The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-03
BASFBaLL IN A MINING CAMP.
They Thought the Umpire Right when the
Morsemnn Said, "We're Herr, Lon"

B1SEBALB IN a MINING CAMP.
They Thought che Umpire Right when tie
Horseman Said, "we're Here, Lon.''
It was great day for the sports OF Creede.
Two mines had been organized for game Of
baseball. one from Upper Creole and one from
Jimtown. and game played for blood" was
to be expected. for the sports Of Upper Creole
and those Of Jimtown by no means loved each
other. Moreover Upper Creede boasted pro-
fessional. one Ben Roberts, who had played
with the Brooklyns In days gone bv and was
now the chief Of staff behind the bar Of the
Silver State. The Upper Creole sports. with
such man to captain the nina had spoken
with oontumely Of tho scrub gang" OF JIM
town. and had never thought OF Offering less
odds than to l on the coming game.
And SO the day for the first game In series
had arisen. 1t was a Sunday. Of course. and
Immediately after the MONDAY meal the ola
and the young who boasted Of sporting blood.
without exception. started down the trail
along Willow Creek toward Wason. Creede Ia
built between trachyte wallstha rise from 800
to 1900 feet above the narrow gulch that
holds the houses. but at Wason the canon
widens out into lovely meadow almost az
level as the Polo grounds. more picturesque
spot for hall ground could scarce be found.
but only tenderfoot would have noticed
sporting eyes, when the ground was
reached. were centred on the diamond.
which eager hands had laid out under the
directions of Ben Roberts. or on the rough
board back stop. Even Ethel Halford. who
was never known to neglect an opportunity to
firt with a stranger who seemed to have the
price Of two beers in his pocket. and whose
personal charms were such that opportunities
were never lacking. told young man In silk
H. "A nurlrn a uA,," .,.-A
because he ventured to speak on some other
subject than that OF the game to come. Pools
on the number Of errors to be made by the
mines as whole and by each individual
player: on the number OF runs and on the
number OF bases to be made: on the number
Of balls and strikes to be called on the
pitchers - bets Of every sort were Of
fsred by men with hands full OF coin
and as quickly accepted and booked. The
players We're surrounded by the most enthusi-
astic groups OF hackers. The whole mass
about the home plate was in tremendous tur-
MOL. while boys on burros and sporting wo-
men in the flashiest OF dresses and mounted on
the livellost Of horses ambled and plunged
and cavorted about the outskirts Of the crowd
or dashed into the centre Of the mob. to the
imminent danger Of some and the intense de:
gathered at the first horse race. as Tue Sun
has told. but that scene subsidies and sinks
bs the
1t was at, exactly $40 o'clock when Lon
ss r editor homo a.e s snd ppsd
ne ssT a Il. ass Jerry HsS Mo
chosen umpire because 10 didn't give =
d DE- Vim es Be q les
game, prompt to express his opinion. and had
A., When the coin reached the ground. eagle up.
the QppUc Creole were sent to the bat.
with Will Ben tooerts at the plate willow In hand,
hsn W
big revolvers In their belts. refined In their ami
mails as close 70 the home plate as the exgen-
with solemn visaves. howl OF protest went
up from score or more with whose views Of
one could see the howl made no more impress
sion on the horsemen than did the bark Of q
road. So, the howl died out. and Lon said
Play BALL! as one accustomed s to command,
over the ate ana Bon tanned the air. r"e much
to the establishment of himself as well rs Of
900 admirers. and then he settlsd himself and.
after waiting till ne had caught on. swayed the
bat alott. and. catching the uali fair above the
plate. sent it sailing away over The head OF the
to be. but the way his $40 odd pounds OF flesh
sped around those bases set the spectators
the game With ome r Thsn q" ovePr and
fSSt and Msnde with sueh
and Dillingham; went 70, The bat. ben
was on netIIes in Watching his men. the Jim
town boys were Glert to head or the man on
third. and the spectators wont wild and yelled
SO much advice to both sides that the players
could scarce hear word their captains said.
until one strike had been cal Oh On him. and
then gave tn ban awl"ck that sent 1t spin
That gentleman caught 1t ON the bound. threw
it unerrngiy ~ first. una then back 1t came
Slide. d--n you. slide!' yelled Ben. and
slide the man from third did. diving head fret
between the feet Of the catcher. whose hands
hash Of the eatcher's' han1 Ms Ec reache Tor
his man with the ball. aud then cloud VI dust
rose upnuout the two.
Out" cried Lon.
For IN instant every body seemed to pnuseto
get q fresh breath. and then with on, accord
pire and cursed aloud. Lon tipped hack the
broad brim Of his hat and. smiling sweetiy.
threw threw Kiss S St spGrtlnE womnn whS IN her
two Or three Of the more exctA bic began work
heir pistols. Lon did not SEQ this, hut "thers
did. and u voice that. becauss cf Its calnnsss
uub. said:
Lon"
Lon turned toward the horsemen. for 1t was
What is it. boy,s?" he said. in a CHEEKY tone.
81, We're md here. Lon said tho spokesman.
Everybody within earshot turned to look 40
passive faces had six. shooter OF 45-caiibrs
eas tnfy rem 1s
.,redc. who had their hands on their, pistols.
l-ion Lon had made. SO did everybody else
"n9 had PEE Gesn OF thsiT way Of thinkine ~,
.lared winners n 1913.
waiiowi"s In R~ttIcsnaLes.