Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 10, 1895, Page 11

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDPAY, MARCH 10, 189 11 TIME OF THE GUNNER'S IDYL A Bhort Dirquisition on Various Members of the Family of Wild Fowl, BREEZY GOSSIP WITH THE BASE BALL FANS With Trotter and Pacer~City League Meet- Ing—Wheel Whisperings and Local Sport of Al Shades and Kind HAT the wild fowl season Is about to be launched upon this section of the conuntry there re- mains but little doubt. Reports of arriving birds are coming in dally, and with a continu- ance of pl dy of the tnside ot asant birds two most ‘weather may be the main b looked for wecks, Already many of the fmpatient and ambitious hunters have been out, and while a few have succeeded in bagging a few lean pin tails, a stray mallard or two and a limited number of Hutchins geese and speckled fronts, the majority have met with naught but a “hunter’s luck.” The old standbys, however, who always keep their weather eye peeled for the one chance, ar in the main contenting themselves with their preparations for forays when the proper time comes. Boats are to be hauled out, over- looked and recalked; rubber boots to be patched, shooting duds to be mended, shells, guns and other accoutrements to be inspected and a hundred other interesting detalls to be attended to, all of which amounts to almost as much in the way of enjoyment to the truo sportsman as the active experiences in the marsh, The first ducks that south in the springtime are invariably the pintalls, (Anas Acuta). In the eastern states and even as far west as the Illinois river, this duck is called the sprig or spiketail, but out here he is known alone as the pin- tail. The period of his appsarance depends largely upon the weather, and he generally rides In on a storm of rain or snow or sleet, and this year he came with the rain storm we enjoyed ten days or so ago. = Later, when the signs of breaking weather are more dectded, he is to be found much in the com- pany of the mallard, the widgeon and the teal, although ho rarely makes a journey With any other than his own kind. = They ro a beautiful bird, and while not as gaudy the mallard, canvasback or redhead, he I8 every whit as graceful, and if it wasn't for the prevailing prejudice against him as to his table qualifications, he would be every bit as popular with the sportsmen. The pintail’s plumage is soft and mild, a har- monious blending of greenish browns, grays and dull yellowish lines. They make their seml-annual migration In immense flocks, fly- ing high and with immense velocity, They are a great bird for open prairie lands or vast expanses of shallow and mucky water, nd while this fs true in the main, they are 8o exceedingly fond of waters, whether standing or swiftly flowing, that are to be found in the varfous heavily timbered dis- tricts of the country. They are, like the mallard, fond of acorns, and will leave the water and march off in the woods a mile or more in search of this favorite and nutritious nut. The pintail is the least crafty of all the wild fowl, unless it be the repulsive poonbill, decoy splendidly and are the easiest killed of any of the duck family. In the Spring they are most always lean and ca- daverous, owing to their long journey north and their restless natures, but in the fall I have killed them as plump and tempting as the best fed mallard. They can fly longer Wwithout rest than any bird I know of, unless it s the wild goose and carrier pigeon, come up from the The mallard, canvasback, ruddy, widgeon, goldeneye, butter ball and teal are not long in the wake of the pintail, and when once these birds come in it will be but a short walt before the others come straggling after. The canvasback (Aythya Vallisneria), of course, is the king of the wild fowl family, monarch of both wave and sky. He Is larger by a pound or more than any of his congeners, and commonly rated as the great- est table bird in the world. It would cost you a five dollar bill for a broiled canvasback in John Chamberlain’s famous Washington restaurant today, and they often command as high a price as $20 a dozen, undressed, in the eastern markets. The ancient idea that the canvasback in all the glory of his gas- tronomic attractiveness could only be found along the Atlantic seaboard has long since been exploded. I have killed them on the Chesapeake, in Illionis and Wisconsin, but have yet to find them anywhere so plentiful a8 here in Nebreska, or of any finer quality. They are, next to the drake mallard, the handsomest bird of all, and an old cock is surely a thing of beauty and a joy forever. His head is elongated and sloping, of a rich cinnamon hue, while the body is compact, as shapely as perfection itself, and with his -colored * wings and _snow-white body kes a picture, indeed, for the sportsman’s eyes. The canvasback speed of wing bor- ders on the incredible. He can reel off his hundred miles an hour and seldom drops to & slower gait than half of this, when on even the most unpretentions errands. They are quick-sighted and extremely wary, and yet they decoy magnificently, especially to a large stool of counterfeits. They are hardy and rugged and necessarily dificult to kill, The redhead (Anas Ferina) is closely allied to this king of the waters, looks like him and acts like him, yet in construction and every other way s distinctly different. As to his table qualities he ranks favorably with the canvasback and mallard, indeed, properly served it would require a most thorough con- nolsseur to distinguish any one of these birds from the other. The redhead, too, has a move on him like a bullet, and the sudden arrival of a flock sometimes is almost enough to make a hiding gunner jump into the lake, The swish of their wings as they dart over blind and decoys is something remarkable. ‘The redhead Is a veritable gourmand. He dotes on wild celery, tender shoots and grasses, aquatic bulbs and smartweed and While his appetite is insatiable he is lazy and Indolent and would rather fight the canvasback and bluebill for a part of the barvest of their labors than hunt and work for it himself. It is in the spring that this bird visits this region the most plenteously. In the fall they are invarlably scarce. The mallard (Anas Boschas) Is not only the most famillar bird of all the wild fowl genus, and I might add, without fear of contradiction, the most popular among a large majority of sportsmen, and quite deservedly 80, too. They are not s large by a pound or two as the canvasback, neither are they as aglle on the wing as either