The times., 1899-12-04
NAVAL MEN BUY HATS
Worn by Backers of West Point in
the Football Game.
Remarkable scenes in the Depart
mental Buildings During the Con
test - Telephones Kept busy Com
mUnicatinG the Progress of the
Battle - Longs Men in sIOurning.

II You see an Army men these days wear
ing brand new hat and an unusually
broad smile, you may safely say that some
one of Secretary Longs young men has
paid his bet on the football game of Sat
urday at philadelphia. 1t is said the
slaughter of the Annapolis team by the
brawny boys from West Point will keep
the naval men on short rations for the next
thirty days, while the Army attaches are
dining sumptuously off their winnings
Official matters in Army and Navy cir
cle5 Saturday were almost wholly in the
hands of subordinates. The great corridors
and offices Of the executive homes of the
two branches Of the military service were
barren of the customary heads. The cause
of these unusual conditions was the pres
ence on Franklin Field, Philadelphia. of
what was perhaps the most distinguished
body Of ''rooters" that ever attended a foot
bail game and mourned or enthused as
conditions affected them.
West Point and Annapolis each had their
body Of supporters, and every individual
was for the time being imbued with the
contagion Of the moment, and grey haired
warriors hOwled with the coming officers
of the Army and Navy No such scene was
ever before witnessed in this country, and
many are the hats won and lost on the
games. 1t is said that the Admiral was
SO far transported by his enthusiasm for
the middies that his hat bill is today an
item which, TO a lesser income, would mean
temporary embarrassment.
General Corbin was there, with a galaxy
of fair Washington maids; Secretary Long,
OF the Navy, with his assistant, Mr.. Allen;
the Secretary OF War, with Mr.. Meikle-
john, and Generals Miles, Ludington, VIII
son, Miller, and Bingham, and Rear Ad-
mirals Walker, Hitchcock, and Melville.
Although practically deserted by the
crowd that went to the game on the early
train, the department building was far from
dull place. From the opening of the doors
the telephones began to ring, and every
call meant Philadelphia. The calls at first
were for the prevailing odds on the game,
and when the Annapolis boys had to offer
100 to rs these figures were accepted at
the department, which means that the sal
aries of many naval attaches are hypothe-
Gated for December
Later on, the progress of the game as
telephOned, and there was Joy and cor
responding gloom in the hearts Of the ad-
herents of one or the other Of the bat
ting elevens. What business was pre-
SSliNCI "dS lIdBsdEleu III q pBIluutlOIy
way, for the hearts of the men were all in
Philadelphia. Every telephone had its
group, who cheered or groaned as the
news came over the wire. The occasional
echcing cheer that resounded through the
halls was in strange contrast to the fore
boding dignity of this ceremonial pile.
Chief clerks We're lenient for once, even
joining in the excitement and unbending
so far as TO boldly offer the usual hat on
the result. What they wanted with the
number Of hats wagered is a question, but
if the bets are all paid from Washington
stock the furnishers will have no occasion
to complain of a dull fall opening
The inherent spirit of taking chance
did not pause at hats, but green notes
changed hands to such q degree that the
men on the Army side are today in posi-
tions of comparative afluence while their
naval confreres win hope to get even next
year.
1t viii require the better part Of this
week for the enthusiasm of the War De-
partment men to relax and permit the
regular routine to resume its accustomed
swing. It win be a long time before such
another event and its accompanying eX-
element disturbs the serenity of the
neigbboring departments.