Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-07
SCALPERS NEARLY CAUSE
RIOT AT BALL PARK
Continued from Page One

ly by the shoulder and thrusting out
patches of worlds series tickets.
Among the large sales noted on Broad
street We're some to Percy Rockefeller,
who purchased nine box seats from
speculator. and George w. Childs Drexel.
Others were bought by J. II. Weaver,
wealthy coal man.
Scalpers pounced like a pack of wolves
on purchasers of reserved seats and nearly
caused a riot trying to buy up the tickets
for speculation at 18th and Huntingdon
streets. The sale to those who had APP
piled by mail was opened there at 9
O'Clock this morning, with more than 800
men in line. This rapidly grew until It
stretched more than a block from the
entrance.
A block away, at 18th street and Le-
high avenue, the first of the bleacherites
appeared long before daylight. BY 8
o'clock 20 men and boys were in line. The
first half dozen were candidly mercenary.
Each had a price. and said he intended to
get it, Some of those in line cheerfully
admitted that they didn't have the price
of cuck lunch and had no intention
Of buying bleacher seats. They lined up
to sell out their places later.
Scenes somewhat similar TO those at 18th
and Huntingdon streets occurred right in
front of the new Stock Exchange building,
headquarters of the club is located. Cor
ridors of the building on the 1lth floor
were jammed with men, most of them
prosperous and affluent looking.
Scores of men with the notices sent out
by the club officials telling them they had
been put on the list of ticket purchasers
and to call for the seats appeared. Near
ly all were told to return at 1 o'clock this
afternoon. At that hour the distribution
started and was run off with little excite
ment.
The first kick at Broad and Huntingdon
streets was registered by New Yorker,
Benjamin B. Jones' of 237 West 43d street
He had nothing to say against the Philly
management, bu. when his story became
known there was a general grumble from
the crowd. If what Jones asserts is true
the Phlllies are filling larger orders than
for one or two seats, although President
Baker and other officials said the large
orders would not be filed.
President Baker. who promised yester-
day to give out a statement. today de-
clined to talk. The charges of fans at
the Stock Exchange offices were called
to his attention, as was his promise that
a statement would be isued explaining the
whole scheme of ticket distribution to
| the public.
'T have no statement to make" said
Baker II will not have any later. I'm
not going to talk"
The story told by Jones is that he
bought from Charles Shanes, OF 146 44th
| street, New York, two applications for
ten sets of 50 seats each, a total of 60
seats, 20 for each game In this city. For
these applications, or notices from the
| club TO call and receive that number of
seats, Jones said he paid Shanes $3.50.
| When he reached the box office and
| turned i'm the notice TO obtain the seats
he learned that $40 was still due on
| them. He paid Il making a total OF $500
for the 60 So seats.
When Jones got 10 the street he was
/ pounced on by the soalpers, he said lie
i struggled through a mob of 35 or 40 of
/ them for fully a block before he could
| extrioate .,imself and convince them that
he would not sell. A few minutes later
| he says he sold three sets OF the 81 seats
\ TO a man who said he represented Ryan's 5
| ticket agency. The price paid Jones, ae-
| cording to his statement, was S21 a set.
| The face value OF the seats Is S.
The highest offer heard was S for A
single q seat The scalpers found plenty
OF fans willing 70 take their money.
] Everybody In sight seemed 20 have a
bankron Of huge proportions The scalp
ers apparently were working In eombina-
tions. AS soon as man secured a few
sets OF tickets he jumped into a waiting
taxicab and hurried to the centre OF the
city.