davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1908-01-19
'Possum Hunting in the City.

Luck Is variable quantity in any
event. but never more so than in the
hunting field. One rainy night last week
two Washington brothers were invited
to a coon hunt in the woods of Virginia
After long debate one decided to attend ;
the other thought it sounded too siren
uous for him and came to the con-
clusion that quiet evening indoors
would suit him better. The first brother
crossed the river, met his hosts and
spent the entire night tramping the drip
ping woods, all to no purpose. No coon
or 'possum was, encountered. He arrived
home muddy, tired and out Of sorts, and
was smiling!y greeted by the second,
fresh from a longt sleep and the proud
possessor of a fat pOssum. caught by
hand outside L street garage. His
only trip out OF doors had been one of a
few blocks to put his motor car away
for the night. A friend who accom-
panied him pointed out an object moving
by q tree box: they approached it and
found a fine fat 'possum. With hands
encased in automobile gauntlets the own
er of the car seized the animal and bore
it triumphantly away. 1t now occupies
a box in the garage, but this will con-
tinue only until invitations can be issued
to the proper number of possumloving
friends. The animal probably came from
the woods out at the head OF 14th street,
and by following vacant lots finally ar
rived bewildered in the rather thickly
settled portion of Washington, where IT
was captured.
Evening star., 1908-01-19
FATS LEADING IN
DISTRICT LEAGUE.
In a Set With Saengerbund
Win Two Out of Three
GameS-BOntz Leads
Krauss in Averages.

During the past month the Saengers
and Fat Men kept on even terms with OPP
ponents in their close race for the Dis
trict Bowling League championship
When the standing was last published
the Fats led by two games. but this was
increased to three when the two leaders
came together and the Saengers lost the
rubber
Both the Bank Clerks and Orentals
have fallen off in percentage. but the
latter have crept up closer to the Bank
crs. losing one game less. The Casinos
are next to last but only three games
shy of third place
In team average the Sacngers and Fats
are remarkably close both having prac-
ticallS an average of 9O5. the leaders hav-
ing only fourteen more in total ping
In high games the OrientaIs and Saengers
are tied. LOIS. In the singles Walker is
best with 2o1. Bontz of the Saengers
Stiil holds the individual leadership and
doing ii by consistently steady pin tum-
bling with few exceptionally high games.
o'Donnell Of the Orientals remains in
second place, five points behind Eontz
krauss. last years champion is close
up He has not rolled in the Fats last
result of his twenty-four- hour record per
formances. but is due to start some
thing soon
Harry waters. captain of the leaders,
is in third place. 49,
The averages follow:
Evening star., 1908-01-19
STRICT RULE IS ADOPTED
PLAYERS MAY JOIN ONLY
OWN DEPARTMENT TEAMS.

The Departmental League reorganized
Tuesday evening at the Post Office De-
partment and the officers for the year
elected were Mr.. Merritt .. Chance. Post
Office Department president; Mr.. T. l..
Weed. Department of Commerce and La
Dor. vice president; Mr.. w. Il. Robinson.
Treasury Department. treasurer. and Mr..
E. ". Anderson of Commerce and Labor,
as secretary.
The following clubs of last season were
represented: Treasury. Post Office, In
terror, Navy and Commerce and Labor.
and these elected to membership the War
and Agricultural Department teams. who
dropped out last season. 1t was then
agreed to allow the office of the interstate
commerce commission to enter the league,
and it is expected thar the boys of Secre-
tary Moseley's jurisdiction will put in the
field one of the strongest aggre cations in
the departmental circuit.
Another important move was the adOp-
ticn of a rule prohibiting the drafting of
any players from the other offices. In
other words, every player must be bona
fiGe employe of the department the team
presents The Commerce and Labor team
desired the services of two players VINO
asst year played on lnelr team, coming
from Department of Justice and Govern
fnent Printing Office, but il was deemed
best to adhere to the plan OF making each
department support its own team
The schedule committec was not named
by President Chance, but VIII be made
known at the next meeting, Tuesday,
January 2s, at the post Office.
Mr. W. II. N7oriey OF the Wa Depart
meat was appointed Chairman of the
committee TO LOOK after obtaining the
White Lot for the championship series
and, despite rumors 10 the contrary. liz
tie fear is felt that Col. {. 5. B.omwcli
will refuse the request.
The selection OF the official uinpires and
scorers will also come up at the next
meeting and already Secretary Anderson
has numerous applications for the places
Evening star., 1908-01-19
SELECTING AN AMERICAN CREW
OPEN REGATTA OF CLUB AND
COLLEGE MEN SUGGESTED.

