The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-05

America as the name of the president Of
the United States.
Ii was raining one afternoon when /
called at the Hotel Emery in Cincinnati.
where Mr.. Spalding was a guest, TO pay
my respects TO him. In the course of our
chat We began to talk of Chicago's great
ball player. Mr.. Spalding finally asked:
Did you ever hear about my first meet
ing with Anson?"
said l had not. Thereupon he told me
substantially the following story:
Back IN the early seventies was play
ing with the Rockfords. of Illinois. which
was that season one OF the strongest teams
in the country. One day during the sum
mer we received q letter from a man who
signed himself Arson. Ii was written at
Marshalltown, Ia, and its object was TO
secure visit from the Forest City. as
our Sub was called, TO Marshalltown. Mr..
Arson Inodestly stated in his letter that
they had q baseball team at that place
whose members were of the firm and
unanimous opinion that they could, under
the most unfavorable circumstances, play
the Forest Citys several close games. If
We would f. upon few dates in the near
future Mr. Anson's club would insure Us a
warm welcome to Marshalltown and q
: lively time while we tarried within their
hospitable gates.
''The result was an acceptance and the
naming of two successive days the follow
ing week. When the time came, our team,
accompanied by half a dozen Chicago
drummers, ran over TO Marshalltown to
have some fun with the country team.
''As soon as we got to the hotel, the
Chicago drummers began to look around
for some bets on the game. Somewhat to
their surprise. they had no trouble TO find
numerous men and citizens of Marshall
town ready TO back their club at odds
The favorlte bet was even money that We
would not beat the home team two 10 one
Ross Barnes. who was playing second
base for Us. succeeded IN getting bet OF
$50 against 500 that we would beat the
Marshalltown team three to one.
by the time the game began, our play
ers and the Chicago drummers had Gov
cred about all the spare money there was
in the town, and excitement ran high.
Business was practically suspended for
the afternoon, and everybody went out to
the ball ground TO see the great contest.
''One-third of the home nine was COM
posed of the Ansons. The old man played
first base, Adrian played third and his
other son guarded second base. And
assure you they made formidable infield
Adrian, you know, is over six feet tall and
weighs about two hundred pounds; and
he at that time had received his full
growth. But he was the smallest of the
three. Father Arson was almost a giant
in stature. The three appeared on the
diamond in bare feet, and spikes were an
abomination 10 them.
Before The first inning was over Arson
pere almost scared me senseless. was
pitching and the old man was the first
man TO face me. The ball was new and
rather hard TO handle. The first ball
delivered went dangerously close TO Pa
Anson's head. He lodged and then gave
me look which sent the blood to my
heart in rush. The look unnerved me.
for the second ball pitched hit him with a
dull, sickening thud in the vicinity of the
short ribs.
1T doubled him mp for a moment and
then he made a dash toward me with his
bat in hand. l am satisfied now that
would have fed his awful approach had
my strength not been paralyEed by the ter
ror of the situation. As il was my ina
bility TO bulge probably saved me- Hold
other fist under my nose Mr.. Arson
shouted, Young fellow, did you do that
on purpose"
Il assured him on my honor that il was
an accident. and after receiving an ablect
apology he returned to- the plate muttering
and shaking his head Throughout all the
game thereafter kept the ball well away
from his gigantic person.
~
of II TO s, and OF course everybody except
Barnes won his bets. Poor Ross with
the score of Il to in the last inning. =
man on third, himself 81 the bat and only
one run TO win 500 and save his S50-he
struck ont.
THE Ansons had lost all the spare cash
they could raise. The town was tilled with
gloom that night, for the Ansons were
mighty in that community and the clri-
zens mourned with the Ansons over their
loss
1t VAS quite late in the evening when
the old gentleman, accompanied by his
two sons came around 10 the hotel, and
began TO dicker for bet on next day 5
game with hope that their i'll fortune of
tire day just gone might De retrieved. One
of the Chicago dTummers bAnterinely Of
fered to bet 500 10 $50 that we would beat
second game. This so excited the old man
that he began 70 hustle around trying 10
get together the necessary SO He could,
/ however, RAISE only $50 in cash. This he
offered 10 put up against SEQ. But the
drummer insisted il must ne 500 10 800 or
nothing. After n conference with his two
sons Mr.. Arson offered his $50 cash and
his family COW worth $50 more against the
drummers $loo. From pure mischief the
drummer accepted and the bet was duly
made.
We'll We beat the Arson team three 10
one and more. There was 4 gloom in
Marshalltown after that game so thick one
coaid almost feel u. Our party had about
al the cash there was n the city, and the
drummer was the owner of the Arson fam
lily COW. While we were AZ supper waiter
came into the dining room and told Us
that 'MiStsh Ansing and his boys were oUi
IN de office an wanted mighty powerful
bad 10 see de man wot won de COW The
darky's eyes were glitsering with mischief
IS he added. 'MIstah Ansing Is q powerful
wicked man when he gifts excited, and be
-reckoned De old man was red hot de way
he am sw arm and raging round.
That was enough for the drummer de
had no Use Tor the Arson cow and he was
perfectly willing 10 leave the animal IN
Marshalltown provided he could get out
alive himself We slipped him ont through
the kitchen 10 an alley, whence he sneaked