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About The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1907)
rr - 4 Curve Balls v a The Spit Ball the Rise Ball c Fade Away Ball and Other Mfcrvefs o the Nationa1 Game jWfey a New Curve Is a Bonanzcu By FREDERICK R TOOMBS HOW THE SPIT BALL IS nELD ASEB ALL pitch B ers find the study of the phenomena of curve balls a most Inter esting as well as val uable pursuit It was the discovery of the curve that gave base ball much of Its im petus as a scientific sport and men spend years In seeking to develop new varia tions of it and new possibilities Those who successf illy demonstrate a new species of curve find ro difficulty in earning 5000 to 8000 or 10000 a year Considering that almost any major league pitcher can by careful living and judicious treat jtoent of his so called salary wing succeed In staying in the game for ten years It is seen that It Is almost as profitable to study ball curves as it is -to elect yourself president of the Unif ied States And so far as a corporation presidency is concerned the clever pitch er for a big league team makes prac tically as much money and runs far less Tisk of going to jail Among the new curves are what have become known as the spit ball the rise ball and the fade away ball The spit ball is probably more disconcerting to batsmen than any oth er curve because it is said to break -or curve in at least two different direc tions and in such a manner that not even the man who delivers It can ac curately gauge just how it is going to act The spit ball is grasped in the middle of the pitchers palm with the yV V V i v V - a v v - 4 v WWJVVM it sjtmm iXrte Jfc A rsyiiKvWrSSt s K t v - KwSn BtBr vNv SSJSS ftV A Jaw acC jA fJwX Sa ft HOW PITCHERS HOLD THE BALL IN THROW ING CURVES At the topi ready for an Incurve or shoot In the middle an out curve or shoot at the bottom a drop thumb and all the fingers extended as far around it as they will go The pitcher moistens with his tongue hence the name of the curve one or two of his fingers so that these fingers exert practically no pressure on the ball and then throws it with all the force that he can muster and yet be reasonably accurate The fingers that -were not moistened exert pressure on the sides of the ball so peculiarly as -to make the revolutions of the ball vary in direction during its flight and so the two different curves during one flight of the ball are produced The initial cut in this column shows how the ball is held by the pitcher who de livers the spit ball This photograph and the others used in illustrating this article were specially posed for by Joseph McGinnity of the New York National league team The rise ball Is the result of of men who have for years been trying to perfect an up curve or up shoot While pitchers could produce without much difficulty in curves outs drops and out drops they could not for many years make a ball rise as it went over the home plate The Inshoot is delivered by sending the ball away over the ends of the in dex and middle fingers Jt is the revolving of the ball on its axis that makes it curve or to be more accurate that leads to Its curv ing The ball that revolves swiftly from left to right offers more resistance to the air on its left side than it does on its right so the ball swerves to the risfct or in toward the batsman The outshoot is delivered by sending the ball away over the side of the fore finger and when the ball is released -e back of the hand is turned down vrarti Now the ball revolves from right to left and so It swerves to the left or out from the batsman he drop can be delivered In two or Ciree different ways and In most cases -the ball Is held just as for an out- cnrre but It Is frequently let go with -more of a snap and always with the ttact of the pitching hand turned to -the right or partly to the front so as to nfske the ball revolve away from the febHer and with its axis at right an- gtes to the course It pursues to the plate HBWWUPIWlUi A 1V10DEW MEBTOD Annetto Kellerman Champion Woman Swimmer and Her Adventures There are no mermaids now except In variety shows and fairy stories but Annette Kellerman the champion wo man swimmer of the world comes pret ty near to being one She Is almost as much at home In the water as on dry land Miss Kellerman recently came to this country from England to meet the expert swimmers of the United States She Is of practically perfect physique with tapering wrists and ankles olive complexion and gray eyes which light up a winsome face She Is of Australian birth but her mother was born in America of French par ents Miss Kellerman is twenty one B tGzzVitwr3rifii jWm MIS8 KELLERMAN AND A SNAPSHOT Al HER WHILE SWIMMING and has been an expert swimmer from childhood Last year she made a new record on the Danube swimming twenty-three miles in 3 hours 11 minutes and 20 seconds She has had some