the canvasback or the redhead. Still they can get on a respectable galt when they have a business object in view and can cleave the air with sufficlent celerity to sult the taste of the most fastidious gunner. They are one of the nondivers, excepting In very low water, and love to baunt the muddy shallows where the smartweed and other choice feed most bounds. They make most capital sport in such places, as they can be stalked within * easy range In their tangly covert and make beautiful shooting when jumped. They are also great decoyers and there is no bird shot from a blind that can take the glorlous mallard’s place. There 15 one species of shooting these birds that is unknown here, and that Is timber shooting, In the oak flats along the lovely Illinols and Kenk kee rivers this sport is usrivaled. They are inordinately fond of acorns, upon which they fatten quickly, and at the right time the timber shooting surpasses that of any other kind. Like the geese, they are also partial to feld feeding, and once the gunner strikes a favorite ground of this kind he is certain of a well filled bag. They are one of the most dellghtful table birde, and next to the canvasback is most sought after by the gourmets of the fashionable eastern restaur- ants. Generally, particularly in the fall, mallard shooting in this western country equals that of any region on the globe. Like the mallard, the green and blue- winged teal (Anas Crecca and Anas Discors) fs partial to low waters and muddy ewails, et the green-wiug frequently haunts the open waters, They fly like €0 many coming In with a suddenness that frequently disconcerts the man in the blind. They love to bask iIn the genfal sunshine, after gorging themselves witl the nutritious secds of the shallows, and lying well bunched up, often | afford the Insatiate gunner a pot shot as is a pot shot. 1In the fall of 89 an Omaha sports- man bagged thirty-five at a single shot up in one of the numerous holes at Honeyereek lake. This is rather a Munchausenish tale, but still it goes. The teal of elther variety makes one of the morceaux of the game | menu, incomparable, many think. Mike Dwyer, Herbert Hulin and Charlle Schaeffer, and they will all be here to revel in the smiles of the queen of the vernal sea- son. In just three more weeks from last night the Omaha team will have reported, and the weather being at all ausplicious, jump into active preliminary practice in the field. Cap- tain Walsh has always held that there is no drilling so effective in preparing a player for the champlonship season as actual work on the diamond. While he is too sensible not to acknowledge the beneficlal results of in- door gymnastics, hand ball and kindred calisthenics, he would give more for a day's good, honest work in an actual contest on the fleld than for a week’s devotion of this sort of excrclee. Joe has had a good deal of ex perfence under some of the grand masters of base ball physical culture, and his ldeas are not founded on the lines laid down in the books, but on a basis built from practical trial, and_ there will be nothing of the ex perimental in the handling of his men. Morn- ing and afternoon, daily, whenever the weather permits, he will have his men ar rayed against each other n actual contest from the date of their arrival here until the momentous afternoon when for the first time they will don their bran new uniforms of red and white and step upon the field for the initial etruggle with Quincy for the cham- plonship flag. The opening day comes on Thureday, May 2, but prior to this the team will be seen in exhibition games with Kansas City, Minneapolis, St. Joe and Lincoln, and these games will give the fans an opportunity to size the new men up and make their com parisons with the various teams which have represented Omaha in the past. The firs regular games will probably be between two teams made up of tha men signed, filled in with the city’s best amateurs, on Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7. The following Saturday Sunday Jimmy Manning's vall- ant Cowboys will be here, then Minneapolis, St. Joe and Lincoln in rapid succession. So April, notwithstanding it is not included in the championship bill, will offer quite a menu for the hungry cranks. That the local seasoh s bound o be a great ome there s but little doubt. Already the keenest interest is manifest and nothing but praise is heard from those who support the game for the management for the energy and discretion they have used in securing the team. Without a_doubt it is stronger in every way than the team of 1894, and is made up of a class of players, as a whole, vastly superior other ways than in playing strength to the outfit which fought, bled and died for the Gate City last year, and while Managers McVittie and Rowe are making no rash claims of their capabilities for capturing the pennant, they do assert that they will have a much better position when autumn rolls around than that achieved by the late lamented Rourke fam- ily. While it is incontrovertible that Omaha is better and faster than she was last sea- son, the same declaration holds good with the entire association. Every team evinces ‘additional strength, and the supposition is that the patrons of the game all along the line are to be treated to another rattling good season of the national game. The widgeon, or bald pate (Anas Ameri- cana), Is another one of the family that pos- sesses many of the characteristics of the | mallard, only he favors open water and rarely ventures within the uncertain depths of wood | or tangly morass. They are not gregarious | to any noticeable extent and are generally found singly or in paire, sometimes among | the mallards. 