Class of 1899
The Secretary not long ago was in the midst of a group of Dartmouth men, who were fanning over old athletic contests. Unusual plays in both football and baseball were being discussed. The cracking three-base hits of Crolius, with the bases loaded, brought forth some reminiscences. Mun Folsom's hair-raising catch was .mentioned. The story of the baseball team of 'O2 was told, involving the development of a team which finally trimmed Holy Cross with Andy Coakley pitching, although seven of the preceding team had graduated with the class of 'Ol, and the other two, Dike Varney and Tom Uniac, had been "canned'' ("banned"—"panned") for playing summer baseball.
The Secretary told of the most spectacular play that he had ever seen. It was in a baseball game with Williams, and Sid Rollins was playing right field. It was the customary crisis, with the tying run waiting on second base and two out. A sharp single was driven into right field, and Sid came in on the dead run to meet it. Instead, however, of taking the ball on the first bounce and throwing to head off the run at the plate, he suddenly left his feet in a long, flying dive. With hands outstretched and palms up, he plowed through the grass. It was a perfectly timed, daring play. The ball met his gloved hand and stuck. Sid rose to his feet with the ball in his hands.
This provoked Bob Jackson, 1900, to tell of an incident that he considered the most spectacular play he had ever seen on a football gridiron, The Secretary saw the same play and can vouch for the truth of Bob's story. It was on the kick-off at the beginning of the second half of the Williams football game, in the fall of '96. Walter McCornack caught the ball about on the twenty-yard line, and had advanced it to "the middle of the field, when over near the sideline a Williams man came at him from the left. Mac shifted the ball from his left arm to his right, and in doing so let it slip out of his fingers. Snow had fallen, and it had been necessary to scrape two inches of slush off the gridiron before the game could be played. Therefore everything was slippery. As Mac felt the ball slipping, he batted it to the ground in front of him, with the long axis of the ball parallel to the field, in such a way that it made a perfect dribble, such as we afterwards often saw in basketball. Without losing a stride or slowing up a fraction of a second, he caught the ball on the rebound and made another ten yards before he was thrown.
Bob stated boldly (and no one disputed him) that this was the most outstanding bit of personal agility and quick thinking that he had ever seen on an athletic field. Dartmouth won the game ten to nothing.
In those days it was Caspar Whitney rather than Walter Camp whose All-American teams were considered "official." All of the minor college teams in the country were plugging for Mac to be chosen All-America quarterback, but the omniscient Caspar placed Finke of Yale ahead of him, saying that undoubtedly McCornack would have had the turn had he played in any of the "big" games.
The two representatives of the class of '99 in the prize-speaking contest of sophomore year have together entered the ranks of the fathers-in-law. The Secretary received an announcement from Mr. and Mrs. Hawley B. Chase, announcing the marriage of their daughter, Janet Fulton, to Mr. Chester F. McSpadden. The ceremony took place on June 24 in Upper Montclair, N. J. Hawley has not yet written giving details, but this is a notice to him that he is expected to come across with a long letter before the next class report.
As we go to press, announcement for the other wedding has not yet been received, but the Union of July 2 carries the story that Miss Charlotte Brown, daughter of Judge and Mrs. Nelson P. Brown, was married in the College Church to Mr. Carl Wentworth of Springfield, Mass. The statement is made that the ceremony was performed by Professor C. D. Adams, classmate of the bride's paternal grandfather. Mr. Wentworth, a former teacher in Worcester Academy, is now doing research work in chemistry for a Brooklyn firm. The young people are to live in Greater New York.
Other honors are being heaped upon the thinly-clad head of Justice Brown. He has been elected president of the General Alumni Association, and so will be in the chair at the time of our Thirtieth Reunion. We predict that next year's meeting will be sternly ruled.
Old Bob Corey recently wrote the Secretary a fine letter, commenting on the death of Buck Burns, on the writings of Dr. Raymond Pearl, and the activities of one James P. Richardson. Do it some more, Bob!
