Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-06-11
CHAPTER XIV.
/ Play Bali for Tho cInqaIeso.

| myself that It would be risky for US
TO make protracted stay In India on
account OF the unhealthy condition OF
~ Calcutta and other big towns, and II
was arranged that the ship should be
held at Colombo until we had al op-
portunity TO make an investigation. AS
soon as we landed Mr.. spalding was
informed by the American consul that
travel In India at that time was full
OF danger, and We had to abandon our
intention OF showing the Hindoos
what they we're missing by not play
ing ball
The captain consented, however, to
remain in Colombo long enough for US
II to play a game. We marched out to
W the Colombo cricket grounds at the
N head OF the most curious procession
we had ever seen. There were no
Eayly decked drags and nodding
plumss on this occasion, but plenty OF
heavy.wheeled carts drawn by hump
backed little cattle and Jinrickshas
worked by barelegged Cingalese. AT
the grounds at least 5000 people had
assembled, a number Of them English
residents, but the bulk being natives.
We played only Ave innings, the re-
suit being a tie, three runs for each
team, a very satisfactory game for all
parties, the natives getting lots OF
sport out OF the betting, but showing
little or no appreciation Of any OF the
finer points OF the playing When we
returned to our hotel we were ac'
companled by the entire crowd that
\ bad witnessed the game. and, after
nhaving changed our clothes, we went
sdirectly to the wharf, still followed
by the almost silent and admiring mob
OF Cingalese.
The second morning after leaving
Ceylon we had an experience that |
shall never forget. Day was Just
breaking and we were deep In the en-
joyment OF our beauty sleep when
every one on board-except those who
were not asleep-was reused suddenly
by the report OF a cannon that shook
'he steamer from stem to stern with q
fearful shock. This was followed al
most instantly by the most agonizing
shrieks and cries OF Pirates! Pirates!
The Chinese pirates are upon US,
ooysl"
This was succeeded by another
frightful report, aud then there was a
scene Of confusion that would have
discounted the racket in boiler shop.
John Tener, who was our treasurer,
grabbed all our available assets and
locked himself In his stateroom. Ed
Hanlon rushed into the cabin with his
treasures In one hand and his Glad
stone bag in the other. Mark Bald
win tumbled upon deck in his pink
striped pajamas with all his worldly
h possessions wrappeS in blanket. II
was current afterward-long years
afterward-in baseball circles that |
filled my mouth with Mrs. Anson's
diamonds, grabbed a baseball bat and
stood In the doorway Of our stateroom
prepared to brain anybody who tries
TO enter. That statement Is libellous,
and have denied II so many times
tirat the formula always use has be-
come second nature but cannot be
printed with "all the news that's fit
to print" | take this opportunity,
once and for all, to give two reasons
why I do not have faith in the allie
cations myself--frst, Mrs. Anson
owned no diamonds, and, second, |
wasn't hero enough at that time to
face gang OF pirates with ball
club.
n Well, I don't mind owning UP to the
fact that we we're a fused lot OF ball
liplayers when we got into that cabin,
n all in various degrees Of undressed-
ness. A cloud Of thick smoke came
4 rolling down the gangway and added
TO our terror. The stewards were fly.
ing about with wild gesticulations and
all talking at once In language that
was almost as bad as the pirates to
us. For few moments the situation
was critical. don't know what would
have happened II hadn't caught sight
OF Fogarty galloping around the din.
Ing saloon and yelling like Comanch'
brave. The minute spied him II
struck me that he was at the bottom
OF the whole business.
II proved TO be as had suspected.
Lynch and Fogarty by some means
Nhad become wise to the fact that the
steamers guns would be fred at day
break In honor OF the German kaiser's
birthday, and they had put their heads
together and ooncocted this heroic
efraoucal joke. II was rather risky
thing to pull on but It happened that
lno one was the worse for II after the
Excitement had worn on The Joke
emiths, however, were given wide
perth for long time and were not
takNn back In full communion until we
had reached America
~ Only a few days afterward Mark
Baldwin, who was In the habit of los
tng considerable sleep In inventing
Leractical Jokes TO be worked OF on the
especially on John Tener, who
veemed TO be without much sense OF
,Lumor In those days-had an adven'
tura With big Cinsalese monkey that