Clem Hill's Reminiscences

realised how dangerous he was. We had to bat very carefully to scramble home. Probably King had been at a baseball game, and while at that game had learned to swerve both ways. Maurice Tate, when at his peak could make the ball swing in from the off, also away from the leg. This he could do only when the ball was new and the seam had not yet been worn down. To break the monotony of the journey across America we decided to stage a prize fight at one of the wayside stations. The tall powerful Hughie Trumble was matched against Syd Gregory, the midget of the team. Jones and Johns held the sponges. Syd made it willing, and, emerged without a scratch much to our entertainment. A crowd gathered in the main street, uncertain whether or not it was a genuine bout. His First English Tour 30 Hill, aged 19, sitting with (from left to right) Joe Darling, George Giffen and Ernie Jones in Phildelphia on the American part of the Australians’ 1896 tour.