Speaking of James P., many of the class already know about Jim's painful accident and long siege of invalidism. On the stone floor of °the Eagle Hotel in Concord, Jim slipped, slid, and landed with a crash, upon his left hip. Net result: one femur broken off short. Now comes the amazing part of the story. He actually hobbled out to a taxi, climbed into a train, got into a bus at Hanover, and got himself home, with the main bone of his left leg split in two. The physician who handled the case said that he did not believe that any man in New Hampshire, with the exception of Elmer Carleton, could have performed such a feat. At this time poor old Jim is flat on his back in Dick Hall's House, where he has been for the past five weeks. We trust that before this issue of the MAGAZINE is off the press, he will be fully recovered. _ The worst part of the accident was that it prevented Jim's trip to Kansas City, where he was to have been one of the delegates from New Hampshire. The whole New Hampshire delegation mourned with Jim over his enforced absence.
Ted Child's address as recently received from the office of the Alumni Secretary is Consular Bureau, Department of State, Washington, D. C.
Warren Kendall had a wonderful trip out through the Pacific Coast states. In San Francisco Warren had a very delightful visit with Walter Foss. Warren says he is the same old Fat, with all his Dartmouth enthusiasms undiminished, and his interest in his friends as keen as ever. Walter's address is 1335 Filbert St., San Francisco. His firm is the Chamberlain Metal Weather-Strip Com-Pany
Warren saw Ernest Abbott, Hodge, and Kimmy. He says that the latter especially looks fine and well. Warren met Mrs. Kimball at their beautiful Pasadena home. It is typical of this traveling apostle to '99 that he apologizes for having been unable to find A. H. Brown, and for not running up to see John Ash.
Howland Sargeant is to room on the third floor of North Fayer weather Hall, while Roger Benezet has been assigned to the top floor of New Hampshire.
The Secretary recently had a very delightful trip to Meriden. Charles Tracy '97 called up frantically, saying that one of the two speakers at his Founders' Day celebration had failed him because of ill health, and that Benny must pinch-hit. With President Lewis (Williams '96) of New Hampshire University, the Secretary traveled to Meriden. He enjoyed a visit with Hurd '94, Duncklee 'O2, Jim Richardson '99, and Tracy.
On the return trip, in passing through Keene, the Secretary noted with a glow of satisfaction that the George Street chapel in the north end of town bore a new name. Above the door was an appropriate sign, bearing the words, "Sturtevant Chapel."
Toward the latter part of June the Secretary motored to Brattleboro to give a commencement address. Seated on the platform as one of the three .members of the local board of education was none other than the Honorable Ephraim H. Crane '9B, and among the audience there was seated Fred Benms. On the way back the Secretary and Mrs. Benezet stopped at West Swanzey, to feel the pulse of Cheshire county. The doctor as usual was operating, but Mrs. Hopkins made the travelers feel very much at home. At Keene Charlie Adams tried to give them the whole cracker and candy business, while Mrs. Adams and her daughter were equally hospitable. Everybody thought and spoke of Charlie Sturt.
So far The Bold Lynch and friend wife have not officially informed the Secretary of their itinerary for the coming year. The only thing positive to date is that it starts out with Alaska and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. This will seem tame to Tim m comparison with the visit of the class of 98 to room 2, Reed Hall, our freshman year.
Wendell Barney is taking a summer course in architecture at M. I. T. this summer. He graduates from Dartmouth next June.
George Evans, after his recent illness, is back on the job as librarian and secretary of the Rotary Club of Somerville. He had a rather long siege of it, but seems to be restored to perfect health.
Joe Gannon recently ran in to see the Secretary. Joe is back to normal, but still talks about the wonderful baby. He is very enthusiastic about his work with the New YorkTimes.
Dave and Mrs. Parker recently were out in the Twin Cities attending a medical convention.
The presidency of Johns Hopkins is open, and among the list of men most seriously considered for the post is the famous biologist, Dr. John Philip Sousa Pearl, Dartmouth College '99.
Three sons of '99 have at last joined the alumni body. Both John Walter Johnston and Arnold Hyatt were forced to drop out before completing their course, but Herbert Adams, Malcolm Beal, and Robert Winchester received their degrees this June. The proud families were all in attendance at Commencement. Other '99ers in town included Jim, Dave, Mushy, Nelson Brown, Ned Warren, and the Secretary.
Secretary, 88 Lowell St., Manchester, N. H.
