Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-09
socKALExIs DYING.
Former Connecticut League Wonder
 Near Deaths Door.

| The following article appeared in the May issue of the Baseball Maga- zine and deals with Sockalexis, the 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 the stars sparkled in clear dark blue sky, high over the hear waters of the Penobscot. 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 cautious ly, across a thin carpet of new fallen snow.
 A sharp rap at the door brought the response: Come in," and the Big Noise pushed back the door with ! Hello neighbor." There was no an- swer from the man who sat on low bench close to the fire with crutch at his side.
 Approaching, the stranger asked: Isn't this my old friend Battle Ax?"
 The 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 the features of his caller.
 Are you glad to see me AxT
 Indeed I 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 I would like to: but don't think will ever play another game"
 ''Yes, I played several years in the National league, and was considered one of the great players, can almost hear the ringing applause as I hit the ball on the center, Or when made q ity was my undoing. I dallied with the Red Water.' It was come and go with me, and I found it difficult to. keep away from the y-go-round of civilization. An yes, was fav- orite with the public but weakened; the pace was too fast for boy devel- oped by nature. But I believe if I lidt ohC lhOlC SldhNt SouiNt Nih tSS battle against myself.''
 Say. AK, I'll take a chance. take care of yourself, and in the spring come and join us."
 With the spring came message from the Indian, saying: q will come, but with a weak ankle." The answer went back, Come on, I will blow up GnId fhnf fhn rynin0 will n easy"
 With renewed spirits the Indian came and made good, was the sen sation of the day and once more be- came the idol of the fans. But soon the Red Water commenced to show it's work, and Battle AK found him. self 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. t. ......
 Battle Ak" said he, Get birch canoe, follow the coast after you leave the Merrimac until you come to the Bay of Penobscot, then hug the shore until you find the river. Then, with the help of the great spirit, you will have nothing to fear until you hit Bangor and have to shoot the falls'
 The return of the 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 headliner, for Bat tie 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.