The Washington herald., 1907-04-12
sew York. B washlngton. 2.

New York, 3; Washington, 2.
All forms of winter sports were rele-
gated to the extreme rear and requested
10 find seats for the summer yesterday.
when the great national psstime baseball
vas ushersd in for the season Of 1867 at
the American League grounds. where =
mighty horde Of Washington's ever faith
fuls vociferously helped the renovated
Nationals to a near victory over New
York. By to 2. The victory Of the men
from Gotham was until the closing in
ming OF the contest so perilousIy close TO
the whitewash variety that the local fans
were able TO forgive Washington's defeat
| in the glory of a hard-fought finish that
bids fair 10 overthrow the HighIanders'
/ lead. and bring success into the camp OF
Cantlllon.
| Probably the greatest crowd that ever
/ assembled to witness an athletic contest
in this city swarned over the old Seventh
street ball yard 10 watch the opening of
the struggle for the championship pen
nant. The brand Of weather delivered by
Prof. Willis Moore and his assistant fore
casters. while not ideal from the baIlplay-
er's standpoint was not too cold for COM
! fort, and an hour before the game was
scheduled TO begin all the car lines lead
/ ing toward the field were doing hang
1 ing-on-room-ouly business.
/ Every baseball enthusiast who could
break away from the sordid routine Of
breadwinning was there staid old bust
ness men, lawyers, and government clerks
mingled with noisier and younger ele-
ment, and hung blissfulIy TO their car
straps, oblivious Of every discomfort ia
the anticipation Of adding their dignifed
huzzehs TO the joyous and unrestralned
howls Of the bleacherites. An official can
vass of the multitude would doubtless
thaye disclosed an unparalleled increase in
the demise Of fictitious graHdmothers.
Great Crowd Present
Before the two teams had made their
! appearance oil the field of battle, tho
/ bleaehers and the greater part of Tie
grand stand were packed 10 capacity
Across the east end OF the field, re-
strained by ropes and bluecoats, stood
more than two thousand who were unable
10 find seats az the price Of admission,
and until far into the game the ranks Of
the overflow we're constantly augmented
/ by new arrivals. BY the time the bat
teries had been announced and the umpire
tossed the white sphere TO Long Tom
/ Hughes. chosen to do the slab work for
/ the Nationals. every available seat on
the grounds had been taken. and the back
Of the grand stand packed four deep with
late eomers
! The official count for the attendance was
4 l2,202 but only 12.S99 OF those, who. aC-
Cording 10 the box-Off3ce, paid admission
really saw the game. The police attended
to the other three, a trio of men who
brought 10 the grounds certain stimulating
fluids which early in the contest caused d
lmomentary melee in the grand stand
! Hostiiities were not allowed TO reach an
acute stage. at least inside of the grounds
the belligerents being forced to make
hasty and undignified exits under escort
/ Among the assembled fans could be dis
tiBguished the cOuutenances of many of
Washingt0ns prominent citizens, both in
public and private life From the Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing came large
delegation of plate printers, who arrived
I at the park ia a Seeing Washington au-
tomobile that was literally decorated in
the national colors. This band OF rooters
carried flags and Japanese Parasols, and
had among their number a trumpeter who
sounded military calls on a coach horn
during the game At the opening Of the
seventh the lucky seventh. when every
! true fan rose TO his feet and h0wled for
/ gore, the printer -bugler sounded the re-
veille As the last half OF the ninth dwin-
died away and an hope of victory was
abandoned, the sad notes OF Taps" rang
/ across the inclosure.
/ March behind Band.
/ At $50 the teams marched up the field
neaded 10y the Greater Washington Band.
which discoursed she latest popular rag
time hit. Under this inspiring strain the
team wheeled and marched down toward
/ the grand stand, while the fans rose and
roared their welcome. On reaching tha
/ region OF the home plate. each team made
a flank movement toward its respective
bench, and the band continued its way
| into the grand stand. where it periodically
played pieces.
/ After the customary fifteen minutes OF
practice for each team, Prof. J. P. O'Day,
famiiiarly known as Pop" the genial
disnitary who presides over the grounds
gave the gong taps that were the signal
I for the opening Of the contest Pop
1 has been starting the Washington club
on its rocky journey away from the pea-
nanf each year for fifteen years. but yes
! terday he said, he had a "hnnch" that
/ for the first time there would be some
/ thing doing. The advent OF Joe Cantillon.
out OF the woolly West. as manager Of the
Nationals, is Pops reason FOR the
/ 'hunch."
/ That much is expected of Cantino =
| evidenced by the reception he req
when he stepped TO the plate to 'Bs
out TO his infield during the pract
terval. Throughout the. contest. VIII
local aggregation was at bat, Can't
stentoriaa tones resounded from the
ing line, overt0ppiug even the mo-
the myriad rooters. The stoCky
~ Westerner never let up for a momeT
after the game there seemed 10 be
vsrsaf sentiment that tue National
leader should be called Fighting
recognition CT his never-say-die tao
Team Locks stronger.
While it Is hardly fair 90 ate
| estimate the probable strength Of
by its showing in one game, never
| judging from the exhibition ye
CONTINUED On EIGHTH PAG
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