The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-04
BOWLING LEAGUES STAG
AN IMPORTANT BOWLING EVENT AT
INDEPENDENT TURNER HALL
Mayor BoOkwalter and President
HaveIick Observation-Disclosures OF
Prizes and Vaudeville.

The sixth annual stag of the indianapolis
Bowling League was held last night at the
gymnasium of the Independent Turn
verein. 1t was a strenuous ending Of a
strenuous league season and the attendance
was close to three hundred members and
invited guests. The gym was provided
with four tables the length of the hall and
at these the ten clubs of the league were
seated. Before then a stage was built and
on this a vaudeville programme followed
the usual ceremonies of prize distribution.
An important incident of the evening was
the presence of many dusky walters and
musicians whose activity was generally
commended.
The programme was opened by Mayor
Bookwalter, a member of the Capital City
Bowling Club and president of the Ameri-
can Bowling Congress. The mayor said he
had fortunately visited a place where there
was no danger of death by a drought. AS
president of the American Bowling Con-
gress he said he occupied the distinction of
being the poorest bowler who had ever
enrolled himself with a club composed of
good bowlers. But" he said, that is the
only place in the league records where
you will find my name"
The mayors further remarks were di-
rected towards the national tournament to
be held here in 1908. In this city, he said,
the game was representative of the young,
active life. 1t was in all senses a gentle
mans game. In this city, too. the game
was so separated from bar-room influences
that, with five amatuer and other club
houses, the bowlers of the city could take
tboir daaraSt fria,dS f0 uvitnaSS tho cluh
contests. He asked each bowler to do his
part in 1903 in making the national tourna-
ment a success and in showing to the bowl
ers of the country that indianapolis would
excel Chicago and Buffalo in the character
or Its tournament.
President Havelick made a speech, re-
viewing the league season.
In the distribution of prizes the Marion
Club, as usual, gained the lions share. The
club won the pennant and the trst club
prize-a Pyrlan marble bust OF Robert
Burns. The WaShingtons, who finished
second, secured a large club bookcase, and
the Capital City, who finished third, le-
ceived a large jardiniere.
MOST POPULAR BOWLER.
The bowlers present were then asked to
vote a handsome suit case to the most pop
ular bowler in the league, and with una
nimity this was voted to Col. Harry b.
Smith, of the North Sides.
Sixteen individual prizes were distributed.
They were all for position according to av-
erage. Thos. j. Carter, president Of the Ma
rion Club, received first prize, his average
being 1S2 12-7S-the highest in the history
of the league. His prize was a gold lOcket.
The second prize, a gold watch chain, went
to Captain BrySon, of the MarionS, who is
always at or near the top. Ben Brown, of
the same team, always a pacemaker for the
Zine" was third and received a suit case.
Mel Knox, another Marion, selected a lamp.
George Kirkhoff, of the Washingtons, took
fifth prize, a beautiful stein. Eleven other
prizes were selected by those in order, end
ing with T.. o. Matlock, Of the Marions,
who received as last, or consolation prize,
a green pig with one eye, but well packed
with cigars.
Lew Cooper, councilman at large, re-
ceived an umbrella for the high single
score, 267, Oswald S~eidensticker receiving
a pair Of bowling shoes for second highest,
260. The highest team score was won by
the Marions. 1,040. The highest average
for three games was won by w. r. Gar
stang, 220 %. The highest losing score
was the Marions', 976. The prize for the
most strikes in one game was won by Fred
ComstOck, who made nine.
After the distribution of prizes there was
a vaudeville programme, participated in by
many from the Empire Theater and Harry
Porter. After this there were two glove
bouts. The first, three rounds, was between
Henshaw and Clark, and was spirited
throughout. The second was between Kid
Blackburn, who meets Jack Cullen to-mor-
row night at the Empire in a ten-round
go for a decision, and his brother Fred.
There was no attempt to make good in
the first four rounds. In the last the Kid
let out a few links, but was urged to re-
frain. as the crowd was not looking for a
finish fight.