Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-29
PLAYERS HOMES|cK,
50 QUIT Havana
Real Reason Why American
Players, Who Followed De-
troit In, Left Cuba in
a Dash.

CHICAGO, December 29-Yearnngs
for their own family hearthstones as the
Yuletide season approached was solely re-
sponsible for the curtailment of the
Cuban trip of the big league team which
left Chicago early in the month, accord
ing to several of the players who re-
turned here last week. Reports of dis
satisfaction with their treatment while
on the island were denied, and they would
have been there yet if one or two men,
hers Of the party had not experienced
severe chill in their pedal extremities
when they thought of the Christmas trees
which would be without Santa Clauses
back in Gods country if they stayed
in the Antilles.
Artie Hoffman and Addie Joss were the
first to be affected with this homesick-
ness, according to all reports. The dread
of spending the holidays so many miles
from home seized Artie by both feet, SO
TO speak, and he quickly fnoculated other
members of the party with the same bug.
Although they had played only five
of the thirteen games they had contracted
to stage, the players hoped on the last
steamer that would land them in the
states in time to reach their homes on
Christmas eve.
Manager Mordecai Brown and Business
Manager McAllister were left behind to
square things with the Cubans. Brownie
was expected to sail from Havana last
Wednesday. which would bring him home
before the Christmas tree is tossed into
the alley.
Off for Old Homes.
Only Schaefer and Lel:velt of the Cuban
tourists remained in Chicago, although
several more of them came to the city
from the south and caught the first pos
sible trains for their firesides. Jimmy
Archer and Sherwood Magee went to Buff
falo and Fred Merkle and Addie Joss
started for Toledo the same train.
-Artie Holman. Howard Camnitz, Nap
Rueker and Simple Simon left the party
on the way back. Holman going direct to
Akron. Ohio, and the others to their re-
spect.ve domciles.
The attemt to corral Hoffman and keep
him under lock and key, as chief of the
tribe of cold feet, was not only unsuoN
cessful. but was exaggerated. according to
the players. Holman was taken I'm tow
by representatives Of the majesty of Gu
ban law. all right. but influential ma
tive with whom the players had made
friends interceded with the explanation
that neither Holman nor any Of the play
ers was under personal contract to re-
main, thereby securing his release in time
to catch the boat
The players were loud in their praise of
the country and their treatment in every
way. and the majority of them would
have been willing to remain until they OBJ
tanned all the financial inducements held
out to them at the start. But they would
have been left without complete nine
and Cuban. laws regarding public exhibi-
tions are such that 1t is dangerous to
monkey with them. Unless they are UP
to the advertisements all parties to mis-
leading the public are liable to severe
punishment.
Schaefer Is Going Again.
Herman Schaefer is one of the big
boosters for Havana. The Cuban fever
caught the Washington infeder SO Sc
verey that he already is planning to
lead a team of major leaguers to the
island next winter. He will conduct 1t on
little different lines. however. Instead
of paying of the players as the coin
comes in or in advance, he will guaran-
tee each player fixed sum, say 500,
for a fixed period of playing in Cuba.
and none of them will get a cent unless
each sticks to the finish. Failure to pur-
sue some such policy Was partly RESPONSE
BILE for the shortening of this trip.
AS it was, the invaders found the Cuban
teams too much for them. They played
five games while there and lost three of
them. Two Of the games were with the
Almendares team, and resulted in VIC
tory and a defeat. The other three were
with the Havana team, which won two
out of the three. Joss pitched one of the
winning games and Rucker the other.
Brown did not start any OF the games,
but finished several, thereby keeping
himself in training for his role of life
saver during the coming championship
season.