Evening star., 1899-03-16
FOR EARLY PRACTICE
Departure of the Senators for Hamp-
ton, Va.
''SIZING Up" THBNEW LOCAL PLAYERS
Organization of New Chess
Club.
COLU MBIA A. G.. WHIS T

Every player under contract to the Wash
| ington base ball club with the exception Of
Harry Davis and Gus Weyhng reported
| to Manager Irwin at the Ebbitt House yes
| terday, and at $50 last night the entire
group took the steamer for Hampton, Va.
Billy Dineen, Johnny O'Brien, Dick Pad
den, Pitcher Dunkle and Arlie Latham ar
rived in this city yesterday afternoon. and
| the old-timer, Gus Wehying, was the only
man unaccounted for who was expected to
report here. Manager Irwin explained
| Wehying's absence as being a case of that
player saving money by going direct to
Hampton from Louisville instead of COM
ing to Washington.
Local fans dropped in at the Ebbitt hour
ly yesterday and sized up the different
players as they arrived. Jack O'Brien
was the bright particular star under obser-
walton yesterday, and the favorable COM
ments on his appearance were very numer-
Gus Manager Irwin was questioned about
o Briens batting ability and replied:
You know what sort of n batter Buck
Freeman is. Well. | believe o. Brien is still
stronger with the stick. He will hit hard
as Freeman. and. | think can bunt little
bit better Both men go after a ball on ex-
actly the same lines. throwing their entire
weight on the bat when desiring to hammer
the ball out
Dick Padden and Frank Killen, of course
lined up together for a friendly chat. hav-
ing been great friends when with the Pitts
burg club and both expressed themselves
as being pleased with the outlook of the
Senators. Both these men had words of
praise for Harry Davis. The latter has sent
on letter from Philadelphia physician
stating that his leg. which was hurt last
season, Is perfectly sound. and if this is the
actual state of the limb both Padden and
killen were emphatic in stating that Man
ager Irwin need not look further for a first
baseman. Padden and Kilen have worked
with Davis from both sides and thoroughly
know his worth in every department of the
game.
Arlie Latham, looking as youthful as he
did when with the st. Louis team. dropped
into the hotel in the afternoon and was
quickly surrounded by a group of admirng
friends. Latham has always taken good
care of himself and is in perfect physical
condition. He is booked for the Toronto
team the coming season. but goes to Hamp-
ton with the Senators to fill out two oppos-
ing mines. Base ball is full of Numerous
shifts and chances, and there is telling
what may or may not develop from the
spring practice that Latham will indulge
in with tn Senators. Nothing better could
be asked than that Arlie would come
again. his weak arm being the only handi-
cap that has confronted him the past three
years. Latham has been in close touch with
Al Maui in Philadelphia all winter, and
claims that the latter has given him advice
in the matter of treating his arm that has
been very beneficial A months trial will
demonstrate to the satisfaction of Manager
Irwin whether Latham is a dead one or
not. and should he be signed by the Wash
ington management the local enthusiasts
can rest assured that another good piece of
| luck has come the Senators way and that
Arlie has regained his old-time form
Pitcher Dunkle is another new face on
the Senators pay roll. and he attracted
considerable attention around the hotel yes
terday afternoon as soon as he had regis
a a N Sf m
about feet inches and built in liberal pro-
| portions. While not quite big as Rusie,
there are but few inches difference in all
around measurement. Dunkle expressed
himself being pleased with having signed
with Manager Irwin. principally on account
of the iatters promise to give him plenty of
work.
When the season opened last spring in
Philadelphia" said Dunkle. II pitched my
first game and won it, and then l was not
put in the pitchers box for eleven days.
Sitting on the bench ruSts and stales a man
with noticeable quickness and l could very
| easily observe that l was going backward.
| Manager Irwin has promised to pitch me at
| least twice week if ! make good and
| there is no question but that | will do my
| best to stay in fast company and make a
reputation for myself. What little expert
| ence L have had in the league and learned
from other new recruits has taught me that
| # is much better for young man to start in
| with band of colts like the Senators this
| season, as he is more likely to be given a
] thorough chance and encouraged"
| While playing with the Sunhury, Pa,
| team q couple of seasons ago Dunkle at
| tracted the attention of several base ball
! ''outlOokers' and he was recommended to
| Mr.. Wagner, but before negotiations were
/ well under way the Quaker city club step
| ped in and gobbled up the pitcher through
/ the medium of a better bid. Dunkle start
| ed out well with the Phillies, but later was
released and returned to the clubs in the
| interior Of Pennsylvania. Near the end of
! the season he pitched against the Toronto
club. then under Irwin'S charge, and the
| latter quickly discovered that the big boy
had lots of speed and all the curves. He
| is pitcher that has to he worked regularly
| 10 get the best results. and Dunkle can be
counted on as a regular the coming sea-
son.
The Senators arrived at Hampton this
| morning. and tomorrow morning the team s
| fist spring practice will begin. Very
| light work will be the program for
! the next few days. running to get the wind
! in condition, batting the ball and catching
| flies as to get the business eye back
ter part of next week the opposing picked
| mines will be lined UP against each other
| for the first real hard work,
| Base Ball Notes.
| From present Indications a big row is
! looming up on the base ball horizon in the
| neighborhood OF the New York Base Ball
| Club Some time since Walter Spalding
| sold out his interest in the Giants to Mr..
| Freedman, but he was continued in the di-
rectory for the good of the club. Things
| have not been going the way Mr.. Spald-
| ing would like, and after telling Freedman
what he thought of his management, sent
| in the following letter yesterday, resigning
| from the board of directors:
| NEW YORK, March IA. 1899.
| Mr.. Andrew Freedman, President National
| Exhibition Company. New York City: