davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

One fact is worthy of particular notice
In looking over the team that will repre-
sent Scranton in the Eastern league this
year: There is not position Oh the field
without a candidate who is permanently
slated for the place, and there is not
among all these players a single one about
whom there is any uncertainty regarding
his ability to fili a particular position.
This statement, of course, excerpts a few
of the pitchers, but that feature is always
found in the early making up of any base
ball team.
A further important fact to bear in mind
IS that the infield has an average batting
percentage of 1888 per cent. and the out
field an average of .35l per cent This
makes Scranton the heaviest hitting club
in the league and is in a large degree re-
sponsible for the opinion current through
out the league that the team will finish
among the first four clubs.
As to that vital department, the pitch
ers', there is no occasion for alarm. There
are seven of them ard of these Harper,
Gilion and Morse have been positively Sc
lected to begin the seasons work. Two
more will be chosen from among Meaney,
Yerkes, Wellner, and Fallon. 1t is not
unreasonable to say that while some other
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

with Scranton. He had previously been
in the New York league, and was the only
good thing found by McDermott. He bat
ted out 301 per cent, good showing for
a first year outside the smallest of small
leagues. His arm is said to be among
the best in the business.
Centerfieder Walters has the highest
hitting percentage, 374, on the team, but
it was made with the New Bedford club
Of the New England league. not nearly as
fast league as the Eastern, and so Wal
ters' record will hardly stand comparison
with that of Righthelder Daily. The latter
hit out .3i9 per cent. with Rochester in
1l5 games. Walters has played with sew
eral clubs in the old state league and the
old cranks remember him well. He is a
fleet runner, and a good fielder and these
qualifications with his hitting should
make him valuable man. one good trait
possessed by Daily is his ability to hit
when hits are most needed. He uses good
judgment in fielding.
Peter Eagan has, with Meaney, been the
longest time on the team. 1t is WORTH
almost the price of a game to see MIN
covering left field territory. He came here
from Harrisburg in 1895, and has since
then been one of the most reliable play
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28
WHO WILL SUCCEED FITZ?
Dearth of Championship Material in
the Pugilistic Field.

Assuming that Fitzsimmons will keep
his word and retire from the ring, the
interesting question arises: Who is to
succeed to the heavy weight champion
ship Of the world? OF course it is
doubtful if Fitzsmmons can success
fully resist the temptation to enter the
ring again, but with Fitzsimmons out
there are no coming men. If Maher
and Sharkey were to make the match
they have been talking about the win
ner might deserve a night with FitZ-
simmons if Fitzsimmons changes his
views. Maher today has no claim on
Fitzsimmons for fight, and with the
Australian out he cannot succeed to
the title. The same statement applies
in every way to Sharkey, who is de-
servedly unpopular. He is oc the old
type of the slugger and his reputation
is unsavory. Jackson, Mitchell, Sulli-
van and Goddard are mas beens" and
will not do. Steve O'Donnell is inca
pable of rising to the championship
stpndard.
There is a hope left in Kid Mccoy,
who, however, just now Is not heavy
enough. He has the height and frame,
but lacks weight and muscular power.
He has all the cleYerness of a finished
boxer and for his weight Is hard
puncher. Billy Madden is in earnest in
wanting to fight Goddard, but recent
advices were all to the effect that God
dard Is physically unable to cope with
Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons cannot make
much money out Of the theatrical busi-
ness. He has never been a good draw
ing card, although now that he is the
champion of the world in two classes
he would be able 10 make money on the
read for year at least. Fitzsimmons,
if he wanted to, could pick up many
bundles of soft money by accepting the
Jackson, Mitchell, Sullivan and God
dard challenges,-Philade Record
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28
JACK O'CONNOR ON
THE BATTING ACT
II Is Natural Gift and Is Not
Acquired.
PRACTICE AMOUNTS TO LITTLE
Ifa Player Hasn't the Ability to Hit,
He Can't BE Made to Hit by All the
Coaching on the Planet--Several of
O'COnnor's Experiences --- If a
Player Has Good Trait He Ought
to Nurse 1t.