amusing experiences in the water but the most unique was whon during her attempt to swim the English channel in 1905 a man proposed to her In re lating the story Miss Kellerman said Bather a unique place for an offer of marriage I call it my channel proposal A well known swimmer and a very fine one too paced me dur ing my swim After a half hour or so of silence to my great amusement he turned suddenly and said We go very well together in dou ble harness dont you think and forthwith made me a proposal of mar riage Surprised Yes but more amused I think I told him I pre ferred waiting until I saw him out of the water as I would never marry a little man I met him after at the supper given in my honor and found he was of short stature so I declined his flattering offer A WELCOME BOY Queen Victoria of Spain and Her Gift to Alfonso of an Heir Great preparations were made for the heir to the Spanish throne who has just arrived Queen Victoria made King Alfonso a very proud papa when she presented him with a bouncing boy Although a girl would have been welcomed a boy in this particular in stance was much more desired If the little prince lives to succeed his father on the Spanish throne it will be the fulfillment of the present young mon archs most ardent wish In conse quence of the importance of the birth of an heir the king himself issued an official proclamation shortly before the event was expected giving explicit di rections as to all ceremonies connected therewith The decree began thus In order that the ceremonies which must take place In connection with the ap proaching accouchement of my dear and beloved spouse when the Almighty per- QTTEEN VICTORIA OF SPAIN mlta that so happy an event shall be real ized may be carried out with all the cus tomary solemnity I make this decree Then followed directions as to the dignitaries who should attend the pre sentation of the heir Article 5 read In order that the Inhabitants of the most heroic town of Madrid may know without delay whether the newly born child is a prince or an infanta thero shall be hoisted in the first caao the Spanish flae over that part of the royal palace known as the Punta del Diamante and there shall be fired a salute of twenty ono puns at the customary places In tho sec ond case the flag shall be white and the Baluto shall be fifteen guns Should the birth take place at night a light of the ipproprlate color shall bo placed beneath the flog Wit nd Humor of BEN TILLMAN U1 NDER the old Idea of Till man as the typical Are eater he is about the last man that would be suspected of any thing so genial as humor That con ception of him Is now becoming some what modified or possibly he is be coming mellowed himself At any rate a rich vein of wit has been found in the South Carolina senator though his thrusts are somewhat rough and sav age like the man When Tillman was governor there was a revolt against his famous liquor dispensary law He called out the militia and the members of one com pany tendered their resignations The governor dismissed them In a charac teristic letter closing as follows You can depart to your homes You do not deserve it but I will pay your hotel bill and trust that I may never be bothered with any more such band box and holiday soldiers In his first speech In the Si nte the South Carolina man paid his re pcts to President Cleveland in rather savage fashion He recounted how he had come to Washington as governor to attend Clevelands inauguration stand ing out for several hours in a drizzling rain to see the first Democratic execu tive since the war Then Tillman raised a laugh by vehemently exclaim ing God forgive me for being such a fool It was some time before this that Tillman had made the thrust at the president which fastened on the South Carolinian the sobriquet of Pitchfork Ben It was as follows But if I go to the senate I promise that I will use a pitchfork in the presi dents fat old ribs At another time Senator Tillman ex claimed I would rather go to hell with my followers than to heaven with the oth er crowd To a Columbia audience in his own state he said This is the fifth time Ive tried to poke some sense into the heads of you people but I suppose you dont want it and I think you had bet ter beat your drums and stampede like a lot of cowards as you did the second time I came here Later at the same meeting You are a set of old fossils and 3ou can go to the devil in your own way I dont want your votes This is rather grim humor it must be admitted Of a somewhat gentler quality is the following giveu at the time of his row with his colleague Senator McLaurin A young reporter was gathering statistics as to the fa vorite recreations and books of Wash ington notables When the South Carolina man was approached he look ed the reporter over quizzically and re plied Every one knows my favorite recre ationhaving fun with McLaurin My favorite book