The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-12-27
We came to bat first Our first man

We came to bat first Our nrSt mar
I'D got beaned, and instead Of taking
first base he went out into the pitch
er's box to lick the pitcher. After a
little argument we managed to get
him on first.
The Canadian pitcher was wild.
The next ball went over the catchers
head and our runner took second.
The next man up struck out.
1 batted third, hit to the outfield,
the right fielder dropped the ball, and
l reached second, the runner ahead
Of me moving 10 third base. Then
Stewart got up and placed d corking
double out into left field. Stewart
was a fast runner. / started for
home, touched third, the rune in
front of me blowing along for home
plate. He ran like an ice wagon. i
was shouting to him to hurry up. l
could hear Stewart pounding behind
me. The Tommy's cap blew off, and
instead OF going home he stopped to
pick 1t up. Stewart was shouting,
Leg 1t, here comes the ball." as he
slid into third base. / could not pre-
cede the runner in, so we were trapped
for a double play. Stewards angora
was bristllng and mine was tugging
at It's chain.
The Canadian rooters were tickled
to death, their sarcastic remarks burn
ing into Stewart and me. Stewart was
1 70 OF IOciDu hic fonnar
The first two Canadians struck out.
The third man up got his base on a
passed third strike. My error.
Then our substitute first baseman
pulled a stunt which turned the tables
on the Canadians and we were some
what appeased.
The Canadian unner was laying a
few feet off first base. Suddenly our
first baseman shouted to him, "Look
out, ere comes a shell; duck low"
The Canadian dropped to the ground.
Stewart instantly sized up the situa-
ton and tossed the ball to the first
baseman, who touched the baserunner
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 a class with Hal Chase.
Up to the fourth inning neither side
scored. Stewart was pitching In fine
form. The Canadians just couldn't
connect with his delivery. All they
were doing was tanning the air. The
Canadian rooters commenced to get
frightened because they saw their
money disappearing into the Tommies'
pockets. They had the greatest con-
tempt 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 or
der to the effect that gas helmets must
be carried at all times, even while
sleeping. To disobey this order is a
serious o~ffense, and means immediate
confinement. These gas helmets are
in a canvas bag and are slung around
the left shoulder by means of q can
n strap.
In pitching, Stewards gas helmet
bothered him greatly, and after the Sec
ond inning he took it off. / warned him
to be c~arefal, because / noticed several
military police in the crowd. But Stew.
art would lot listen. He always was
pig-headed.
One Of the Canadian rooters spotted
that Stewart had laid aside his he'll.
met, and artfully communicated this
fact to the rest of his teams rooters. I
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, n fellow, getting out in
front of the bunch, like a cheer leader,
counted, "One, two, three" Then up
went a mighty chorus of, "Hey, Stew
art, where's your gas helmet, where's
your old gas bag, where's your old gas
bag" They kept this up and 1t got
Stewards goat. I went out into the
pitchers box and warned him to put on
his gas helmet, but still ~pig-headed,
he refused to do SO. He was In an aw.
full temper.
A sergeant Of the military police was
watching the game, and hearing the
cries Of the rOoters he walked out on
the diamond and asked Stewart where
his helmet WIS. By this time Stewart
had completely lost his temper and an
swered with a sheer: "Where do you
think it is? sent it home for q SOU
yenir." The sergeant explained to him
that 1t 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, If
it's against orders, get them rescind-
ed" The sergeant Immediately put
him under arrest and marched him of
the diamond.
Our hopes were dashed; I could see
the game going west. We had NJ other
good pitcher to put In.
Upon seeing Stewards arrest, the