The herald., 1898-01-10
OF the Ball Bumpers in
the St Louis Club
NO PURCHASE is PROBABLE
TILL Won DER AHE CAN GIVE A
CLEAR TITLE
Unusual Interest Shown in Coursing
Contests in Towns to the North.
Coney Island Stakes
Associated Press Special Wire


INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 9.-John T.
Brush being asked today by a represent
ative of the Associated Press If he for
his own account or his friends had pur-
chased the st. Louis Baseball club, re-
piled that neither himself nor his friends
had bought the property. Being asked
If there was any prospect of such pur-
chase on the part of himself or his
friends, he said emphatically that there
was none. Being further asked to ex-
plain his recent visit to ST. Louis and Mr..
Won der Ahe's visit to Indianapolis, he
said: early in December Mr.. Won der
Abe appealed to me for financial aid.
Upon his statement and showing en-
deavored to handle loan that would
place him upon his feet again, but found
it impossible and impracticable to do
so. He then offered the club for sale. !
secured for him prospective purchaser
in the firm of Dickson & Talbot of this
city. who were willing to buy his club
If it could be delivered to them free of
incumbrance at their price. Dickson
& Talbot, while having no immediate
experience in baseball, are undoubtedly
we'll qualified to succeed in this enter
prise if they should engage in 1t, as they
are endowed with the dual requisites
ability and money. While 1t Is true that
a local syndicate has long been organ
lied in st. Louis to purchase the fran
chise at figures which have been made
public, Dickson & Talbot have been in
no sense competitors in their negotia-
tions. They have only entered the field
when invited to do so, which has been
upon several occasions, and have al
ways retired whenever impracticable
barriers arose or conditions were i'm
posed that rendered it impossible to
continue negotiations. The financial af-
fairs of the club are In such condition
that it is going to be a very difficult mat
ter for any one to buy and get clear
and unincumbered title.
"Suits, judgments, mortgages, claims
(known and unknown), make it ex-
tremeIy hazardous to buy, and the re-
fusal of Dickson & Talbot to longer con-
slider the matter is due to this fact"
"You are criticised in some quarters
for connection with this matter, on the
ground that you are buying the club on
your own account and that Dickson &
Talbot do not represent the financial
interests"
Eyes, I know; but that makes no DIFF
ference to me since it is wholly and abso-
lutely untrue. 1 have an interest in the
welfare of the National league. My de-
sire to foster and promote its best well
fare may not be any greater than that
of my partners in other league cities,
but I feel that it is equally as great.
"St. Louis has been the disappoint-
ment of the present organization. Any
change that will insure the redemption
of st. Louis to its proper place in the
front rank of baseball cities ought to
have the encouragement and support OF
every magnate in the National league.
ANYTHING that I may do within the lines
of legitimacy to accomplish this will
do. regardless of the criticism of the few
whose stock in trade consists mainly OF
iealousies and revenge. The National
league owes it to itself to furnish what
ever assistance it may consistently with
propriety in restoring st. Louis to some
thing like it's former prestige on the
baseball map.
"Mr. Won der Abe asked me for assist
ance; Dickson & Talbot were invited
to aid them; my efforts have simply beer
in the interest of both and ultimately fol
the general good of the National league.
ALONG GAME
SAN JOSE, Jan. 9.-The Garden City
club and T. W. Spring baseball teams
played today at Cyclers' park for the
amateur championship of the city. The
Springs won by score of 16 to 13.