Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-09
UTTING THEM OVER" ON THE WESTERN FRONT 4a4s &

next ball went over.the catcher's head
and our runner took second
The next man up struck out
I batted third. hit to the outfield, the
right fielder dropped the ball and
reached second. the runner ahead OF me
moving to third base. Then Stewart
got up and placed corking double out
into left field. Stewart was fast
runner I started for home, touched
third, the runner in front of me pillow
ing along for home plate. He ran like
an ice wagon. I was shouting to him
to hurry up. I could hear Stewart
pounding behind me. The Tommy's cap
blew of and instead of going home he
shouting. Leg it. here comes the ball
as he slid into third base. 1 could not
precede the runner in, SO we were
trapped for. a double play. Stewart
angora was bristling and mine was
tugging at its chain.
The Canadian rooters were tickled to
death, their sarcastic remarks burning
into Stewart and me. Stewart was fast
losing his temper.
The first two Canadians struck out.
The third man up got his base on a
passed third strike. Ny error.
Then our substitute first baseman
pulled a stunt which turned the tables
on the Canadians and we were Some-
what appeased.
The Canadian runner was laying
first baseman shouted to him, Look
out, ere comes shell: duck low" The
Canadian dropped to the ground. Stew
art instantly sized up the situation and
tossed the ball to the first baseman,
who touched the base runner and three
were out. We had got our own back.
Stewart and I could have both kissed
that rube first baseman Of ours. Right
then and there we put him in class
with Hal Chase.
ct 40
scored. Stewart was pitching in fine
form. The Canadians just couldn't con-
meet with his delivery. All they were
doing was tanning the air. The Cana /
dian rooterS commenced to get fright
ened because they saw their money dis
appearing into the Tommtes' pockets.
They had the greatest contempt for the
rest of the team, myself included, but
realized that If Stewart did not weaken
it would be a case of their going back
to billets broke.
Then old Mr. Jinx butted in again,
and it happened.
In the British army there is an order
to the effect that gas helmets must be
carried at all times. even while sleep
ing. To disobey this order is serious
offense, and means immediate confine-
ment These gas helmets are in can
vas bag and are slpng around the left
shoulder by means Of canvas strap.
In pitching, Stewards gas helmet
bothered him greatly, and after the sec
ond inning he took it off. I warned him
to be careful, because I noticed several
military police in the crowd But
Stewart would not listen. He always
was pig-headed.
: One of the Canadian rooters spotted
that Stewart had laid aside his helmet
and artfully communicated this fact to
the rest of his teams rooters. 1
noticed the rooters crowd around him
for three or four minutes, and then a
great laugh went UP and they stretched
out along the foul lines.
Suddenly, one fellow. getting out in
front of the bunch. like cheer leader
counted: "One. two, three" Then up
went a mighty chorus of Hey. Stewart
old gas bag. where's Your old gas bag?
They kept this up and It got Stewards
goat I went out into The pitchers box
and warned him to put on his gas hel7
met but still. pig-headed. he refused q
do so. He was in an awful temper.
A sergeant of the military police was
watching the game, and hearing the
cries sof the rooters he walked out on
the diamond and asked Stewart where
his helmet was. BY this time Stewart
answered with a sneer: Where do you
think it is? I sent it home for a SOU
venir" The sergeant explained to him
that it was against Army orders to be
without a gas helmet. and that he had
better put it on Stewart would not
listen to him. and answered: Well. IL
it's against orders, get them rescinded."
The sergeant Immediately put him I'M
der arrest and marched him of the dia-
mond.
Our hopes were dashed: I could see
the game going west. We had no other
good pitcher to put in.
Upon seeing Stewards arrest the
Canadian rooters kept up their gleeful
shouting. We were sure up against it.
Here was the situation. 1t was the
last half of the fourth inning. and two
were out. If. by luck, We managed to
get the third Canadian out it would be
an easy matter for them to retire us in
the next inning because our weakest
batting order was up. Then. the Cana
dians would come to bat and the
would commence.
I was in despair. Stewart must have
realized that the game was hopeless un-
less 1t could be finished in this inning,
because as he passed me he whispered:
Watch out for gas, I'll make them