Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-08
MYSTERIOUS STRANGER APPEARS
WITH WAD TO PUT DOWN AGAINST
CHANCES OF The INDEPENDENTS
Another is Alleged TO Have Taken
Notes On Sunday Game
Secret Practice.

The supporters Of the Hammond
football team are evidently a con-
fident lot, If the activities OF one Of
them in Rock Island yesterday and
today means anything.
Islander fans in the various bill
lizard emporiums about town are
given something to ponder over. =
stranger appeared yesterday and
today with a wad of bills large
enough to choke the proverbial
horse. He is from Hammond
alright. His first move was to offer
81 900 against the chances of the
Independents to cop mex Sunday
when they tackle the team of fam
Gus players from that city al
Douglas park.
Local roOters have always found
the Independents a safe invest
ment, and from indications it is
pretty certain this ham ana evpOn-
ent will be given opportunity to
plunge his last jitney before game
time.
From we'll informed sources, it IS
learned that Hammond scout
witnessed the game Sunday against
the Hamburg A. c. Of Chicago win
the idea in view of gI0mniLg onto
few Of the secrets Of Coach Ur-
sella and his men. This bird is
said to have reposed comfortably
in the grandstand, and at times to
have furtively played with a pencil
and paper.
1t is we'll that Ursella was not
called upon 20 show his hand. The
Hamburgs were easily handled by
straight football tactics. The
scout, no doubt, departed to report
to his employers failure OF his ex-
petition, or If he thinks he got a
good line on the green jerseys
someone is due to be sadly upset
with a few surprises.
Secret Practice.
Secret practice is to be the order
from now on at Douglas park each
night. The fans are asked to bear
this in mind, or suffer the conse-
Quences of being excluded from the
rehearsals if they should make the
trip to the park.
There is reason enough for this
stand taken by the coach. This
Hammond man reported here
abouts has come with an object in
view. He no doubt will seek a
more thorough knowledge of the
Independents. He could easily
watch things at the practices
among a big crowd of onlookers.
So bear this in mind, fans, and
accept this edict in the right spirit.
A couple of strong arm guys will
be on hand to escort you to the
gate If you succeed in running past
the guards.
Practice Last Night.
After a rest on Monday, the
players were out last night for the
initial practice IN preparation for
Hammond. The grind lasted for an
hour and half, and this ia to be
the order OF things every night, ex-
cept Friday, and on Saturday after
noon.
The men were lined up slightly
different last evening than the team
appeared Sunday. Jerry Mansfield
was taken from end and placed at
halfback and Oak Smith went to
end. Fats Smith was in harness
after his long laid up spell with a
case of blood poisoning in one
healed. 1t may be that Fats will
get into the pastime Sunday. He
is hoping for this.
This new Smith displayed abil-
ity at the wing. In fact forward
passes. long or short, appear to be
made to order for him. Being tall
and rangy, he is regarded as the
ideal type for this position.
Several of the players are suf-
fering from charley horses or
strained muscles. There is nothing
serious, however, except that which !
occurred to Paddy Quinn Sunday !
Paddy injured a knee, and that |
night was ordered to bed by the |
doctor for As hours to ward of |
what is termed water on the
knee" Paddy obeyed the orders |
explicitly because he wants to be |
on hand to help tame Hammond.
Murder among the ancient Per |
SLAMS was not punishable at the /