Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-01-13
II GAME WAS LOST
AND 4t2 POUNDS oFBAsEBALLIDoL
WAS SHATTERED. ss5s

AND 4t2#POONDS 0F86ASEBAELIDOLs
WAS SHATTERED. #
The Ignomfnious Downfall OF the
LiGhtfoot Lilies Club Mascot
When In an Ill Advised Moment
They Told Him TO Slide.
.Well, why is it you never played
baseball syourself?" asked a latter day
fan Of the very stout man sitting in
the corner. "You say you were the
mascot for the famous Lightfoot Lilies
of Jones county, and yet, with the ex-t
sception Of the time that they putsyou
in to force the winning run in the thir-.$
tenth by being hit. in the stomach
you never seem to have played your
self. After such successful daring We're
you. never asked to play again? I don't
quite understand" 0
& The stout man gazed at the speaker
searchingly. for a few minutes and
then, apparently satisfied that the ques,
lions were asked in good faith, proceed
ed to unfold the mi dark shadow in
his otherwise sunny life Eth
"Have you never heard?, he began.
"tsThen now you shall hear, and, though
4 think no blame should rest with me-
you yourself shall judge Of that. Lis
ten, You have already referred to the
contest in which / forced the Winning
run owing to the pitchers inability to
put the ball over the plate without
striking my corporation. This. / be-
lieye, was due to a law Of physics
which states that but one body can oc-
cupy the same space at the same time
or words TO that effect. But, whatever
the cause, I acquired a reputation for
high class baseball second to non in
Jones county and at mi got a regular
position on the team. My figure being
my stock in trade, Captain Slugger.
Burrows Of the Lightfoots spared no
pains in bringing me to physical per
lection before the next game with the
Roarers. Under q carefully selected
diet of beer, butter lard, potatoes and
cod liver oil I rapidly rose from a mea-
ger 800 pounds to the magnificent fig
ure Of 412. W . ~
'ttFor the first eight innings of the
great contest, which ultimately proved
my downfall, / fully sustained my en-
viable reputation for artistic ball play
ing. Three times the bases were full.
with the Roarers u In the van.
Three times I proved the Lightfoots'
salvation by forcing the tieing by
means Of my superior figure. Three
times the home rooters wed with one
another In futile attempts to pay me
suitable homage. I was truly more
than queen. And then that fatal ninth,
with its brfmful cup OF gumless bitters!
Four hundred and twelve pounds Of
shattered idol!
I'm the last half OF the ninth ! reach.
ed first through my customary strategy.
Later / succeeded in gaining third by
a daring bit of base running while the
8Roarers' felders were searching for
sHul' Thompson's liner on the other
side of the center field fence. Sammie
Salmon and n of the Foote twins
died easy deaths on infield pop flies.
There we were: Ringtail Roarers, II;
Lightfoot Lilies, is; two out, Thomp-
son and yours truly on second and
third bases respectively and the in
yincible Home Run Hankins at the
bat. All were breathless with sus-
pense. The pitcher swung his arm
back slowly, and then, swish, bang!
Home Run Hankins never missed bis
aim. l struggled brayely toward the
plate, and in less time than 1t takes to
tell 1t Thompsonswas at my back push.
ing violently. doubled my efforts. a
moment later Hankins himself caught
up and Joined in the single file struggle
fol-. home and victory. Twas do sol
die, and the people were like lunatics
Ia their wild excitement. spurred on
by their cheers, was soon but i've
feet from the plate. with Thompson
| and Hankins still dancing at my heels,
Then suddenly la voice rose clearly
above the others. Slide. Willie, slide!
itrang out. Oh, fatal Words!r r.
AT this point the fat ex-mascot was
overcome by emotion and stopped
short II was some minutes before be
could pull himself together sufficiently
to go on with his sad story.
Well" he said at last, 81 slid, Div.
ing gracefully forward, 4 slid a nicely
calculated slide that brought my hes,
directly above the rubber. But the en-.
thusiasm this occasioned among the
Lilies was short lived.
Touch the plate, you fool; touch The
platep Bull Thompson and Hankins
yelled together.
Nov. would ron believe II, sir, Try III
as ! would I couldn't NY corporation
had been oyertraiued. Lying face down
I was 80 high from the ground that ms
arms would not reach the plate.
Rock me-! cried. Rock mel
Rock youg sBuH Thompson roared
Rock you? Wen rock you. stone You
egg you. and-touch that plate. d'y,
hearg
me, i pleaded. with tear,
lii my y You don't understand
Rock me like you would q rocking
horse. Tilt me. can't touch bottom.
Twas too late. While i had bee.
explaining my predicament to thos,
blockheads. the Roarers' felders fonnt
the ball, a-nd--er-Weil. we lost. After
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