davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
HEBRANS' HEAD ISI v. M. l. WRESTLERS TOUGHEST KNOWN AND BOXERS BUSY
Flying Squadron To Enter Strong Teams In College
 Competition

LEXINGTON, Va, Dec. 20-Unprec- edented interest is being shown in wrestling and boxing at V. M. l., al- though the season for these sports will not open for six weeks. Coach Quinlan has S4 wrestlers and 64 box CTS taking daily workouts in the gymnasium, but by a series of elim- ination bouts in January he intends to cut the combined squad to 50 men.
 There are five letter men as hold overs from last years South Att lantic championship wrestling team, which went through the season with out the loss of meet. The various classes are represented as follows: 135 pounds, Lowe; 145 pounds Cap- tain Baird; 15Si Carlton; 175, Dem leading candidates for the 115 and 125 pound classes are White and Woodfin, respectively. and the wealth of material makes 1t probable that the letter men in the other classes will have their hands full in order to retain berths on the team.
 V. M. I. entered into intercollegi- ate competition in boxing for the first time last year, but in spite of that fact difficult schedule is being arranged in this sport as well as in wrestling. Coach Qulnlan haS the following five letter men as nu- cleus for his team: 115 pounds, Lew is; 125, Captain Knox; 135, Steele; 15S, Carlton; 175, Denton. Duncan may replace Steele in the 1855 pound class. and either Steele or Boggess will fight in the 145 pound class. Competition is keen among the heavyweights, with Letcn-r, Yates and Palmer leading the field.
 Both the boxing and wrestling schedules are incomplete, but 1t is assured that representative teams of the east and south will be met. The tentative schedules follow:
 Wrestling-Ja 26, Trinity or Western Maryland at Lexington (pending); February ?, North Caro- lima at Lexington; February g, V. P. I. at Roanoke or Blacksburg; February Is, Virginia at Lexington; February 22, Army at West Point; February 23, Williams at Williams town (pending); March 1. Davidson at Lexington; March s, Trinity or Western Maryland at Lexington (pending).
 Boxing-January 2s, Virginia | (place undecided); February II, Gin cinnati at Lexington (pending); Feb- ruary 23, Boston Tech at Lexington; March 8, Pennsylvania (pending); March 15, Penn State at State col leEe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
Globe Kotter Dies While Fulfilling Bet

SUPERIOR, Wis, Dec. 2O.-Franl1 Fletcher, veteran Globe trotter and champion walker, died at the age of 52 while fulfilling the terms of a bet which involved his prowess.
 Sunday, farmers found the body of a man frozen to death in a haystack near Oliver, Thursday the body was identified as that of Fletcher, who had agreed to sleep under the open sky nightly when he wagered the American Athletic association of San Francisco that he could walk around the world without using automobiles, trains, street cars or other vehicles.
 Last Saturday night at sunset here, the air was warm and clear, Fletcher crawled into the haystack and went to sleep The wind changed during the night, however, and the tempera- ture dropped to the freezing point. 1t is believed that the old hiker died without ever waking up.
 Fletcher claimed the worlds cham pionship for the walk from New York to San Francisco and had hoped to es- tablsh a mark for others to shoot at in his stroll around the world
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
FRENCH PRESTIGE
 PUT HIGHER THAN OLYMPIC VICTORY

