Evening journal., 1902-09-16
ALL WILMINGTON
TURNS OUT TO WELCOME
THE HEROES HOME
Continued From First Pagel.


shortly after noon. At 2 o'clock there
were thousands 1t was almost impos-
sible TO get hanging room on any of
the Philadelphia street cars which ran
to the grounds.
Before the first ball was pitched
ground rules had TO be established. Fiji
teen minutes before the game was call
led the crowd had rushed on the field,
and people we're standing around five
and six deep The fences were black
with boys and men, who were fortunate
enough to get a foothold there. Out
side OF the actual playing field there
was not a square inch of ground that
was not utilized by some enthusiastic
rooter for one team or the other.
The game had originally been plan
mel for Chester The capacity there is
$500, and where the crowd OF yester-
day could have been placed is difficult
TO say. Had the Athletics ground been
able to accommodate 5000 more people,
every inch of ground would have been
taken, for 1t is certain 5000 people
were turned away.
The management OF the Athletic
Club, of Philadelphia, simply had to
lock the gates, for there was no more
room even TO stand.
Such a bowling, shouting, horn
blowing, flag-waving, broom-swingine
crowd never before was seen on Phil
adelplhia, or another, diamond. Each
team bad its army of rooters with it,
and every one of them did his best
They were all out to root" for one
team or the other, and they never lost
chance to make all the noise posi-
bic. The rooters, even the women, and
there were many of the latter present
were armed with horns and wooden rat
ties, and every time any player did any.
thing good, bad or Indifferent, the
rooters all cut loose.
The friends of both teams were key.
ed up to high pitch of excitement. II
was thought that some of the decisions
OF the umpires would cause some dis.
turbance, but, with one exception, tho
play was clean and decent enough tc
suit the most ardent lover Of the sport
The Wilmington delegation with its
band made much noise, but the Wesl
Chester people, although minus music
were not far behind them when i
came to cheering. There was excite
ment until the last man was out In tn,
ninth inning. The tension was greai
on the players, as we'll as the specta
tors, and when Wilmington had cross
ed the line ahead it was a relief I,
thousands.
Late in the game it looked as though
Brandywine would tie the score, bu
Wilmington was playing a magnificen
game, and refused to give up its lead.
AFTER 1t was all over thousands rush
ed on the field, and for half an hou
the scene was one that made a lastinl
Impression on those who witnessed il
One great mass of men and womel
crowded around the victorious viii
mington players and practically car
lried them off the field.
The two umpires, Arthur Irwin ant
Hardie Henderson, did their duty with
out a kick OF any kind. There wer
several very close decisions, but Hen
lderson had nothing to do but to watcl
1.-THE balls and strikes. and Irwin looke
after the bases.
i All in all, 1t was a noble contest be
tween two OF the best Independent bal
teams that ever were put on the dia
mond, and one that will go down Il
baseball history as a famous event
was a great day for Wilmington, an
this old town simply went wild wit
delight Who in the face Of these fact
should dare dispute the people Of thi
city the right to cut loose for keeps
: Before the game ticket scalpers wer
at the grounds and did a good busines!
They hustled along the long lines G
people who were waiting to reach tn
D box office. and double prices were pai
= without a word of complaint
8 The details of the game, given in in
? nings. were published in the Evenin
P Journals extra yesterday.
The score: