Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-22

ritislufg-St Louis Rain,
The New York American League Base
Ball Club was the victim yesterday of as
unfor ,unate a combination Of circumstances
as ever bcfen ball club. Between a bun
der on the part of somebody in not DEW
erng bundle of rain checks to give to
people as they passed in the gates and the
cautaHkerOUs weather. which turned on
dowupour of rain. the opening game at
American League Park with the Nationals
Of this city was fizze-this after what
would have been a sp,endid opening had
the day remained fair.
There was a widespread desire to see the
New York Americans in their first
home game. and about twelve thou
sand persons were on hand when play
began. 1t had begun to cloud up and
look threatening before time to begin the
game, else the attendance would have over
flowed the capacious stands Everybody
was ia holiday mood. all keen for the Amer
lean League start. and men and women
bedecked in their finery. but the wise ones
brought their umbrellas and raincoatS
The stands were beautifully decorated. and
the huge crowd arose and cheered tumul-
tuously when the New York and Washing
ton teams marched across the field al
abreast behind the energetic band
ChesbrO and Townsend were the opposing
pitchers and the New Yorks scored a run
off Townsend in the first inning on right
field smaShes by Dougherty and Williams
The sky was overcast completely by this
time and the myriad of flags were Swapping
IN the gusts of wind that preceded the
storm across the Hudson. 1t was plain
that there would have TO he some lively
movement to get in the four and a half in
nlngs necessary TO constitute a game. UNI
pre- Connolly hurried the players all he
could
II bgC4u 70 raj IN, .
ii was not long before the rain was COM
ing down hard. The bleachers began to I'M
load. and there were cries of Call the
game from all parts of the stands But
the game was allowed to go on There
were Kisses from spectators the ball soon
became so wet it was difficult to handle, the
field became soaked and slippery and the
game became a farce.
At the end of the third inning the score
was l to in favor of the Now Works
When the Nationals went to bat for their
ha!I OF the fourth inning the rain put on
an extra squirt and the crowd renewed its
disapproval of the games continuance The
Dali became so wet that CheSbro could not
hdhdle II. The pitcher also threw away
one glove and called for a dry one What
with a base on balls, a missed grounder by
Williams. a single by Huelsman and a
triple by Sullivan. the Washngtons scored
three runs. Their rally was the signal for
considerable cheering from those who took
tEis means of showing diSpleasure at the
way things had been managed
Elberfeld was at bat in New York's half
or the fourth when the rain came down in
sheets and it was difficult to see the ball
Then the umpire called the game As no
ram checks were on hand when the game
began none had been issued, but by dint of
frantic Scurrylng some had been secured
by the time play ceased Most of the spec
tdtors stayed under cover waiting for the
rain to stop. but a number rushed down
the approaches for the gates
ram checks were handed out until those
secured were all gone the crowd pressing
around the gates and getting wet and i'm
patient, Part of the picket fence that sepa-
rates the two approaches was pushed over
by the squeeze. The police We're on hand
In large numbers, and while there was a
good deal OF grumbling there was little dis
order. We want our money backr' ex-
claimed several voices More persons came
down to the gates and crowded around the
situation being aggravated by the incessant
rain.
Then the announcement was made that
there would be no more rain checks but
that admission to the game next Monday
would De free This did not suit everybody
some protesting that they had paid their
money and could not attend on Monday:
but as money is not refunded at the ball
games anyway the best they would have
Jared ordinarily would have been to re-
CelNe a rain check. and the free gate idea
was considered by many as a fair desire
To do all possible to retrieve the unfortunate
occurrence. Later Manager Griffith de-
49, ~ MANI eiuhItSS!pl 10 TO-DAY game
free instead of Mondays. He did this be-
cause he thought more persons could get
away for the game today.
SAID Frank Farrell owner of the New
York club; Il would give 10000 right now
II this thing had not happened. | don't
want the public's money without giving
them their moneys worth in return and
the gates VIII be free today. l will trust
10 the public that those who come TODAY
are those who are entitled to come"
There was good deal of sympathy for
Farrell and Griffith for the predicament
that arose. Il wouldn't have felt worse
had the thing happened to me-" said Pat
Powers. president Of the Eastern League
1T was pretty tough on man who is try
ing To do the right thing and to give the
public good base ball He has nv sympa-
thy"
~ the rain moderated the spectators filed
out of the entrances. Thee was no dis
order