davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
STAGE IS ALL SET
FOR CAGE TOURNEY
Over Thousand Players Will
Take Part in Annual State
Clash.
TROPHIES FOR WINNERS
By JAMES E. LAWRENCE


Lincoln, March 3-(SpeciaD. The
pins are all set for the entertainment
of over a thousand Nebraska high
school athletes, who will participate
in the seventh annual Nebraska high
school basket ball tournament under
the auspices of the University Of Ne
braska.
I 1t represents the biggest gathering
of high school athletes ever staged in
the couhtry-to be exact, there will
be 1907 players here and l20 teams.
Beaver Crossing, with its entries in
just under the wire, is the last school
to enter.
These committees in charge of the
tournament were announced by Ath-
letic Manager Guy F.. Reed, today:s
Committee on Adjustments-J. NJ
Showalter, Norfolk, chairman; Dr.
Z. J. Stewart, Lincoln; c. L. Littel
Cambridge; A. R. Congdon, Fremont;
A. o. Anderson, Lincoln; B. E. King
Beatrice; Henry Campbell, captain OF
the university basket ball team.
Director of Officials Assistant
Coach Richard B. Rutherford.
Clerk Of the Tournament--Class A:
D. P. Thomas; assistant, Griffith Owen.
Class B. Sidney Hoadley; assistant
Vincent lands. Class c: Otto Zum-
Wrinkle; assistant, Z. Shellenberg.
Rcferees-G. L. Rathburn, Beatrice
Bud" Kearns, Omaha; Warren Healy,
Lincoln; Glen Williams, Omaha; Earl
w. Drawbaugh, Columbus; P. E.
Lloyd, Norfolk; J. E. Cox, York;
Robert Hager, Omaha; Carl A. Berg
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
SANDOW TELLS WHY
LEWIS DIDN'T WIN
Didn't Dare Win in That Wild,
Western Town." He In
forms Gotham Scribes.
LOOKOUT FOR THE CARS, 30

AT last, after all these months of
watchtu! waiting and uneasy expec-
fancy, the great, shrouded secret has
been revealed, the perplexing mystery
solved and the ineSplicabie enigma
puzzles no longer.
Billy Sandow, manager of one L.
Stranger Lewis and reputed to have
been the brains behind certain
event held at the Douglas County
Fair grounds July 4 last, ha- finally
consented to set a palpitating world
at rest by telling just why Mr.. Lewis
failed to throw Joe Stecher on the
above mentioned July 4 last.
The kaiser may now send a fleet
of U-boats up the Missouri river and
dispatch Zeppelin feet cut Of Mil
waukee; Villa may make night raid
on Dallas and even sneak a. for
north as Wichita and Cincinnati. cain
win the pennant. Nothing matters
any more-we know why Lewis didn't
throw Stecher. Life no longer holds
our interest.
Shadows explanation--or abb, if
you will have it SOS masterpiece;
it is the creation Of great inventive
mind and should be copyrighted and
glen a prominent position in the
chronicles of the history of these
great and glorious United States.
Picks Out Home Town.
Billy just recently journeyed into
credulous and gullible New York state
after a prolonged visit on the coast
and in the northwest. He picked out
Rochester, his home town, for his
first stop and this is the eloquent line
of chatter he t,rned loose on his old
playmates as the sporting editor of
the Rochester Union recites the tale:
Billy Sandow, manager of Ed
("Strangler") Lewis, wrestler and pro-
moter of wrestlcrs, blew into town
yesterday behind big headlight that
shows him the way to plenty Of soft
dough and attired like ready money.
He headed straight for the Union to
talk resting with the sporting editor.
Before he had a chance to get
fairly under way the sporting editor
asked question that has been both
ering every follower OF wrestling for
many months.
why didn't Lewis trim Joe Stecher
at Omaha last Fourth Of July when
the men wrestled five hours to draw
and Stecher was plainly in distress"
was the query shot at the suave San
dow.
Billy never hesitated a second. 1t
was a question, he said later, that
had been asked him sNoesaAds Of
times.
Didn't Das't.
1--WE didn't win because we drosr
dare win in that wild western kwn,"
he replied. y
"Omaha had backed Stecher I'd a
last dollar. 1t had made ali sorts of
foolish wagers on this wrestler, who
was regarded as unbeatable. The
HON guard had bet three to one that
Lewis wouldn't last thirty minutes;
five TO one that he wouldn't last an
hour; ten to one that he wouldn't last
two hours and many bettor said he
didn't want anything at all il Stecher
didn't win.
latter the match had gone three
hours and the men were both going
well the word came tc me that the
croy d would kill Lewis and me both
il we won. So much money haG been
wagered that the crowd was in all
angry mood when time passed and
Stecher failed to throw Lewis. The
fact that my man had stayed over the
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
OMAHA FANS WILL
GET TO SEE OLIN
Giant Finn Who Holds Decision
Over Stecher to Wrestle in
Council Bluffs.
TACKLES JOHN FREBERe

