Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-05-03
HOO-RAY!
"Play balli'

They're off" now in the Interstate
league. The schedule makers did not
give Wheeling an opening game at
home. so the fans" did the next best
thing-they went abroad. Base ball
yesterday was one OF the things which
are classified as coming high, but we
must have them" Everybody was
there, and his brother When the Reg
lister predicted that the hooters eXcur-
sion. which was largely the result OF its
efforts. would carry four hundred per-
sons from this city 10 Washington, the
reportorial prophet knew that he was
making a modest estimate. but he was
allowing for threatening weather
The excursion was the biggest thing
in local base ball history. For fully
three-quarters of an hour before the
train departed, the ticket sellers were
kept on the jump, and the crowd about
the window was damned together like
proverbial sardines. The ticket office
was not prepared for such a rush.
When the time for the departure Of the
train arrived, the crowd was still fight
ing for tickets This caused a delay of
ten minutes. Then Agent Burke got
a breathing spell, and began a little
figuring. which showed that more than
six hundred tickets were sold. The
trip 10 Washington was made in one
hour and five minutes. with but one
stop. About fifteen fans who had
bought tickets stood on the platform
at Elm Grove. and twelve at Roney's
Point. but the train whizzed by.
There was roofing" with a big R.
An sorts Of contrivances for creating a
noise were concealed in pistol pockets
and under coats. and they were brought
into active service while the train was
in motion If the Washington club had
any friends on the train. they were dis
creetly silent Col Bill Turner and his
Silver Toned Quartette enlivened mGL-
tiers on the trip. There was a lavish
display Of the club colOrs. black and
white, from coat lapels. and umbrellas
and canes. With all the noise there was
no disorder. 1t was a good natured
crowd, but it would he putting it lit
tie strong TO say that all would have
accepted defeat gracefully. If the
game had been PLAYED TO a finish. and
SllldlltL
score. it would have been the most woe
begole disappointed crowd that ever
attended a ball game. The Wheeling
''roO.ers" had as much confidence as
,Iinksee, who came all the way from
Kansas to find out that he hasn't
learned the base ball alphabet yet.
The Wheeling crowd awoke Washing
ton from its long sleep. The local
fans" cut loose as soon as they left
the train. There was a wild cheer for
Wheeling from several hundred threats.
which was repeated in a less noisy man
ner all the way to the park. The three
street cars were waiting for the crowd
and were filled in less than q minute
The rest of the crowd took short cuts
across the meadows for the fair grounds
a mile ard a half distant. The parade
waited a block from the railroad station
for the arrival of the Wheeling delega-
ton. 1t acted on the players much the
same rs giving bouquets and diamond
pins. making them nervous. Col Tur-
ner and q crowd Of fifty c0lcred root
erS' took the right Of line; not by in
vitatiOn. however but that cut no ice"
The Colonel himself was in front 1t
was very much cake walk. The root
ers' from the Second ward made the
town ring with their yell, which ran
something like this:
"W-H-Double FILING WHEEL
ING. 'Rahl Ran, R2h!"
The American Military Band. Of
PittsOWg. headed the procession prop
er. Then came the magnates of the
two cities. occupying two carriages.
The Wheeling club was followed by the
WashingtOns, a crowd of "rOO,ers" from
this city bringing up the rear. 1t was
a long tramp to the fair grounds. and
the players we're tired when they reach
ed the battle field.
When the train left Wheeling some
person noticed a black cloud in the
west, which followed the train as it
moved. but Jagged behind It arrived.
however. in time to stop the contest, at
a time when local enthusiasm was at
fever heat. II did not rain. 1t poured.
The water cane down in solid sheets.
and that lovely dust on the fair grounds
vas transformed into yellow mud, of
the peculiar sticky. disagreeable SORT
which always makes a man wish he
hadn't The diamond was soon covered
with water to the depth OF several
inches, and the base bags were floating
about in the miniature lake. The
crowd hoped, but it was the hope which
a condemned criminal has after he hears
the sound Of the hammer On the gal
lows. The umpire waited the usual
length Of time before calling the game
off. Five minutes after the first drop
of rain fell it was apparent that there
could be no more base ball.
But whether it had raired or not. the
game would never have been finished.
Cause why? Because Wheeling was
batting the ball like fiends. They start
ed out with three runs in the first, in
creased it to five in the second, and at
the pace they were going, would have
kept up the ratio o. increase throughout
the game. Umpire Mitchell officiated.
At the tap OF the bell Darrah and his
men ran out on the diamond in a very
Sprightly fashion. Then Burgess J. f.
Curr"n stepped on the rubber, and
pitched the first ball over the home
plate. II was a snake curve. and it
was covered with whiskers.
The two teams lined up as follows:
Wheeling-Wagner, third; Violet.
right: Gallagher. second; Darrah. sec
ond: McHoverter, first; Rickert. left;
Whaley. short; Shaw, catcher; John
son. pitcher.
Washington-Martin, right: Ritz.