The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08

cured quarters and waiting, without avail,
until after midnight, to meet the pug
naciouS and pugilistically inclined umpire.
Hurst is one of the conspicuous stars of the
baseball profession. Hurst is a short, thick
set young man, with a deadly cold pair OF
blue eyes set close together, a pug nose and
q most aggressive chin.
Tim learned to take care of himself when
ne delved for dusky diamonds in the PENN
sylvania mines many years ago. and is a
match for the rowdies of the ball field. His
nimble tongue and biting sarcasm are too
much for them, and when they resort to
billingsgate and threats Hurst meets them
more than half way.
hurst is or Irish extraction. and his wit
uclsms are havored with a sweet touch OF
the old brogue, just preceptibie. News
papers nave, printed columns of his original
sayings, and he has been quoted more than
game.
His effectiveness as an umnire is directIv
uue TO hlS utter feariesSneSs. Tim would
not be averSe to trying it on" with tba
biggest player in the business, and they all
player to get in the first word Hurst he
leXIng in making the attack.
when a known bully, like Captain
Arson, of the Chicago team, comes tum-
ping IN with frenzied shrieking to protegt
a decision which could not be Changed under
the rules, Tim meets him halfway with :
fairly Kisses: A
We'll. you big, f~atheaded swede, are you
coming, in here to make trouble for nae3
wan back to your cage or III sic the dnp.
on you. You're a fine counterfeit to 5r
n1ahihS blutIs up here. Why, you've been
playing first base on suspicion for ten
years
"But-but-this' froths Arson.
Get next to yourself!'' advises Hurst.
you're on the bum and are making a
grand-stand bluff to earn your salary. Wh~
Don't you put Decker in there to play first?
He'd stop some of those low throws. Now
play ball or you'll go on the bench"
And Hurst resumes his position behind
the plate, while Arson walks back to first
oase, gestlculatlng and addressing the winds
in wild protest.
HOW DUFFY GOT EVEN.
Captain Duffy. of the Bostons, recently
told Joe Campbell a charlottesville story OF
Hurst. w were playing the PhiIlies.'
said Duffy, and Tim called me out at first
after L had beaten out a bunt to Lave
Cross. OF course I made the usual O
and dance. and the music wasn't set to rag
time, either. Tim threatened to make me
contribute $25 to the Mel Young conscience
fund and offered to remove my block with
a Fftzsimmons hook.
When he found that the bluff wouldn't
work he switched from the vinegar num-
Der on the con menu to molasses, and Tim
finished at shooting the sugar-coated CON
Hughey, my boy he said, 1 know you're
right and l was wrong. You were safe, but
| got twisted. &c and sit down like a good
fellow
'"fhen | gave Tins wheels a push in the
wrong direction. You know that fellow.
Steve ODonnell, that Peter Maher put to
sleep in Philly last night, T1m?' said /.
Know him very well, Hughey. What
about him?' asked Tim. Well, you have a
bigger streak of yellow than Steve has.
There's enough yellow in you to decorate
arrangements day, you r~ed-haaded Nick
said /. You could see Tins little golf cap
jack up on his sorrel locks and you could
have lit a cigarette from the Queensberry
flames that fiared in his eye
His Irish temper crept in his throat and
swelled the cords of his neck as big as a
crowbar. When he recovered his tongue he
took refuge in tiowery figures of speech,
and his little arched legs heaved with emo
ton as he described circles around me and
famed my nose with his fist. / think Tim
fined me 800, but the fine only went in
conversation"
One of Hurst's quips was brough. o,G in
a recent Baltimore game. 1t was a very
close contest, and in the ninth inning q
Cleveland player slid home, the ball and
runner reaching the plate together. The
decision might be given either way. and
Tins opinion was:
The Baltimore players outdid themselves
in rowdy protesting, but the official never
budged. High above the clamor rose the
voice of Catcher Robinson yelling:
Il had him frOZe, Tim. / had him frozei"
meaning that he had the player blocked of
the plate with his foot when he put the
ball on him. Robbie's energetic claim II
had him froze" at length attracted Hurss'a
attention and he raised his hand for silence.
Did you have him froze, Robbie p asked
Tim, looking at the player searchingly.
L did, Tim, honestly" said the backstop,
earnestly.
We'll, then, all right" decided the UNI
pire, 'ore froze for the Baltimores,'' and
the players went back TO the field laugh-
ing.