Rioting and wild disorder, in which spectators and players joined, causing a scene never witnessed in New York before, marked the conclusion at the Polo Grounds yesterday of the game between the Giants and Cubs. By cleverness in seeing an opportunity to deprive the Giants of their final and deciding run and quickness in seizing it, the Cubs had forced the umpire, Henry O'Day, to declare the game a tie, after half of the spectators had gone home in the belief that New York had won 2 to 1, and many of the New York players had left the field.
Through what appeared to be the carelessness of a single player, Merkle, in leaving first base after Bridwell's winning run had been scored and retiring from the field without touching second base and with the ball still in play, the final score as it stood last night was 1 to 1 instead of a victory for the home team.
In the fight between members of the opposing nines for the possession of the ball and the efforts of spectators, who rushed upon the field, to prevent the Chicago players from enjoying the fruits of their quick-wittedness, several players and the umpire were roughly handled and more or less severely hurt. Efforts of special policemen to clear the grounds were unavailing, and it took the regular policemen, called in from the outside, half an hour to quell the disturbance.
No similar situation had ever been seen in the history of baseball in New York, When the eighth inning came to a close the score was 1 to 1, and the 20,000 enthusiasts that filled the grandstand and bleachers to overflowing were "rooting" for the Giants with desperate hope. Chicago failed to score in the first half of the ninth, and in the last half Bridwell went to bat with McCormick on third base and Merkle, who had replaced Tenney, on first.
Bridwell made a clean hit over second base. McCormick raced home ... and there seemed nothing else to do but go home cheering. That is what most of the players did, and that, according to the decision rendered later by O'Day, is what young Mr. Merkle, the runner on first base, did. That little oversight of Merkle's gave Chicago their chance.
The runner had been forced off first by Bridwell's hit. The ball was in centerfield. Hofman, covering that position, saw Merkle leave first base and saunter toward the clubhouse. He threw the ball to Evers, on second, but it went wild and [Giants P] McGinnity caught it. He had seen the opening left by Merkle's mistake as quickly as the Chicagoans, and had rushed out from the coaching lines to take a hand in the pro­ceedings.
With the ball in his hand, McGinnity also started for the clubhouse. [Cubs manager] Frank Chance got into action at this point and succeeded in holding McGinnity until other Chicago players could join in the effort to recover  the  ball.   McGinnity,   overpowered,

threw the ball as far as he could into the crowd behind third base, the spectators having already begun to pile into the field. Steinfeldt and Tinker followed the ball into the crowd. Tinker seized it and threw to Evers, who stood proudly on second base holding the ball aloft, while O'Day, who had run down to second to see the play, was immediately surrounded by Chicago players.
Chance ran to O'Day, claiming the run did not count because Merkle had been forced at second. A riotous mob at once surrounded the couple, and although most did not know what it was all about everyone evidently recognized a good opportunity to get a shot at the umpire. Those within reach began pounding him on all available exposed parts not covered by the protector, while the unfortunate attackers on the outskirts began sending messages by way of cushions, newspapers, and other missiles.
A flying squadron of real police, reinforced by the special men, rushed O'Day to McGraw's coop under the grandstand and Chance was escorted off the field. Then the mob ran about the grounds throwing cushions and generally preparing for O'Day's reappearance, when it was made known that the game might not be given to the Giants. The police cleared the grounds and order was restored.
O'Day, under the press of circumstances, did not render a decision on the field, but after he had dressed he told a reporter of the Herald that Merkle had not gone to second and the run did not count. He said a run could not be tallied on the third out if the man was forced and put out at second.
Merkle said after the game that he had touched second en route for the clubhouse, and McGraw refused to say any more than that the game had been won fairly.
O'Day seemed very uncertain as to what he should do and was a long time coming to a decision, and when he did he seemed uncertain as to its justification. Should he report the game to President Pulliam as a tie the New York club will protest, for there was ample police protection on the grounds to clear the field and continue the contest.
The decision was really Emslie's, who was officiating on the bases, but he says he did not see the play, as he was watching first base, and O'Day had run out into the pitcher's box prepared to watch it.
The same situation arose in Pittsburgh on September 4 ... [See article above.]
Mr. Pulliam could not be seen last night up to a late hour, and he made no decision in the matter, but he gave out the following statement: "I made no decision in the matter, and I will not do so until it is presented to me in proper form." ... Last night he was closeted at the New York Athletic Club with O'Day and Emslie, and until he renders a decision the game stands on the umpires' decision that Merkle was forced at second.