Evening star., 1909-03-14
TEXAS WEATHER
FALSE TO NATIONALS
Rain Prevents Game Between
CantiIIon's Boys and
Sand Crabs.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star
GALVESTON, Tex. March 13.-Disap-
pointment again stalked on the heels of
the Nationals. and the game they were
to have played this afternoon with the
Sand era bs had to be called off on account
OF muddy grounds and leaky skies A
rather cool breeze was blowing, too. An
other attempt will be made to pull it
off tomorrow, the contest starting at >,
o'clock in order that the players may get
the full benefit of all the sunshine that
may come out. Indications are good for
decent weather at least. The weather
observer called for cooler weather and
clear skies for tomorrow, and that means
that the sun will make its much-delayed
appearance and the grounds dry up.
In spite of the disa greeable conditions
today the players got out twice and did
a heap of light practice, finishing each
part with some trots around the edge Of
the ballyard and vigorous runs home to
the hotel.
Manager Disgruntled.
Joe is very much disgruntled over the
backward conditions here, though all of
his players are in pretty good shape and
none of them is suffering from excess
baggage in the way of fat, but he wants
TO see some real work, and if a change
for the better does not come by tomorrow
night he may take his troupe. bag and
baggage and move over to Waco, where
. his Yanigans are now disportinS them
selves.
Bob Unglaub complained today of stom-
ach trouble, and had to lay off from
work He has not been feeling any too
we'll the last day or two, but he expects
To be in the lineup tomorrow.
Dolly" Gray is TO pitch the first three
innings of tomOrroW's game. Bobby Groom
the second three and Walter Johnson
the last three. All express themselves as
being in condition to pitch championship
ball if the occasion needed 1t, but Chief
Joe will not allow them TO extend them
selves.
Blankenship and Street will divide the
catching work, the former taking the first
half. Streets mild attack of rheumatism
has disappeared and he is now himself
once more.
Witherup Located.
Cantilon received a letter last night
from Pitcher Witherup, which explains
his delay in not reporting. While on his
way to the depot at home in Butler, Pa,
to take train to join the boys at Chica-
go, he was taken with chill and had
TO return home and go to bed. He is
about able to be up now, and expects to
rejoin the boys in the middle west on
their way home to Washington.
If good weather prevails here from to-
morrow on Cantillon's men will have
games here every day with the Sand
Crabs, besides the usual morning practice
stunt This ought to put the regulars on
razor edge and be of great Denetlt TO the
pitchers particularly.
Cantillon gave it as his opinion today
that Gray and Groom are going 10 make
good with him and they will take their
turns with the other pitchers all summer
nj misfortune
them.
Goodbye, Second Division.
They look mighty fine to all of us"
said Joseph, 'and l don't believe there
is a man on my pitching staff today that
l can afford to let go. That is one part
of the Nationals that Is going to give
horrors to all the first division fellows.
Charley Smith promises to round to his
old pitching form and I believe Jesse
TannehiH is going to have one OF his old
time good years Take our team IN any
position, individually and collectively, and
Ii is hard to see where any of the first
division teams have anything on us. You
can tell the Washington folks for me,
and with the strongest kind of emphasis.
that the days of the Nationals as a sec
ond-division team are a thing Of the past
and that we'll be in the hunt from start
to finish.
This may sound pretty strong, but all
of the Nationals seem TO be imbued with
the same idea.
Washingtons visit here winds up next
Friday evening and the boys leave that
night for San Antonio, where they play
the Texas Leaguers the next day and
Sunday.
Secretary Jacobsen. who is the hardest
worked member of the Nationals, has all
his home ward-bound dates now secure
and his transportation fixed, so he can
uoW rest on his oars for while and
take things easy.
Cantillon will sell his pitching cage to
the Sand Crabs before leaving, as it is
useless to carry along and too much
trouble to ship home.