The daily Alaskan., 1911-07-21
.UMPIRES AND CRIT
Courageous Acts of the Men h
 the iron Masks.
A FINE DISPLAY OF NERVE.

When Billy Swans sravod Che On.
 sIaught of a Chicago Mob and Wen
 out-A Notable Decision by O'oay.
 An Umpire Who Saved Baseball.
 "UmpIres are brave men at feast the
 great majority of them. One Of the
 bravest things | ever saw was the act l Of Billy Evans on the old White Soy
 grounds in Chicago, writes Hugh Ful-
 lerton in the American Magazine. "on
 that park there was a tier Of seats
 known as the 'stocbyOrds, in which | gathered one of the most dangerous
 crowds (for umniresl ID the country. 1 They. were regulars who occupied the 1 same seats almost every day and who
 fought for theEt The seats, of course, were not reserved, but hundreds claim
 ed a title to certain places. They paid
 their quarters. and lt any one was in
 the place and refused to move he was
 tossed out and thrown over the heads l of the crowd to the bottom. That
 crowd started after Evans, who had
 given close decision at third base l against Chicago. Evans walked over
 on to foul ground back Of first base, and shower of bottles fell around ! him. It looked as if a hundred men
 were throwing bottles at the umpire One bottle touched hls cap, several | bounded and struck bim, one hit him on the arm. During this bomhnrdmcut Evans did not turn his head. Ile stood watching the butter. For at least three minutes the bottles whisted around his head. The people in Go. grand stand shouted for him to run, fearing he would be Killed. The players beg Ced him to move Into the diamond out of range. He stood stll with back to his foes until the batter made a
 base bit, then trotted down near sec ond base to watch fora play there AS the opposing team took the field a few moments later Evans walked Co the same position back Of 0rst hose, and the crowd that had tried to kin him stood up aud cheercd him They rec oguized brave man One fellow threw a bottle and the crowd pitched him down the steep steps, passing him along until be bit the fence.
 ''The uervIesl decision and one Of the most important ever made was that of Umpire O'Day In the worlds championship game between Chicago and Detroit on Oct 8. 1907, tbe Grst game Of the series which dnally ended in tie In twelve Innings, In the e.cv- enth inning Chicago actually scored the winning run only to lose lt through the decision of O'Day, a Chicago man and National leaguer. Slagle was on third base and started home with the ball back of third in left field The ball was thrown home and arrived after Slagle had crossed the plate and was nearly to the bench Steinfeldt who had been batting, was excited and when the ball was thrown to the plate. wild and wide, he jumped and let lt bit his shoulder and prevented Schmidt from catching it O'Day, In spite of the fact that Slagle had crossed the plate and that there wasn't a chance to put him out, called him out because of Stelufeldts interference.
 There was a close decision at Cleve- land one day when Tim Hurst widely known as the 'scroppy ump, was ot- iciating. Burkett was trying to score l from second on a hit The catcher failed to touch his foot, but touched his knee, and Cleveland claimed the foot ! reached the rubber before the ball reached the knee. Hurst called him out and in the wrangIe that followed ! expelled Pat Tebeau. O'Connor and Burkett from the game Then he put them or the grounds They left the playing inclosure, but all three had ! their heads over gate shouting 0t 1. Hurst and urging the other players to ] avenge them. Tebeau shouted to good l old Deacon Magulre, who was catch . Ing, Get after him, JImr Burst !. heard, but was not in position Co reply. ! Magulre heard and wOited until he l. thought Hurst mlscalled a strike. Then he rushed at the umpire at top speed. 1. Hurst stood still When Maguire !. came near enough Hurst kicked him on the shlns and poked his mask into !. his face. Mcguire fell back, astouish- | ed. If you don't like it Jim said . Hurst softly, give lt to Pat | merely | punched you vicnriously.
 "They are square men, these um- l plres, forced to be a bit gruG and to . 6gbt, but their devotion to their work . and their honest effort to discharge l their duties mark them as men of l high integrity. And they are game l | saw Bob Emsre once when foul . bah struck him over the heart The . pain was excruciatng. Els face grew 1 white, and he get his teeth together | and resumed work. Three balls were l pitched after he was bit Be called . them an clearly, Then he collapsed, . falling as if dead. and was carried od 1 the field unconscious.
 "One night I saw politicians, wealthy ! men, club owners, argue for hours . with an umpire, All they wanted him to say was T didn't see it' Upon . those words hung the fate of cham !