davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02
Baseball Hoodoos.

Players and rooters in the national
game are superstitious persons. Many
believe in "hoodoos." and some Of the
rules which they have adopted to ward
off disaster are interesting The best
recipes are as follows:
Under no circumstances cross the
roadway in front of a load of empty
barrels.
To pass a hunchback negro without
recognition is fatal. He must at all
hazards be stopped and shaken by the
hand, while a. penny is rubbed upon his
back.
1t is dangerous to pass through a fun
neral procession. Walking by the side Of
a funeral is permissible and rather ia
vorable than otherwise. If the time will
permit, 1T would be better to accompany
the hearse to- the cemetery. gate, but no
farther.
There are many players who would
faint at the sight of a red-haired
woman while on their way to Il game
OF all the Kentucky hoodoos yellow
dog has ever been the most dreaded.
If. a coIored. newsboy should happen to
step on the omnibus or streetcar in
which you are riding, hold on to him.
While playing do not allow a stranger
within your tent or upon your players
bench
None of the leading ball players wears
so. If the new dress becomes imperative
a well-authentcated rabbits foot, care
fully tucked away in the lining, may act
as a counter charm.
Many of the most famous batters hold
that disaster will follow If a strange
hand touches the bat
A cross-eyed negro is an omen of evil
to the pitcher. 1t is on record that
pair of shoes sold by a cross-eyed negro
to one of the Baltimore catchers was re-
sponsible for the disaster that attended
his nine through part of season.
Walk on the right-hand SIDE of the
way If by inadvertence you should hap
pen to be on the left hand, Ike three
revolutions to the right before crossing.
No experienced ball player will, while
travelling, sleep with his feet pointing to-
ward his destination.
Do not put the baseballs in the bat
bag.
It's injudicious to talk to a girl with
a cast in her eye.
Many players and followers of baseball
would sacrifice a weeks growth rather
than meet a clergyman on their way TO
a game.
If you are a professional player, by no
means ride on a street car or other cheap
conveyance.
Don't carry an umbrella unless the rain
has started before you leave your home.
Allow no one to intercept or cross i'm
mediately in front of you on your way to
the ground.-St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- ~ ~ ~ - - - - ~ - ~ - - -
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

Robinson of Baltimore is another great
favorite with the rooters, as are Jen-
nings. Mike Griffin, Van Haltren, Herman
and a score Of others. Since .Ansori
stepped down. Tiernan is looked upon as
the old regular of the game
The pitchers have great opportunity to
become favorites with the public.
strike out when the bases are full. and
two men out, is a sure passport into the
good sraces of the crowd. Rusie Occu-
pies a pinnacle which he has earned by
gilt-edged ball playing Nichols is always
greeted with a round of applause. Sey
mour, one Of the younger generation, is
getting there. A dozen other twirers
might be named in the same category.
Delahanty arouses the crowd. When he
goes TO bat bets are made among the
spectators tuat the ball goes over the
fence. and the winner is usually disap-
pointed If it doesn't.
Changes in the Big Clubs.
The principal change in the status or
the various clubs this season comes from
the transfer, almost bodily, of the Balti-
more and Cleveland clubs to Brooklyn
and st. Louis. The principal object OF
this move is to strengthen the two latte.
cities which are recognized as good base
ball towns. Baltimore and Cleveland, Oh
the other hand, have never been very
profitable baseball cities, but with the
players that they retain and those ac-
quired from Brooklyn and ST Louis they
may still be able to make a good show
ing this season.
Last year the two Greater New York
teams finished in the second division. 1t
was felt that New York should make
better showing. The work of building up
a strong team requires several seasons,
and therefore the Baltimore club, which
had come to be one of the leading teams
in the country. was transferred to Brook
lyn. For the same reason it was felt that
a better team should be put into st. Louis.
These changes are believed to be for the
good of the game, taking the needs and
possibilities of the whole country into con-
sideration.
Aside from these transfers there will be
few important changes in the personnel
of the different clubs. The Boston team,
which has for the past two seasons car
-lE
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

