The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-09-01

1
sists and only one error Rose is good
bull player all right, and it is no won
der he is a thorn in the Helena flesh.
II
And the interference by Zearfross in
Mondays game was misrepreseDted by
the independents. He had been hit in
the batter's box by a pitched ball.
which he tried to jump ont of the way
of, but the umpire unjustly called him
back after he had taken his base,
claiming that he jumped III the way Of
the ball and got hit OH purpose. Every.
one III the audience. saw the play and
knew that Zearfross was being given
the worst Of it. OF course it was not
justifiable for him to throw his bat in
the air when an attempt was made to
throw him out at first. but Zearfross
was angry and the provocation was
great, which should be taken into con.
sidera'ion. That was tile only dirty
ball playing" about which the Helena
papers and audiences made such roar.
But they didn't say word about the
Helena players, Oh the coaching lines,
bases and Oh the field, applying vile
and profane epithets to the Billings
boys. There was plenty Of that done.
Fortunately the profanity could not be
heard in the grand stand, but the news
paper reporters knew all about it.
Neither did the papers say anything
about the disgraceful attempts. made
Saturday and Sunday nights to get the
Billings boys intoxicated, or the offers
to bribe them to throw the games.
There is no doubt about these attempts
being made, but the Cowboys spurned
all such offers and were trne to their
town. Besides this, Helena tried to
buy several Of the Billings players,
well knowing that rhey had been hired
for the balance of the season. Offers
OF this kind were n,ado to Zearfross,
McNeeley, Casey. Flspnery, Scott and
others. hut the boys, all rejected them.
And the Helena hog was in evidence
again in the offers. For instance Nc.
Neeley was offered $75 a mouth. He
replied that he was not working for
bootblack's wages. while Casey inform.
I'd the Helena emissary of "clean"
baseball that he wonld not play with
anyone but Billings. Helena had bet
ter let up about dirty ball. She
should learn to take her medicine when
she is outp]ayed and fairly beaten, and
not whine and act the baby You did
not hear ANYTHING Of this kiud from
Billings, when she lost. She went to
work and strengthened her team. And
then Helena got "sore'' because she
was skinned That's all there is to
The roar she is making abont dirty"
ball.
Billings would have won Sundays !
game, without doubt, il Harker had
,een kept in the pitchers box, but
Manager Nix was advised by the sup.
'orters of the team-and 1t seemed to be
he proper thing to do-to take him
mt. It was impossible, of course, to
Know that Billings was going to ham
ner st. Vrajn for twenty.four hits and :
make eighteen runs, and the way
hings have since turned out, it seems
hat Harker did not get fair show.
ie was scheduled TO pitch the game at
'ocatello, Wednesday. which has one
It the. strongest teams in the state, bat
Billings took them in, and will no
oubt win majority of the games on
he trip. Harker is going to show up
II right as pitcher, and wo still have
ope that Sporer will do better. It was
hard deal be got Sunday. to be put in
be box after Harker had been knocked
ut. and the St. Paul kid may yet give
good account Of himself McNeeley,
owevel, is the star pitcher Of the
tate. He is hit freely, it is true. but
Q always manages to keep the hits
catered, and wins his games. And
aat's what counts. McNeeley has a
God head OIL him. as we'll as a good
rm. He studies the weak points of
after and keeps ths best Of them guess +.
,g to hit the ball. Billings needs an
ther pitcher like him, unless tho pres
ut trip proves that Harker or Sporer
re- all right.
The Billings club is we'll worth what
cost the people of this city for the
BOD advertising it is doing for the
'wn. For three days everyone in Hell.
Ia was talking about Billings-speak.
q OF her enterprise, etc, in getting
gether such a good team-and now
is advertising Billings down in Idaho
I'd Utah. Whether the Cowboys win
Of the games OF not. they
Q worth the price. Billings has in
sted in no public enterprise lately
at Will yield better returns as an ad.
rtising medium than her baseball
ab. Helena is now going to copy
ter this city, having sent to st. Louis
secure Maupin. who pitched in the|
tional league last year. The capital
also looking elsewhere for, ball play.
!, but she needs new set, badly.
d II she has enterprise enough to se. )
70 them. that's all right-Billinas /
III s,opov ksoy |