Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-23
AN IMMENSE GATHERING Witnessed the CaIedonian Sports
 at West End Park. IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS The Music Was on High Plane and Greatly Enjoyed Bessemer and Birmingham
 Ball Clubs Play Draw.

Despite the heavy downpour of rain yesterday morning there were fully 300 people present at West End park to wit ness the morning programme of the field day of Caledonian and other sports.
 About noon the rain ceased and when the sun poped from behind the clouds the attendance grew larger and larger until fair estimate placed the crowd at 1900 people,
 The inaugural number was the game of baseball between Pratt City and Bloc ton, which resulted in victory by the former team by a score of 20 to 10.
 Following this came the races, as fol- lows:
 One hundred yards flat-Won by w. B. Lynch of Gate city; prize, handsome sil- yer pitcher.
 Bicycle race, one mile-Arthur DeBar- deleben first, R. Christenberry second; prize, cycle bell.
 One hundred yards flat-Won by WYE | liam Thomas of Blocton; prize, fine pipe.
 One-half mile bicycle race-Robert Rutledge winner; prize, bicycle lamp.
 Quarter mile race, f1at-Mr. Comstock winner prize, silver cup.
 The interium between the races was delightfully."- filled in with musical selec- tions by Prof. Henri Weber's excellent reed and brass band. This band did not enter into the contest for the prze but was present voluntarily to make music for the occasion, and they made music which was fully appreciated.
 The band contest was one of the prin- cipa1 features, and attracted no little at tention. Prof. Henri Weber, being a thoroughly competent musician, was asked to decide the contest.
 The Blocton band led off with a splen- did selection, which was rendered admir- ably. The Pratt City band followed and did equally as well as their predecessor. Then followed the Pratt City Caledo- nfan band, which also rendered a most excellent selection. Blossburg was also represented by an excellent band, but this band did not enter into the contest.
 So well did all three of the bands per form that Professor Weber decided that 1t would be impossible to discriminate and the prize was divided among them
 Next in order was the game of ball be- tween Birmingham and Bessemer There was so much interest centered in this event that many wagers were made on the results. MT. Owens was the um- standpoint, was very unsatisfactory as Bessemer got by far the best of the de- cision, especially in the second inning, when he called Jones safe at the plate when he was clearly out by at least 2 feet. This run proved very important one, as 1t tied the score and made the re- suit, eventually, 0 draw. Again, in the fifth inning, with two men out Cahalan hit safe. Herbert was up and as Cahalan started for a steal of second the pitcher allowed the fourth ball to be called send ing Herbert to first, the catcher fielding the ball to second before Cahalan ar rived and the umpire called him out though he was clearly entitled to the base by virtue of the batter being sent to first on balls. These two decisions were so fragrant that many thought it was 8 case of to 9, with the all important mid dle man against the local team. There were other decisions on balls and strikes, in which Hart was badly worsted, and the umpire was at times severely roasted from the bleachers and grand stand.
 With two umpires the locals should have won easily, though MT. Ovens seem- ed desirous of doing the right thing, yet many could not see it that way. The game from the third to the tenth inning was very pretty and exciting. In the first half of the tenth inning Herbert hit to second and out at first. Fletcher hit safe, went to second on Davis single and stole third and home. The Besse- mers then got in their work. They de- nberately delayed the game until the umpire called it a tie. though the rule book would have decided in favor of the locals