New-York tribune., 1922-12-12
Huston to Sell
Share in Yanlxs
.TOCol. Rupert
Soldier Baseball Magnate
Admits Deal Is Pending
as Friends Insist Trans
action Is Complete d
To Give Time TO Veterans
Announcement Expected at
Meeting of the American
League Here Tomorrow
By w. !. Macbeth

Colonel Tillinghast L'Hommedieu
Huston, one Of the most picturesque
figures organized baseball has ever
known, Is soon to step down and out
from the game on he has not already
done so), to devote his attention to the
welfare Of disabled soldiers.
There is every reason 10 believe that
Colonel Huston has sold or will sell
his half interest in the champion New
York club Of the American League TO
Colonel Jacob Rupert, his partner in
the club, and also the new $4,000, 900
Yankee Stadium now being built at i6ist
Street and Jerome Avenue, the Bronx.
The situation Is best explained in Colo
mel Huston's official statement made
last night, as follows;
81 have had offers for the purchase
of my half interest In the Yankees
from several sources. / told Colonel
Rupert Of this, and he also made an
offer. Negotiations are In an extreme
ly embryonic state, and nothing may
! eventuate whatever"
The statement was made after the
colonel had been shown telegram 70
| The Tribune from "The Cincinnati In
quirer." as follows; .,
aStorv here that Huston tonight
will announce sale OF his snare OF
Yanks 10 Rupert in order 20 devote
time to disabled soldiers
Friends Say Deal Is Through
In M manner could Colonel Huston
he induced further 10 state his posi-
tion. His closest friends, however IN
sist that the transaction already mas
bcen completed and official announce
ment awaits only the annual meetlhg
OF the American League at inc ho'e'
/ Commodore here tomorrow; -
Colonel Huston always mas pee.
r,ore of a soldier than promoter ~
the last convention Of the Veterans OF
| Foreign Wars he was unahlh
eIected their national commander. ne
said al the time that II he found DUST
nesS would interfere with the duties
Of his Office he was prepared 70 AA0i'-
70 coionel Huston was one Of the
pioneers Of the army Of occupation III
Cuba back In 1898. He recruited u
company Of engineers IN ms nome
town. Cincinnati. and was eonnl,s,
stoned as their captain by freslecn'
Mckinley. Under the late Majof zen,
ernl Black, then colonel Coiohcii
Epston was assigned TO superintena
the sanitation Of Havana ne IN. ~.
stalled a sewage system, cleaned 9us .s.
the ieper hospitals and dratine9 .ns
swamps 10 safeguard against the dreao'
ed yellow fever plague
Successful In Cuba
When the United States troops later
vsys withdrawn Huston remained on
the island He launched a eontraetihs
businrss, specializing particularly on
railways and bridges. Il.
Colonel Huston retired from active
h,,sincss In Cuba more than ten years
600 though he maintained many bust
ness enferprises there still. which were
conducted by partners or lieutenant
Ue Mad aIwsys been a great baseball
fan from the time Of his boyhood m
Cincinnati. When he returned 70 the
United States he formed a close friend
shin Win John ]. McGraw, OF the
Giants. whom he had met while that
ciub was touring the island some years
earlier. Huston made several spring
trims 10 Marlin, Tex, with Mc6rnw
and IL was McGraw who brought Colo
nels Huston and Rupert together IN
the purchase Of the Yankees from
Frank ]. Farrell in the spring OF 1918.
When the United States declared war
on Germany in 1917 this retired army
captain Immediately volunteered MS
services. From Cincinnati and Detroit
he helped recruit the 10Th Regime n1 I
- En.troors nth which he sailed to
France the following July as captain
Of Company A. His work In building
railroads up 20 the front lines gained
him quick recognition and promotion
and citation by General John Pershing.