phatically by the captain that he had
come from Hongkong, the pilot fol-
lowed this information with another
question:
"Ain't you heard nothing at all since
sailing?"
No replied the captain. Nothing
at all, as we have touched nowhere
since leaving the Cape of Good Hope.
There was no news there when we
sailed"
Delivers reply to this assurance
shall never forget 1t was as forcible as
it was emphatic. and as impressive as
words could possibly make it. even If it
was a little inelegant.
We'll, gentlemen, the country is all
busted to hi"
An Excited Ships Company.
While this colloquy was going on be-
tween the pilot and the captain. the
sh1p's company had crowded aft in both
gangWays, and, like the officers. were
intensely anxious to hear what the
news might be- What Dolliver had said
so emphatically had reached their ears,
ana had touched their hearts. Tears
started from eyes that were not accus-
toned to weeping, and coursed down
the cheeks of those bronzed old heroes.
II could be seen that a firm resolve to
suck loyalty to the old flag that had
noated in honor over their lives and
fortunes had gone deep into their souls
Tor almost Immediately every eye was
turned upward toward the peak. where
the ola flag was floating peacefully and
maJestically, and intuitively every head
was uncovered in homage
IL was an experience never to be for
gotten, and the sight of those bronzed
Old heroes, with heads uncovered to the
gear Old flag, taught my young heart
IN few moments a whole volume of
PATRIOTISM / had haaV hor ~, e,Jo
holding State, and had been reared sur
rounded by colOred children and was
lnnuenced to some extent by the preju-
d1ces which the institution of slavery
had engendered. but when it became
necessary to decide off Boston harbor
whether the love of State was to be
superior to the love of country, and
my pride in its glories and in its his
tory there was no trouble after the
sight l had witnessed when pilot Doll
yer came aboard.
An Impressive Scene.
Reaching Boston harbor in the midst
OF deep excitement and deeper feelings
among those holding opposite views, a
number of our officers decided to aban-
don the cause of the Union for that of
the Confederacy then established.
Those who were loyal were merely re-
quired to subscribe anew to their oath
Of allegiance.
After carefully examining this new
document 1t was not difficult to renew
my allegiance at a moment when 50
many were abandoning our cause The
scene off the Highlands when Deliver
came on board had craven it's impress
sion too surely upon my heart. Those
uncovered heads. those fearful eyes,
those loving, loyal looks of the faithful
old bronZed faces, who had known no
other love and who were too old then
to begin anew, had fashioned my young
fahcies, too, and after 1 had renewed
my allegiance in the cabin of the dear
old commodore 1 looked up and found
I had done so standing directly under
a scuttle leading to the poop deck and
directly under the folds of the old flag
as it was gracefully unfolding itself to
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

ers who were a close second, and any one
of them may jump to the front IN his de-
partment this season.
New League Ball Chosen.
The branch of the game in which the
public probaly takes the most interest is
in batting; a good batting contest is
delight to the faithful rooters heart. A
plan has been discussed. and will proba-
bly, be carried out, which will tend to in
crease this feature of the game. 1t is the
purpose to furnish a special ball to be
used in the league games; ball which
will contain q greater percentage of rub
Der than those heretofore in use. The re-
suit is obvious, and the patrons of base
ball may look for more work on the part
of the felders.
Another rule has been adopted to pre-
vent a waste of time and shorten the
games. The pitcher will not be allowed to
make a feint to throw to a base; the mo-
ton to throw must be followed by the
actual delivery of the ball to the baseman.
This will doubtless increase the base
stealing record.
Changes in the Umpire System.
An umpire may be fined or suspended
for violation of his trust, or may be
removed if the offense is sufficiently ag-
gravated. The appointment of an eff
cient staff of umpires will go far toward
preventing the annoying delays and
breaches of discipline to which the pa
irons of the sport had objected in the
past.
The schedule for this year contains 154
games for each club-the same as last
season. This makes the season extend
from April Is to October 15 Each club
will make four trips and play fourteen
games with every other club.
There has been talk of dropping vari-
Gus clubs and the reduction of the
circuit to eight teams. The lea que season
will begin with twelve clubs as hereto
fore, but there may be changes before the
end. All depends on the course of af-
fairs during the spring and early sum-
mer The advocates of the eight club
league say that there are enough star
players to make up eight teams that
would make the hottest kind of fight for
each seasons honors, but that there are
not enough for twelve good clubs. OF
course a crack baseball player cannot be
made to order He is partly the result Of
training, but more largely of a combina-
ton of quickness. a sure eye, and good
judgment. These are the essentials of a
successful baseball player, whatever his
position, and particularly in the batting
department of the game. The minor
leagues and college teams, from
which reinforcements are chiefly drawn,
have not contributed as many men to the
big teams in the past two or three seasons
as they did for some time before. Conse-
quently there is the cry of a dearth of
baseball talent If it proves to be we'll
founded, the reduction in the number of
major league clubs seems likely to occur,
as it will be more profitable and interest
ing to have eight star cubs than twelve
mediocre teams in larger territory.
EDWARD HANLON,
Il Manager Of the Brooklyn Club.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

