The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-07

the shortstop of the Meriden club, was running from third to the plate
 Just as o'Rourke caught the ball. Courtney made dive and butted ORourke, knocking the ball out of his hands. Courtney then fell upon upon ORourke struck him.
 Courtney struck back.
 "Bone, who was on second base ran in, seized a bat and aimed 1t at ORourke, but the blow fell on the head of Courtney, knocking him insensi- bIe.
 .In a second both teams and the crowd rushed ins spell-mell, and it took several policemen to Quen the riot. After considerable delay the game
 stIt seems there is bad blood between Courtney and O'Rourke. The former is said to have spiked O'Rourke twice this season and to have butted him twice. O'Rourke told him at the last game in Meriden that if he attempted to do it again he would thrash him. So to-day, when Courtney butted him, O'Rourke struck out as hard as he knew how
 s'The game ended 12 to 10 in favor of Brid dgeport. The crowd was perfect Iy satisfied and declared it was the most exciting contest of the season"
 SAVED NICK YOUNG.
 In the early 7Os N. E. Young, for tiona1 league, was one of the best un1pires in the country. MT. Young Le1lS the IO1lOWlng interesting SIOEy about O'Rourke:
 Boston between the two strongest teams of the country. The grounds fortunate umpire. At close and critical stage of the game I had to de- eide ORourke out at the home plate. He made a desperate slide, but did not quite get there. The crowd arose as one man to thoot the umpire O'Rourke picked himself up. and with u hood he raised his hand to the crowd and remarked in loud voice: T was out.' In one second every man had re- stunned his seat, but would not have given much for Nick Young's head, without an extra police force, if O'Rourke had su1ked off to the bench.''
 RaI Rnring the s8 years utt that roFin Fim siona1 baseball he was in perfect pfy- sical condition to play every day that his club were scheduled for, never had a broken bone, and now retires as sound as a bell. He played 23 years in major league company.
 In 's4 he led the National league in batting and hit for over 300 four-hfths of the time he was in the business.
 Those who saw Jim take part in the game of the old-timers on the Ameri- can league park in Boston two sea sons ago will remember how well the veteral player looked and how grace fully he caught and played third base. MT. O1Rourke says that was a, red let
  college players blended with the veter-- an professionals, showing the bond of friendship between the old boys who built up the great game.
 'tI always regret that I never saw the great college player Archie Bush,'' said O'Rourke. f'They tell me that he was the greatest player that ever wore a Harvard uniform and that is saying considerable. I often heard Al Spald- ing and Ross Barnes tell about the wonderful work that Bush did for the Harvard team against the Bostons in Fl. He was not only remarkable all-round player, shining as a catcher, but was a fine pitcher as well. Al Spa1ding once told me that it was Ar chic Bush who taught him how to pitch his slow ball, and that was the delivery that pulled off championships for the Boston club four times in suc- cession in the early '70s.''
 It was stormy, disagreeab1e weather. the morning reached Bridgeport, but that evening the sun went down dressed in luxurious crimson robes, and I thought how like it was to our national game, with it's early struggles and present great popular ity.
 A farewell handshake at the depot the conductor called sAll aboard"
 Goodbye, Jim, Goodbye, Tim. old boy''-and I was off for New York and the National league meeting.