Jack OConnor Of the Cleveland club
was recently asked: rs the science of
batting natural or is it an acquired
art?' II should say that it is a patu-
raj requirement" replied the great
player, II have never known a weak
batter to develop into a great slug
ger, but / have seen great hitters de-
teriorate through age or from other
causes, such as dissipation, failure of
the eyesight or injury l never have
seen a miracle worked by which
weak hitter developed into killer of
pitchers.
Nov, do not mean to say that
player may not improve in batting or
that he can not be taught something
that will help him. Such is not the
case. There are very few of the
young players who come up to the
big league who have not batting faults
that must be corrected. But they are
minor ones. The chief qualification of
a good hitter are perfect eyesight and
what is known to players as a good
eye. The term good eye covers the en-
tire case. 1t not only means good eye
sight; 1t also includes good judgment,
proper arm action; in a word, every
thing that goes to make a good and
successful hitter. A good eye tells a
man when to hit at ball and when
not to.
Now, given a man with a good eye
you can make a hitter out of him. If
you see a young fellow that picks his
ball well, that never hits at a ball that
is not over the plate and between his
shoulder and his knee, you know that
he is the possessor of a good eye. If
he is not hitting as he should you will
know that he has some fault, generally
in the position he assumes at the bat.
HIS POSITION WAS BAD.
"When i first Joined the big league
j was with the Cincinnati Club of the
American association. was account
ed pretty fair hitter in the Western
Association where 1 had played the
previous year. Imagine my surprise
when one day Frank Fennelly, who at
that time was captain Of the Cincin-
natl team, came up and told me that
would have to change my batting
position II l proposed to stay with the
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

club. He said Young fellow, you
have the makn2 of a great player in
you, but you must stand up at the
bat and get out after the ball. You
crouch too low and you step off to
the rear with your right foot instead
of stepping off to the front with the
left. In other words, you are retreat
ing from the ball instead of going out
to meet it with a swing, which has
with it all that power of your body
Then he gave me a lesson and made
me practice hitting every day. did as
he bade me and improved daily until
it reached what l think was it's maxi
mum excellence and past that point /
have never been able to advance it.
Il do not think that instructions from
competent man and constant prac-
tice would do a player any good unless
he has the germ of good batter in
him, and if he has that it will surely
be brought out of him when in the Ma
tiOnal league. Good managers never
overlook a bet and if a new man holds
forth any promise they leave no stone
unturned to develop any latent talent
he may possess, particularly in a bat
ting line.
better than they do now If they had all
the practice and instruction in the
world. Then / have seen men whose
batting ability withstood the ravages
of time, tobacco and rum for years. I
do admit; however, that to be q good
hitter a man must practice continually.
Good batters like Burkett and Della
hanty are always hitting. They have
hot tn l,pt, l.
whenever they get on the diamond they
have somebody pitching to them.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYING.
81 feel, however, that this is a trait
of every man who exceIs in any de-
partment of the game. If you are a
great pitcher you will want to be pitch
ing all the time. A good fielder will
not be satisfied unless he is catching
| flies and an infielder is eager to dig
them up out Of the sand. Even good
| throwers, who ought to save their
arms, delight in throwing and take
| many a chance with their salary wings.
So it is all along the line. l have heard
| that it is the same way in the other
| lines of business; the excellent men In
any department are eager to practice
those arts in which they excel
"Of course there are men like Hughey
| Jennings who are stars with the will
low. Jennings, when he was with
Louisville, could not hit a flock of
| barns. Well, he went over to Louis
Vile, and in a year or two he was one
Of the greatest hitters in the business
| Now, / did not pay any particular at
tention to Jennings style when he was
| with the COlOnaIs hut n "a nerfectiou
nowadays. He hits clean out with the
wrists and cracks the ball through the
infeld every time.
"On the other hand, there is Tom
Brown, of Washington, one of the
| grandest ball players 1 know He Is
also one OF the brightest men in the
business. He can play the game al
| through. As q ball player who has
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

