The morning times., 1896-07-28
COACHED BY A COMEDIAN
Queer Stranger Who Mascotted the
Y. N. c. A. Team.
che Club Famous for One
Whole Season.

Several years ago, when the 7. N. @. A.
baseball team was champion of the Dis
| trict, 1T made tour through the South.
Everywhere the team went ii was cordially
received, and the financial support could
| not be grumbled ut. But what marked
this particular Southern trip from similar
trips was curious incident which befell
the team at StauDton, Va.
Que evening when nearly the whole team
was gathered in the rotunda of the hotel
| discussing the game of the afternoon and
heapiDg imprecations on the head OF the
umpire, man came staggering toward
the group. He appeared TO be Just recov-
eriDg from a prolonged spree, for his face
was bioated and red. When he reached
the players, which he finally did, he in
quired for the manager. That gentleman
put himself forward, and he of the ''wooZy
woozy'' appearance poured forth his tale.
He was a comedian off on his annual
drunk. He always went to some part OF
the country in the summer where he was
not known, and proceeded to make an all
summer jag of it. He said he was forced
to do something desperate, for bis system
demanded relaxation from nine months
eDdeavor to keep audiences in continual
laughter. Dead broke" expressed his
state exactly, but he had not come to beg
money; he only asked to he allowed to
travel as coach for the team, and IN
see to it that you don't have TO pay any
expenses for me-" he added. Tie man
ager considered the matter for moment,
and seeing no harm in the mans PROPOSE
ton, gave his consent
s'Now tell US your name" said the
mana ger.
The comedian gave his inquirer half.
humorous, half pathetic look. and replied:
Call me Jack-the- Coacher; III answer
to it,
And during the time he played with the
team no one learned his real name.
Jack proved himself genius and
jewel Just as soon as the team would get
on the train, Jack would seek the fullest
coach and puttou use his talentas comedian
Before he had been at it five minutes the
passengers were laughing heartily, and
when, at the end Of the performance, the
hat was passed around, coin jingled ner-
rily into it. Jack invariably realized
enough to pay for his ticket. He wouldpay
his hotel bills, too, In the same unique
manner.
As coacher none could surpass him.
lie would stand on the, coaching line and
fire volleys of wit at the players. Soon his
fame Travelled ahead and the papers would
always announce that the Y. NJ. c. A.
baseball team of Washington, accompanied
by their famous coach, ''Jack-the Coacher,"
Would be in town on such and such date.
The comedian coacher- was about the chiei
attraction of that trip.
He sobered up wonderfully while with the
team. After he had been travelling about
with the team for three weeks, he came
to the manag ger one day and said that ne
would have to go on spree again;
that he felt the desire coming over him.
The mex day he bade the boys goodbye, but
not before he had convulsed the spectators
with laughter at the afternoon game
The whole team missed Jack and wished
him back again, and each man indulged
in much speculation as to his name, buo-
none could learn it. The players had
almost forgotten this incident, until one
of them was reminded of it last winter.
The gentleman in question resides on n
street in this city. and at the time lie was
away on a trip with another team One
evening, going to the hotel, he found tickets
to the comedy company which was then
playing in the city, and with them was a
card bearing the legend: Compliments OF
Jack the Coach That night the gentle
man started for the theater, thinking that
at last he would discover the identity of
the comedian. But on his way to the
tleater he received notice that the team
had changed its plans and was TO leave in
half an hour. He barely had time to go
"a the hotel to pack his baggage and catch
the train, so he sorrowfully and reluctantly
retraced his steps. And to this day the
identity of Jack -the-Coach has not been
discovered.