The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-02

American Association.

Indianapolis and Louisville batted for
baseball honors at Washington Park yes
terday before 10000 people. the morning
crowd numbering S7S2 and the afternoon
throng 1882. and those people and many
others who did not pass through the gates
but filled trees and housetops in the vicin-
ity saw the Hoosiers take two victories
from the club that has been sojourning at
the top of the championship ladder for
many weeks. The scene from the top Of the
grand stand during the afternoon game
was really spectacular. The game was
played on an island, as II were, the play
ing ground being surrounded on all sides
by thousands of enthusiasts. many OF
whom were the dyed-in-the-w fans.
while others were rooters just for the day.
but all ready and willing to lend a helping
cheer to the Indianapolis team.
All records for baseball attendance In
Indianapolis were broken. the afternoon
crowd also numbering more persons than
ever attended a game In the American As
sociation in any city. The weather was
perfect and the baseball fever was conta-
gious. The epidemic began to spread when
the fans realized that indianapolis and
Louisville would have to fight II out for
first honors In the American Association.
and when Indianapolis people awoke yes
terday morning TO find beautiful day. fol-
lowing the showers of Sunday night IL
seemed as IL nearly every one was imbued
with the idea of going to Washington Park
and roofing for the Hoosiers. Many waited
down town in the morning Until II was too
late to reach the park. the street cars be-
ing delayed for nearly two hours on ac-
count of the Labor day parade, and this
probably kept at least 1900 or 5000 persona
away from the forenoon contest.
CROWD STARTED EARLY.
AS the cars carrying the crowd TO the
center of the city after the morning game
reached Illinois street the fans saw the
large number of people on the corners
waiting for cars to go to the park for the
afternoon contest 1t was then only
o'clock but all east-bound cars were loaded
to the guards The park was not cleared
of the morning crowd until the people be.
gan swarming in for the afternoon contest.
steady line of cars out East Washington
street carried thousands anc those who
could not board the cars rode In carriages
or walked Before o'clock the park was
we'll filled, but still the people swarmed
in through the various gates. Long before
3
filled and the field was alive with hu-
manity. From the stand the field appeared
kaleidoscopic-a multitude of fans moving
hither and thither-and every one in good
humor Then came the time for clearing
the field.
The crowd was gradually worked back
toward the ropes, but there was not room
enough between the fences and the Inn
provised barriers to accommodate the thou
sands, and II became necessary TO allow
the people to sit or stand on the field near
the side lines from twenty to fifty deep and
form a human horseshoe around the out
fielders. 1t was necessary to make ground
rules providing for two bases on a hit into
the crowd.
Above all 1t was remarkable how well the
spectators deported themselves. IL war
feared that the stories of rowdylsm ana
disgraceful conduct that marked the In
dianapois games at Louisville would mar
the Louisville contests in this city. but
such was not the case There was abso-
lutely no rowdyism. The morning crowd
was a trife more enthusiastic, considering
the numbers, but Louisville started of in
the lead in the morning and there had TO
be some good-natured roofing TO pull the
Hoosiers together for a lively finish. But
in the afternoon the Hoosiers made such
short work of cinching the contest that
some sympathy was expressed for the
Colonels There was noise and plenty of IL.
but no rowdyism. Tin horns were blown,
drums were beaten, tin pans were ham,
mered, rattles of all sizes. from those used
in the nursery 10 immense machines that
had been built for the express purpose OF
raising a din. The strong lungs OF thou
sands of rooters cheered Justify. and the
echoes Of the morning applause had hardly
died away until the cheering began In the
afternoon. II was a glorious day--two JIG
tories from Louisville placing Indianapolis
within one step OF first plance and a record
breaking attendance.
ALL SOMEWHAT NERVOUS.
The players were on edge I'm both con-
tests and were the spectators. The
liveliest roofing OF the day occurred at the
morning game. This was caused by In