The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-31
McGRAW LUCKY
AT HOT SPRINGS.
Did Not Expect to Get
Williams and Donlin-
Bobby Dobbs Very
Ambitious.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.
Hot Springs. Ark. March 2o.-That John
ny McGraw of the Baltimore ball club left
here last Monday entirely satisfied with
his trip to Hot Springs was not only EVIL
dcnccd by an overflow of good spirits. but
by his own statement that he had accom-
plished even more than he came for: that
he was In excellent physical condition.
! ready for the approaching season, and had
landed two good men in the persons OF
Jimmy Williams and Mike Donlin. who
would materially strengthen the Baltimore
team and very much increase its chances
of winning the league pennant. He con-
siders that he now has one Of the very
best clubs to be had In the country. Nc
Graw said he had no scruples in persuading
Williams to leave the Pittsburg club. In
doing SO he said he felt that he was only
getting even with certain individuals who
had taken men from him and that he felt
like congratulating himself upon being in
a position to offer Williams inducements to
sign with him. 1t Is stated from the most
reliable authority that McGraw. after sew
erai conferences with Williams. who hesi-
tated at first in ignoring his contract with
the Pittst urgs, offered him a salary Of
s., 600 and $500 advance money. This fatter-
ing offer captured the Pirate. and upon the
payment of the latter sum in cash he at
tached his signature to a contract to play
with the Baitimores.
Mike Donlin lent n willing ear to Nc
Graw's fiattering offer and was easily
signed. Donlin had a grievance against
President Robson and seemed to be glad.
upon the offer of a good salary. to sever
his connection with the 81. Louis club. He
received. while here. a o Of the old
and the new contracts of the st. Louis
team, both OF which he ignored.
McGraw will have to trim his team down
to fourteen men TWO weeks after the sea-
son begins. He expects much from Toka-
hoEa, the Indian outIlelde-, but 1t is not
believed ne can afford to keep him. McGra"
says the Baltimore grounds are In excellent
c%ondiuon and that MS club VIII be READY
to open there with Yale on April ..
Jack O'Connor has perfected all arrange
ments at the Eastman aotei Tor the She, ag,
Will arrive next Sunday. OCoanor, though
a little heavy yet, has greatly improves
during his stay mere. Referring 10 tiie ne"
rule aboiisning the one io"ii the batter
his base upon being hit by a pitched BAH.
he says il is one OF the worst the League
has ever adopted. He says he is willing TO
bet that it viii lie abolished before me
chanplonship season begins. 1t gives the
pitcher, he thinks. all the best OF it.
Alex. Smith. VIC was with the brooklyn
club two years ago.. says he will play with
pr:ce' McGsaw's success here in landing
Doniin and Williams. who had piedged
themselves to pay with other ciups. "9 III
players do not consider 4 contract bindilS
in the face of an increased salary offered
by another club. ,na
Young of the Boston CLUB are already
in fine condition, though Young IS yet a
trine too heavy. After the lays work on
the Wilmington Park grounds. they amuse
at the hotel with cards and IN
discussing the merits of the different bal!
players here and elsewhere. Beckiey az
ways defends Hot Springs against an re- re-
proper place to train and get IN shape 1oF
the diamond.
Bobby Dobbs. the champion iight-weisht
With victories over Perry Queenan. Kid" !
Parker and Young Green to his credit, the
impression prevails that Dobbs Will at least
know he has had a light II he defeats jack
son. The contest is scheduled for twenty
five rounds before the Wilmington Park
club.
The club is making an effort to match
Dobbs and Choynski. The latter has writ
ten that he will visit Hot Springs as soon
Dobbs says he will challenge Terry Ne
Govern If he wins the fight with young
Peter Jackson. McGovern. he says. cannot
consistently fn,sgti Cd draw ns G the sol BI.o 1,ne on nine otb ee
colored fighters. and he sees no reason why
he should not be open to a challenge from
him. as he enjoys the same prestige in Eng
land that McGovern does in this country.
Dobbs, with his Prince Albert and silk hat.
cuts quite a dash here among the colored
people and Is the recipient of many courte-
and attentions in negro swelldom.
Dan Creedon demonstrated to the salts
Of all who saw him fight Billy Stiff
here last week that the club. If 1t has an
other drawing card in which Oar figures as
of the participants. will have to import
some high-class man to meet him. He seems
to be getting back to his old form. While |
neither of the two fights that he has had |
here lasted long enough to test his powers
Of endurance. he showed that he could go
at least ten or twelve rounds in the fastest |
without perceptible exhaustion.
certainly exhibited here all Of his former
punching powers and showed himself to be
/ ring general of decided cleverness.
Jimmie Scanlon, whom Creedon defeated
weeks ago. has challenged the latter
for another fight. He states in his cha1-
!enge that he has one victory to his credit
rom Creedon and thinks he should be as
as he was in giving him another
should Creedon accept the challenge. Since
attract a very small house
In the live-bird shoot at Wilmington
Park during the week between belong.
dcKay, Leisey. Hopper and Middleton.
much interest was shown. In a f1fteen-bird
vent there was a tie between three out of
he five shooters. In n ~"miss-and-out" con-
est Middleton was the winner. killing If
cen before he was left standing alone.
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