davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
HOW PLANK GOT HIS START
Simply Closed His Eyes and Cut Loose
Afterwards Studied the Game
and Pitchers.
BY EDWARD s. PLANK.


They all say | got my start the day
OF the battle Of Gettysburg, but they
exaggerate somewhat. | was born in
Gettysburg in 1875, and that gave the
boys a chance to say things. ! ad
init the 1875 without trying to get
away and scalp half dozen years on
my age as some of them do.
At any rate l think | am rather
freak as a baseball player because
seldom have heard OF any case any
thing like my own.
AS ! told you | was born in Gettys-
burg and 1 played some baseball
around there in an amateur way, and
without giving the game much
thought.
| started to college about the time
most Of the other fellows are get
ting enough. was twenty-five when
was began pitching for the Gettys-
burg college team, and | was big and
strong and fast and wild and inexpe-
rienced and everything else that goes
to make up a college pitcher. sim
ply shut my eyes and cut loose and
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
rtn Value ~ solitnde

a population may be too crowded,
though all be amply supplied with
food ana raiment II is not good for
man 20 be kept perforce at all tines
in the presence OF his species A
world from which solitude is ex.
rirpated Is a very poor ideal. Soil.
.ude, In the sense Of being often alone.
is essential TO any depth OF medita.
tion. or Of character: and solitude in
the presence OF natural beauty and
grandeur Is the cradle OF thoughts and
aspirations which are not only good
for the individual. but which society
could ill 90 without. John Stuar!
Mil
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29

most of those who didn't strike out
got bases on balls, and have suspect
ed since that lot of them struck out
just to escape from standing up there
at the bat.
Seriously | think the real reason for
my start was that l was older, strong
er and better developed than the av-
erage college man. That made me
stand out among them and it attract
&c the attention of professional clubs.
| had not thought of baseball as a
profession at all until offered a job,
and | Joined the Athletics In May,
1901, after school closed, knowing
about as much about major league
ball as | know about who will make
a three base hit In the morning game
next Decoration day. Suddenly | saw
that there was more to It than
throwing as hard as possible and
curving them. saw would
have to do some thinking and began
to study the game. Queerly enough
| went wrong right away. was
guessing wrong. but luckily for me l
had enough speed and shoots to hang
on by sheer power until l learned
more. l worked and studied hard at
the game, watched the other pitchers,
picked up their tricks and began to
pitch with much less exertion and
strain and still get results. If had
gone on the way / started l would
have been out Of it In two seasons,
and I'm still here. On the other hand,
If had known as much when l start
ed about pitching. I'd be here long
fiIana
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
AMERICANS GREAT READERS
ExenpilhestIon OF WeIl.knowr
National Trait Noted by
Foreign Visitor

Great readers. you Americans.
said foreign visitor 70 these shores
according to the New York Sun
You seem to be reading all the time
Newspapers or books-aud you read
cverywhcre--ln public as In private
On the elevated cars, in the subway.
everywhere--and was getting quite
used TO eceirg tho manifestation Of
what appears 10 be a national habit:
but was a little surprised this
morning-yes, just a littlc-when /
saw a lady reading a newspaper as
she rode up on an cscalator from
the sidewalk to an elevated railroad
platform.
Il know the restless American en-
ergy which prompts you to the ut.
most economy Of time. to the utiliza.
ton OF every minute, 80 that no
chance for gain shall be lost: but II
seems to me in my dull and stupid
old-world way that there might be
such thing as OVERRIDING this bitter
economy Of time, don't you know
In the case Of the lady, reading on
'he escalator for instance. was
afraid It might lead to an accident to
her. 1t is only a short ride on an
escalator. and was afraid she might
forget and fall at the top. for she
seemed very intent In fact, !
couldn't tell whether she WAS econ.
omizing time or whether she was
reading because she was so inter.
ested in what she was reading.
But, however. she read and read
lntently all the way up, or until she
had got three steps from TIE top and
then she stopped and looked up. and
then stepped off briskly and quite
safely.
1T must take about twenty-five sec
onds for that escalator to carry one
from the ground to the platform and
che had read all but three steps, she
had utilized twenty-five seconds OF
the time consumed on the trip and
lost only three. The most remarkabl5 )
exempllfcatior | have yet seen OF
your characteristic economy OF time
and national habit of reading.
quite wonderful people. you Amer.
icans!"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
WORD WILL NOT BE MISSED
M. skImmerton ReIoloes over Pass
Ing Of over>rorked "orueIIIna"--
Put Away With "Eaucous"

