The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-10-25
CHAPTER XIV.

IDere lS0I muCl IldL can ne Bd1Q
about certain stretches along the Rio
Grande, except that they are undoubt-
eddy those portions of Texas which
made a great general declare that If
he had that state and the Internal
regions at his disposal he'd live in
hell and rent out Texas. Mesquite and
prickly brush; jungles bisected here
and there with thorny trails; hdbita-
lions almost as scattered and as sell
dom visible as in the days when the
Comanche and the Lipan rode abroad
in the land-that is the Rio Grande
border. 1t is an ideal country for
smugglers, cattle-thieves and revolu.
tionists, just as it was once the happy
hunting ground of the most pernicious
red men.
Still, it doesn't much matter what
the section of the land may be, or
what the scenery may amount to. II
1t is in these United States-and
there is a patch of fairly level ground
discernable-there will be ball game
in progress any pleasant afternoon,
and the crack of the bat will rouse
the echoes where once the Indian war
whoop scared the birds. Hence 1t can
hardly be considered startling or even
remarkable to find good games In full
blast upon the Rio Grande-games
which may not be played with big
league skill, but which are filled with
liveliness and pepper, loud outcries
and troubles for the umpire.
The second game of the great Sc
ries between the Fourth cavalry and
the common citizens promised to be
the warmest battle seen on the banks
of the big river in several moons.
While the cavalry had won the first
contest II to on heavier hitting,
the common citizens-war correspond
ents and camera artists in the main
had been reinforced the night before
the second tussle. Two 1.-THE, sinewy
youngsters had blown into camp, as.
sorting that they had some small, I'M
important business with the COM
mander. AS that official had tempo
rary business at San Antonio, the
boys had been made welcome and CIV
en- quarters while awaiting his return.
Baseball, Of course, had been one of
the earliest topics of conversation, and
the newcomers showed intense eager
ness to break into the game. AS any
one outside of army circles was eligi-
bic and the common citizens were
short-handed, the new arrivals were
promptly drafted into service. Brock
EFT was detailed to guard centerfield,
while Ramon Solano was listed for
third base. Both youngsters, while
Wild to have at least one day Of diver
sion, We're modest and diffident when
asked to play, and declared that they
didn't want to crowd any other fell
lows off the team. 1t was explained,
however, that Sanborn, the estimable
war correspondent of the New York
Whirl, had counted himself out with
charley-horse, while Summers, kodak
man of the Chicago Blizzard, had been
stung by a scorpion-not seriously.
but squarely on the right wrist, dis
abling him from further baseball do
ings. That left two vacancies, and
the appearance of the boys was a
blessing to the common citizens ar.
ray.
Brockett and Solano warmed IN
with real delight when the teams were
summoned to the field. They had
found friends-a Jovial crowd of news
paper men and Photographic experts
and the minor officers Of the regi.
ment had likewise extended them a
warm welcome. The Polo Grounds
as the troopers proudly styled the ball
yard was somewhat humpy in places.
and rather diversified with cactus In
others, but everybody concerned had
seen far worse arenas for the game.
Grandstand there was none, but long
lines of cracker-boxes, beer cases and
brush heaps afforded sitting room.
while hundreds of the enthusiastic
bugs stood as close to the base lines
as they dared. Mexican ranchers,
Mexican poems, rurales on short fur
loughs, 'lungers" who had sought that
region for their health, and soldiers by
the hundred-such was the assembly.
and it is doubtful If any ball game
ever was played before a more up
roarious crowd.
A college man who was directing
things for a moving-picture concern
went in as pitcher for the common
citizens. and seemed fairly capable.
He stopped the cavalry hitless for
two innings, pop flies and strikeouts
oufo1xIv dfaOOefnor of The M rrtcv. nk d.