Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-10
Throngs Defy Chilling Blasts
to See Nationals Open
the Season.
CHEERING HUMANITY
GREETS BOTH TEAMS
President Wilson Arranges White
House Business So as to Be
Able to See Contest.

with every seat In the big concrete
grandstands disposed of long before
the hour for opening the gates at the
base ball park. and the announcement
that $4,000 tickets had been sold in
advance. the local American League
season opened this afternoon. Cold
weather and nipping wind. that made
heavy overcoats feel mighty comfort
able, Kept down the early crowd. aud
it was not until nearly o'clock that
the grandstands began to ill up.
shortly after o'clock Pistorio'S band
IN the main stand. started a program az
raetlme selections, evidently with the in
tention of making the fans forget how
emily they We're, and the concert con-
tnued until Announcer Phillips back of
his big megaphone. stepped to the front
ana center and cried the batteries for
the game.
President Wilson arranged his bus-
ness at the White House Offices so he
could attend the game and toss the first
pail from his box to Manager Griffith.
Rumor Keeps Down Crowds.
A widespread rumor to the effect that
no seats except for the bleachers remain
ed unsold probably had its effect in keep
ing down the size OF the early morning
crowds at the entrance
The rumor had it that pavilion seats.
as well as those in the grandstands.
had been reserved and that all Were
sold. and many were the telephone
! messages from investigators who went
early to the base ball park telling
| friends waiting downtown that the
| rumor was groundless and that plenty
of tickets could be had at the park
BY 2:15 O'Clock this afternoon the
grandstands We're pretty we'll filled.
and when the game started at 3 O'Clock
few empty chairs were visible In thu.
big stands. while the payilions were
crowded with cheering. yelling, whoop-
ing masses of men and boys, some OF
\ them Yelling from pure enthusiasm
over the opening of the season. and
others joining in just from the con-
| tagion OF the thing.
Team Members Cheered.
| The members OF the Washington team
| We're greeted with joyous outburst Of
cheering when they appeared for the
short practice before the game. each
member of the team-the new members
as well as the veterans-being greeted by
name as persons i'm the stands recognized
them.
The two Cuban players Calvo and
Acosta. added to the team this season.
We're objects of curiosity, comparatively
few Of the fans having seen the lads be-
fore. Frank Chances warriors, likewise.
were cheered by the crowd. though the
New Workers had to put up with not
few choice bits of sarcastic consolation
from fans who insisted on reminding
| them that Walter johnson was booked to
pitch.
Eager for the Fray.
1t was IAN eager and a nipping air.
that whistled around the corners out at
7th street and Florida avenue this morn
ing when the early birds OF the big flock
of fans started the first line from the
ticket booths. But 1t hadn't a thing on
said early birds in the matter of eager-
ness. as the first corners We're ON the job
shortly after o'clock this morning, wait
ing patiently as they could until the
big gates at the base ball park were
thrown open.
They were all there-the fellow who
wears low-cut shoes all winter and who
scorns a vest: the young man who wears
a heavy sweater under an equally heavy
overcoat: the fan who knows the record
of every player in the big leagues and
who can recite the figures backward, and
the quiet, unassuming man who doesn't
say lot. but who frequently calls his
more loquacious fellow-fan down on the
statistics of base ball.
The fan I'm all his moods and lenses
was there today. shuffiing about on the
new concrete pavement that has replaced
the OLD clnder Walk at the entrance 10 lit
park; and by noon the single line that
was started early this morning had grown
into three long lines, stretching from tn"
gates of the park down to 7th street ana
around the corner, while every noith-
bound car added its quota to the good
natured throng of enthusiasts that today
came into their own.
Wide Appeal Demonstrated.
Away up at the head OF the triple line
a Filipino. Spaniard and an Irishman.
waiting there with the rest of fandom.
testified to the universally Of base baifs
appeal. Half way down the outside line
a solitary woman kept her place until the
gates swung open She looked lonesome
i'm the big crowd of men, but she never
stirred from the point Of vantage she had
obtained, though il was not until almost
noon that several other women appeared
and took their places farther down the
lengthening lines.
Capt. Doyle and a squad of policemen
had little to do in the way or preserv-
ing order Once in awhile some over
anxious fan. seeking to get an early start
into the park, tried to edge his way into
place near the head of one of the
lines. Usually he was quickly crowded
out and showed back to his proper place.
and only once or twice did such an indi-
vidual have to be told by the police to
go back to the end Of the line where he
belonged.
Automobilists according to orders is
sued to the police squad on duty at the
park, We're required to park their ma
chimes to the north of the entrance. and
in leaving the park will have to proceed
north on 7th street instead of driving
their machines south through the crowd
The new rule has been adopted in order
to save the autoists from violations or
the new traffic regulations, as well as 10
avoid accidents, and 1t was said today
that il will be in force during the en-
tire base ball season.