I'VE don't see 80 often now in print"
eaid Mr. Skimmerton, the word Cruel.
ling. and am glad OF that, for to tell
you the flatfooted truth had begun to
tire of reading about 'gruelling con.
tests for supremacy between two feet
runners or two pugs pounding each
others face. or between two men row.
Ing or playing tennis.
In fact gruelling had begun. as
you might say. to pail on me just as
raucous did, not SO long ago. Don't
you remember that there was time
when no writer ever f.iled to describe
some one of his characters as EDeaking
IN raucous voice?
Positively raucous came 70 be pain
ful to me, so that it would prejudice
me against a whole book to find that
word in it, and then happily authors
put that word aside.
But there seems to be always In
use some word that IS sorely over.
worked. It was a good word maybe
originally and It catches many writer's
fancy. And then the- wear II tread.
bare, old. decrepit, till the very sight o.
1t wearies.
Such a word had Eruelling come to
be. You could read OF scarcely any
trial Of strength or speed without find
ing that It had been a gruelling con.
test or that It had had q 'gruelling I'm
ish; they we're all gruelling in some
way; but most gruellng OF all to the
reader, It seems TO me.
But now gruelling has sone out OF
fashion, it has been put away along
with raucous anu wita our once famil.
lar dull thud and other much over.
worked words and phrases"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Laundry Stamped for identifying

In foreign countries some strange
methods are adopted for identifying
the contents OF the washtub. In some
parts of France linen is defaced with
the whole name and address of the
laundry stamped upon it, and an ad-
dltional gcometrical design to indicate
the owner of the property. In Bavaria
every patron of the washtub has a
number stamped in large characters
on his linen. In Bulgaria every laun-
dry has a large number of stamps en-
graved with designs, and In Russia
the laundries mark linen with threads
worked in arrow shapes. In some
Russian towns the police periodically
issue regulations for laundries.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
NOTED PLAYER HAS RETIRED
Frank Bowerman, One Of Most &c.
centric Figures In Baseball,
Drops Out OF Game.

With the retirement Of Catcher
Frank Bowerman. baseball loses one
of it's most eccentric characters.
Bowerman has been playing in the
bigger leagues longer than many of
the other players in the same COM
pany today have been living. He
made his debut years and years ago.
and has played In fast company con-
tinuously since. His best work was
done for the New York Giants. with
whom he played when they were at
the pinnacle of their fame. Bower
man has always been lively.
scrappy player. up to his neck In the
struggle all the way He left the
Giants and took a whirl at the mana
gerial end of the game in Boston, but
his Beaneaters. after making glori-
GUS start, fell by the wayside when
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29

When Catcher Johnny King
patched up his differences with the
Chicago Cubs last spring there were
quite few baseball fans who pre-
dicted that he would not return to the
form he had previously displayed,
1t was said that he had beeA out of
the game for a whole season. that he
had not kept himself in good shape,
and lot of other things. But he has
fooled all of the skeptics. He has
played as good ball this year as he
ever did before.
This has been displayed by the way
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Prompt PunIshment Of a Liar

Years ago the courthouse in San
Francisco fronted the old Plaza. A
trial was in progress. and counsel for
the defendant was cross-examining the
plaintiff. An earthquake shook the
chandeliers and dislodged some of the
ceiling. Judge. Jurors, witnesses and
spectators rushed for the door. but,
finding that the seismic disturbances
was over. they returned
you can proceed with the cross
examination of the Witness" said the
Judge.
Pardon me, your honor" said coun'
sci for the defendant, but after the
exhibition of the displeasure OF the
Almighty at the lies this witness was
telling do not care to further invoke
Divine wrath. will ask him no more
questions"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Mot Related,

Michael Mccarthy was suing tho
Swift Packing company in Kansas
City court.
A colored witness was called. "Did
YOU work at the plant?' he was
asked.
"Yassir"
DO you know the foreman and the
other onlclals?"
"Yassir,"
What were your relations with
them?"
Now. look here" said the witness
I'm black and they's white. They
amt no relations OF mine."-Cleve
land Leader
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
The Experimental Stage.

