davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
BASEBALL HISTORY
COMES TO LIGHT IN
WR|GHT'S EP|STLE
Letter From Famous Player
Printed for First
Time.

CINCINNATI, Ohio. Jan. 4.-Fans OF
an older generation will be interested
in q hitherto unpublished letter from
Harry Wright. the great player who
captained the famous Reds of 1853,
the team which went through an en-
tire season without losing game Of
ball, and continued it's fine work
during the following year also.
Harry Wright was here for three
years, and then went to Boston,
where he played with the champion
ship team Of that city. Cincinnati
fans. appreciating the wonderful
work he had done here, arranged a
subscription for him, which resulted
In a very handsome gold medal being
purchased and sent to him, COM
memorative of his service in the cause
OF Cincinnati baseball.
He was also presented with Q num-
Der Of the balls which had been won
in the victorious campaign of 1859,
the most precious of which was the
one with which the Reds defeated the
Mutuals in New York by a score of
4 to 3, very remarkable score at
that time, when a very lively ball was
in use and only straight-arm pitching
WAS dllOWtu.
The testimonial to Harry Wright
was arranged by Joseph c. Butler, al
that time president OF the old Lafay-
cite Bank. who had loaned Wright
the money to inclose the Cincinnati
Reds ball park and build the club
house. Mr.. Butler entrusted the mat,
ter to Thomas g. Smith, who sent tbs
medal and balls to Wright, The bel
players reply is furnished through
the kindness of Pierce o. Butler, sor
Of Joseph c. Butler. 1t Is as follows
New York. May 5, 1872.
"Mr. Thomas G. Smith-Dear Sir
Your kind letter of the 18th ult re
ceived, forwarded to me from Boston
/ cannot at present write you as
should like to, but / must acknowledg'
1t was with feelings Of very grea
pleasure that I read your letter. an,
thank you for compliments to myself
/ shall ever feel grateful to Mr.. Pierre
| o. Butler and the Cincinnati Junior
| for their generous gift and kind remem
brance of what little service, gladl
rendered. may have been to or di'
for them. In behalf of my former as
sociates / thank you, Mr.. Butler an,
the Red Stocking Juniors for the me
| mentos of our triumphs on the bal
| field as the Cincinnati Red Stockings,
name that shall always be remember
ed as the Veni, Vidi. Wei of baseball
playing In 1863.
IT shall distribute whatever has bee
Forwarded to me as requested. I r.
main, as ever. yours respectfully,
| HARRY WRIGHT"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
RECALLS FAMOUS
PITCHING BATTLES
Last Worlds Series Reminds Od-Timers of Twirlng
Contests of Championship Games Long Ago-Charles
Koenig Was Figured in Great Pitching Duel

err Comiskey's men feared. But Bald
win was not eight and Getaein was call
ed upon to do the bulk Of the work He
I1G I'VE games frSm the Browns In
over Bobby Caruthers tina. really won
the series for Detroit. The Browns
never came back after Getzein hung the
Indian sign on Caruthers in the great
The shortest ana sweetest world's
championship series on record was the
Providence etropotItan clash Of 1884.
Providence won the National League
Cation. "oId Hoss' RadboIrne, a Won
derful rigtt-hander from Rockford. ILL.,.
was the star twirler or the Providence
team, He established a worlds record
by pitching something like twenty-six
consecutive games for the Providence
club in one season.
Nothing Extraordinary.
/ A little thing like pitching an entire
worlds series never ctruck "Old Hoss''
as being anything out or the ordinary.
so wheE the Providence Grays tied up
with the Metropolitans. Radtourne vol
unteared to twirl every game. 1t didn't
last long. however. for the Nets
couldn't see Rails" fast ball and he
heat them thres straight games, win
ming the first two games from Timothy
iecfe. the gen. who towled over
Charlie King in the 1888 series.
Bobby. Cafuther5 and Jcnn Clarkson
tied up In the deciding game of the 1885,
series between st. Louis ana Chicago
and Caruthers brought homo the bacon
score to 3, The only Mike Kelly, OF
"Slide, Kelly. Slide!" fame, caught
t:larkson in that gene. Curt NVelch was
on third base. and Arlie Latham at ba,
in the ninth. Kelly thought he could
latch Weich mapping and signaied
Clarkson for a pitchout Instead of fol,
lowing instructions, Clarkson curved ths
leather cover on the inside. Kelly miss
ed the ball and Welch scampcred owe,
the plate with the winning run.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04

