New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-09
Weather Man Does Not Hold
Out Much Encouragement
for Baseball "FanS."
GIANTS ARE H0ME-HAPPY
Few Early Birds at the Polo
Grounds Last Night, in
Contrast with Crush
on Monday.

out at the Polo Grounds to-day is OF the
same kind which tested the enthusiasm OF
the fans in this city yesterday. as they.
stood IN the drizzle and watched each
fash from the seat Of war In Philadel-
phia. no game will be played.
But there is hope. The official forecast
has been no barrier to the first two games,
and has even lent an additional air Of
uncertainty to the contest. What II yes
terdays game had been declared off on
account OF rain before that tenth inningf
Pretty badly battered, but still in the
fray" was the comment made by Nc
Graw when he returned TO this city last
night with his victorious Giants. The
weather outlook gave him no worry. He
was too pleased with the prospect Of fol-
lowing up Mathewson's success with an
other this afternoon.
McGraw was the first to step of the
train at the Pennsylvania station. Close
behind was big Six" When the crowd
OF fans" gathered at the gate saw him
they cheered, but "Matty' slipped through
an opening and into a taxicab.
The other players, despite the fact that
three OF them showed injuries more or
| less serious trooped past with visible sat
| isfaction. Merkle limped badly, but this
may have been 10 save his ankle from
| unnecessary strain. Chief Meyers was
nursing an injured thumb, with his wrist
and thumb tightly bandaged
| McGraw was asked who would pitch
to-day.
We'll" he said, 'I never know unt1
| the game begins"
Most OF the players went Immediately
! TO the Hotel Braddock, where they will
be near the Polo Grounds.
Except for the change In date the
weather forecast might be that which
was issued for Tuesdays and yesterdays
contests. It was:
| Cloudy, probably followed by rain
Thursday and Friday; moderate east
winds" Even II the rain should prevent
game to-day, local wiseacres argued, the
rest would benefit the strained ankle OF
Merkle and the pulled tendon IN Snod-
grass's leg more than ii would the pitch
ing staff Of the Athletics.
| At the Polo Grounds last night, how
ever, there was none OF the tense excite
ment which preceded the first encounter.
Instead Of the long line Of shouting, en-
thusiastic kids" and grown-ups waiting
all night long for the gates TO open there
was only a little coterie Of the faithful
who could not be driven away from the
place even by the dismal dampness which
filed the air. Likewise. there were not
the squads OF policemen TO keep order
while the frankfurter emporiurs and cof-
fee stands were conspicuous by their alb
sence.
Il was not lack Of loyalty. though,
which had changed the scene so from
that OF Monday night Then, 1t was true
the skies were cloudy, but each man pres
ent knew that his place would be taken
the minute he left II. Last night the
probability that those who remained at
the gate all night would have to spend
the next day in wet clothes kept all ex-
cept few away.
Those few made up in spirit what they
did not have in numbers. None was
there. Il was vowed, 10 sell his place IN
line: for each was determined 70 be IN
his seat as soon as the opening OF the
| gates would allow
ID yu tink ting like rain 'ud keep
me away? That amt the kind Of a guy
I am" one youngster said. IT saved up
money for a mont fer tn game. an last
Tuesday couldn't go because me mother
made me work"
| AS the town clocks In tho vicinity OF
Mr.. Coogan's we'll known blur sounded
the hour OF midnight there were forty OF
the bravest OF the brave" standing with
out the main entrance OF the Polo
Grounds John J. Gerard. sixteen years
old and proud Of II, was the first IN line.
John. who lives at No. 1T East l2sth
street, was suitably garbed for the occa-
sion.
A suit Of yellow "sou'westers'' envel-
oped him from head 10 foot. and the hard
est pelting Of the rain only drew forth
smiles from the lad who had been holding
his place from o'clock on.
William Farrell Of No. 800 West 18th
street. a man young in years but old IN
all that relates to baseball lore was
squeezed next to Gerard. He insisted
upon telling the others Of the forty i'm
mortals" ;ust who would be on the mound
for the Giants to-day and who would rep
resent Mack's aggregation Of ball chasers
on the slab.
Two women, armed With umbrellas, ar
rived about s o'clock, but when IT began
| to rain IN dead earnest and the feathers
in their hats began to droop mournfully
they abandoned their coveted places and
beat n hasty retreat.
| (Footnote)-New York Central Railroad
detectives yesterday arrested eleven boys
who had beaten their way TO the city on
freight trains from Buffalo and points
east
Inside the inclosure the Brush Stadium
employees were busy putting the last
touches on the work OF protecting the
diamond from rain. The outfield, II was
| said, mad sufficient drainage so that, ex-
cept for a downpour, It would be possible
for the game TO be played.
The fans were not confined only TO
the vicinity OF the Polo Grounds and
those places where the bulletin boards
and mechanical devices drew thousands
Yesterday. In an inner hallway Of the
offices OF J. p. Morgan & Co. there was
a broad tape" ticker. which was kept
In operation long after the close Of the
market to record the details OF the game.
Around this ticker there were Office boys.
clerks and managers, the discipline o.,
the office being relaxed in the interest In
| the game.
And every little while big Jim" the
doorman, would take a glance at the