Omaha wrestling fans will this
week get all opportunity to see John
DIN, the giant Finn who holds a
technical decision over Joe Stechcr,
Nebraska's wrestling phenom.
DIN has been matched to wrestle
John Freberg in finish match at the
Auditorium i'll Council Bluffs Thurs
day night of this week.
The Finn declares he is coming
west to prove TO the wrestling fans
in this part of the country that his
victory over Stecher was not of the
fluke variety, but that he really earned
the decision awarded him by the ref
cree. The bout with Freberg in Coun.
Gil Bluffs Thursday night will be his
hrst appearance west OF Chicago.
DIN is the wrestler who first
jumped into prominence by his tech
meal victory over Joe Stecher in
Springfield, Mass, last December.
Many conflicting and contradictory
reports regarding the match trickled
west OF Omaha, One report had it
that DIN broke the scissors at will
and that after over two hours of
wrestling he picked the Nebraskan up,
walked across the ring with. Stecher
in his arms and threw him into the
press box with the exclamation,
Here's your champion!"
Others Alibi Stecher.
Other reports denied this and said
that Stecher had all the best of the
tangle but was unable to pin Olin's
shoulders because neuritis in the
shoulder made it impossible for him
to employ his arm in the use of the
wrist lock with which Joe aids his
scissors.
Stecher's own explanation is that
DIN became SO rough and that his
tactics were SO abusive that Stecher
refused TO continue and walked out
of the ring.
There is no disputing, however, that
DIN possesses a technical victory
over the Dodge lad and for that
reason Omaha fans have been very
anxious to see him in action.
Finn Is Confident.
The Finn declares he is ready to
meet Stecher again if suitable purse
Is hung up for the bout. He is con-
hdent he can beat Stecher again, this
time decisive victory, not merely the
decision of referee. 1t is because
OF this confidence in himself that
Nin is invading this western terri
tory He says he wants to give the
mat fans direct line on his ability.
DIN has even gone so far as to ne
gotiate for match with Marin Pies
tina, the big Omaha heavyweight.
The Finn says he'll tackle Plestina or
any other heavyweight, and that
means that DIN must think pretty
we'll of himself, for none of the other
heavyweight wresters have shown
any eageruess to take chance with
Marin.
In Frebcrg, DIN meets one of the
strong and popular heavyweight
wrestlers. Freberg stayed hfty-hve
minutes with Stecher at Chicago not
long ago, which is something of an
accomplishment. If DIN dumps Ere
berg ir quick time Thursday night
at the Bluffs, Omaha mat fans will
pronounce him one OF the best.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Brandeis to Spring I
Two Dark Horses on
Mills Men Saturday