1 have scen bunches of fifteen | or twenty, but not often, and 1 hardly think | they make thelr migratory pilgrimages in flocks of any magnitude. Nevertheless they | are great breeders and are found plentifally from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Like the sprig, they frequent the open prairie in sea- sons of overflow, but are always wary and on the alert. They partake of the redhead's thieving nature, and are a source of incessant annoyance to both the canvasback and blue- bill. For the table he is not half bad. He has a good appetite always and is seldom met out of first class condition. In some lo- they are considered as much of a as redhead or mallard, although on account of thelr unostentatious plumage thelr market rating is always considerably below these birds, The bluebill 1s another numerous member of the family. He has many names. Here he is known by the name above, on the flats at St, Clair as the broadbill and in the east as the scaup or blackjack. They are fairly omniverous, the feed of the canvasback, mal- lard, teal, pintail or merganzer satistying them equally well. Snails and aquatic larvae, grass bulbs, sceds, mosses, wild celery or corn or acorns, it little matters just o there is enough of it. In habit they are much like the canvasback and are famous divers. Tough as pine knots and hardy as Arctic wolves,” they love boisterous and stormy weather, Swift flyers and much on the move, they furnish exceedingly rare sport when pléntiful. They decoy charmingly and for table usage are nearly up to the standard of teal or mallard. There are scores of other ducks visit our Nebraskan waters, and geese and crane and swan, too, but the ones ahove briefly touched upon are of the best known and most com- mon. At another time I may treat upon the rarer class of birds, those which are to be met with here, but with nothing like the fre- quency of those already described. Sam Richmond, the well known Clarks sportsman and goose killer, writes me that his camp on the Platte is now at the disposal of the hunters. He reports the geese and ducks coming in at a lively rate during the past few days and predicts splendid river shooting. The season will open up, to all appear- ances, with the most flattering prospects of success, Experienced and capable mana- gers are at the head of each team, and a repetition of last year's thrilling and brilliant chase for the coveted flag may be confi- dently looked for. While better and more sclentific work will doubtless mark the play- ing of the various teams this year, one thing is certain, and that is no closer or more exciting race than that which has made last season memorable need be expected. Tho race of 1894 was without a parallel in the history of the great sport in a big or little league. Wit the single exception of the misfit Yellow Boys of Quincy, every team in the association had a chance to win the pennant up to the last week of the contest, and_every team had been, at one time or another, at the top of the heap. It was a continuous vacillation from first to last, as for months the winning or losing of two or three successive games would ad- vance the tailenders to the leaders' position or vice versa, particularly versa. St Joe cut the pace at the opening of the struggle and maintalned it just long enough to give the other cities a robust scare, then she took a tumble, and Lincoln, Jacksonville and Omaha juggled first place for a few weeks between them. During the latter half Rock Island began to demonstrate alarming power, and near the end she gained the front rank, and though sorely pushed, she maintained it to the end. Instead of going to pieces in the middle of the season, every club was Kkept intact throughout, and every club, with two exceptions, quit the season with a balance on the right side of the‘ledger. This year's circuit In- “ludes all the old cities excepting Rock Is- land, who was ousted for unfathomable rea- sons to make room for Rockford. — How- ever, it is hoped that it is all for the best, and that the pessimists will all be forced up on the hind seats before the dog days reach us. With conservative and careful management, an unswerving adherence to the salary limit, a strict enforcement of all the rules of the association, and with the same good ball playing, even a more suc- cessful season than the last one may be before us. S. B. Raynard, a popular and well known sportsman of Grand Island, has just put one of the best decoys on the market ever manu- factured. They are made of waterproof paper and are very light and easy to transport. The heads of the birds are wooden and fit in the neck, and, running through, form a support. The birds are reversible; that is, a Canada goose on one side and a white goose on the other, and either can be used at pleasure. They are well painted and are un- doubtedly a splendid decoy. Sanford K. Brown of Jackson, this state, and indisputably one of the greatest field shots in the country, was in the city yester- day. He states that there were more quail frozen in the northern part of this state this winter than has been destroyed in this way during the past five years. Whole covies were found huddled together and frozen hard as rocks. En passant, while shooting last fall, Mr. Sanford killed an albino quail, which he 'had the Gilbert Bros. mount, and of which he Is very proud, as it is the only white quail he has ever met with in his long career as an ardent sportsman. — Materlal Improvements will be made at the shooting grounds of the Bemis Park and Omaha Gun clubs this spring. These grounds, as is generally known among the lovers of the trap, are conveniently and pleasantly located on the Towa side of the river, some 300 or 400 yards from the end of the big bridge. These grounds are probably the best and most accessible, everything considered, that the gun clubs could secure, but they have always had one drawback, and that is the meager accommodations for spectators. At the recent matches between J. C. Read and J. J.,Hardin and George Nicolai, and the Omaha and Council Bluffs team _shoot, there were fully 1,000 people assembled there to witness the sport. Out of this 1,000, how- ever, possibly a score of two found seats or even an advantageous position from which to watch the battles of the hammerless, while the whole crowd, including the con- testants, were subjected to more or less danger from the reckless scalpers who always surround the boundary line on the occasion of a live bird shoot. Luckily, so far, there have been no acci- dents from this source, and the club man- agements have resolved that there shall be none. The club house is to be materially enlarged, with a plate glass front occupying the eastern end and facing the range, afford- ing members an opportunity to view the con- tests with ease and comfort on days of in- clement weather. The shooting grounds themselves are to be ploughed, rolled and packed, and a flooring put down half way to the traps in the live bird department, the same as now exists on the target area, and around the whole grounds a tight board fence is to be erected just beyond the boundary liries. This will afford the man- agements a sourco of revenue, as a small admission fee will be charged to all outsiders on the occasion of special or regular shoots. This move is not made, however, with any mercenary view, but simply to exclude the pestiferous scalper and objectionable char- acters who are sometimes