Morris tribune., 1910-12-30

DG VIII out
the automatic decider.
Attendants rushed out with huge
sheets of a white substance, which
the stranger explained was blotting
paper These were laid on the ground.
and as they were quickly taken up the
ground was left perfectly dry. The
attendants had performed the task of
blotting the diamond in FIVE minutes,
and the game was ready to proceed.
Armed with miniature blotters the
crowd had dried off their seats and
all was comfortable for the start
Keel WiIler was the first batter up
for New York, but right here the
manager of the eastern team made a
fatal error. Forgetting that Monlin
was on right first base, he had figured
that Willer was first up, the rain hav-
ing disarranged the plans.
Willer also forgot that he was not
the first man up in that inning. When
Dwight whirled a sparrow curve"
over the plate, little Willer smashed
it squarely against the target for three
bases. To the horror of the crowd he
made dash toward left first base. not
realizing that Monlin had started the
other way. Monlin started for home
around the right course, and Willer
sped homeward by the left route.
TofDan is was funny. but the stran
ger was as pale as a ghost. His $S,-
100000 bet was in jeopardy.
On thu rI1r
the other. Between second and third
the horror stricken crowd saw that a
collision was inevitable.
Like two human engines Monlin and
Willer crashed together and both went
down. WilIer was fattened out as if
he had been struck by the side of
house. He lay motionless on the turf
Monlin rose to his feet. He was dizzy,
but realized that it was his duty to
save the game. The ball was coming
in from the field.
Monlin thought quickly and acted on
the impulse. With a bound he reach I
ed left first base and then dashed in
home. A roar came from the crowd,
half in horror over the fate of WiIler
and half in joy over the score Of Mon |
lin.
Attorneys for the eastern team were
approaching the umpires to present /
their side of the case. and they were
quickly followed by some of the most
renowned baseball lawyers of the west. I
The automatic decider, in the mean
time, was silent.
1t was a complex question. If both .
Monlin and Willer had scored, no run
would have counted Monlin would .
have added one score by running the .
right way, while one would have been
subtracted, as Willer ran the wrong
way. This would have left the game ,
AS it stood-nothing to nothing
The eastern attorneys argued that as
poor Willer had been knocked out he
was out of the game and the subtrac-
ton did not maintain. The leading ,
lawyer dramatically pointed to the di-
minutive body of Willer as he was
being carried from the field
THAT man thought he was right
be said, and it was an act of Provi-
dence that struck him down before he
had committed such a grave and cost
" error"
Yes" interrupted the western attor-
ney, but an act Of Providence should
not serve to rob US of this game
The automatic decider was still si-
lent.
Presently the umpires and attorneys
approached the box wherein sat the
president.
Both sides stated their case and
awaited the decision.
Gentlemen" began the president.
this is grave crisis, For me to rem
Ter decision here would be impossi-
Die. 1t is my earnest desire that you
gentlemen submit briefs in this case
and at the next cabinet meeting l will
submit it to the war department. A