The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-20
By HUGH w. ROBERTS.

Montgomery, April 1s.-tSpecial)- The trick some demon character played on Tantalus of old is not an apt com parison to that played this afternoon on the Barons. All previous instances are backed off the board. This is in d class of it's own.
 So if you are a hard loser, a sudden trip to the country would prove eff ficacious, or an immediate venture on the stock exchange profitable. all of which introduces the saddest story probably ever unfolded
 Well, the Barons opened strong be- fore an immense audience. Ford was in magnificent shape. and inning after inning he hewed them down. Then came the eighth-a fatal period. When the ninth was on deck the five little runs the Barons had previously piled up looked small by the eight luscious circles the Pretzels had scored
 Rooting for Birmingham.
 Until the end of the game, in fact. the Pretzels were beaten badly The fans were roofing for Birmingham with tongues hanging well to the front. Greminger was denounced for gather :. ing a bunch of buns that were not even skilled in the manly art of ping pong Then came the bolt from the clear sky, tearing down the little play house the Barons had carefully constructed. and causing the fans to switch from the role of the knocker to that of the syeo- phant.
 There is little else to tell It's a short and painful story. The Barons are ex- ceedingly disappointed, but are going to fight for the others. Even when the firing of the enemy was the heaviest no man lost his nerve, and there was no ascension on the part of a single one.
 Ford possibly became exhausted. For seven innings he was in magnificent form. Twice during the game the bases became clogged and each time he skillfully wormed out. Twice with the bases full the side was retired with Greminger the last man at the plate. Then in the eighth, everything he got across was pasted to the tall and un- cut. and those he failed to get across served to get Pretzels on bases.
 Pretzels Puffed Up.
 The Pretzels, as a result, are proud and pufred up.
 The Birmingham rooters had considera- ble fun in the early part Of the afternoon. The merriment was at it's height in the fourth. After Molesworth had gone out from Pope to Greminger, Bowen doubled to left. Henline then uncorked magnit- cent drive to the left field fence, mile, and scored with ease, even though his injured leg prevented him applying his usual splendid speed. Then, in the sixth, the Birmingham rooters rejoiced. AS in the fourth, the fun started after Moles- worth had gone out Bowen again dou- bled. this time to right center Henllne hit to Rockenfield, beat it out, and went to third, when the ball was tossed away. Bowen in the meantime scoring Raftis hit to Pope and the phenom exploded, al lowing Henline to cross the plate.
 And in the eighth, when one other run was scored, there was not Birmingham fan In the audience who did not shake his own hand in congratulation, and not a Montgomery fan but who would have ad- mitted himself badly whipped Moles- worth, in the eighth, was walked. Bow attempted a sacrifice, but failed, Molesworth going out at second. Henline unable to deliver in this pinch but flied out to Manush instead. But McGil- vray turned the trick, and on his luscious bingle to right, Bowen scored the fifth run.
 The Horrible Story.
 The task is too intricate to attempt to solve the eighth Ford was driven from the slab almost in the beginning. Fle- harty fared little better. and he retired from the box before man was out Schopp turned on the hose, however and the eighth became history. But the Pret- gels had sent eight runs across the pan
 Just as the car on which the Barons were riding to the park was ready to stop Manager Molesworth tumbled overheard