PARIS, Dec. 20.-(By Associated Press )-The French Olympic com mittee, directors of sporting federa- tions, clubs and close followers or athletics in France in general are bending every effort toward mak- ing a creditable showing at the 1924 Olympic games but are under no misapprehension as to the prospects of French athletes winning the games. While not unduly pessimis- tic they readily admit that France will not finish first, but find soiace in the thought that the Olympic games are the greatest manifesto tion of international sports In ex- istence and tlfat. the vanquished do not necessarily emerge from them with a loss of prestige.
 While we would much rather win the Olympic games than finish among the also rans," said Frantz Reichel, general secretary of the French committee, we feel that a great benefit will be derived from athletics .ip France by the mere presence and participation In all branches of sport of the 1000 or 5000 athletes-the best in their lines of endeavor in 52 countries. There is one thing, however, that we may win and that is the acknowledge ment of all interested that the 1924 Olympic games were the best or ganized since their revival. This we will try to do."
 Canadians Favorites.
 In the winter sports which are to be held at Chamonix from January 20 to February 5, the opinion was gem eral that France would only place behind the Canadians, Scandinavians and Americans, in hockey, skiing, bob sleigh, and curling. They are outclassed in speed skating and only hold out the hope of getting points in the figure skating where Madem = oiselle Yvonne Bourgeois, who mel dentally is one of Frances upper ten rackets in women tennis, has more than an even chance of win ming.
 French rugby experts were san guine that the team representing France in this event had good chance of winning, especially II Great Britain maintains her present decision of not being represented.
 Tn association football every one admitted. that France stood no show. England stands alone in this sport and the French team has been regularly defeated by the Belgians and Czechs. while the teams repre- senting Italy, the Scandinavian countries and Spain have won more matches from France than they have lost to them in the international clashes of the past few years
 With the advent of polo in June, teams from the United States, Eng land and even South Americans are regarded here as likely finalists as France has mo combination which can place any of the foregoing in danger
 In track and field events, the win ming of which was conceded by all to be the real aim of all countries entering the Olympic games France is not expected to tota up many points
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
MANY sECTl0NALHANS WAGNER WAS RESULT oAmE0 roh 1Sz4 OF EXPERIMENT BY MANAGER
Hoosiers Lead Teams In Playing lntersectional
 Grid Contests

NEW YORK, Dec. 2O-with about 30 intersectional games already scheduled and others in prospect the nish unusual opportunity to compare the relative football strength of various sections.
 Notre Dame and the Army lead the transforming list. Including their own annual battle, to be held in New York, each has four inter sectional games booked. The others to be met by the Hoosiers are Princeton, Georgia Tech, and Carne- gie Tech, while the Cadets also will meet St. Louis University, Detroit and Florida.
 Three other efevens have three in- tersectional opponents scheduled. Marquette of Milwaukee will oppose three eastern opponents, Navy, Bos- ton College and Vermont; Vale will encounter a southern group com posed of North Carolina University, Georgia and Maryland; while Boston college will meet the Haskell h. dians, Marquette and Centenary.
 The intersectional games arranged include the following:
 October 4-Harvard vs. Virginia, at Cambridge; Syracuse vs. William and Mary, at Syracuse.
 October 1S-Army vs. Notre Dame, at New York; Penn State vs. Geor gia Tech, at Atlanta.
 October 25-Princeton vs. Notre Dame, at Princeton; Pennsylvania vs. Virginia, at Philadelphia.
 November West Virginia vs. Centre, at New York; Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame, at South Bend, Ind.
 November S-Yale vs. Maryland, at New Haven; Army Vs. Florida, at West Point.
 November 15-Boston College vs. Centenary, at Boston.
 November 22-Vanderhilt vs. Min
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
GOLF MERCER IS NOT TO BE MADE

,sCHICAGO, Dec. 20.-Publication in a. Chicago newspaper of a story to the effect that consolidation Of the United States Golf association and the Western Golf association might be discussed at the annual meeting of the U s. G. A. at New York next month, today brought denial from the president of both bodies.
 MPresident Frederick Byers of the U. s. G. A said that no such subject would be taken up at the annual meeting of his organization while President Charles o. Pfeil of the Western association denied that he had expressed approval of such an amalgamation.
 sSimilar reports were printed before the meeting recently of the Western Gulf association only to be met with denials and to be proved erroneous when the meeting passed without any roference to consolidation.
 "A committee composed of represen- tatives of the various golf associa- tions has been considering possible plans for changing and unifying con 6sol of golf in America, but what the aommittee will report has not been intimated by the members.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
Gotham Forms Monop On Pugilistic Crowns

NEW YORK, Dec. 2o.-The close of pugilisms championship program for 1923, found seven of the eleven recognized crowns iq possession or products of New York's fistic school.
 Johnny Dundee, veteran Italian boxer. holds two titles, the feather weight and junior lightweight while other New Workers at the top Of various classes are: Frankie Genaro, American flyweight; Joe Lynch, bantamweight; Benny Leonard, light weight; Mike McTigue, worlds light heavyweight, and Gene Tunney, American light heavyweight. Rancho Villa, worlds flyweight king resides in New York, though he began his fighting career in the Philippines, wniIe Mickey Walker of Elizabeth, Il. J., won>his welterweight title here.
 The far west claims Jack Dempsey, heavyweight king,& while Harry Greb' middleweight champion. puts Pitts burg on the list.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
'HUSTLING HANK IS
 GIVEN FORD CAR
Crisp, Popular Alabama Coach, Gets Present
 From Students