attracted thither by such events, President Kent has officially promulgated the following playing roster ‘of each club, and while it does not include the full comple- ment of players gathered in by the respective managements it is sufficient to give the impatient fan a pretty good estimate of the calibre of the association: Omaha—Managers, Rowe captain, Joe Walsh; players, George Carish, Frank Donnelly, G Darby, Ed Miles, Con Whalen, Joe Slagel, Ed Hutchison, George Ulrich, Mike Dwyer, Herbert Hulin and Charles Schaeffer. Lincoln—Manager and captain, Hiram Ebright; players, Van Buren, Meyers, Speer, Hill, Taylor, Kimmer, Hollingsworth, Barnes, Simons, Sullivan, Cole, Gragg and Fisher. St. Joe—Manager and captain, Harry Gate- wood; players, Harry Hote, Pat Zeigler, Arthur Creighton, C. A, Macum, Ed Logu W. B. Douglas, J. McKenzie, Burt Matum, George McVey, Tom Ramsey, M. Burt, Stat Lincoln, C. B. Jones and Al Beal. Des Moines—Manager and captain, Willlam Trafey; players, Jim Purvis, McFarland, Andrews, Figgemeyer, McKibben, Holmes, Percy Grifin, Letcher, Kid Mohler, Me- cker and Nicol. Ve eonville—Manager and captain, Henry Aydelotte; players, Caplinger, Swartz, Knep- per, Belt, Johnson, Ayge‘lal, Hanley, Me- irk, Deveney, White, Zels. q‘aulxu'y—hlnnuzer. G.'W. Brackett; captain, sam LaRoque; players, Willlam Hines, J. McCormick, Ed Hickey, J. B. McGreevy, P. J. Rowcliffe, W. H. Horne, Charles Farrell aniel Boland. o o Mahager, Charles Flynn; captain, | Jos Cantillion; players, Dick Collins, A. Fischer, Bob Emmerke, H. Clifford, George Hansen, George Nulton, Tom Thomas, Willie Brown, Frank Haller, George Flynn, Harry T. Bennett, Tom Francls, Dave Selsler and Al Mauck. Rockford—Manager _and captain, Hugh Nicol; players, Ed Pabst, Tom Fleming, Frank Snyder, Fred Underwood, J. Kling, Tom McCarthy, P. Flaherty and I D. Dolan, and McVittie; Pete Lohman, George 1, Reports come in from Cody that there is a man up there who is going to make the chicken and grouse hard to find this sea- son, If he is not sat down upon. He came into Cody the other evening with six dozen grouse, and was hunting a market for them. Here is a good subject for the Omaha gun clubs to make an example of. My in- formant writes that he thinks this law- breaker shipped his game to Omaha, An attempt was made to learn his name, but it was unsuccessful, but it was learned that he would be back the latter part of this week with another batch of birds, and if he is, a determined effort to bring him to time will be made. The new game bill, which passed the senate last week, was but slightly amended or changed. To section 1, forbidding the killing or trapping of insectivorous birds at any time was appended “except for scien- tific purposes.” Section 2 was amended by adding, “and it shall be further provided that it shall be un- lawful to kill wild quail for a period of three years from the 1st day of October, 1895." A wise amendment To section 7, with reference to disturbing wild fowl eggs, was added, “except for scien- tific purposes.” Section 8, protecting squirrels, was made to include all timber species of this kind. Section 11, providing for a close season for furbeariug animals, was expunged en- tirely. Section 12, devoted to the protection of fish, and which reads, “It shall be unlawful for any person in the state of Nebraska to {njure or harm any fish in any public waters in the state, or in the Missouri river along the boundaries of this state,” was changed by striking out ‘“or in the Missourl river along the boundaries of this state.”” It also changed the fish clause, confining the mode of catching fish to line and rod, to include spearing, and dams for irrigating purposes alone may be maintained. A Constant Reader has once more been heard from. I was much afraid that he was going to forget The Bee or had been run in as the father of the cleomargarine bill, but he rises large as life for information, thusly COUNCIL BLUFFS, March 5—To the Baso Ball Editor of The Bee: Please state in next Sunday's Bee if Buck Ebright is not the best all around ball player in the West- ern assoclation. If not, who is and also how long has Buck been playing ball? Also where can I get Emmet Seery's book on ball playing? Dear Constant Reader—In reply to your first question, I must say that opinions differ. Buck Ebright thinks he is, but nearly every- body else thinks he isn't. A whole lot of people think that Charlie Schaeffer, Kid Mobler, little Hollingsworth, Mattie McVicker, George Ulrich and many others are better all round players than Buckerino. Hiram, however, is all right. Replying to your second query, 1 would refer you to the Lon- don Times Publishing company, Printing House square, London, England. The old orange merchant wanted too much money for his MS and no American house would touch it with a ten-foot pole. The London Times, however, jumped at the chance to get Mr Seery's work, and I see by a cablegram that they have just received two tons of it by the last ship over. It is expected that Em- mit's book will knock the Trilby sensation into a cocked hat, and you will show your wisdom by gelting your order in early, Has it ever occurred to the crank that both the Western league and the Western asso- Palaver with the Ball Players. Dressed to death in her new suit of green, and with her bonnet covered with daffodils and crocuses, Gentle Annie, the dear, giddy old girl, will soon be here. And she will not come alone. She bas made many new mashes during the winter months and she will be followed here by a gang of married and single men that will set the whole town agog. There 1s Josephus Walsh, the boy with the troplcal hair, he's stuck on Gentle Annle, and 50 is Eddie Hulchison, Grasshopper Ulrich, Georgle Carish, Frank Donnelly, George aerial sprites, decoy but moderately ""'l Darby, Con Whalen, Eddie Miles, Joe Slagel, | clation at thelr winter meetings fired thelr pennant winners? Well, thex aid, and it furnishes one of the most, unique and an- omalistio pages in the history of the game. First the Western league held, fts meeting at Chicago, and after a brief, the city that had won the. frst honors in its last year's race out Info the cold world Then the Western associat , not to be out- done by itg measly riya dt at Jagkson \lfi‘u mlu'l &[\]v\ll‘ %n: No. 10 to the funds.