The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-11
Blue JACKET,
ALIAS Smith
Indian TwirIer NoticeabIy Worried
Over the Changes Made by Man
aser Bert Housh Of
Galesburs.
STORY OF HIS CAREER
Changed His Name Several Years
Ago in Order to Get on With
Indian Ball cIub-strand-
ed at PittsfieId.


worried. He fears Manager Hough, Of
Galesburg, even more than demon
swatters of the Central Association,
and all the caressing of Manager Belt
has failed to alleviate him of strange
fear that is lurking in his bosom.
In short, the partIndian finger, he OF
the prose and poetry writing ability,
has bunch that the Galesburg leader
Is going to Boss Justice with tale
about his ineligibility that might sep
arate him from his bread and butter
during the short summer months
But Hough is not going to protest
against the Indian, nor would he have
any foundation upon which to base his
allegations
The true name of James Blue Jack
ct is James Smith and he is about
one-fourth Indian, if deductions made
recently can be borne out as not mis-
leading. Blue Jacket (then Smith)
began his early career in the terrific
ries and when some energetic white
essayed to form an Indian baseball
club this man Smith was pressed into
service. Of course Smith was no name
for stalwart Indian finger, so Blue
Jacket was easily tackled onto the sur
name James and Smith was forgotten.
Signed Contract.
Blue Jacket travelled with that ball
club part of the summer, but financial
difficulties soon arose and the troupe
broke up in Pittsfield, III. There was
a snappy independent ball club per-
forming on the lots there about that
time and the ability of Blue Jacket
did not slip by unnoticed. He was
handed contract drawn up on brown
wrapping paper, so he says, and I'M
hesitatingly affixed the name Blue
Jacket. When Belt secured the play
er Blue Jacket remained as his name.
Last winter while in correspondence
with Belt Blue Jacket asked the Keo-
kuk manager if it would not be better
for him to revert to his real name,
but Belt thought not, and SO it has
chung to him.
The fact that Blue Jacket was not
his real name has been generally
known, but the other day was the
first time Manager Hough learned of
it, this coming about through Player
Nickel who was acquainted with the
pitcher several years ago. Hough put
two and two together and added
wrong. the result being that he
thought Blue Jacket must have been
suspended by some ball club and then
changed his name. The Western
league was about as safe as any for
guess, and Fence the result.
Looks TO First Division.
Manager Belt is confident that he
will land the Keokuk team in first di-
vision. To do this he must overcome
a FIVE game lead that Galesburg has
and top Monmouth The latter will
be a cinch
Il am going to pull the club up
to first division" said the veteran
this morning. THE boys are going
well now and we Should finish we'll. ?
The team returned home from Ke-
vance at 12:45. Burlington is here
today and Ottumwa follows Sunday.
Unless the attendance picks up Won
derfully from now until the close OF
the season 1t is doubtful whether Keo-
kuk goes much higher than the guar
antee of $4,000. 1t was learned yes
terday that ire attendance today is
less than 10000. not all Of which are
adult admissions. If Keokuk is to
continue next season the fans will
have to support the game better than
they have in the past.