The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-09-19
HELENA PAPERS ROAR
About Billings "RoWdies" Rob
bing" Her Ball Team and Bull
doing" the Umpire.
HELENA is RIDICULOUS
Her Ball Team OutclaSscd and This
City Holds the Northwest
rrm Championship.

Yesterdays Helena independent and
Herald, which arc just to hand today,
claim, in tlaring head lines, that Hell
ena was robbed Of Sundays ball game.
They falsely and malicously state that
the umpire first decided that Ryan was
not out and ordered Billings to play
ball. The only Helena man who would
make such claim in Billings Sunday
evening was the "affidavit man. who
declared that he heard the umpire make
this decision. As matter Of fact, this
man remained seated in the grand stand
for fully five minutes after McNeeley
was slugged, but even II such decis.
ion had been made, it was impossible
for him to have heard it. The truth il
that Umpire IIavernash made no decis
ion whatever until he finally decided
that Ryan was out. The Gazette re.
porter was on the diamond in two min.
utes after McNeeley fell aud asked the
umpire what bis decision was. He re-
piled, II have made none and will not
decide until the ground Is cleared Of
the crowd" The Helena papers also
say that the ummire was surrounded by
Il "mob.' and was "bulld0zed' into
making his decision. That is deliber-
ate falsehood, Not Il Billings man
made threat Of any character what.
ever, but youns Goodyear, Helena
ball player who was not in uniform,
yelled out "we'll lick him if he don't
decide in our favor" The Gazette re-
porter told him to shut his mouth, as
did Manager Goodman Of the Helena
team. That is the only threat that was
made The crowd that rushed onto the
diamond did so to learn whether or not
MoNeeley was killed; it was quiet
and orderly crowd and was.in 10 sense
a "mob." There was not single
Billings man who even importuned the
umpire to decide in our favor, while
the umpire states that Helena man
attempted to bribe him. Billings peo-
pie knew that Ryan was out, but be.
fore the decision was rendered, said
they would abide By it, whatever it
was. Instead Of Helena being rob.
bed" Of the game, she deliberately
tried to steal it after she had been fair.
ly beaten and clearly out-played in all
three of the games. 1t WAS case Of
the Helena hog again asserting itself,
and the residents Of the capital had
better quit their whining and take
their defeat like men. Their ball
team is outclassed by Billings Helena
didn't have enterprise enough to get
together first .class ball club, and this
town does not propose to have anything
stolen from it by such a lot OF cheap
guys. Helena would prostitute baseball
by introducing prize.ring tactics into
the great national game, which Bill.
ings objects to. II. however, Helena
desires a prize.ring contest, Billings,
if she accepts such challenge, will
secure the best sluggers in the country
and knock Helena out at her own
game. Helena had better drop the base
ball controversy with Billings; the
capital is making herself ridiculous
and the whole state is ridiculing her.
At a meeting of the patrons OF the
game last night, it was decided that
Billings would play no more baseball
this year. The team was paid off in
full today and all the boys want to re.
turn here next season. Billings has
won the championship Of the state and
the northwest, as she started out to do,
and no one il kicking except Helena
and she don't count for anything.
Helena did make a proposition Sunday
evening to play three more games in
Butte. Oh neutral grounds. which was
an admission that Billings cannot get
a fair game at the capital, Helena
Withdrew the proposition, however. for
fear she would be beaten. She was
we'll treated In Billings, but didn't ap'
preoiate tit was like casting pearls
before swine,
Manager Nix deserves great credit
for the manner in which he has han
died the Billings team, He has given
this town the best baseball IN the
northwest nothing but the best
goes In Billings, Helena, II II hoped,
may be spurred up, sometime In tho
future, to also get good ball club,
Three More Games,
Just AZ The Gazette goes to press,
three more games have baen arranged
for, to be played In Helena next Fri
day. Saturday and Sunday, A letter
from Manager Goodman this morning
to Manager Nix, assures Billings OF fair
treatment and y square deal, The Bill
ings team an an organization has dis
banded, m stated above, but the play
ess themselves are determined 10 have
it out with Helena and tbs cate 70.