New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-03
Ball PLAYERS At SYDNEY
a CORDIAL RECEPTION AND MUCH IN
TEPEST IN THE GAME.

TEREST IN THE GAhE.
svdnev Dec. 1s-whethcr baseball gains hrm
footbold or not m this section OF Ausuaha, 'neio
can be no regret on the part OF the paseDan I'm
binatiOn for having travelled 70 the Anupoues,
have been treated with generous hospitality anu
,ha few DAVIS that have been spent here have Deen
,ar tx short 70 accept moro thar a measure OF tno
conr+esies extended TO them Whatever doubt eAaSoe
as TO the Importance that the Australians wou'u
10 the event OF their coming was speedny uiopvn
an bour before the splendid harbor was reaeneu
The Alameda was behind time, but not sun'0oiiu'
cause any disappointment. The nfst 10 si0o.
visitors were two steam tugs crowded WIN poOp.
who waved the American colors iranti0~iy "DS err
themselves hoarse in their efforts 10 snO" va,
sinceyitv Of their welcome. Brass bands on Ootn
cant ont iuspiritng strains The ball players couiu
scarcely have felt that they were COMING enlOns
strangers for the people on board the tugs she"u
o, the promnent individuals IN the party ana oheerou
iubilantly for Baby' Arson, spaidins' "aru anu
other welI-known players Further down the Day
sevara, steam yachts Joined in the procession Per-
h.r The nrettest effect of all was the welcome ex-
,ondsd nv n eotilla of boatmen About forty OF their
email craft which we're gayly decorated with hags ana
bunting were formed In two lines wide enough sPar'
10 allow the Alameda to pass through. seVerai won.
known oarsmen sailed about in their sks ana adueu
their recognition to the welcome TO the American
athletes.
neope waved sautes from tho boat houses and dwell
Iues that topped the hills tho watersde seV-
eal thousand people were gathered on the wharf, ana
six large four.horse drags draped In American snu
Australian colors. were ready at the whari 70 'aA'
the party TO the hotel All along the route inc er
races of the dwelling houses were filed with people,
and the ladies waved thr handkerchefs IN Gree'ins'
In the evening an Invitation VIZ
cented to attend the Theatre Royal
owned by ]. C. williamson. wollknown years
ago as a member of the Old broadway Theatre ana
wsllack comp anies. The theatre was decorated WIN
flags and over the centre OF the stage was tho WIZ
.Welcome.s In the interval between the TWO plays
that constituted the programme the piaSo" "0io
conducted on the stage and formally "eicomeo !"
Australia by the Hon. Dan oConnor' popu,a.'
white. bearded member of Parliament On SATURDAY
thn MAYOR of ths city welcomed the Americans at
Tho Town Hall After the formal greetings were
over the marty adjourned 10 large Chamber "hero
u.ne was served speeches made and general lhler-
change Of expressions OF the warm feeling eAisuhs
between Americans and Australians tooh piaoe'
Among the speakers Hanlan. the oarsman'
Al the close of Saturdays game the players were
taken TO the theatres and other places OF amusement
On sunday they were taken out to the seaside resorts
and the beautiful suburbs. On Monday evening they
attended the Criterion Theatre in body and on tues
day they were honored with banquet and social en-
tertainmens at the Town Hall, under the auspices
Of prominent American residents and Australians.
The Town Hall is a large chamber In the CITY Han
building devoted TO the use OF public OCCASIONS IL u
a high and impressive apartment and is ornamented
With large oil paintings of Queen Victoria and other
members of tho royal family. 1t was Handsomely
decorated with tropical plants, while tho American
coors were gracefully entwined with those OF England
and Australia at every advantageous point over
the head Of the table picture OF washington Wa
framed and festooned IN American flags
fha ffraa
be accepted as measure Of the local appreciation
of baseball then tho American game can hardly be
considered 10 have achieved success. There were
about scven or eight thousand people at tho hrst
game. but on the two subsequent days, notWithsand
ing the additional attractions of cricket and balloon
ascension there were not fifteen hundred and
one thousand people present. But, fortunately, this
rather meagrc financial patronage IS not fair gauge
of the impression which the National American game
has made on tho minds OF Australians. It's shlfui and
sclentihS features commended themselves at once
10 those expert enough to appreciate good batng ana
fielding while certain newspapers have extoed their
superiority over ccketers in these respects In the most
lsuG<Aory terms.
The opening game took place on the day following
the teams arrival, December 49, Tho weather was
quite threatening and horse racing In one OF The
suburbs may have affected tho attendance. notice
able feature was the largo number Of ladies present.
fully one-hsf of the asSemblage beng OF the far sex
There was o picturcsqueness about the crowd. TOO
that IS ball game In America. and II
largely due to the character OF the grounds AS
baseball field It q revelation to tho ban play
| ers and other members of the party.
The ground, which is enclosed from tho crowd by
low white picket fence, IS in thesshape OF an oval
| and IS about a quarter Of mile long and about
sixth OF mile wide. The grass Is cut close and L
| almost as smooth and a billiard cloth Al
| the upper erd Of tho ground, opposite the longer
| 4. fro.c fn- club
of seats in front reserved for the use OF members
Adjoining 1t is cottage reserved for the ladies OF h'
members, with seats In front capable OF aecommodat
| ing several hundred. Both Of these buildings arr
placed back about thirty feet from the fence, as Il
also tho handsome main grand stand, which WIZ sea
about three thousand people. Tho lower portion o
the latter Is built of brick In tho centre Is thu
special box Of the Governor Of the colony. Tit
space between the fence and tho first two mtntionet
| buildings Is laid out with pretty 1owerbeds, wh
tho lawn In front of the grand stand Il utilized as
promenade, and IL AN unusual and pretty sigh
at baseball game TO see the neatly dressed ladie
walking up and down during the progress OF tn
game. The length OF cricket game makes TIL
custom enjoyable. but 1t Is not likely TO live SHOULD
baseball become popular Around the other side
OF the small fence Is grcensward that slopes back
ward about thirty feet About six rows OF seat
encrclo the space close to tho fence but the spec
tators evidently prefer TO lon and lounge on tn
| grass while they watch the sports. Ino DieHhln
| boards had are an occupant The baseball Ola
| monde marked out across the narrow part o
the ellipse. stout cord netting was put up p
| tho "backstops' fence, an arrangement that Nigh
be introduced to advantage on many League base
ball grounds. for apart from protecting the specta
tors great deal Of unnecessary noise would b
| avoided. Tho arrangements are such that 2OOG
people could easily see game without encroAchin
ON 1he players field.
After the first innings tho came game was well played
unable 10 appreciate the close score and exciting
character of the contest they extremely demon
strative when clean hits made fine fly catche
made by the outnelders or bases were stolen
They doubtless comprehended the difficulty of scorin
runs, for Dalys homerun hit provoked prolonged ap
pause. splendid hy catch by Hanlon was greeto
with similar complimentary outburst But wha
amused them above all was the clever base stealth
of the AlAmericas. As at Auckland, attemp
20 catch base runner mapping and his quick slid
and fall TO the base was always the signal for up
rOar0us laughter and continued applause.
Tho cricket match the 18th between baseball
eighteen and Sydney eleven was extremely one
sided affair IN favor of the Australians, as regard
run getting. Only ono inning was played, the ball
tossers making but 81 runs, while the Australian