The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-18

you talk about your home umpiresT
says George Decker. according to the
Chicago Chronicle. Il had an experience
with one Of them one time that wss
home umpire and no mistake. I guess
pretty near every indicator handler on
Uncle Nicks staff has been accused this
year of being a home umpire. but if you'd
seen the boy that l was against perform
you'd admit right there and then that he
was the only perfect specimen Of a home
umpire in the world
1T was three years ago this coming fall
that l ran across this chap I'm telling
you about. Ii was just after the close OF
the league season, and a certain Hoosier
team had sent up to Chicago for a battery
with whiah they could go over and trim a
team of deadly rivals that were located
in Lafayette. Ind. Abbey had been pitch
ing for Arson that summer, and he and
heard about a request for a battery and
soon fixed up matters whereby we were
to don the uniforms OF the Hoosier team
and lead them to the much desired vic
tory over Lafayette for our expenses and
a consideration. Well, down into Indiana
we went, and after Abbey and 1 arranged
our signs I put on a mask and the game
started, with none Of the Lafayette fans
suspecting where We hailed from.
1.-The man who had been agreed upon TO
umpire the game was an old fellow with
a set of gray whiskers and a checked suit
of clothes that even a boy from the Bow
cry would blush TO wear. He was SAD
posed to be the boss fan of the town, !
believe. and, as no outsider could be Sc
cured, the captain of the team we were
with agreed to the old fellow after Abbey
had called him of to one side and assured
him there was no chance for us to lose
anyhow That umpire was a peachl He
evidently realized that he was there to
60 with the home team on every possible
occasion, and some OF his decisions were
certainly corkers Abbey was in pretty
good form that day and the Lafayette
team couldn't do very much with him,
while our team found the other pitcher
easy, and by banging the ball out where
there was no chance for an argument
with the umpire managed to get well eff
in the lead. In the last couple of !n-
nings the home team and the umpire grew
desperate, and after sending one OF the
Layfaette players to first on balls that
were strikes he called another one safe
when he was out by ten feet. There is
when he made the star decision of the
day. One of the home batters hit a little
easy bounder to Abbey, and he snatched
IL and sent ID fast to first baseman In order
to beat the runner out so far that there
would be no chance for any argument on
the out The runner was only half way
to the base when the ball got there. bat
that didn't make much difference to the
umpire The old fellow scratched his
head for a minute and then motioned the
batter, who had stopped and started back
TO the bench, to go on to his base.
whats the matter% asked Abbey.
"'He's safer said Mr.. Umpire.
"'Safe? How do you make that out7
look at your rules replied his whis-
kers.
"'weli. what's in the rules that makes
him safe?' asked Abbey.
why just this said his nobs In the
checkered suit. as he dug up a copy OF the
rules and shook II in the faces OF all the
team. who had by this time gathered
round him: these rules say that the ball
must be thrown TO first TO put the runner
outv
'eweu. what did I do-kick It there?
roared Abbey.
"'weu, you didn't throw e. said Mr.
Umpire. as he pulled out his watch. You
pitched 81 I'll give you ave minutes to
MAY ballN"