Cricket 1899

54 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A p r il 13, 1899. THE KIDNAPPING OF POPPER. A TALE OF A TEST MATCH. Although my hand is more used to the touch of the bat-handle than that of the pen, and I know little more literature than that in Wisden or Lillywhite, I am forced by the interest of the public in a certain incident of the recent test match to write down the facts of that occurrence, knowing that if this be not done our imaginative press will 600 n supply the demand in its own way. I cannot begin my recital in a better manner than by quoting from the Adelaide Argus of January 5th, 1908, a description of the externals of what was really quite a story-book adventure. “ . . . . And now the end of the greatest athletic encounter the new century has yet seen was approaching. The English­ men, with 420 to win, had by the steady batting of Braund and J. Bean, and the fierce hitting of the Hon. W . G, Grace (a son of that once-famous player, Lord Grace of Clifton), amassed 350 for the loss of eight wickets. About this time a rumour began to spread that Popper, the English captain, who had not been seen upon the field during the day, was seriously indisposed, and would be unable to take his innings. The backers of the visitors (especially the financial ones) instantly became indisposed also. Their spirits were however cheered for a time by the stubborn stand of V. F. S. Crawford and J. Briggs, junior, for the ninth wicket. The former batsman played an orthodox game, but the Lancashire midget by his humorous eccentricities recalled to the veterans present his famous parent, now retired. At last, with the score at 400, Crawford lost his wicket to a fine piece of stumping, and as he disappeared into the pavilion every eye watched its doors for some sign of the indisposed Popper. There was a deep hush of expectancy. The umpire took out his watch, and the fielding side waited calmly until the statutory time allowed for the arrival of a batsman should have passed. One minute—seventy seconds—ninety seconds— one hundred seconds! At this point a singularly-attired man, carrying a bat, burst through the crowd, and ran swiftly towards the wickets. It was Popper ! The players tacitly admitted it by allowing a seeming scarecrow in corduroy trousers, with bath towels enveloping his bosom, and a dilapidated felt hat upon his head, to take his place at the vacant wicket..................... How the famous English captain won the match with five consecutive fours is now history. . We do not yet know the reason for his remarkable sartorial escapade; but whether it is to be ascribed to indiscreet in­ dulgence in Australian hospitality, to the heat of our suns, or to ill-timed practical jesting, Popper’s appearance was more that of a circus clown than a cricketer of international repu­ tation.” And now after this long extract let me relate in a manner crisp as a well-executed cut, and direct as one of Bland’s fast yorkers, the true history of an incident which has caused more stir in the cricket world than anything since the promotion of Rutlandshire to a place among the first-class counties. After the exciting day’s cricket of January 3rd I was exceedingly tired, not only from the play, but from the hot sun and the unceasing demands upon a captain’s attention. When play was concluded, instead of returning to the hotel with the eleven, or rather with the ten, I hailed a cab, and after speeding down Richborough Avenue, across Parmiter Square, and up Steinmetz Street, stood upon the front and inhaled the pleasant breeze which at this hour blows across the Gulf of St. Vincent. Soon, as I strolled slowly by the sea, the roar of the crowd gathered at the Argus office, to see the closing scores exhibited there, died in the distance; two miles more, and I stayed to enjoy the prospect. The sea, a fainter blue within the reef than without, gently lapped the shingle, and the soft, briny breeze was beginning to fall. After the fatigue of a long day in the sun, the sight and smell of the cool water were irresistible; I undressed, and swam out lazily a little distance. Then as I turned I could see the long crescent of shore stretch back to Adelaide, peopled only by two approaching human figures and an occasional sea-bird seeking his evening meal on the sand. A short further swim and I turned finally shoreward. The little figures of the prospect had expanded into two men, one of whom, tall, thin and neatly dressed, of almost clerical appearance, turned over my heap of clothes, while a short, stout companion of coarser mould scrutinised mefrom the brink of the sea. I swam ashore with the awful possibility of a return to the hotel in Nature’s own garb before my mind. The two men coolly awaited me, and as I stalked up the beach towards them I appreciated for the first time the ascendency which clothes must give the civilized man over the savage. At my approach the clerical man sat upon my heap of clothes, while his stout companion placed himself in the van. “ Mr. Popper, I believe,” said he; “ me and my mate has follered yer to talk business, though you ’avnt a counting-house look about yer now------ ” “ You ruffian ! ” I cried. “ Give me back my clothes or I ’ll------ ” “ ’Armony, sir, ’armony ; we’ve come all this way a’ purpose to know what you’d