John Adams High School - Clipper Yearbook (Ozone Park, NY)

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THEY ALSO SERVE uv MELVIN WEIN S I 's I Q Q, . e was crossing the street. There was a grinding, screeching of brakes then a dull thud: a woman's scream, the clang of a siren, two men in white lifted the unconscious boy into the ambulance and it clanged away in the night to a hospital. HOLWELL ATHLETE HURT IN ACCIDENT Injury May Cort Johnnie Thompson Ball Career To the bed-worn invalid, Johnnie Thompson, these tidings meant the end. All his life he had been actively engaged in sports of one kind or another. Now he would never again be able to run, jump, or feel the impact of one body against another. All that was gone. Oh, why did I have to cross the street? he would often mutter. :if :ze :ze :ze In March, two months after his fateful accident, Johnnie returned once more to Holwell University. The first signs of Spring were in the air. Birds were singing, flowers were beginning to bloom, and -baseball mitts and balls were being dug out of closets. To Johnnie all this preparation meant nothing. Yet when called for baseball practice, he followed the crowd down to the athletic field. They can't stop me from watching, he thought. When the diamond season started, Johnnie was on the bench with the players. There wasn't a coach. The school couldn't afford one. The captain ran things, but he was a better player than a director. True, John was not in uniform, not did he play. He wasn't a mascotg he was above that. Yet he was with the team. -I-I-as il...Il'l'gaI-423

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began professionally, is a Spanish rapier of the 17th century-such swords the famous French musketeer faced-it is a straight two-edged flexible cutting blade with a sting which exceeds that of a bull whip. This type of guard is termed by the French pas d'ane. It is com- posed of bent prongs, which are interwoven on each other and run down on the blade for a short distance. This device was used in getting your opponent's blade entangled, a quick twist of the wrist and you succeeded in disarming him. It was through the develop- ment of this light weapon that thrusting antics of swordsmen replaced the slashing stroke which was prevalent in so many countries. By this time the sky had darkened to a sombre grey and the hour was late. I arose for one last look at some weapons in the room which I noticed the caretaker av-oided. In a small niche in a far corner I found a large black sword, which from its straight lines and basket hilt I knew to be a Scottish Claymore. One of those famous blades used by the highlanders, which appeared to have been made by a Venetian artisan whose works were popular during the end of the 16th century. Engraved on the pommel was a colored picture in enamel of a young warrior, the light of battle in his eyes. My companion seeing the object of my attention turned his head away exposing his profile to me. In the flickering light of the flam- beaux I studied the rugged features and compared them with the miniature before me. Allowing for the variation in age, which was apparent, they were identical. I replaced the weapon hastily and followed the old fellow again down the dark staircase, through the vacant banquet hall echoing with the sound of our footsteps, until we reached the castle's entrance. As he swung open the exit portals, studded with their iron bolts and bars, I noticed the massiveness of his shoulders. His mili- tary carriage became apparent as he stood back, holding open the door. There was an awkward silence as I passed across the moat and was lost to view in the fog. I paused on the dusty road and looking back saw him framed in the doorway of the dark castle his head bowed to his chest. - A sword is like life, lasting until its purpose is done, then gone, leaving only the echo. 22 l l--IE iliII'l'l1l4

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It was Johnnie Thompson who discovered the nervousness or the opposing catcher in the season's opener against Darton College and therefore advised Williams to attempt a steal home with the win- ning run. And as he predicted, the catcher did muff the ball in the ex- citement, and Holwell won. Yes, Johnnie knew his baseball. It was Johnnie who under- stood that a big hulk like the Bolton's heavy hitter was easy for a ball thrown shoulder high. And Bolton's star hitter was struck out three times because of Johnnie. Then again, against Jamestown, the league leaders, Johnnie rec- ognized that the Jamestown pitcher was blowing up in the fateful final inning. Through his advice, three Holwell hitters waited, walked, and filled the bases. Jamestown excitedly yanked the pitcher out. Then Johnnie advised a pinch hitter to be sent up. The sub- stitute, not having had sufficient warming up, threw one over the center of the rubber and Samson, the pinch hitter, smashed out a double to deep center field, causing Holwell to score the two winning runs. Yes, Johnnie certainly was acquainted with the old Diamond Game. His work helped out Holwell in a tie for the championship. Then came the championship game. Every one of the 10,000 odd people at the contest will remember how Holwell was being sh-own the dust of their opponents. Through five innings Holwell had been kept scoreless, while their opponents had piled up a grand total of four runs. The despair of the losing team had moved into the Holwell stands, and that side of the field was as hushed as a hospital street at midnight. But they will also remember how a short crippled lad had hobbled onto the field and grabbed up a Holwell megaphone. Come on! he yelled, give them the 'Fight On, yell. Something of his pep and vigor must have entered these stands, as they all remembered who that weak lad was and what he had done. With one accord the age-old cheer rang across the diamond. Those who were there will remember how the Holwell team seemed to have new life in them afterwards, and h-ow they came up in their half of the sixth and began to clout the old cowhide. So that was why Holwell won that ball game. The next day the head of the gym department, the dean, and various members of the faculty were seen in animated discussion in QL!--r-u-as 1n.an-tit.:-e