The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
MAKE GOOD
IMPRESSION IN CUBA
Barons Demonstrate to Cubans That Ball Players Can be
Gentlelnany Diplomats-Won Majority of Games
Cyclones Get Big Bills Goat and Plays
Tag With It
BY JAMES E. SULLIVAN

| @baille' given in honor of the team the
following night.
Colonel "Bil" McGilvray, the stalwart
shiney pate first baseman,, will probably
long remember his trip to the Pearl of
the Antilles. Bill believes he was a
marked man from the time he stepped
abroad the steamer at New Orleans, en-
route. until he marched up the gangway
to return home. II never want to play
ball in furin parts again. l don't like
people who can't talk the Birmingham
brand" was his parting remark.
Cyclones Get Bills Goat
Bills team mates say the cyclones got
his goat and played tag with it. When
the Barons arrived 1t was the beginning
of the cyclone season. When Bill heard
fearful tales told about the West Indian
cyclones that left wholesale. destruction
In their paths, he begun to long for home
and freside.
Soon it begun to be noised about the
hotel that Bill feared cyclones more than
he feared eternal punishment or his
mother-in-law. Then every person he met
related wondrous stories of their destruc-
tive power. He began to grow pereep-
tibly weaker in profanity and look visit
fully toward the churches. One night the
national observatory forecasted cyclone
II was then that Bill lost his grip. Man.
ager ELAN asked Dllger If he wouldn't
look after him. He unthoughtedly con-
sented.
Bill Hunts for Safety
The cyclone was scheduled to arrive at
10 D. m. When the hour struck, Bill and
his guardian were hiding behind the
great sea wall along the Malecon. They
returned to the hotel drenched with
spray
What and why did you let Bill go to
the Malecon?" Ellam asked Dilger.
Il couldn't help it," he replied, as he
wrung water out of his coat. "FIe said
some one told him that was the safest
place and I was afraid to leave him."
The American colony learned of Colonel
Bits antipathy for cyclones and each
member Wed with the other in talking
about them when he was near.
Mcdonald Warns Editor
Finally happy idea struck him. "1'll
find out he said. Ill ask them news
paper chaps; they'll know and tell me the
truth" With that he lit out for the
Havana Post to ask the sporting editor.
Mcdonald anticipated his move and
warned the sporting editor over the phone
against his coming. Bill 'siddled" in and
innocently asked If there was any news
about "that cyclone He was handed
a Spanish paper and told to read it.
turned Bill wrong side out.
For the following three weeks he re-
fused to go to bed until he had walked
to the Malecon, perched himself upon the
sea wall and scanned the dark horizon
for signs of a cyclone. No matter II the
night was clear and tropic moon made
the sea a molten mass of shimmering, sill
very ripples Bill was always on the job.
The Barons or "Pickers," individually
and collectively, dubbed him Cyclone
BILL" and he was formally christened
by some 5000 yelling Cuban fanatics"
But to this day Bill doesn't know the
whole thing was a put-up job. 1ncidently
Manager Ellam swears that Bill refused
to make the trip to Santiago de Cuba be-
cause he feared a cyclone would catch
him en- route.
Dilger Beau Brummel
The acknowledged Beau Brummel of the
team is Fred Dilger, or leastways he Is
since Bill Foxen turned nanego. 1t was
worth trip to Havana to have seen Fred
on dress parade along the Malecon some
moonlight night when the band was play
ing and senoritas strolled and promen-
AIDED by the score. Freds only handl-
cap was being unable to talk Spanish.
Twice he outwitted the sharp-eyed, keen
cared duenas, who accompany the ''chick-
ens,e according to Latin-American GUS
tom. but he fell vanquished before the
"spigitty tongue"
Frank Gregory showed himself a true
sport at Santiago by refusing to recognize
the caste between certain blends or
color ascribed to the population. Every
evening the military band gives con-
cert in a fashionable plaza. According
to Iatin-American custom the people
promenade about the pathway, made in
semi-cirele about the plaza. That Is the
only time the young Cuban swain can
talk to his ''novia' without her being un-
der the watchful eye of her mother. He
simply stalks behind her and pours sweet
nothings into her ear. That sorter ap-
pealed to Frank. He didn't happen to
possess a 'novia," but that dldnt deter
him. There Is also law that requires
the whites to promenade between ana
20 Afterward the negroes have their in
ming. OF this rule Frank was also is-
norant. The second night he was SO de-
lighted with the weird music and bright,
snarlSling senoritas, he failed to notice
the diminishing whites" and increase of
negroes Later he was informed of this
bv a noliceman. He failed to understand
what the '.spig'' wanted, and abruptly told
him to "step to- that he was enjoying
himself AS a last resort the chief OF
police was called. He spoke English and
informed Frank that he had overstayed
the limit and was encroaching upon the
time allowed the negroes. He and the
chief went away arm and arm, but not to
the Carcel.
The managers of the Cuban teams are
attemoting to secure q contract with
the Barons or the "Pickers," whichever
they are for series of games next
year.