New-York tribune., 1909-06-13
PAGo PAGo IMPORTED RUNNERS.


Pago Pago's main reliance in this game was not
upon the number and prowess of its batsmen. nor
upon the skill and quickness Of its elders, nor yet
upon the speed and accuracy Of its big staff OF
pitchers, but rather upon two phenomenally swift
runners. imported for the occasion from the crack
Apia team OF the island Of Upolou. These men,
Motu and Rohok reputed speedy that
they could exchange places while the ball was be-
ing passed from the catcher to the pitcher while
on good clean hits into the ocean it was said that
they had often piled up a dozen and even a score
of runs. A Samoan baseball field has fence
and running is kept up until the ball is returned
or declared Officially lost by the umpires,
maximum OF twenty being allowed in the
latter case. On passed balls and fouls they are
permitted TO score all the runs possible.
With a great beating Of drums, footing of conches
and blowing Of horns the Fauga-sa helders scat
tered out TO their places while Chief Manga, OF
Pago Pago bat in hand, squared away to face the
pitching Of Chief Malatoba. Motu and Roboki. the
runners crouched in readiness for lightning starts.
the umpires waved their insignias of Office folded
umbrellas. and the game on.
The first bail struck a lump of coral in front of
the home stake, and Manga ducked just in time
10 save his ribs. The spheroid. spinning off the
catcher's fingers. struck a cocoanut trunk and
ricocheted into a bunch Of bananas, Motu and
Robold completing four swift dashes up and down
their coral path before it came back The second
bail Manga hunted. and though II fell dead from
his bat few feet in front him. nirnble run
0eTS again C0dIlseQ eDds ElSlt more runs were
put up on the next three balls. though only one
Of them was touched by the batter; and when on
the sixth ball, Mauga stepped forward and laced
out a screaming drive high above the council
house and into the bay the PaEc Pago sympa-
thizers fairly went wild with excitement While a
ithe-limbed Fauga-sa fielder went darting Ike
seal through the water after the ball Motu and
Roboki, their every nerve and muscle strained to
It's utmost, were pilng up the runs for Pago Pago
Seven times they had passed and turned and
passed each other again. and the swimmer had
only reached the ball and thrown II awkwerdly
TO teammate close behind him. Twice more the
runners flashed by each other and the ball was
only at the shore. Motu signaled for still another
effort and with canes outstretched the gamy fel-
lows went racing each toward his goal. Halfway
up from the shore Fauga-sa fielder fumbled the
ball, and all looked safe for the runners. when a
fragment Of cocoa husk caused Rohcki 10 turn his
ankle Just at the instant he passing his part
ner, sending him plunging head-on into Motu. and
carrying both Of them down IN inert heap.
The ball came on a few moments later. and the
batter. through the failure of his runners de
clared out Motu and Roboki recovered conscious
ness In the course OF the next hour. but were OF
little use 10 their team during the remainder OF
the game.
Out OF Difference 10 the feelings OF their oppo-
nents the Fauga-sas omitted the dance custom
arily INDUCED in eech time a batter IA put out
but when the next TO face the pitcher popped
UP easy fly. which caught by one Of the
assistant catchers. they made up for lost time
Whirltng and yelling Ike dervishes. they rushed
into solid phalanx formation. and then, with
rhythmic clappng of hands and stamping Of feet,
made circuit OF the grounds 10 stop finally IN
front OF the squatting ranks the waiting batters
of Pago Pago. Here they continued their antics
for a minute two more jocosey pointing out
that the fate OF the men just disposed of awaited
the rest Of the team. They then dispersed and
went again 20 their posts In the field