Evening journal., 1916-10-23
BY ]. W. PEGLER.


United Press STAFF Correspondent.
LONDON. Oct. 1.-(By MaiD-"I
learn" wrote a breezy English sport
writer. that the Canadian Soldiers
Baseball Nine defeated the London
American Club by nine score to one
in match last Saturday at Queens
club"
In the Kings English, that's about
what happened. The journalist with
the five-gallon hat had TO rush TO
catch his Monday sporting extra, so
his story was kind of brief. He miss
ed a few details such as the Ameri-
can catchers' skull-work in throwing
to second with a runner on third, and
none out. He also overlooked the fact
that a gent in heliotrope shirt
pitched big league ball for the star
spangled troupe while his so-called
supporters unravelled an ivory roper
toire.
THE match" says the lifting ac-
count" was replete with exciting in
cidents and fraught throughout with
keen, though quite amiable rivalry.
The Canadian thrower bowled very
well indeed"
o. ell. yes; he bowled jolly well.
The Canadian strikers batted well,
too. and the chap with the odd-look-
ing mask played a ripping game as
wicket keeper.
The Americans played ball until the
third inning After that. they never
had a chance. And a fading suns last
glimpse saw the Saskatoon farmers
still running hog-wild on the paths,
while sundry Americans threw the
ball all over the park
They went into the third with the
count knotted. one and one. Rolands,
the soldiers shortstop. worked a pass
and the boys from the trenches Wiped
loose with a vocal barrage. AS the
echo died away the Americans nanny
was seen streaking across the field
and out of the park through the free
gate.
The heliotrope shirt wound up with
a Big Ben movement, conmlsed and
shot the ball to first just as Rolands
led off for second. There was a man
at first with a glove and uniform, but
he didn't seem to belong to the club.
Anyway he was too proud 10 stop the
throw and the pill gamboled under the
clubhouse steps. Rolands took sec
ond and the Canadians began cam
paign Of frightfulness. The next
dumped one in front of the plate and
was safe while Neargard. the chap
with the odd mask. fondled the ball.
A bomber named Doyle famed. A
pitched ball went through Neargard
ana Rolands scored Other batters
came up and got on through devious
means, though no one got a hit. Even
the Official scorer lost heart and
hope in the ensuing moments. Every
one but the runners took a hand in
throwing the ball, and everyone boot
ed it. Three runs went in before il
was over. and not a hit had been
made.
The rest of the game was like that
OF course some innings we're different
because the Yanks we're worse i'm
some spots than in others. And all
the while a human fringe OF khaki
and blue. Canadian soldiers waiting
for the front and those recovering
from wounds, kept up a worlds ser
les fire OF noise. When they weren't
riding Van Nais, the American pitch
or. they kidded Gerton and bag-pipes
of the Scots flung creepy music all
over the place. A set Of drums gave
base to the din. and improvised mega
phones carried delicate compliments
to American ears.
Someone said the score was nine to
one when it was all over. and no one
cared enought about II to quarrel. Van
Nais lost an uphill fight far from the
glades Of his native Brooklyn, and al
lowed only seven hits at that He
walked few men; says others, but
why not, when they'd get on on the
third strike even IL he did strike
them out?
But Il was all a joke. and II anv-
body won money. he probably gave II
to the Canadian wOU~ded whose wives
and children got the gate receipts.
The attendance was the best baseball
crowd London has had this wear.
The score: Canadians. 9-7-3. Amer
leans. 16S.
There were more American errors
than the final shows. The scorer got