Danny Boy Williams, 1842 - 
Though his early history is murky, Danny "The Boy Wonder" Williams, can first be traced to his British naval career. Serving under Captain Nelson Hornblower, grandson of Admiral Horatio Hornblower, aboard England's first iron-clad warship, HMS Warrior in 1860.
His first naval duty was that of Log Hurler where his strong arm was a valuable asset. He was promoted quickly to Ship's Navigator having demonstrated an aptitude for sea navigation. Unfortunately, HMS Warrior was shipwrecked shortly after his promotion and records of his service after that time cannot be found.
He was introduced to Charles Babbage at a whist club in London, who hired him as an assistant in construction of Babbage's Analytical Engine. However, "contradictory ambitions" with fellow Babbage Assistant, Ada Lovelace, forced Danny to forgo his computational career and join the crew of British merchant ship, Montana, hired to transport the Bolshoi Ballet company to America for it's first American tour.
The Montana ran aground on a reef off Bermuda where all were rescued and ultimately transported to the U.S. Danny stayed on with the ballet troupe marrying in 1864 prima ballerina, Desirina Pavlova Bendova, an American by her prior marriage to Union General Abner Doubleday. This short-lived marriage earned Williams his American citizenship but many troubles too. He refers to the period as "The Russian Blunder."
His first naval duty was that of Log Hurler where his strong arm was a valuable asset. He was promoted quickly to Ship's Navigator having demonstrated an aptitude for sea navigation. Unfortunately, HMS Warrior was shipwrecked shortly after his promotion and records of his service after that time cannot be found.
He was introduced to Charles Babbage at a whist club in London, who hired him as an assistant in construction of Babbage's Analytical Engine. However, "contradictory ambitions" with fellow Babbage Assistant, Ada Lovelace, forced Danny to forgo his computational career and join the crew of British merchant ship, Montana, hired to transport the Bolshoi Ballet company to America for it's first American tour.
The Montana ran aground on a reef off Bermuda where all were rescued and ultimately transported to the U.S. Danny stayed on with the ballet troupe marrying in 1864 prima ballerina, Desirina Pavlova Bendova, an American by her prior marriage to Union General Abner Doubleday. This short-lived marriage earned Williams his American citizenship but many troubles too. He refers to the period as "The Russian Blunder."
He turns up next in 1873 as groundskeeper for that year's National Association Champion, Boston Red Stockings. He was fired as groundskeeper in 1874, upon being discovered digging "pluckholes" in the New York Mutuals' outfield. "Pluckholes" are known to be used by unscrupulous outfielders for hiding spare baseballs. He maintains that he was digging for worms. Though with the Red Stockings for just one season, Danny seems to have caught the baseball bug and never shaken it. He's right at home sailing the broad seas of the outfield, striding gracefully to catch a fly ball, and hurling the log back home; on a rope.
