Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-09-29
ONE ON WARNER.
Mikes Experience with One Armed Ball
Player Years Ago.

As general thing one-armed people
are not a bowling success on the ball
field. Occasionally one will break in
for time, and play good ball, but not
often, says the Pittsburg Commercial
Gazette. Imagine the feelings of a field
captain who tries new man in the out
field only to find that he has one arm,
when he drops fly ball allowing three
men to score. Such a thing occurred
in Wheeling some years ago. and it
caused nine days laugh in the valley.
There was gang of young fellows in
Wheeling, about a dozen all fair ball
players among them Mike Warner.
now connected with the Mcclure House
In Wheeling, and Jack Sheppard of this
city. This gang used to meet about
three times week at the ball grounds
to play. They would split up and them
choose enough young fellows from the
crowd to fill up the mines. On the dav
III question all had reported. Sheppard
and Warner were appointed captains.
They went through that old country
school playground game of hand-over-
hand on a stick for first choice from
the crowd. Warner won and running
MS eye over the crowd he said to a
stout looking fellow who was sitting
ON the ground: I'll take you, young
Teller"
The young Teller was Charlie GRAY
ton, who some years before had got
tangled up with circular saw and had
come out minus his left arm. His be-
ing concealed in a crowd hid from
Warner bis crippled condition. Shep-
pard laughed right out when ne saw
Warmers choice, knowing that Mike
would likely tear down the grand stand
when he found his man was a cripple
Choosing off, ended the game begun
with Sheppard's side at bat. Warner
ordering his young Teller" into middle
field
They started in to make a runaway
race The first two men singled and
then came Sheppard. Whether lack
ever prayed before or since that time
does not matter, but he certainly d5
come to bat with prayer this time. H1
would swim the river to spring a trick
on friend, and he wanted 10 emf the
string right here and let the balloon goI
up. II he could only get long hv 10
center, and have the One-handed man
drop it, there would be trouble. As vet
Capt. Warner had not noticed that his
Young feller' had but one arm. Jack
chance came. He smashed a high one
TO deep centre, and away Went Craytonj
after IT, Warner ran out from short
to help in with the throw. and he could
/. be heard shouting: STEADY, steady,
Squeeze il and shoot it to ne" He
almost took a hemorrhage as he saw
Crayton steady himself under the ball
throw mp one hand and muff it fair
and square. The ball bounded off into
pile of stones Warner was crazy.
Even yet he didn't suspect only one
arm. he thought his man was irving TO
make a fancy catch, and started out to
beat him. He called the poor cripple
names hat wouldn't look well in print.
and as he came up to him The crowd
| heard him scream:
You BANKED idiot what do Won
mean? Trying to make a grand stand
catch, weren't you? Why don't you use
two hands, you dashed ninny-Iu
smash"
Warner never finished the sentence.
Crayton, who had been hunting for the
ball among the stones, woke up. He
grabbed a rock and hurled it at Warner
az close range, barely missing his head.
The cripple was very sensitive, and
thought Warner had known all along
that he had but one arm. and when he
told him to take two hands. he was we'll
satisfied that the captain was trying 10
make sport of him, so he went after
him.
You great big stiff. Trying to kid
me. are you? III break every bone in
your blasted body" screamed Crayton,
as he grabbed another cobble and start
ed for the now Mortified Warner, who
began to run. Crayton was wild with
rage He chased Mike clear aross the
field and out of the grounds, vowing to
kill him. This broke up the game.
Strange to say Warner didn't even yet
knowthat Crayton had but one arm. Not
until after he had been chased up town
did he learn the cause of all his troubles.
and then he hunted the boy up and
apologized They are now the best of
friends.