The lineup Of the Brandeis Stores
basket ball team,. which suffered its
first defeat by an Omaha team at the
hands of Creighton last Thursday,
will present strange appearance to
fans when the store men meet the
collegians next Saturday night in the
second game of the series for the city
title. 49,
Captain Warren Richie of the
Brandeis has admitted that two young
"Phenoms," whom he has kept COW
cred, will be used for the first time
in Saturdays game. He refused to
divulge their names, however.
Because of the poor basket shooting
by the Brandeis forwards, who did not
gt/a goal in last Thursdays game
with Creighton, fans believe the new
men are forwards who have knack
OF sinking" their shots. The Bran
deis forwards missed many shots at
the ring Thursday.
Although only two games are
scheduled for Creighton this week,
the schedule is not an easy one.
Wednesday, Creighton will play Me-
braska Wesleyan on the local floor.
and Saturday comes the second Bran
deis game. Dutch Platz was the only
Creighton player to sustain an injury
in the Brandeis game, but it was not
sufficient to keep him on the SIDE
lines.
A week Of hard work has been pre-
scribed for the Brandeis team, in an
effort to improve their condition. The
store men easily held their own with
Creighton in the first half Thursday,
but weakened in the second period
and were beaten by Tommy Mills
second string. Games with Nebraska
City, University of Omaha, the Oma-
ha National Banks and possibly an
other local team will be played be-
fore Saturday.
II the Brandeis are defeated Satur-
day night, Omaha will not be repre-
sented in the National Amateur Ath-
letic union tournament this season.
But il the store men are victors, they
will forward their entry for the cham
pionship meet.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Omaha Motorcycle
Riders Plan Series
OF Contest Events

Mctorcyclists will compete in
many sporting events to be held this
season under the direction Of the
Omaha Motorcycle club.
The first of these events is hill
climb to be staged April IS. The
hill selected for the climb will be
kept secret until the day OF the event
and will be long enough and steep
enough to test the most powerful ma
chine. Already fourteen riders, rep
resenting five different makes Of mo-
torcycles, have signified their inten-
ton of taking part in the climb. Ross
Dristy, road captain of the club, is
in charge of the arrangements for
the climb.
Another event, which will attract
motorcycle riders from all over the
middle west, is the second annual ell
durance run of the Omaha club, to be
held Decoration day. Choice of three
routes is under consideration. The
first of these is from Omaha to
Yankton, S. d., and return. about 800
miles; the second is from Omaha to
Des Moines. Ia, and return, and the
third is from Omaha to Hastings,
Neb., and return, by way of Lincoln.
The club will choose the most IA
vorable of these routes at the next
meeting, and so far the run to Yank-
ton has the preference.
I, In addition to these events, the
club plans to hold an, economy con-
test, reliability run, and perhaps a
road race, all of which are under dis
cusson. The board of directors of
the club, at the suggestion OF James
Van Avery, president of the club, will
give a handsome gold, medal to the
rider who scores the highest number
Of points in the various events to be
held under the direction of the club
during the riding season. This medal
will designate the WHINE. as the
champion motorcycle rider of Omaha.
Contests will be held under the sane
ton Of the Federation OF American
Motorcycles, the national govern
ing body for motorcycle sport and
with whom the Omaha Motorcycle
club is affiliated.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
0maha Seals Will
Hold Water Event
At ny" March %

The Omaha Seals, Pete Wendell's
group of Omaha natators, will hold
their second swimming meet at the
Omaha Young Mems Christian asso-
citation March %. The Seals held
their first aquatic event last month
and it proved a great success.
Wendell has a number of new
stunts which he intends to show in
this second event. He has push
ball contest in mind, which he says
IS laugh-provoker that would make
an Egyptian mummy croak out loud.
A>icature of the event will be a
clash between Swede Anderson and
Lloyd Neff, who are about the, two
best swimmers in the state and there
fore very keen rivals. Anderson won
out over Neff in the last tourney held
by the Seals and Neff has sworn to
have revenge. They will probably
meet in l00-yard event.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
LIGHT WORKOUTS
FOR HARNESS MACS
Jimmy Ronin Sends Hal Nc.
Kinney, Hal Connors and
Others Through PAGES.
PETERSON MOVES STRING
By RUSSELL PHELPS.

