The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-30
C0RBEITS ARE OUTClASSED
They Cannot Play Hand Ball with
Ricaby and Dove.
THE LATTER HAD A NALkOvER
Champion Jim Said Ground Was In No
Condition and That ne Was Not
Accustomed to Playing In tho
Kind Of Alley Used.

James ]. Corbett. the champion pu-
gilist of the world, accompanied by his
wife and brother. Joseph Corbett. ar
rived In the city yesterday afternoon.
James and Joseph came here to play
three twenty-one-poin games or hand
ball with John Ricaby and Thomas
Dove at the Driving park. The Cor
belts were no match for the local play
ers. aud lost all three games. The
ground was soft from the rain. and
the champion refused to exert him.
self.
Immediately on the arrival OF the Cor
belts In the city they proceeded to the
St. Charles hotel, where Mr.. and Mrs.
Corbett were assigned to room SO. Mrs.
Corbett. to whom the champion was
married at Asbury Park after the ball
game In which he participated in this
city three weeks ago. Is TALL hand
some blonde. who dresses with good
taste. and Is evidently very much In
love with Corbett.
She remained In her room during
the greater part of the time she was III
the city. save when she went to the
Driving Park to witness the hand ball
contest At lao this morning Mr.. ana
Mrs. Corbett and brother, Joe. left for
Washington. where the latter Will
pitch today for the Washington Ma
tional league team.
Corhctts Easily Defeated.
James j. Corbett has appeared In
Scranton at various time as pugilist
and actor since he became the worlds
champion. About two weeks ago he
donned the uniform of the scranton
club. and helped them to win game
from Buffalo. He has always been
successful In those ventures here mn
ancially and otherwise, but yesterday
he assumed a new role. that or mana
ball player and, together with his
brother Joe, engaged in match game
of that very active sport at the Driv-
ing park grounds with John Rickaby
and Thomas Dove, local players.
Three games of twenty-one points
each constituted the contests. They
were easily won by the local players,
who could have made more points II IT
were necessary, and prevented the
Corbetts from scoring as often as they
did. Twenty-Five hundred persons
saw the athletes shift about on the
muddy court until all three games
were finished. when the players legs
and hands were thoroughly bespat-
tered with mud. and the audience
drenched with rain.
Location OF the Alley.
The wall Of the alley was erected IN
front of the grandstand 50 as to aforu
the people seated there good view,
but the majority of the spectators
crowded about the court and were
more interested in sizing up the cham
pion's physical developments than In
the scientific points of the game.
Corbett says that their opponents
are good players. and that he was at
a disadvantage on account of the style
of alley played on.
He is accustomed to an alley with
side walls and besides claims that he
has always played on q hard ground
which makes the ball bound and re-
bound readily. y turf ground, like the
one at the Driving park. does not pos
sess that advantage. Then again the
rain softened the ground to such an
extent that it was impossible to play
good hand ball.
The champion did not exert himself
very much on this account, but his
brother put forth his best efforts to
win and made some brilliant plays.
Rickaby has consented to play Cor
bett on his own alley at Asbury park
soon. The scores were 21-O, 2l-l, 21-19.
VIII Go Into Training.
Corbett was seen at the st. Charles
last evening by Tribune reporter.
and was In very pleasant frame of
mind, Notwithstanding his defeat.
After explaining the causes which pre-
vented him from making q better
showing, he declared that he had every
confidence his fight with Fitzsimmons
would be allowed to take place in
Texas.
Il will go into training at once, and
have every confidence that 1 will be
able to win the fight. Tonight / start
for Washington. where will watch
my brother Joe pitch for the Washing
ton club. Tomorrow and Saturday
nights I play in Baltimore. and on
Sunday l am billed to take part in
base ball game at Newark, N. ].
AFTER that will go to Asbury Park,
and begin training for my match with
Fftzsimmons. I will remain there
three weeks, and then proceed to San
Antonio, Texas, where / will do the
rem a inder of the traininfv