Evening journal., 1907-07-30
WHEN OLYMPICS
MADE THEIR TRIP
Many DiSCOmFOTts Suffered in
Order 10 Keep Their
Engagements

Inc modern high-priced ball player
travels around the country like a steel
magnate, and the luxurious comforts he
enjoys are much in contrast with the
style that the pioneers Of the sport
enjoyed back in the days when long
trips were first made by the Nationals
and Olympics." was the way "Old Has
Been" started Off his talk last night
Nowadays nothing is to good for
the modern athletes, and II It falls be-
low the standard set by thes worthless
huge howl is Immediately raised, and
the affable and diplomatic manager is
kept stewing until he gets things TO
suit his heavy-hitting right fielder, but
J In the days when every player had his
heart in the game, and his pocket
book didn't worry him, it was so diff
ferent
"Tho history Of the long trip made
by the Nationals in 1867, the one fol-
lowing in 1863 by the Red Stockings
and the same year by the Olympics OF
this city would I'll volumes If the mis-
haps, accidents and various plans made
and successfully carried through to
1nalSe connections in order to keep en-
gagements We're recorded.
There were no prearranged sched-
ules, every team had it's own private
arrangements and went ahead and
made dates without taking into con-
sideration any other team, hence "jolts"
sometimes took place that at the last
minute had TO be changed, trips revised
and schemes worked out to reach the
points where the next games were dat
ed. The pioner trip of the Nationals
in 1867, which was arranged by Mr.
Jimmy Patterson, was carried
through admirably. because the advent
Of the Nationals into the west was a
novelty and a days delay made no
great difference. Still the players had
trouble on the western roads that If
experienced today would send the mod
ern gladiator over to the home on the
hill beyond Anacostia.
Il was one of the hardy patriots that
went along on the trip Of the Olympics
i'm 1869, the longest of its kind up TO
that time as the club visited more
cities and played more games than
did the famous Red Stockings, who
had previously made a tour the same
year, and defeated every team they
met.
we had trouble everywhere. even
In such small jumps as from Cincin-
natl to Mansfield, Ohio nothing went
properly but our worst time came when
turning our faces eastward for the re-
turn trip, we ran up against a snag
of huge dimensions at Cincinnati.
"On that trip the Olyppics played
the Red Stocks four games. In the
last one they defeated us, 10 to Z. the
game being delayed by a rain storm.
our boys were anxious to play it out,
as they imagined they had chance of
defeating the unbeatables. Well, the
game WAS played out, but the train
we were expected to take for Philadel-
phia was at that time many miles to
the east, ana there was no other train
out that night for us to take in order
TO reach Philadelphia in time for our
next game. But right here came in the
do or die" spirit Of the Olympic man
agement. Secretaries n. f. Young and
Fred Schmidt in particular.
A freight was due TO leave Clncin-
natl at 1 a. m and after many con-
sultations with the agent of the rail-
way company Il was decided to add a
box carr for the players Say you
haven't any idea what a box car OF
those days was, nor can you imagine
what a trip of 200 miles meant over
a rough mountain road, for such was
the Baltimore and Ohio in those days.
lt was the days before the use of air
brakes, but rough as the ride, and
tedious as the trip proved to be, the
band never walled, the only desire be-
ing to reach Philadelphia in time to
keep their word with the Keystones
of that place.
They arrived in PHILADELPHIA one
hour ahead of the time set for the
game, but every one Of the players
took a portion of that hour for a bath
in the waters of the SchuyllSill river.
But they presented sorry sight when
they appeared on the field to play
the Keystones then the best team in
the city OF Philadelphia. Though
fatigued, they played a wonderful game
against their opponents. that is for
that period of ball playing
Now I wonder" continued "Old Has
Been" how many of our up-to date
high salaried players would have un-
dergone all of the discomforts, of such
a long trip on hot August nights, just
to keep engagements for the honor Of
the club and nothing else How many?'
The score of that game was as fol-
lows:
KEYsTONEs.
o. r.
lilcks 70. .ss.sss-.. -...s......sss... 3