The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-04-22
How Helpless Invalid Manages
Team From Bed Window.
HAS CLUB OF YOUNG BOYS.

United States, Is planning for the sec
ond season of the Deemer Athlete
club team.
So helpless from an advanced stage
of rheumatism that he cannot move
from his bed. which Is a special
made cot on wheels, Mr. Deemer, with
all the enthusiasm Of an earnest lover
Of the sport, is signing players and
| arranging dates with view OF having
the champion sixteen-year-old team In
| Germantown.
Most singular of all, the good ma
| tured invalid Is actually the field lead
er of his team. OF course It would be
an impossibility for him to be moved
from his room, but a fortunate loca-
ton has solved the problem. The mar
row world to which he is confined is
| the rear room on the second floor OF
his home. This overlooks a spacious
lot, which has made an admirable ball
field 1t Is the property of an estima-
Bile woman, who gladly gave Mr.. Dee
mer permission, without cost, to let his
team play.
When a game is to be played Mr..
Deemer's cot is rolled to the large
window, and there he can see all that
is going on In the game with the same
commanding view Of a spectator In the
upper pavilion at one Of the big league
parks in Philadelphia.
By great effort Mr.. Deemer Is able
to scrawl with bis right hand, and
with. minute care and Conscientious
ness he scores each play as It is made.
After the game the players file to his
bedside to hear their manager COM
ment on the work of the afternoon. If
Harry Scott has made stirring play
there is praise for him. But the inva-
lid manager Is a stickler for good head
work, and If one of the nine offends
with an exhibition of stupidity he Is
sure to feel the rebuke of the mana
ger. Woe to the blamable one, for per
haps he will warm the bench in the
next game.
Mr. Deemer scrutinizes each play
with the eye of an expert. He is quick
TO make a shift In his lineup If he be-
lieves that the move will add to the
strength Of the team He has careful
~ coached bis boys In team work and
uses many Of the stratagems that are
seen in the professional circuit
In addition, he insists that none of
the burdens Of his managerial work
fall ON the shoulders Of anybody else.
Even the detail of arranging dates is
done by him personally. This he ac-
complishes by having his cot moved to
a telephone in his room, and the entire
city of Philadelphia is at his COM
mand Many games has he booked In
this way, and often the manager Of
the opposing team had no idea that
the weak, high pitched voice on the
other end of the wire was that Of q |
helpless invalid.
Why does Mr. Deemer bother with |
baseball In bis affection? Because he
Is a rock ribbed optimist far greater |
than the type which Is happy In riches
and wealth. His Is the stoicism of the |
blind Milton, who opened the eyes of |
centuries to his beautiful philosophy,
and Of the poet Pope, who had to be
russed In leather corset each day be-
fore he could proceed with his imper
shable work.
Prior to being incapacitated Mr.. Dee
mer's diversion was baseball One
lay early last summer he was moved
% the only vision he has of the out
,ide world. There on the lot he saw a
lumber Of boys playing desultorily. 1t
vas sport, however, and Mr.. Deemer
to the window for several
lays Finally he reflected: "Why can't
have a team of my own? 1t would
rive me work to do and let me pass
way the time more easily" This he
old to his family circle, and 1t In turn
his wish to the eligible
Joys in the neighborhood. Would they
LAY for the invalid in 1882? Most as
uredly!
Johnny Jones, Harry Scott, Willie
,mith and the others, with all the I'm
'ulse Of youth, were soon at his bed
ide volunteering their services. The
cam was quickly formed, and the pro-
eeds fer uniforms and other parapher-
ALA were obtained by giving a porch
arty at the Dcemer home. Il
Soon the Deemer Athletic club was
laying every Saturday, and there were
york and diversion for the delighted
lvalid. The grounds being open, the
My funds for the maintenance Of the
cam came from passing the hat
mong the spectators. The team,
Thich had rocky road at the start,
improved through changes made by .
he manager as the season wore on. In
he last ten games the Deemers won
light. The strictest order is always /
bserved on the field, and no rowdy
I'm is tolerated.
Mr.. Deemer Is now thirty-two years {
ID. He was happily married six years
go, and a devoted wife is one of the :
omforts OF his life. He was once l
Ter a Philadelphia sporting
utilization and subsequently was en- I
loyed by William Smith, the ex-Na-
onal league umpire. t
The invalid is planning for strong
. team next season. Already be has t
gagged a catcher, pitcher and several O
elders Philadelphia North American.