New-York tribune., 1920-08-18
CHAPMAN Dies From Blow by
Ball; Carl Mays Exonerated
Cleveland Players Skull
Was Fractured i'm Game
Monday, and Operation
we'd Unsuccessful
CONTINUED from page one)

Henry, the Washington catcher, who
went out to the clubhouse to see him,
told me that Chapman was all righ.
and that he said for nobody to worry
about him.
GAS to my pitching in the future
do not think that this thing will un-
nerve me. My conscience is absolutely
clear. If it was not l could not think
OF ever going near a baseball park
am absolutely blameless."
Yesterdays Game Cancelled
There was no game at the Polo
Grounds yesterday. AS soon as he
heard about the death Of Chapman
Colonel Jacob Rupert, president Of
the New York American League team,
ordered q postponement. The presi-
dents Of both the American and Ma
tional leagues ordered flags half-masted
in all ball parks in honor of the dead
player, who was loved by players and
fans all through the country.
The saddest part of the Chapman
case is that the young man recently
had come into sufficient property to
retire from professional baseball, as
his young wife was anxious that he
should do. He had intended to retire
this spring, but the game called to
him and the chance Of playing in the
Worlds Series before he retired.
So far as could be ascertained Chap
man said little after losing conscious
ness from the shock of the blow. He
recovered slightly once, while on his
way to st. Laurence's Hospital, and
said: "Tel Kate that I am all right"
He referred to his wife.
At the hospital it was recognized i'm
mediately that the players injuries
were critical, and the resident surgeon,
DR.. T: M. Merigan, decided after con-
sultatlon that an immediate operation
was necessary. An examination showed
half long extending to the base of the
brain. The force of the blow was such
that even after pressure was relieved
on the side where the ball struck it
was believed that the brain had been
so Jared that it pressed against the
other side of the skull. symptoms of
paralysis were discovered
The player died shortly before five
o'clock without recovering conscious
ness. iris Speaker and others of his
teammates waited all through the night
for the verdict. When it was announced
that Chapman had died many of these
dren, for Chapman was one Of the best
liked players in the game
Wife Comes for Body
Early yesterday morning white
faced, delicate little woman arrived
bers of the team. They had to keep
the news back from her until she
reached the hotel because of her condi-
ton. When they broke it to her she
tainted, but rallied quickly, because
there is another life dependent upon
her bearing her loss bravely.
Chapman's body was taken to the
Grand Central Terminal and placed
aboard the Lake Shore Limited, which
departed at 6:3O p. m. The train is
due to arrive at Cleveland at 8:2O this
morning. The casket was inclosed in
a white pine box and on top was a
bouquet of flowers bearing white card
on which was written, For the one we
both loved. John and Dorothy Henry
Several relatives and friends accom-
panied the body and as it was carried
through the terminal expressions of
sympathy were heard on all sides. Sew
eral hundred fans followed the body
to the platform gates, standing bare
headed as 1t was carried through.
Speaker to Issue Statement
When Speaker was told of the con-
ttemplated action of the Boston and
Detroit players in the matter of pc
tltfonng to have Mays put out of the
league he said that he would issue a
statement later. II am al broken up
over ChapDie's DEATH" he said. Il
cant talk. can't do anything now,
but | am convinced it was an accident,
l will reply to the Boston players
later"
Colonel Rupert and Colonel Hus-
ton, who were witnesses to the acci
dent, declared that they were sure
t@hat @ Mays was absolutely blameless.
Colonel Huston, who talked with
Speaker, said that the Cleveland mana
ger, though much broken up over the
death of his friend, had assured him
that he could see no reason for the
development of any bitterness over
the tragedy.
Three thousand fans who learned
that Chapman had died visited the un-
dertaking establishment to which the
.y poay had been taken and paid the last
tribute to the dead player
Mays was the center of a baseball
war that nearly disrupted organize d
baseball last season. He was sold bv
the Boston Red Sox to the New York
Yankees after he had quit that team.
his career was a rather stormy one.
and he report that the members of
the boston and Detroit teams have
shown bitterness toward him was not
altogether q surprise.
But others, who should know. assert
stanchly that MAYS never used the
bear, ball"; that is, he never inten-
tionally threw ball close to q batter
Chef Thomas, who used to catch for
Mays, was one of those who declared
that Mays never did this.
Ray Caldwell, the Cleveland pitcher
who formerly was a member of the
Yankee team, said he was watching
Chapman at bat yesterday, and he
thought Chapman had ducked into the
ball trying to avoid it.
Raymond Chapman, known to the
baseball world as Ray, was native
Of McHcnry County, KY born January
15, 1891. He had been a member OF
the Cleveland team of the American
League since 1912 and was regarded d
as one of the greatest shortstops as
we'll as one of the cleanest and most
popular players in the game He
played professional baseball first in
Springfield. Ill.,, then went to Daven
port, Iowa, from which place he was
taken by the Cleveland club.
He was one Of the fastest men il
baseball, and on Murnane Day at Bos.
ton, in 1917, he won a loving cup fol
making the fastest time in circlinp the
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