Il heartily indorse the remark recent
ly printed in The Star and credited to
college man that college men naturally
feel that the best college crew in the
country would be faster than any picked
crew and faster than any club crew."
said college graduate the other day
while discussing the best methods of se-
lecting the representative American crew
to go to the Olympic games regatta at
Henley next summer.
OF course" he continued. there has
been no competition between club and
college crews that has been a fair test.
No college crews are sent to the National
regatta, for that is held in August and
the college crews have then Iong< since
gone out Of training, for their big race
is held In June. The same circum-
stance has kept the English varsity
crews from rowing Americans. The
Oxford-Cambr!dge race is held early.
along about Easter. and unless some of
the men intend to row at Henley the
oarsmen all break training at once. 1t
Is something of hardship to remain
in training until June to row another
big race.
That's the way our college men feel
about rowing in the National. Over
twenty years ago the National Associa-
ton mad race for college fours. but
after being rowed a few years 1t was
dropped, as the colleges abandoned fours
for eigIts.
The Peoples regatta 1T Philadelphia,
july I. is also too late. although a week
should not make much difference. But
II Is essentially local affair and would
hardly attract a crack college crew. even
III one would be welcomed The Aneri-
can Henley at Philadelphia. held late in
May. is too early to draw the varsity
crews. and ] believe it has never done
50. The colleges have sent their second
crews more for the sake of the prac-
ilce than for any glory. and they have
done treditably. But there was never
much interest in the appearance of that
college crew at the American Henley,
for every one acknowledged that they
were merely second-rate crews
Thus, as have said. there has not
been any way o. comparing college and
club eights. My opinion that the for
mer are faster may be merely prejudice,
but / do hold the opinion and hold 1t
strongly. l think that last years Cor
nell eight could defeat any eight in the
country 1 base my opinion, Of course.
the different eights. having due regard
for current and tide. All the important
races were rowed on rivers.
But there is a way of settling the
HueS llOil rave regatta, Say, Oh IdT-
negie lake. or some equally convenient
body Of water. and invite the colleges
and clubs to send their eights. The
contest would probably have to be di-
vided into heats, and it is pretty safe
to say that the eight that survived
would be the fastest. The course should
be laid off the Henley distance-one
mile and 500 yards-and although the
Henley course is much slower than a
lake course. some idea of the crews
chances could be obtained from COM
parison with the Henley records.
1T seems to me that to send a crew
of picked men to England oarsmen Of
divergent methods and styles, is to in
yite certain defeat"
Evening star., 1908-01-19
MAY HAVE TO FIGHT FOR III
PHILADELPHIA LIKELY TO BID
FOR MIDDLE STATES REGATTA.

1T looks very much as if the National
regatta of 1903 will go to Providence,
r. T. said Mr.. Claude r. Zappone, the
local member of the National Association
of Amateur Oarsmen. to a Star repre-
sentative Friday. 'and that means" he
continued. that there is probability of
Philadelphia making a bid for the Mid
die States.
Il am surprised that the Schuylkill river
boys have passed up the National. for
outside of the economical question it is
the best place in America to pull off this
National affair. owing to the ease with
which the clubs along Boat House row
can entertain the great crowd that al
ways attends Then. too. it IS economy
for them to hold the regattas of this class
at home. for the money the Philadelphia
clubs would spend for transportation and
hotel accommodations if the regatta were
held elsewhere would pay the expenses of
all the regattas held In Philadelphia dur
ing the year. BY holding them at home
they save money.
''Of course. If Philadelphia makes no
fight for the National it is almost certain
it will put in big bid for the Middle
States. and that means a strong opposi-
ton to this city for this important aquatic
event. Commodore Harry Burke has re-
tired from office in the Schuylkill navy,
and he writes me that he does not know
what the policy of his successor will he.
but it is probable that he will want the
Middle States.
Washington is in tie fight to win,
said Mr.. Zappone. ANA already have re-
ceiyed assurances from some Of the lead
ing oars:acn of the country that they will
help this city 70 land the rich prize. The
Potomac River Regatta Association is
anx ous to secure the date for tnis year
the Potomac Boat Club. desires to show
its new fiome TO the crowd OF visitors that
usually follows the Middle Stases.
"Our city will put up gallant fight for
the prize. and while the local oarsmen
will be sorry to antagonize the oarsmen
and clubs of Philadelphia. as hitherto they
have worked harmoniously in such af-
fairs, they will make the Schuy1kill Navy
boys work harder than they have ever
done. before they are beaten.
The meeting of the national association
TO determine the place of the annual re-
gatta takes place in March and at that
meeting Washington will be fully repre-
sented as it will be very easy to ascer-
tain the drift of opinion in regard to the
Middle States
Should Washington fail to get the Mid
die States 1t is morally certain that the
Potomac Boat Club will arrange for one
OF the Potomac river regattas. as it Is un-
likely it will let the year go by without
giving the local people some sort of re-
gatta.
Evening star., 1908-01-19
: CHESS EXPERT. COMING.
Jacques Mieses Will Give Simul-
taneous Exhibition.

