Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-08-11
HOOKS
AND
SLI

The Lassman Lie
He was a champion, fearless and
honest. They knocked his wits
askew in a game OF football. He
fought back the best he knew. A
year ago he swan out 10 save a
girls lite at Miami Beach. He was
drowned in Long Lake, Maine, last
month, his strength spent after he
had saved the lives of two youths.
And they strewed his watery grave
with a pack of lies. His name was
Al LaSsman.
Nc, last month told o: Lassman's
taking a canoe out alone at night,
against the camps rules, and OF
the canoe being found overturned,
1t was left to the imagination that
Al had taken the easiest way out.
In the last game Of the football sea-
son in 1923, you remember, Lass
man was kicked into a coma from
which he emerged a mental and
physical cripple. New York Univers-
ity, his alma mater, helped him in
his fight for recovery, and, in just
ice to the officials Of the univerS-
ity, it must be recorded that their
investigation of the circumstances
surrounding his death cleared his
name OF the vile hint Of suicide
which the Maine camp officials suf-
fered to flourish.
1t Was Hard to Believe
The story was sent out from
Maine belied the character Of the
man ~ afv,nd - lteo~olyt Y0~er--p
never was a gutter. After lying un-
conscious for days after the fate
full accident at Forbes Field, Lass
mans first words out Of a dis
aaught mind were: They're on u
five-yard line now. Chick (Meehan.
the Violet coach), but we'll stop EN-
this time" He underwent several
operations after that in the attempt
to restore his mental and bodily
powers. He showed clearly the quail
ity Of courage that heroes have. So
IL was hard to believe he had Slip
ped away into the water at night,
as the stories from Maine indicat-
ed.
The university. a short time after
his death. received an anonymous
letter, giving a different story Of
the circumstances Of AIS death. Al
Nixon, graduate manager Of athlet-
les, pursued It. He caused Jerry
Nemecek, who, like LaSSman. was
a counsellor at the camp of Ivy
Zarakov where AL met his death.
to leave the camp and questioned
Nemecek closely.
Damaging Silence
Nemeck finally admitted that IL
had been decided at a meeting TO
maintain silence regarding the facts
Of LaSSman's death-in order that
the business Of the camp might not
be hurt by the near-drownings in
which AL played the heroic role.
One OF the cousellors al the cara
kov camp was AL Marsters. the OAR
mouth star of 1929. Nemeck is cap
tain OF the New York U. eleven this
season. Zarakov, who operates the
camp at Long Lake, is q former
Harvard football player.
Had it not been for the anony-
NOUS letter writer-a man who
later let his name become known
LaSsman's last beautiful sacrifice
might have been handed out TO the
world as an ugly surrender to the
tempting darkness.
Gangland and the underworld
and the modern larceny Of the prize
ring offer no parallel example Of
mans inhumanity TO man.
The little story almost makes
you want TO turn and look over
your shoulder in apprehension OF
seeing there some wretch about 70
slit your back. It IS shuddering.
Among the Improvements" sug-
gested by Owner ComiSkey Of the
White Sox this year was the dis
posal Of Art Shires. The young mar
has been hitting .3O4 for the Sen
ators. which makes you wonder
what club Mr.. ComiSkey was trying
TO improve.
Carl Hubbel pitched a three-hit
game against the Dodgers and lost.
/ to 0. He ought to u somebody.
O'Goofty asks us If we ever heard
the one about the Scotch pitcher
that every bali player in the league
used to steal bases on because he
couldn't learn how TO throw a waste
ball. We told him no. we hadn't.
over at Lake Placid is a snow
slide a mile and a half long. II will
Be used for the winter Olympic
games in 1882. Just Think A mile
and a half Of snow. beautiful snowl
Lets see now. where's that thermo-
meter?
The Merton Cricket club OF Phil
adelphia sends out a nice notice
telling all about how the National
Amateur Championship tournament
will be conducted next month. The
only thing left out was the fact
that the winner will 60 to Philly
from Atlanta a few days before the
contest TO practice up.
The weather may be hot. but
Lefty ODcul and Chuck Klein con-
tinue to hit a cool 400.
The name Of Rises Stephenson
OF the Cubs has been I'D among the
first five hitters Of the National
League all season. Stevie is the in
fielder with the lame arm the In
lians dismissed as all cleansed up
a couple Of years ago.
FKEIxFx IN