Bisbee daily review., 1920-08-18
CHAP MAN DIES FROM BLOW OF
 PITCHED BALL
New York American Player Succumbs to Injuries in
 Baseball Game

NEW YORK, Aug. r. - New York baseball fans paid final tribute tonight to Ray Chapman, shortstop of the Cleveland American team, who died early today from the blow he received on the head from pitched ball in the game between New York and Cleve- land yesterday. Tonight Chapman's body was put aboard train for Cleve- land, where it is to arrive early to- morrow.
 Today while the body lay at the un- dertaker's room, hundreds of baseball fans called to view it and tonight act ed as an escort as the coffin was placed on a trunk car that carried it through the station to the train. The fans formed an aisle near the gates and stood with barred heads as the car bearing the body passed through.
 While the death of Chapman has caused sorrow among baseball mag mates, players and fans, none seemed as deeply grieved as Carl Mays, the New York pitcher who delivered the ball that resulted in Chapman's death After the game yesetrday Mays went to his room and denied himself to all. He paced the floor during the night and when word came today that Chapman had died. he broke down and said he desired to give himself up as soon as possible.
 On the visit to the attorney gener- aPs office, Mays was accompanied by Charles McManus. Manager Iris Speaker and Secretary Walter Me Nichols of the Cleveland club. Mays made his statement to Assistant Dis trict Attorney John r. Joyce The pitcher, eyes filled with tears and barely able to tell his story, said:
 Tt was a straight, fast ball, and not a curved one. When Chapman came to bat I got the signal for a straight, fast ball, which I delivered. It was a little too close and I saw Chapman duck his head to get out of the path of the ball. He was too late however, and second later he feli. It was the most regrettable incident of my career and l would give any thing if I could undo what has hap pened"
 After hearing Mays story, Mir. Joyce said he thought Chapman's death was accidental.
 Manager Speaker of the Cleveland club, talking whhs Colonel Huston, part owner of the Yankees, said the accident was unavoidable.
 T do not hold Mays responsible" he added. 'I have been active in dis couraging my players from holding Mays responsible, and in respect to Chapman's memory as we'll as for the, good of baseball, I hope all talk of this kind will stop. I can realize Mays feels as deeply as any man could, and I do not want to add any thing to his burden. I do not know what prompted the action of the Bos- ton and Detroit players For my part think it is deplorable" Speaker re- ferred to the report from Boston that the players would not play in subse- quent games with Mays.
 The post-mortem examination of the body brought no new information. Ac
 'C NiiC oulopSs man died from blow in the left tenn poral region which fractured his skull. depressing part of the bone, which caused an inter-cranial hemorrhage.
 Thousands of fans, most of whom did not know Chapman had died, gathered to see today's game They dispersed vixen told that the short stop had died and that the game had been called off.
 Baseball experts declared that cases or Datters being killed by pitched balls in professional games were very rare. So far as known not more than two or three have met such death. The most recent was that of John Dodge of the Southern association. killed about three years ago.