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Show BUTTE MAY. NOT BE IN I THE PACIFIC NATIONAL Thing are io unsettled that Butt may hav no baseball team after xalL The f- forts to brine Butt Into th league of j "independent ball" have so far com to i naught SUU th complexion of every- ! j thins may chang to a roseate hue within , . forty-eight hours. x C. IL Lane, th Butte baseball financier, j In whom th ball fans of that section are placing their hopes, has received the folr lowing telegram from "Honest" John MeCloekey, in response to his offer to him to come on and manag th Butt team, providing Lane took up the franchise. The telegram Is dated from Seattle and reads: "I should like to com to Butt, but should Ilk to hav matters fixed for Lucas Lu-cas to take bis old place.WOHN M'CLOSKEY." Mr. Lane in an interview later said: ' "The situation has not changed. This is just MoCloskey's first telegram. But Lucas can NEVER get in her again. That t final. He has finished his career here. W hop to show MeCloekey he has a good berth here, providing he will sever his connection with Lucas. I have wired him to this effect, snd am now waiting for another wire. I hope MeCloekey will see the matter in our light, which is certainly cer-tainly to bis great advantage." Apropos of W. H. Lucas, the following story may be cited. It occurred recently in Chicago at th league meeting over the fight for baseball territory. At this meeting meet-ing Lucas had a fight with Wslter Wil-mot, Wil-mot, owner of the Butte franchise. Lucas said if MeCloekey were present he would be able to prove one of bis statements. Oh. of course," retorted Wllroot. "Mac would swear to anything you wanted him to." i "McCloskey is an honest man. which Is more than 1 can say for you, Mr. Wll-mot Wll-mot ," Lucas replied, with great heat. Whereupon W'llmot swung a right thst landed on Lucas' Jaw. Lucas was stunned for a moment Then he shook his head to clear away the cobwobs and came back fighting strong with both hands. A light swing connected with Wilmofs nose,, and George Tebeau claimed first blood for Lucas, Lu-cas, which was allowed. Lucas missed a left drive for the body and they went Into a clinch. Wllmot wanted to fight a clean break, but Lucas .grabbed the Butte man around th neck with his left arm and, while holding hlnr in chanoery, pumped In exactly forty-three stiff Jolts to th fac with the right. Lucas was going strong when th magnates, mag-nates, looking over the win bottles, saw the fight for the first time and stopped a beautiful scrap. Wllmot walked over in front f a mirror, pulled down his vest, adjusted his tie, and examined his no critically. Then he looked st Lucas, but it was not a look of admiration. Whether this has added fuel to the fir of opposition on csn never tell, but if words count for anything Lucas hasn't. a selling plater's chance In an American Derby race to pull up under the baseball wire in Butte. To the Butte pecple be can't be seen with the aid of a Ulescope. and it remains to be een whether the Butte people csn lure 'Tionest" John McCloskey away to play in Butte without Lucas. Time alone will tell. |