Lovers of chess in this city are likely
soon to have an opportunity of witnessing
simultaneous exhibition by one of the
globe-trotting exponents of the game
Jacques Mieses, the champion of Austria
is now a visit to the United States
and has for some time past been giving
exhibitions in the eastern cities. Arrange
nents a-e about to be completed for his
appearance at the local chess club. prob
ably somewhere, between the Goth and
18th of this month. Herr Mieses is in the
tront rank of players in the International
tournaments. his recent achievements in
this line having been Of a very brilliant
order. He is noted for the freedom OF his
style. and is one OF the few masters who
is not afraid to essay a gambit occasion
ally in serious play.
Players in the District who wish to take
a board against the expert in the simul-
ianeous will be accommodated at the
usual fee by applying to +. c. Lavender.
secretary of the chess club GA 18th street
northwest. The general public Is invited
to witness the exhibition free Of charge.
Evening star., 1908-01-19
NO ROOM FOR TWO CLUBS.
Experience Of the American Asso-
citation of 1884 Recalled.

Il am glad to see that the silly talk of
running an outlaw team in Washington
has died the death of cold frost" said
a prominent banker Friday while speaking
of the prospects of the local American
League team for the coming season. Not
that L was afraid it would cut any figure
in our town. for 1t would only be repeti-
tion of history of 1884.
II have been playing base ball all my
life. and even at this late day I manage
to get on the commons and my back yard
and do stunts. just TO see if l can lins
them out like in the olden days. when
played with the boys in old Franklin
Park. and no one likes better to go out to
the head of 18th street to watch every
move of the players, for I rarely miss a
game during the year.
Washington cannot support two pro-
fessional teams. Among the bankers and
brokers who follow the game there is the
same feeling that am expressing to you
In 1854 | think 1t was that Mr.. l.. Mox-
ley, the bill poster. secured an
American Association franchise. leased
the block at 9th and streets and turned
il into a fine base ball park He secured
e lot of home talent of good repute, such
as Bob Barr pitcher. Gladman as third
base and Johnny Hollngshead as man.
ager. He also secured Some frst-clasS
material from various sections and for a
time things looked bright and happy and
to all appearances IL was going to be a
huge success.
I'm the same year the "old regime -
Messrs. Michael Scanlon Henry Bennett.
AL. Ridgeway. John Miller. James Regan
and others had team In the Union AS
sociation with grounds down at New Jer-
sey avenue ard street and there games
attracted iarg@ crowds daily, there being
always large congressional crowd in
the early spring contests. and as their
circuit was composed of clubs more even
ly balanced than those of the American N
Association. the attendance al the 9th
street park toward the middle OF the sea-
son began to peter out considerably
THE situation became critical in Au-
gust Mr.. Moxley, seeing the folly of
sinking any more money in the money
eating venture, put lid on his chest
and refused to put up any more money to
pay salaries. The team was stranded high
and dry and many of the outside talent
did not have the wslerewith to get hack
to their homes
II; was at this point that Mr.. Scanlon
and his Union Association players ar
ranged benefit game on their grounds
for the stranded They played them be-
fore large crowd and signaiIy defeated
them. but in return handed each outside
PLAYER on the stranded club a fat sum OF
money to enable him to reach home 1t
was generous act on the part of a rank
opponent. as the two associations that
wear were at daggers points, and the only
drawback to the affair was the kicks
made by some of the locals on the Moxley
team who wanted to claim a share OF tn,
receipts Also but were sat down on hard.
That is one instance of rival professional
teams In Washington, and let us hope IL
will not be repeated in our day said the
banker as he entered the portals of his
establishment TO look after the stock
market quotations of the day. his score
card during the winter mouths.
Evening star., 1908-01-19
WHAT MlCHIGAN'S
WITHDRAWAL MEANS

