Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-01-24

Z
Local and Telegraphic Sport.
Al c. Buckenberger and George L.
Moreland came down from Pittsburg
yesterday, for the purpose of looking
over the base ball situation in this neck
O the woods 1t did not take them long
to ascertain that there is a healthy and
growing sediment in favor Of profess
sional ball this season, but they also
ran against a snag in a quarter which
surprised them They learned that less
than week ago a meeting of four per-
sons was secretly held in this city. for
the purpose of taking preliminary steps
| toward the formation OF a stock COM
pany to control the Wheeling franchise
IN the proposed league. This they re-
garded as a slap in the face, which waa
both painful and surprising inasmucn
as they felt that their efforts in promot-
| ing the enterprise were entitled TO some
recognition, and The movement TO throw
! them down was evidence OF a lack of
"tt4 4t'llblAf ~ blNt tlf lAAlttl AAt
most charitable construction
/, develops that a Quartette Of gentle
men held a meeting last Sunday night.
but two of the number, who singularly
enough, were the men who were asked
TO furnish the necessary financial back
ing failed to see the alleged gold mine
in the venture and after n desultOry
! talk the conference adjourned without
| having accomplished anything of
tangible nature. As a matter of fact.
the experience Of past seasons. when
the local base ball men found it neces-
sary TO go down into their jeans TO meet
! deficits at the close of the season. has
| dampened the enthusiasm OF the lovers
Of that form of sport. at least in the
sense that they do not care to make any
more investments of a like nature On
the other hand, Mr.. Buckenberger who
has been identified with as many sue
cessful base ball ventures as any man
of his years, is ready to place strong
team in Wheeling without asking any
assistance from Wheeling people. 1t
is not likely that any further meetings
in the interest Of the stock company
will be held. II am willing TO let them
try it, if they feel so disposed" he said
yesterday, but l want to know where
! stand. The information which have
gathered has been a surpri~e TO me, TO
say the least"
Mr.. Buckenberger called upon Super
intendent Wright, Of the street railway
company, who stated that he desired 10
see a club here this summer. and was
prepared to double his offer Of last sea-
son. Unfortunately, borh Messrs. Buck
enberger and Moreland were compelled
to return 10 Pittsburg yesterday after
noon, before having accomplished tho
work for which they came. 10 Is learn
ed. however. from an authoritative
source that the old site can be secured
by Mr.. Buckenberger for a park this
season. There is. then. no difficulty in
the way, and it is almost certain that
Wheeling will have team i'm the pro-
posed league this summer. Buckenber-
ger and Moreland will attend the meet
/ ing Of managers 10 be held i'm Toledo
on THURSDAY of next week, when it is
expected that the league viii be organ
lied.
Speaking of his plans for next sea-
son. with reference to Wheeling Mr.
Buckenbergcr said to a Register report
er:
you may say that Wheeling will
have a strong team To contradict this
statement would seem to be foolish. in
asmuch asmy experience with base ball
in this city. has proved to my satisfac-
tion that Wheeling fans will not sup
port a losing club | have little deal
which | am engineering just now. that
will mean strength to the Wheeling
club. and Mr.. MOreland can sign sever
al cracks just as soon as the organiza-
tiOn is formed. and the protection OF the
National League is secured.
This talk about Wheeling being a
training school for Trenton is entirely
without reason. ID is true that ! have
signed the Wagners. Barrett and one or
two other Iron and oil League players
but they each had offers elsewhere. and
if | had not secured them some other
manager would. The Eastern league is
under protection A contract TO play in
Wheeling would not hold good. as no
organization has been formed, and tho
major league certainly would not pro-
tect this city. I recognized their play
ing ability. and took advantage OF the
only means / had at the time. or have
now for that matter TO secure their SER
vices for next season.
Mr. Buckenberger stated further that
Mr.. Ed Barrows who conducted the
Wheeling team so successfully last sea-
son. will have nothing to do with base
ball in this city during the coming sum-
mer.