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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1898)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , DECEMBER 25. 1808. SPORTS OF THE DYING YEAR 1 Baao Ball Men Look Fondly Forward to Days of Next Summer. MAGNATES HAVE NOT SETTLED ANYTHING Deal , for Two Circuit * Still Tnlkert About nil the Knte of boulMvllle nud WnnlilnKton Ocunaloim Much Speculation. The base ball nabobs called a bait on their annual confab without consummating the mtich-deftlretl double eight-club circuit , but there la llttlo doulrt that there will be much interchange of opinions ancnt this perplex ing problem betwixt the present time and the .next session of the league , which la scheduled for the last Tuesday In February. No official action waa taken , but before tne magnates fle < l from the giddy metropolis the majority expressed themselves In no uncer tain phraseology a In favor of the adop tion of the two-circuit plan. In fact , the secret wirepulling of the base ball en- Klnncrs has narrowed the case down to this. Every club Is willing to enter Into tuo Bchemo except Louisville and Washington. The latter are willing in a way , too , but they hollovo they have a chance to dictate terms. If they persist In holding up tno deal 'thero IB every liull call ton that the mag nates will conclude to go ahead with a ton- olub circuit. In such an arrangement the Capitol City and Bourbonvlllo would be but way stations from n flnanclal point of view and would be forced to the opinion that they could do better If they were In a circuit consisting of eight of 'their class. Wagner of Washington gave an Indlca tlon of the way the wind Is blowing by ad mitting 'tho ' advantages of an eight-club major circuit , but Including the senatorial city In 'the bunch. This Is looked upon n.i a token that Wagner Is getting ready to mnko n bid for big money. The Louisville delegates gave an even stronger Indication of a desire to got In out of the wet , but worked It a bit too strong. They offered to soil the Louisville club and franchise to New York for $50,000 cash. They argued thait.tho Giants would be strengthened by the addition of such players as Clarke , Dex ter , Cunningham , Wagner , Pruzer , Magec nnd Klttrcdge , and that Frc-cdman would be able to put another team In Louisville out of his surplus playing material to enter the proposed American association. But Freed man gave this proposition a. frigid glare and even revoked his offer to take Clnrke out of the Kcntucklans' hands for $10,000. From now on until the February meeting the fans may look for an out-and-out case of bluff. The Dourbonltes have already commenced It by announcing to their sup porters at home that the team will stay In Louisville and that the Colonel's will be In the race for the flag next season. Washing ton boa done likewise , nnd both will hold out for a $50,000 bunch of money each. Wll they get It ? The answer to this question la the only thing that stands In the way of the establishment of two eight-club circuits next season. Owing to the chaotic situation there was not much trading transacted as a result o the meeting , although a few deals were put through. Louisville has sold Pitcher Frazcr to the Quakers. Manager Wllmot o Minneapolis bought "Germany" Smith from St. Louis for $200 , and Abbatlcchlo from Philadelphia for a simitar amount. Wash ington Is angling for McGraw , as Mugs ) has declined to go to Brooklyn on accoun of his Baltimore business. Plttsburg made a bid of $2,600 for McGulro. but Washlng- tonVould not see It. Burns made overtures for Winnie Mercer , but was also advised to attach a Jockscrew to his price. Frccdman surprised Billy Nash by telling him that h was not wanted as captain because ho hat boon quoted In an Interview aa saying tha ho wished to have control of the player * nd work In harmony with John B , Day Buck Bwlng made fancy offers for Rusl and nlso Dave Cress. Shortstop Wrlglcy First Baseman Carr and Pitcher Donovan of Washington were lumped for the sum o $500 and sold to the Richmond ( Va. ) team Brooklyn next year with Its acquisition o Baltimore players will bo a big factor in the league race. Moreover , 'It ' will be a financial success of huge proportions , It I predicted. When the deal Is completed An drew Goose Freedman will be dealt a ter rlflo thwack fornlnst the solar plexus. H I estimated that a winning team In Brooklyn will draw as properous and voluptuous a tick of elongated green as a winning aggre Ration at the Polo grounds. The antl Freedmanltcs in New York are already beginning ginning > to figure the profits that will ac crue from the double-headed venture. The have counted out $100,000 velvet In Brook v lyn and a $10,000 loss In Baltimore , thu leaving $90.000 to be divided between tb partners In this prospective base ball trus for Hanlon and Abell will conduct th teams on a 50 per cent basis. The Trolle Dodgers will be a team that will bo skating close on tbo heels ot the leaders , for th team that can bo picked from the materla that the two clubs at present provide will D as follows : Pitchers , McJames , Hughes Corbett , Maul , Kennedy and Dunn ; eaten ers , Clarke , Smith and Ryan ; first base Kelly ; second base , Daly ; third base , Do montrovlllo ; shortstop , Jennings ; outfield ers , Jones , Griffin , Keeler and Anderson ; ex tra Infloldcr , Magoon. With these men wearing Brooklyn unl forms , the new Baltimore team may be mad up oa follows : Pitchers , Miller , Ycage Nops , Kltson , Howell , Caston and McKeuna catchers , Robertson , Grim and Crlsham ; In fielders. McGnun , Lachance , Hallman an Ball ; outfielders , Holmes , Brodle and Shcck ard. If McGraw Is not turned over to Wash ington or disposed of otherwise he might b added. In connection with this Baltimore-Brook lyn deal , it Is Interesting to hear that number of the Orioles are discussing th advisability of striking In the hope nnd ex pectation of winning something for them selves out of the transaction. The combina tion comprises the star players of the team , the "big four. " Kelloy. Keeler , McGraw and Jennings , together with Clarke and Robin son , These players arc said to have decided not to sign n Brooklyn contract until their salaries are Increased. They have formed an offensive and defensive alliance and will 1 demand the salary limit of $2,400 and 10 per cent of the net profits. This plan savors considerably of the co-operation plan and Is an apparent threat of the revival of the Players' brotherhood. The recalcitrant player - or * are undoubtedly encouraged In their de mand by a Baltimore syndicate of rich sportIng - Ing men who are engineering a plan of buy. Ing the Baltimore franchise and putting In a flr t-clasa team. This movement li receiv ing the support of the Baltimore fans , who are disgruntled at the Idea of not having a first-claes team after having been regaled with an article of championship stripe forte to many years. BLATHER OF THE PUGILISTS Probability of Hob FlUvlinuiuiii mill Tommy llynn Mvetlnir llffoiue * More and More Ilemotr. The lover * of boxlana may as well glvo up all hopes of seeing Hed Robert Fltzslrn- mons and Tommy llyan paired off In mitt ; warfare , for tbe champion has taken a po ) sition regarding the proposed battle that U equivalent to the iheathlng of the weapons of biff , as fur a * the two fighters are jointly concerned. He ha > laid down three condi I- tions for the fight that a big enough purse , bo offered by some cfub , that a finish fight I jail bo waged , and that he be allowed to ake full advantage of the middleweight oundage limit. The Syracuse lad has de murred to two ot the provisions , of this Itlmatum ; he want * the contest to be of mlted rounds and desires that Fltz be com- ellcd to weigh In four pounds lighter than he limit of the clas 1CS pounds. Impartial gloveracn admit that Fltz Is on o uncertain grounds when he refuses to ntortaln these two demands of the new middleweight providing that he can make oed his claim that he Is stlir a member ot ho division. Hyan makes a brassy sort ot proposition to force Fltz to scale down ewer than the class limit , when the con- cst would be for the championship laurels f the class. And with no drflntto. ruTea on ho matter , Fltz may rightfully Insist that a championship contest should not be Uni ted In length. Lanky Bob's Insistence that a sufficiency of the long green shall be put up In the shape of a purse Is not without merit. "Here arc a braio of fakirs who manage : o get away with $60,000 between them , ' , s the way Fltz puts his side of the case , 'On the other hand , I who defeated both these fakirs , who remains undefeated and stand as the champion of both the middle and the hsavywelght divisions am asked to take part in a championship conflict for which a purse of $7,600 Is offered. If some club will put up a $20,000 purao and Ryan accedes to my conditions , I will cross arms with him and not otherwise. " A cloud ot doubt of brunette hue will arise In the mind of any fight promoter who may be tempted to offer a $20,000 prlzo for Ryan and Fltz to nibble at , for experts can hardly see It that the Syra- ciiean would have much more than a fight- lug chance with the lanky one. Prelimi nary to such a mutch the question would arise , "Is the Cornlshman as formidable as he was when he whipped Jack Dempsey and is Ryan OR clover a fighter as the lat ter was In his palmy days ? " There is little doubt that Fltz , since he won the middle weight championship from Dempsey In 1S91 , has steadily Improved , up to th" time that he met Corbett , at least , while since that time bo has kept himself In good shape. There is every reason to believe that his tremendous punching power and his pair .of remarkably strong arras still stay with him. On the other hand , Hyan has only just grad uated from the welterweight class , In which he was summarily beaten by Kid McCoy and also failed on two memorable occasions to stop Mysterious Billy Smith. Ryan Is undoubtedly a clever and slashing hitter , but at middleweight he.Is . not a whit better than Dempsey was when ho was winning his long string of victories. That McCoy can whip Ryan at any weight many ring followers believe , so that they fall to see just how the Syracuse fighter could win laurels In a battle with Lanky Bob. This opinion Is so prevalent that It would bo dllllcult to scare up a $20,000 or $30,000 crowd to witness a meeting of the two big blffera. * The Qucensberry program arranged for January 10 gathers not a little additional In terest from the showing that Kid McCoy made against Joe Goddard , tbe old barrier champion , In Philadelphia a week or so ago. This Is calculated to set many a ring fol lower 'to thinking. It has been eatd that the Kid cannot punch , but the neatness and dispatch with which he dropped the old- time Barrier champ , even though the contest - test was decided on a foul , speaks fairly well for a jabber. Ho sent the big burly Goddard from the center of the ring to the rope with a jab that seems to indicate that tie has a punch up his sleeve that no ono has suspected. As a rough , tough , heavy weight Goddard la a stumbling block for the beat of them nnd McCoy all but put him to sleep. Then , too , ho did It In a manner that was hitherto unknown to the Barrier champion. The otbera who have put him away bavo taken a chance with him and won walloping. The Kid never took that chance. Ho planned and executed the coup de grace without giving Goddard a chance. In Sharkey the Kid will have a younger , more active and aggressive fighter to deal with , but his tremendous advantage In skill , quickness and reach may turn the scale. If he can make a defensive fight of It he will have the man-of-war's-man In a box , the critics say , and they all coincide that tbe latter must get In his punch In the first few rounds. If ho does not do this ho may have a head put on him before the twenty rounds are over , for McCoy's contin ual jabbing Is likely to wear him down , and when Sharkey reaches that stage McCoy will have htm on the hip , for in his God dard go the Kid demonstrated that he U a pretty stiff puncher when he has a man where he wants htm. Tim Hurst has the right Idea about his conduct toward fighters who have selected Mm to referee a bout. After Hurst had been formally notified In New York that ho bad been chosen to referee the battle between McCoy and Sharkey he met In a cafe Kid McCoy. The festive Kid was with a merry Iarty of friends , who were Indulging in the "Juice of the grape. " Hurst was accom panied by Jim Kennedy , former manager ot the Coney Island Athletic club , and sat at a nearby table. McCoy sent word to Hurst to join bis