Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-07-02


hearts of Ned Hanlon aud Johnny
McGraw yesrn and become covetous
at the sight of them. They. the
great csptors of all prodigies. con.
stsntly on the qui vive for a good
thing, would hare held QUITO each
and every one-their open hands and
arms, plethoric with the yellow
metal, if purchasable. But. no! our
brave and noble boys are artists. and
they are to the manner boru." are
above price. No inducement of filthy
lncre could make them barter away
or prostitute for gold, that priceless
gift from the God of Nature.
If | fail to express properly and
sufficiently all the merit to which
these gentlemen are entitled. it must
be condoned on the ground of NV
failure to find words adequate to the
occasion. 1t pleases me to record
that the unanimous verdict of all the
spectators was like unto these senti-
ments, for such enthusiasm was never
before exhibited on a ball field. The
presence of so many beautiful women
was IN itself an attestation of the
grandeur in which they held the men.
Had there been sufficient time for
the proper publication of this great
event, one can only conjecture as to
the immensely Of the attendance. As
1t was, the news of 1T reached New
York only in time to allow some
ladies there to seize upon and charter
an extra, and reach the battle-ground
only in time to see the game.
Unfortunately, the news did not
get to Chicago on time, and there
were no citizens from that CITY TO see
the sport.
think II proper here to state. that
the players were actuated entirely by
disinterested motives, aud that they
gave the entire gate receipts to the
BerrySille Brass Band. There Is in
store a bright future for the band.
AS their strides of improvement have
been wonderful, and the public will
not have TO wait long before they can
with pleasure listen to the band"
feel this would not be complete
story did | not refer some little in
detail to the personnel of the ball
players. They were all handsomely
costumed, and marched through the
city, headed by the band, to the arena
OF battle. The mines were captained
respectively by Messrs. Kownslar aud
Mccormick. Rumor has it that Cap
tain hownslar entered upon the field
IN some trepidation lest he should be
beat by the nine under Alexander
the Great. But Captain Kownslar
being host within himself, sum-
moned to his aid his knowledge of
holy writ, and took much comfort
whan be recalled the passage wherein
1t says, In the multitude of 'Kowns.
lars there is safety"
In abiding below to some of the
plays, it must not be taken in contra
diction of former statements of the
efficiency of the players, but it is
only done to show the eccentricties
of those mentioned.
Well, the first one called to make
assault upon the sphere was one of
Berryville's merchant princes, j. w.
Gsver, and after making three unsuc
cessful attempts to hit the ball, and
failing to connect with the same, he
gave up and took his seat on the
bench.
Our jolly friend, Hamp. Erb, first
started behind the bat with a huge
breast protector, but concluded to
discard it, as it did not keep him in
touch with the ball. His work was
wonderful, and the efficiency of that
Herb" would have made any Aescu-
lapis envions.
Then there stood before the batter.
like a veritable battering ram, the
"wily" Wiley, the pitcher for Alex
ander the Great. He did well for a
number of innings, but finally
weakening, became weary Wiley"
and gave way to another, Willy Stole,
who held on to the end without the
necessity of boxing"
1t would have touched you to see
Johnny Enders grab high fly out of
the atmosphere. We said be had a
net, but be said he hadn't, which
would prove John not to be one of
the tail-enders."
Then came our enterprising Eng
hsh friend, Warde, who was alive to
all parts of the game, and taking his
position In the field, set a line beyond
which no ball should pass.
We must not forget to mention the
unique and handsome attire of our
fro ID /