Occasional mild spells during the
pre-spring days are bringing the rail
birds" from their lars about Ne
braska race tracks and soon they'll
be perched in convenient spots to
watch the harness horses go through
their PAGES and trots in preparation
for the early meetings. Light train
ing is being INDUCED in by galaxy
of stars out at the East Omaha
speedway, which will soon give way to
Benson as the central of the middle
vests turf activities.
Any afternoon one can see such
harness world celebrities as Hal Nc
Kinney, r. c. H., Hal Connors and
others being given light workouts I'M
der the direction of Jimmy Ronin and
his force OF handlers.
1t will probably be the first Of
next month before the large number
of horses at the speedway plant find
themselves at home in their new
quarters at Benson. The Omaha
Driving club has taken over the Ben
son plant and all OF the East Omaha
equipment, including the modern,
roomy barns and stalls, will be moved
bodily to the new racing center. Otis
M. Smith, secretary of the driving
club, is trying to make arrangements
to. have the first of the stalls moved
this week. The horses will remain at
their old home until everything is
spick and span at Benson.
Work of widening the track, beau
tifying the infeld and raising the big
grandstands so as to give the plant
a real metropolitan appearance is to
be started at het Benson locale soon.
Horsemen are confident that it will
be one of the fastest twice-around
tracks in the country by the time Of
Omaha Driving clubs June meeting.
----------------------------
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
BURG AND BROKAW
SIGN DOCUMENTS
Contracts of Third Stacker and
New 0utfielder Received
at Headquarters.
ONLY ONE HoLDoUT so FAR

Two more signed contracts have
been received at the Omaha base ball
clubs headquarters. Pa Rourke now
has six athletes bound and tied by
iron-clad contracts.
Joe Burg, who pastimed at the third
corner last year, and Hal Brokaw, new
outhelder, ar: the players who signed
last week. Marty krug, Shag Thomp-
son, Murphy Currie and Johnny Wat
kins were the men previously signed.
So far Rourke has only received
one kick. This particular athlete is
not satisfied with his salary and says
he will quit base ball. Rourke, how
ever, is not greatly alarmed. Holding
out is habit with some athletes.
Rourke, as matter of fact, is quite
pleased because only one player has
entered objections. Generally dozen
roar and howl at the figures stipu-
lated in their contracts. If one kick is
Rourke's total he'll have all the other
club owners in the league cheated.
Fox Move by Pa.
A foxy move on Rourkes Lart is
probably responsible for the absence
OF objections Pa did not send his
contracts out until the last minute.
Contracts must be in the hands Of the
player by March /, according to rules
Of the national association. The
Omaha magnate dispatched his so the
players would receive them about
rty-eight hours before the time
limit. Thus the athlete is given very
little time to make his complaint.
Burg and Brokaw eviden-'y sent in
their signed contracts by the first re-
turn mail. Burg is winterirg i'll Chi
cago and Brokaw in Kansas City.
Even by replying right away, Pa could
hardly receive most of his contracts
before this week.
Pa was tickled to receive Brokaw's
contract. Brokaw is the lad who
cracked the pill at 800 clip at VIM
nipeg last year, and also performed
some scintillating feats in the outheld
that startled the scouts who saw him.
Pa believes this lad is real find and
will be more than able TO fill Earl
Smiths stoes in left.
Cut Down Jumps.
The high cost of expenses will be
felt by the umpires in the Western
league this year. Only six umplres
viii be used instead of eight There
will thus be two umpires who will toll
alone and four who will work in pairs.
BY alternating it is believed the adlu-
dcatJri will get along very nicely and
the league will save the salaries and
transportation of two jumps. -.
he big booster rally meeting will
be held in Omaha March IS. The
president of each Rotary club and the
secretary of each Commercial club III
each Western league city will attend
the meeting at the expense OF the
league. A league-wide boosting or
ganization is to be perfected.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
How Things Are Along the Border Went South
Pa Rourke Is Hot
After Capper Cup

