The Washington times., 1894-08-27
CRISP SPORTING COMMENT
Senators, by Improved Play. Are Now
Entrenched in Eleventh Place.
COLONIES IN VERY BAD SHAPE
Boston Still in the Lead for the Pennant, with
Baltimore ami New York Close Up-How
the Horse Fernwood Became Educated to
the Music of Brass Band.

BY winning four out of five games last
week the Senators gave their old-time rivals
the Colonels- the go bye, and are now
strongly entrenched in eleventh place, while
| Barnie's transformers are evidently doomed
to finish the season in last place. The course
of the Louisville club people in selling their
only reliable pitcher-M Menefee-and placing
themselves on record as Offering any others
of their team for sale, is not calculated to
give the Louisville public any encourage
ment to patronize their club, and at the same
time does not reflect any credit on the club
owners. But the worst break of all is the
wholesale transferring of games which has
been and is going on.
1t seems as if Manager Barnie will succeed
in playing all his remaining games away from
Louisville, as series after series have been
transferred. When the Wagners were guilty
| of a similar offense last season, nearly every
newspaper critic in the circuit condemned the
| changing OF the schedule, and il was thought
the League had put an end TO such Juggling
at the last annual meeting 1t is a pernicious
habit TO alter the schedule, and it should not
be allowed. One of the principal objections
TO the practice is the undue advantage given
the clubs high in the pennant race, but the
most important argument against any changes
in the schedule is the effect it has on the base
ball public, giving suspicion of hippodrom-
ing.
The Senators have been playing strong ball
Of late, and as they have a half dozen more
games 10 be played on the home grounds. it
Is highly probable they viii be able to draw
e. ~ - IL -.
their hold on eleventh place a certainty. Ii
is beyond all calculations that the Colonels
viii be able TO even win one out of every three
games remaining to be played in their pres
ent condition. From all reports the PLAYERS
are disheauened, and the few high-class ones
on the team are liable TO be sold of 10 the
highest bidder The action OF the Louisville
directory may mean a surrendering of the
franchise TO the League, in consideration of 4
substantial sum in return for the money ex-
pended on the new Louisville bali park. II
the Falls City people intend remaining in the
League they apparently care but little for
their patrons, as otherwise they would act
differently.
Boston is still the leader in the present race
by greater margin than last week. The
Orioles are in second place. but New York
has gained on them, and a game won or lost
viii affect change in positions. The Phil
lies are also forging upward in percentage,
but are not vet within striking distance and
they will likely take tumble during the
present week, when they stack up against
Chicago and st. Louis Cleveland has been
playing in poor form, and BROOKLYN has a
fair chance OF passing the Spiders this week
The Pirates have gone to pieces and are in
the second division, with the chances against
their betterinG their standing at least for
some weeks.
The programme for the Grange Camp ex-
position and agricultural fair which will be
held September 10 to y, has been prepared.
Among the features, in addition TO the eX-
hlbits and daily racing. are baseball matches.
baby show, ladies' riding match. amateur and
grand tournaments, bicycle contests. steam
fire engine contests, and military drills, one
open 10 Virginia companies only and the
other TO Virginia, West Virginia. Maryland.
and District of Columbia troops. The prizes
are $500 and $50 for the first military drill
and $500 for the second. The main exposi-
ton rail Is under roof and will be completed
during this week.
During the recent fair at Upper Marlboro.
Nd, Col. Pat AIcGiade's race horse Fernwood
was starter in two of the running races.
Fernwood is a victim OF the cocaine habit and
unless having the injection viii not try yard,
as the saying goes. To the coloneHs conster-
nation the dope was barred and Jockey
Bender rode Fernwood to the post with sor-
row in his heart. anticipating the mortihca-
ton of shooing the other starters in. Just rs
he was saddest the brass band began opera
tions, the cornet, trombone, and bass drum
got in their work and the combined sounds
were powerful. Old Fernwood pricked up
his ears, elevated his muzzle. and became
yisibiy uneasy. Bender noticed something
unusual and gently patted the old fellow.
Fernwood, as the noise continued. seemed a
changed animal becoming full of fire and
while so the start was made and Fernwood
ran like wild horse, being only beaten a
half length for the race
Col. McGlade smiled to himself and the
next day, just before the race in which Fern
wood was entered, slipped around to the
leader of the band and subsidized him into
bringing the musicians close to the track and
playing throughout the race. The colonel
had put swell bet down on Fernwood and
began calculating his winning when the start
was made. But horror of horrors. harder
and harder blew the band, but Fernwood
positively refused to be fooled again and was
a disgraceful last. He had discovered the
difference between brass band and cocaine
sraa .s~n 4 hi