The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-14

Should there still be any doubt in the Kaiser's mind about Americas seriousness of purpose, all he has to do is to read the list of American colleges which have cut out football, Knights of the gridiron, incidentally, were prominent among those who bucked and busted the Hindenburg line.
 They are telling very entertain ing little story over in France about an American soldier who tried to put one over'' on Georges Carpenter, the French champion, during an exhibi- tion bout lover there" The bout was scheduled as Friendly affair."" and was held near Paris. The man who tried to put it over'' was Sergeant William Ray, of the American Expe- dttionary Forces, who had offered to face Carpenter for three rounds Be- fore entering the ring the American soldier thought things over, and it occurred to him that 1t would be a great joke if he could knock the French champion out He didn't say a word to anybody, but when the bout began he watched his chance, and swung with all his might at the Frcnchman's jaw. He missed and Carpenter, thinking that the Ameri- can had become unduly excited, just let it go at that But Ray stuck to his purpose, and when another oppor- tunity presented itself he caught Car penter on the mouth, splitting both his lips. That was too much for the Frenchman- It didn't take him long to find an opening, and he landed on the American sergeant's jaw-and the fight was over.
 The American League, as a full f1edged major circuit, will pass its 18th milestone today, for it was on Oct. IA 1900, that the magnates of Ban Johnson's infant institution held a meeting in Chicago and decided to expand by placing clubs in the big eastern cities. American League his tory really dates back to 1879, when the Northwestern League was launch- ed with clubs in Dubuque, Omaha and Rockford.
 It was in 1900 that Ban Johnson, the shoestring magnate, launched his ambitious scheme to change the 1 Western League into the American League. During the first season under 1 that name the league had clubs in | Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, De- i troit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Buff falo and Minneapolis The American was a near-maior circuit in 1900, but J it still fell short of the ambitions of 1 Johnson and bis fellow conspirators
 against baseball peace, and at the Oc. tober meeting in that memorable year
 the old organization wound up it's af-
 fairs and started a new deal. IT planning their Eastern invasion the American League packers did not
 seek a war with the National League
 but they must have felt sure that |
 would come.
 As a result of that memorable ses
 sion Connie Mack sold his interest 1T
 the Milwaukee club and was awarded
 the Philadelphia franchise, and Jin
 Manning was given the Washington ) club. Later, when the Nationa League. decided that 1t was to b.
 war, the Johnson League decided t l drop Buffalo and put team in Bos ton Indianapolis, Minneapolis ant l Kansas City were also dropped t make room for Eastern clubs.
 The American League chiefs believ l ed they were doing the Nationa 7 League a favor by heading off tn American Association competition { but President Young and his asso | ciates didn't see 1t that way, ant . when the National League held 1t
 meeting the American League was ig nored, just as if it wasn't in existence n Throughout the 1901 season tn i war ragged merrily, to the disgust c n the fans, and to the great profit c f. the players, some of whom jumpe if back and forth many times, and wer il never certain one day what leagu
 they would be playing in on the mo1
 row At the close of the 1901 seaso 4 1t was seen that the Milwaukee clu V, couldn't hold its own with the otht 7, cities, and the franchise was tram d ferred to St. Louis Baltimore we :. also considered losing proposition and when 1t was decided to have
 club in New York, the Baltimo1
 franchise was the one transferre
 McGraw and Johnson had fougl
 
 league and took several players vii 70 him to New York, to play with u 5 Giants. With the addition of Ne ~ York, the American League reacht '4 its permanent and present form. 10 It was just 1O1 years ago toda T. Oct. IA, 1907, that John Gully ls feated Bob Gregson in 96 rounds l- Newmarket, England. A London T l9 porter wrote this description of t cy finish. '"7he two bleeding warrio W rolled about the ring like a couple to drunken men, unable to reach Q m another or put in a blow. Still Gu ds was thought to have the best of nc and finally brought the contest to nc end by a blow on the throat whi ss. sent Gregson to the ground sensele st- Gully had just strength enough left D. jump in the air with joy at the w in come sound of victory. and then e
 lapsed." Gully and G-e Escn ,foug
 again the following year and Gu