party and have some wine. Hurst , however , declined with thanks and sent word back to the Kid that ho did not care to get better acquainted with him until ho met Sharkey 'In ' the ring on the night of January 10. Hurst will receive $500 for refereelug the bout. Gardner and Dave Sullivan have finally been matched , their respective autographs having been attached to a set of articles according to which they will clash In New York on January 9 at catch weights. The match has been hanging fire for some time owing to the fact that the Omaha lad has wanted to meet the little irishman at the same poundage at which tbe latter Issued a deft to DIxon. Gardner held out for awhile , but finally gave In , as Sullivan gave no Inkling of an Intention to weaken. Ac cording to these terms the Celt will have an advantage of some ten pounds. The meeting ought to bo satisfactory to the cream of the redhots , for much more depends upon It than a mere settlement of the question of superiority of the two. Both Gardner and Sullivan hope that the one who wins will receive a return match with the colored wonder. At any rate , the re sult of the match will probably designate the feather who can be ranked next to , DIxon. _ _ _ _ _ There arc tricks In all trades , but no trade , If such It may be called , haa so many tricks as pugilism. From the time fighting by man and man for man's amusement has been recognized ns a sport tricks ot many kinds have been Introduced to win or lose fights. The latest Is Indeed a novel one and If all reports bo true big Ed Dunk- hurst , the Syracuse heavyn eight , must bo ' given credit for Its Invention. In hla recent fight with Peter Maher at the Arena the Irishman landed enough hard bTows on Dunkhurst to knock out half a dozen pugi lists , but while Mahcr knocked Dunkhurst down several times he could not knock him out , and his terrible punishment did not seem to affect the big Syracuse boy. It now leaks out that Dunkhurst covered his body with an oily preparation which took much of the- effect ft Matter's blows away. Maher , when asked about tbe matter , said : "Well , I waa a bit suspicious , and felt like having ray seconds examine Dunkhurst. Every blow I ever landed generally stayed on the spot , but my glove would slip all over Dunkhurst's bojy , I noticed thU the very first punch I gave him If I put a blow on his stomach my fUt generally Ielld around his ribs and past bis body. It'a a good trick all right , but the next time I notice i that my blows refuse to remain on the spot where landed I wilt make an in vestigation , " BITS OF MISCELLANEOUS SPORT New Life In Field nnd Track Athletics the Aim of a Movement Jant Started. Track athletics are yet In their Infancy In this state. The Young Men' * Christian association branches occasionally have a meeting , the University of Nebraska holds a rather lee * , spring meet and a profes sional foot race takes place once In awhile , But beyond this the track game * have but a small section on the Nebraska sporting calendar and there Is nothing that will bring track athletes In the various parts of tbo state In active competition with each other. Attempts to form a state track osso- clalon have at various times been made , but they have never yet met with success. But not a whit daunted by post failures , Prof. Bernstein ot the High school Is preparing to make another try. Prof. Bernstein Is a man who t * able and competent to succeed In his object If any ' one xan attain It. He Is a Nebraskan and an Omahan and graduate of Dartmouth. While In this energetic little New England college ho took considerable part In athI letlcs. After his graduation and when he had affixed himself to the teaching force of the Trinidad , Colo. , High school , he did considerable In developing the athletics of that Institution. Since his connection with the High school of this city he has always taken a great Interest In Its athletic de partment and has done not a little to raise the standard of the young spoilsmen of Omaha's native Institution of learning. And In addition to this record Mr. Bernstein Is a hustler. I During the coming week Prof. Bernstein will be an attendant at the annual meeting of the State Teachers' association at Lin coln , and while at the Capital City proposes to attempt to Interest tbe unlveielty ath letic Interests In the formation of a state track association. The university would be especially fitted to act as tbe sponsor of such an organization , as It Is the recognized head of the state In on amateur athletic way. Its athletic material comes mainly from the state , and therefore It should bo Interested In the development of this ma terial in order that Its teams may be ot the best possible standard. ! , The schenio that the Omaha High school | professor will present for the consideration of the university will be an Interscholastlc as well as an Intercollegiate association. He will recommend the formation of a body 1 In which all the High schools as well as the colleges of the state will be represented. This organization will hold a meet at some central point where representatives of the various schools will compete. The body will bo run under the auspices of the A. A. U. and consequently the records made will bo official. This Is a move In the right direction and should receive the support of every one who s Interested in amateur sports. There Is no reason why the west should not be proficient in every line of sport and In ama- ; ur sport there 'Is ' hardly a department that 8 BO enjoyable , healthful and Interesting as track athletics. A start once made , Ne braska should secure as good a rank In this branch as Is gradually being attained in base ball and foot ball. Something of this same character Is beIng - Ing engineered by the Denver Wheel club at . : ho present time. This organization Is workIng - Ing on a plan to form an Intercollegiate as sociation In Colorado which will include all the colleges In that stato. The mutter has Beached such a point that the wheel club Is said to be negotiating for tbe athletic grounds ot the Denver Athletic club , one of the most prosperous athletic associations in the western country. While on this matter that seems to Indi cate an Increase In state sporting Interest , it may not be amiss to mention a sort of rewakenlng In 'the ' same line that is taking place