Mhen the gong rings. In April. Murphy
rs SIX feet tall, weighs 40 pounds. and
hits right-nanded.
May Take Off Flesh.
business men Of Washington, who are
overwhelmed with flesh. will have an
opportunity between now and March
LIST to get a taste Of the sort Of process
OF physical condition which ball play
ers undergo In the spring. The Y. M.
G. A. physical department has Just
completed arrangements with Mike Mar
tin, the Nationals trainer. to take
Washingtonians each afternoon until
the Nationals trek to Virginia. Martin
has long been considered competent
conditioner of ball players, but his spe-
cialty has been IN reducing weight.
winter have often come to Martin for
advice, but unless II was several weeks
before the beginning Of the season he
would refuse bis services. Martin 10 not
fast that It weakens the patient. but by
a scientific system of easy work he grad
ually eliminates the unnecessary burden
until he has his charge At.
from Petersburg to 90 there during the
training season and play an exhibition
game with the team representing that
city In the Virginia State League, but
after considering the matter for short
time he vetoed the measure. Griffith
intends to have uninterrupted work,
once he reaches Charlottesville, and he
thinks that trip to Petersburg would
do more injury than would offset the
financial gain,
Ticket Report Tomorrow.
The National Commission spent all of
v..ta,ao, daI,haro,,ny an the wor,d,.
s.e.eay on ne
series ucket SCANDAL out tne report was
so elaborate that 1t was announced that
the findines would not he published I'M
a, ,nr,orrou, Tharo uo, M int,r,a ,ior
vi 'oi'o' i"eie VOC nv
as 10 whlch way the decision "ouio 20,
but the impression seems to be that
there will he a Scotch verdict of not
proven. with recommendations that the
whole system Of handling the coupons
be reyolutionized before two more teams
engage for the highest of all baseball
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
Easily Answered.

'chese kids ! teach aren't a bit slow"
observed a school teacher yesterday.
"In fact, I'm afraid they real the pa
peers. The other day I proposed the fol-
lowing problem to my arithmetic class
IA rich man dies and leaves ST. 0c. oOc.
Dne-tift! Is :, go to his wife, one sixth
one. eighth TO his brother. and the rest
to foreign missions What does each
get2
IA lawyer said the littlest boy IN
tbSaclass promptly. and co;u-
ment.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
LAST CONTRACT Is
NOW ON ITS WAY
Manager Griffith Wastes No Time In Distributing Of
#s fetal Papers-Wil Apportion Salaries More
{ e.. Equtaby- Murphy May Sign.
By SENATOR

The first act of Clark Griffith when
he reached baseball headquarters to-
day was to take final look at the Sec
ond allotment OF Washington baseball
contracts and send them on their way,
sciA the registered mail route.
The quicker q ball player can get
hold of his official papers and get a
good look at what is filled In over the
blank space for salary the happier he
y. Griffith knows this and by this
evening he will probably have sent out
the final one Of the twenty-eight con-
tracts.
One OF the most important subjects
that has engaged the attention of Grit
nth since he has taken charge here
, has been the salary roll. For years.
despite its lowly position in the race,
! the Washington club has had the rcpu-
station of having one of the heaviest
!, lists OF salaries in baseball. Why this
4 should be has always been a mystery,
hut the fact has existed.
~ To Apportion Salaries.
y Following out his policy of putting
AFFAIRS here on businessliSe basis,
according to modern ideas. Griffith has
been endeayoring to arrange the SAL
" Aries on more equitable basis. while
the stars will receive all that Is COM
ing to them in the way of remuncra-
tioon, Griffith does not intend to squan-
der the funds of the organization by
paying more to men on the brink Of
miner leaguedom than Is being paid
some of the most valuable men on
other teams.
7; Having long been a ball player. Grit
nth believes that the men in the ranks
nrc due fair deal. but he thinks that
1T will be to the better interests of the
Nationals to pay reasonable salaries
and spend the savings in purchasing
new players, than In having tho name
OF being u high payer and low posi-
ton holder.
u. A probabls addition to the Nationals
~ Rob Murphy. who first came into
who played a part Of last season with
Wilmington In the Tri-State League.
) Murphy was at Headquarters yesterday
afternoon. and. after a long conference,
4 probably be- taken TO Charlottesville to
be Afforded an opportunity to demon
nitrate his caliber.
vi Murphy Plays Third.
!, /. Murphy is third baseman. and 1t Is
I this position that il causing Griffith the
4 sgreatest amount Of worry just at pres
emit. The manager figures that the other
! three infield places are fairly well fort-
i ned. but. unless Morgan shows unex.
rected strength, third may be the weak
1ji0t. TIE manager has sounded out
!, managers OF all the major clubs. and
Z Several of the minors in the hope OF
but he has received little encourage
4 nient. All those who have good third
basemen are hanging on To them, &c
l;gtffth's only apparent hope at this
time seems to be to rake among the
! Gcini-pro players in the hope of pick
ing up live one.
Us. IN addition to being a good fielder
Murphy has the reputation of beipz a
able to show all Ills friends are claimin,,
for MIN. ne may be found cavorting
around Conroy's old stamping groun
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
THINK HENRY WILL
LEAD BACkSTOPS
Baseball Experts Unite in Doping the Nationals Young
Catcher to Be Greatest in Major Leagues-Has
Wonderful Arm.
By SENATOR