The definite withdrawal of tho Ini-
yersity Of Michigan from the Intercni-
lcgatc Conference Association has clear
cd the western athletic atmosphere. But
1t Is hard Ia see how Michigan could
have done Qthcr,.ise under the circuri-
stances The conference insisted upon
examining down the throais of the Noi-
rcrines Il lot of legislation which neither
they nor any other seh-respect'ng uni
versity could stomach. Michigan realized
that she could remain in tho conference
only by obeying the dictates of colleges
inferior Internationally and athlcticaily to
the Ann Arbor> institution. Michigan
made one final effort to secure some
reasonable concession from tho confer
ence and when this failed dh the only
honorable thing left and got out,
Some of Michigan's faint-hearted stu
dents are now worrying about where
they arc to lind athletic opponents in the
future. FOR the conference has adopted
the boycott plan by decreeing that no
member of the organization shall meet
any other institution which is neither a
me mber Of the conference nor observes
the conference rules. This of course was
intended to prevent Michigan from Sc
curing desirable opponents and ultimately
to force the Wolverines to return to the
conference.
more puerile policy could hardly be
conceived. for il is certain TO be a dis
NAL failure. Michigan can easily secure
better foot ball. base ball aud track
schedules than If she were member Of
the big nine" In foot ball she already
has one championship game with tho
University of Pennsylvania and she can
easily complete her schedule with such
schools as Vanderbilt. Ohio State. Wa
bash, Nebraska and other colleges I'm the
west who neither have allied themselves
with the conference. nor observe its rules.
1t is likewise possible for Michigan fo
get games with the Carlisle Indians.
Dartmouth. Syracuse and possibly COR
nell. If anybody imagines that Michi-
gan Will not have first-class schedule
this fall Director Baird is likely To sur
prise such an individual when his foot
ball dates are announced.
Michigan of course. had nothing -
lose I'm track athletics when she left the
conference. The magnificent showing "f
her team at the intercollegiate champion
ships in Cambridge last June and every
year at the Pennsylvania relay carnival
is proof that in this sport the wolverines
have infinitely Dettered themselves.
Michigan's withdrawal has certainly hurt
the conference meet. which. since Michf-
gan's entry In the east. has sunk many
degrees in Importance.
II will be interesting TO note the e.
feet which Michigan's withdrawal VIII
have upon the big eight it must
now be termed. If the undergraduates
and alumni had voice in the doings or
the conference it is safe TO assert that
the offensive legislation which forced
Michigan out would be repealed III a
hurry The students ct Chicago are even
now up in arms over the manner In which
their faculty representatives have been
accustomed to decide important matters
affecting their welfare without consult
ing them Such methods will not inspire
any great confidence in the conference
association among the great mass OF
the students.
Evening star., 1908-01-19
Another Yacht Race.

NEW YORK, January 1S.-It is prob
able that a yacht race that will attract
some attention will be arranged for the
coming season between 1S-foot knock
abouts representing the great lakes and
Massac chusetts bay. A. W. Finlay, owner
of the Dorchen, has been trying to ar
range things. and has been in communica-
ton with the lake yachtsmen. He has re-
ceived a letter from Robert E. Power of
the Lakeside Yacht Club Of Cleveland
which says that the western yachtsmen
will send on two yachts. to race in the
east provided the eastern men will send
two yachts to the lakes in 1909 The
Massachusetts yachtsmen acted on this
suggestion at once, and have agreed to
meet the two lake yachts with their two
best this summer, and to send two Of their
yachts for a return match next year.
Evening star., 1908-01-19
RAILWAY RELIEF BowLERs.
Changes in Positions in Two of the
Teams.

