The Washington times., 1912-09-04
Bets McAleer Suit Of Clothes
That Engel Takes
His Game.
GROOM AND AINSMITH
DESTROY STRAW HATS
Eddie Ainsmith to Be Guest Of
Honor at Y. M. G. A.
Banquet.
BY SENATOR

BOSTON, Mass, Sept. A side issue
destined to make the Nationals fight
even harder than might be expected
against the Red Sox, has crept into the
series scheduled to open today. Jimmy
McAleer showed up at the hotel today
to cast his gage in ancient knightly
fashion at the feet OF Clark Griffith
and his men, with the result that Griff
wagered a suit of clothes, and almost
every one of the Nationals a hat that
the Red Sox would be beaten by Joe
Engel and would also lose the series.
You fellows have gone along pretty
well" McAleer told Griff, but here s
where we hang it on you. You haven't
been here since Memorial Day. You
know we have improved greatly in that
time. You caught us off our stride or
YOU wouldn't now have a majority of
the victories. But here's where you
drop three, anyway, if you don't lose all
four. You're done now and we'll hang
1t on you. You've shot your bolt"
Don't kid yourself" replied Grlff,
assuming his best "Old Eox grin. '
We're just too good for you. If we
had got any help from the other clubs
a month ago, we'd now be leading by
couple Of eames. Why, say, this kid
Engel can beat you fellows He came
mighty close to it in his first big league
game and he can do it now. Well
walk away with this series.
It's a suit of clothes that Engei
beats you and that we take the scries."
Agrees to Bet.
You're on" replied McAleer. "You
haven't a chance to win that bet. And
I'll make 1t new hat with any Of the
boys who wants to come In on t."
AS soon as the players learned of
McAleers offer, they fell over each
other in their mad haste to cover the
net As a result, these four games
here arc certain to be bitterly contest
ed, II only that the Nationals may get
new headgear from the Red Sox mag
nate speaking of hats, there were
some wild lads in the party this morn
ing when. on waking they discovered
they had to go to the hotel hatless
Bob Groom and Eddie Ainsmlth de-
c!ded that no one should wear d stra w
hat into Boston. They spent the even
Ing cutting up the summer heidgear /
into fantastic shapes.
Paul Musser and Billy Fowler had the
porter hide their straw top pieces, ex-
pecting to give the crowd the laugh this
morning. Ainsmith got up early. OBJ
lnt etlOuS ndtS from the DOr
ter and such a howl as went up when
the deed was discovered never was
heard before. Fowler and Musser wore
borrowed caps to the hotel, amid the
laughter of the entire bunch.
Guest of Honor
Tomorrow night Eddie Ainsmith will
be the guest of honor at banquet held
at the Cambridge Y. NJ. c. A. J. Ed
ward Barry. mayor of Cambridge, Ain
smiths home town, will make an ad-
dress OF welcome in behalf of the city,
and handsome gift will be made by J.
W. Waters, physical director of the as
sociation. The Nationals sprightly
young backstop is as nervous as a girl
at her first dance, and Dutch" Schae-
fer is assisting him on his speech of
thanks "DutCh" says thai if Eddie
falls down on the speech he may pick
II right up and give tn, good citizens
of Cambridge a real speech
Manager Griffith, Walter johnson.
Norman Schaefer. Carl Cashon, and
30orse Mcbride have been invited to
the banquet. Joe Wood and Iris Speak
er will represent the Red SOX.
Manager Griffith will not be able to
don a uniform much before next week,
though his sore foot is healing rapidly.
He will try, though, to be out on the
coaching lines on Saturday. when good
weather is expected to draw 5000 fans
TO Fenway Park.