In thl * city. That a revival Is taking place seems to be tbo moral that can be gleaned from the determination of < tno local Bohemian turning society to erect a commodious club house and gymnasium dur ing the coming spring. While this society , as well as the Turners and the Young Men's Christian association , deal mainly In i gymnastic work , yet this organization ns i well as the other two pay considerable at tention to field sports. Consequently any advance either makes will result In a pro portionate progress in field sport. While talking about this new club house of tne i Bohemian turners , it should be mentioned t also that Omaha may possess still another club and club house ot an athletic character. The Omaha Wheel club Is seriously consider ing the advisability of extending Its athletic field and Is talking of erecting a club build ing with a modern gymnasium , fully equipped. In the very near future tbo well known bllllardlsts , Carter and Schaeffer , will prob ably give a scries of exhibitions In this city for the edification of the lovers of the Ivories. Tom Foley Is trying to make the necessary arrangements to get them to etop over for a couple of days when they pass through the city on 'their way to Mexico , where they , together with a couple of other sharps , expect to open the eyes ot the greas ers with wizard strokes and Incidentally reap a small fortune apiece. If tbe arrange ments are completed , it Is the Intention to secure ono of the theaters for tbo exhibi tions In order to enable the local sharps to gain a few pointers on the proper manner to dally with the ivory balls. The Omaha Curling club is preparing for the moat successful season in Its history. The park commission has set aside for its use the upper lake In Hanscom park , whlcn is too small for skating purposes , but Is ample for the "roarln1 " game. The club members gather there on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons to engage In their favorUe sport and during tbo couple ot weed that the curling season has been on a number of good games have been played , A club team contest U on the tapis for the near future , at which time tbe member ship will compete for a medal which has been offered by A. C. Troupe. One or two other prizes will bo offered during the course of the season and with the stimulus that will bo Imparted In this way a successful and entertaining winter's play U looked for. Tbe club numbers on its rolls at present about thirty-five names , tbe owners of whom are almost all active players. Guy C. Bar ton is the patron of the club and I * not averse to taking a hand occasionally. Ancnt this purely winter sport It will not be out of the way to say a word or two about another snort which finds Its par ticular season during tbe relen of the Ice king skating. Durlne these crleo winter days when the mercury la boverlne down at tbe bottom of the tube there Is con gealed fluid zalore about Omaha an ample sufficiency for skatlnz , There are , too , Plenty of ckaters in the city , but with tbe usual Indifference displayed by the Omaha citizen regarding sporting matter * no ad vantage has been taken of this condition In the shape of contests. The average Omaha young man seems to prefer the beatific oc cupation of gliding over tbe Ice with thb average Omaha maiden to the zest and ex * cltement of a race If you know the average Omaha maiden , you can hardly blame htm cither. But there certainly are a sufficient number of the local pantalooned sex who are unattached to fill the Hits of a skating carnival. It may not be Impertinent to sug. seat to the management ot the skating privilege on the exposition grounds that U la In a position to act the ball a-rolllng. A ' carnival ot this character ought to be mad * successful with the assistance of a few prises and will bring out many a man , and girl , too , who Is able to cut a few capers In speed and fancy figures. A skater ha * come over the pond who \ ambltlou * to akato rings around anything in the way ot an Ice cutter that America can produce. This Individual Is Oscar Julius , a Swede. He came from his native land a. year ago to engage In tha six days' bicycle race held In New York and also engaged In the one just closed , In both securing n creditable place. Julius' long suit , however , is skating and he ha * just Issued a dtfi to ' any one who thinks he is an ace in the skating pack , not barring Jaap Edem , John * ! son i or NelUon. An Indication of the Swede's [ ability is shown in the time he made In a I race of 10,000 meters , a little over six and ' one-fifth mllps , in Europe. He covered the distance in 17:68 : , only three seconds be * hind tha world's record. The hour skating record of Europe Is to Julius' credit , the Swedish youth having covered eighteen miles 220 yards in that space ot time. Joe Donoghue , the noted speed skater of this country , has picked up Julius * defl and ar rangements for a race are expected to be made in the near future. I I I From a financial point of view the foot ball season but lately closed has been a bonanza for the big eastern elevens again. In this financial column Pennsylvania heads the list , the receipts from her games being In the neighborhood of $75,000 over and above expenses. Harvard comes second end with net receipts ot $37,000 , Yale next with $25,000 and Cornell fourth with $12,000. Princeton's velvet has not yet been com puted. In almost every other branch of sport the athletics at these universities have been carried on at a loss and the foot ball surplus is being ernplojed to foot the bills. Some foot ball men arc agitating a change In the foot ball rules that will permit ot tbe changing of the pigskin In case the ball in play becomes too wet and slippery for use. In rainy weather and on a wet field the leather oval becomes so waterlogged fre quently that It becomes a burden to lift It , much less kick It. This was the case In the Pennsylvania-Cornell Thanksgiving game , when the sphere was so slippery and wet that It often spoiled the plays. Under the existing 'rules , however , no new ball could be Introduced. The point is well worth considering. That wrestler four-flush , Ernest Roeber , has thrown out a sickening bluff In a public declaration In New York to tbe effect that he Is anxious to trcet Hall Adall , tb "Ter rlble Turk , " who Is having as