The Washington herald., 1911-04-13

rout. Immediately following, ne obtain
ed pickle barrel as a seat for a woman
who was standing and had no escort
| In the midst of the game. and while
the excitement was intense, a man,
whose name was not learned. had a fit
| in the center of the right field bleachers
He caused a near-panic, and was carried
out by several policemen after much diff
/ ficulty A riot was narrowly averted, as
| the crowd thought something serious had
| happened.
The biggest demonstration of the day
! was made, except when Washington
| scored six runs in the sixth inning, when
the sun-burned Nationals came into the
| field on the lope. They looked to be in
| perfect condition, and the results of the
| game showed this to be true. The roar
| of applause that greeted them grew into
a sound like the explosions of hundred
| ten-inch guns. Hats were thrown into
| the air, handkerchiefs waved frantically,
and those who had no other way to ex-
press their admiration tore papers to bits
and scattered them abroad. The wind
carried these bits of paper over the en-
! tire field, and 1t looked like small-sized
| snowstorm was In progress.
| If overwhelming enthusiasm by Wash
| ingtonians was all that was needed, the
pennant for 1911 would be cinched.
VIII Save the Ball.
After President Taft had pitched the
ball 10 Dolly Gray in the box. Gray put
| il over the plate once for a clean strike,
| then tucked it carefully into the pocket
| of his jacket, buttoning down the flap.
The ball will become 4 souvenir in the
Gray household with a glass-covered case
| to hold it. Before he has the ball locked
up in a case, Gray will take it down to
the White House TO have the Presidents s
signature written upon it.
The President showed up for the first
day of the season in as good form as
| fan as the players did on the diamond.
From the minute the mob in the bleach
erS sighted him and the band began to
play The Star Spangled Banner" he
was one broad smile.
The weather was a good deal too cold
for any fast playing, but it was a good
game from the standpoint of the home
team fans. and President Taft warmed
up with the crowd when the Nationals
entered into a batting rally during the
last half of the sixth inning, and added
six runs to their score against the Boston
Red Sox.
Taking its cue from the President, the
White House was busy all day with ball
talk. Early in the day President Noyes,
of the Washington ball club, presented
him with his American League pass.
Even before he got it, however. the
President had made arrangements TO be
at the game. He had telephoned Gen
Clarence Edwards, who is his principal
companion at the ball games. and Sena-
tor Murray Crane. of Massachusetts,, to
be on hand at the White House.
Besides these two. Secretary HilIes and
Maj. Archie Butt, military aid. were in
cluded in the Presidential party, as any
one who wants to make a good ratin;
m the White House staff has to show
himself to be good hall fan.
Players Warmed Up.
The players spent their time warming
up until the President appeared. When
finally he entered the field hats were off
and the crowd began to cheer for Taft.
the fan. The President paused to speak
TO the players and TO tell Patsy Dono-
van, manager of the Red Sox. he was
sorry he could not wish the Boston team
would win. Then he walked into his
box. AS he surveyed the grand stand.
the President began to speak to the
members of Congress he saw around him
Looking farther and farther up the rows
# seats, he found that nearly every his
tory maker in Congress had succumbed
to the temptation of the great American
game. Turning to Edwards the Presi-
dant remarked:
WAY, this is just like being in Con-
gress.'
He spotted a couple dozen OF Senator's
who We're sneakinC A real good baseball
cheer in defiance of their Senatorial dig
nifty. and at least half hundred mem
bers Of the House. Serene Payne had
gathered the minority faction under his
wing and turned them into fans for the
Washington team.
The excitement of the Occa SiOn DrOyed
a little too much for Dolly Gray. The
President occupied a box right in front
of the home plate. and Dolly had to put
the ball over the plate with the Presi-
dents eyes square upon him. For
time the Boston team made such havoc
of the Nationals that gloom spread
through the grand stand. At about the
middle of the game the Washington fans
were just desperate enough to be warmed
up by a clean hit. When they got this,
in the sixth inning. the rally started.
Then the Capitol crowd in the grand
stand, led by the President. began to
show what real fans they were. And the
Washington players did their part in fine
style. They landed six runs in one in
ming.
The President didn't seem to mind the
cold weather. There was a stiff wind
blowing dead from the outfield, but the
only time this seemed to bother the Presi-
dent was when II twisted Boston ny
away from the glove of a Washington
outfielder.
Longed for johnson.
When they took Dolly Gray out of
the box, the President turned to Maj. Butt
and said:
Il wish they would put Johnson in"
But Manager McAleer, of the Wash
ington team, placed Dixie" Walker on
the mound, and his work proved so
clever that the President added him to his
list Of favorites along with johnson.
The President stuck the whole game
through. Even when it was ended.
though the President had to stamp to
get warmed up. he seemed to leave the
grounds reluctantly. He turned to Maj.
Butt. who was shivering in great army
overcoat. and laughed at him gleefully.
"Oh, WELL" he said, wait until it
warns up. and we will have lot more
of this"
And the President promised he would
divide his recreation time this spring and
summer between his favorite games. base
ball and golf.
TigerS-white SoX Game Postponed.