the smoke of battle has cleared away, to tell the story of the play, as it really happened and to tell why the Nevada Coach kicked until Fedderson (umpire) forfeited the game to Collins.
It was the first half of the 8th inning with Nevada at bat. Two men were out, two had s cored, and one was on second – Wray was at bat, with the Nevada heavy hitters to follow him. Wray hit a safe one to the Collins S. S. who threw the ball hurriedly about 6 feet over the first base man’s head. Wray ran to first and in turning ran into Purvis (Nevada second baseman) who was coaching at first. The umpire then called Wray out, alleging that Purvis had touched him (Wray) and consequently he was out. The Nevada Captain, who according to the rules, has a right to protest any decision, at once asked “why? ” Fedderson paid no attention to his protest, so he turned the case over to the Nevada coach. He asked Fedderson why Wray was out. Fedderson said the coach on first base touched the runner and he was out. He (umpire Fedderson) refused to listen, and gave the Nevada Coach one minute to clear the field, else he would forfeit the game. Now this was the Collins field. There were many Collins people on it, and it was not the business of the local Coach to assume the duties of a policeman. He simply stood on his rights and told Fedderson that play would go on, when he, Fedderson had given satisfaction on the play in question. Then Fedderson declared the game forfeited, and since he was angry, and would not listen to reason, and since there is a Higher Authority in this state to whom appeal can be made in such cases, the Nevada Team withdrew.
Since then several new developments have arisen. The Collins paper called Umpire Thompson the squarest man that ever umpired a game – yet, when some Collins people explained the play to him, he said he would have called the player safe. Again Sec. Foster, of the National Association of Baseball Clubs – the supreme authority in Baseball, when the identical play was explained to him in detail, said “A big league umpire would pay no attention to the play. The runner was safe.”
In view of the above, the Nevada Athletic authorities feel that if ever a just kick was made, they made one on May 20th. They have no regrets for their action – and they have the right to protest the game before the State Board of Athletics. The Nevada Coach took the action which he took, with a full knowledge of what it meant, and was backed by his team, who were as one in approving his stand. He believed, then and now that while it looks bad to “kick” on an ump’s decision, yet there are times when it looks and is better to kick, than be abused and imposed upon. May 20th was one time that it was better to kick.
May 29, 1919 Commencement exercises will be May 30. Speaker will be A. C. Fuller of Iowa State Teachers College. The graduates are: Myrna Dodd, Ila Holmes, Mable Holmes, Mildred Stratton, Don Titus, and Julia Tracy. Alumni banquet will be given immediately after the exercises.
February 16, 1920 School Consolidation Collins Township and the town of Collins will likely have consolidation of schools, from the present outlook. Some years ago consolidation was voted on, but lost out, the country districts being against it. Since then there has been gradually a change in sentiment in favor of consolidation and we believe it will carry. On Thursday Messrs. Steve Carr, Bradford