Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30
sUCCUMBs TO CUPID
POPULAR BASE BALL PLAYEK
JOINED IN WEDLoCK.

With lance poised and visor down. Cupid
| the agent and ally for both the conquerors
and the conquered. won over another bach
elor to the realm of matrimonial bliss last
| evening through the union of the hearts
! and hands of Baltimore couple, who elud-
| ed the observation of all except a few init
mate friends. made their escape from the
| Monumental city and came over to Wash
| ington to have the nuptial knot tied. And
| this was the contamination of courtship
| around which very pretty and romantic
story is woven. The contracting parties
| were James William Byers. who is known
all over the world of ''fandom' as the popu-
| lar catcher of the Oriole base ball club of
Baltimore, and Miss Saidee c. Martin of the
| same city.
Plans for secret marriage had been made
with the most careful elaboration. and
when the bridal party alighted from the
$50 train in the Pennsylvania station last
night, and merriIy tripped through the
gates. they had no suspicion that q re-
porter was lying in wait to give the par
! ticulars of the matrimonial event Hav-
Ing received the license. the members of the
party were quickly whiried away to the
office of Justice Louis l. O'Neal where the
knot was tied good and fast. The ceremony
was witnessed by Mr.. Hugh Jennings, man
ager of the Baltimore base ball club; Mr..
John NJ Sessions, Miss Gerte Martin. a
sister of the bride; Miss Annie r. Naugh-
ton. Samuel and Thomas Martin, brothers
of the bride; Mr.. and Mrs. ]. w. Albaugh
Miss Ruth Parrett, Miss Cecilia Stone. ].
Leo Brown. Miss Mae Hall. Miss Emma
Yeaton Mrs. l.. Harvey and Mr.. Charles
( Cole, the latter from this city.
/ Gossips Didn't Know.
\ The announcement of the engagement Of
the couple, it is said, was made in Balti-
| more last winter, following the first season
| of big" VIII Byers as a base ball player
in that city. Because the marriage did not
take place within a few months the 'gos-
sips said there was nothing to it," but
the two who had most at stake knew to the
contrary, and last nights ceremony will
give Baltimoreans a surprise. Mr.. Byers
| met Miss Martin shortly after he began his
contract with the club In Baltimore and
friends of the parties say 1t was love at first
sight. The couple were devoted to each
other and almost inseparable, Miss Martin
occupying box at the games in which her
future life companion would appear, always
manifesting the deepest interest in his
career.
After Justice O'Neal pronounced the
happy couple man and wife, congratula-
tons were bestowed upon them bounti-
fully by their friends who had stood SOL
EMMY by and witnessed the ceremony.
The masculine members of the party
waited until the plucky and sturdy ball
player answered the questions pronounced
by the officiating magistrate. then they
started out, as one of them said, to see II
Washington could be painted red as Bal
timore, and all the others joined In the re-
fraln that the town was "all to the merry
The wedding supper was served at Fritz
Reuters. The entire party will remain In
Washington until Monday. and will then
return to Baltimore.
Has Record.
Big VIII Byers, as he is Familiarity
termed by his associates and admirers.
went to Baltimore about the middle of last
season, having served for some time pre-
viously as a utility catcher with the strong
st. Louis National base ball club. He
progressed rapidly the season went on.
and at the close of last year was rated
generally as one of the top-notcher back
stops of the league. This year he is said
to have even eclipsed that recod, for. be-
sides being one Of the leagues most prom
inent catchers, he has figured prominently
in the stick work of the Oriole aggrega-
ton.
Since the opening of the present season he
has led the batting list with a record of
| 400 in the stick work, and at no time has
fallen below the $50 mark, which. by the
way is regarded an envable record for
any hitter.
Miss Martin is he younger of two daugh
tiers of the late Mrs Ellen Martin of ia
North Howard street Baltimore. which is
still their home. Mrs. Martin, before her
death some time ago, conducted theatrical
| boarding house in Baltimore and was pop
ular among the theatrical folk. Her hos
ptality was by-word with them, and she
was greatly admired among the followers
of the profession She is said to have num-
bered as Ter personal friends many of the
great stars of the country. After Mrs.
Martins death Miss Saidee took charge
of the work her mother left to her, and is
now head of the pOpu ar house which Is fire.
uuented by many theatrical stars while
playing in Baltimore.
Mr. and Mrs. Byers wi. start their
honeymoon trip when the Orioles leave on
trim The tour Will the
couple to many points. including Jersey
City, Newark, Atlantic City. Providence,
Buffalo Rochester and Montreal.