The San Francisco call., 1908-07-13
NeIsOnCr Cr0Wnedking
of LiVermOYe
Everybody in Town Turns Out
When the Battler Jumps
Off the Train
By Spike

The town of Livermore went Battling
Nelson mad yesterday. Not since the
memorable day years ago when Theo-
dore Roosevelt passed through the
thriving city has any individual been
greeted like the lightweight champion
He was more fatigued from dofting
his lid and grasping the mitts of all
corners than he was after putting the
rollers under Joe Cans July 4. The
townspeople wanted TO call special
election and place Bat in the mayors
chair, but he sidestepped the honor
and modestly beat il home.
Nelson. in company with his father,
Willis Britt. Jack Grace and Charles
and George Dixon, stepped off the train
shortly before noon. They all looked
for a modest reception, but when they
saw delegation of $500 persons
headed by the representative citizens
of the town lined up at the depot, they
all staggered and were figuring out
how to stall when a bunch of willing
ones grabbed the Battler and fairly
carried him to a waiting carriage.
Then the Livermore brass band of
80 pieces struck up Hail TO the Chief
and everybody began to cheer. Britt
was SO overcome that he swallowed two
cigars, and Grace said it reminded him
of the crowd that turned out to greet
the viceroy of India at Singapore some
40 years ago.
When the champion and his party
had been duly seated in their carriage
regular procession, made up of auto
mobiles, rigs and pedestrians, and led
by Fred Burr, made its way up the
main street. The band tore off every
thing from the classics to the Merry
Widow waltz. and everybody in the
T11o HI Nd
strong for the new king of the ring
Bats party finally pulled up at the
ball grounds, where the record crowd
OF the season turned out to see the
home team go against the Imperials.
Here the Battler figured even stronger
than ever. Right off the reel he was
appointed umpire. He could not duck
the honor. and before he knew what
was about to come off. he found him
self yelling Play ball"
Bat worked like a big league fndf-
Gator man who had weathered the storm
of a dozen years. He made our only
Bull Perrine look like a bush Judge of
the national pastime. He was there
with every movement and he called
everything right. In fact, Bat got
along so well that not a kick was made
at any of his rulings, and now they
want him to go up to Livermore every
time the nome nine Is billed Tor action.
The only sad feature of the day was
the fact that Livermore lost, to f.
For the first time this season the team
was beaten by the Imperials, headed
by Billy Bracket. Though Bats SYM
pathies were naturally with the Liver
more boys, he gave the other fellows
a square deal and after the game they
vowed that he was the greatest umpire
Of them all.
After the game, Bat took his father
out to see his ranch. At first the elder
Nelson refused to believe that the fine
sweep of land with it's thriving looking
vines belonged to his fighting son, but
he was finally convinced. and then he
declared himself as being in favor OF
spending the rest of his natural DAYS
in the beautiful valley.
When the Nelson party was ready to
take the train back to this city, an
other enthusiastic crowd was on the
job. Bat had to go through the hat
dof1ng and hand shaking work again,
and he was ready to take the count
when he finally managed to make a
desperate leap and land safely on the
train. All in all, the day was one of
the greatest in the Battler's career.