Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-07


AS the time for the meeting Of rep
resentatives of clubs In the Interstate
League approaches, the prospects Tor
a professional team in Wheeling TINS
simmer do not grow brighter A
great deal hinges on the sentiment OF
owners OF the Toledo, youngstown anu
New Castle franchises, with reference
to President c. h. Power. Power ana
the owner of the local franchise are at
dagge-s points, and each declares en-
phaticaUy that he will not belong 10 an
organization with which the other IS
connected. There is not the slightest
indication that the warning forces VIII
reach an alniCaOle understanding.
The question. therefore, is whether
or not MIR. Power will be chosen 10
succeed himself as the official head OF
the Interstate and il is not likely that
the other clubs will turn him down III
order 10 make a berth in the organ
ization for Wheeling. Gunneis, or
Toledo. was reported in Pittsburg pa
uers. as holding the same views regard
ing the Wheeling management as
Power This may or may not be true
Cunnels has reason 10 feel sore. but he
is very ambitious. and il he could be
come president of the league, his feel-
inc of resentment would in all proba-
hiiitv disappear. He is not friendly 10
Power. unless his feelings have UNDER
gone a recent change.
The other league project, which was
born In Toledo, has probably dled. II
contemplated a circuit to Include -FOUR
towns in Michigan, and Toledo,
YOUNGSTOWN. New Castle and Wheel
ing in the east. The principal obJec-
tion 10 such circuit would DC the big
railroad Jumps.
The Wheeling manager is credited
with saving that the league cannot
succeed without a club here, and that
he controls the only grounds obtain
able. The situation is not as bad as ne
is alleged TO have represented 1t, but
the league would find IL almost essen
tiaI 10 include Wheeling, and the man
who attempts to place a team here VIII
be confronted with a very knOtty prob
lem i'm the ground question. The
uresent park Will not be leased, but
can be purchased outright for cash.
Here another question arises, and 1t
aDpears that upon the answer TO 1t
hinges the fate Of this city as regards
professional ball in 1897. Is there any
person possessing the necessary cash
who is willing TO place a club in Wheel
,inc9 The Pittsburg papers say that
several base ball men are looking TO-
ward Wheeling as a field for probable
investment. but they do not mention
names. II is known that Frank Halter
would like 10 manage q team here, but
HffeHn q hon
WILLINGNESS end his ability 10 put the
requisite amount OF money into the
venture Frank has all the necessary
qualities for a successful manager, ana
there are hundreds Of fans VINO
would Ike 60 see him IN charge OF
team here. Another name mentioned
in connection with the local manage
ment is trat Of Frank TOrrysOn. who
looked after GunUels' Mud Hens during
the early part of last season.
Whether TorrySon is seriously con-
temp'ating the placing Of club IN
Wheeling is not known. nor IS there
much information IS 70 his managerial
ability. The fact that he was consid-
cred good enough for GCnnels. how
ever. is strong evidence in his favor
as Gunnels is an Gstute base ball man,
especially when it comes 10 looking al
ter the financial end Of team.
r is perha7s not generally known
that Tovrvslr came very near TO man
agirg the Wheeling base hall club last
season. This fact was divulged after
the meeting at the Mcclure House last
spring. which ended in a general agree
ment 10 disagree. Mr. J. W. GUnnels
stated then % The sporting editor or
the Register that he had always look
ed upon Wheeling as a promising heid
for investment in a base ball enter
prise. and that prior 70 the meeting,
at time when il looked like Wheeling
would not he represented, he thought
seriously of sending TOrrysOn here 10
look over the field, with a view 10
placing club here. Gunnels' plan at
that time was TO personally manage
Toledo and 10 have TOrrysOn look after
Wheeling He professed 20 be dis
gusted with the fascO az the Mcclure
House. however d the project so
far as he was concerned was dropped.
With Wheeling ont Of the Interstate
II will be difficult to find four eastern
cities strong enough TO represent this
end of the circuit Youngstown and
New Castle are all right. The pro-
iectors of the league are trying 10
bring Erie. Pa. into line but they have
not vet reached The point where they
Fan look upon that city as certainty.
Bradford. Pa. would probably be Sc
lacted. but Bradford is a Jay" town
from a base ball standpoint, and would
not be selected unless it was absolutely
necessary 20 tiil in the circuit with that
city. With Erie and Wheeling out the
league might be organized with SIX
clubs. of which but two would be in
the east. Wheeling is an important
aad very desirable city for the inter-
state. and IL is 10 be hoped that some
means NAV he found for placing ciuo
here for the season Of 81.
Richard Wilson. Of this State. got q
decision over william Nensel the
allegheny carpenter" near Hoboken,
Tuesday night. i'm a ten-round contest
for S1cO a side. Tho men fought shy
of each other. end inflicted little or no
punishmont during The FIST nine
rounds. The half hundred spectators
we've very wvch disappointed and the
referee told the men they must do bet
ter in the tenth or he could not give a
decision. The beli gcrents hammered
ayvav ut each other. but honors we're
oven. and the referee ordered another
round promising decision 70 the man
Who lead Oftener. Wilson did most OF
+bo le,aine and cot the decision. His