is If Christ Came to Congress The reporter thanked him and asked where Senator Depew might be found Why said Tillman Chauncey is in Europe but he continued with a sly gleam in his one eye I can give you the information you seek De pews favorite recreation is playing penuchle and his favorite author is E P Roe Can you tell me his favorite work Certainly Senator Depews favor ite work is Opening a Chestnut Burr Senator Tillman dropped into the war department one day to see Secretary Taft See here exclaimed the secretary who had just assumed spectacles see here what 3011 have driven me to with your attacks on my character and mo tives You have forced me to take to glasses Well responded Senator Tillman I hope sincerely it will enable you to see the constitution now The South Carolina man got dry fun out of the rate bill fight When Aid rich accused him of abandoning his own measure when the Hepburn bill was placed In his charge Tillman re sponded I never deserted my baby but the senator from Rhode Island insisted upon putting his own dress upon it That was distasteful to me and the bantling is sleeping peacefully Then some one dropped another kid in my house and I am holding it I wont deny that I am suspicious of the pa ternity of the brat and of the brat itself During one of the daily colloquies that occurred between the two Senator Spooner said The last cartoon I saw of the sen ator from South Carolina represented him as down in the straw and being kicked by the Democratic donkey The last one I saw said Tillman represented me as riding the donkey with the Republican elephant tied to its tall Whats before the senate anyway Mr President demanded a senator during a lull one day I am before the senate Seuator Tillman declured without a smile 0 BARTLEY Kev and Mrs Hageman W F Mil ler and daughters Maud and Blanch left on No 12 Tuesday morning to the Epworth assembly at Lincoln Tuesday morning George Light and wife of Trenton left on 12 for Bethany Nob to attend the ministerial institute of the Christian church Many Bartley people visited the Chautauqua at Cambridge Sunday and greatly enjoyed the address of Col Ham of Georgia A J DeArmond was a McCook visit or Sunday Albert Price of Ash Creek and sister Minnie of Canada visited Tuesday with Mr and Mrs Charles McKnight New wheat is coming to the elevators every day Fine grain testing 60 to 63 pounds per bushel The lumber yard is tho busiest place in town and the elevators a close second Several barns granaries and new farm houses will be buile within tho next six weeks Dr Arbogast returned to Bartley Saturday and resumed practic Monday to the satisfaction of his large pat ronage Dr McKechnie of Indianola has been attending Bert Young for several days following an operation for strangulated hernia Harvey Athey of Wauneta was a Sunday visitor in Bartley The new boxes for the postoflice have arrived and will be in place in a short time The Star routo from Bartley to Leb anon was discontinued Aug 1 and a rural route will begin soon W E McKillip took out a bill of of paint and oil Wednesday to repaint Lyman Jennings property he recently purchased James Greswell living north of Bart ley had two horses killed and another one injured Wednesday by freight No 76 Mr Greswell had just unloaded at the Farmers Elevator and left his team stand without being tied as No 76 came along the horses became fright ened and ran around the crossing where one was killed the other went down the track seven hundred yards and then was killed Bartley elevators are paying 40c for corn and 75c for new wheat this week Mr 11 A Gaardo of Minden and MrC Sorgenfrey of Durant Iowa were here this week visiting Mr Sorgen f revs son Harry whoisaissistant cash ier of the Bartley bank The Farmers Elevator shipped 15100 bushels of corn and five car loads of hogs this month Mr Salleckof Albion Neb is here to look after his farm interests DANBURY The Haskell Indians played ball with the Danbury nine last Monday The score stood 8 to 0 in favor of the Indians W J Stilgebouer was a Kanowa visit or Wednesday evening Misses Dora Mary and Katie Green way Alma Noe and Alta Morgan are at tending institute at McCook this week The Western Comedy Co gave a play in the hall Monday evening It was considered a pretty good play by the most of the people It was a home talent company from Atwood Clifford Burbridge of McCook was a Danbury visitor Monday Rev and Mrs Fred Hall were McCook visitors Sunday and Monday Rev Hawkes of McCook filled the pulpit in the Congregational church last Sunday Miss Sofia Lord of Indianola visited relatives in this place last week Miss Nina Jones of Indianola was a guest of Alma Noe a few days last week Mrs Bert Toley was a guest of Mrs Daisy Robinson Monday Grandma Vanvleet is stiil very poorly J L Sims shipped two car loads of hogs Sunday night BANKSVILLE C G Towle returned to Broomfield Saturday on No 1 John