The Washington herald., 1907-01-20
ISBELL INTERVIEWED
Demon Athlete Tells sOf Career
as a Plumber.
JOHN D. HAS NOTHING ON HIM
white SOx Second saeker scraped
Hair on Looking Under Bath Tubs
for Leaks-secret of Success Is in
Making Out Bill and Getting Money
without Feeling Ashamed.

Wichita, Kans., Jan. 19-It was bitter
cold in the streets Of Wichita Also in
the alleys and homes Of the Kansas town
In some OF the homes the air was so bit
ter 1t tasted sour
A coal famine held the place in its Icy
mitt when the reporter and staff photog-
rapher fell of the train. Many times the
freezing inhabitants had appealed TO Gov
Hoch for aid He told them to hook the
furniture and buy coal Beyond this
simple recipe the governor was powerlcss
But there was one hot spot in Wichita
From the roof of a small shanty on a
side street an iron funnel stuck up forty
feet The funnel was red hot to the top,
and much black smoke worth $ per cubic
foot hoated away on the frosty breeze.
Who belongs to all that superfiuous
heat?" the reporter asEed a cop
HE Is Mr. f. Isbell. the demon second
baser. That is his plumbing shop. His
share of the worlds series amounted 10
g. O00 and now he had coal TO ignite"
Let US enter and soak up some of the
superfuous heat" said the stan photog-
rapher
BaId-headed Youth.
A knock at the door brought quick re-
sponse. same as a knock in the sporting
column. Pretty soon a powerfully-built,
bald-headed youth opened the portal.
is this Mr. F. Isbell. the Demon Ath-
lete?"
'The same; but there is nothing doing
to the Tri-Stite."
do not misjudge US, sir" said the re-
porter we wear gum shoes because of
the snow and ice on the SNOWFALL circuit
our object is to procure an interview
Welcome to our prepossessing city
said Mr.. F. IsbeH, in tones beftting a
worlds champeen. Come right in and
have a little heat. I'll talk on any subject
but please don't ask me to squat in char
acteristic baseball attitudes. Ny joints
already are ossifed doing that stunt for
pictures that never get into the papers"
Hes a kicker, ike all Demon Ath-
letes, whispered the staff photog. 1t
makes them chesty to win pennanJs.
This is 70 be a little social chat In the
plumbing shop" the reporter assured Mr..
+. Isben NO batting averages or base
stealing records. All we ask is that you
pose for pictures Of yourself at the age
Of years. the house in which you We're
born. and rs you appear to-day. All great
men are written Up that way in the maga-
zines, you know
''That should be easy said the subject
Of cur sketch. eco as Tar as you Ike
and I'll pose for the pictures"
While Mr.. IsbeH set the shop to rights
and busted of his features the stan
photog uuIimbered the camera 50 as 20
snap the athlete unaware during the in
terview-
Did you learn the plumbing business
on purpose. or was il an accident Mr.
Isbcil was asked.
Great plumbers are born-not made
just ike great athletes. With no apparent
effort on my part. / reached the zenith OF
power both as plumber and second
baser Plumbing comes as easy TO me as
making four two-5aggers in a single
game I did intend TO be an orchestra
leader. but I lost my hair too early in
life"
Were YOU at any time actuated by
mercenary motives in the PRONUNCIATION Of
your two chosen professions
Makes Noise Like 81 900 Bill.
''No. indeed / went out for everything
IN sight. The cash comes as q matter IF
course to any man who knows his busi-
ness. I helped lam the bitumen out Of the
Cubs, and now I'm back here in Wichita
making noise ike a 81 900 bill"
. Does that help some?'
Much. and then some" Mr.. r. Isbel
replied with feeling. When each spring
time comes. gentle Annie, and I join the
Sox for practice, the knockers in this
town wonder how much longer that
mildewed mutt is going to last. They say
1 should be carrying the bats for Shamo-
kim Pa, in the Fried Ham League. But
at the close Of each season come home
carrying a new bank book Nothing
to it."
rs it true. Mr. Isbell. that plumbers are
wealthy beyond the widest dreams OF
avarice?"
IN answer that question by saying
John D. Rockefeller has nothing on me
when he takes his wig off "
Do you imply that near hair and vast
riches are synonymous ?''
We won't 90 into details on that
point said Mr. F. IsbeH I say that
John d. has nothing on me when he takes
his wig off. ana well let it go at that"
How did you lose your hair?"
"Scraped il off crawling under bath
tubs looking for leaks Most plumbers
are shy on thatch for the same reason"
why do manufacturers build those
dachshund tubs-the ones with the short
legs?"
To Annoy the Plumber.
"Merely to irritate. disfgure and IN