picked team. Lally pitched for the regulars and did not let himself out. He pitched slow ball, rather than be laid up couple of weeks. The wind was heavy and flies could not be judged &C., curately. Neither could the cathers throw accurately. Two things the game did show, and they were that the New Haven team is composed of some fiue base runners, ,and that CsrRey is jewel.
 In order to be as just as possible to the people it has been decided that all who pre- sent blue admission ticket at the gate for the following games will be admitted to the grand stand free of charge: To-morrow, AL lertons; Thursday, Flushings; and Friday, Hackett, Carhart & Co.
 Other base ball news will be found on another page.