Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-11

The crash came to the Burlington
club late Monday afternoon, wheh
President c. W. Keletsch, of the Bur-
lineton association, telephoned Presl-
dent NJ. e. Justice, at Keokuk, SUR
rendering the franchise to the league.
The announcement was somewhat I'M
expected following BurlinStons dec
laration several days ago that the team
would be continued at least thruout
the season.
For the past two weeks the man
agement of the Burlington CLUB mas
been selling and negotiating for the
sale of players, explaining that the
home fans were weary OF seeing the
same old team year after year ana
change in the lineup was expected 10
create new interest in the game.
Lunte was sold to Marshalltown, and
a deal closed for the release OF Pitcher
Raichley, First Baseman Stanley ana
Second BaSeman Harmon to Cedar
Rapids. Marshalltown invested 5000 in
Lunte and Cedar Rapids is said TO
have agreed to pay $500 for the Bur-
lington pitcher and 5000 each for the
infelders In both cases the money was
paid. and was in turn used for salaries.
Ottumwa Ready to Enter.
President Justice wired Manager
Rohn, of the Burlington team, here late
Tuesday. telling him that Ottumwa was
ready to take over the franchise. What
may result. however, with the cream
having been skinned off the Burling-
ton milk pail, can not be foretold as
far as Ottumwa is concerned. That
city may not want the franchise with
Burlington's best players sold to some
other team. Dubuque is another city
which it is said is ready to enter the
association.
Manager Rohn to Quit.
Manager Dick Rohn, who led the
Pathfinders pennantward last year, and
who is acknowledged to be one of the
shrewdest managers in the association.
has been In poor health, and on the ad-
vice OF his physician decided to retire
from the game. His retirement and
the poor attendance at home, led those
financing the club to determine to give
up the franchise.
President Justice Steps In.
While these proceedings were going
on it became evident that the BurlinS-
ton club would be so depleted it would
! be unable to appear at Waterloo today
! for a game. At this juncture President
| Justice stepped in. He declared, the
sale of the Burlington players null and
void The peddling of the men. he ar
gued. would leave Burlington with a
! franchise but no team, and. might lead
n 6iSrIIpfiOn Of the 1eaguo
Rohn, to make good on his agree
ment Of sale to Cedar Rapids. ordered
the players to report to Manager Col
Inns at Mason City today This they
did. e..
lunte Jumps Contract.
In declaring the sale of players null
and void, it is not known here whether
President Justice included in his de-
cison the transfer of Iunte to Mar
shalltown. If he did so new compli-
cation has arisen. Lunte has jumped
his contract.
Lunte, recognized over the league as
the best shortstop in the game, with
the possible exception of Ellison, of
Muscatine, was unfortunate in Sun
days game, in making an Error in the
fourteenth inning which made possible
the winning score. The player was de-
rided by some of the fans and he took
the criticism too much to heart. He
confided in Pitcher Bunk, of Burling-
ton, telling him he intended to jump.
Lunte felt the loss of the game keenly
and believed the criticism unjust, es-
pecially so as he was playing on a
strange field with a strange team. He
took the responsibility of the game, Dut
believed the fans had been unfair.
Lunte's departure is distinct loss to
the local club, because he was a younS
and promising player with a bright
baseball future. Manager Boyle knew
nothing Of Lunte's departure until
! Monday and Immediately resigned
! Ryan to play second and shifted Nespo
back to short
League Will Remain Intact.
Altho the attendance in most of the
cities of the league has been disap-
pointing, there is no danger of disrup-
ton. as has been predicted, and there
is every reason to believe that the
league will open the season of 1917
Marsnalltown again has led the
league in attendance. The situation
! locally Is undoubtedly the most roseate
/, in the association. Cedar Rapids. for
some unknown reason. probably be-
cause of the poor showing of the club
and the unpopularity of Manager
Jack Herbert has not enjoyed the
| patronage accorded the club in previs
Gus years. Waterloo also has not had
the attendance needed to put the club
on easy street. At Clinton the attend
ance is said to be better than in pre-
vious years and a greater interest is
being shown in the game Fort Dodge
| and Mason City have suffered because
of the failure to win games. Musca-
| tine, with a first position club. is not
drawing prosperity crowds. but with d
good benefactor to carry the team thru
| from year to year, there is no question
! but that Muscatine will remain in
! definitely a part Of the Central asso-
| citation.
Burlington Has But Five Players.
! With the turning over of Baichley,
Harmon, and Stanley to Cedar Rapids
| today, Burlington was left with only
| five players unless Manager Collins,
| of the Cedar Rapids club sends the
players whom he has released to Wa
| terloo at once.
! Manager Rohn went to Waterloo
! Monday night with the remnants OF his
| championship team. They consisted OF
| five players besides himself, Pitcher
| Bunk. Outfelder Meinert and Thiesing
! and 1nfielders MARI and Morgan
Catcher Boelzle and Pitcher Keupper
have been returned to the Quincy, III.