much fun with the American mat artists as did his successor , the Ill-fated Yousouf. The Ger man wants to meet the Mohammedan In February , and Is likely to have his bluff called , as the Turk has an engagement in New York during the latter part of that month. Roeber announces that he will meet all comers on his arrival In tbe metropolis and will give $50 to each and every one who Is able to stay a quarter of an hour with him. As a fins' " f b' ' ' lenge. he declare * that he will present his compliments and $100 to the Turk it he doe * not throw him Inside ot t uaiaj.uu. . . . bo Is unable to score a fall within that i limit , he says that he will then condescend to wrestle the Turk for the championship of tbe world and $1,600 a side. In the meanwhile - while the Mussulman la touring the country and Is eating up everything In the shape of wrestlers that comes his way. The first fall to be scored against him was secured the other night by Duncan Ross In In dianapolis nnd the Turk lost that only be cause , not understanding the collar-and- elbow style , he broke holds. He gjt two Graeco-Roman falls without trouble In brief time. The next Interesting engagement of the sultan's subject is to take place In Chicago on January 23. On that date he has agreed to gain four successive falls alternately from "Farmer" Burns and J. J. Rooney , the "giant grlpmam , " within ninety minutes of successive wrestling. If either Burns or Rooney gain a fall or If Adall falls to throw each of tha men twice , the match will go to the two Americans. A bicycle race of considerable Interest is on the 'boards ' in New York for tomorrow ! night. It Is to be tbe first demonstration in America of the possibilities of artificial pacmeaklng for blcyclo racing. Harry Rlkes , the elongated lad who holds the world's record for the hour , will be the rider op posing motor pace. Rlkes will try to ride a faster twenty miles under regulation pace than his opponents , assisted by the petroleum motor bicycle. U will be a good test , for there Is no rider in the land who can com mand a better racing course than Elkes , and each of these human pacemakers will try to ride rings around their petroleum rival , for if the cumbrous steed beats them , It means that they will lose their jobs and will have to go to work for a living. FOR LOVERS OF GUN AND ROD Oiiinha Men Find o New ParnilUe for Hunter * In the Chuctatv Na tion' * Pre erve . Judge Ives , Dr. Connor , Frank Galncs , George Patterson , M. A. Hall and John C. Barnard returned to Omaha last Thursday after a two weeks' absence , with the In formation that they had discovered a new hunting paradise for the lovers ot tbe gun. This Ideal spot for the huntsman Is located In Indian Territory just over the Arkansas border and on the land of the Choctaw nation. Armed with a permit and over the state line , the hunter finds himself In the very heart of nature , among bills and vales and woods which apparently have never been contaminated by the hand of civilized j , man and which Is chock full of deer and pqulrrel and rabbits and wild turkey and j quail and chicken and about everything In the way of small game that the heart of the ahooter may desire. The Omaha party left on the first of the month and journeyed to Wood river , where several days were spent in camp. They finally landed in Do Queen and from that j town struck Into the territory. They went but twenty miles , but when they located their r first camp they brought themselves In pretty t close communion with primeval nature. The hllfs , almost mountains , were covered J with wild woods and tangled brush , through which no one apparently had ever penetrated. This condition of the country was not with out its disadvantages , for the roads are exe crable , and made the passage of a large hunting party dlfllcult. Ana the Omaha party formed a big camp , a * It contained thirteen persons , being com posed of five drivers and a couple of guides in addition to the pports. This Is given as an explanation of the fact that but little game was brought back to the city , the local ' sh'ooters claiming that they were kept busy shooting enough for tbe camp to eat. They had sport enough , for the deer stood upon the hillsides and the turkeys roosted upon tbo trees awaiting to be plugged , according to report. "It Is a great hunting coun try , " declares Attorney Half. "Tho only backers are the crackers , finest examples of the breed , who are slow enough to drive a many crazy. But If you can overlook ibis , you find yourself In one of the primeval sopts the poets sing about and you can't take a step without running Into some game. I am surprised that the country has not been discovered , for If It were known It would be overrun with hunter * . " The Omaha Gun club will have an all-day Christmas ihoot on Its ground * across tbe river tomorrow. Live birds nd target * will , comprise the orosram. The ihootcri. bow * over i , will probably consider the main fraturo I of the card to be a turkey dinner which i will bo served during the middle ot the 1 day. Henry McDonald , Billy Townsend , Bill Hardln and "Welch" all had a share In the money that was put up at tbe ihoot held at j Columbus last week by the local gun club. The affair was very successful and drew a good I crowd of chooter * from different part * of ' the state. Burke , the Elgin shooter , ls doing some . tall hustling In an attempt to discover someone ono ! who Is willing to shoot him a race at live birds. Ho was In Omaha last week with a roll ot money to back himself , but failed to find any takers. Chicago shooters figure that they have won a , victory In the determination of the Inter state , Shooting Association of Shooter * to name : new purses for the Grand American handicap. ; The westerners have contended that i enough of the entries In this event have not been In on the money and have threat- cued , to withdraw unless this Is remedied. It Is reported that the directors have taken cognizance ot this remonstrance and have Inaugurated a system by which twenty-five out ot every 100 of tbe entries will be allowed In the purse. If this Is done , the four top scores , twenty-twos , twonty-threee , twenty- fours and twenty-fives , for Instance , will be sure of a share of the big purse. E. D. Fulford has challenged IlolTa Helkcs for the E. G. cup and the