davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-22
No. 5S4.

A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an
Amendment to Article x of the Con-
stitution, by Adding Thereto Section
i, to Empower the Towns Of Gaff-
ney and Woodruff and Cities of Ches-
ter and Georgetown to Assess Abutt-
ing Property for Permanent In
provement.
Section /. Pc it resolved by the
Generally Assembly of the State OF
South Carolina, That the following
amendment to the Constitution, Article
X, to be known as Section ID OF said
article, be agreed to by two-thirds OF
the members elected to each house, and
entered on the Journals respectively,
with yeas and nays taken thereon,
and be submitted to the qualified cleo
tors of the State at the next general
election thereafter for Representa-
tives, to wit: Add the following section
to Article x of the Constitution, to
be and be known as Section Is:
Section Is. The General Assembly
NAV authorize the corporate authori-
ties Of the towns of Gaffney and Wood
riff and the cities of Chester and
GEORGETOWN to levy an assessment up
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-22
CUTTING AFFRAY AT WAGNER.
DR.. L. B. Etheridge Badly Hurt-As.
sailant Spirited to Jail.

Aiken. Oct. 19.-The little town of
Wagner, in this county, was again
thrown into intense. excitement this
afternoon over the attempted killing
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-22

STATE. OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
COUNTY OF NEWBERRY.
COURT. OF COMMON PLEAS.
British and American Mortgage Com
pany, Limited, Plaintiff,
against
Sidney B. Aull, The Whittaker-Har-
vey Company, E. A. Beall & Com
pany, Coe-Mortimer Company, The
Bank of Columbia, South Carolina
Loan and Trust Company, ]. ].
Langford, the Southern Cotton Oil
Company, Mercer S. Bailey and
William J. Bailey, as partners un-
der the firm name of NJ. S. Bailey
& Son. Defendants.
Pursuant to an order OF the court
herein. l will sell to the highest bid
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-22
l.. A. TeW,
G.. L. SeaSe,

Commissioners of Federal Election
for Newberfy County, S. c.
October y, 1912.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-22
S. C.. Hitler,
T. A. SchrOeC

Commissioners of State and County
Elections for Newberry County, S. c.
October y, 1912.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

new ball which was to cause such a Juror
in the national game.
Bowerman had a habit Of wettins his
fingers when catching, and in throwing to
second base he used great amount OF
speed, having a powerful arm. The sec
ond baseman on the Giants complained
that the ball took all sorts of freakish
breaks and that he could not be blamed for
dropping throws when the ball broke so
sharply he could not follow it with his
hands. As a result Bowerman was re-
lieved of the catcher's job for q time be-
cause too many men were stealing on
muffed throws.
1t was finally Stricklett, a pitcher Of
the Brooklyn club, who discovered that
by wetting the ball and gripping it with
the fingers on the wet spot it could be
made to take all sorts of freakish and
weird breaks. After he had found this
out ne had no means of telling which
way the ball was going to break. Strick-
lett hit upon the spitball during the spring
practice, when the pitchers try all sorts
Of experiments. A correspondent of a
sent glowing account of the
achievement which cost his paper about
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04
Progress and Development of the Freak Ball
How to Pitch a Curve ~ ~

$40 in telegraph tolls. He received a Ia
comic wire from the editor in reply.
Its all right to fake little, but we
cannot afford to spend money in tele,
graph charges on stories which call bal
q 'spitball.' That is vulgar and this
paper goes into the homes" it said.
Numerous students have delved into
the causes and effects of the spitball
and have delved out again no wiser than
when they took the plunge. A well known
writer upset the calm and repose of three
or four college professors last spring
and spent several months studying the
why of the spitball only to admit, when
they had all concluded their experiments,
that they knew no more about it than
when they started.
However, this much Is known If a
man takes and vets a space on the ball,
one as big as half a dollar. will do, al
though the early opponents of the de-
livery thought that the result could only
be accomplished by giving the ball bath
all over, and if the man grabs the ball
on the wet area and lets it shoot off his
fingers with all his speed, it will go on a
line until it almost reaches the batter
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

