The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-21
CHARLES DEXTER.

fefer was W. K. Watkins, present manages
of the indianapolis Western league club.
At that time he was playing third base for
one OF the American association teams
The Cincinnatis had q young German
pitching who was noted for his wild de-
livery One of his tangent" curves hit
Watkins squarely on the left temple. The
injured man fell as If shot and was carried
TO the clubs Office, where a doctor set to
work to revive him. When he did regain
consciousness, he became 80 violent that 10
required the united strength of four men
TO hold him while the physician admins
tered morphine hyperdermically In such
quantities that his awful suffering was
dulled. For three days he had TO be kept
under the influence of anRsthetics. In due
time he recovered, but just above the spot
where the ball hit him there appeared q
spot of hair on his otherwise dark head
which was white as snow, the effect OF
that blow from the pitched ball. Ee bears
the peculiar mark today l believe Mr.
Watson never played another game Of ball
afterward, but devoted his Life thereafter
TO managing, at which he has been unusu-
ally successful.
There Is playing IN one Of the National
league teams Il young man who Is great
credit to his profession beyond his worth
as q player. 1 refer TO Charles Dexter of
tho Louisville team. This story of success
Is rather peculiar. Dexter is only 90 years
old and Il graduate Of Suwanee Univer-
sity of the South, where he was for three
years catcher for the varsity nine. After
graduating he went home 20 Indianapolis
and was made private secretary TO Hon.
John G. Shanklin, then secretary of the
haf ha
drifted into journalism and went TO Evans
Vile, where he became a reporter for The
Tribune In his leisure hours young Dex-
ter played with tie strong Evansville base
ball team. On visit Of the Louisvilles 20
that city last year Dextcr's playing so fa-
vorably impressed the Louisville manager
that an offer from the club was made so
tempting in ito provisions that Dexter ac-
cepted IL and became player In tho Ma
tional league. This success was a Mediate
and unquestionable. Besides his remark
able fielding, good batting and 'hoady"
work while playing this young man brings
into the profession high standard Of In
telligenco and polished manners, SO much
needed among professional players. If there
were moro Dcxtcrs, Ponds, Tenneys,
Smiths and Lewises I'm the National league
it would bo botter for the great sport.
The addition Of another victim of con-
sumption by the recent decease OF Curt
Welsh 20 the already long list OF baseball
players who have died from the fell disease
has opco more raised the query, Does n ball
players life invite the greatest scourge Of
mankindi A good propwtion of these cases
can be traced Indirectly 90 intemperance in
the use OF liquors. irrcgttarity os their
manner Of living and indulgence in ex-
cesses Of all kinds But the fact cannot be
controvertcd that the yearly training which
n baseball player requires 10 get Into
form" has good deal 10 do with IL. An
son has been held up rs a living argument
against this theory, but it Is not n fitting
example. Anson requires training as well
as every large bodied ball player, but l
have the veterans own words for it that
he never really goes out Of training. All
through the fall and winter be keeps nc
tive, never fails to indulge In long walks,
n spin on his wheel, an hour or TIVE at hill
lizards or hunting trip now sPd then 70