The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-14
The News of Carbonda1e.

was sent to the Crescents' manage
ment: Vetter c.; Hessler, p; Gaylord
s.s.; Murrin. 1b.; Solomon, 2b.; q. Vet
ter, 3b.; Riley, |. f.; Lee, c. T.; Deemer,
r. Z.
Now we will see how the Honesdale
management violated the pledges SO
earnestly made to Manager Tappan.
Miller was engaged to play and to
make room for him, Lee, whoever he
Is. was given the rubber ball. he was
bounced and the positions were shifted
SO as to put the colored professional
in short field When the Crescents
reached the ball ground and the batting
order of Honesdalc was given to the
newspaper men from this city, the
name of Miller was noticed.
| "IIow about this man, Miller" asked
one of the Carbondale reporters from
one of the Honesdale scorers, Isn't he
from Port Jervis?"
"No, Stree" came the answer sharp
~. Hes from Honesdale: he works
here, and he's played here this summer
| with Honesdale.''
Further protests being of no avail,
| and to prove that we were not quit
| ters," as Honesdale would fight out all
summer the disbarment of Miller, the
Carbondale men allowed the game to
start with this rank injustice, this de-
liberate breaking of faith staring them.
Now the facts, verified by Honesdale
residents and Miller, himself, are
these.
Miller was engaged for this game. He
came to Honesdale from Port Jervis on
the evening train on the Erie on Fri
day night. He was paid for the day
and was given extras for the good
plays and the two-base hit he made.
II came here Friday night" said
Miller, himself, to a Carbondale player,
land went to the French restaurant,
where I'm staying now. l don't know
soul in the town."
Furthermore. Miller didn't play with
the Uonesdalc team: he played with
Port Jervis ard on the Fourth of July
he played with the Port Jervis team in
the game at Honesdale against Homes
dale. This, therefore, is the absolute
truth of the representations of the
Honesdale management to play only
professionals, and it is sample of
the fairness of which they boasted
while the negotiations for the game
were in progress. Miller it was who
lid all the fielding for Honesdale and
1t was Miller who made all the runs.
His fast running the bases on Vetter's
hit, which was clearly a foul, gave
Honesdale the first run: and his two-
base hit in the seventh brought in
three men. With him eliminated, as in
fairness he should have been, the score
would have been nothing, so far as
Honeldale is concerned
On the other hand, had Umpire Spen-
Ger given the same decision when Ow-
ney fMcAndrew knocked ball down the
third-base line as he did when Vetter
knocked his ball into left field. scoring
the first run of the game, Murray, who
Was on third, would have scored and
the result would have been 10 in Car
bondale's favor
AS to the work of Umpire Spencer, it
was manifestly unfair, and the mild
est opinion to be expressed is that no
team with the least sense of fairness
would have allowed him to umpire for
single moment. He was disbarred
nom acting. IL the equities of the mo-
ment We're observed, from the very fact
that he was interested an therefore
likely to be biased. If it be true, as
Honesdalans say, that he had wagered
money on the game. then he was who'll
lF unfair, not only to the Carbondale
club, but 70 himself. Aside from this,
he was condemned generally when he
made what We're interpreted by those
who watched, as signals to the Homes
dale pitcher as to where to throw the
ball while the Crescent runners were
on bases This motoning was so no.
4 rn la ho
sent word to where the scorers sat to |
have it ceased. This was looked upon
as the rankest injustice, with which he |
was openly charged during the game.
Spencer's worst decision, however, |
was when he called Vetter's hit to left |
field, which scored the first run, a fair
ball. Reputable business men of Car
bondale, who We're in the outfield, when
they learned Of his decision, came in
and protested. all agreeing that the ball
was dozen or more feet out of the
field line. Some We're so close to the
ball and were so positive that they
hesitate to back what they
said by an affidavit. Spencer, however,
wouldn't listen to anything, in which,
or course, he had the approval and
noisy support of the whole Honesdale
team. Even when assured that it was
A foul by Umpire Burke, who was
" Matching the bases and who saw the
ball knocked by Cuff when he ran for
It, Spencer was obdurate and obstinate
Burke was an impartial man. he was
not from Carbondale; his decisions
we're accepted without question and it
was short of an insult to him to have
his word of honor ignored as it was
This was emphasized by the circum-
stance that Spencer, owing to the
,rowd, could not see the foul flag.
2urke's vision was unobstructed, yet
spencer ignored him and seemed TO
iced the Honesdalers. This decision
am" near to breaking up the game,
nut even in the face of the win-or-b bolt
Il anlin4, .Ll..Ia