Yet Another Reference to Early Baseball in Pelham

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For the last several days I have been posting references to early instances of baseball being played in Pelham.  Today I transcribe an article that appeared in the August 23, 1884 issue of the New Rochelle Pioneer.  The article details news about Pelham and City Island.  It includes a reference to a baseball game scheduled later the same day, another game played on Thursday, August 21, 1884 and yet another played on Saturday, August 16, 1884.

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND.

--Mr. Higbee, of Pelham, is absent on a vacation.

--The Muffers will play a game of ball with the Pelhamville nine to-day.

--Rev. C. Winter Bolton supplies Mr. Higbee's pulpit in the Priory church, during the rector's absence.

  Mr. Von Leihn is constructing a large sewer from his hotel to the water.

--Business on the Island is improving somewhat, and people are getting more hopeful.

--The Beldonites went to Mamaroneck on Thursday [August 21, 1884], and played a game of ball with the club of that place.  The Mamaroneck nine was defeated by a score of 31 to 19.

--The steamer Joshua Leviness has been taken from Hawkin's ways, and is to be taken to New York city for sale.  If not sold, she is to be used as a freight boat running up the Sound. 

--The game of ball between the Muffers and the picked nine at Willetts Point was completed last Saturday and was won by the Willett's Point nine by a score of 28 to 22.

--The sociable at Flynn's Pavilion Wednesday night was a grand success.  The attendance was large and quite select, and although the evening was excessively warm those who attended seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly.

--An infant a few days old was found on the shore near Belden's Point on Monday.  It was wrapped in a New York World of August 14, and put in a segar box.  It is generally believed that it was thrown from some passing boat and drifted upon the shore.  Coroner Hyler held an inquest on Monday, and a verdict in accordance with the above statement was rendered.

--The Hudson Hose Company from Yonkers, visited the Island on Thursday, and were the guests of Capt. Stringham.  He served a chowder in his usual handsome manner, and they got outside of it with neatness and dispatch.  They enjoyed themselves in a royal manner, each one seemed bound to have the best possible time, and to assist the others to do the same.  They went home in the evening, and will be remembered here as gentlemen whose acquaintance is courted.

--Mr. Dayton seems to be unable to agree with his tenant, Mr. Newton.  It seems that Dayton leased his house to Mr. Newton for a stated sum, and was to receive half the fruit on the place, and in the absence of Mrs. Newton, it is claimed he helped himself to both halves.  Mr. Newton did not like this, and upon his return refused to permit Mr. Dayton to take away any more of the fruit, and Mr. Dayton served a dispossess warrant upon Mr. Newton claiming that he has failed to comply with the contract under which he went into possession.  He is not expected to accomplish much in this way, and nearly all who know of the circumstances denounce him for his actions in the matter.

--A short distance above Hell Gate the steamer Pilgrim of the Fall River Line on her trip from Fall River collided with a three-masted schooner Thursday morning.  There was no panic on either vessel.  The schooner was in tow of a tug, which sheered off as she approached the steamer, but the tide catching the schooner on her bow made her swing in and strike the Pilgrim about forty or fifty feet from the bow of the port side, and as she scraped along the steamer's guard, which is of iron, she cut her main rigging, causing the mainmast and maintopmast to tumble over the side.  She was towed to this place and after proper repairs have been made she will proceed on her voyage.  the name of the schooner is the Dick Williams.  She is loaded with coal and bound from Hoboken to New Bedford." 

Source:  Pelham and City Island, The New Rochelle Pioneer, Aug. 23, 1884, p. 2, col. 6.


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