After Henke’s death, the local papers also offered glowing words of praise. The Constitution said of Henke, “Lew Henke was a noble fellow. The men who were associated most intimately with him loved him and laid tribute of their tears on his bier. He saw his duty to play the game to which he gave his life, and no man ever played it better or manlier than he”(14) and “(H)e was perhaps the most popular player in the Southern League. He had a singularly pleasant disposition…was always in good humor....”(15) The Atlanta Daily Journal offered, “Ballplaying was his work. He did it…conscientiously and manfully. His earnestness and faithfulness were leading him to the front rank, and he doubtless would have become famous in his chosen calling....”(16) Papers from other cities in the league also paid tribute to Atlanta’s first-sacker: “Henke…was one of the best known as well as respected members of the profession. No man possessed more friends, not only in Atlanta, but in the rest of the cities comprising the league. He was a modest, unassuming, plain-spoken man, who always played for the club.”(17)

The Atlanta club adopted the following formal resolutions in Henke’s honor:

WHEREAS, it has pleased the Almighty God to take from us our friend and brother professional Louis Henke;

RESOLVED: That in his death the Atlanta club and we, his companions have suffered a loss which is irreparable and which words cannot express.

RESOLVED: That we extend to his widow, fatherless child and his aged mother, our heartfelt sympathy.

RESOLVED: That as a token of respect to his memory we will wear badges of mourning for thirty days.

RESOLVED: That a copy of these resolutions be sent to his family, and to the press of Atlanta.

The resolution was signed by his teammates and manager Gus Schmelz. In addition to the black patch Atlanta players would wear on their uniforms for the rest of the season, first base at Athletic Park was adorned with black crepe, as was the facade of the grandstand. (18)

Financial assistance also was promised. The Atlanta club pledged to continue Henke’s salary through the end of the season. The club also announced that proceeds from a game to be played against Birmingham on August 27 would be forwarded to Henke’s widow. The club hawked tickets at four different price levels - $10, $5, $1 and $0.50. An image of Henke was printed on all but the 50-cent tickets; the bearers were allowed to keep those tickets as a remembrance of the fallen player. The club also broke with its traditional practice of allowing ladies accompanied by a male escort to be admitted to the park for free; instead, they were asked to pay the 50-cent admission price at the gate. On the day of the game, the Constitution noted that “The club has done all that it can do…this will be the last chance to do anything for Henke in Atlanta. What is taken at the gate today will in all probability be the bulk of support that Henke’s wife and child will have for many years. Let this be a full and adequate amount.”(19)

Notes:

(14) "Poor Henke," Atlanta Constitution, August 16, 1885, p9.

(15) The Dead Player," Atlanta Constitution, August 17, 1885, p7.

(16) "Some Base Ball Reflections and Suggestions," Atlanta Daily Journal, August 17, 1885, p4.

(17) "Henke's Death, " Nashville Union, as reprinted in the Memphis Daily Appeal, August 18, 1885, p4. For all the glowing tributes paid to Henke's performance on the field, league statistics published in the Atlanta paper a couple of weeks prior to his death credit him with a .223 batting average - well down in the pack - and a fielding percentage of .966, which placed him fifth among first basemen at the time (even though he had already committed far more errors - 21 - than anyone above him.)

(18) "The Dead Player," p7.

(19) "The Henke Benefit Today," Atlanta Constitution, August 27, 1885, p5.