who go South for spring practice and
who find a weary sameness about the daily
rehea rsals and a dearth of thrilling details
founded on facts.
Therefore, from the South have come
the fish ball." ''the loop-the-loop curve, Z"
the buzzard's Dip" none of which has
ever been observed in the Large leagues
after season has begun. However, many
real freak balls have sprung up in the
last few years, notably the spitball, which
threatened for a time to revise the art
of pitching and made stars over night out
of men who had been only mediocre; the
fadeaway, the sole property of Christy
Mathewson, of the Giants, and the only
man who has ever been able to use the
ball successfully, and the knuckle ball
The spitball is perhaps the best known
and the most effective of these so-caIled
freak deliveries and should be considered
first.
According to baseball histories, Frank
Bowerman, the old catcher of the Giants,
first discovered the spitball, but, like Co
lumbus, who remained ignorant of the fact
that he had found a new continent, Bow
erman did not realize he had discovered a
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

to get out in front. 1t will be a nerve
racking battle every inch of the way
Boston, Washington and Chicago will
have to be subdued, and they are all great
bah clubs. The way it looks now 1 think
it win settle down to a matter of gen.
eralship, and on that score the boss
doesn't have to yell for help"
Would you mind giving the fans your
recipe for making successful home run?
mot at all There are several methods
in vogue, but my favorite recipe is to
put the ball over the fence This en-
ables you to retain the friendship of the
opposing felders, who are criticised for
slownes If home run is made on a hit
inside the fence Hitting the ball into
the bleachers is a popular method. but
the safest way is to drop it on the outside
Of the fence. That ends all argument"
Then You favor outside ball as against
the so-called inside article?'
Only where home runs are concerned"
What were your feelings when yon
peeled of those two continuous passages
during the worlds series?'
Forget about his feelings and ask US
about ours" broke in one of the
leading Trappers. "Say, you should have
been in the vicinity Of the general store
during that series. We got the news over
the telephone. Every time Frank hit
the ball every man in town stood on his
head and every woman envied them. 1t
certainly was an exciting week in
Trappe."
II had no particular feeling at the time
beyond the joy that comes from a good
healthy swat" said Baker las I logged
around the bases + felt that each swat
brought me nearer to my share of the
plumber and the chance to make some i'm
proVements on The farm.
Then you own a farm?"
Zone of the best in our part of Mary
land" chirped the choir.
what do you raise when you are no.
raising bats?"'
Com and grain How were my crops
when you left home, boys?-
Going up a mile a minute was the
chief spokesman's reply. Honest, Frank,
We had to get an aviator to pick the corn
Does the farm take up all your time
in the off season.
Pretty much. do a lot Of shooting
during the winter"
Hes one of the best wing shots in the
State of Maryland" was the contribution
of those loyal friends. Not a chance of
him sidestepping the spotlight while they
We're around.
Hurry up and dress, Frank" urged one
of them. We're all cracking to get a
look at the baby"
Here's her picture" said Baker. OPEN
ing the back of his watch and showing
case full of pink and white dimples.
What's her name?"
"Ottilie. She's almost two"
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

Mr.. Rockefeller never looks at the
Southern specimen, but he has his oysters
shipped direct from the North. They are
packed in ice and sent South the same day
that they are brought to market. Mr..
Rockefeller alone enjoys this luxury. Last
spring while Mr.. Rockefeller was here
the President also came down for few
days golf and also to make a few speeches.
He stopped at the same hotel with Mr..
Rockefeller. Thinking that the President
would enjoy a treat of raw oysters, Mr..
Rockefeller sent word to Mr.. Taft that
he would be glad to send him some oysters
on the half shell if the President would
accept the same.
Mr.. Taft sent back word through his
secretary that he would welcome such a
treat. Accordingly, Mr.. Rockefeller gave
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