H Wesch finished harvesting Saturday Walt Blunck was recently thrown from his pony into the barb wire fence and badly cut up about legs and breast He is getting along nicely at this writ ing The Grant boys went down to Hend ley to cross bats Wednesday on No 5 Score 9 to 14 in favor of Hendley There is some magic that draws Ed Towle to August Weschs about once a week Gust Blunck is a new pitcher for the Grant ball team nine COURT HOUSE NEWS COUNTY COURT Marriage licenses since last report William C Vogt 20 and Johanna Clamp 20 both of McCook Married July 31 by county judge Emory C Metheny 26 and Winona Kelley 19 both of Cambridge Mar ried August 1 by county judge MHdhWIfeMWIMW 4fe BtaHWWP nsAsAlvfvvvvv cThin Quite a number went from this place to Cambridge to attend the Chautauqua during the week Miss Lou Jaynes is reported as being very sick at her home south of town Bernard Ilillers baby was quite sick for a few days last week but is getting along all right now Mr and Mrs Louis Sargent have a brand new baby at their house W A Dolan is the owner of an auto mobile purchased this week Quite a crowd from Indianola went to Cambridge Saturday night to hear the Kilties The infant child of Fred Hughes is slowly improving from its late illness J C Puckett drove out to his farm southeast of town Friday and spent the day looking over his bountiful crop3 C S Quick shipped three carloads of cattle Saturday night Mr King shipped one Mrs Reasoner of David City was a re cent guest of her sister Mrs J W Wel born Mr and Mrs Jerry Noe of Danbury were Indianola visitors a few days last week Mr and Mrs James Ireland of eastern Nebraska who have been visiting friends north of town passed through this place Tuesday on their way to Kansas Andy Barber wife and son left Wed nesday evening for a visit with relatives in Pennsylvania Mrs Bird Mather of Iowa stopped off a few days last week for a visit with old time friends while enroute to Calif ornia Harry Lyons loft Wednesday evening for Iowa on a visit to his grandparents Hot weather Yes but we dont mention the weather in these parts It wouldnt be polite We distinctly aim at in this business is that every man who knows us or who reads our ads shall get the idea that this is the store for Quality In Merchandise Wed a good deal rather be known as the right place for good stuff than as a place where you get low goods for high prices We have a few Leftovers to sell at LOW price but we have New Goods coming in every day at standard prices It is always easy to quote CUT prices but it is what the price buys that COUNTS SV16bt INDIANOLA Weather still very warm Mrs J R Neal is very sick The sick folks at Elmer Thompsons are better Doctor Minnick was called to Cam bridge Thursday to attend his broth er who is seriously ill Mrs Green of McCook visited with Mrs Baxter from Saturday morning to Sunday evening Calvin Rollins left for Denver and oth er pDints in the west to be absent a week or two Mrs Gockley of McCook was the guest of Mrs Kerns and sister last Sun day J 1 fir 1 Am ait k d rS RED WILLOW From stumbling against a kettle of hot water little Blossom Longnecker has a very badly scalded foot Mr Hatcher still suffers with his foot where his horse hurt him about four weeks ago He will go to McCook to take treatments of Dr Finch ac companied by his daughter Mrs Krei der Mrs Jacob Longnecker and children returned to their home in Colorado after making a visit of four weeks with her sister Nellie Dr Finch was called professionally to see Mr Hatcher on Sunday Ho also called on friends with Mr and Mrs Moyerof McCook Mrs Bellairs sister of Indiana is making a visit here Threshing grain is on hand now making busy housewives Scarcity of garden stuff causes getting meal3 to be almost like the making of bricks with out straw of ancient days R F D Nol Walter Blunck who was so seriously injured recently is improving satis factorily He was thrown from his horse stepped on and dragged and severely injured about the legs Rev E Pleudemann of School Creek was the guest of Rev A Ramelow of Ash Creek Sunday and Monday Mrs Jacob Harsch was a visitor with her folks Joseph Downs Sunday and Monday Alfred Kennedy is homo during the illness of his father F M Kennedy John Breitlings little boy is very sick with typhoid fever Mrs Harry Lorenz of Canada is visiting her brother Al Price A fine shower in this locality Tues day night BOX ELDER A good rain would bo very acceptable just now Nearly everyone is busy now hunting up hands and getting ready to thresh J A Kerr is attending the Chau tauqua at Cambridge this week Mr3 W A Stone returned last Fri day from a weeks visit with her sister at Stockville Mrs Lydia Wray has been entertain ing a daughter and her husband from near Marengo Hayes county Mrs D n Montgomery was happily surprised last Saturday when her mother and brother drove in from near Guthrie Oklahoma V i P i ii s