No. he isn't q real, simon-pure dia-
mond right now. but every baseball
man of any brains and experience, in
looking at him sees what he thinks
10 the coming real star backstop Of
the major leagues. They say they
never saw a man with a better arm.
a better build for the position. more
signs of baseball brains, better speed
on the bases or a better pose at the
bat. The experience in the big show
IL expeeted to improve his hitting
and no 10 looked to succeed such
cracka3acks ~ Jimmy Archer, Oscar
stanage. Ira Thomas and Jack Lapp,
IN a couple or more seasons. VINO is
he? oh, John Henry. Of the WASH
ington Nationals.
Yes, sir-ree, this same John Henry.
who was backstopping for Midget
Mcclure, Amherst's star twirler. In
,, the spring Of 1910. has earned all this
commentator in a little more than
q full season as q major Lacquer.
When he made his initial appearance
in wash,nston uniform, he was }u " !
20 e1 as to the how OF It. Now he
Is much changed. He has been around
the circuit few times ,, and his re, real =
Il
last summer. when "Gabby" Street
and Eddie Ainsmith were both on the
| hospital list. Henry buckled down to
| his task and caught every game on
the Western. trip. On the Fourth OF
July, in Boston. he lost nine pounds
In the terrific heat that dr9ye Joe
pixie Walker. and Kid Elberfeld to
the bench for relief.
He, Never Whimpered.
That night at the hotel he said to
the writer, Some hot out there to-
day, Ell, DO? I'll soon be down to
weight" Never a whimper. never a
sign of quitting. That's John Henry.
Then. in the same awful heat, the Ma
tionals reached Detroit John Henry
was still nobly backstopping. In one
game he was struck in the groin and
laid out for a while. Most catchers
would have retired from the game
only a rookie, untried and unknown. He
scrambled to his feet, grunted some.
thing uninteiligibie to the fans and put
| on his mask again. Then the rooters
| roared their appreciation for his game.
ness. He played the entire game. too
though he was twice afterward hit by
bad foul tips.
club" Hughey Jennings said to friend
In the stand. on selling the exhibition
Of pure grit "Hes there. he is, and
in another season or SO he's going te
make a lot of these star catchers look
like second-raters."
Henry is Just q great big, scod-na.
tured boy. He'll do anything he's told
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
Appearances.

SISTER Henderson," said Deacon
Hypers, you should avoid even the
appearance of evil"
why, deacon, what do you mean?'
asked Sister Henderson.
IT observe that on your sideboard you
have several cut-glass decanters, and
that each of them is half-filled with
"well, now, deacon. II isn't anything
of the kind, The bottles look so pretty
on the sideboard that I just filed them
halfway up with some fioor-stain and
furniture polish, just for appearances"
ter" replied the deacon. Feeling a
trifie weak and faint, I helped myself
to a dose from the big bottle In the
middle. "-London Telegraph.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
Lightning Calculation.

A Brooklyn Sunday school teacher
once had occasion to criticise new
pupil whose ignorance of his Tesla
ment would have been amusing had It
not been so appalling. One Sunday she
asked the little fellow how many COM
mandments there were. To her surprise
the lad answered.: giibly enough:
Ten. ma'am."
And now. Sammy" asked the teacll-
err, what would be the result II you
should break one OF them?"
Then there'd be nine," triuniphantly
answered the youngster.-Fun.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
MURPHY TO DECIDE
SATURDAY ABOUT
TRAINING OLYMP|CS
Health So Improved That He
Can Now Return to
Sports.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. Z. - Nike
Murphy. veteran trainer of the Univer-
sity Of Pennsylvania. will return to Phil
adelphia Saturday from Browns Mills.
N. j.. and determine whether he will
accept the position as trainer Of the
American team at the Olympic games
at Stockholm. His health Is SO much
improved that 1t is assured he will be
able to get back into harness. It Is
hardly likely he will accept the offer to
train the Philadelphia National League
team,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
Harry Sallee Climbs
Aboard Water Wagon
To Be tn Training