lmender and hat cleaning parlor. Firs
thing you know well be looking for
big league franchise. Really, it woul,
pay you to make trip to Trappe."
Bet you were born there"
"You hit that one on the nose all right
I'm one Of the chief products of tn,
place. / was born there twenty-six year,
ago. Father, mother, three sisters ana
brother, and a whole league of relative.
live there"
Great town for Bakers"
"Outnumber every other occupation
about four to one. I'm the only one o.
the flock playing ball for a living"
His brother would have made a stal
pitcher" suggested a member Of the
Baker choir.
He sure could send EN- in" said ]
Franklin. His gas tank curve ruined
more than one pair Of Trappe suspen
ders. / took to baseball like a duel
takes to water wanted to be a pitcher
but none Of the boys seemed to take my
delivery seriously. They just banged il
all over the village. Then 1 decided tc
do little banging myself. Ny hitting
enabled me to get job running errands
around third base and I've had my mai
addressed there ever since. I've beer
playing professional ball about six years
Started with Risley, Md, in 1906. The
following season went with the team in
Cambridge, Nd, finishing with Baltimore
IN the old Eastern League. I played witt
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04
HERE'S JOHN FRANKLIN BAKERS
RECIPE FOR HOME RUNS

Sox from a pair of games, Baker adding
to the merriment of the occasion by pry-
ing a round trip off ED" Walsh's wet
pet" As he rushed to the dressing room,
followed by the acclaim of fans and fell
low players, he was surrounded by a
group Of admiring citizens from his home
town. After all the home folk had
slapped him on the back, swung his bat
around their heads two or three times and
told him that so-and-so wanted to be re-
membered to him, the most prominent
member Of Mack's wrecking crew ad-
vanced and shook hands.
No, not a bit savage looking. Just a
great, big, good natured youngster, shy
in manner, modest in speech and greatly
embarrassed when requested to wave a
few flags at himself. After meeting him
il is hard to believe that he is the same
party who has been beating the life out
of defenceless baseballs and sending pitch
ers to the observation pavilion. He stands
five feet ten, has displacement of 1T5
pounds and moves about without wasting
a motion.
The most striking part of him is his
arms. He doesn't have to stoop to pull
up his socks. At the end of each arm
is wide spreading hand-the hands that
steer the deadly bludgeon. He Is a good
looking chap, with honest brown eyes, a
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

= FFORTS are being made by the
Powers toward the adaptation of the
automobile to the transportation OF
field artillery. II has been pointed out that
the idea Of a sefmovins gun carriage
for field guns was suggested as early as
the year 1863 by the engineer Cugnot.
At present efforts are principally directed
to the perfection of form of automobile
suitable 10 take the place of horses in
drawing the artillery wagons. Many
different forms of ironclad automobiles,
carrying light guns, have already been
invented and tested, with more or less
success, but, it is said, the main problem
is to adapt the automobile to the trans
portation of guns mounted, as at present,
on their own carriages.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

| 1--we got a kind of a freak ball. l
replied.
Lets see it, said Davis.
Then I threw him a fadeaway, the
ball not having its name then.
That's a great ball. declared Davis.
Why. that is fallaway or fadeaway.
Practise on that one 1t had its name.
Il practised for one whole season he
fore I could control the ball 1 have
shown other pitchers, even on rival teams,
how to throw the curve, but none has
ever mastered it"
So the amateur had better omit that
curve from his repertoire, and the in
cipient professional, too, unless he can
take direct lessons from Mathewson him
self.
A pitcher must learn to mix EN- up
that is, throw the batter a kind of ball
that he is not eIpecting-and must be
careful always to cover the fingers of his
pitching hand with his glove so that the
hitter cannot see the arrangement of his
fingers on the ball II the batter can be
led to expect a fast ball and then be
served a slow one it is a coup. The slow
ball Is accomplished by holding it loosely
in the hand, as if it were al egg, and then
letting it go with all the motions and
cOntortions of the fast one so the hitter
will not be able to prepare himself or time
the pitch.
In pitching, man to be a success must
have untold patience and must practise
diligently. Neither Rome nor Mathewson
was made in day. A man should study
for their weaknesses the batters he is to
face. Don't try to strike all the hitters
put. Conserve the energies for the pinch.
Hub" Perdue, the pitcher on the Boston
League club, perhaps has the
most concise formula for box artists.
Il do the best cam" says Hub" "and
then after the ball leaves my hand it b
up to the batter"
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

