Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-11
MUNICIPAL BALL CAME
Ciy CIeTk Sandlaad Receives Official
 Challenge ind Replies to It

take care of the onlcial nine and their friends from Bridgeport, when they come here to sec what they can do towards winning back the laurels they lost to Waterbury, and if the boys don't do them again 1t will not be the fault of MT Sandland. There is no fooling indulged in now as any, body can see by the following con- munications, which prove that both sides mean business.
 Here Is the text of the challenge that City Clerk Sandland received:
 Bridgeport, June 8, 1906. William H. Sandland, Esq, City Clerk,
 Waterbury, Conn.
 My dear MT Sandland:-I feel that the time has now come that l should keep from you no longer the secret that accompanied the victory achiev- ed by the baseball nine coming from the Brass City to Bridgeport last week. In 50 doing, I trust that the revelation will cause you no conster- nation nor any desire on your part to cancel any further engagements between the Park and Brass City offi- cials. The truth of the whole matter is that out of respect for the aggre- gation you sent down here from the i wilds of the Naugatuck valley, feel { ing that the odor of salt water and ] the sight of anything larger than the i Naugatuck river must have wholly i incapacitated them from ability as ball tossers, the Bridgeport city off, l cials purposely gave up all effort to 1 play ball.
 That your victory followed was due, as you must know, not to any exceptionally brilliant playing by your nine. but to the tireless efforts I of our men, 1 say tireless because it was with utmost difficulty that we were able to play bad enough to let i your men win by the narrow margin l of one run.
 { state that We will be in readiness for Iiyou on the date suggested. We have not endeavored to better our nine in l any way, but in spirit of mutual sportsmanship would beg leave to suggest that it would be advisable l for your fielders to arm themselves with bushel baskets, your infielders to provide themselves with coats of | mail. and your pitcher and catcher to be prepared for any emergency. You naturally could not expect our indulgence to extend into your home town, and We will come to Water bury. therefore, with tne avowed in- tention of trimming the Brass City bunch to a standstill.
 Will you please be so kind as to put out flag on the track when the train reaches Waterbury SO that we may not be carried past that flag station? We naturally are little timid about going so far into the will derness, and the Lord knows that we are extremely apprehensive of dan ger if we should penetrate still fur ther. If you could also have the roads l raked over before We try to walk through the waste known as Water- bury 1t would doubtless save much hardship on us.
 .h We might also suggest that in view of the name of your district, you tfo not overlook the fact that Bridge port is no longer able to secure water except in small packages, and that you nave plentiful supply in readi- ! ness on the occasion of our brief so- journ in your isolated burg or town ship.
 I would suggest that you advertise 1 the game as little as possible in or- ! der that the numbers may not be I large of those who will see the va- rious members of your oficial family making futile efforts to stop the hot" ones from my Pets. ..s.
 Trusting that the stones and other Instructions have been removed from your ball lot. remain,
 Yours with much condolence, E. T. Buckingham.
 City Clerk.
 After carefully reading the above and consulting his co-workers Clerk Sandland hurled back the following reply:
 June II, 1906. Edw T. Buckingham. Esq. City Clerk. Bridgeport. Conn.
 n My dear Buxx letter of the sth inst so cleverly unveiling the req son why the Waterbury Municipal baseball nine didn't trim your pets much more decisiyely on June 2, at hand. and hasten to thank you fo. putting us wise to the fact that the odor which so nearly caused us to suffer defeat was from the salt water which only favors Bridgeport with its presence because it was so creat; ed in the beginning. when some de- luded mortal was led to believe that your humble hamlet would in time amount to something on the map of Connecticut.
 But about the coming game and your intentions to lower our stand ing as ball tossers, it's a shame to tell the truth.
 A delusion Is a mistaken convic- tion: an illusion is a mistaken infer ence: an illusion may be wholly of the mind. a delusion always involves some mental error. Your letter sug- gests one or the other. Take your pick.
 i Now you need have no fear of no, knowing when to aIiEht from the train which will convey you to our cultured air. inasmuch as you will only need to follow the crowd when the train rolls into our Union station ana the brakeman yells out Water bury"
 Wait until the cars come 10 a full stop before you leave your seats. an. then take hold Of each others hands when you set out. as in our crowded thoroughfares you may get trample ! on.
 If you are really serious In your suggestion that ve furnish your dele gation with a plentiful supply of wa