"Ah." says the young man who has
called. 81 observe that you are already
doing some of your holiday decora'
ton"
"Yes?" inquiries the beauteous young
thing.
Yes. | notice you have sprig OF
mistletoe tied to the chandelier"
"Oh, just put that up there as an
experiment. I've heard so much about
the properties of mistletoe that
thought | would see II 1t really worked
before tying 1t In earnest"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Tattooed hY Llnhtnina.

Herr Lehman, wel-to-do farmer.
was returning home 70 the village Of
Wien Canton Thurgoviel the other
day, when in q thunderstorm he was
struck by lightning His hat, collar,
suit and boots were burnt on the left
side, while on the right he was un-
touched. Lehman was found sense.
less. but soon recovered aud IS fairly
well now Cur.cusIy enough Il was
found that his LEFT side had boon beau.
tifully tattoed By the lightning, tho
skin being entirely covered with
prints" OF oak, chestnut and fir leaves
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
thoughtful to this Last.

Ashley-Isn't 1t too bad about poor
Fuser?
Seymour--Indeed. It is. I shall al.
ways remember him as the most con-
siderate man l have ever known. II
seemed to be his ruling passion to
make as little trouble for other people
as he possibly could. -
Ashley-Yes. that's fact: and
that characteristic OF his was mani.
tested even when he committed sui
eide.
Seymour don't think I quite un-
derstand?
Ashiey-Why. he used SO much dy.
Mantle that there was nothing left of
him for other people to pick up.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
steffen to Coach indiana.

Walter Steffen. Chicago half-back,
quarterback and captain, is TO sue
ceed Sheldon as coach at Indiana uni
versity after this season. This ru-
NOR gained credence yesterday at In
dlanapolis when 1t was announced
that the Maroon star would assist
Sheldon this season, It is we'll
known fact that Sheldon will retire
this season to practise law In Chi
cago, having coached the Crimson six
years when the last game Is played
this season.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Bali PLAYERS Scarce.

"It's queer thing" said President
Nayin of the Detroit club. that out Of
the S0.O00,O0O people of the United
States and the 100000 of Canada,
that there are less than 200 first-class
ball players. Probably there are actu-
ally more capable of playing in the big
leagues, but discovering them is what
keeps lot OF scouts and pocketbooks
busy"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29

he has played since Captain Chances
forced retirement. owing to bad
"Charley-Horse.' While Jimmy Ar.
cher has been playing first base dur.
ing the absence of the captain-mana'
ger all of the back-stopping has de.
volyed on King. He has not only
felded his position in mastery fash
ion. but he has ben hitting the ball
hard. 1t is almost a certainly that
King will do the most of the catch
ing during the series for the worlds
championship probably opening in
Chicago on Oct. 16.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
a.rlin Rars Mat Game.

Public displays of wrestling have
now been added to the long list OF
things ''verboten" by the Berlin po-
lice. The reason of this new man
date is said to be the obviously pre-
arranged nature of several champion
ship" contests which have recently
taken place. one OF which led to a
disturbance among the spectators.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Catcher Frank eowerman.

the race grew warm. Reports say
that he trained his men too fine early
in the season. At any rate he left
Boston before last season was over
and announced that he had retired
from the game. Later he Joined the
indianapolis club. and was with them
again this year Recently he LEFT
the team and went to his home ir
Michigan.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
o,connor on Waaner,

Jack O'Connor thinks that Hans
Wagner is the greatest thrower In the
game. He is and has been the best
thrower In the game. according to the
81. Louis manager. since he broke into
the game. There are many others
who think the same as O'Connor In
spite OF the fine showing OF the young
sters who have come up In the last
three or four years.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29

