The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-19

ike a Kentucky thoroughbred, and he
furnishes Lesson in turf matters which
mas cost more then one sporting army
oihcer a few dollars After the fighting
at Santiago had passed in history, and
the long dreary days of garrison duty bore
heavily upon the army of occupation GER
tain young officers of the volunteer regl-
ments set about teaching the natives who
hNe IN the hills back OF the city how not
10 win az hOrse-racing. They succeeded
IN setting aDeexaJBnle in this respect be-
yonh the.r most sanguine expectations,
ana 1t is scarcely safe nowadays to men-
ton the delights Of the turf in the off,
GERS messes in this province.
An amusing story is told here of the
efforts ot an Irish sergeant of the Fifth
regulars to inculcate in a Cuban youth
the principles of base ball. One afternoon,
aIter dress parade, the regulars interest
ed IN base ball started TO make up two
SCRUB teams for a practice game on the
spacious parade in front of the barracks.
Cuban youth named Lopez the son Of
prominent sugar planter who had
watched several games with evident Curl
osity, volunteered to play.
ye know anything about III" asked
the sergeant, who was captain of one side,
ana was known in the regiment as san
juan "Can yez knock a three-bagger
with one hand?'
The Cuban looked mystihed, but he po-
ifely intimated that he would try TO
learn.
Wei, jump In and hustle" said the
captain, sending him out to right field.
During that inning the new player
caught an easy ball simply because it
fell into his hands. and he was too sur
prised to- let it go. When the side went
to the bat the native of Santiago was
told how to hold it and shown where 10
stand. The first ball was a low one, and
the Cuban famed the air so jealousy
that ne almost fell. Then came a ball
that somehow managed to hit the bat with
force enough 90 return to the outheld.
The whole crowd yelled instructions, but
the Cuban stood open-mouthed until San
juan made a leap for him, and, catch
ing him by the arm, fairly dragged him
in the direction of first base. There was
pained expression upon the Cuban's
face, and he resisted feeb.y, but the Irish
captain -lnally landed him in triumph. A
minute later the next at the bat sent the
BAN into the field and tore for first base.
Run! run! yelled San Juan" to the
Cuban, who was trying to adjust his coll
lar. Run! Give him chance at that
bag, will yez?"
Lopez lodged from the base just in time
to escape being, run down. His hat fell
off, and he was on tie point of STOPPING
Aoi ~ HHEh AAlt tdpNuiH 46it upon MIN
All that the spectators could see was a
trailing cloud of dust, but when it cleared
away Lopez and "San Juan" were visible
making fast time toward second. The bal
was still being fumbled in the field. and
there was good chance for home run.
When the Cuban reached second base he
had lost a. shoe and part of his coat and
the man following was at his heels. He
was not allowed to malt, although he was
in sore need of rest,
Run" shouted the captain, savagely.
run, or Ill-'
He snatched up a stick and made for
Lopez with such a menacing air that the
poor Cuban finally ran as hard as he
could. Amid the bowls of the spectators
he shot over the ground, but instead OF
making for the home base he struck
off across the parole, and finally disap-
peared beyond the adjacent mule corral.
An hour later a small boy came for his
clothes. Since then base bail can hardly
be called popular with the youth of Santi-
ago.