The evening times., 1896-04-16
CROWDS TOSEE THE GAME
National Park Filled With an
Enthusiastic Multitude.
IN THE PINK OF CONDITION
Members of the Washington Team
Ready to Battle for the Champion
ship-GOthamites Also Show up
well-The Two Clubs Parade the
Principal Streets of the City.

| The National Baseball Park is filling
| with struggling, sweltering, yelling crowd
| OF "rooters," fans" CROOKS ordi-
nary citizens and politicians. Hundreds or
admission tickets have been sold. and at
The hour OF going TO press immense tnrCngs
surro und TO box offices, striving to secure
that little piece OF cardboard which en-
stiles them To witness the opening cham
| piouship game for the season OF 1886.
AS far as Washington is concerned the
battle or the diamond starts off under the
most favorable auspices. The weather is
all that can lie desired, and the only thing
needed TO make the spectators go home
happy TO cold dinners and complaining wives
is the downfall of the New Yorks.
Cant Joyce says this is to be. Treas
urer Wagner gazes iongingiy at the hand
some American flag floating from the
! staff over the grand stand, where some day
he hopes to see bunting flung to the
! breeze bearing the inscription, Cham
pions," and fondly hopes that his Senators
will humble their proud rivals. The crowd
Is intensely partisan, and il roofing cah
win n game the locals percentages column
tonight will bear the charmed figures
1000.
Umpire Timothy Hurst is walking nerv-
ousiy around in the shade, thinking of the
wordy battle he must fight with Washing
ton's scrappy captain and New fork's
lyspep;ic pitcher, Dad Clark. His hour
of suffering is at hand.
IN THE PARK.
The sight inside the inclosure il an IN
| spiring one. Pistora's Cornet Band is dis
| pensinr sweet music, but the waiting I'M
| patient crowd is in no condition to enjoy
| the soothing stra ins of his musicians. Work
| men are busily engaged in removing lun,-
| Der to obscure Places and adding few
| finishing touches to the seats and stand.
Score-card boys are dashing about, selling
Mr.. Joseph X. Strasburger's latest novelty
n the line of 'tally-keepers, while the cry
| Of the refreshment and cushion venders
| browns all other noise.
Everything is in readiness for the fray
except the new 5O-cent bleachers- They
will not be completed until the club returns
from its first trip, but they are SO they can
| De utilized.
There are but few changes among the
| ground employees. Mr.. W. +. Elliott is in
The main box office. Messrs. Bailey and De
I y
press box operator. looks after the ticker
hat conveys the progress Of the game to
every part OF the country. Saffin has been
Identified with baseball for so long time
| that he ha forgotten when he first began.
Long before the park gates We're opened
the crowds commenced To gather. A train
load Of New York enthusiasts reached the
| city this afternoon. and may be depended
l Dat
Woe be unto them should the Gothamites
suffer defeat. The guying they must ell
| dure will be worse than the rule of she car
Of all the policemen-'Teddy' Roosevelt.
PARADE OF THE PLAYERS.
| As In former years, the season opened
| with a street parade. The home team, in
| carriages, left the grounds at 1:30 O'Clock.
| headed by the band, and proceeded to The
| Riggs House, where the New Yorks are
| stopping. The line OF march was past the
| Executive Mansion to Seventeenth street,
thence to G street, to the Government
| Printing Office, to Pennsylvania avenue.
| Seventh street and out to the grounds.
| The parade was in charge of Col. Robb.
| Nr. Wagner's right-baDd man.
1t was shortly after 3 O'Clock when the
| park was reached, and the teams lost no
| time In beginning their practice work.
| New York was given the field first, and
the Washington favorites came in for a
liberal share of applause, especially Meekin
and Farrell, who formerly played here.
The Washlngtons will take the field at 4
o'clock, and play will be called half an
hour later.
ALLIN GOOD CON DITION.
Capt. joyce had his men out early this
forenoon, and for several hours they in
!ulged IN light practice work. Every Sem
1tor is in the pink of condition, and premise
% give their opponents hard tussle. The
New York players also took the fie Id.
and limbcred up by tossing the ball about.
But no heavy work was done; that is to
come later.
The home team will make a handsome
| appearance when they come upon the
field at O'Clock. They are attired in
| heir new uniforms of white, with black
| trimmings. The dress OF the visitors con-
sists of gray shirts and pants, with trim
mings OF maroon.
| The batting order of the teams, unless
changed at the last moment, will be as fol-
| lows:
| S>onfnro- Eianto.