Pa Rourke has already started
plans to nab that Capper cup
again. Omaha, it will be remem-
bered, COPIED the cup last year by
having the largest attendance of
any city in the league at the open
ing game.
The trophy, offered by the gov
ernor of Kansas, is Up again. If
Omaha wins it this time, the Gate
City earns permanent possession
Of it. Thus Rourke is anxious to
capture it again, and has already
began boosting for a big opening
day attendance.
The Omaha magnate Is particu-
larly keen to win permanent pos
session of the cup because there
are several magnates in the league
who insist Omaha is a punk base
ball town, and Pa wants to show
them up.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04

"Y' Physical Directors
Hold MEETING at Lincoln

Physical directors OF all the Young
ZEN Christian associations in Ne.
brasl,a will gather in Lincoln Friday
and Saturday for conference. M. |.
Toss, dean of the physical school OF
the Young Mems Christian associa-
ton college at Chicago and formerly
director OF the Brooklyn Central "Y,"
the largest in the world, will attend
and make an address. w. A. Kearns,
physical director of the Omaha "Y,"
will also make a talk.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Baum Calls for War Talk,
So StovaI| Gets On Job

President AL Baum of the Pacific
Coast league called the team mana
gers together at the recent league
meeting and told them the friendly
stuff had to be cut out; that he wanted
teams to fight from the drop OF the
hat. A week later George Stovall
came out in an interview calling Wal
ter McCredie busher and bum. Nc
Creole got back just as strong. 1t
looks like the managers, at least, had
started the fight early. How Ham
Patterson must hate to leave the
coast under such conditions.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Gene Melady Says GotCh
Will Train Earl CaddoCk

That Frank Gotch will train Earl
Caddock for his match with Joe
Stecher in April is an announcement
made by Gene Melady.
Gotch seems to believe Caddock
has the goods and will endeavor to
teach the Anita lad few of the tricks
the old champion used to employ
when he swept the heavyweight
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Jack Reynolds to Meet
HerndOn in Washington

Jack Reynolds, the little Omaha
grappler, will be the next opponent OF
Milton Herndon, sensational Wash
ington lightweight who was awarded
a match over Owen Daily last MONTH
according to announcement of Alex
ander Craig, manager of Reynolds.
The clash will be staged in Belling-
ham, Wash, where Herndon is great
favorite. 1t will lie held in May, by
which time Herndon is expected to
recover from injuries received i'll the
Daily go.
Reynolds is just recovering from a
three weeks attack of the grippe.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Frank Synek Refuses to
Stand for Cut in Salary

Frank Synek, graduate OF the
Omaha sand lots, may NOT return to
professional ball this year. Synek
played third base for the Dennisop
(Tex.) club, which won the cham
pionship OF the Western association
last year, but this year his contract
called for a $40 cut in the monthly
stipend, so Frank sent the parchment
back. Rather than accept the cut
Synek may stay in Omaha and per-
haps play with the Brandeis team.
Harry Williams is another Omaha
boy who may quit professional base
ball. Harry was sold by Lincoln to
Bloomington, H., and isn't crazy
about the switch.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Continued on Page Two, Column Six
YOungster Hits Walter
And Gets Himself a Job

An exhibition game pitched by
Walter Johnson somewhere in Kan
sas last fall is the indirect cause OF
a youngster getting a trial in profes-
sional company this spring. The
youngster is Merle Kilterman, who
halls from Parsons, Kan, and in this
game Johnson pitched he found the
great fire ba1list for three hits, a
single, a double and triple, SO the
story runs. The Oklahoma City club
of the Western association heard
about it and sent Kitterman a con-
tract. He is an outfelder.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Seattle Hercules Trophy
Shoot at Omaha Gun Club