the base ball word. He is a left-hander
and has remarkable speed for a south
wing.
Pat Mcany is too well known in Scran-
ton to need detailed mention. For six or
seven years he has played professional
base ball, and has been with Scranton
since the middle of 1895. He is an out
fielder but has pitched with remarkable
success at times, and it was intended to
have him try for that position this year.
He does not want to go in the box, how
ever, and it is not certain that he will
be forced to do so as he is a heavy and
sure batter and is good trading ma
terial. Wellner is another candidate for
the box and is looked upon to be success
ful He is now nursing a split hand that
will keep him out of the game for pos
sibly ten days. He pitched last year
for Austin. of the Texas league, and has
played with Chattanooga, Maysville, and
Mama college. In three games last year
for Austin of the Texas league, and has
played with Chattanooga, Maysville and
Mama college. In three games last year
he held clubs down to t. and l hits. The
latter was against the Paris team the score
standing IL at the end of the eleventh
inning. Pitcher Yerkes, like Wellner, is a
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

club has one pitcher perhaps better than
the best one on the Scranton team, no club
can be said to possess three who will aver
age better than Harper, Gillon and Morse.
S-ranton will have the benefit of the
management of a tried and competent
base ball eXpert-if the word is proper.
Manager II. c. Griffin, known throughout
base ball as SANDY" is player himself,
and an intelligent, practical business man,
and one who has a thorough knowledge of
the game and of the details peculiar to his
profession. He is a total abstainer from
the use of both tobacco and lntoXicants
and just the man who should command
the respect as well as obedience of his
players and encourage them to win.
The team is Well fortified with catChers.
They are Boyd, O'Neiil and Gunson, the
latter at present holding out for an extra
inducement to sign his contract. He has
been offered the salary limit and has no
possible chance of playing elsewhere. He
must catch for Scranton or not at all.
Boyd has caught for Erie C9D, Elmira
and Buffalo C90, Cleveland and Buff
falo C9D, Detroit COO, Rochester C96).
He owned and managed the Frank
lin team of the Iron and Oil league
in 1895 until the leagues disbandment
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28
IN OLD ENGLAND.
They Have Good Roads There Be-
cause Thev Keep 'em Good.

An English writer says that the ex-
cellence of roads in that country is due
to their constant and good supervision.
Every county council has standing
committee on roads, which takes
charge of the highways and keeps
them in repair. The committee is
divided into subcommittees, each of
which is assigned TO a division, with
an inspector for each district, who en-
ploys "a force of road members and
holds each responsible for the portion
OF a road assigned to him. The road
mender lives in cottage on the line
of the highway, which he is required
to keep in order. He goes over the
road every day and removes in a bar
row everything that is unsightly.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

lllI lt 'ltH' Dyes not Dldytu'
The summary:
Observation-Disclosures Cup-Final Round.
Tying beat Toler, up and to play.
OTHER EVENTS.
Larocque and Bowers had the hot
test sort Of a match in the finals for
the Consolation Cup
Summary follows:
Consolation Cup-Semi-fnal Round-La-
ROGUE beat Kerr, up and l to play;
Bowers beat Murdoch, mp and / to play.
Final Round-Larocque beat Bowers, l up.
Bowers card counted in the handi-
cap, "a, 3, 81. Larocque had lifted at
the second hole, and, although he
played out afterward, this disqualified
him. Including Bowers, forty-four
handed in full cards, fourteen failing to
make returns.
Tying won the Laurel-ln-the- Pines
Cup and gold medal for the best
gross score in the preliminary round.
Toler's winnings were silver trophy,
second prize, and the silver cup of the
best gross score in the handicap. La
ROGUE, Bowers, Brown and Horne
each won a prize.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28
OPEN GOLF TOURNEY
ENDS AT LAKEWOOD
One Of the Best Affairs for Hospitality
and Management.
GREAT PLAYS BY TYING AND T0LER
Tying Is the Morris County and TOler
the BaltsurOl Champion TOler De-
feated in the Finals for the Laurel-
he-PinesCup--LarOcque's Con-
ISOLATION Prize and Brown Handi-
cap.-FOrty- four Cards Returned IN
the Last Eyent--The Scores.