Inanimate chom- plonshlp at Inanimate targets. There le no question that Helkcs will accept the chal lenge , for he is bound to do so or forfeit his cfulm to the championship title. In the latest shoot for the cup last October , Hclkes won It from Gilbert. Attorney C. W. Brltt will present a bill to the IrgUfaturo according to which dogs will become personal property. THE WHEELING WORLD. Spirt ted CainiinlK'i for Control of the LcnKuc of American Wheel in on. The approaching election of officers of the League of American Wheelmeti Is not flkely to be as tame an affair as was pre dicted two weeks ago. Opposition to the Keeiian slate has appeared and its backers promise to glvo the Pcnnsylvanlan a lively run. Conway W. Sams of Maryland Is the new candidate for the presidency and his appearance In the Held provokes Irritation among the slatemakers. Sams it a leader of the Maryland division and has a fine record of continuous and successful Tabor for the welfare of wheelmen. It Is said that Sams will have the support of Potter , as ho has been one ot the leading lieutenants of Potter for several years and in that capacity ban rated as one of the shrewdest politicians of the league. He has teamed much , too , from bis astute New York friend , and his connection with the national com mittee has given him a wldo Icelght Into the workings of the organization. He ia a lawyer by profession and Is rated as one ot the leading members of the bar In bis home city of Baltimore. Some of the well-wishers of the league think that it would be well or the organization If there should not be iiuch of a wrangle for offices this year and that for that reason Sams would bo a good man a year later. According to an official of the league who Is befieved to have made a careful canvass of the situation neither side would have enough votes to win at the present time , and If Sams means busi ness bo will have < a vote almost equal to Keenan's , the result being left with a few doubtful Btatea which may be swung one day or the other. If this is true and if the erection can bo conducted on a friendly basis I It will be the most Interesting contest the league has over bad. Early next month the executive committee - tee of the League of American Wheelmen will hold a mall election to decide whether the next natlonar meet shall be held In Boston or Buffalo. Both cities have Invited the league to meet In the territory of each next summer and both are making personal appeals to the delegates for their votes. Pamphlets and other literature showing the respective merits of tbo cities have been circulated , and representatives have visited the larger divisions seeking their support. This endeavor to secure the honor of en tertaining the league next summer has been going on for over a year. At first Buffalo had decidedly the better of it , but recent developments have placed that city In al most a hopelces position , It Is said. The leaders In cycling circles in Buffalo have more than once shown their sympathy with the outlaw movement of the racing men , because the readers In the movement came from that city and again , Buffalo has lost a large proportion of Its league membership In the last year. On the other band , Boston has steadfastly stood by the league and baa Increased tta membership. On this showing the Boston workers expect to got the meet. Acting upon the presumption that the con- teat Is already settled In Its favor , Boston la making preparations for the affair. Com mittee * are being appointed and fares on the railroads lia\t been decided. As soon as the vote is announced , if It la In favor of Boston , tbo work will proceed on systematic lines. The New York division of tha league de cided by a vote of 38 to 8 to dispense with the State Racing board. It Is not known whether the division will support like action at the national assembly. The New York Tribune says there Is very little prospect of the league relinquishing race control , be cause it is extremely difficult to secure the necessary two-thirds vote for repeal. Mean while Chairman Mott Is piling up fines. The last bulletin shows that fines aggregating $5,000 have been Imposed on prominent amateurs and professionals whn took part In the elx-day race at Madison Square Garden , The league certainly does not expect to get I all this money , but Chairman Mott says that the men transgressed the rules and pay they must. The riders look upon the bulletin as a huge joke. A well known amateur when ho read the bulletin and saw that he had been fined $100 , smiled and said : "I don't i believe the riders will 1 se any sleep over i this latest move of Mr. Mott's. In year * to come Mr. Mott will be able to tell how he nearly made a lot of money for the League of American Wheelmen. " Prof. Rollo C. Carpenter of Cornell uni versity , known as ono of the mot expert mechanical engineers In the country , re cently completed a number of testa of a new process of manufacturing seamless gteel I tubing , writes the Ithaca correspondent of t the New York Press. So Important ere the ! results that It la announced that the cost of manufacturing bicycle tubing by the new process will bo reduced In tlili country about a half , while the durability of the tubing 5 will , at the same time , bo Increased. It Is believed that the discovery of this new process will revolutionise the blcyce tube Industry in the United States and will , directly affect the prices of wheel * In the coming aeaion. By means of it , It Is possi ble to make the very hlgbeit grade of seam less tubing out of ordinary American steel , costing about $35 a ton. Formerly It w s necessary to use Swedish eteel billets , coat ing about $125 a ton. In the last few months ttcso billet * have been quoted at exactly the same price wholesale that the finished tubIng - Ing Is sold at retail , and bicycle manufac turers weru expecting a rlso In the price of tubing next spring. As It li now , the price ot bicycles should be lowered , The fact that In France there Is a tax on cycle * makes It eaiy to collect itatlitlcs a * to the number of machines In the country. Tha returns , going down to the end of 1S97 i , show that there were then 408,869 bicycle * In tlm country , as compared with { 03,000 In 1591. The treasury licneuta to the extent of ' 181.000 n year by tha rage for cycling. Naturally - urally the