the break comes the more effective is the
curve. This result is obtained BY grip
ping the ball tightly with the thumb and
the first two fingers, holding the fingers
on the seams so that better purchase is
gotten. Then the ball is permitted to slip
off the thumb with a peculiar spinning
motion which is really reverse English.
This keeps the ball rotating away from the
batter and causes it to break suddenly
down and out. Experts have deduced that
the result is obtained because the spinning
motion causes the ball to change its centre
of gravity, and thus one side of the ball
becoming heavier than the other it drops
toward the earth until an equilibrium is
again established, which the pitcher hopes
will be in the catcber's mitt.
However, without delving into the tech
meal details of the curve ball, it can De
said here without fear of successful con-
tradicton that several pitchers have
been very effective in the big league with
out ever knowing or realizing that base
ball had a centre of gravity. There is
no reason for a youngster to look for
this centre of gravity or try to figure
out why the ball curves. The thing to
get it to do is to curve.
Once more let this curve ball prescrip-
ton be repeated. Hold the first two fingers
tightly on the seams, grip the ball with
the thumb, and let the ball roll off the
thumb with a twist and snap of the
wrist and all the speed which can be
put into the delivery. This one curve,
with control, will sufhce most amateur
pitchers if they successfully master the
two, which can only be done by dilisent
and tireless practice.
However, perhaps the reader of this
article has professional aspirations, as the
many leagues scattered over the country
are drawing on all walks of life for talent
these days. With the progress and de-
velopment of baseball crop of freak balls
has grown up, some really existing and
others being born only in the minds of
imaginative newspaper correspondence
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

III this talk about the Interests
Hbeing back of President Taft is NOT
taken seriously in Augusta, Ga. 1t is
no secret among the hotel people that John
D. Rockefeller, one of the big interests,
is on the outs with the President, and il
all came about through an innocent little
oyster on the half shell.
Mr.. Rockefeller always comes to Au.
gusta for several weeks in the winter to
enjoy his game of golf, for he must play
the game that brought him back to health,
so when the ground up at Pocantico is
covered with snow he packs up and seeks
a warmer cline. 1t is not generally
known, but Mr.. Rockefeller is very, almost
passionately, fond of oysters on the half
shell. Wen, oysters on the half shell are
a real luxury here.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

orders that the President be served with
oysters on the half shell every day during
his stay. The President did enjoy the
oysters, but Mr.. Rockefeller never knew
of it. That is, he did not know of it from
the President personally. The President
appeared to be afraid to notice Mr.. Rookie
Teller. They played on the same links,
but no photographer got a snapshot of
them shaking hands. Then Mr.. Rookie
Teller became angry. The President was
willing to eat his oysters, but was not
willing to meet Mr.. Rockefeller for fear
of political effect.
Huh" he said to friend one day, IF
that was Roosevelt he would come out
and thank me for the oysters even If he
denied it the next day" And since that
time Mr.. Rockefeller has not had much
use for the President
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04
BY ]. A. FITZGERALD.

yZE~T1Q1O HIN FRANKLIN
EAS BAKER, president and
rs @1chief stakeholder of the
Tn = III Home Run Manufacture
GSEG6 ing Company of Philadel,
phia, will now take the
stand in his own behalf.
There are several counts in the indict'
ment against the third baseman of the
worlds champions, the most serious OF
which accuses him of uncalled for brutal
ity in the series with the Giants last DC
tober, his inhuman treatment of Nc
Graw's men on that historic occasion
earning him the sobriquet of Jack the
Giant Killer" He is also charged with
being on the payroll of the Lumber Trust,
a charge which will be backed up by an
exhibition of shattered boards from every
fence in the American League circuit.
Every fan will recall how his wicked
bat plunged the whole city of New York
and millions of National League followers
into grief last fall, not once but several
times, during the battle between the major
leagues for the premier honor of the base
ball universe. Every time the Giants ap-
peared to have a chance in that never to
be forgotten series this Baker person
came along and beat it to death with his
bat.
Toward the finish of the conflict the
millions of Giant lovers banked about
bulletin boards throughout the country
used to start weeping when Baker left
the bench. Between tears they would
mark down home run or three Dagger or
some other extravagant smash, and in
variably their dream came true. As for
American League fans, they never did
stop laughing until the holidays
The Indictment found against him by
the Polo Ground Grand Jury has not
frightened him to any great extent. Sol
far as the home run habit goes he appears
to be incorrigible. Mr. Connie Mack
this is the shortest and most direct route |
to the name Of the Athletic commander
is the only one who is able to control his
rapacity with the willow, and for obvious
reasons he refuses to do it. Mr.. Bakers
Office hours are from four to six. He
divides the time between third base and
the home plate, but does most of his bust
ness at the latter place.
On the afternoon that our hero con-
scented to state his side of the case the
Athletics had just separated the White
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

