Evening star., 1909-01-24
ALL READY FOR
THE NATIONALS
CIymer at Galveston and
Grass Diamond in
Good Condition.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

OOOQ CUIluitIUIl.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
GALVESTON, Tex, January 23-Out-
fielder Otis Clymer. constituting him
self as advance guard of the spring
visit of the Nationals for 1909. has
reached the city made famous by the
seawall, Pirate Lafitte and other things.
Otis is accompanied by his wife and
young daughter. and is comfortably 10
Gated at the Boulevard Hotel, on the
beach, near the White City and main
lighthouses. Otis came to Galveston
last spring for the first time. and imme-
diately fell in love with the city, the
climate and the many attractions Tor
sportsmen to be found hereabouts. The
few chances he had to go hunting proved
SO remunerative in the way of plethoric
bags of wild duck, geese and other game
that he vowed he would come down ear
lier this year. whether he was with the
Nationals or not, and get his fill of good
hunting. He has wide choice of fields
wherein to display his good marksman-
ship. mile or two west on the beach
will afford him plenty of opportunity TO
lay in supply of ducks for breakfast,
while the west bay shore, four or five
miles away, is always literally black
with game at this season of the year.
Then there is the hunting camp eight
miles down the island run by ball play
ers, where he can spend more extended
sessions afield If he chooses. Fishing IL
almost as good on the bay or beach, too.
as in the summer time, SO he can nave a
variety of sport
Clymer Pleased.
Clymer's signed contract is In Man
ager Cantillon's hands. and the big fell
low is pleased with the terms offered
him. II have no kick coming on my
treatment in Washington. either from
the mana cement or patrons" says Otis.
"and I'm willing to give the best serv-
ice in me at all times. l don't know
whether I'll be kept or not. but I'm go
ing to put up hard fight for one of the
regular outfield positions"
Clymer was sorry to hear of the re-
bellion of Johnson. Milan and Burns, bat
hopes they will come to terms or be sat
isfactorily placated before the time for
marching orders to the training camp
are issued. That's a fine bunch Cam
tillon has lined up" says he. "and If we
start the season with all the regulars
in good working you can bet there II be
some weeping and wailing and gnashing
of teeth by the other fellows In the
league race"
We are looking for more of the Nation
ais to drop in ahead of time. as most OF
them last spring expected to INVADE the
seagirt isle ahead of time this year to
take whirl at the fishing and hunting
before the strenuous training work
started in Ganey Street and Shipke,
particularly. are looked for early
Nationals Hotel.
Though it is not yet definitely settled,
the Seaside Hotel will probably be again
the headquarters for the Nationals dur
ing their stay here. While the service
last spring was satisfactory enough and
the table good. more experienced caterers
now have charge of the hostelry, and
the players can look for excellent treat
ment.
One thing the players will miss this
year will be the grabbing and shrimp
gathering in the grade-raising canal at
the side of the hotel that they enjoyed
so much last year The canal has been
filled up to two blocks east of fremont
street on which the Seaside faces. and
the boys will have to go that distance
further in their pursuit of shelled sea
edibles. The big dredges now work three
or four blocks east of the hotel. and the
4O0-foot section of fremont street across
the canal will be paved before the boys
reach here. No more will they have
to worry about the canal being open
or shut during their waking hours, and
the hoarse toots of the mud diggers will
no longer lull them to sleep.
Grounds Ready.
Groundkeeper Hanks, the chocolate
colored genius who has charge of Ath
letc Park, has been at work on it all
winter, and now boasts of a fine turf
field that covers the entire inclosure.
He already has the park in fine shape
and can hand 1t over to Cantillon for
use on an hours notice. The clubhouse
has been renovated and painted, and
every damp day the boiler is kept going
in order to have the quarters dry and
in good order for the arrival of the Can
tillonites.
As there Is quite winter colony of ball
players on hand, proposition is on foot
TO have a series of Sunday games dur
ing the month of February, prior to the
arrival of the Nationals, between two
pros of the city. The games will prob
ably start next Sunday. Besides Clymer
there are Jack Warner Howard Wake
field Of the Maps. Tony Smith of Min
of the local Sandcrabs, Ely Kaphan the
premier batter of the Three-Eyed League
and Eddie Cermak of Shreveport on
hand They, with numerous good semi
pros of the city. can make up two strong
teams and gather in some coin at the
gate, to say nothing of getting early
starts in conditioning.
Cozy for Warner.
"Old Reliable" Jack Warner, the ex-
National. who is to be captain and man
ager of the Sandcrabs of 1909 has been
here with his wife and family over q
month and is comfortably settled in a
cozy cottage in the vicinity of the ball
park. Jack. who has a brand-new team
of eastern talent, picked to battle in this
league, Is making his first venture in base
ball as a team commander and has the
best wishes and enthusiastic support of
local fandom. He made decidedly
strong impression on previous spring trips
and the local owners, who are not loath
to turn loose money for proper talent, did
their utmost to get him TO stay here last
spring, but Cantilon vetoed the PROPOSE
ton. Jack has all to gain and nothing
to lose, as We have had nothing but tail
enders here the past two years and his
two-year ironclad contract calls for a
good round salary. Jack will do all the
catching for his team. unless incapaci-
tated by sickness injury, and his long
experience behind the bat ought to work
wonders for his pitchers.
Tony Smith. who was one of the Min
neapolis offenders fined by the national
commission for playing against Gala
hans outlaws, has made his peace with
lTa1