Four triple playes have been made
in the National league this season.
Kid Elberfeld turned his ankle and
was not spiked by Ty Cobb In the
recent series between the Tigers and
Senators.
President Ban Johnson Is after the
owners of the tail-end clubs in the
American league and wants them to
get busy signing good players.
Oldring of Philadelphia Americans
has the record for being at bat the
greatest number of times. His record
Is 476. Lajoie is next with 473. Cobb
Is credited with only 442 times at bat.
Dan Murphy of the Athletics is said
to have the seasons long-distance bat.
ting record. He will have to keep
travelling pertty fast If he wants to
keep out of Schulte's way from now
on.
Pat Livingstone is touted as the
star catcher of the Athletics. He will
likely do most of the backstopping in
the worlds series, but he will have to
travel some to get an even break with
Killing.
Catcher Ainsmith of the Senators
is touted by the Washington scribes
as q wonder. The new man Is filling
big hole in the team just now on &C.
count of the crippled condition Of
Charlie Street.
Umpire "Bill" Dineen, who used to
be a major league pitcher, says twirl.
ers do not recline on fiowery beds OF
ease. Winning or losing, they do
more worrying than other ball play
ers, Bill thinks.
Lee Ford Tannehill thinks that the
| Cubs will be bothered more by Cy Nor.
gan than by any of the other pitchers
| of the Athletic STAFF. There never was
team that disliked spitball pitcher
more than the Cubs do" said fanny.
Dubuque and Rock Island played a
Understanding game the other day
in Rock Island and Pitcher Cayet of
! the Rock Islands made a new sea.
sons record for the Three-I league
by striking out 23 men. ShortstoI
Darringer of the Dubuque team had
12 assists without an error.
Grantland Rice. the famous baseball
writer of the south, has picked an all
star team of southern players. Catch
er Sid Smith OF the Atlanta team and
Outflelder Joe Jackson of the New
Orleans team are two of the men Rice
has picked on his team. and bath oi
them are to join the Maps next year
Doc White will head a quartet Of
singers made up OF himself, Holman
and Sheckard of the Cubs and AddiS
Joss of the Maps. This should be 6
real attraction for vaudeville during
the long winter season. for all o
these men can sing, Whites owl
song. Little Puff OF Smoke, GooC
Night" will be one of the songs tina
the quartet will sing.
The Cubs will have just enough eX
ercise In the closing week of the Ma
tional league schedule to keep then
In practise for the worlds series
President Murphy says he will no
ask Stanley Robson of the Cardi
nails to move up that series with thu
Cubs on the final week so that 1
will keep the local week longe
than the athletics.
Hai Chase got MS start Dy ACCIDENT
The Los Angeles team did not thinl
much OF Chase, but one day the frs
baseman was unable to play. ant
Chase was sent out just to "fill in,
Chase made two doubles in that gam
and fielded so sensationally that h
was kept at that station and was sool
, gobbied up by the New York Amer
cans. where he has taken rank as tn
greatest trst sacker In tho league.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Just a Rlt PartIcuIar.

First Crook--Say. haven't you two
brothers--both gamblers?
Second Crook--I have two brothers,
but only one is gambler.
First Crook--I thought the other
one was. too.
Second Crook--No: he never takes
any chances Of getting mixed up with
ths police. He's burglar. Chicago
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
unmanageabIe.

This" gasps thst first man, 10
what the poets call the driven snow
"Yes." wheezes the second man. en-.
deavoring to pick q handful OF 1t out
Of his ear. while about a peck OF u
slides down his back. "And II acts
as II woman were driving IT,"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Important Person.

ITO look at Pipps. you'd think he
had the world on his shoulders"
"Yes; he seems to think life Is
baseball game and he's always at the
bat"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
An Exception.

He believes in making himself
heard on all possible occasions"
Does he speak up briskly when
contributions are called for?"
We'll, moo, he doesn't"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
He Knew.

Teacher-What happens when an IT.
resistible force comes in contact with
an immovable body?
Small Boy-A spanking. .-Ilarper's
BaZar
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
showlno Him up.

