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Show Happy Days of Umpire Recalled by Veteran Ever slnqe "Steamboat" Johnson went Into the Southern 'association as an umpire, fans have wondered why be always takes his money and Jewelry on the field wltb him. The thing Is a mystery no longer. Steamboat Is merely practicing safety first. Like the soldier who goes fortb to war, be never knows whether he will get back to his home base in this case bis dressing room. "Once." said 8teamlKat "1 1ld not get back. 1 went straight from the ball park to the Jail. Incidentally, I spent the night therein. "It was in Des Moines and on a Fourth of Jqly, too. The home team was trailing, l to 0. and there were two out and s runner on third in the last of the ninth. "The 'ataman bit to short and the fielder threw to the plate In time to get the runner. I tried to be pleas ant as is my custom, and said, "The game is over, boys, let's go home to supper." This was my way of calling the runner out Johnson's face and head are covered cov-ered by marks left by flying pop bottles. bot-tles. "The boys don't throw 'em like they used to." be nused. "Umpiring Is getting get-ting to ue a reul delight Sometimes, though, I miss the old days. Rut don't put that In the paper. The wolves might wake up and start throwing bottles again." |