The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-08
SOCKALEXIS DYING
Former Connecticut League Wonder Near Deaths Door in Maine-A Mana
 gers Story.

Tho following article appeared in the May Issue of the Baseball Magazine and deals with SockalcxIs, tho great Indian player and is of interest here because he at one time played in the Connecticut league
 The night was crisp and cold, and tho stars sparklod In clear dark blue sky, high over the head waters of the Penobseot' The playing of dying flame from few loose embers across small window panes, gave warning that the little cottage was inhabited, and the stranger approached cautous- N, across n thin carpet of new fallen snow,
 A sharp rap at the door brought tho response: Come in" and the Big Noise pushed back the door with q Hello, neghbor." There was no an- swcr from the man who sat on a low bench close to the fro with crutch at his slde.
 Approaching, the stranged asked: Isn't this my old friend Battle Ax?"
 Tho name caused the invalid to straighten up and open his eyes. Then. throwing few sticks of wood on the fire he was soon able to recognize tho features of his caller.
 Are you glad to see me Ax?"
 Indeed l am. but I'm all done up with the rheumatism"
 T came down to see if you would go out next spring and play ball for me-" "Oh, how l would like to; but don't think will ever play another game"
 Yes. 1 played several years in tho National league, and was considered one of the great players, I can almost hear the ringing applause as hit tho | ball on the center, or when l made long accurate throw, But my popular lty was my undoing. dallied with the Red Water It was come and go with mo, and 1 found 1t difficult to keep away from the merry-go- round of civ- | illzatlon. Ah yes, I was a favorite with the public but. weakened: the pace was too fast for a boy developed by Nature. But l believe if had one moro chance I could win the battle against myself"
 Say, AK, I'll take chance, take care of yourself, and in the spring come and join us."
 With the spring came a message from the Indian, saying: T will come. but with weak ankle" The answer went back. Come on, I will blow up center field so that the going will be easy"
 With renewed spirits the Indian came and made good, was the sensation of the day and once more became the idol of the fans. But soon the Red Water'' commenced to show It's work, and Bat tle Ak found himself In the same old condition, Broke!
 He went to the Big Noise and said: "Kind master, find myself short on change, and would like to return to my people under the sparkling stars on the upper Penobscot" The Big Noise smiled, he was happy for an idea struck him full on the brain and he spoke slowly but with full knowl- edge that the Indian was weak one with the paddle.
 Battle Ak" said he, "Get birch canoe, follow the coast after you leave tho Merrimac until you come to the Bay of Penobscot, then hug the shore until you find the river Then, with tho help of the great spirit you will have nothing to fear until you hit Bangor and have to shoot the falls"
 The return of tho great Indian to the old town was never headlined in the daily papers and the stars once more twinkle high over the little cot- tage, The snow will never be broken again by a baseball manager looking for some one for a headliner, for Bat tic Ak has added other troubles to his rheumatism and sits the long evenings through gazing into the blazing logs. until the colors of the rainbow seem to reflect on Angels wings, and the wild hurrahs of the bowling fans awake the once great ball player to real facts of what might have been