Iakewood's three-day open tourna-
ment on the Golf club links ended Sat
urday with the finals in the two cup
events and a special handicap. 1t was
one of the best managed affairs ever
held at Lakewood, says the New York
Sun, and, besides the details of the
play the Golf club made a record in
it's hospitable treatment of visitors.
The finals for the most important
prize, the Laurel l-in-the-Pine cup,
brought Tying and Toler together, the
sole survivors of the forty-siX who fin
ished in the preliminary round on
Thursday. Tying is the Norris county
and Toler the Baltsurol champion
They are home-bred golfers, and have
for the past year shown the most con-
sistent form of any of the Eastern
amateurs, with the possible exception
of Fem and w. H. Sands.
Tying made only one mistake in the
match, at the thirteenth hoe, of 133
yards. He made it in two the first
round driving with an iron. The wind
had increased, so he tried a brassey
but sclaffed slightly, going to the left
of the green, and overplaying the
green on his approch. Toler was dead
for three, and Tying lifted. When he
made this hole in two, Tying drove
within six feet of it, Toler laying him
a stimie. Tying made a curving put,
drawing the face of his club, one Of
the bent putting cleeks, well across the
ball and putting it to the left, so that
it twisted safely from the stimie and
into the cup. 1t was a great spectacu-
lar stroke.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

Tying only two up A long drive, fol-
lowed by a splendid brassey shot that
cleared the bunker, was the feature of
Tyng's play for the fourteenth hole. On
this and the fifteenth green Toler
putted the odd from the far edge and
was down each time in five, leaving
Tying siX-foot puts to halve in each
case. Tyng's nerves were tested, but
he made the strokes needed without a
tremor.
Toler made mistakes on the second
hole by topping the drive, at the third
by hitting a tree on the drive, at the
sixth, where h used a brassey instead
of a cleek on the second shot, and on
the twelfth, where he failed to chop up
the ball with a mashie. Each of these
sent his ball into a bunker, and the
four flukes were Tolers only errors of
the watch. The cards:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28
ALWAYS AT THE TOP.

"You notice that the natural hitters
stay there all the time. Now and again
they may have a day, a week, a month
or year off, but in the end the natural
hitter comes out on top. How is it that
guys like Turner, Burkett and Stencil
do all the hitting, while the cOllege-bre
men have to take a back seat? And a
college man does more studying al base
ball than dozen of us fellows on the
lots"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

brains and who knows how to use them
as a fielder and base runner Tom
cannot be beaten, but he has never
been a strong hitter
Take me, for instance, am rated as
a pretty fair hitter, about $3.50 Now,
| am on the same team with Burkett
the champion hitter of the world. Why
cannot l hit as well as he? Simply be-
cause it was not born in me. If I
thought that any amount of practice
would make me as good a hitter as
Burkett, you bet your life that l would
get there
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28
GOSSIP FROM THE
BICYCLE WORLD
Current Facts OF Interest to Riders of
the Silent Steed.
SIX PRIZE RULES FOR NOVICES
They May BE Useful, Too, to Riders
Who Are Not Beginners--HOw to
Test by a Simple Process the True
ness of the Frame--Leakages Often
Found at the Valve but They May BE
Easily Remedied--Census of the
Bicycle Business in Chicago.

An English publication, announcing a
prize for the six best rules for cycle be-
ginners, decided the following to be the
best submitted: % When in the sad
die do not grasp the handles too tightly.
Sit upright allow the head of the ma
chine to move freely; have confidence. (2)
Look few yards ahead. Shun staring
about until you are proficient, or you
will "wabble" needlessly. 60 In Pedal
ing, 1t is necessary to press during rhe
whole revolution. a slight, even pres
sure when the pedal Is descending is suf-
ticient a. When inclined to fall, turn
the machine gently in the same direc-
ton as that to which you are falling,
otherwise the fall will be inevitable. (50
Avoid dismounting while the machine Is
moving fast. Allow it to come almost
to a standstill incline it slightly to the
left then dismount. o. When the legs
feel weary from the unaccustomed exer-
ton, dismount and rest them by walk
ing a short distance. on reaching home
rub them well with a rough towel to pre-
vent stiffness.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