- mental_basis of the champlofs of its cir- cult. Thus were the pennant Winners hopped upon by the ragtag and bobtail of two base ball associations whom they had walloped ingloriously on the field of édntest and over whosa proud_ habitats the emblem of victory floats, and blotted from 'the face of the carth. ~ Well, that may b'@ ‘good thing, T don’t think. It base ball ‘dfsociations can't get rid of their pennant winfefs in any other way than by giving them'the grand fire, then it is time that they select the weakest club in their ranks to bestow the honor on. Give them the flag and the bounce to boot, and everybody will be satisfied. But to give the strongest club the /inky-dink smacks too much of cowardice, and the fans are entitled to execute the can-can act, Once more for the convenience of the fans the holiday cchedule is given: Decoration day, Omaha at Peoria, Lincoln at Quincy, Des Moines at Jacksonville and St. Joe at Rockford. Fourth of July, Quincy at Omaha, Rockford at Lincoln, Jacksonville at St. Joe and Peorla at Des Moines. Billy Sharsig, the old war horse of the league and American association, writes me that Omaha has captured one of the most promising fielders in the country iIn Siagel. He rates him the equal of the cream in the field of the Western league last year and better than anything we had in our as- soclation, As a_sure catch, thrower and runner he says the German can’'t be well improved upon, and he is also good on the lines and at the bat. There 1s talk of Milwaukee sending old Papa McAuley to the stable, and if this is done Larry Twitchell will take up his posi- tion at first, During a visit to the Charles street grounds last Wednesday Manager Rowe looked over the club house with Captain Walsh, and at the latter’s solicitation promised to turn the present wash and bath room into a sweating room, where the players can resort after practice or a game on the field on a cold day this spring, strip off and have a rub down without danger of catching cold, as was the case last season. Papa Bill Rourke is at the head of the Bloomington, 111, Interstate league team. Papa Bill will profit by his experience here last season and before going Into a game over in the Illinois swamps will have a little ginger injected where it will do the most good. As a ball player Pa came pretty nearly burning up the world last season. Captain Walsh fs making no boasts or in- dulging in any prognostications as to the position the Omahogs will take this year. His only declaration so far s that the team will finish higher than it did last year. This he can probably accomplish and keep his suspenders intact at that, but he wants to be on the safe side and will have nothing to say concerning the pennant until he has had his men lined up a few times, then he may give_us a quiet little tip. Another autograph was added to the cifbice collection Manager McVittio has socked away in a pigeon hole in Bandle's big safe. It is a lengthy document and, with the aid of a few powerful chemicals I made out the signature yesterday to read’ something like Peter Lohman, although at first glance it looked as much like Loh Peterman or Manter Peloh as anything else. 'But'it must be re- membered that Peter is especially famous for his matchless work behind the plate, and his lining them down to second, instead of the choice article of caligraphy which he is guilty of. As a catcher Lohman is the peer of any of them, save the cracks of the big league. FORT OMAHA, Neb.; March 5.—To the Sporting Bditor of The Bee: I hear that an amateur city league, is being talked of, and that our club is mentioned as one of the members. I believe it can be made a go If the teams start properly balanced and are kept so, and that no player.of one club is allowed to play with another, It has been my experience here that no matter what club came out it always brought the same crowd. Another thing, this club Is sup- ported by voluntary contributions of cficers and men, and I guarantee them base ball here nearly every Sunday, so that I can't very well play on foreign grounds very often. However, I will be glad to meet representatives from other clubs and talk the matter over whenever they sce fit. Sin- cerely, W. M. WRIGHT, Manager Second Infantry B. B. C. ‘Whisperings of the Wheel. The wheelmen are everywhere burnishing 1ip and grooming their mounts for the riding season of 1895. The recent springlike weather brought out many riders, both male and female, and within another six weeks a whirling wheel will be a common sight on highway and byway. The Interest in cycling in Omaha has been on a steady increase for several years until now it may be said to have taken on the form of an epidemle. Two years ago a lady rider upon our streets would have attracted almost universal attention, but today she occasions no more stir than any of the customary sights of the town. So pro- nounced has the rage become that hundreds of men and women now come and go on their errands of either business or pleasure on a wheel. Its general use is becoming more marked every day, and it will be but a few years before a large proportion of the population, male and female, will be regularly devoted to it. It is bound to lessen the general utility of the horse and most cer- tainly make itself felt in the receipts of our street railways. Young and middle aged Americans find in the fascinating wheel a fresh delight in life, a means of getting about with greater ease and faollity and of seeing more of the world; a source of improved health, of hardier constitution and more ro- bust form through the medium of the splen- did exerclse it affords. The exertion neces- sary to locomotion calls on the muscles that require limbering up and strengthening, and the balm of the open air acts as an elixir not found in car or carrlage. In fact, its advantages for improvement and enjoyment are too many and too potent to ever permit a waning in their indulgence. It is even now a recognized necessity to every-day life and could not be relinquished without a retro- gade actlon in social progress. Think of the long rambles awheel through the country in the glorious summer weather, the ex- hilaration of the rapid shifting of the pan- orama as you glide smootbly and swiftly by, and the general feeling of health and strength which redounds from a prolonged journey. Are these to be abandoned while men and women retain their semses? I think not, judging from the.plans for: the coming cam- paign that are now betng made by the local wheel clubs apd the thousands of riders who claim no elub afliation. © That the bicycle has come to stay therads mo lonfer a doubt, and while the Omaha Wheéelmen are indus- triously at work on their summer program, they should not forget the June race meet. This is always a source of much pleasure, and a meeting givens under