Cricket 1901

S ept : 5, 1901.’ CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD 01 THE GAME. 399 THE V IS IT OF A TOUR ING TEAM FROM BUENOS A IR E S TO R IO JANE IRO . The difficulties which sometimes have to be surmounted (as well as the pleasures which areenjoyed) by cricketers in foreign climes when they play matches away from home, are well shown in the follow­ ing extracts from River Plate Sport and Pastime, describing a journey undertaken by Buenos Aires cricketers to Bio Janeiro: “ It is now many years since a team of River Plate cricketers visited Brazil, and as the Bio cricketers last visited us, it was the more necessary that every effort should be made to send up an eleven in response to the kind invitation we re­ ceived as far back as last February. Most unfortunately a worse year could hardly have been chosen ; for, as most of our readers are fully aware, things generally in the Plate to-day are in more or less a critical condition, and it was found that to get eleven men away from their work for three weeks was a matter of very great difficulty. “ This being so, it was naturally very soon obvious that any idea of a represen­ tative team going up hadtobe abandoned, but so keen and enthusiastic were our friends in Bio to entertain a team from the Plate that they decided that any team would be better than no team. Some sixty players in all were invited, and a bare eleven j ust raised ! “ The eleven was practically fixed at the commencement of the week during which we sailed. Before Friday, how­ ever, three players dropped out, one the very night before we sailed, although, let us hasten to add, very much against his will, and only owing to a very urgent business call. Here, therefore, let us gratefully acknowledge the kind and sportsmanlike conduct of Messrs. C. 'Wilson and Gordon Brown, who stepped forward and Llled the vacant places, thus enabling us to travel up with a full team. “ We left Buenos Aires by the 12.50 p.m. train from Plazi Constitucion on Friday, July 5th, a fair number of well- wishers, including the British Minister, giving us a good send-cff. On arriving ihere the old and dreaded cry of ‘ no water ’ was once again heard, and instead of leaving on Friday afternoon, we did not get out of dock until about four o’clock on Saturday morning. On arriving at Montevideo we found the-bay in a very bad state, a strong ‘ pampero ’ being the cause, and we were delayed a day in consequence. This was awkward, as it necessitated a change in all the arrangements that had been made for us. “ On our way up to Santos, Captain Spooner, who was extremely good to us all throughout our short voyage, had the nets put up and we had some cricket, Rumboll being much to the fore. “ On WedLejday morning, the 10th inst., we were all up early to enjoy the magnificent scenery as we approached Santos, and after a very unnecessary delay in front of the quay, we got along­ side about nine o’clock. Arrangements had been made for our luggage to be taken round to the custom house by cart, and then straight to the station, so that we could catch the 10.30 a.m. train to Sao Paulo and rest or get a little practice in the afternoon. As it was a junior official of the Custom House was rather overcome with his own importance, so that in spite of strenuous efforts on the part of Mr. Sell, who did everything humanly possible, we missed the morning train and had to wait for the afternoon one. We had a stroll round Santos, being treated with great kindness by all. “ In the afternoon we said good-bye to our kind friends at Santos and started for Sao Paulo. This journey is a really marvellous one. After being taken by steam to the foot of the Sierras, the train is pulled up by steel cables to the top. The scenery is simply perfect, and we all regretted very much that darkness came on before we had completed the journey. The change in the atmosphere was some­ what startling, and after being uncom­ fortably warm in Santos, we were all very glad of our coats on the Sierras. “ On reaching Sao Paulo we found hosts of good friends awaiting our arrival, and we were quickly taken off to the different houses we had been apportioned to. Unfortunately the journey, the sud­ den climatic changes or something affected one or two of us rather badly, and we were rather a sorry-looking lot next morning. “ Thursday, the 11th, broke cold and misty, such a fog was there, indeed, that we Buenos Aireans considered it a practi­ cal impossibility that there could be any match. About half-past nine, however, the sun struggled through, and by half­ past ten, the hour fixed for the com­ mencement of the match, all signs of the heavy mist, except around the distant hills, had entirely disappeared. It was, therefore, in absolutely perfect cricket weather that this, our first match, was commenced. “ The ground has been cut out of the side of a bill, in itself a wonderful piece of work, the soil being of a strange red colour. The pavilion lias been built on the part not cut away, and is accordingly reached by steps cat out in the bank on which, by the way, the letters S.P.A.C. are prettily engraved with a green kind of plant. The pavilion itself is very nicely arranged, containing two drawing­ rooms, shower-baths and all necessary conveniences. Among the latter we must mention the telephone which, during the progress of the match, never ceased ringing, so anxious were the people in town to know how the game was pro- gressing, while the people in Bio—many a long mile away—were kept equally well informed. The ground itself is small, and the boundaries easy. It is sown with a coarse kind of grass, but has been carefully rolled. It was, of. course, a great blow to us to find that we had to play on a matting wicket. This matting is dyed green, but a dark green, so that on approaching the ground it gives one the idea that the wicket itself has been carefully tended and watered and the rest of the ground neglected, The ground underneath the matting is very carefully prepared, and the matting very carefully laid down and stretched as tight as possible. The Union Jack, Brazilian flag, and the club flag were much in evidence, and alto­ gether the arrangements were as near perfect as possible. Here we must put in a word for the ladies. The club is the proud posse mor of a lunch committee composed of ladies, who take the keenest interest in the club and its games. We had the pleasure of staying with the president of this committee, and her enthusiasm was delightfully refreshing, while her excellent judgment and skill was greatly appreciated by all of us when the luncheon interval arrived, for we have rarely sat down to a more excellent cricket lunch. “ Although an early draw had been arranged for in any case, the match being over so early a scratch game was arranged, ‘ Batsmen v. Bowlers,’ and a pleasant afternoon was spent. After getting the bags packed, etc., we all sat down to a sumptuous repart, in which the skill of the Ladies’ Committee was again highly appreciated. “ After the match with Sao Paulo a special electric tram was placed at our disposal, and accompanied by the Sao Paulo team and many friends we were whizzed off to the station. Ou arriving there we found every arrangement being made for our comfort, and then reluct­ antly had to say good-bye to our kind friends in Sao Paulo, of whom we shall all for ever retain the very kindest remembrances. The cheers and counter­ cheers seemed to puzzle our Brazilian fel’ow-passengers as we slowly steamed out of the station, and none of us left Sao Paulo without a pang of regret. After the first day’s cricket there a splendid dance was given in our honour and greatly enjoyed. Considering that they had little more than a week’s notice, the whole affair was wonderfully well done. “ Having left Sao Paulo we travelled, accompanied by three of the Sao Paulo team, lor some three hours by the narrow gauge, and then arrived at a junction, the name of which we have forgotten. Here we found the train which was to take us to Bio waiting, at the end of which was a reserved coach for us con­ taining twelve most comfortable bunks. Will any of us ever forget that journey ? Had it been made in the daytime we should probably all have been charmed, but at night—! The track appeared to be one succession of sharp curves, and at each curve one or another of us found himself, if not on the floor, more than half out of his bunk. There was not, accordingly, much sleep indulged in by any of us. / “ In the morning we arrived at the Rio terminus, where several of the recep­ tion committee met us, among whom was our old friend, Mr. H. P. Wright. We were soon taken charge of and went off for a ‘ brush up, etc.’ before recruiting at the City Club at twelve o’clock. As at Sao Paulo we were all put up at different houses, some on one side of the bay and