Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
ROWDY BALL BARRED
Excessive Kicking at Umpires
in Cuba Not Tolerated.
IA BELL STOPS PROTESTS
Only One Arbitrator Left on the Is
land-Big Force Of Police Al
ways Watches the Games.
BY Billy Evans.
Special Dispatch to The Star,

By Billy Evans.
Special Dispatch to The star.
| HAVANA, Cuba. December 24.-Rowdy
| base ball is not tolerated in Cuba. Base
| ball riots are very, very scarce here, and
! forfeited games are seldom, if ever, heard
| of. When the native fans go out to the
ball park to see a game they need not
| fear that some team will leave the field
early in the contest because of an adverse
decision by the umpire. Woe be to the
| team that fails to observe this rule, for
the city government then takes a hand in
the proceedings.
1t is really wonderful the way the games
are handled here as to taking care of the
| crowd, the players and the umpires. In
no city in the United States are the
grounds so we'll policed as in Havana. On
the big day of the week, Sunday, when
the crowd always numbers from 1900 to
10000, at least 200 police are on hand to
take care Of the situation or the 200 or
more officers present. some fifty of them
are mounted on the finest kind of steeds.
The fans live In awe of the police. and
rarely, if ever. are the guardians of the
peace called upon to quell any disturb
ances. When trouble does arise. they have
the situation in check in a moment.
After every contest. even il everything
has IIloNeu Ou rs quietly as a FUNERAL,
the officers always escort the visiting
team to a place of safety, some distance
from the park and we'll on the way to
the heart of the city, Visiting players
from the states are given every attention,
and the American boys are as safe If not
safer than in some Of the cities in which
they are accustomed to playing.
The Cuban fan is in many ways a Pc
culiar species of the genus homo I'm
like the American fan, he only makes 4
demonstration when the home team wins.
It's after one of the Cuban teams has de-
feated an American club that he kids the
visiting players. When his team is de-
feated he has nary a word to say. In
the states it's usually after a defeat that
the fans get after the visiting team. They
are generally too busy rejoicing over a
victory to pay any attention to the play
ers that have proved easy picking for
their favorite team. In this respect the
Cuban fan and the American enthusiast
are very much different.
In many ways the Cuban methods of
conducting the games differ materially
from those in vague in the states. In the
first place the players benches instead of
being on opposite sides of the field are
located within fifteen feet of each other.
Over each bench is heavy canvas
canopy to protect the players from the
sun.
To the left Of the main section Of the
grandstand Is erected a small private box.
able to accommodate about eight or ten
men. This box Is always reserved for the
leading police officials. Directly In front
of the grandstand and third base bleach
ers is q series Of benches able to take
care of about 12J or $50 men. These
benches are for the police, and are always
erected that they do not interfere in any
way with the view Of the spectators in
the stand and bleachers. In the extreme
left and right fields are stationed some
fOrf tod 11vy
seen more officers at single game here
than I've seen in an entire season in the
states. Drawn up just in back Of the
grandstand are two patrol wagons for
immediate use in case anything should
happen
In the center of the grandstand is an
other private box. which is reserved for
the leading base ball officials Of the Gu
good-sized bell. Of which the president, OF
| some one appointed by him. is Ofhcial
| ringer. There are many uses to which
this bell is put, some OF which are de-
| cidedly unique
The practice periods are started and
| ended by the clang of the bell as in the
states. At the opening Of the ninth in
ming the bell is sounded twice to notify
| the fans that the game is almost over.
It's relative to arguments or disputes
that the bell plays a prominent part.
| AS is natural in all ball games. every
now and then some decision is made that
| causes more or less kicking. The presi-
dent Of the league is sole judge as to how
me art ants may go ia tneir Ii n.
When he believes the game has been long
enough delayed. he clangs the bell sharp
| ly three times. This is note of warn
ing to which the players invariably give
| heed. Usually at the sound Of the three
bells the players drop the argument and
hasten back to their position. If per-
chance some player Is SO stubborn that he
| fails to take warming, unless he resumes
| his nnSfffOr inside nf a mfOIlto he is given
a r de to the station house without charge.
That's one big reason why the best of
order is always maintained on the Cuban
diamond.
Despite the fact that the players and
umpires are given the very best Of pro-
lection at all times. it's strange but
| true fact that the umpire problem is the
hardest of solution. Empires are mighty
scarce articles on the island, otherwise
the promoters of the game here would
not find it necessary to import men to
preside over the games.
Although Havana Is q city OF nearly
10000. it's a fact that there are only two
| umpires of ability on the island. AS in
the states, umpires capable OF giving sat
isfaction are YER; rare. and in this de-
| bans failed to progress. The two men
who have been handling the games here
are named Pogo and Gutierrez. The first
named worked double with me for a time,
but few weeks ago he had a tough day
| of 1t and handed in his resignation. He
had several times resigned Ia Jack
Sheridan. and the promoters here thought
| he would be back on the scene the next
! day, but he has yet to put In an appear
ance. Evidently he has decided there
are easier ways Of getting the money
| than uInpiring.
| The retirement of Pogo leaves Gutierrez
| the ruler Of all he surveys. This fellow
IS really the only native umpire on the
sland. He's a big. husky fellow. stand
| ing about six feet and weighing about
| 100 pounds. and has the makings Of a
high-class umpire. It's really hard to &C
count for the scarcity Of umpires. con
| idering the excellent conditions that pre-
vail here and the fact that the pay is
| never less than $15 and often as high as
$25 per game.
| The double umpire system has been in
| use here for several years, but the arbi-
| traitors have had a very peculiar way Of
working. in contrast to our American
| style. In every game one umpire would
| work five innings behind the plate and