the combined auspices of the local organdzations could cer- tainly be made a brilllantisuccess, Banish petty jealousies and rivalries and get down to business, boys, and det us have a good, old fashioned meet in the resy days of June. One of the ploneers of eyele manufacturing is dead enator Thomaw ®ickering of Con- necticut, He was the amaker of the machines used in the velocipede Bdls by the Pearsall brothers and the Hanlom brothers before the majority of present-day riders were born. - On Washington's birthday, in the indoor tournament at Sau Franeisco, Emil Ulbricht, an old Chicago boy, broke the world's indoor records for every distance from one to twen- ty-five miles. His time for the twenty-five miles was 1 hour 5 minutes and 173-5 sec- onds, The Century Wheelmen of Philadelphia are planning & tour of Europe awheel Eighteen bikers are on the list to go. The Omaha Turner Wheel club reorganized on February 3 and elected the following officers for the year 1595: Schurig, pres- ident; T. Baumer, vice president; Theodore Becker, recording secretary; Ed Hayden, corresponding secretary; Gus Doyle, treas- urer; Phil Moeller, captain; F. Spratelin, lieutenant. The meeting was well attended and twenty-six unew members were taken into the club. The club is making prepara- tion for an entertainment on the 26th of arch, and all wheelmen, turners and their Scussion kicked | | outline at least Tadies, Will be fnvited. An attractive musi- cal program has been arranged, and only those holding Invitations will be admitted, as no_entrance fee is charged. Phil Moeller will make a good road cap- tain for the Turner wheelmen, and will not permit any scorching while on club runs. The Turner Wheel club has a membership of fifty now, and good prospects for more. Let the good work go on With the Trotters and Pacers. soon as practicable the race management of the Nebraska state fair should step for- ward and clalm their dates and give us an of their probable program. All adjacent states have announced thelr dates and already begun to bill the sur- rounding country. Entries are closing on y hand and horsemen anxious to make certain arrangements for their fiyers are alive the situation. 1t the Nebraska management puts off these matters until late In the summer they should not be surprised to find the dates all filled near by and the horses engaged elsewhere, fo that it will be difficult to secure the field the opening of the great exposition Is entitled to. to Trainer John Atkinson of Centreville, Ia., writes that his stable will take no man's dust in Among a lot of good ones John will handle are Strathberry, 2:06%, and Jack, a Pilot Medium gelding that bas done his mile in 2:11% Charlie McDonald, a driver well known here, & tracking his horses at Holton, Kan., this spring. He evidently has a comer in the Electioneer youngster, La Ferge, who bas already stuck his peg in at the 2:17 noteh. Lew Trotter, the well known driver, died at Wichita, Kan,, last week. had been sick for over two years, In 1 he came down the grand clrcuit with the string owned by DuBols Brothers of Denver, Colo,, and won several good races with W. W. P. 2:10%. Clinton Briggs' big roan champion, Ala- mito, goes to California next week and under Monroe Salisbury's management can be looked to to take the stud laurels this year. He is in magnificent condition this spring and looks every inch the wonderful race horse that he is. western He As a pointer for Mr. Bristow, superintend- ent of the Nebraska state fair's speed ring, is mentioned the fact that the Kansas City state fair at Wichita will hang up over $10,000 for the boys to fight for at their October meeting. ve hundred dollar purses are offered for 2:36, 2:28, 2:23, 2:19 and 2:1 trotters, and for 7, 2:13 and 2:10 pacers; two stakes of $1,000 each for three- minute trotters and three-minute pacers; $400 stakes for 2-year-old three-minute pacel 2-year-old three-mimute _trotter: 3-year-old three-minute trotters and 3-year old and under pacers. The balmy days of spring are struggling hard to make themselves felt and it will cnly require a very short time longer for the gladsome season to come intc full swry. The horsemen in consequence are up and doing. They are feverish for the opening of what promises to be the greatest light harness epoch in the history of the turf. The stable belonging to W. A. Paxtoa, Jr., is bound to spread its fame this year, judg- ing from the lot of great ones he will taks down the circuit, Belle Vera, 2:08%, and well known on the Omaha tracks, has been set to picing. She is very dast and is expected to cut her trot- ting mark down considerably. Morris J. Jones of Red Oak, Ta.,, while In the city the other day, announced that Alix, 2:03%, will trot the first mile over his Iowa track on the opening day of his races in June next, The Minneapolis Derby ought to Fa great field this year. It is for the 2:30 c'ass and the stake is $3,000. The Gentleman's Driving assoclation of Beatrice will hold its first annual meeting at Linden Tree park, Beatrice, on July 3 and 4. The organization’ gives promise of great results and every effort will be made to achieve a blg success at the opening meet- ing. The officers are: J. L. Schiek, presi- dent; I. L. Frantz, treasurer, and C. H. Elmore, sccretary. The program for July 3, the opening day, includes three trotting and one running race, as follows: Three-minute trot, best 3 in 5... .$150 One-year-old trot or pace, % mile heats, best 2 in 1100 Two-year-old trot, mile heats, be: 100 Half-mile and repeat running rac k3 On July 4 there will be two trotting, one pacing and one bicycle race, as follows: 40 trot or pace, 1 mile heat n o Three-yeal best 2 in 2:25 trot or pac One mile and repeat bic All moneys will be pald from the stand im- mediately upon the judge's decision, The conditions are appended: Money will be paid from the stand at the end of each: race. Nos. 2, 3 and 6 close June 1. Nos. 1, 5, 7 and 8 close June 22. No. 4, running race, Lexington rules govern. No. 8, first prize valued at §25; second prize valued at $15; third prize valued at $10. Ten entries to fill and five to start. Entry fee 5 per cent of purse, Now that the board and officers of the Omaha Driving Park association have been elected, they should get to work at once on the construction of the buildings, track, ete. They have none too much time, They must have a good track, stables and grand- stand, butsabovg all a good track. To make sure of this, they must begin early, and should immediately secure some man who Is familiar with the necessities of the