Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-18
SOME STAY ON THE JOB
TWELVE HOURS OR MORE
Nearly 200 at the Gate by 2
O'Clock This Morning.
EAT MEALS HOLDING PLACES
Entrance to Grounds damned When
Gates Open at 1 O'Clock.
Record Crowd Attends
the Game.

Long before the milk wagons began
their early morning rounds; before
the hucksters and the market gardeners
started cityward with their loads of
vegetab bles; almost before the dimming
rays OF the new moon were quenched
In the west, the dyed d-in-the-wool base
pail fans of Washington began to
gather at the park at 7th street and
FLORIDA avenue to pre-empt advan-
tageous places in the line of soon
ers awaiting the opening Of the box
offices.
BY O'Clock this morning nearly 200
silent, shiver1ng bugs occupied places
IN the rapidly lengthening line. At 4
O'Clock a. m. the line had grown into
two lines, that extended out from the en-
trance and down 7th street. BY O. clock
the lines had doubled again. and long
queue reached from each Of the box of
fees out of the cindered entrance and
down to Florida avenue.
Soap boxes, camp stools and the like
were at premium. Many OF the earn-
est corners brought one or the other Of
these with them. anticipating the leg
WEAKNESS that was sure to come In the
twelve-hour or longer wait
Twelve hours of waiting in line for a
chance to see the Washington base ball
team play game, Who, in the widest
fights of a disordered fancy, ever imag-
ined that such a thing could possibly
come TO pass? And yet it Is true!
Entrance to Park damned.
BY noon today the entrance to the park
was jammed with lines of men, women
and boys, waiting for the opening Of the
box offices. scheduled for / o'clock The
police were on hand to maintain order
and to prevent rushing, but the crowd
was good natured one, and there was
little work for the bluecoats to do Jests
were banded back and forth; walters
who had ha dthe forethought to supply
themselves brought out packages Of sand
wiches and lunched, while the unthink-
ing ones were forced to bribe neWsies and
small boys to go to nearby shops and
restaurants and bring them something to
eat.
One man, who evidently had left orders
at home. dined sumptuously on the hot
contents of regular tin dinner pail,
brought to him by his little son. Pur-
veyors of hot dog" coffee, sandwiches
and pie did fourishing business, as did
the fruit peddlers, the ice cream cone
men and everybody who had something
to sell that could be eaten without neces-
place he had Won in the line
First Arrive at II O'Clock.
The very first conner reached the mark
before midnight last night About II
O'Clock a lonely figure wepded its way
out 9TH street. turned into the wide run
way which leads to the gates and seated
itself by the side of the gate that opens
| n 10 ofo1 OF x.,ht tNh
for the game today might be bought
hours later From that time on, at first
one by one. later two by two, and after
ward squad by squad. other figures set
tied themselves on boxes to await the
ong-looked-for hour And so the great
crowd increased until the inevitable mo-
ment found 10000 persons densely packed
In the arena, and 5000 more clamoring
for admission to what should be one OF
the grandest struggles in the history of
base ball.
1t is great cosmopolitan mass Of
humanity that has come together to
watch the Washington club on its first
home appearance in more than a month.
Never before in the memory Of the Oldest
follower OF athletics has any such thYong
gathered in the National Capital. Packed
away In the heterogeneous compound are
men from every walk of life.
From the President OF the country
down to the dollar-a-day laborer, every
cause OF their fealty to an ethical stand
ard, fealty that will be shown by the
wild enthusiasm evidenced when a bril-
liant play by one of the men who Is an
integral part OF their team Is recog-
nized.
Everything else but the game is lost
sight OF today. Great business concerns
have closed. professional men have left
their desks and the machinery Of the fed
eral and District governments Is kept in
| motion by skeleton crews.
The eyes OF Washington are focused
on the eighteen players engaged in the
struggle. the outcome Of which will tell
whether or not they have a team that
has chance to stay in the running for
the championship Of the base ball world
Washington Awaits the Answer.
The Athletics. twice worlds champions
and regarded as the greatest base ball
| machine In the country at the beginning
| OF the present season. are the opponents
The test has come.
All Washington IS waiting the answer.
American League park has been filled to
| the overdowing with those who wanted
to watch the issue, and all those who
could not get admission to the park are
| anxiously watching the scoreboar6S as
one by one the results of the innings are
| hung up.
| TELEPHONE communications have been
established with the nearby towns. and
in each. around a little blackboard. is
J, gathered almost the entire population,
| awaiting news Of the game with an in
| tense and all-absorbing interest The ex-
| element has spread, and Washington and
| it's suburbs are held enthralled.
Amused by Playing Cards.
Around in the crowd decks Of cards had
been brought out and those in waiting
Il -