Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-03
How Uncle Sans Sailors introduced
the National Game of
BASEBALL IN THE FAR EAST
Celebrating the Fourth by Defeating Rus
sian 0arsmen.
BOAT RACING IN THE CHINA SEAS
rwRrrrrN FOR THE DISPATCH

nant struggles, end will know accurately
the records of even new players who have
sprung into prominence during his absence.
On the China station, at all the principal
ports, there are athletic clubs with excel
lent grounds, and owing to the predomi-
nance of Englishmen among the foreign
residents, the popular games are cricket
and lawn tennis. Baseball has obtained no
permanent foothold, but the crews of Ameri-
can naval vessels have given the
game a spssmOdic life in those out Of
the way places. When was on
that station few years ago, club
was organized by the officers of the feet,
and we gave the foreigners lessons in the
great American game before Anson and his
crowd Of globe trotters made their famous
trip. We did not play any games under
the shadows of the pyramids, but in Japan
we used Buddhist temples as backstops, and
in China defined the foul lines with pagodas.
Ours was really quite a creditable team,
and we had some rattling good games at
Yokohama on one occasion when the ships
were all together. There are quite num-
per of Americans in that town, and the club
against which we played was made up prin-
cipally of our own countrymen. The scores
of the two games played were 10 to 6 and II
to 7,-both in favor of the navy club and so
much interest was excited BY the games
that, after we left, the English cricketers
organized club and challenged the Ameri-
can residents. The Englishmen were beaten
so badly that it killed the interest at once.
The flagship went from Yokohama to
Hong Kong soon after, and the English
men, in the latter place, having seen &C
counts of the games, were curious to see
what the game itself was like. With the
assistance of a couple of Americans, the
cricketers formed club, and challenged us
for a game, and we came nearer defeat than
at any other time while on the coast.
SUSTAINING THE NATIONS HONOR.
The flagship was the only one of our YES
sells in port, and the nine had to be filled out
with men who were very poor players.
There was considerable feeling over the
game, and the natural antagonism to the
English animated every member of the nine
with determination to win, if possible.
We knew that it would be anything but
pudding" as we had seen the cricketers
practicing, and they were all good felders,
and some Of our men were anything
but that. We won the toss and
took the field, and the Englishmen
led US until the ninth inning. In the last
half of that inning, with two men out and
two men on bases, we needed one run to tie
and two to win. The man at the bat had
not touched the ball during the day, and
we were all preparing to accept our defeat
as gracefully as we could. One strike was
called, then two strikes, but the third ball
that came over the plate he swiped for as
pretty a two-base hit as Kelly ever made,
and the game was won. The yell that went
up from all the Americans present was a
hearty one, and with characteristic gener-
ositY toward their antagonists, the English
men Joined in the applause.
The sport, of all others, which is most pop
ular with sailors, is boat racing, and feel
ing of most intense rivalry animates the
racing crews of the different ships. Races
between boats from vessels of different
natIonalities are always matters of great in
terest, and the residents on shore are ready
to back the crew of their own nation
ality heavily. A challenge for a boat race
is never given in writing, but is conveyed
according to q custom, whose origin have
never been able to learn. The boat desiring
to challenge, with crew in racing trim, rows
around the ship whose crew they wish to
race, and coming up under the bow, toss
their oars, standing them vertical. A meet
ing is then appointed and arrangements
made. Formerly great deal of open bet
ting was done, but it is discountenanced
now by all commanding officers. A large
purse would be made up on the challenging
ship and sent over to the opposing one in
charge of committee to be covered.
CELEBRATING THE FOURTH.
The Fourth of July is often celebrated
when in foreign waters by games and races.
The last Fourth we passed on the station
was celebrated in this way. There we're
two Russian, two British and two American
men-of-war in port, and a programme of
races had been made out for the afternoon.
The Russians and Englishmen had entered
boats in most of the races, and we antici-
pated great sport, and we got it.
At o'clock in the morning all the men,
of-war were decked out with bunting, it
being custom for all ships of war to dress
ship when a national holiday of the country
of one of the vessels present occurs. The
forenoon was devoted to games. There were
tugs of war, walking matches, three-legged
races, climbing the creased pole and other
well-known sports. The only one contain
ing any element of novelty was that of the
creased pole. 1t was suspended from yard
arm, and dsngled over the water at such a
height that it could be easily reached from
a boat The lower end for couple Of feet
was dry. The candidate for honors would
be rowed up under the pole, and getting a
good grasp on it, the boat would be showed
away from beneath him. It was easy
enough to climb until the CREASED
part was struck, and then the fun
began. Some would climb up a little
way on the creased portion, and slipping
back would cover the lower portion with
grease, and they would finally have to drop
off into the water. No one succeeded in
reaching the yard arm, and the mishaps
caused great deal of merriment. At noon
q salute Of q guns was fred by each of the
ships, and it was a grand sight. Each
vessel was soon hidden by thick cloud of
smoke, and as the guns were fired, sheets of
flame would belch out from this cloud, fol-
lowed by rolling masses of dense, heavy
fumes, until it looked as though tog had
vet in.
The boat races took place In the after
noon. One Of the cutter races was won by
IN English crew, but the Americans won
IQo Q1ngleys W0d10DOab anu gig races. a
race between a couple OF Catamarans caused
/ great deal of fun. Instead of oars,
The crews used large coal shovels as
paddles, and the struggle was quite
IN exciting one. The race on
which the greatest interest was centered
was that between our admiral's barge and
he Russian admiral's. Our crew was 9
picked one, and were in constant training,
ind we all felt confident of victory. The
Russian officers, including their admiral,
we're on board our ship, and were just as
confident that their boat could not be
beaten. Our barge pulled IA oars, and the
Russian IS, but no handicap was allowed
IN this account The race was two miles
,ut, around stake boat, and return. When |
he two boats took their places at the start
ng line, !, for one, felt doubts as to our |
Einuing, The Russians we're big braWny |