The Deli Courant of the 26th of August gives full ce ce of the boiler explosion at Pangkallah Brandon, in Langkat, showing that it arose from a fire in the benzine works. The fire broke out from hitherto inexplicable causes. It appears that, in tion, the petroleum gives dut gases which will not condense. On the evening of the 15th August, the formation of these gases happened to be unusually considerable at the works, probably owing to a condenser pipe becoming choked, The three Europeans, then on watch, including Mr. Edwin Olive, apparently did not perceive this; otherwise, they would have immediately slackened fire under the boilers. 'There was, at the time, no sign of any change in the weather, but suddenly a stillness in the atmosphere set in. Upon this, the heavy gases' spread. themselves along the ground, came into contact with the boiler fires, and then exploded. The native engineer, who}kept watch on the boilers, thereupon gave warning, but too late. Mr. Olive, who saw the flames near the boiler house, and thought he could do some good there, ran to the spot. He had, however, to go back from the flames strik ing in his direction. In' retreating, he stumbled over a, pipe and received such severe burns thit tie died on the morning ofthe 18th of August. The fire, furious as it was, became localised, and, thanks to the ready help of the Europeans present, and of a few natives and Chinese, all danger of its further spread had gone by midnight. At half-past four the next morning the fire was fully quenched. The damage done is expected to be covered by twenty thousand guilders. The temporary stoppage in the work is naturally the greatest damage of all, But work was shortly resumed at half-ower. Tt is expected that by the 10th of September work will goon as usual, with every prospect of a yield as large as it was just before the fire, The fierceness of the fire and its rapid spread may be ascribed to -the collapsing of a wooden condenser on a brick pedestal. Through the explosion of the benzine gases the pedestal fell apart, and the condenser with all its pipes came to the ground. A conducting pipe broke in consequence, and the raw oil, sunni out froma distillation boiler, gave addi strength to the flames,—Struits Times, BASEBALL, 'The' Auguist number of The Badminton Magazine has an article on Baseball in England, which has timely interest here by reason of the enthusiastic revival of the game in Shanghai. In England from time to time attempts have been made to attract some popularity to the game, and though, as we learn, a London' Baseball Association possessing its own park and controlling the affairs of over a dozen clubs playing in-and around the metropolis, now exists, the game has had a too well-established competitor in cricket to come into particular prominence. But that it is.a good and exciting game few who have seen it played of an afternoon on the Public Recreation Ground for a few times will dem: At first, the curiosity.of the spectator in-nees him to linger and try to discover the rules of a°game which he recognises as having an affinity to the rounders of his youth. With the friendly: assistance of a better informed neighbour he probably gleans enough to appreciate some of the more obvious points of the play, and then, after a few more'attendances, he becomes, it not an enthusiastic at least an appreciative "on-looker at what has been fairly called nota resurrection of rounders, but an apotheosis. If the communicative friend is not at hand, however, the game seems rather intricate and, therefore, an extract from The Badminton Magazine's article, written by BIr.
Richard Morton, may be of service to a land the catch a trifle wild) or in an unscientific manner, ier (who is practically wicket keeper, only there are no wickets) has been food many readers. 'The game is played unable' to handle it. If this should be the by eighteen men, nine on each side. There ease, before the catcher can retrieve himself are nine innings to be played by each con-the man on third base will have started for testing team, but it is not necessary to home. Or he may be able to reach that goal by put out nine men to complete an innings. reason of a hit by batsman. Once, however, {aman has made the circuit of the bases in Three men being out finishes each innings, their proper order and has succeeded in but five or six men usually come up to bat before three of them are retired. There j down to his credit, and so added to the score getting to the home plate, a run is set are dozens of ways of putting a man out of his side... The most exciting period in and a batsman who becomes a base-runner a game of bail is reached when two men are requires all his wits about him when he aut, two men (or three) are on bases, and sets himself to make the circuit of the bases, another man steps up to bat. Everything 'The pitcher, says the article from which depends on his coolness and nerve. If he is we quote, delivers a ball to the batsman, lacking in these qualities he will inevitably who must'stand facing the home plate,' and and ingloriously strike out' i.e. he will three across that plate the pitcher must pitch the times miss hitting a properly pitched ball, at a height not above the batsman's The pitcher is straining every nerve to delly
1 to his methods of delivery, beyond that is shoulder nor cee then his knee. No re-balls at a proper altitude that the batsman is strictions are im upon the pitcher as duty-bound to strike at, or to induce hit strike at deliveries which do not comply he is only allowed to take one step. He is the rules. If the batsman strikes at permitted to throw, jerk, bowl, or toss the ball pitched ball and misses it, one strike' is towards the home' plate, and the batsman is called against him. If he omits to hit a ball bound to strike at a ball fairly delivered.
Properly pitched, another strike is counted Assuming that the latter player succeeds in the umpire. Three strikes called on a hitting the ball, he immediately drops his club batsman put him out,' and in the instance and runs for the first base of that diamond under consideration such a call on him makes planned out as the field. If the ball reaches him third man out and brings the innings to a the hands of the fielder placed as guardian of close, leaving two or three disappointed run-the first base before the runner succeeds in ners standing at bases which they may have reaching his position, the latter is out. If, striven might and main to attain. however, the runner successfully reaches first But assuming all three bases are occupied, Vase, he is entitled to start for second and and the batsman hits the ball, what a cheer third bases and the home plate in their regu-up, and what life and animation there is lar "order whenever he thinks he has a clear in the confines of that diamond! The bats-course. Asa rule, he waits until the pitcher man runs towards first base, runner on first, delivers the ball to the succeeding batsman. makes for second, man on second starts for When he sees the pitcher's hand make the third, and the runner on third sails vigorously motion for delivery, he starts his run. If the homewards. On the other hand, a fielder batsman happens to hit the ball into the part scoops up the ball and at the same moment of the field where the runner is, that player must make up his mind at which base it is finds himself bandicoy oped; for he has to race most required. Like 'a flash he hurls it at the ball and reach te next base before the second base for he sees that the runner from fielder guard the ball the position: succeeds in and if the second baseman after catching the first is liable to be late. It is neck or nothing, securing the If second baseman scoops up the ball and stands with one foot on the ball is unable to retire the runner advancing base ready to touch the advancing runner, a to his base, he m the moment that he humorous bit of play is sometimes brought peretives the position of affairs, be prepared oft. There is not a second to spare, but half to throw the ball to another baseman in the of that time might give the runner hope that some other runner may be retired. if he can steal that infinitesimal period from If the fielders are able to beat one man the i the fielder. The runner, therefore, while nings is at anend. Ifthe runners beat the ball still a dozen feet or so from base, throws him-and succeed in advancing themselves one base self flat upon the ground, and, with the imeach, the result is that one man has completpetus acquired, slides with extended hand to a'run and the bases are still full. Then the bag which marks base. If the baseman the next. batsman steps out to continue the is not prepared for the move he may be un-fray, and the same exciting line of play is: re-able to stoop icky enough to touch the peated. runner with the ball until the saving hand has touched the bag: A fraction of a second lost in stooping downwards may give the runner his desired position.
Saw Beports.
Assuming that the base-runner has succeed ded in sliding to his second base, he may at tempt to annex the third by another amusing
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.