The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-23
National League
CARRIED THEM OFF.
Police Stop the Ball Game and Arrest
the Players.


There was something besides the adver-
tised band concert at the ball park yester-
day afternoon A piece of what promised
to be an exciting game. call from a squad
of policemen andrthe arrest of all the play
ers participating in the game-all this and
a rain check, too, for the regular price.
The news of the Intended Sunday game,
first made public late Saturday afternoon
in the guise of a concert, travelled so quick
ly that the crowd yesterday numbered near
ly two thousand, and would have exceeded
that figure had the game proceeded as peo-
pie were coming all the time 1t was
well-dressed, orderly crowd, above the
average week day one in these respects
The concert had been in full blast for half
an hour when at 2:4O Umpire Cantillon
started the ball rolling, Kansas City tax
ing the field. Hogriever struck out, but
Deadly caught a swift straight ball square
on the nose and drove it to center for a
base He stole second. but was run out
between that basaoand third on Hoffmeis-
ter's grounder~ te--Williams. Hoffmeister
reached second during the operation and
scored on Sullivan,s bad throw of Flen-
ings slow gr0u1tier. rEPardee ran over to
first to receive THE throw but Sullivan was
evidently ratified and tossed the ball over
his head, Fleming reaching second Stew
art beat out slow one to short which I'M
luckily got through Connaughton, tempt
ing Fleming to run, home, where Wilson
met him with the ball, the short stop hav-
ing recovered and fielded it to the rubber
very rapidly. on ~.
Slagle hunted safei in the last half, but
was caught stealing. and the next two men
were easy. Lynch made a nice hit in the
second, but was left McVicker and Wilson
raped Scott for a base each in the Kansas
city half and O'Hagans fly to Hogriever
scored the former. Williams flew to FLYNN
and Sullivan to Lynch.
The champions were retired in order in
the third. and just after Connaughton had
made pretty catch of Hoffmeister's fly
to short left the police. whose coming had
been heralded by the top rows of the bleach
Captain Kruger and stopped the game
There were eight or ten Of them-bicycle
men. detectives and several of the regular
force They came out in a patrol wagon
and lost no time getting into action. When
asked by the fgatekeeper to see Mr. Colt
before going on to the field Captain Kruger
said he had no time to talk to the Indian
apolis president : Dividing forces, some Of
them went around to the right and some to
who was just calling the Kansas City bat
ter up. Kruger told the umpire that the
game must stop. Then he called the Kan
City players over and summoned Capt
Allen and his men, who gathered around
Kruger. Allen considerably brushed some
dust off the Sunday uniform of the police
captain, but this little courtesy did not
soften the officer in the least He informed
the players of both teams that they were
under arrest. and notified them to dress and
The bats were promptly packed and the pro-
cession was soon headed for the clubhouse
followed by the, police detail Some Of the
crowd missed the officers and shouted: Let
them play, Go ahead with the game"
Play ball, etc: but there was nothing
vigorous or exciting in the demonstration.
Almost everybody expected the interruption
and knew the futility of kicking" A ma
iority of the occupants of the bleachers
swarmed over the field and followed along
to the clubhouse. Just as the procession
of players and policemen started the band
struck up dirge, and the mournful music
caused stray dog that wandered on to the
diamond to howl in apparent displeasure at
the turn of affairs
The sport was spoiled for the afternoon, +,
but the crowd did not leave until the pay-I
ers had dressed. and conveyed by the po-
lice. boarded street cars bound for the sta
ton: AS they passed from the grounds the
and the crowd looked curiously on Motz.
whose leg is. still in bad shape, and Frank
grand stand and waved goodbye to their
fellow-players. Both were glad to escape
the arrest, and said they did not want to
break their clean records. Motz may run
for mayor of Akron some time and he
don't want to carry a handicap in the way
of an arrest for lawbreaking. That. at
iSoSN, IdlI SupppSlllOIi- EoTGUldH
thought it was all a great joke, and COM
mented on the proceeding in his well-known
rapid-tire way.
The Indianapolis clyb management ex-
pected the arrests. and the Kansas City
team dressed at the clubhouse, instead of
at the hotel, as is customary. 1t was hoped.
however that the police would wait until
five innings had been completed before in
terfering. They arrived at $40, the game
having then been in progress half an hour.
Had they waited twenty minutes longer 1t
would have been worth considerable money
to the two clubs, as the rain checks. which
had been issued, would in that event, have
been valueless. AS it is they are good for
any game played here this season. 1t is
intended TO make test case of the Sunday
baseball law. Bond was promptly furnished
at the police station for all the players, and
they were released. The cases will come up
in Police Court this morning and the valid
ity of the statute. will be attacked. An in
teresting legal fight is likely to result. Ex-
United States District Attorney Frank
Burke is the counsel for the Indianapolis
ball club.
CouIdn't stop Columbus.