norance of the portent of this vote.
taken away off in the China seas.
The absence of ships, however. along
our coasts about the latitude of Cape
Hatteras as we were approaching home
caused painful forbodings lest some
disaster had befallen the country we
loved so we'll. The mutterings in the
South of the year before in the event OF
a certain election caused some anxiety.
and the absence of vessels in regions
where in years gone by they were as
thick as the leaves in Vallombrosa was
held by the older heads to be ominously
significant, but it was not until we
reached the highlands of Cape Cod that
we were to learn the full extent of the
great calamity that was upon us. The
election we had held on board the ship
way off in the waters of China, on the
other side of the globe. was only the
prelude of the more general one at
home. AS Mr.. Lincoln was the choice
of the majority of the officers and men
Of the frigate Niagara, so we were to
learn subsequently he was also the
choice of the nation.
Pilots News.
When off the Highlands a pilot boat
was discovered near by, and the pilot
put off in boat with his pockets full.
as Is customarily done, of the latest
papers. He was awaited with an inn
patience that seemed almost painful,
and the moment he had crossed the rail
and reached the gangway he was asked
by the captain, dear old Com Mexican.
than in whom no more loyal heart ever
beat for the flag, this question::
pilot, what is the news?"
The pilot, Dolliver was his name.
looked around at all standing about the
quarterback, apparently amazed at the
question, for what he was about to tell
us as news was quite old to him. and
instead of replying at once to this oues-
ton, the pilot, as so often happens.
asked the captain with some surprise:
Where IN thunder have you come
from, captain?"
When told more politely. II less en-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

as a condemned yet free man.
AS August drew near he returned to HIS
home in the Territory, and on the day
set for the execution he went to the
Choctaw Courthouse. The grave had
been dug and Tonka knelt before It, so
that his dead body could fall easily into
the pit. Just as the blindfold was being
adjusted a woman, r1ounted on a weary
and tagged pony, rode up.
1t was Tonka's wife. In her hand she
waved a reprieve. Tonka was not to be
shot until next April For two days the
woman had been pleading with the Judge.
When April came Lonka was again on
hand to be shot. 1t was to- guard his
honor that he was so prompt. III the
Choctaw Nation It is a family disgrace
for a man to fee from death. For the
second time Tonka kneft before his open
grave, and again his wife arrived just
a few minutes before the time when he
would have been shot. This time she
had secured reprieve for nearly a year
until February 2S, 1899.
Tonka again joined q baseball nine last
summer, but was prompt about going to
be shot The third time he looked into
his grave and his wife came with the re-
prieve.
Tonka thinks now his wife is treas
ure, and says with a smile: az am really
glad I killed my uncle. 1t proves how
much this girl loves me-
The Indian wife looks sad but happy.
ct is my duty" she says, in meian-
choly way. Il caused the duel. will
save my husbands life"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

