San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-06-05

If O'Connor and Weber had an
nounced that they were going to give
burlesque exhibition of the national
game, there would not be so much
reason for complaint of the opening of
the San Antonio Austin series, but still
the game was not even success as
burlesque. 1t was, however, a good
exhibition of heavy hitting, with the
heaviness of this particular branch on
the Austin side Herbert and Drink
water were the opposing pitchers and
"Old Red was knocked, hammered,
spanked, slapped and outslammed all
over the inside and outside of the lot.
In the air, on the ground, over the
fence, everywhere and anywhere was
the flight of the little ball after it left
Red Herbert's hands, and it was
case of hope I'll see you again" every
time Red and the ball separated. AS
for Drinkwater-but no matter what
he drinks-that boy was a regular old
beer pitcher yesterday, at least he gave
the Bronchos the high ball, and made
them look like lot of sick children
before he got through with them.
Now, there is one consolation to
which the Bronchos can pin their de-
feat, but a rather excusable one. 1t
is the umpire, poor fellow. Here is
one unfortunate, down-trodden indi-
vidual, who gets it both ways-and he
never fails to get it good and hard.
Yesterdays game, however, could have
been played as well without an umpire
as with one, for there were such few
decisions to be made, and these few
were given the other way. Mr.. Bren-
nan, the official umpire, was absent,
being sick in bed with a raging fever,
and Steve Butler was asked to Off
ciate. Steve consented and undoubt-
edly did the best he could. But an
umpire, like ball player, must be in
the game, and right there is where
Steve was out of it. In the second in
ming he called a hit of O'Connor down
the third base line a foul and in the
fourth he called Partridge's hit over
right field fence fair ball. There
were two men on the bases, and the
score was tied, but Buffers homerun
turned it 6-3 for Austin. Butler was
slow in getting on the lines when
ball was hit, and in neither instance,
on O'Connor's nor Partridges hit, was
he in a position to see whether the
balls were fair or foul. Later in the
game Butler called Bailey out on
strikes when there were only twd
strikes on the big center fielder. and
then he withdrew his decision and al
lowed Bailey another strike. In the
sixth inning Weber threw home and
caught runner at the plate, but the
umpire called him safe, and there was
another cry of dismay from the grand
stand. Butler by that time was COM
pletely ratified and evidently didn't
know whether he was at a ball game
or dog fight in a side street.
The spectators hooted and Kissed the
umpire and told O'Connor to walk off
the field and forfeit the game. But
| O'Connor wouldn't do this and the
game was played to the finish.
Allowing all this outrageous umpi-
ratical work Of Mr.. Butler does not
acquit the Bronchos of the charge of
quitting" Whether this is true or
not, they played inferior ball to the
Senators. They have contracted
weakness at the bat of late which is
becoming more visible every day.
Their hitting yesterday was lanfenta
bly, weak.
Wake up, boys. Get in the game.