New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-20
"COPS" DRUB F|REMEN
Call Out Reserves of Runs
Early and Take in Game.
R0MER M0WS THEM DOWN
Commissioners and a Big Crowd
See Department Minions
Play in the Rain.

Pandemonium reigned at American
League Park yesterday afternoon when
the picked teams of the Police and Fire
departments met in the first game of a
series Of three to fight 1t out for the
| championship Of the municipal service.
Cheered on BY Commissioner Dougherty.
Deputy Commissioner Mckay and Cap
tain Porter, the bluecoats made free and
effective use of the locust and downed
the smoke eaters by score Of 10 TO 2.
| Free from all troubles for the day, even
forgetting that "Gyp' the Blood and
! Lefty Louie were in the land Of the
living, not TO mention the Tombs, the
cops" showed at their best They hit
the ball flush on the trademark. heded
sharply and. despite time ionored trsdi-
ton, we're fleet OF foot and graceful in
their movements
Despite the fact that a miserable drizze
fell throughout the game at times in such
quantities that postponement appeared
TO be a matter OF moments only, the
players stuck 10 their guns and kept the
crowd amused. And rabld partisan
crowd II was. Police and fremen their
friends and children and small boys that
managed 10 pass the warden Of the gate
were on hand to the number of five thou
sand 10 cheer the teams on. II was dis
tnctly a police day. They had the situa
ton under control at all times, and not
once was il deemed necessary 10 sound
tho riot call. although II is public Sc
cret that several hundred reserves lurked
in tho back rooms-no-the background,
within easy distance.
Every time the cops" made a neat
play or otherwise, or scored run their
less strenuous brethren In the stands
footed on their whistles until initiated
pedestrians must have believed that a
great battle was in progress and that the
minions Of the law required help. A few
optimistic firemen brought a great siren
10 the grounds. During a few minutes In
the practice Il was much in evidence,
but after the enemy rolled up seven runs
I'm the first inning and clinched the game
then and there the siren decided to wait
for some other day when IL would be a
fetch and not q ink.
After much practice. which some called
"snappy," Fire Commissioner Johnson
stepped forth and threw the bali out TO
the pitcher. n was a good throw and the
crowd cheored. An impressive silence en-
sued while the umpire. Harlett by name.
stood on the home plate and announced
that Romer, the pride OF the department.
would pitch for the police, while Smith
would serve them UP for the fire ladies.
Salg and Miden were named as catchers.
The players took their positions and the
spectators settled back in their seats 10
enjoy a struggle that was destined 10 pale
the majority Of big league games seen on
the same grounds on many occasions this
year In some respects IL did. Deputy
Commissioner Dougherty. Deputy Conn
missioner Mckay and Captain Porter sat
over on the police side 81 tho grounds,
while Commissioner Johnson wac close
10 his men. Both factions rooted brayely
and well throughout.
The frcmen were first At bat. Romer.
the southpaw ~ the police who has re-
fused many hattering offers from tho
major leagues. threw over few. and
then tho game began. Fitzpatrick, the
first man Mp for the ilremen, lifted long
rs out to the agile Barry In centre held,
who was cheered and lionized when he
gathered II in faultlessly. Can they all
hit Ike that fellow" asked Commissioner
Dougherty, but Romer. TO ease the Com
mlssloners mind. famed out Twadeil and
Goodman In jig time, and the bulls"
came up 10 bat
\ capable looking fellow named Smith
tried TO BE- pitcher for the bremen. hut
he was found out i'm a hurry. He passed
Barry. the first man up. and from that
time on he was batted all over the lot.
There is no definite way OF telling the
exact number Of runs which were scored
in that opening frame. but conservative
estimate placed II at seven. Smith hit
man. made n few wild pitches and acted
in other ways not generally recognized
in the best baseball circles II must be
said that the ball was wet and Shiny
after q few minutes. and II was a case
OF every ball being a splitter. There was
no way OF telling just where or when II
was going TO break. In the field the
spikes OF the players clogged after few
strides, and they were unable 10 cover
their positions we'll. Many flies in short
field frll safe as the players iiouudered
about In the heavy footing, and went as
hits when under favorable conditions
they would have been easy outs.
Smith found himself In the second inn
Ing, and although tine police got Il run
over by some fair batting, IT was TO Re
seen az a glance that their picnic for the
day was about over The nremen psrked
up little a. their pitcher held the oppo-
sition. and the men in the stands even
became bold enough TO predict belated
rally and victory. The third inning found
the police stll busy. and by punching
two-baegers by Dons and Romer, with
single by Barry. they scored two runs.
Then Smith settled down into a steady
pace and held them IN check.
Romer In the mean while went along
like a house OH fire and was lnvincible
for seven innings. TGsn ho let down a
little and, getting a couple OF hits and
a stolen base. the iiremen pushed over
run. In the eighth inning they also got
n man around on singles by McAtoy and
Mlden. a stolen base by the former and
grewsome error by Malcombson.
The scorp fOllOwa.