Gunner-That is Count DeBluff. He
says everything he gets is o. X.
Guyer-I thought II was D. T.
Bunner-O. r?
Guyer-Yes. "on tick"
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
aaeomIna Moas.tY.

Drowning Man--Help! helpi can't,
swim!
Man on the shore--Neithsr can I
but don't 60 Dragging about tt---Iisss
pers Magazine.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
Was Bound to Come.

Esmeralda-What deliciously
Hight, funny, airy AFFAIR that is!
Gwendonn-Yes. this is my aviation
costume; my going up gown. you
know
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
F,,sra,v c,I,lel.m.

He Cat the concert) Miss Shreeker
says she 10 always nervous when she
attempts to sing In public.
6he--Well. I'm not surprised. She
nas heard herself before.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
wlu Add Water Front 10 Harbo,

The Improvement OF jamaica bay.
which is now under way. will add 150
miles Of water front to the New York
harbor.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29

The Mexican Derby. to be run early
In November. will be worth $4,000 to
the winner. This will be the nrst con-
test.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29
wasmund to Coach Texas.

Former Quarterback 'Wasmund of
Michigan university will coach the
Texas university football squad at
Austin this fall.
The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-29

Brevity being the soul Of wit. we
begin to understand the Immortality Oh
the conundrum about the COW tna'
crossed the road.
The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-04-20
Coos Land contests Soon.

MARSHFIELD-The first OF ser.
les of land contests in which Coos
County men are interested will be
heard April 26, and other cases OF
the same nature will follow. Abou,
so men from this city and other parts
of the county have homestead claims
in the Fall Creek country in the
northern part of the county and they
are all contested. Some of the home.
steaders are located on land on which
the Northern Pacific scrip has been
placed and 1t will be a question
whether the scrip or the homestead
claims are to stand. Others Of the
homesteaders are located on land
which is Claimed by the Southern Pa
cific on the sold railroad land grant
but which the homesteaders claim IL
outside the limit of the grant aud that
the Southern Pacific has never placed
indemnity scrip upon 1t.
The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-04-20
HILL AND GOULD
CONCLUDE A DEAL
TRAFFIC AGREEMENTS MADE FOR
INTERCHANGE OF BUSINESS.
DENVER IS EXCHANGE POINT
Gould Gets Access to Northwest and
Hill Connections East to Pitts.
burg and South to Gulf.
DENVER IS EXCHANGE POINT

DENVER, April 1S.-At confer
ence Of officials of the Chicago, Burl
ington & Quincy and the Denver &
Rio Grande's Western Pacific lines
traffic agreements were made by
which business will be interchanged
in Denver. This will give the Hill
lines an outlet into California and the
Gould lines will have a connection
with the Pacific Northwest.
The business of the Gould lines for
the Northwest will be carried via the
Burlington to the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific lines.
The arrangement will give the
North Pacific Coast through connec-
tions as far east as Pittsburg and as
far south as the Gulf of Mexico.
The deal gives the Gould lines
from st. Louis. southern Colorado
and New Mexico favorable traffic ar
rangements with the Burlington and
other Hill lines to Portland, as well
as Seattle, and will mean much to
Portland and the Puget Sound coun-
try, is the opinion of the railroad
men.
The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-04-20
EMPEROR MEETS ROOSEVELT
Almost Royal Honors Are Accorded
Distinguished American.

VIENNA, April 1S.-Col. Theodore
Roosevelt was received at the Aus
trian capital in manner almost like
that accorded a reigning sovereign.
As special mark of his personal es-
TEEN the aged emperor-king, Francis
Joseph, received Col. Roosevelt in
his private apartments at the impos.
ing Hofburg palace, instead of in the
regular audience chamber.
What is regarded as significant
sequel to the recent Vatican incident
was the unexpected call of Monsignor
Belmonte Pignatelli, the Papau nun
clio. accredited to the Austrian court,
in the full ecclesiastical vestments OF
his office.
It is believed that Pienafelli called
at the Pope's bidding and that his
mission was to express regrets of his
holiness over the part played by Car
dinal Merry Del Val, the papal secre-
tary, in imposing impossible condi-
tions In connection with the Vatican
call, which resulted In the startling
abandonment Of the visit.