New-York tribune., 1903-02-08

although At first the game had the reputation Of
being '.r1ui peIigroso' every dangerous J. When II
is learned that il one memorable game no 4esS
than eight players were laid out-and these al on
me side-one is not surprised at this Teputatloh'
bat this ambitious list due doubtless to the IN
experience Of many Of the players. nor has the
record been repeated. Now Porto Rico has BOAST
al 1bs existence Of her national game pelota, as
it is called. since September, lSn' When the lI0L
real season opened under the auspices OF a true
1easre The clubs which composed this league
were Los Gigantic" ('The Giants, recruited from
the ranks Of business men, lawyers, stenogTaphels
and clerks from the various mercantlie houses IA
San Juan: the United States Mail, made up OF the
oe.oH7ca eroDIoves: the Interior Department, rep
resenting the clerks and officials Of the Depart
rnent Of the Interior; the Treasury Department
composed OF employees and ofacials OF the uelaI l
rnent and the Secretaries. representing the De
rartu1ent Of State. Through process OF abseTp-
+io, and survival Of the dttest the league was re-
organized as the Porto Rico Baseball Associatoh'
formed Of the Interiors the 59th Company (soldiers
~ the 18th Coast Artillery, Treasurers and the
Coamos a permanent committee has teen formed
representing all the clubs. And the pubic sym
7,a+hx has been enlisted such extent that the
government through Colonel James a. Buchanan
granted authority for the use Of some government
land in Puerto del TERRA. and here the diamond
has been laid out and the grandstands have been
erected.
The beneficial effect which is being brought
about by the infusion of healthy American ath-
letics into the morbid Southern atmosphere may be
ina gned Even the ''muchachos'-the ragged lit
tie dark skinned urchins-are not behind street
bows here in ambition; and otter sees
them instead of taking sunbaths IN the doorways
1-aging fierce baseball battles armed. usually with
broornsticks and wads Of cloth in lieu Of bat and
ball But what a healthy substitute for their
former lazy mode Of recrea ton, And the same
spirit has penetrated in more organized fashion
into the various schools among whose several
teams there exists animated rivalry
Further true to the spirit Of the times. there
gave a salutatory bow to the Porto Rican public
on November !. 1902 publication called El Sport.
appearing every Saturday The paper, which rep
resents an earnest and praiseworthy endeavor, viii
devote its columns TO the interests OF athletics
throughout the island. and viii publish all its an
nouncenents in both Spanish and English Per
haps no better method Of stating the purpose Of
the paper could be followed than that OF quoting
the announcement which appeared in its first is
sue and which IN spite Of some slight obscurities
Of translation carries the point clearly enough 10
the reader:
SALVATION.
Ell Sport" greets the press eourtecusly and the
amateurs of baseball that protect Us IN our enter
prise and the same time that concur 10 ihS bop
uarity OF baseball and generally to every t ateIc
sport aids great service TO the physical deNelop-
ment Of our youlhfuess pracG 10 tlt he iit1
ana ethics physical instruction constitutes me
best education Of the people
oCR PURPOSE,
..FcI Snort" appears nodestly and viii reach
far. if, as expect. we aided by the baseball
league and the Porto RIcau clubs and al
the amateurs who are Interested ~ the heaIthy
American game that years ago played II
England, and present is played In France and
Spain ,-s,--. .-z.,,..s % a,.a,,. lind
Of sport but also We want to do our pest IN hera
We offer our columns any one who wishes TO
help us by sending appropriate works to the dis
esP,to1 81 neWs-paper relative 10 sport litera-
ture and request TO the league as wen as lhe
clubs. to send Us every notice referring to base
he