case. George Swigart is an applicant for this po- sition, and would be a good man for the place. Any way, it is imperative that work begin without much longer delay. Wil Hang Up Ten Thousand. The program for the races at the opening session of the State fair in Omaha Is cer- tainly an attractive one. It is the work of Superintendents W. H. Bristow and D. T. Mount, and demonstrates that these gentle- men recognize the fact that It is money that makes the mare go. Purses aggregating $10,000 is something like it, and that is the amount that will be hung up for the initial session of the state falr. The falr will open up on September 13, and on the 15th races will begin. The program is appended: Monday, September 16—2-year-old trot, 8:00 class, $300; 3-year-old and ‘under pace, 2:38 class, $400; 2:28 trot, $600; mile dash, $160. Tuesday—2:50 trot, $500; 2:40 pace, $600; 2:17 trot, $800; half mile and repeat, running, $150. Wednesday—2:24 pace, $600; 2:23 trot, $600; 2:16 pace, $800; three-quarters mile and re- peat, running, $200. Thursday—3-year-old and under trot, 2:45 class, $400; 2:32 pace, $500; 2:12 trot, $1,000; mile and repeat, runnin 300, Friday—2-year-old pace, class, $300; 2:38 trot, $500; 2:10 pace, $1,000; halt mile dash, $100. Entries close Monday, September 9. City Base Ball Loague Meetlug, Representatives of the business firms con- templating the putting in of a team in the proposed City League of Base Ball clubs, are hereby notified that there will be a meeting in the office of the sporting editor of The Bee, Monday (tomorrow) evening for the purpose of organization. This Is bound to be @ great season for the amateurs, and a city league can be made a big winner. —_— Wheel Notes. Manufacturing company . has moved its main office to Hartford, Conn., from Boston, and has absorbed the Hart- fora Cycle company, which has always been operated as @ separate institution, although owned by the Pope Manufacturing company. The “Hartford" Wheel, which has always been made and sold as a high grade wheel, has now been added to the “Columbia’ line The makers claim it is the superior of the majority of wheels on the market this year. F. W. Peters of the Pacific Express offic is very proud of his new Model 40 “Colum- bla" roadster, which he run out for the first time on Tuesday last. Thad Irwin has ordered his new *Colum- bla” to come by express; says he can't wait for a freight shipment. H. W. Howell, with the Pacific Express company, is the fortunate possessor of the first 1895 Columbla sold in Omaba., The Pope ROSE OUT OF TRAIN'S ANGER @enesis of the Cozzens Honse Now Converted Into a Theological Seminary. PRESTIGE IT HELD IN FORMER DAYS Some Facts About the Early Hotels of Omaha, Many of Which Have Totally Disappeared —The Beginnings of the Present Metropolitan Hostelries, The recently consummated transaction by which the old Cozzens property at Ninth and Harney streets is passed to the more serious uses of a theological seminary recalls the chain of interesting Incidents which make the history of that time-worn landmark. While its present condition affords no indi- cation of the more palatial adornments of its earlier days there are still many old citizens who readily rec pride of Omaha, and one of the most luxuri- ous hostelries in the then undeveloped west, Although the passage of three decades left its imprint and its proportions have shrunk into Insignificance beside the more elaborate establishments which have suc- ceeded it in popular favor, yet the time was ne 0 very long 0 when it stood without a rival and every visitor to the growing city was expected to view it with unrestrained dmiration, Some of the most distinguished ames of a quarter of a century ago have been inscribed upon its faded register, and the most lavish banquets and festal occa- sions of the early Omaha had a place beneath its roof. With a new generation and a new Omaha, it has long ago dropped from public view, but as it passes forever Leyond its original purpos: its history may be re- viewed with a degree of interest. It is a familiar story that the Co hotel had its “beginning in one of the acteristic eccentricities of George F Train. This was in the spring of 186 Train was in the zenith of his achievements, and was engaged in his greatest enterprise in connection with the planning of the Union Pacific railroad, At that time the structure now occupled as a headquarters by the Unfon Pacific company was known as the Herndon house, which was the leading hotel in Omaha, Train was stop- ping at the house, with a number of other celebrities, and one day at dinner h was a target of a draft of the raw wind that entered the dining room through a broken window. He complained to the landlord without obtaining satisfaction, and finally hired a waiter to stand between him and the window while he finished his repast. For this unusual service the darkey received 10 cents a minute, and Train left the hotel in high dudgeon. i HOW HE GOT EVEN. Right then he determined to get even with the unaccommodating landlord, and be- fore night he had taken the preliminary steps toward carrying out his design. He went to John W. Clarke, who was the her-in-law of Lyman Richardson, and con- tracted for the purchase of the lots at Ninth and Harney streets. At 7 o'clock the next morning he had a force of men at work on the excavation, and before night he had let the contract for the construction of a seventy-room hotel on the site, which was to be completed In sixty days. The con- tract was carried out to the letter, and in that time Train was the owner of a $40,000 hotel, with which he proposed to make it interesting for the rival establishment. Mayor Bemis was then Train's secretary and assoclate, and was stopping at the Clar- endon house in New York City. While there he met the Cozzens brothers, who were then running hotels at West Point and other cities, and interested them in the Omaha es- tablishment. One of them came on to Omaha, and made a contract with Train to take the new hotel at §10,500 a year. Thus the Cozzens house acquired its name and landlord. Cozzens fan the house for nearly a year, during which it became the leading hotel of the city, while the Herndon house was unable to pay expenses, and was finally closed. Then Cozzens~went away, leaving a number of unpaid bills as souvenirs of hiy sojourn, and Philo Rumsey came from Ft. Wayne, Ind., and took the house at a ren- tal ‘of '$5,000 a year. He remained in pos- session for about three years, after which Train disposed of a_one-half interest to Seth W. Hale of New York. It was