UNIVERSITY, Ala, Dec. 20.-(Spe- cial )-Santa Claus drove up to the gymnasium at the Capstore Wednes- day at midday and left "Hustling Hank" Crisp, assistant football coach ana basketball coach, with one of the prancing steeds that made Henry Ford famous.
 extent that all he could say for sev- eral minutes was "Well-." The The present was from the entire stu dent body in appreciation of the work done by the genial mentor in the upbuilding of Crimson athletic teams.
 The usual habitats around the gymnasium were accompanied by several other students shortly after 11:30 o'clock, and before the noon hour whistle had shot, several dozen were around.
 Coach Crisp, as usual, was none bothered by their presence. Upstairs. on the basketball court, he was busy with Tommy Anderson, varsity basketball candidate, showing the youngster a few shots. Finally, there came a call for Hank" and he trotted downstairs.
 door, Jack Langhorne, football star, walked up to him and said
 Here's the keys to that Ford take 1t home to your wife"
 Crisp looked, said nothing, and scratched his head looked around at Pooley Hubert, W. c. Baty, Jack Will son, Shorty" Pr st, Here Steiner and others around him and then at Coach Wade, Still, he said nothing
 The students wanted speech from Hank" but he refused to al- low words to cHne forth Finally, he said a few words in deep apprecia- tion of the gift and turned around. That he truly appreciated the gift was easily realized by those who saw him.
 And Crisp deserves it. He has worked unceasingly TOT. the. good of Alabama teams and Is overflowing with the real 'Bama spirit. And the students, who contributed, realize it
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
JEFFCOHI STAGES BIG GRID BANQUET
Letters Are Awarded Football Men-Barton Elected
 Captain

Jefferson County High school closed it's football season with ban quet served in the high school lunch room. The room was decorated in football colors, blue and gold. The table formed the letter J. An excel lent menu was served.
 Prof w. J. Baird, principal, served as toastmaster land awarded letters to the following varsity men: J. F. Bailey, Ross Barton, William Battle, Ralph Dismukes, Felix Erwin, Os- car Marsh, Clarence McCulloch, Jul ian Mcdonald, Clarence Patillo, Cara Riddle, Robert Taylor and Eugene Weed. He announced that gold foot balls would be awarded later.
 Ross l"Puss") Barton was elected captain for next year. with the snap py little quarter, Bunk Taylor, as alternate captain. With these two men as leaders, a great season is ex pected next year.
 Speeches were made by Professor Baird, Coach DeYampert, last sea sons captain, Dismules, Manager Marsh and Captain Barton. Short talks were given by several others, including a few words from the sponsor and maids, Misse. Jones, Riddle and Horsley, were elected all- time sponsor and maids for the clos ing season.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
Monroe Hi Successful

MONROEvILLE. Ala. Dec. -S.- Special Leased Wire.)-The Monroe county high school football team fin ished it's 1923 season schedule on Thanksgiving, after having one Of the most successful seasons in its his- tory. Ten games were played, seven of which were won one lost, and two others resulted in tie games. com plete list Of games played. won, lost and tied follows:
 Monroeville, 87; Camden Monroe vile 61, Dinkins Military Academy O.; Monroeville 94, Evergreen .; Monroe vile 6. Marion Institute 6: Monroeville 0, Grove Hill 0; Monroeville 46. Bay Minette O.; Monroeville Scrubs 45, Evergreen o; Monroeville IS. Florala 8: Monroeville 30. Andalusia o; Mon roeville 0, Sidney Lanier l9.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
.ATHLEYECS BOSS AT LAST
 CHANCES HIS AGE-OLD POLICY
Philadelphia Will Have Bought -Paid-For Team In 1924, Not A Aggrega- ton Of Youngsters

,. PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2O.-Connie 2 Mack, after many years of striving
 and as many years of dismal failure,
 has given up hope of developing an aother championship team from the -gs andlot or campus His recent deals in the player mart at Chicago. con- | sAdered with his transactions of last < yeulr, indicate that the priestly boss i of She White Elephants has now de- cideO to buy the parts of a ball team and assemble the wagon himself.
 Last year, Mack bought Sammy |, Hale, at cost of s75,000 to stiffen { his infteld. He gave good prices also s for 'Wid Matthews, the man who \ Svcaught fly balls in peach basket glove; George Walberg and Rtconda. This was the first unsheaving of the bank roll by Connie Mack since he dispersed his historic champions, sending away Collins. Barry, Baker and the others. Up to that time he had steadily and consistently tried each spring to develop a whole ball club from an annual migration of ;oollege boys, obscure bushers and 'sandlot players around Pennsylva- mia.
 .,'i' The Athletics of 1928 started off well and for a time gave the Fan kees a fight for first place. There was ruction in the team,-- however, and several causes were given for the failure of the men to play together. One was that a southern player was a member of the Ku IIlux Klan and Refused to cooperate with any of his mates who couldn't waggle their sars in the mystic manner Another Was that Wid Matthews, starring in the outfield with his eccentric man. srier of trapping flyballs, made the .other players jealous. He got so much publicity that other toilers in the ranks, Just as effective but less Spectacular, disliked him and Mack Himself is said to have added to Matthews troubles by reading him lout of meeting publicity in the locker room.
 feAnyway, Matthews has been Waived out and sent away in one of NIacl's winter deals. These deals haing completed, Mack now has Paul strand of Salt Lake City, a fence buster of the Coast league, and Sim mons of Milwaukee, to fill out his 4arflung ranks.
 H..Among the prominent players on the Athletic team now are:
 .ECy Perkins, one of the best catch- CTS in the major leagues, the only raw rookie that Mack has developed into a big star in all these years; Tilly Walker, Simmons, strand and Bing Miller, ottfielders. all acquired by trade or purchase after they had Been developed elsewhere; and Max Bishop, second baseman. bought from Baltimore.
 .;eThe Athletics henceforth are to be like the Yankees in one respect at lease-they will be bought-and- paid-for ball team, assembled-not t deVeloped.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21

or two and they found I had water on the knee.
 In those days we played on the Polo Grounds in New York when the Giants were out of town. So Ed Barrow took me to a hospital in New York and had my knee tapped for the water. l was told to stay in the hospital for a week.
 I couldn't stand it, though I neve. got so lonesome in my whole life. Tli never fotget the day I borrowed a pair of crutches and hobbled down to the ball park.
 MT. Barrow I pleaded, T can't stand it up to that hospital Take me on the trip with you, please, I'll go on my crutches. I've got to have these fellows to talk to-
 It certainly was a tragedy to me. I must have had tears in my eyes.
 All right" Barrow finally agreed. Get up your things and we'll take you"
 or more on crutches and never missed a game. At the end of that time was well. If I had stayed in that hospital I don't believe I ever would have got well.
 Now that jumps me right back to the Louisville club. Fred Clarke was teaching me lot about base ball but. gee, I had a lot to learn. He knew I could hit but he couldn' t find any place to put me when I wasn't batting. He tried me in the outfield.
 Out there I had good chance to show off my arm, but sometimes I showed it off too much. Many times I started peg to the plate but overplaycd my hand and heaved the ball in the grandstand.
 Fred encouraged me all he could but 1 know he was worried to know what to do with me. In those days. you know, when fellow was signed he was supposed to play They didn't take on young fellows and let them sit on the bench until they had absorbed some knowledge of the game.
 Nowhere To Go.
 As matter of fact l think man. agers, in this day and time often make mistake in keeping young fellow on the bencha too long. Often they keep him for six months and then trade him without knowing what he really can do. There have been many great players who never would have been heard of if they had been judged merely by the way they carried themselves and by their actions on the bench. In the old days we either played ball and made good or we were fired out
 I didn't know it at the time but Clarke spoke to Barrow, my old man. ager, about me, saying he had not yet found the right spot for me; That I was too green and awkward in the positions I had played.
 Why don't you try him at short?'' Barrow suggested. T played him there and he did pretty we'll"
 Might be good idea" agreed Clarke. I've tried everything else Cant do any harm in trying. Yes, I believe I'll experiment."
 In a few days l was placed at shortstop, and that began my real major league career as an infielder I realized that I would have to learn a lot and make good and I set about to learn it. I was not natural born shortstop. I had to train my self to be good mechanic and ] did it by watching others and then practicing their tricks. There is a whole lot to playing shortstop be- sides merely stopping the ball and throwing to first. No team ever won a pennant without an expert enced, skilled mechanic at short Make nc mistake about that. I'll go into more details later.
 Tomorrow: An answer to some in- uuiries from youngsters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
 SIMPSON DEFEATS
 Y. M. (. A. QUINTET

