The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-18
CURRENT SPORTING TALK.
VINO rs BLOCKING IBELL ~ THE BTG
BISEB1LL DEAL?

hut There Is n Hitch i'm the Brook
lyn End Sullivan's showing Against
ConncIiy-TiRers' New Football Captain.
The deal between the Brooklyn and Balti-
moro baseball clubs has reached a stage
where Nonderhorst and Hanlon are ready TO
sign the consolidation IA pers without delay.
The former said Yesterday that he had fixed
up his affairs in Baltimore and could now cf-
feet the deal as soon MS Abel. The principal
Brooklyn stakeholder. is ready. There APP
pears to be a serious hitch in the Brooklyn
end of the transaction. however. the nature OF
which cannot be learned. Abel Is more than
anxious to close matters at once. but he says
various hurdles and blockades have been put
In his path which he may find difficulty In
clearing, He has removed o number Of OBJ
stacles already. but others keep cropping up
so that he has nearly lost his patience. II Is
hard to understand how anybody who may be
financially interested in the Brooklyn Club
can block this important deal. which means so
much not only to the clubs involved. but to
the entire National League. Yet II seems to
he n fact that certain interests are opposed TO
the plan arranged by Abel. Vonderhorst and
Hanlon. Baseball cranks in BROOKLYN say
they are %anxious to have the deal go through.
and they are SO earnest in their desires that
they declare the Brooklyn Club might as well
Shut up shop IL the negotiations fail. With
Nonderhorst, Abel and Hanlon ready to make
the deal. the patrons of the game will natu-
rally ask who is responsible If the arrange
ment goes up in smoke. Hanlon will be here
to-day to talk about the selling of the Balti-
more franchise. Abel had n long confab with
his attorneys yesterday. but refused to say
anything except that he was experiencing
much trouble. 1t can be said. however. that
Abel owns more BROOKLYN stock than ever
lafrPn ne hn Iua 1.AN,I A,t "a rto r,tNNr
ity stakeholder. 1t turns out that on Thurs
day last the directors Of the club held a secret
meeting in Jersey City and discussed various
matters. including the deal. The stockhold-
ers intend to meet on Jan. "a. when there may
be some sensational Developments. Abel
says that If the deal fails nobody can blame
Vonderhorst. Hanlon or himself. He wants to
treat everybody fairly, but 1t is quite evident
that he does not intend to be imposed upon.
Spike Sullivan's showing against Eddie Con-
nelly at New Haven on Monday night was
rather disappointing to those who expected
him TO score n quick and decisive victory.
Connolly. however. has always been a hard
proposition to heat and has evidently put him
self in even better shape than when he fought
Lavigne and was defeated at the old Broadway
A. C.. two years ago. Sullivan showed that he
Is still CAPABLE Of taking a sound thrashinR in
the early rounds Of a contest. after which ne
can suddenly recupera.e with enough strength
to win or get a draw. There have been many
such exhibitions by him in the past. except in
his fight with Dial Hawkins. when he won all
the way and scored a clean Knockout. Sulli-
vans friends said Yesterday that he could not
have been in tiptop shape else lie would have
summarily DISPOSED OF Connolly before reach
Ing the limit. Spike should consent to ta.:e on
the shlfty Joe Cans Of Baltimore. Meanwhile
Connolly seems entitled to a n match with some
of the other leading lightweights and, might
go 1t with Cans, in case Sullivan should sud-
denly draw tho color line.
A fourth-rate pugllist. who has shown some
proficiency in. preliminary bouts, was sur
rrisingly knocked out in the first round of a
recent, encounter and when asked for a reason,
he made this novel explanation:
the winner to take SD and the loser SIS. II
TO fight hard. / would have received s. for my
pains. had agreed to give SO to the match
ana make s. for for 4 PraInfn me e on; 5l0 to T mH seconds e@as
sidered a tough deal, so | laid Town and there
wasn't enough. money TO go round. In fu-
and when / win III get most Of the dough-"
1t is a common practice in some clubs for
the matchmakers to demand Of the lighters
a share of the purse. as a return for ''intioo-
ence" in putting the scrappers in the way of
money.
The election Of Edwards to the captaincy of
been based upon sound judgment, as he is a
hard worker and one of the best players at
Old Nassau. Edwards has a fault. however.
that must be wiped out. He has always shown
a tendency to be rough while playing, and has
been guilty of fist work on several occasions.
To control a football eleven successfully q cap
must first be able to control himself, es-
pecially his temper. Edwards. with the re-
sponsibility Of the position, will. of course.
his former tactics. 1t is hoped by
Princeton men that ,Hillebrand. the ex-cap-
tain. may be induced to play next fall, even
though he will not be in charge of the team.
With Hillebrand on deck to help him out. Ed
wards should get good work out of the ma
.crial in hand.