the satisfaction of knowing that the
other fellows had to hustle to do 1t. 1
have been a regular attendant at the
Polo grounds, but / am of a mind, and
there are thousands just like me, to go
over to Brooklyn if the New Yorks give
us another sample like last year. What
we want is a winning team to represent
the Greater New York.
Teams of Other Cities.
The New Yorks will remain the same
as last year, and they can put up a first
class game of ball, something which Will
be hard to beat George Davis will oc-
cupy his old position at shortstop, and
every one knows the place he holds in
the hearts of the public; they have a
strong infeld, their pitching department
is among the best in the league; SO with
the catchers and outfield. Many of the
players are stars-Van Haltren. Herman.
Doyle, Gleason, Warner and others.
With two winning teams in Greater New
York, things will hum.
Chicago and Philadelphia will remain
about the same as last year, with posi-
bly, few exceptions, and. l think. they
may be depended upon to put up a strong
game.
Cincinnati will also go on the dia-
mond with the same team as last sea-
SON 1t would be hard to beat the pitch
ing department, and the men behind it
can give a gilt-edge sample of baseball
Cleveland and st. Louis will be consid-
erably shaken up, probably with first
class results.
Pittsburg will retain the same players
as last year, and the rest of the teams
will hear from them. Washington and
Louisville bid fair to make an improve
ment over last year. There are some
star players among their men and they
should make a good showing.
A team of star players does not neces-
sarily make a winning team. but the
presence on the field of one or more rec
ord champions goes far to attract the
public For instance, a team composed
of men who have led in one or more de-
uartnIents will be a drawing card. The
new Brooklyn team will contain several
men who stood at the top last season
Keller, who held the batting record for
and the patrons of the game will be anx-
ious to see if "a change of climate will eff
feet his work at the bat.
Star Players of the League.
1t may be difficult matter to pick out
the stars of the league; each club has a
few. OF the shortstops Davis, Long and
Jennings will probably have little difficult
ty in maintaining their standing with the
public. Last season the following men
stood at the head of the record in their
relative positions, and they will this year
be pretty equally distributed among the
leading clubs: First base, Beckley. Gin
cinnati; second base, Reitz. Washington;
third base Wallace, Cleveland shortstop
Jennings. Baltimore; center field, Griffin
Cleveland; right field. Tiernan, New York
Delahanty, Philadelphia, led in base steal
ing and Ritchey, Louisville, in sacrifice
hits. There were number of other play
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02
~ Baseball Eo1~ 1922
Many


% HE baseball season Of 1893 prom
Uses to. be more successful than for
several years. This is not said be-
cause 1t IS the thing usually said
il at the beginning Of a season. 1t is
-: based on careful study of the
situation. Public interest in the
sport is much more general than it was
year ago. Then only baseball men were
talking baseball Now one hears it dis;
cussed everywhere in public places.
II is claimed that professional base
ball is. losing it's hold on the American
people. I do not believe that this is true.
but II certainly is true that interest in the
sport has declined at least in several
cities. This is due partly to the bad be-
havior which has been allowed on some of
the league grounds, and partly 70 the fact
that the clubs in some Of the largest cities
have been allowed to decline:
Heroes of the Diamond.
There; are baseball men who are great
favorites with the public These may
not be star players but every team wants
them the rooters center their enthusi-
asm. about the particular favorite. When
he goes to the bat there is a howl; he
may make a play in the field, Of no great
merit. but it is the cause of a wave OF
enthusiasm. After a game the crowd sur
round him and he.walks to- the club house
the center Of an admitting throng.
AS rule these players go their way
and, although proud of the good win OF
the public, do not get the "big head"
Such one is Arson, the old warhorse
of baseball. The old man has probably
trained more players than any other five
men who have captained or managed q
team. His appearance on the field was
always a signal for a round of applause
When he. stepped 10 the plate there was
volley from the grand stand and bleach.
ers; and Arson usually responded by a
hit His days Of baseball are passins.
but even now, when Arson walks into
the grounds, the crowd crane their necks
to get view of him.
Davis is another favorite so is Glea-
son, whose grand stand plays set the
crowd wild. Eddie Burke used to own
the left field bleachers the old Burkville
OF a few years ago is remembered by
every one who visited the Polo grounds.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

