Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-21

| Never again will Ball tuh!" and
, the long -drawn-out "S-t-r-ike three;
your out" be heard from Umpire
Francis ("Silk') OLaughlin, who
passed on at Boston yesterday after
a brief illness from pneumonia,
! aged As. He was, by all odds, the
most picturesque arblter of baseball
in THIS generation, and ranked high
in the profession. The sporting ed
itor of the Philadelphia Record re-
calls:
His entry into baseball came
through the assistance of a relative,
stump Weidman, a former league
pitcher. After umpIring about New
York state he was assigned to the
: Atlantic League by Ed Barrow, now
manager of the Boston Red Sox, who
was then president of that league.
Later OLoughlin was with the East
ern League four years and in 1902
was appointed by Ban Johnson as
an American League umpire.
Since the close of the baseball
season last falfl he had been in the
service of the Department of Justice
and was assigned to work in the
Boston district. His widow survives
him.
"O'Loughlin, Tommy Connolly and
Jack Sheridan were with Johnson
when the old Western League be-
came the American League. Con-
molly is still in service, but Sheridan
died about two years ago.
"OLoughlin was a stern discipIi-
marian on the field, but a diplomat
at other times. He was a wit and
a raeonteur of dramatic ability.
easily approached after working
hours, but stern and unbending
ruler on the field. When he stepped
out on the diamond he played his
role like an actor would, and loved
nothing more than to exchange
sharp repartee with the athletes. He
mad many quaint expressions and
could tell funny baseball stories by
the hour.
silk never could understand
why players should argue over deci-
sions. A played once asked him how
he determined his verdicts in close
decisions. ''e
There is no such thing as a
close decision.' declared OLoughlin.
Inc man is either safe or out
Never Lost an Argument
"One of the traditions of tho f1ia-
mana Is that no player ever won a
Dout at repartee with O'LoughIin.
ne always rel'shed a wordy war and
as long as the persflage remained
Wlthlh the realms of reason seldom
resorted to the extremes of his an
thority -ii9 'u-
When still young in the American
League, his chief pride was in tha
power of his vocal chords, He de.
lighted in keeping the countrvsjde IN
c'ose touch with the progress OF tho
game. His famous 'Str-i-i-k-e tut"
is one of the watchwords of the dfa-
mond. He had many imitators
o,lk always was a favorjte with
the fans. His work was consistently
good, although there were tin,es
when he had to call upon the notice
10 protect him from the wrath Of Tho
rams. In st. Louis, on one occa eior
some sharp-shooting fan caIcuIataI
the proper range and deflection and
shled pop bottle. OLougblin fell
under the blow and was in y sort
Gus condition for a time.
lie urged certain reforms in the
Playing code from time to time ana
some We're adopted by the rules
committee. t'ieS
Ihat Never-Forgotten Decision
=, During the 1907 season, whom
the Athletics and Detroit Tieors
were running neck and neck for The
american League championship sill,
rendered a decision In the mnn,oraH
pie Trimming game STAGED bstwoep
the Macks and Tigers at old CONN,
Dia Fark, Philadelphia. late in Sep
tCtn her, which the Athletics ,aIinIed
cost them the championship.
lie allowed Sam Crawford's CLAIM,