afterward sold to Joseph D. Tler and James G. Chap- man, from whom it passed into the hands ot Dr. McMenamy, who held it until his death a few years ago. 1t was only during the first five years of its existence that the Cozzens house enjoyed its position as the leading hotel of the city. After that other and newer establishments came in, and it gradually fell to the level of a cheap Jodging house, after which it was converted into a medical institute. SOME OF ITS PREDECESSORS. While the Cozzens house is the most celes brated of the early hotels of Omaha, it was far from being the first to make pretensions to metropolitan service. Several very sub- stantial structures accommodated the tran- sient guests of the more than a decade be- fore Train came on the scene, and some of these have probably been forgotien, even by the old settlers who were in Omaha in its in fai zens char- , when visionary pushing he first Omaha hotel was the St. Nicholas, which was located at the corner of Twelfth and Jackson streets. It was a small frame building, and years ago the last trace of its existence disappeared. The same fate has overtaken the City hotel, a small frame struc- ture, which was erected on the southwest corner of Eleventh and Harney streets in 1854, The Douglas house was built in the fol- lowing year, and for several years it posed as the leading house of the city. It was a two-story frame building, at the southwest corner of Harney and Thirteenth streets, The Farnam house was bullt on the north side of Harney street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth, in 1858, and St. John Goodrich, father of the late C. 8. Goodrich, was one of its first proprietors. The Tremont was built on Douglas street, just west of Thir- teenth, In 1856, and was run until 1865 by Willlam F. Sweezy and Aaron Root. The Union hotel, bullt in 1860, at Fifteenth and Dodge streets, and the Pacific house, which was built six years after, by David T. Mount, on North Tenth street, were also among the early hotels which have passed entirely out of existence. HERNDON'S DISTINCTION. The Herndon house was the first really pre- tentious establishment. It was built in 1857 by Dr. George L. Miller and Lyman Richard. son, and its first landlord was M. W. Keith, It remained in the first place in popular ap proval until ten years after, when Train's es. tablishment came Into the fleld and won away its patronage. The Metropolitan was erected at Twelfth and Douglas streets in 1868, and is still doing business at the old stand, The first large hotel in Omaha was the 1 the time when it was the | Grand Central, which occupled the ent site of the Paxton. It was begun in lflg" buy some difficultles of a financial nature were encountered, and it was not finished untfl nearly two years after, The house was cone ducted by Mr. George Thrall until 1878, when it was leased by the Kitchen Bros, who have been In the hotel business on that cors ner ever since, with the exception of a few years. It was on the evening of September 24 of tho same year that the terrible fire o0os curred which destroyed the bullding and which cost the lives of flve of Omaha's brave firemen. Its proprietors then leased the Withnell block, at Fifteenth and Harney streots, which they fitted up as a hotel and occupled until 1882, when they moved into the newly buflt Paxton. The Millard was built In the same year, and the Murray was opened six years after.’ The other Omaha hotels ave mostly been constricted within the past decade, and thelr beginning has not yet ssed nto history Dewey & Stone urniture Co. SPECIAL PAICES FOR MARCH Chamber Suits, We show over one hundred and fifty designs, in price from $7.75 to $525.00. We offer a_ lirge number of suits in Bird's e Maple, Curly Bireh, Mahog- any, Cl and Antigque Og from 10 to 50 per cent discount. WE ARE OVERSTOCKED EON== PARLOR GOODS, And have put o price on each plece to make it move, our elegant iine of Sofas, DIy and Reception Chairs, 3y ot are marked at about one-half their actual value. Wil also quote very low figure on any goods made to order this month, OUR LINE OF Dining Room FURNITURE, Is large and complete In every detall, We offer rare bargains in this depart- ment and can show you some beautiful things in Antique Oak and Mahogany. Brass and Iron Bedsteads, Dressing Tables, Chiffonie Parlor Cabinets, Banquet Lamps, Parlor Tables, Musie Cabinets, Ladies' Desl Tolding Beds, Mattr and in fact everything in our line is going at lower prices than ever before quoted by any house on first-class quality of goods. DraperyDept. FIRST FLOOR. DEWEY & STONE Furniture Co., 1115-1117 FARNAM ST. 2 OneDolla i 81,0024 st Tegul tle. o o d pars feetly sat M“’E u e expronapst 4.90usd.expres e emmmous e B euny a1 cuth fa |l aepaaies your o ot BESCRD frem $10. amiumer . Address CariraerSorri Hovsaon Euars. 1781 Mention Omaha Bee. D8, B, 0. WEGT'D NERVE AND BRAIN TEEATHEND is sold under positive written guarantee, by Anihorand ngents only, € curo Weak Homorgt Loss of Brain and Nerve Power: Lost Manhoo iciknoss: Night Losece; Evil Dreamiss Lol of Confidane; Neryonenouss Lussitudos ull Drainss Loss of Power of the Generative Organs in either sex, coused by over.exertion, Youthfal Errors, oe Eexcosmivo Use af ‘Tobaceo, Opium or Liguor, which Teads to Misery. Consumytion, Ineanit ued Death. He mail, §1a boxs aix for §0; wi \ritten guaranteo to cure or refund money. Wesv's Tiver Bifls cure Rick Headacho, Hilion mene Tiver Compluint, Sour Ktomach, Dyopepsia an Uonstipation. GUATANTIES fesued only by Goodman Drug Co. Omans. 2 e THE ELLIS & GOLTERMAN “RAPID FLOW?” FountainSyringe The NAME Indicates its advantages, 1 FOR SALE BY 7 KUHN & CO., Douglas and 15th Sts. f ALOE & PENFOLD CO., 1408 Farnam 8t J. A. FULLER & CO,, 1402 Douglas St. VIGOR o= MEN Easily, Quickly, Permanently Ru!arud.] ‘Weakness, Nervousncasy Debility, and all the train of evils tlom carly errors of later exiesses, the results overwork, tlcknes, worryy ‘ete. 0l strength, devel opmentind tone given to agevery organ and ‘n“l lon of the bady. hnn{l | DA ural methols, Tmmed! ate fprovement see! 2,000 referonces. Bool \ ilure fmpostible, Eaplination vnd proofs malled (scaled) troa ERIE MEDICAL CO0., Buffalo, N.Ye Also agents for the Tmperial Monarch nnd the pretty Fowles yeles. We have the finest line in the west. ED.T. HEYDEN, Mgr., 423 N. 16th St.,, Omah ¥~ We do First CI 8 Repairing. EXACT SIZE THE M PERFECTY RCANTILE IS THE FAYORITE TEN CENT CIGAR. For sale by all First Class Dealers. Manufactured by the y . R. RICE MERCANTILE CICAR CO,, Factory No. 804, 8t. Louls, Mo,