a light breeze, all the more dear to me
now after the exposures we have un-'
dergone and the perils of service to
which our lives have been devoted in
helping others to uphold it the. world
over, for those of our land who In their
time and turn are to follow us in hold
ing fast TO the teachings of our fathers:
and. like them. to preserve the Inherit
ance of this blessed land of liberty for
those to follow them.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

it were, by his wife. Thrice
within the last two years has Walla
Tonka come alone to the Indian eXecu-
ton grounds near Eufaula and looked
into his own grave. Then. just as he had
knelt to be shot to death by the execu-
toner, his wife has ridden up with re-
prieve from the Judge
1t is doubtful now whether this In
dian will ever be shot. The Judge who
passed the sentence is dead. the witnesses
are dead and there was little cause in
the first place for his conviction.
In the spring of 1897 Tonha attended a
green corn dance on the reservation. His
uncle, Lampson Young. was also pres
emit, and quite freely did the firewater
flow Young and his nephew were in love
with the same girl Tookah Ingamore, a
beautiful Choctaw maiden who had been
away to school. She favored the young
and handsome Walla Tonka and spurned
the uncouth Young.
The old Indian could not see the beau
tiful girl borne off without some effort
on his part to prevent it, so he challenged
his nephew to a duel, the winner to take
the girl. AS a result, Tonka killed him
and for the murder was sentenced to be
shot on August g.
Then he married Miss Ingamore, and
later joined a baseball team and gained
much notoriety by touring the country
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02

WAY back in the year 1859, dur
ing the administration of Mr..
Buchanan, an embassy from the
japanese Empire visited this
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02
Q Q Q ooo @ c @ @ G 9 G c G c G

!. One lesson which the Spanish-American
war has thoroughly taught is the vital
Importance, TO a nation which would have
an efficient navy, of the fostering Of the
mechanical instinct. Americans may be
proud Of being a nation of mechanics, and
!. attribute the overwhelming victories
over. the. Spaniards largely to this fact
and the absolute lack of any mechanical
aptitude on the part of the opponents
The utter failure Of Cervera's fast ar
mored cruisers, which had trial speeds of
20 knots, to escape from the United States
vessels at Santiago. none Of which were
making It.. shows the disastrous results
of discoura cement of the mechanic. As
we now know, the condition of the two
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02
4

~ ing the administration Of Mr..
r Ia Buchanan, an embassy from the
Japanese Empire visited this
country to return a visit made
by the squadron under Commodore NJ.
c. Perry number of years before.
Their visit of ceremony being at an
end. our Government determined to
send. this embassy back in a national
Marship, and &c the frigate Niagara
: was at that time the largest, as well
as one of the most formidable war yes
sells ~ afioat, she was selected by the
Navy Department for this mission and
sailed early in July, 1860. for Japan
with the embassy on board.
1t was the privilege of the writer to
have served on board the Niagara dur
ing this cruise, and she left our shores
H. Just after the principal conventions
had nominated their candidates for the
Presidency.
r. AS our way out to the China station
was made mainly under sail. notwith-
standing the ship had been: equipped
with auxiliary manchinery of consider
able power, voyages TO and from that
distant station as well as the transmits
sion of mail matter consumed the best
part VI d y eal gums anu SollllIlS' 1eN-
tiers were several months old when they
reached us, and our sweethearts and
3 wives were fortunate if answers came
back to them in a year. 1t must be re-
+. mem bered that there were no success
full submarine cables engirdling the
earth as now, so that letters and papers
were looked for most eagerly in that
far-off land.
When the Heart Grows Weary.
For those who live always at home or
7iCx 81 oa .Jx-ar ,t-o nd Of
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-02
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Q 6 @ 9 6 G C G 9
Saved From the Grave Three Times
6u His Wife.
Renurkoble Story Choctow IDdon CoDdenned to Be


TT ICHITA, Kans., April l.
II Walla Tonka. a fullblood
NM Choctaw Indian baseball
VI VI player, has been three times
" snatched from the grave, as
Ii wore nv his wife ThricR