Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-08
BIC CROWD FAILS
To SEE BALL GAME
NEW YORK AND CHICAGO
CLUBS IN WRANGLE
National League Teams Have Dispute
Over Umpire and Each
Claims the other
Forfeited

NEW YORK, Aug. 7.-Somethlng
unique in baseball occurred here today
when the game which was to have been
played as the third Of the present series
between the New York and Chicago
National league clubs did not take
place on the Polo grounds.
Each club claims that the other for
feited, so the National commission
must straighten out matters, and a
lengthy wrangle is bound to ensue.
So far as the National league can
chronicle the unplayed game at present
Chicago has been officially declared the
winner, to 0 to forfeit.
At yesterdays game the second Of
the series, a good deal of i'll Ieeling was
shown on both sides on account Of
decisions rendered by Umpire john
stone. When Johnstone and Emslie,
the umplres assigned by President Pull
liam arrived at the entrance to the
Polo grounds today tombstone was re-
fused admittance, and Emslie, who ac-
companied him, declined to take any
part in the game so long as his asso-
ciate was not allowed to perform his
official functions.
Declares Game Forfeited
Johnstone then declared the game
forfeited by New York to Chicago, bas-
fusal to admit him to the grounds.
The crowd, which numbered about
11OOO wondered at the delay and yelled
''play ball'' repeatedly. while Man
ayers McGraw and Chance held a con-
sutation.
McGraw called upon his utility man,
Strang, to officiate as umpire. Chance
refused to appoint team to act in con-
junction with Strang, saying that the
game had been forfeited under the
rules.
Chicagos Retire
President Charles Murphy of the Chi
cago club then took hand in the
much mixed proceedings, and after he
had spoken a few words to Chance the
Chicago players left the grounds in the
belief that they were perfectly justified
in doing SO.
A few minutes later TN announcer
jumped from the grand stand and said
he had been requested by the New
York club management to make the
following statement:
Umpire Johnstone was barred from
these grounds today by Police In
spector Sweeney, who feared that the
presence of Johnstone after yesterdays
tumult might incite a riot. Umpire
Johnstone has declared the game for
feited by New York to Chicago to o."
Later on the announcer again ad-
dressed the crowd, which was by this
time scattered over the diamond and
the outfield, saying:
McGraW's Order
II am instructed by Manager Nc
Graw to say that, he having sent
Strang out as an umpire and the Chi
cago team having ignored his calling
on them to play BALI the game under
the rules, is forfeited by Strang to New
York to 0, and the New York club will
protest the claim of the visiting club"
Rain checks had been issued prior to
the game and the patrons of the club
were informed that these checks would
be good for any other game on these
grounds during the present seasons.
SWeeney's Defense
Police Inspector Sweeney when seen
later on said that he had not taken the
initiative in preventing Umpire john
stone from entering the grounds, and
added that it was at the request Of the
management of the New York club
that he had acted as he did.
At the office of the New York club
tonight the following statement, signed
by John T. Brush, the president, was
issued:
Brush's Statement
"At the conclusion of yesterdays
game such disorder followed that a
large force of police under the direction
OF Inspector Sweeney was necessary to-
protect the umpire, Mr.. Johnstone,
from the violence of the crowd who
were incensed at his decisions.
During the demonstration many of
the spectators were endangered, the in
spector himself being struck, and one
of his officers injured.
after a conference this afternoon
between the club officials and Inspector
Sweeney the inspector deemed it advis-
able to remove the disturbing cause,
and therefore, as measure of precau-
tion, he believed that Mr.. Johnstone
ought not to appear upon the grounds.
For this reason Mr.. Johnstone was ex-
cluded."