The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-31
WAS DISAPPOINTING.
Deaf Mutes Cannot Play Ball Much
Better Than They Can Talk.

A fair sized crowd filled the grand
stand Tuesday when the base ball team
from the deaf and dumb institute trot-
ted on to the field
At first the appearance of the team
would indicate that each man was a
ball player and was so engrossed with
his particular duties in the game that
he paid no heed to anything else. The
men took their position in logged 81
1ence. The grand stand was quiet in
fact a death like silence pervaded the
entire enclosure.
State Treasurer Frank Grimes was
umpire. He tossed the ball into the
diamond and shouted play BALI and
before he knew what happened a ball
whizZed over the plate. He called it
something and then the catcher asked
him something. Grimes looked at him
The catcher's fingers were working
faster than a woman's fingers with a
pair of knitting needles.
Suddenly a smile broke over Grimes
face. He understood the situation.
Has anybody any arnica 2" he shouted
and when bottle was discovered he
wanted to rub the poor fellows broken
fingers but after a few more chopStick
motions he was made to understand
that the nine men on the team wanted
to know whether that was a. ball or a
strike. After that Grimes held up the
fingers of his left hand for strikes and
the fingers of his right hand for balls.
Then the Washburn team commenced
to hit the ball. Gephart went down to
first and soon Barnes followed him and
two men We're on bases. The captain
of the team sent out couple of coach
ers. They yelled at the pitcher and
kept a lot of noise going at first and
third.
Get them ratified shouted one of
the blue shirted Washburn players so
the coachers yelled the more and said
all sorts of funny things calculated to
rattle pitcher but he did not rattle
!, of
were made off him
Whatever given 'em," said the boy
who looked after the bats, don't yer
see deys def" and the coachers sud
denly became aware of the fact that
their efforts were in vain and stopped.
The WaShburn team landed six runs in
the first inning and then the ID. & D.
team gathered together for a council of
war. 1t was the quieteSt pOwwow ever
held on those ball grounds. The fingers
of the players made all sorts of saw
bucks and knot holes, their arms waved
wildly and every expression magma
BILE came over their faces but not a
word was said but it was apparent that
the captain was having a little talk
with his men in hopes of bracing them
up.
They went to bat and when a man
was on first and another pounded out a
good drive the crowd in the grand
stand applauded enthusiastically and
then as it dawned upon them the team
deserving the applause could not hear
it. they stopped one by one and few
drew out their handkerchief and gave
the "Chautauqua Salute" The players
could see that.
Then when the Cd. & D." coachers
went down the lines to work the run
ners off the bags the crowd was treated
to more novelty in the way of coaching
Not a word was said but all done as
quietly as if some one was sick. The
coachers waved their arms and sig
nailed the same as switchmen do in
making up train. First 1t was come
ahead and then when the pitcher look
ed wise and there was danger of the
runner being caught it was back up. J."
The game was amusing but the WISH
tors were clearly outclassed and the
wind up was "a runs for Washburn and
IL for the mutes.
Cricket Barnes and Graceful Gram
lev, as usual, carried off the honors on
tpa