take to be ill in bed a day—to-morrer, for instance.” “ HI in bed to-morrow! ” I shouted. ‘ ‘ Are you mad ? ” “ Let’s explain,” he said, with maddening coolness. “ Joseph and I has got a pot of money on the cricket match. If your eleven’s only ten we may make a bit or we mayn’t ; ’owever, we stand more of a look-in like. Lie low to-morrer and we’ll say fifty------” At this point I sprang upon him and knocked him over, but the other had risen and was upon me. Again and again I eluded the one to find his companion upon me. Their hands slid from my bare skin, and in training I was superior, but the fight was too unequal to last; suddenly I trod upon a sharp pebble, and fell with my head upon a rock. The combat was over, for the blow was a severe one, and although not unconscious, I lay half­ stunned and helpless as a child. My conquerors held a whispered consultation. ‘ ‘ If you won’t listen to a business proposal, sir, we must try force,” said the thin man, who had not yet spoken. “ We must stow you away somewhere until the morning, and I think I see a likely place,” he said, turning to the other. He drew a strap from his pocket, and buckled it very tightly round my ankles, in spite of a feeble resistance. Then the stout man took off his neckerchief and bound my hands. I shouted as loudly as possible for help, but there was nothing human in hearing but our­ selves. In distant Adelaide a few pioneer lights began to appear in the gathering dusk. Having been securely bound, I was borne carefully along the beach to a spot where a little old hut used by wandering bathers nestled against the cliff. Within this I was deposited upon a coil of rope, resembling more a huge fowl delivered by a Carter and Paterson van than the captain of a representative cricket team. “ We stand to win two’ undred if you lose this match,” said the stout man, “ so you’ll excuse our anxiety about yer.” The tall man had gone, but this one remained to exchange certain of his own clothing for my well-cut garments. At last he too went, and I listened until the soft thud of his footsteps was lost in the swish and roll of the rising sea. Then I attempted to rise, but of course vainly, and while lying there in a dazed, helpless, tired state, I did exactly what I should not have done, and fell into a long broken sleep, lulled by the monotonous music without. When I awoke it was broad day, and the sun was shining through the chinks of my bedroom. It took some minutes for me to realise my situation, and then there burst upon me the scene at the Oval when I should not appear in the pavilion among my men, and later at the vacant crease. Perhaps it was already too late ! Maddened by the thought of being imprisoned in a decaying hut at the doors of a great town, 1 wrenched furiously my bonds, but they were well tied and resisted the utmost force I could exert. At length, after an effort which made my face shine with perspiration, I managed to wriggle one hand from the fastenings. Thus the first problem was solved. The second, in the shape of a weak wooden door, presented no difficulty, and I stood a free man, with the splintered wood at my feet, gazing upon the panorama of the evening before, now lighted by a strong sun some distance up the heavens. Was I too late ? At the thought I crushed on my own felt hat, donned some of the stout man’s clothes, eking them out with my towels, and sped like the wind towards Adelaide. That run will never fade from my memory. Panting, somewhat dazed, my head aching from last night’s adventure, farcically clothed, I rushed over those miles into the town. Here, although the streets were not crowded, I was forced to moderate my speed, and as I walked along King Edward Koad an increasing crowd was at my heels. At last we came to the Oval. Two policemen were at the private gate, but their faces were turned to the field of play, so I rushed past without opposition and found myself in the rear of a huge crowd, which gazed intently at the pavilion, while upon the score-board appeared the figures 400—9—25. Then I was not too late to save the game, and this vast populace and the fourteen white figures in its centre were waiting for my appearance ! With a cry of relief I rushed to the small players’ pavilion on the north side of the ground, seized a bat, and fought my way through the astonished throng into the field of play. The rest of the story is soon told. The fieldsmen took their places doubtfully with astonished eyes; the bowler, more from force of habit than from design, ran up to the opposite wicket and delivered the ball. It came well to leg, I hit at it desperately, and off it went to the boundary. The next, a slightly better one, pitched to the o ff; again I swung the bat, and a movement of the throng testified to another four. Need I pursue the story ? The demoralised bowlers were an easy prey, and the fieldsmen seemed too fascinated by my appearance to be effective. The game was soon over and the victory won. Followed by a vast crowd, 1 stumbled towards the pavilion in the midst of a ring of players and sank almost fainting into a chair. However, I was soon put to bed, and in the evening had almost recovered from my adven­ ture. Of the two men I have heard nothing. I presume that th6y were among that dense throng at the ground waiting to claim their