The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-19
NY GUS nIALBEIlr.

II Johnny Verbout had been moro
effective; II 1t had not haired and
rained 80 long and hard and fast that
the ball yard in West Broad Street
wns converted into q veHtable auag
mire; If the score had boon to In
favor OF GriEn's crowd, Instead OF tn.
crowd headed by Heinie BuAoh; ic the
crowd had been larger and moro on
thusiastic and had remuined until tho
gams was over. then the opsning OF the
Virginia League season in this mans
claimed hugo suoosss in every senss
Of tho word
But Johnny was far from effective.
the crowd not up to the standard Of
previous years. the grounds In horrible
condition. and the men not overly anx-
made 1t hazardous to attempt any thing
savorlnB OF real baseball oil OF which
offers some excuse for the loss O. the
game. By stretching a point Umpire
Black allowed this men 10 Apish six
Innings, though It might just as well
MIN. Tho cute money was Then Sc
cure. and the result REMAINED I'M
changed.
The usual festivities marked the
hours Immediately preceding the con-
tost a street parads with the visit
ing club and the Colts IN automobiles,
headed by band In g largo van. went
through the streets, falling tho natives
that baseball had come again and that
tho season was about to begin. Every
thing started dne. Tho sun was shin-
ing, and many g glad hand uea given
The men al thay rode by. Up Broad
Street went tho PROCESSION, while girls,
man and the youngster who knows the
batting average OF evorY toBse. In the
game watched from store windowa and
other points OF vantage.
ThIckcning skies.
Gradually the sky began to ,hicken,
and long before the park was reach ed
the lowering clouds presaged tho COM
Ing storm Hoping against hope. ball
players, members OF the press. the auX-
toUs musicians and the even more anx-
tous Ownsr Bradley looked heaven
ward and fooled themselves into be-
lievins that IT would all blow over
Never a blow. Just as the Last Ftrains
OF "Ererybody'B Doing Il" died away
and tho fellow with tho big bass drum
brought out his tarpaulin TO cover up
his instr unlent Of torturs, like The era ok
OF doom came the dowopour-not gen TO
drops OF springtimo genueness, but
he'll Of Tho size ono resda about but
mover sees,
For many long minures ell hope OF
playing game waB abandoned. The
Qownpour continued without any let
up, and the friendly ahalter onersd by
no "a
bed OF speculn don. When Tho sun
finally managed to break through the
clouds. hc2s was revived, and tue jour
ney to the ball park continued Owner
Bradley had preceded tbs procession
and VAS already at work when tn.
players arrived. a sQuAd OF wiling
workers was on hand to help mop the
water from the playing field Spong CO.
brooms. scrapers, Gil were called into
diamond began TO assume an appear
ance which satisfied the fans but
spelled misery for the players,
AL exactly 5;o5 O'clock Umpire
Black gave the word. and without one
moments warming up WORK the Rtcl-
mond club. clad in new uniforms o.
white, trotteG 10 The held- The band
played Dixie and tho crowd-a re-
narkably large crowd considering
COnIltiOHs-DcEdn 70 SHOut. ! llS same
Was on and the eeason OF lsl2 nad
been launched. not quite fairly, but
stlll launched.
Petersburg sent over large con-
tingenL probably Two rthree hun
dred, and they yelled. while the To-
cal enthusiasts, with defeat slowly
but surely staring them In the lace.
maintained q phlegmatic silence.
First Hall over Strike.
Johnny Nerbout, looking rudy ana
strong, stepped to the centre. Perry
Thackera kneeled behind the bat.
Umpire Black cast hts weather eye to
the front. Zip! The hrst ball was
over the middle. right IN the groove
and Simmons slammed II TO The leTt-
field bleacners, but 1t was foul by
several yards. The crowd ereathed
easier. while the Petersburg adher-
ents cried tough luck" The fleet lad
from south of US fouled the next,
and the third he waved at malicious
Rich