Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-12-27


We came to bat frat. Our frst man
up got bnnned. and Instead of tnking
| flrst base he went out into the pitch4
er's box to lick the pitcher After
little argument we managed to get
him on first
The Canadian pitcher was wild.
The next ball went over the catcher's
head and our runner took second.
The next man up struck out.
/ batted third, hit to the outfield,
the right fielder dropped the ball, and
I 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 a fast runner. I started for
home, touched third, the runner in
front of me blowing along for home
plate He ran like an ice wagon.
was shouting to him to hurry up.
could hear Stewart pounding behind
me. The TOmmy's cap blew off, and
instead of going horne he stopped to
pick it up Stewart was shouting,
LEG it, here comes the ball." as he
slid into third base. I could not pre-
cede the runner in, SO we were trapped
for a double play. Stewards angora
was bristling, 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
fast losing his temper.
The first two Canadians struck out.
The third man up got his base on
passed third strike My error.
Then our substitute first baseman
pulled stunt which turned the tables
on the Canadians and we were some
what appeaScd.
The Canadian runner was laying a
few feet off first base. Suddenly our
first baseman shouted to him, "Look
out, ERE comes q 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 rost 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
serious offense, and means immediate
confinement. These gas helmets are
in a canvas bag and are slung around
the left shoulder by means of a can
vas strap
In pitching, Stewards gas helmet
bothered him greatly, and after the Sec
ond inning he took it off. warned him
to be careful, because noticed several
military police in the crowd. But Stew
art would not 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, one fellow, getting out in
front Of the bunch, like cheer leader,
counted, zone, 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 it got
Stewards goat. l 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. 4
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 was. 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 SOU
venir." The sergeant explained to him
tnat 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. If
&$M$$Y&>SM1 DY@S
= A. Azsa =
:a =; IS 3
RIAl @ag(Vw