Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-10
But Mr.. Mitchell Grew Suddenly
Blind And Called The Game.
NEW MAN COLEMAN PITCHED.
'Twas A Great Day For Hitting. And The
Air Was Filled With The Music OF Tho
RIOTERS Portsmouth Had Richmond
Boat To A Finish But The Fates Decree
Otherwise Tho Home Team To Play
Hampton To-day.


countless thousands mourn" is a favor
lite quotation with the people generally.
and one which unquestionably carries
with IL Il great deal of truthfulpess.
And that an umpire's very unfair work
makes hundreds of rooters sore is
equally true. as demonstrated at
League Park yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Mitchell, who for two days in
succession had handled the indicator
and had general supervision over the
game and the players therein at the
Portsmouth ball park, and whose work
as judge of the game has been highly
complimented in these columns, GER
tainly acted very unfair with the
Portsmouth team yesterday afternoon.
There is not the least complaint to
make about his work in umpiring the
game proper, the kick Portsmouth has
coming being on his very unexpected,
unjust and astonishing determination
to call the game at the beginning of
the fourth inning. and that. too, in the
face of the rules of the game and every
Precedent established
His conduct came to the two hundred
people assembled there as sudden and
as startling as a clap of thunder from
people were so dumbfounded they ut
terly failed to comprehend Mitchell's
action. The game is called said he
and started TO leave the field without
any explanation whatever, but the cry
came from every direction. What is
the matter. Mr.. Umpire" and being
pressed closely for an explanation of
his conduct. said: II can't see the bail
and you don't suppose l am going to
endanger my life for a game of ball,
do you?"
Then it was that the little quie. con-
fabs he had been having with the WISH
tors became apparent. and his slowness
in starting the game and his asser-
ton that there would be no game was
shown sufficiently plain to induce those
present to believe that 1t was a pre-
arranged. affair Mitchell searched the
rules carefully, surrouned by the Cher
ubs.' to find the least loop hole to call
the game off. But there were other
people searching over the rules. too,
and when 1t was made so plain that a
wayfaring man, though a fool. could
not err therein, he reluctantly. at $40
O'Clock. with not drop of rain falling
and the grounds in very fair condition
indeed. called play
The "Bluebrds' chirped and nuttered
and showed signs of great distress, and
their tactics were amusing in the OK
treme. and were of that nature which
said in the plaineSt language possible,
We are afraid OF these Portsmouth fell
lows; let's sneak out of the contest by
hook or crook. AT any rate. let's sneak
out OF this contest. And the sequel
showed that their little scheme was
successful.
And they had right to feel afraid
| for when the "Boers" started i'm on that
bunch of "Blucbirds" the grounds We're
| literally Strewn with feathers of every
| hue. and the chirp of the "Bluebird''
was changed into the squawk of the
crow. and the bing, bing of the hits as
they landed up against the outfield
fence struck terror to the "chirpers"
who usually show up bold front to the
hunters looking for game. and they
longed for place to roost long before
MIR. Mitchell gave them that opportu-
nifty without rhyme. reason or Justice.
There was young man by the name
| OF Norris who did the stellar work for
Mr.. Boyer's boys, and what the Beers"
aid for him would make n pitcher look
ing for job think twice before going
up against the Portsmouth boys yes
terday.
There were only three innings play
ed. and Portsmouth made ten hits and
| twelve runs to ftichmonds three hits
and four runs. OF the ten hits made by
the home team one was n triple by
l.onSley ana two two-baggcrs by KEN
mer and Murray. and a home run, the
first of the season by Kemmcr. which
was 'beaut." over left field fence
Coleman. the new pitcher for Ports
mouth occupied the box. and Kain, the
first man up. famed the air. soon fol-
lowed by Dranby, who swiped three
hits at the sphere without hitting It,.
| He showed up in splendid form and
gave unmiStakablc evidence of being a
| twirler of the first class. and would
have undoubtedly won his game in a
walk but for the unfair and arbitrary
action of Mr.. Mitchell
The fourth inning had just begun.
with the score II to 4 in favor of Ports
mouth G<ohnle walked on four balls
and Lonsley sent one with whiskers on
it past Berte: Coleman was on third
and one man out: the bases were
crowded and Murray up) when. with
out the least warning or any one hav-
! ing the least expectation of the game
being called. MIR. Mitchell threw the
mask from his face and gave the Ports
mouths the "razzle dazzle" spoken OF.
The time OF day was 20 minutes to six.
and there was sufficient light to have
played at least three more innings, this
man calling the game just 81 minutes
sooner than Craig called 1t last Thurs
day. There WAS. of course. n great pro-
test from the people: they saw at a
glance that Mitchell was acting wrong.
and Mitchell himself knows that his
action was very unjust. but he had said
previous 10 the beginning of the game
that there would he none. ana he kept
his word. There was 10 rain falling.
and everybody knows that there was
plenty of light to play ball at 20 minutes
to six o'clock yesterday. Everybody
knows that yesterday afternoon was
not as dark as last Thursday after
noon. yet the boys played ball at the