The Hercules trophy Shoot at the
Omaha Gun club will be decided to-
day. Five men, Doc Frye, Carl Blake,
Clifford Wolf, Henry Mcdonald and
John Ragen, have qualified for crack
at the trophy.
Arrangements for the team match
between the Omaha Gun club and the
Columbus Gun club for The Rees tro-
ply are still hanging fire.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Bill Clark Closes His
Indoor School March Ia

Bill Clark, who was recently APP
pointed professional at the Minneapo-
lis Col club, will close his indoor
school March IA. Clark will leave.
for the Twin Cities about the end OF
this month.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Only One Umpire to Be
Used in Three-l Loon

Umpires, too, will feel the economy
wave in the Three-I league. The
magnates have rescinded their rule
for the double umpire system. and this
season will get along with one to
the game.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
George Mcconnell Says
49,. He's G0inu to Retire

Pitcher George Mcconnell an
nounces from his home in Anderson.
S. c., that he will quit the game He
has decided to take up the work of
travelling salesman. and this is what
he is g,ing to sell--picture frames.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
MInden Dcfeats Haryard.

Mlnden, Neb., March 5.-s(peciai Tele-
gram -Minden beat Harvard in one Of the
snappiest games of basket, ball ever played
in Minden last night. Is TO 20. The Harvard
boys were pronounced the best sports VINO
have yet played in Minden.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
Freshmen Colds Hand
SoDhomOreS a Tr0unCing

Freshman goods Of the University
of Omaha Inundated the sophomores
on the basket ball court by defeating
them by a score of to 0. The game
eliminates the sophomores from the
tournament. The basket-maker for
the freshies was Miss Louise Jones,
whom the big sophomore guards
could not prevent from locating the
.sket The lineup:
FRESHMEN. SOPHOMORES.
label Norris. .... c. Co.. Mary Quimby
NJ IT Garland. R. F.lR.F. .........Q Eddy
Il. G.antcr. ......L.F. ILF......L. Anderson
lpssic Trnnant. rig iR.G......E Seibert
.lIise Jones. l.. G. lL.G......G q. Reynolds
Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04

(ovnlL umnIoO 'oML esd no psnupuo.
Valdez daily prospector. (Valdez, Alaska) 1905-1918, 1917-06-06
The the Mayor of Valdez, Alaska

| the the Mayor or valdez, Alaska.
| Dear Sir:-I am writing you for
| information of a man of the name OF
Jack Dalton who went to Valdez in
1907. to engage in the coal mining
business for the United States Gov
eminent. l wish to find his present
address, or If he is still in your city.
If not will you kindly find out his ad-
dress from one of your many friends.
II you can personally hand him this
letter it will be a great favor. l will
state to him that am after further
information of a brother of mine, Joe
Dalton. whom he may know. and
whom I have not heard from for over
Is years. He went to the Black Hills
country South Dakota, about the year
1894. He has told me it was his in
tention to go to Alaska. but never
could find out If he really did. know
he was engaged in mining. and rail-
road operations in South Dakota. l
have matters of Importance to COM
municate to my brother Joe IL l can
get in touch with him. If you will
kindly attend to this will be forever
grateful.
Yours Respectfully
JOHN DALTON
TIT Albermarle ST.
st JOseDh Mo
Valdez daily prospector. (Valdez, Alaska) 1905-1918, 1917-06-06
RUMORED CHANGES IN
THE BRITISH CABINET
Commonly Reported that the Minister
OF Munitions will Quit

LONDON. June 6.-The principal
topic of conversation in political cir
cles is the possible change in the
cabinet. of which many rumors are
rife 1t is commonly reported that
Minister of Munitions Addison will
probably resign. owing to friction in
his department. 1t is also rumored
that Viscount Cowdray, and Baron
Rhondda. the president of the Local
Government Board.