department of the S ln conUlni the largest number of machines , nearly So- 000 , while the mountainous departments have the fewest. Thut In the Haute * Alpe * there are only 383 bicycles , Corsica comci at the bottom of the ll t with 133. The object of a new contrivance just pat ented in England Is to overcome any vibra tion or Jolting on rough road * . Th Inven tion consists of a steel plate or < tube with a hole to allow the laddlcbar to p ss through Into the down tube ot the cycle. Attached to the steel plate or tube Is a screw band for holding the saddlebar at the required height. Tha ste l plata or tube I * connected with the frame of the bicycle bother springs. " "CHESS. With the aid of members of the Nebraska Chess association a problem-solving tourna ment I * announced to begin with problem No. 63. Bach position will bo graded In proportion to Its difficulty and each person lending In a correct solution will be cred ited with the number of points offered on the position In question. The first person I whose score reaches fifty points will be de I clared the winner. Nelson Hald , Danno- brog , Neb. , has contributed $1.50 to be devoted - voted to a prize and a token will also be offered by this column. The matter Is an I nounced Informally and will be In the na ' ture of a preliminary skirmish to a more definitely arranged contest liter on. Solv- ' | era are Invited to express criticism In as few words as possible on each problem pub lished. Contestants will bo allowed two weeks on each situation. i Problem No. 63 , by Jan Dobrusky , eight I points for correct nolutlon In full ; those i sending partial solutions will be credited with the number of variations covered. White to play and mate in three moves BLACK. .WS ! P WHITE. The following notice to chess players has been Ireucd by tbe secretary of the Nebraska Chess association : Members of tbe Nebraska Che * * associa tion are herebv notified that It is desirable to have our second annual tournament begin as early as possible In January. Appropri ate prizes will be given , but at this time it Is Impossible to give particulars. Let each member who desires to enter this tou n- ment notify the secretary of the earliest possible moment. Chess players 01 t\u- braska who are not members ot the- associa tion are requested to correspond with the secretary with a view to berncilng members and taking part in the coming tournament. The first tournament Is now rapidly netuiug a close : it has resulted In some well played games and an Increased Interest In chess , as well as having brought about Increased ac quaintance and colee friendships among the members. CHARLES DB FRANCE , Lincoln. Neb. Secretary. Arrangements are about completed for a match between Kansas and Nebraska chess jtayers , probably eight on a side. For pur poses of competing the player * on each sldo will be ranked and each two contestants of equal rank will play two games , each hav ing the first move in one game. Messrs. Vos * . Ufford , Gibson , Molse , Parker , Hitchcock - cock and Bayless are already slated to up hold the dignity ot Kansas , and Messrs. Tyson , Hartzcll. Edwards , Hald , Barren , Rasmusten and Clark are mentioned as the knight * of Nebraska. Thomas C. Patterson of North Platte , Dorr H. Carroll of Gothenburg and John L. Clark of Albion have recently joined the Nebraska Chess association. At Davenport , la. , on December 20 Harry N. PHlsbury , champion American chess player , won six out of eight games , playing simultaneously and blindfolded. HI * op ponents were the best players In that vicin ity. W. A. Weld and Dr. E. M. Sala of Roch Island , 111. , won one game and J. V. Streed of Cambridge , III. , secured a draw. LABOR AND INDUSTRY. Great Britain Imports 75 per cent of its wheat. More than 4,600 men are occupied in Grand Rapid * In the manufacture of furniture. Before the war Cuba contributed about one-twelfth of fill 'the ' tobacco used In the world. In the United States 390,000 cubic feet of pine are used annually in making matches The imports of coal into Germany In the first olght months of Uils year were 3,655.476 tons. tons.The The Industrial cordage factory at Merlda Mexico , has an order from London for 4,000 tana of binder twine. A model farm on the American plan n < run with American machinery , stock ant methods is about to be established by a Chinese mandarin who lives near Shanghai Most people suppose that the use of snuf In obsolete , but 'the ' statistics presented by the commissioner of Internal revenue show there is a steady and large Increase in the production and sale of that article. New Albany , Ind. , has a federal labor union composed of printers , clgarmakers nm Iron tnolflors. 3 a result of a visit tj tha city by James Wood , the organizer of the Ctgarraakers' International union. Honolulu bananas are now being rccclve < at Seattle , from whftice a direct service now runs to Hawaii. Previously that territory got Its supplies from South America via New Orleans. Prior to 1839 Virginia was the greatest tobacco producing state , the annual yield bflni ; 122,000,000 pounds. The present yield of Virginia Is approximately only BO 000,000 pounds per annum. Succeeding the civil war , Kentucky 'took first place In tobacco , and holds It with an annual yield of up ward -of 225.000,000 pounds. The greatest scarcity of skilled workmen ever known in tbo history of window gloss Industry of this country Is now being ex perienced , and as the season advances nnd the additional furnaces now under coimtrue- tlon are put In operation the scarcity , par- tlcularly of blowers , will be even more cp- parent. Already the contest for men has be- gun , by manufacturers offering Inducements to men employed by other firms to come to them. , Near Tampa , Fla , , there Is an Industry that ' Is pursued nowhere else In the world that of growing tobacco under cover. Only one firm at Tampa haa adopted the plan , and I "It la found wonderfully satisfactory. " An j acre or more In a patch u covered with cheese cloth stretched on framework , which holds It ten feet above the ground , The clnth also run * around the patch. It affords protection trora heavy rains and from winds that would Injure tbe plants , and beautiful leaves are so raised. Machinery and Apparatus which coat the French $75,000,000 are trow strewn along the line of