Clipping:Another account of the failed match
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| Date | Sunday, October 7, 1866 |
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| Text | [Atlantics vs. Athletics 10/1/1866] There was witnessed on Monday last, on the Athletic grounds, the largest concourse of people ever assembled together at one time in this or any other city. We arrived on the ground at twelve o’clock, and then ladies were being permitted to enter and occupy seats reserved expressly for them. In a few minutes after this time the crowd began to enter and to occupy every available inch of standing room–and still they came. As far as the eye could reach down Columbia avenue and across the open space in front of the grounds, one steady stream of humanity was observable, pushing and jostling its way towards the desired spot. The Committee had no difficulty in preserving order, and the multitude “bore with patient resignation” the long delay, and we heard no complaints. Indeed, we never saw a better-humored assemblage; and remarkable as it may appear, there was no one we saw who gave signs of being under the influence of intoxicating drink. We felt like congratulating all assembled; and probably this would have been the result, but for the unprincipled action of a party of Girard House thieves and Continental blacklegs, who, wearing Atlantic badges, broke through the lines and set an example for others to follow. The field committee were powerless–the Atlantic were their honored guests, and of course this included the rag and the bobtail of Brooklyn, New York and Philadelphia. We have, in the course of the season, spoken our sentiments in reference to this promiscuous distribution of badges. Our Athletics and Keystones have suffered through the folly of it, and have ordered their respective committees to be careful upon whom they confer a badge of acknowledgment. The field was clear, and the crowd itself disposed to extend the courtesies of a fair field to the contestant, when was manifested by their keeping within the prescribed limits. Another mistake was in obligingly permitted females to walk across the field previous to and during lulls in the game. Ladies have no right to expect such courtesies, when the pleasure of twenty thousand people is thereby jeopardized. We trust that at the game to be played on the 22d inst., a new order of arrangements will be introduced. We have attended a great many matches on the Capitoline Ground, and saw some pretty large assemblages. We have never, from being of a delegation from this city, received any special privileges. We protest, then, against extending such favors to those who accompany nines, we care not where they come from, and particularly when the parties receiving them are citizens, and very respectable citizens, too, of this city. At two o’clock the scene was one of the most imposing ever beheld (the field still remaining clear). Away, a distance of three squares, was one impenetrable mass of human beings, and it was as bewildering a sight as we ever looked upon. Even the housetops and trees in the neighborhood had occupants, and one of our reporters counted twenty-seven persons on the roof of the old farm-house at Fifteenth street, and the avenue. ... The crowd began the encroachments noticed above, until there was scarcely room left for Signor Dockney to perform the duties which he does so satisfactorily. Efforts were made to induce the crowd to keep a respectful distance; but to our “experienced eye,” we saw that this was impossible, and that the jig was up. It did not take Mr. Bomeisler [the umpire] long to come to the same conclusion, and to the regret of thousands, many of whom had come a long distance to witness the sport, the game was called. As if by instinct, the masses caught the conclusion, and in the twinkling of an eye the field was literally covered with those whose eager curiosity had spoiled the sport. For an hour afterwards, several thousand people still hovered around the spot, expecting and confident that the game would be played on the sly. Dan Kleinfelder, Esq., mounted the reporter’s stand, and expressed a desire that they should visit a spot not far distant, wand where Dan hoped, in view of the disappointment, they would enjoy themselves. Following Mr. K., we were taken to a shady grove, where on the arrival of the Atlantics, a collation was spread to which the company were invited to do justice. Dan did the honors in an unostentatious way, and to the satisfaction, we presume, of every one–of course, excepting the bummer fraternity, who were out in strong numbers. The city was surrendered–or at least Chestnut street was–to the disappointed ones, by the result of the match. Up to midnight we could hear the wailing of the enemy, and the growls of the poor devils who had put their last cent in the way of betting upon the club that was bound to win. Several well-known characters, who had been prominent in bringing about just what occurred, were both demonstrative and boisterous. These fellows, by their own account, had stakes thousands of dollars upon the result. We doubted whether they had invested that many cents. |
| Source | Philadelphia Sunday Mercury |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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