Evening star., 1933-10-01

back in 1908 It was found recently in an attic.
the ball was thrown by Preston Gibson WASH
ington journalist, who originated the stunt"
| EFT US see II this item is entirely accurate
l. The last stone Of the Washington Monu-
ment was put in place December 6, 1884 An
account Of this event says:
MONUMENT DONE AT LAST.
THE Washington Monument was completed
Saturday afternoon by setting in place the
marble cap-stone .. Shortly before z
O'Clock Col. Casey. the Government engineer In
charge, and his assistants, proceeded to set the
cap-stone, weighing $500 pounds, which was
suspended from quadropod by the platform
and towering 10 feet above them As soon as
the cap-stone was set, the American nag was
unfurled overhead and salute of II guns was
fired in the White House grounds. The sound
of cheers also came up family from the crowd
of spectators gathered around the base Of the
Monument while number Of invited guests on
the 500-foot platform and in the interior Of the
Monument at the level spontaneously struck up
The Star-Spangled Banner" and other patri-
otic songs The flag over the Monument floated
from flagstaff, the top of which IS exactly
600 feet from the ground thus displaying the
American colors at the greatest height Of con-
struction ever yet known in the world. The
Monument itself, with its total height Of $50
feet far overtopS every other structure OF
human hands,
On February 81 following the structure was
masonically dedicated and upon which occa-
sion the aluminium tip was also put in place.
Between these two dates, "a January 9. 1885.
according to press report, Phil Baker Of the
Nationals caught ball thrown from the Monu-
ment So that the credit for first performing
this stunt must naturally go to the old-timer,
Phil Baker.
John H. ("Jack") Lynch, who pitched with
the Nationals in 1879-80, born in New
York in 1855, and played with the Chathams IN
1875, the Deawares, 1876-77; New Havens and
later the Hartfords, 1878. After leaving Wash
ington, he played with the Buffalo Nationals
in 1891 Metropoitans (American Assoclat1on)
from 1882 to 1884, during which period he
played in the world series of 1884.
William H. Mcclellan shown In the group OF
the old Washington Nationals, was born in
Chicago, ILL.,, in 1857 His career as ball
player began with the Red Caps of st. Paul,
1851; from there he went to Chicago in 1873,
and to the Washington Nationals In 1879-S0.
Leaving here he played in Providence, R. l., In
1881; Philadelphia, 1882 1884; Brookland, 1885,
1888; Cleveland. In the American Association,
1888; Denver 1s89-9o. His batting average
in 1877 was $50.
\h/1ILIAM E. {"BIILYD WISE, who first
w joined the Washington Nationals in 1879,
as a substitute, during the regime OF Mike
Scanlon, got his first real opportunity for reg
ular work while the team was in New York on
tour Derby, one of the teams two pitchers,
it seems had asked Mr.. Scanlon to let him of
for a day or two that he might visit relations
in Connecticut, and having Lynch along the
agreeable Mike readily consented. However,
just before the game was to start with the
Metropolitans, Lynch, the remaining pitcher on
the staff, was taken suddenly i'll. Wise though
quite young had done good work pitching with
the amateur teams Of washington, his native
city, and it so happened that shortly before