Few changes were made in the stand
ing of the teams in the Washington Rail-
way Relief Association Bowling League
in the past week. All the teams remain
in the same position except the North
eastern team, which has climbed into
fourth position and the Columbia, which
has fallen back. The Mechanical team
is far in advance of the other teams.
having won nineteen and lost five, with a
percentage of .19l. The Northern and
Roadway quints are tied for second
position with an equal number of games
won and lost and have a standing of .666
in the percentage column. In the indi-
vidual averages Smelling of the Northern
outfit still remains the best bowler Of
ing lost one point since last week Her
bert is second. with 173. and Wilson third,
with 16S. Following are the averages:
Evening star., 1908-01-19
F. HANSEN THREW
SWEDEN'S BEST
Lundin Says His Pupil Is Des'
tined to Be Greatest Wres-
tier in World at His
Weight.

Hjaimar Lundin. the giant Swedish
wrestler. says that his pupil. Fritz Han
sen. is destined TO be the greatest weltcr-
weight wrest,e- at the catrh-as-catch-can
style that has ever twisted his arms
| around an opponent. Lundin and Hansen
have just come to this country from
tour of Sweden lasting six months during
which Hansen never refused challenge
nor lost a fall. Now Hansen is looking
for championship honors on this side OF
the pond and will Immediately start after
the best in his class.
Lundin is an expert Of the G. aeco-
Roman style. but knows enough of Han
sens style to serve as valuable training
partner. Lundin says that Hansen is
really the most remarkable wrestler of
his weight that has appeared for many
years
Why said Lundin. this young fell
low was only made to wrestle He sleeps.
drinks and eats on the mat. and when
ever he is not in sight OF a appling
match he acts like duck In the desert. :
After Lundin had delivered this eulogy
he proceeded to prove 1t by some real
action The two wrestlers went at 1t
hammer and tongs. and soon the air was
full of flying legs. arms, half nelson's and
chancery holds. Lundin is close up to
the 20o-pound mark in weight. while Han
sen tips the beam a 40 pounds. Strange
to say, however. II was Lundin who was
doing most of the pi-ouetting I'm the
vapOrs once his smaller antagonist got
going.
Hansen when stripped for action can
easily make 146 pounds. the weterweight
limit. He is twenty years of age and
is five feet seven inches tall. His other
measurements are as follows: Neck II
inches: chest. normal 40R inches; chest,
expanded, is1s inches. biceps, II inches:
forearm. Il inches: wrist. "a. inches;
thigh. 32% inches; calf. 13. inches. He
is ruddy faced and healthy looking. lives
perfect life and is always in condition
to grapple
Despite the fact that he is popularity
known as the Swedish wrestler. Hansen
owes all his skill to the training he got
in this country. About six years ago
I.undin happened TO be in Worcester,
Mass. where the graprler's art has al
ways been popular He espied husky
lad walking about the streets and asked
him IL he would like to wrestlc. Han
sen did not know what Lundn meant. but
he said he would try it. At the begin
ming he was very raw, but he gave some
of the sharps such a time putting him
down that they decided to educate him
to the tricks of the game.
Hansen is now seeking matches with
Alec Swanson. the present catch-as-catch-
can welterweight champion; Eugene
Trembly of Montreal and Charles Keiser
of Auburn. He has already secured a
match with Ed O'Connell the wrestling
| instructor at Cornell. to be held in Hart
ford. Conn, January ~. Lundin Is so
confident that his pupil can beat any man
of his size that he will put up any amount
of money as q side bet for a good bout
Lundin himself Is by no means out of the
game. While in Sweden he took num-
Der of matches and won all of them.
Evening star., 1908-01-19
Crack Young Player Will Again Go Against the
Masters of the Game Probability of
His Defeating Jake Schaefer.

meet for the 1872 title. Sutton is re-
garded as sure winner.
Experts believe that Hoppe has a bet
ter chance to wrest the 1S.1 title from
Schaefer than he has to defeat Sutton
at the other game. The lad success
fully defended the 1871 title against
Schaefcr; in fact. he has never been
beaten for that title. He brought it
to America two years ago by crossing
the Atlantic and beating Maurice Wig
naux Hoppe was directly responsible for
the revival of big billiard matches in New
York city. When he chucked up his title
last spring and went to Europe, Sutton
and Schaeie" quickly gathered all the
lonors. Lack Of opponents who classed
with this great pair mace this a dull sea-