Harry SLIM Sallee, the St Louis
Cardinals lanky left.hander,
who always has the Giants
number any time he is half way
right, has signed the pledge. He
claims to have been on the wa.
ter wagon for several months
already. II this is SO, and he
sticks to his resolution, the
Giants will find o formidable
obstacle every time they stack
up against the Cardinals In
1912. Sallee is q fellow who has
a lot Of brains-differing In this
respect from Bugs Raymond
and Rube Waddell. Heretofore
he has been his one worst en-.
envy.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04

" The pitching duels of the 1911 worlds
0offes recall to old-timers famous bat
ties between star twirlers In champion
ship games Of long ago, says writer
in the Pittsburgh Sun.
Charles Koenig. who pitched profess
1 sional ball under the name of King
twenty-five years ago. figured in one
OF the greatest twirlng duels on record
) between worlds championship pitchers.
Koenig, for st. Louis, and Timothy
Keefe, for New York, hooked up in a
/, great battle in 1888. Comiskey's St.
!, Louis Browns won the American AS
< ISOLATION pennant that year, while New
si York won the National League cham
pionship.
y. King was a speed merchant. He was
known all over the circuit as Cannon
Ball. King. and few catchers cared to
handle his hot shots Big gloves were
unknown in those days. and a catcher
: worked behind the bat with small
!, glove like outfielders use nowadays.
keefs beat King in the f hsns game 70 q
4 Each team made three hits. keefe
also knocked King down in the second
Y game, 4 to 2, each pitcher allowing hve
This time the New York club batted
king for nine hits. Keefe won -four
wxGames for New York in that series,
Hdefeating Chamberlain In one game
8Carles Koenig Is now a prosperous
builder in South st. Louis.
Getzein Does Better.
Keefe's defeat Of Comiskey's st. Louis
Browns four times was excelled by
Y Charles Getzein, of Detroit. in the men,
/, torable series of 1887. Getzein and Catch
er Camel, of Detroit, formed famous
battery. Getzein was right-hander
with burning speed and splendid con-
ntroi. fIe became the hero Of the 1885,
: Rrowns figured GetZein would be easy
6ickinr. Lady" Baldwin. a sensational
Sssouthpaw pitcher, was the Detroit pitch
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
The "Under Dog"

When the hotel porter picked up q
stray Boston terrier nobody appeared
to claim the dog, he decided to keep
him.
Then the man from Milwaukee came
and wanted such a dog. with a pedigree.
and the porter found one and charged
him 800 for the OUTFIT. Then the visitor
gave him SO for his trouble. and the
porter charged him an additional $40 for
getting the dog ready to ship.-New
York Sum
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
Might Develop Heat.

"Pa, what IL meant by ssnseless argu-
nenti''
"A senscless argument. my boy. IL one
over the relative merits Ut steam and
hot water heat."-petroit Free Press.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04

when the gong rings. In April. Murph
~ SIX feet tall. weighs 40 pounds. an
hits right-nanded.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04

and do his very best to succeed. He
never played first base until last spring
at Atlanta. ohm Someriot was late In
reporting at the training camp. and 20
Jimmy McAleer said to Henry; Guess
you'd better take a whacK at the FIRST
G corner John; You may make good; you
All right" answered the CHEEKY
me anyway. I'm pretty bYs.s
The big catcher wasn't first base
got his fingers crossed now and then Of,
apparently simple moves In the national
Hame. put he showed himself better
than either Jack Lelivelt or John Som
position. 1t was only when "Dutch''
Scbaefer bloomed forth In ali l1is spIon-
DOR that the college boy went back to
his1regular position behind the bat.
Displayed Ginger.
Henry Joined the Nationals in 1910. He
found lots OF trouble in holding walter
johnson. but he did better than Becken.
dorf. He also displayed a 10, OF Ginger
in his work, and when the season closed
this was his record:
FIELDING FIGURES.
g; e. sS a 4. E. Ps. Pct sss
BATTING FIGURES.
g; A A R. i. sH sB- Pct Pc
The above figures are not remarkable,
but when they are compared with his
work last year. his first full season in
the big show, you may be able to sec
Just why some wise baseball men pick
him to be a wonder in future cam
paigns. Here are his records for the
| season Of 1911:
FIRST BASE FIELDING.
q: Po 4; 2. Pct.
CATCHING FIGURES.
8 6 e. Is 4 4. i Il. r. Z PSI IS
BATTING FIGURES.
G. Alb. r. II. sH. sB. Pct
Jimmy McAleer used to go into rap
lures on the slightest occasion last sea-
son concerning Henry's magnificent
throwing arm. Look at that arm," he
would say. ''If that boy doesn't become
the best throwing catcher in the history
backstop. He has the best arm ever
saw on a man."
Next season Henry should boost his
batting average considerably under the
coaching of Manager Griffith. He has
plenty of nerve at the bat and can't be
bluffed. However, he Is a bit nervous.
He wants to hit them out and can't
wants. Griffith will very likely remedy
this fault. And when Henry has played
another season, unless he Is looked upon
as close to Stanage in ability, many So
called wise baseball men, including
managers, players, and scouts, will. be
greatly disappointed, for they think he
promises to be the best ever.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-04-05
REBELS AND FEDERALS
IN CONFLICT At BACA

