Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-02-20
4RvlRnRFsRT EnGREN.

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{ HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. 6.-Iye been
sitting out undera blazing sun all aft
ernocn in Havana watching cham
pionship baseball game. Can you beat
ftg. ~-,'. ...-.
John McGraw sat In a box beside
me. John just looked on. He says
he's down here for p rest Says he
wantato get a8ay from baseball. But
being IN Havana 4oIA couldn't dodge
the desire to zee the Hayanas and
the Almendsr play. aeyen ify. It did
take him away from an afternoon s
golf at the Country club. There's a
great rivalry between Cuba's two
strongest baseball teams Every time
they meet IT'S like the historical ming
ling of the, famous Kilkenny cats. And
this was one of the contests in the
series that will decide which is chan.
pion of Cuba. 800 ~. .--,.t Il.
The Almendares' ball park is only
a short ride from the center Of the
city. All around are royal palms and
other tropical trees. On the hill seen
over left field stands q great grim
stone fortress. the Castillo del Prin-
cipe, one OF the ancient defenses OF
Havana. Here, two or three hundred
years ago, the Spaniards met assault
after assault of native Indians, then Of
english and French invaders, and then
of marauding piratieal hordes. His.
toric ground. Perhaps the flowers
bloom redder because of the blood
drenched soil of past centuries.
{ walked into the grounds accom-.
panied by several Havana newspaper
men, and as we passed along in front
Of the crowded stands q faint murrnur
arose, finally crashing into a cheer. Is
glanced around. All eyes were turned
our. way. Hats were waving In air.
They think you are Mathewson,
whispered one of the writers. I'd -
My chest swelled several inches. 1t
IS something even, to be mistaken for
the great Matty here In the very home
of the greatest baseball rooters Oh
earth. But my friend shook his finger
at the stands and called out: No, mo-
Not Matty!" The cheers died away
into q. low growl of disappointment.
My hat again dropped down to the
Immediate proximity of my ears and
my chest gently subsidized. e..
Took Upper Stand. " ....,, =
2 We climbed into the upper stand
The game was just beginning. The
sun shone from clear sky. II was
hit. In the distance the blue hills and
the waving palms melted gently INTO
IN azure Eorizon. looked the teams
over. Tho Havanas, in white suits
trimL,ed with red, were all white men !
But on the Almendares team were sew
eral extremely husky and undeniably
dusky citizens. who looked as If they
could Wallop the bali over the cid 81
the island. One was the great pitcher,
pedrose, whose bulk and general build
reminded me of Johnson, Lan3f1rd'
and Joe Walcott all at. once. Ii Pc
dfoso was down there in Mexico train.
=ng for a crack at Jack Johnson J
wouldn't snow which to have bet
on. He happened to be playing first
base, for Cuban players are all-around
men and can play any position. Stand.
ing at the bag Pedroso could reach
about seven feet with either hand and
spear a flying ball as easily as an or
binary man might take Goldfish cake
from platter. H.
Before the first inning was half over
noticed a curious sound running
through the stands. A player hit the
ball. Instantly there was roar Of ap-
plause and encouragement. then y
quick. chattering undertone. In a few
seconds there came jingling, clink-
ing sound. .s...'-
The runner was on first Crack!
came another hit. The man on first
started down toward second. The bat
ter was speeding to first. Came the.
short roar OF applause. the staccatc1
undertone. ] leaned over the rail and