The times., 1897-04-27

New YORK, Apea 2e. Twelve thousand
uasehsa oranizs sprrognaed the PLAYING
field OF tie Polo Grounds IN a dense oemi-
circle this afternoon anG poured forth
pentup enthusiasm In an effort to en-
courage the New York experts who are
fighting for the league pennant of 1897
--lt-T was the first championship contest
of the year IN tlrtss- -citE. aa5 e1e weather
at the outset was perfect. But just when
there came an opportunity for the rooters
to bring their nerves into play, a pesky
raincloud burst over the arena and made
what might have been a stirring finish
an unsatisfactory draw.
The clubs paraded before the game
with the Seventh Regiment Band at their
head Rusie marched with the Giants and
was given a rousing reception.
Dobeny's left-hand delivery was a COLI
plete enigma, and with anything like clean
Support the Washingtons would have had
hard time to escape a shut-out.
The visitors played sharply and with a
style that showed the existing elements
OF team playing.
Selhach made the play Of the day when
he pulled down a heavy smash from Davis
with the sun glaring in mis- eyes. DeMon-
treville. the boy wonder, played a star
game in every respect. Umpire Lynch
had number of close decision to make and
enforced the new rules SO efficiently that
the game was agreeably free from any
wrangling.
When the ninth inning was over the
and with extra inningsin view the anxious
thousands prepared to root in earnest. Up
TO this time the sky had been almost cloud
less, and 1t was, therefore, somewhat uf a
surprise when a long ridge of black, water
laden clouds came stealing over the top Of
Dead Head Hill from the west and shut
out the suns rays, which had de the ball
glisten and CLEAN throughout the after
noon.
''IJ's getting dark yelled the crowd, and
the players were the recipients of all
sorts of advice as to the method of hurrying
the game to a decisive conclusion.
The Washingtons S took the bat FOR the
tenth inning, when it was difficult to see
the ball as II came curving, twisting. and
shooting from the powerful left hand of
Ed Doheny. q Bren, the first man I'M.
lodged ava y from a fast ball, W hi eli struck
his bat, and enabled Doheny to throw
him out Big Cartwright waited for his
base on balls. and Brown. the next bats
man, cracked the ball to the ground near
the plate. Doheny, quick as flash of
lightning, shot the leather TO second base
TO force Cartwright. The throw was a
trifle wide and carried Gleason off the
bag.
SAFE, said Umpire Lynch. aithoughit
was q very, very close decision. Warner
had short passed ball and Cartwright
numbered toward third The New York
catcher recovered quickly, and made
superb throw to joyce. Bill heard the
ice wagon approaching, and his fingers
were covered with some kind of slippery
substance, for he dropped the sphere like
q hot potato.
''Now. we've got 'em," cried the Wash
ington coachers, who were dancing up and
down and yelling like Commanche chiefs.
A cloud of binding dust, borne along by
a heavy gale swept down from the hilltop
at this moment and Doheny made move
TO pitch the ball. but did not Flow s
that for a balk?" howled the Washington
orators, and when Lynch bawled It's
q balk," Cartwright thnndered across the
rubber unmolested, and fleetfooted Tom
Brown roasted on third. But all of this
exertion went for nothing, for few
minutes later the flood descended, the
wind blew the gay pennantsand streamers
off the grHndstand and fences. and the
players ran for shelter together with the
populace.
Umpire Lynch, realizing that further