the Panama canal In a distance of ' about forty miles. Tbrre are dredgt > s by Uio hundred brought from Belgium and Franco at an expense of $1E > , OUO each ; great steam cranea brought by the shipload from Birmingham at a cost of $1,000 each ; roll- road cars , thousands of steel rails , heaps if railroad tools , steel cable * and other things ; that cost small fortune * twelve years ago , I and all are now useless and burled In dirt and rust. I What Is commonly known as heart disease < Is frequently nn aggravated form of dys- pepila. Like all other diseases resulting from Indigestion , It can bo cured by Kodol Dyspepsia Cure , It cures the worst form * ot dvenenila. It dUests what you eat. iOSIU LATH INVENTIONS. In a newly designed folding umbrella th * lower portions of the rib * are attached to Bloovc * sliding on the upper parts , with the brae * * faaiciied to th deevcs to fore * them outward as the umbrella I * opened. Napkin * can bo readily attached to the clothing by a new device formed of circu lar spring band , with clamp * folded In on * ildo one of which receives the edge of the napkin and the other engage * the coat lapel. A door knob has been patented for uie on ofllco doors , composed of a dial set In th * face ot an ordinary knob , with adjuntabl * hands on it to be set by turning the knob until they indicate the hour ot the user' * return. To prevent pencils from slipping out of the pocket a rubber cylinder ha * been de signed , with soft rubber ring * arranged on Us surface to catch on the Inside of the pocket when the devloo is placed on the head of a pencil. Doors can be easily kept closed by ft nrw spring attachment formed of an expansible spiral spring fastened at one end to the door frtme , with n cord running from the other end through pulleys to the top of the door , the spring stretching when the door Is pulled open , A railway spike has been designed which will not pull out and allow th * rail to turn , a slot being cut In the spike near the head , in which an auxllllary spike Is Inserted at nearly right angles to be driven Into the tlo and fasten the main stilke In place , An Ohio Inventor has patented a carpet fastening which does away with the use of tacks to hold the carpet In place , a metallic border being Inserted under the edge of the baseboard and bovine clamps along Its outer edge In which the carpet la fastened after being stretched. For use in washing women's hair a new device Is formed of a tin trough with an ox- tension on one side , which can bo attached to a common chair , with a slotted portion to fit over the neck and prevent the water from getting on the clothing. A Hungarian has patented a doll which 111 blow soap bubbles , an expansible rub- cr bulb Inside Iho body being depressed at he back otter the tube extending from the louth is dipped in the water , blowing air trough the tube and expanding the film at lie end of the tub ? . An adjustable bed has been designed which can be altered to Ot long or chart > crsons , the side rails telescoping and carry- UK a cog mechanism by which the foot- x > ard can be pushed out to the dltlred ength , a chain gearing being run by a crank o turn 'tho ' cogwheels. JAI'ANUSU SANTA CI.AUS. The Feast of Hotel Similar to tbe Cbrlitlnn Festival. The Japanese little folks know nothing ot ho mysterious joy * of Chrl tmatlde , but h * name of Hotel , a celebrated Chtncio irleat , who was kind to children , signifies o tbe Japanese boys and girls , in a meas ure , what Banta Claus does to Young Amer- ca. Hotel is represented with an Immense sack , gathering good things for hla young rlouds. He Is said to have eye * in tne jack , of bis head and to be able to see around corners , thus finding out whether the little ones are good or naughty. The Japanese New Year was formerly a moveable festival like that of the Chinese , mt It Is now celebrated on a date corresponding spending to our first of January. This is a day of universal rejoicing with both old and young. The ceremony of mame-makl , a lean-throwing , Is a leading feature In the ireparatlon for thl * holiday. There U a superstition prevalent among the Japaneie that there may bo evil spirits in the houie which must be driven out before the dawn of the New Year. Accordingly , on the last night of the old year the house Is swept and cleaned and the windows and doors hung 'with ferns. Then the house-father , arrayed In hi * very best clothe * , goes through all the rooms ; the little ones of th * family , undismayed at the thought of pos sible hobgoblins , skipping ( ally after kta. He has provided himself with a quantity of dried beans and these he throw * into the corner and recesses , crying aloud : "On4 wa soto , fuku wa uchl. " ( Demon * depart , good luck enter ) . The young folks join joyfully In tbe cry , frolicking and Uughlng till the tour of the house is completed and toe horned demons and other evil spirit * wno are supposed to 'have ' a great aversion to beans have made their escape through the open door. 77" Is Dr. Humphreys' Cure for Colds that "hung on" nnd GRIP A chill is as a rule the first symptom. This is followed by pains In the limbs and a cough. Then If the Grip Is not checked Pneumonia follows. Those who overwork themselves and live Irregular lives are the ones most liable to fall victims. My advlco to these who get their feet wet and are forced to remain out ot doors Is to keep continually moving and take " 77. " A Cold can be avoided In this manner. . " 77" not alone "breaks up" the Cold , but It fortifies against taking Cold. At druggists or sent prepaid ; price , 25o and 60c ; large pocket flask , $1.00. DR. mi.MIMIKIJVS' HOOK SKNT FREE. Humphreys' Mcd. Co. , Cor. William and John Sts. , New York. Bo sure to get HUMPHREYS' Best and Cheapest Route TO NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA Lf HIGH VALLEYRAILROAD VIA NIAGARA FALLS. Illustrated descriptive matter mailed free on request. C , A. PARKER , N. W. P. A. , 218 So. Clnrk St. , CIilnuKO , III. Name nn nlliuont tlmt can not bo cured In 24 hours attlic new Hygiene Institute , If you can. You Can Not ifSi l blnmo but yourself If you ara til. The lean and the fat are both made plump. Aches nnd pains there are no more. The process Is electrical and very simple , when wo know how. Ladles only are admitted. Bn- trance 2'20 lice building , Omaha.