The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-23
Players Spend Evenings Relating
Experiences to Crowds Who
Congregate at Hotel.
PLAY POOL AND BILLIARDS.
Smoot and O'Neill Are Rivals and
Use Baseball Terms Across
the Tables-Ryan Is
- s.t Champion.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Dallas. Tex. March 22-Camp Carolina
continues to be the center of interest here
though the players are now pretty well al
home and acquainted. AS the Texas League
season will open very shortly. the Lone
Star leaguers who are to represent Dalla.
In Ted Sulivan's famous circuit are arriv.
Ing in swarms here.
Up to the coming Of the minor Icaguers
the hundreds of local baseball enthusiasts
gave Smoot. ONelll. Farrell and the rest
Of the red-legs very little peace of mind
whenever they made their appearance about
the hotel corridors. On the streets 1t was
the same thing. The fans" are the real
thing down here. and they never tire Of
tanning" particularly when Il Is possible
for them to talk to a real big Lacquer
Most of the Cardinals enjoy the frendli-
ness of the Texans and these talks have
been one Of the features of the clubs stay
here
Hummer smoot Johnny Farrell, Mich
OILS and Barclay have shone particularly
bright in the talking matches each even
ing. Smoot has a lot Of peculiar rules.
which he tells his listeners, are going to be
placed In the rule book OF the National
League this season.
According to "Hummer's' tales. the short
stop will be excused from working only
when he feels disposed. Another Of his
favorite ones Is that the umpire will be
compelled TO act as sort of valet for the
catcher. holding his mask and breast-pro-
tector- as well as relieving him about every
other inning behind the bat.
Smoot has also purchased q bat forty
inches long. He purchased the willow here
and since he stalked into the hotel carry
ing 1t under his arm the fans point him
out as the man with the big bat Hum
mer' on arriving here was fully eight
pounds overweight. The strenuous daily
joys from the hotel to the grounds and re-
turn however. coupled with the hot sun,
have served to take of just Eve pounds of
fat. He is in the best Of condition. and has
been clouting the ball hard In all the
games.
The players put in their spare time be-
tween practices and bedtime reading and
clearing their lights playing pool and
billiards.
Daily the billiard-room in the hotel is
occupied by the sharks of the club. The
experts with the cue are: Jack Ryan,
Eddie Murphy. Buck Weaver. Jack O'Neill
smoot. Yerkes and Wicker
Of = the ss billiard ard
Weaver are not far behind the bigr NIT art
Murphy plays cunning game Of billiards.
quite lot Of interest manifested.
Weaver did not Join Zhe pool champions
until laet Monday: He is a very quiet fell
low, and UP to this time he seemed content
with lounging about the hall watching the
other fellows play. Ryan, however asked
him to take q stick last Thursday morn
ing.
Weaver and his feet slowly stalked
over to the table and the game proceeded.
Ryan missed his opening shot. Buck exc
cuted difficult two-cushion shct, gath
aring the balls. after which ne clicked OFF
10 points-a record unequaled so far. Hyan's
best run was 8 and Murphy's T. Buck sue
ceeded in winning his game
Smoot and Jack O'Neill are great rivals
on the pool tables. They play about an even
game. They use baseball talk over the
table ell the time. They don't spot the
ting a hit" A mics or II the cue bail goes
into a pocket Is called IAN error" Each
frame is called ian inning