The times., 1897-03-23

! ged along smoothly, handling everything
| that came their way in as clean manner
asif they had been playing half the season
Mercer and his .'old end partner Nc
| Guire, lined up for a little battery work, and
| penduluned the leather back and forth with
the same neatness and skill that has made
| them famous n the baseball world
| or course the main interest of the little
crowd OF spectators composed of news
| paper reporters and privileged friends oi
the club were anxious to get glimpse ol
| the new men, Pitchers Swain and Ashe
| They got the chance when they took their
/ turn in the box and at the bat. They both
| created very favorable Impressions, and 1t
| was the unanimous verdict that they would
| do.
Swaim as Mercer stated in a letter to
| The Times several weeks ago, is a ply
| sicaI won Ter. The young man is six feet
| five inches tall and weighs nearly, if not
| quite, 200 pounds. He is wedge-shaped
| from the shoulders down and is finely
| proportoned in -fyery limb. He has what
| is called good, honest face and a we'll
| formed head, which is covered by light
hair. He appears to have an easy dis
position AMI looks like q thinker-splendid
qualifications. by the way, for a pitcher,
who has 10 meet and study ont many
problems while facing a team in the big
league.
Swain has free, easy swing and
seems 10 send the ball across the plate
either fast or slow with the same motion
another valuable qualification, as it is
puzzling to the batter. He is just recov-
ering from an attack of grip, and was not
allowed 10 Svork only in easy stages. He
seems 10 tie familiar with the bat and
cracked out the hall hard and strong.
The young giant hatted AT .260 clip in
the Interstate League last season when
he pitched for the Findlay and Fort Wayne
teams, and he expects to do fully as well
as a Senator.
Steven Ashe, of Thomsonvlle. Conn,
was the other newly sw orn in toga wearer
that the fans watched work out. As in
the case of VAIN, he made a most favor
able impression. Ashe is big, husky
youngster, full Of Drawn and muscle, and
seems big and strong enough to go the dis
tance in the big League. 1t seems as easy
for him To pitch ball as for water TO run
down hill. He has plenty of speed and
count for anything he will prove a rich find
and valuable addition to the Senator's
twirling staff Ashe was not discovered"
by Charley Farrell, as has been frequently
stated. When the Duke saw him yes
terday II was the first time that his optics
had fallen athwart the lad. But | like
the way ne handles himself" said Charley,
land perhaps we can make a great pitcher
out of him Ashes first engagement was
with the Amsterdam. N Y. club. then he
went to Portland Me, and finished last
season with Newport.
The only pla yerS absent fromroll call we're
al Maui, LesterGerman," Silver" King, Ef'
Norton, Jimmy McJames, pitchers, and
Harvey Smith, iufieider. The absence of
McJames and Smith is enforced by reason
of their attendance upon school, but Ger
man and Norton are hourly expected, as
they had written that they would report on
time. and their absence yesterday was no
doubt unavoidable.
As TO Maui and King, it is different. It
has been said that Smiling Al is dissat-
isfied with the Sliding scale of wages
offered him by the local management and
Will not agree 10 the contract Manager
SChmelZ is of the opinion, however, that
Maui will come aroand all right and re-
port in a few days. Kings silence and
absence is puzZling. He signed before his
return 10 st. Louis at the end of last season,
and to all appearances was perfectly sat
isfied. But not a lire was received frcm
him all winter and there is report from
St Louis that he has decided to quit play
ing ball Manager Schmelz telegraphcd
him last night and asked an explanation
and what he intended doing. Bnt per-
haps silver is Low en- route to Wash
inGton.
To guard against a possible paucity OF
pitchers Mr. Wagnersecurel another twirler
yesterday afternoon. He is John kifnble,
of Minvine. n. j. and is twenty years Of
age. five feet nine inches high, and weighs
1T5 pounds He played ON the Roanoke
team with George wngley last season
and was warmly recommended TO Messrs.
Wagner and SChmelz by "Zeke. Wrigley
says Kimble is much better pitcher than
the loudly touted Tannehill of Richmond,
who was sold to Pittsburg for q good price.
Like the other youngsters. Kimble is
stout and strong and exceedingly intelli-
gent looking Wrigley says he is sure TO
prove second edition of Mercer under the
capable coaching and training OF Mcclure
and Farrell and the older pitchers of the
staff Kimble went over TO Baltimore last
night but will return in time to practice
with the team today. He had signed with
Charley Boyer's Charleston club of The
Southern League, but upon the failure of
thatorcanizationhe hewascommunicated with
by Mr. Wagner with the satisfactory re-
suit as stated.
Magnate Wagner and Manager Schmelz
were close observers of their men, while at
practice, and expressed themselves as be-
ing delighted with the fine showing made
the first day. The good color, clear eyes