Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-20
BASE BALL MADNESS
PERMEATES PRISON
Penitentiary Convicts, Barred
to Newspapers, Yet Receive
Worlds Series Returns.

NEW YORK, October 2o-Massive stone
walls and wrought iron bars about them,
strict prison discipline that frowns upon
and rudely checks impetuous speech, the
dull grind of close confinement that
makes the outer world seem desirable;
yet all the conditions at the Eastern peni-
Tertiary fail to kill the base ball fever
that burns the more iercely for the very
restraint among the inmates of the Jail
at Corinthian and Paramount avenues.
1t seems unbelievable that the unfor-
tunates within the walls should have
time to spare from the contemplation OF
their own condition to think of the wide
reaches at Shibe Park, the green of the
outf1eld, the brown of the diamond. the
white sacks and base lines. the cheering
thousands in grandst and and bleachers,
who after the game may go home to their
families; if this reads like a Pigment of
the imagination ask the guards under
Warden Robert McKenty, himself an ar
dent fan.
For days before the series between the
Athletics and Giants opened the watchful
keepers noticed the excitement among
the men. II betrayed itself in various
ways, the long subdued but ineradicable
restlessness of ca ged men was tempered
by new Difference to the guards The
prisoners were on good behavior.
Interest rose to fever heat Saturday
when the Philadelphia team went to New
York. Most of the men in the cells were
strong for the Athletics. few were Giant
supporters. There are no telegraph wires
running from the Polo Grounds to the
penitentiary. but in the way that has
ever been the study and despair of GRIM
inologists, every convict knew that the
Athletics had been beaten How the
wireless" came no one knew.
Every prison official will declare that
within five minutes piece of news can
be communicated to 5000 men locked in
cells. without a word being spoken.
Through the ''tick-tick'' of the pipes and
walls of the little chambers ran the
story of the defeat. And gloom, more
profound than usual, settled over the
prison.
prison again. At 6 o'clock a guard heard
prisoner say to his cellmate: 1T must
nave been a great game. bet there
was yelling when Baker hit his homer"
to them, but they knew. The game was
discussed over and over again.
The Athletics victory at New York was
common property at the penitentiary be-
fore the enthusiastic Philadelphians who
had seen the game returned to this city.
The New York rooters in the Jail retired
ct the usual early hour in a distinctly
unpleasant frame of mind. The local men
who before they took the prison bath and
haircut We're loyal fans at Shibe Park
and the Phillies' ground. vibrated with
the joyful tidings. Tough hold-up man
and educated forger, they rejoiced that a
man whom they did not know personally
could knock ball into right field stand
ninety miles from where they eXpiated
their offenses against society.
The guards declare that after the two
local victories the prisoners were posi-
lively radiant The contrast between
their own confinement, the dead, dull,
colorless monotony in which a low-voiced
word with a guard is an event to be re-
membered for days, where change of
cells is epoch-making; where the only
light 10 cheer the days is the thought of
ahead and the freedom of a base ball
field. where voices may shrek to the
heavens commentator and condemna
ton; where a man lifts his voice with his
fellows and feels that he is one of them.
where one may praise or criticise as suits
one, without word of reproof fear of
solitary confinement, made details of the
game more precious.
Even those whose pride it is to have
no. spur OF hope, the 'hfers, felt the
contagion. With never a thought that
they would ever see Shibe Park or d
ball player, except one like themselves in
Distress the men who in fierce passion
or slow deliberation have killed. took in
tense interest in the results of the games.
The postponement of yesterday and to-
day affected the prison sadly. Weather
plays prominent part in the prison life.
for on dull days the prisoners are left to
the thoughts that burn like iron"
TWO prisoners were released this week.
Several whose terms expire after the
series is over took almost personal
affront the luck of the freed men. Yet
when the rain came and the inmates saw
that the series might be extended to
next week. the ones who may yet see at
least one game became the envied.
Robert Mckenty. known from coast TO
coast as a square man., has not seen
any of the games How in thunder
could | get a ticket? he asked voicing
the general complaint. But the prisoners
are troubled by no such reflections. They
feel that if once they got out, they could
get tickets right speedily