Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-29
PRESIDENT Is A GUEST
Annapolis Boys Favorite in the
Betting Up to Hour of Be-
ginning of Play.
First period-NaVy, 8; Army, o.
End haIf-Army, 9; Navy, 6.
Third period-Arnny, 10; Navy, 9.
FinaI-Army, %; Navy, 9.

New York, Nov. 29.-Under skies
that threatened rain a crowd of 10000,
among them the president of the Unit
ed States surged toward upper Man.
haitian today for the annual football
game between the army and navy.
There was no early jam at the gates,
for those who held tickets had obtain
ed them far in advance.
President Wilson, after bidding good
bye to his daughter and son-in-law, Mr.
and Mrs. Francis Bowes Sayre, who
departed for Europe, planned to go
tc the game by automobile.
Some rain fell during the night, but
not enough to affect the field, which
was protected by a straw covering.
Only a downpour a the last moment
could make playing conditions intol-
cradle The scene is the New York
National league baseball stadium, in
the upper extremity of Manhattan is
land, where there is horseshoe grand
stand of steel and concrete reinforced
by temporary stands, almost complete
ly enclosing the gridiron.
Record Crowd.
Provisions are made for $4,000,
greater number than ever witnessed
a worlds series baseball contest, and
the largest ever present at an army
navy football game. Tickets, regular
" priced at SO each, sold yesterday as
high as S25, but spectators who had
any left this morning were letting
them go as low as SO apiece or SIS
for two. The slump was due in great
part to threatening rain. The dis
tinguished boxholders viii. be the pres
ident of the United States and hun
dreds of administrative men and rep
resentatives of the army and navy of
the government, including generals
and admirals in the service, and a
hest of pretty maids and matrons from
the capital. Official Washington, An
napolis and West Point were virtually
transferred to the metropolis for the
football holiday The favorites on
pc per we're the midshipmen, who are
credited with superiority over the
army cadets this season. History re-
cords navy victories in nine of the II
former games between the schools. A
few critics asserted he army had a
good chance to win.
Two to One on Navy.
Betting odds prevailing for a week !
past at 10 TO in favor of the navy |
we're reported ruling even higher to-
day Navy men were freely offering |
2 TO 1, at which rate the army men |
we're eager to indulge. The camps of /
the rival squads, 40 in the army list /
and SO in the navy, quartered in large |
hotels within cunning distance of each
)ther in the theatre district. The color
scheme of the city is full of gold and
ace. The rival colors, the navy blue
and gold, and the army black. gold
and cray. were displayed by thousands
If wives, daughters and sweethearts
n the football crowd.
Songs and cheers, a number of new
iongs set to popular refrains and sew
raj original service yells were pre-
Jared for use for the first time today
o the accompaniment of rival bands.
The mascots, an active navy goat
early smothered with gold lace, and a
army mule in his every day
lothes, were in readiness to provide
ircus features as side shows of the
ridiron battle. Last year the navy
oat died on the eve of the game, but
he loss of the mascot was followed by
ictory.
Flight is Prevented.
The weather did not improve during (
ne afternoon although no rain fell.
here was much scurrying for tickets ,
/ the late afternoon among eleventh s
our arrivals. accompanied by specuIa- ,
)rs' fancy prices. Such purchasers ,
1ok a chance. for arrangements had ,
cen made to invalidate tickets sold ;
y spectators. ,
Sergeant Katzman. an army aviator,
as refused permission at the last 4,
oment to make a fight from Govern =
IS Island 70 the Polo grounds. where a
2 planned TO circle the stands while
e game was in progress The au- .
orities feared he might fall, particu- /
rly with the president among the
,ectators.
Ego Boycott Continues.