Jiminez, Mexico. April 5--The fed.
eral defenders OF Parral again are
within its adobe walls sustaining the
fire of The reinforced rebels
Throughout Yesterday afternoon
there was fighting near Baca 20 miles
distant. between the rebel rear guard
under Major Queyada. and the feder
ais who pursued Campa from 2arral
Tuesday TO that point
During the night General Salazar's
reinforcements arrived and the fed
erals retired to their base To-day
General Luis Ferandez, another reb-
el leader arrived and preparations
to take the town began In earnest,
Salazar embarkng on "A Thanking move
ment while Major Quevada and Gen
eral Fernando engaged the enemy in
front
Sees Surrender in % Hours
General Orozco declared that with.
in II hours the city viii be his Tn.
til this has beer accomplished how
ever. il win not be Immediately pos
sible to move against Torreon.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-04-05
N NEAL IS
SUED FOR
FALSE ARREST
J. E. AIRED OF LINCOLN
COUNTY, ASKS $4,000
DAMAGES

j Il. Aired, a resident Of Chandler
has brought suit against Joseph W.
McNeal as president Of the Guthrie
Mill and Elevator company for sl0O0o
damages for alleged false imprison-
ment
In his petition Aired declares that
McNeal. maliciouslv and with the de-
liberate intent 10 iniure the plaintiff
in his good name anil reputation and
without apparent cause or reasonable
excuse. accused the plaintiff with the
theft OF 5000 pounds Of flour and 500
pounds of corn meal OF the total value
oil $294 That on the 14th day OF De-
cemher OF last year McNeal caused
his arrest on a sworn charge OF steal
ing the flour and meal that he was
inCarcerated in the common jail Of
Lincoln county and was forced to re-
main therein until the district court
met and his case was called for trial
He was discharged and the case dis
missed against him by the court af-
Ter 1t was first shown that there was
no evidence to show him in any way
guilty Of the charge upon which Nc
Neal caused his arrest
After it was proven conc]usivelF
that he was not guilty Of he crime
and was at all times innocent Of the
charge made by McNeal paintiff all
leees in his suit that his accuser
the milling company and McNeal. in
no manner eyincel a desire To make
reparatIon for the great damage done
to plaintiff Aired therefore sues the
defendant company and its president,
j. W. McNeal, for 10000 damages
for physical and mental suffering and
for the humiliation and distress to
his family, declaring that he has been
grieyously and permanently injured in
both his good name and in his bust
ness reputation He also asks that
the cost OF the suit be taxed against
McNeal and the milling company
Chappell and Hepburn are represent
ing Aired i'm the suit.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-04-05
MISS LORENA CRUCE
WRITES 4 PROCLAMATION

The most unique proclamation ever
prepared In Oklahoma is that writ
ten by Miss l,orena Cruce, daughter
ot Gov Lee CrHte. calling upon the
people Of the state TO observe Moth
ers day. May IL. 1912 It was writ
ten AZ the suggestion Of the governor
and met his approval without altera-
tion when submitted to him As Miss
Cruces mother is dead she. although
but l6 years old Is the FIRST lady Of
the land in oklahoma The procla-
nation asks that each citizen.
whether old or young. rich or poor.
happy or sorrowful remember her
whose love passeth human under
standing and remembering mani
fest 10 the world your love and graf
uWde by wearing a white carnatiou
in honor OF the dearest Of all moth
ers, and while wearing it, think Of
her and love her