II always let the first one go by" HI
said with a smile, "but think III *
after that one. I am going to throw my
self on the mercy of the fans"
Then you plead guilty?'
Guilty as charged in the Indictment
cannot tell a lie. I did it with my
little bat yet"
How about the Lumber Trust charge -
II refuse TO answer, on the ground
that it might tend to incrimfnate and de
grade me. don't think I should be
blamed If they build the fences too near
the home plate. Goodness knows, try
hard enough to keep from hitting them"
by dropping the ball on the other
side" was suggested.
Thanks for helping me put that one
over laughed the big third baseman.
IF you're going to write a piece about
Frank don't forget to say he always did
hit the ball further than any one else, "
broke in one of his townsmen.
Easy on the taffy; you're taking too
big lead" said Baker.
A shower of praise for his early bat
ting ability came from all sides. Baker
hung his head, an embarrassed smile on
his face and a deep crimson on his cheek.
While his neighbors bulled the Baker
market he contented himself with knock
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04
ADVICE.

F destiny shall lift the cup
OF tribulation to your lips,
Be not in haste to drink It up
Partake Of it in little sips.
Mayhap you dream Of great emprise;
Let nausht predestined make you
shrink;
Which is your path-that toward the skies,
Or this which leads to failures brink?
Bless those who strike you as you pass
Along the road Of Circumstance.
There is no safer way, alas!
Whereby toward fortune We advance.
Unfold no plan before foe
II you would guard some enterprise.
No man tells what he does not know
Save your respect in other eyes.
Fear not to pass oblivion's gate.
For in that vast, uncharted land
Unsessed, unnumbered treasures wait
You may come forth with well filed
hands.
LCRANA SHELDON.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-04

and then II Will take a freakish and sud
den break, calculated to discourage .
hitter with even a three hundred batting
average. 1t is known that the wet place
on the ball, gripped with the fingers, per
mits it to slide off the fingers without the
spinning motion and that it goes toward
the batter practically dead. But why il
takes that sudden swoop has never been
satisfactorily explained.
Many pitchers in the last few seasons
have learned to control the spitball and
pitch it so that 1t will break in a certain
direction, either down or out or in This
result is accomplished by putting the
thumb on dry part of the sphere and
holding the ball back slightly with the
thumb so that small spinning motion
is given it away from the direction that
the curve should break. The ball turns
over perhaps Eve or six times in its
course to the plate, and these few revo-
lutons appear to make it break in a GER
tain direction. Ford, of the Yankees,
and Walsh, of the White Sox, each has
nice control of his spitball.
Christy Mathewson, of the Giants, is
the only man in baseball who ever mas
tered the fadeaway, and he accomplished
this through untiring practice. The ball
is held the same as it is for the drop, but
instead Of sliding off the thumb with a
spinning motion it is let off the inside
of his first two fingers, which makes the
ball break down and toward a right hand
batter instead of away from him. "Matty"
gives the ball sudden snap as it leaves
his hand, making it hard on the muscles
Of his arm to throw the ball often.
II mastered the curve" "Matty" told
me once, through constant practice.
When / first Joined the Giants, George
Davis. then the manager, got me out in
practice and told me to throw
all the curves / knew. gave him the
big old 'roundhouse' curve which l had
used in the minor leagues
That's no good said Davis abruptly.
Have you anything elseT