Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-18
RAIN PUTS DAMPER
ON BOSTON OPENING
Nationals Reach City of Cult
ure This Morning in Good
Shape for Game.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, April 1S.-Rain put damper
upon the opening of the American League
season here today to the immense dis
appointment of President John I. Taylor.
Treasurer iMcBreen and Managers Nc
Aleer and Donovan.
They do not regret it any more than
we do said Mac. We are prepared
10 give the Red Sox the battle of their
lives and the way We opened on the
Athletics just showed what we can do
We have a ball team this year and the
term speed boys has no terror for us.
The Nationals arrived here on time at
am taking the all-rail trip, and every
one of the players had a good trip A
fine program had been prepared FOR TO-
/ day. Weather indications were for rain
for tomorrow as well as today, and If It
i does spoil tomorrows sport II Will be
at 1 today. and band concert and the
throwing Of the ball by Mayor Fitzgerald
were TO be events of the day. Then
Gov. Draper. a dyed-in-the-wool fan. and
, Lieut. Gov. Louis rockingham, for
mer Harvard base ball captain. were
booked to grace the occasion with their
presence
At O'Clock both clubs were booked for
! the usual flag raising. with the accom-
| panying parade Wood and Cicotte are
slated TO work In the games Tuesday.
I with Oberlin in the morning and johnson
: in the afternoon .or Washington With
good weather today there is not the least
doubt the immense capacity of the local
grounds would be tested, and 1000 is
given conservative opening. 1t is
Concede that this will be a record-break-
ing year in base ball Everything be-
tokens it, The local Nationals did the
best business in the series with the
Giants thew have done in series since
the Doveys owned the club. The Ma
..onals ought to play to 10000 people In
both games tomorrow without the least
trouble. The grounds are in the best
condition ever. thanks to the unusually
propitious spring
There was a crowd of about a hundred
fans" at Union station last evening
wher the Nationals took the cars for
Boston. The victory of Saturday gave
the fans" something to talk about yes
terday and il was the topic of converse
ton in all arts of the city. Manager
MoAleer could not be induced to make
prediction on the outcome Of the Boston
series:
I'VE are going over to Boston to win
as many games as we can and the Wash
ington fans can rest assured that we
will be in every one of them, win or lose.
The Boston club is very fast, but l be-
lieve / have the crew to hold them up,
and If we get an even break in luck we
may surprise Jack Taylor and his speed
boys.
Dixie Walker was among the crowd
that started for Boston. but the chances
are he won't be worked on account Of
his accident Saturday night, as told ex-
clusively in The Sunday Star. Walkers
bad ankle was given quite strain and
McAleer may think 1t best to save him
for the home series at the end Of the
week, figuring that he had enough twfrl-
ers without the Georgia lad.
In Saturdays game kid" Elberfeld
had narrow escape from serious injury
when Barry pulled off that triple against
the left field fence. He ran over to
cover the bag and bluff the runner into
thinking he was going to take the throw,
and Barry slid into the bag, one of his
spikes catching the Kid on the second
toe of the right foot and cutting him
deep enough to make the blood flow. No
one paid any attention to the cut, and
only when Elberfeld pulled off his shoe
in the clubhouse was it seen how mar
row had been his escape. The little
fellow is going too good just now to get
out of the game for minute.
In the death of Tom LOTUS. which oc-
CURED at Dubuque, Iowa, Saturday,
there passed away a thoroughly capable
base ball man and one of the best fell
lows that ever touched pals flesh. Lof-
fus was practically connected with or
ganized base ball we know 1t from
his death. when failing health compelled
him to reIinquish all outside business
connections. He figured in the forma-
tion of the famous st. Louis Browns of
the American Association, handled and
managed many teams, and directed the
Columbus champions. When President
Johnson of the American League
solved to invade the east. Tom LOTUS
was selected one of his assistants, and
he performed valuable service in MAX
ing a success of the movement. A lot
of cheerfuness went out of this world
when Tom LOTUS made his exit.
There is no one in Washington more
pleased over the improvement shown by
clyde Milan this sea son than the veteran
eX-Manager Mike ScanloB Mike has
been a great admirer of the Tennessee
hoy ever since he struck the city, and
has always maintained that he is
hrst-class ball player if handled right.
The Virginia League win begin its fifth
championship season Thursday. Lynch
burg Win play Roanoke: Danvnie at