.,The Simpson basketball five de- feated the Elder Boys Brotherhood class quintet of the Central Young Mens Christian association Thurs day night by the score of 20 to Is Sn a hotly contested game. The Y team put up tough resistance for the siornado which could not get started. line score was 12 and at the end of the first half and the game was cor raspondingly close throughout. NCurdy Byrd was the star of the Simpson team, shooting IA of their 20 points. He rum six field goals. Albert Vincent played good game at forward and Wilking starred at guard. team Roy Lackman and Cunningham led in scoring.
 9,rhe lineup;
 Simpson (2O)-Ellis CD and A. Vincent (5), forwards; c. Byrd HD, center; c. Vincent and Milking, guards.
 HYoung Mems Christian Association G5)-Cunningham (1 and Lackman E4), forwards; Roy (s), center; Darby (2), and Kontos, guards.
 x stitutions-Simpson Byrd for G Vincent. Elder Boys Brotherhood Jones for Lackman; Grabin for Jolses; Lackman for Grabin.
 WOfficials: McGinnis and Webb.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
WHEELER SHOULD
 HEAD RUM CHASERS
Sherwood Would Have Anti-Saloon
 League Catch Smugglers

wASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Let the antt-saloon league catch the rum runners.
 That's General Sherwood's idea of dealing with the booze armada off the Jersey coast.
 When the appropriation for a dry navy comes up, the patriarch of the House declared today he will propose an amendment providing for the use of idle submarine chasers
 -"The navy does not want to chase rum runners, so let the anti-saloon league man the vessels" said the Ohio representative. Wayne B. Wheeler should be made commander s in chief and William H. Anderson put in charge of the commissary of the dry navy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
SIMPSON CO-EDS DEFEAT OWENTON

The Simpson coed five defeated the Owenton Epworth girls team by the score of 20 to 8. It was the first game for the Tornadoettes, but they showed much promise in the game. Kincaid was the big star of the game, shooting IT of Simpson's 20 points.
 With Kincaid and Cranford as forwards, Watts and Harris as cen ter3 and Glen and Winters as guards, the Simpson girls have combina- tion that should go good this season. Coach Anna Neese has plenty of ma terial to work with and expects to turn out a good quintet this year. The team will go to the girls cage tournament at Montevallo in Febru- ary if they can win the division championship here.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
Sunday School League
 Teams Play On Friday

The City Sunday School basketball league will hold it's last series of games before the Christmas holidays Friday night at the Central Y. M c. A This loop has developed into a fast circuit this year and the games are hotly contested.
 The games are attended by a large delegation of fans from each Sun day school each week and from 200 to 300 people witness the contests.
 The next series of games will be on January 6.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
Report Exaggerated

CINCINNATI. O., Dec. 20.-August Hermann, president of the Cincin- natl Nationals. said today that the report of an immediate purchase of the Indianapolis club of the Amerl- can association by the Cincinnati club is much exaggerated"
 The fact is that we have five clubs on our list and will probably select one of them to purchase ana to use for cooperative purposes, said Mir. Hermann. We want a class A club; we want one near at hand, but Columbus and Louisville for example are as convenient as Indianapolis. The choice will not be made today. tomorrow or the next day."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
X. (. Goes To Oakland

TAMPA, Fla, Dec. 2O--Kansas City, winner of the American asso- citation pennant in 1923 and winner over Baltimore in the Class A cham pionship series, will train in Oak land, Cal, next spring, according to Manager Wilbur Good. who is vis- iting relatives here. The Blues were considering Barrow as a training camp, but Oakland offered financial indueements that could not be over looked, Good said. He added he might bring his team to Florida in 1QoE
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-21
McGraw To Arriue

NEW YORK. Dec. 20.-John. J.. McGraw and Hughey Jennings of the New York Giants will return Friday aboard the Leviathan from a long and leisurely inspection of con ditions in Europe. The concentrated on the condition of the European pitchers, some of which are said to hold gallons.
 MT. McGraw will probably have some announcement to make in the approximate future regarding Rog- CTS Hornsby of the Cardinanls who is reported to be slated for the Giants.