Umpiring in the Good Old Days

Last Sunday Umpire Smith was attacked by a mob, after the Cincinnati-St. Louis game, and the Globe-Democrat describes the scene as follows: “Had the umpire been a pick-pocket, who had just retired from business with a competency obtained from the rough element of those present, he could not have been more roundly abused. Each inning after the sixth, at critical intervals, the hoodlums yelled and hooted at him. The most disgusting phase of their conduct was at the close of the game. Smith left the grounds, with the Cincinnati players, and was followed to the herdic by a gang of rowdies, who yelled, howled and shouted to slug the – – -. Smith reached the herdic in safety, and the players followed him in. as the vehicle passed through the gate it was met by another mob of young roughs. The latter were armed with chunks of macadam, and, as the herdic passed into Grand avenue, they fired a volley of stones at it. The missiles were undoubtedly directed at Smith, as nearly all hit that end of the coach. One of the stones broke a pane of glass. Another hit Smith on the side of the head, and hurt him severely. Incensed at the cowardly assault, Capt. Snyder ordered the driver to come to a halt, and, as he obeyed instructions promptly, Snyder, Carpenter, Macullar and two or three others jumped to the ground and made at the gang. The latter turned tail as they saw the Cincinnati boys get out of the herdic and scattered like a pack of scared hounds. Then the players returned to the coach, but had no sooner reembarked that the cowardly mob surrounded them again. At this juncture the mounted police went to the rescue, and the hoodlums were scattered right and left, while the visitors were driven away at a lively rate.  Source: Boston Herald September 17, 1882