There are some riders who cannot tell
when their frame is out of true, unless the
case be an exceptionally severe one. Many
collisions occur in which everything IS
thought to come out all right, so long as
the wheels continue to revolve. Very
often the front forks and the whole head
of the wheel is pushed back an inch or a
fraction of an inch, but this is never no.
ticed. An easy way to determine this Is
as follows. Fasten string to the rear
part of the diamond, of the back stay
rod about six or eight inches above the
hub of the rear wheel, then carry the
string around the steering head to the
other side of the wheel, and fasten the
other end on the back stay rod, exactly
the same distance above the hub as on
the other side. If the frame Is true the
string on both sides of the saddle post
tube should be equally distant from it.
II the frame is twisted, this will not be
the case.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

Many tires show the loss OF air, and
give the rider the impression that there is
a puncture somewhere, when In reality
such is not the case. The whole trouble Is
at the valve. After pumping up tire be
sure to return the valve cap, which should
be put In place with gentle pressure, not
turned too hard. While IT does sometimes
prevent leakage of air, its main func-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28
A BAD STROKE.

He was four-up at the eight hole,
and played the odd for five on the
ninth, which would have given a record
of thirty-seven 10 him for the round.
1t was only two-foot put but Tyng's
ball went pass the hole and a foot be-
hind Toler's ball. Tyng's attempt to
loft the stimie overran. Toller won
the hole in five Tying lifting, but as he
was playing 1t is safe to approximate
the home hole for him at seven, maxi
ing the round thirty-nine,
The loss of the thirteenth hole felt
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-28

#ApproXimated. TOler gave up second,
third, eighth and twelfth. Tying gave up
thirte antn. ByeS not PLAYED,
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-04-15

Miss Nettie Williams and Mrs. James
Martin, of Ives Grove, are the guests
of Mrs. Geo. Longmore.
Mrs. L. Cook is visiting her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Leiber, at Marinette.
Mrs. j. Fl. Fink returned home Sun
pay morning, after a few days visit
with her son, Levi, at Llbertyville, I'll.
Miss Minnie Gibbon, of the Milwau-
kee schools, is spending her vacation
at home.
1t is hoped that the roads will con-
tinue to improve so that all can get
out to the entertainment Friday even
ing which promises to be well worth
attending.
Both churches are arranging for ex-
ira services Easter Sunday morning.
b. F. Yule and Fred Heddle have
gone to Milburn, Ill, where they will
be engaged for some time in the build
ing OF large barn.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-04-15
First publication, April 10, 81
OTATE OF WISCONSIN-Keno-

~ Sha County COurt-In Probate.
Alta County Court held in Probate in and for
the County of kenosha, in said State at the
Office of the County Court in the City of Keno
sha, on the tenth day of April. A. D. 1897. at
two o'clock p. M. Present:-AnthOny Van
Wyck. County Judge,
In the matter of the Proof and Probate of the
last viii and testament of PherOna f. Pierce,
late Of the County of kenOsha.
Whereas, An instrument in writing purpOrt-
ing to be the last will ana testament of said
PherOna r Pierce, late of the County of Keno
sha. has been filed in this Office, and.
Whereas, Application has been made by
Durelle Pierce. named as executor in said will,
praying that the same be proven and admitted
TO Probate according to the laws OF this State.
Therefore, 1t is ordered that said application
be heard at the office of the County Judge at
the County Court Room in the City Of Kenosha
in said County, at q special term of said County
Court TO be held on the second Tuesday, being
the eleventh day of May A. d 1897, at 10 o clock
A. NJ. or as soon thereafter as said matter can
be heard
And it is further ordered that notice shall be
given to all persons interested in said will Of
the time and place OF said hearing by publica
tion of this order in the TELEG
a newspaper published in said city. for three
successive weeks prior to the time OF such
hearing.
Dated: Kenosha Wis, this tenth day of
April A. ID. 1897.
81 ANTHONY VAN WICK, County Judge