The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-29
TRAILED THE DUST.
Newspaper Baseball Team Goes Down,
Victim of Circumstances.


a Victim of Circumstances.
The newspaper men lost the ball
game Saturday with the state house
nine The catastrophe was brought
about by climatic and other conditions.
The state house crowd ran in a short
grass battery that never saw the state
house until it came here for the great
event. Bob Miller, who caught lives
out in LeOti and has the reputation of
outrun everything. He is a great
grandson of a man who worked in the
state house on the Quantrell raid claims
about % years ago. One unhealthy
condition. Dickey, the pitcher, worked
the state house crowd on a plush al
bum scheme. He is known as one of
the finest pitchers in the west. An
other unhealthy condition. Dick Alden,
who umpired, was troubled with astig-
matism ana seemed to see ever ini-ss
in manner favorable to the state
house crowd He meant well but was
biased by the announcement that he
was being considered a, possible can
didate for coal oil inspector. Unhealthy
condition No. 3. The state board of
health was of course in league with the
state house nine and these unsanitary
conditions could not be remedied. The
result was seven runs for the newspa-
per nine, all well earned and duly cred
tied, and IA, obtained by fair means
and foul, for the state house nine. These
excuses may seem lame. Nay, not so
lame as the players.
The game possessed a few redeeming
features and the greatest of these was
Grimes; "Grimsey old boy" as most
everybody called him. His Apollo like
form was clad in a base ball uniform
with scarlet hosiery. The clinging folds
of the soft material could not conceal
his we'll knit figure and his powerful
muscles stood out like a lone delegate
against a whole convention, Around his
throat he wore a spotless handkerchief
and another was tied around his arm
to show that he was boss of the gang.
Jewell was attired in little red,
white and blue cap and did most effec-
tive work in center field for the state
house nine He ran out there and back
seven separate and distinct times and
his init was not soiled.
MOhler on second, who assists in run
ming stories about the beef hen and
her sister," played all around second
and was as cool as a professional when
he walked in toward the grand stand
after each inning. He kicked because
there were not innings SO he could
walk in Oftener.
Lindell in right field is to be compli-
mented on his behavior. He struck out
and was then man enough to quit the
game.
Little on third base was a wonder
He is no relation to Ed but he plays a
wonderful game, He is a heady play
er. When he saw Barnes sliding for
third and discovered that the ball
would not reach him until after Barnes
reached the base, he quietly kicked the
base ten feet to the north and when
Barnes slid for the bag it was not
there. He hunted round for it but Lit
tie got the ball and touched him before
the runner was able to locate the base.
The umpire said''you're out"and Barnes
went in.
Ryan played left and gathered in
more flies than piece of sticky fly pa
per would in whole summer season.
He is employed under the decks at the
state house.
Jones, no relation to the others. play
ed first and with one foot on the bag
was able to cover more territory than
North and South pole railroad.
Richie out in right was voted a
leather medal. Before going to bat he
practiced batting up flies with a lemon
and when he made a hit he was treat
ed to an acid phosphate bath. That
scared him and when he tried to bat
the ball he was afraid of another bath
and missed it.
For the newspaper nine Carr on sec
ond and Ruggles on first played Won
derfully. Carr made a beautiful rich
ochet shot with his shins on a hot
grounder. Lovewell as short gathered
it in on the third bounce and sent it
down to Ruggles like projectile out of
a 24-inch gun. The man was out. A
beautiful three ring play.
Sessions took hand at the eleventh
hour and batted out little grounder.
The force of the ball striking his bat
threw him to the ground He gathered
himself up and ran to first He saw a
chance to make second and waltzed
over there and slid most artistically.
The ball was being handed around so
he ran on for third. He was becoming
exhausted. He fell, got up, went on,
fell some more and in a cloud of dust
and storm of applause he reached third.
Chamberlain pitched. His red shirt
held no terror for the other crowd. The
bases were full and he was to bat. He
grasped the club. The crowd applaud
ed. Put em-over, at's-ther-matter-
with-you," he said in an undertone to
the pitcher. He moistened his hands
with saliva and then wiped them on his
shirt just like DeWolff Hopper and his
memorable Casey. He popped out a
little fly. Chamberlain, not Casey.
Stuff was off.
Hughes in left field Barnes in center
and Brady in right was the crack trio
of the game. Not a ball got further
past them than the fence. Smith and
Booth were out in the gardens for
awhile but Smith did his best work be-
hind the bat until he was crippled and
then Brooks took a hand and did excel
lent work.
Newspaper men are not given to such
exhausting games as base ball. More
intellectual contests such a backgan-
mon, chess, checkers and hearts are
their strong points.